Pringle v. Valdez

JUDGMENT AFFIRMED IN PART AND REVERSED IN PART

I. Introduction

We granted certiorari in Valdez v. Pringle, 148 P.3d 1069 (Colo.App.2005), to determine whether the court of appeals correctly affirmed a jury's damages award in this automobile accident case.1 The jury found that Petitioner Debbie Jo Pringle, the defendant in the trial court, was at fault in causing the accident, and awarded Respondent Mark Valdez, the plaintiff in the trial court, $400,000 for physical impairment and disfigurement damages and $100,000 for noneco-nomic damages.

Because Valdez admitted he was not wearing a seatbelt,…