State, Department of Transportation & Public Facilities v. Miller

OPINION

FABE, Justice.

I. INTRODUCTION

In January 2001 Lance Miller was injured in a plane crash while attempting to land at an unattended airport in Kipnuk. He brought an action against the State of Alaska, alleging that its failure to warn him that neither of the airport's windsocks was functioning constituted negligence and seeking damages on behalf of himself, his wife, and his three children for his injuries, lost earning capacity, and loss of consortium. A jury awarded Miller $1,256,000 and awarded his wife $20,000. The State appeals this judgment on four grounds. First, it claims that the…