Jury awards $12.8M in negligence case against Stoel Rives and real estate leader
A jury in Utah has awarded $12.8 million in a negligence suit against Stoel Rives and a Salt Lake partner who chaired the national real estate practice group for the 400-attorney Portland, Ore.-based law firm.
Former client David Bernolfo, who is represented by Michael Mihm of Ogborn Mihm, had asked for $21.4 million, contending that this amount reflected his losses from the firm’s handling of a development application for his Summit County, Utah, ranch. However, the jury found Bernolfo was 40 percent responsible for the problems he complained of, which resulted in the reduced award, the Portland Business Journal reports.
Stoel Rives said in a written statement provided by firm counsel Brad Tellam that it is “disappointed in the jury’s decision and will appeal it.”
