Patterson Ripplinger, P.C.

Partner

ATTORNEY BIO

KEVIN G. RIPPLINGER is a trial lawyer with a broad litigation practice encompassing construction defect, personal injury, premises liability, trucking, insurance, bad faith, and commercial litigation in both state and Federal Court.  Mr. Ripplinger also represents clients with contracts and mechanic’s liens related to the construction industry.

Mr. Ripplinger has first and second chaired both construction and personal injury trials and arbitrations.  Mr. Ripplinger has been successful in achieving summary judgment related to both tort and contract claims, as well as dismissal of actions based on jurisdictional grounds and for failure to state a claim.

In addition to trial work, Mr. Ripplinger also handles appeals for both companies and individuals related to construction, personal injury and insurance matters.

• Education
  • The George Washington University Law School, LLM International and Comparative Law, 2003
  • University of Wyoming College of Law, JD, 2002
  • Wyoming Law Review, Comment Editor
  • University of Denver, B.A. Environmental Science, minor Spanish, 1999
  • Member Division 1 hockey team

• Bar and Court Admissions
  • Colorado – 2003
  • U.S District Court for the District of Colorado

• Legal Memberships and Honors
  • Colorado Super Lawyer 2019-2021
  • Colorado Rising Stars – Construction Litigation, 2013-2016
  • Colorado Defense Lawyers Association, Board Member, Director of Outreach/Diversity, 2015-2017
  • Colorado Bar Association
  • International Law Section of the Colorado Bar Association
  • Denver Bar Association

• Government Service
  • Judicial Law Clerk, Honorable John N. McMullen, Denver District Court, 2^nd Judicial District, Denver, CO

TRIAL HISTORY

• 2007-2009
  • Second chair 6 day construction defect arbitration
  • Second chair 2 day County Court trial regarding neighbor dispute  – directed verdict granted
  • 1 day trial regarding claim by former driver against Werner Trucking – directed verdict for Defendant – Jefferson County (Small Claims)
• 2012 – Hurtado v. Person – 5 day premises liability trial – Adams County.  Plaintiff was an invitee and alleged the Defendant landlords knew or should have known water would enter a window during a rain storm.  Window was partially open due to Plaintiff’s installation of cable television wire.  Defense Verdict.
• 2013 – Kudlis v. Hernandez – 8 day wrongful death trial – Arapahoe County.  Plaintiff’s 3 year old son was killed while eating ice cream at a Baskin Robbins when our client collided with a white pickup truck causing both vehicle to careen into an Xcel Energy box which then flew through the plate glass window of the Baskin Robbins.  The two women in the pickup truck were also killed.  Our client fled the scene and was later arrested, charged and convicted of three counts of vehicular manslaughter.  Plaintiffs received a $15,000,000 verdict for wrongful death claim.  Plaintiffs also asserted negligent entrustment claim against mother in law who insured the vehicle.  Counsel for mother in law obtained defense verdict.
• 2014 – Cherkofsky v. Faggetter -1 day trial to court regarding neighbor dispute regarding overgrown juniper bush– Jefferson County, County Court – defense verdict
• 2014 – Bogues v. State Farm – 5 day UIM trial – El Paso County.  Plaintiff slid on ice on an on ramp at Bijou and I-25 north in Colorado Springs.  Plaintiff hit the guard rail and got out of his vehicle to check the guardrail.  When he got back in vehicle, another vehicle slid on the ice and hit Plaintiff’s vehicle.  Plaintiff claimed exacerbation of prior law back pain and exacerbation of prior emotional and psychological issues due to pain and inability to play golf.  Plaintiff also asserted a future income impairment claim.  Liability and damages were at issue. Verdict for Plaintiff $241,000, sought 1.2 million in closing. Plaintiff’s Motion for new trial was denied.
• 2015 – Rankins v. Evans – 3 day trial for personal injuries from MVA – Adams County.  Plaintiff was passed out drunk in backseat when our client rear-ended another vehicle on I-25 and then collided with median.  Plaintiff woke up and ran from the vehicle.  Plaintiff later claimed injury to his left ankle and back.  Plaintiff had prior ankle injury and was receiving disability.  Verdict for defendant. Plaintiff’s motion for new trial denied.
• 2015 – McKee v. TBL Excavating – 1 day arbitration regarding damages – JAG.  Plaintiff was involved in a fatal drunk driving accident.  He was driving a truck owned by him but leased by TBL from him.  There was an issue regarding whether the truck was insured under the business policy.  McKee had asserted a breach of the lease agreement regarding insurance for the truck.  TBL had asserted claims against the insurance agent for failure to obtain insurance for the truck.  The hearing for damages was essentially based on a Nunn agreement to determine the damages under the breach of contract claim so TBL could establish damages with respect to its breach of contract claim against the agent.
• 2016 – Zamfirescu v. Shelter – 1 day bad faith trial regarding roof damage claim – Jefferson County  – defense verdict
• 2016 – Campanini v. State Farm – 3 day UIM trial – Arapahoe County.  Plaintiff was involved in a minor rear-end accident while yielding to get on 225 at Parker.  Plaintiff was employed as a pharmaceutical representative with Eli Lilly at the tie of the accident.  Plaintiff sued the tortfeasor, Liberty Mutual (UIM carrier for Eli Lilly) and State Farm (Plaintiff personal liability carrier).  Tortfeasor and Liberty Mutual settled out before trial for limits of $50,000 each.  Plaintiff had an additional $100,000 on UIM with State Farm.  Plaintiff claimed a permanent low back injury.  Plaintiff had preexisting back problem but claimed they resolved several months prior to the accident and that she was pain free.  Causation and damages were in dispute.  Jury determined Plaintiff had injuries and damages but that they were not caused by the accident.  Defense Verdict.  Plaintiff’s Motion for New Trial Denied.
• 2017 – Hixson v. Gustus – 4 day personal injury trial involving an auto/pedestrian collision – Adams County – Plaintiff verdict.
• 2018 – Crowley County School District, Colorado School District Self-Insurance Pool, Manchie Hughes, Gyntrie Hughes, and H5 Custom Apparel, LLC V. Drury Brothers Roofing, Inc. and Beacon Sales Acquisition d/b/a Roof Depot – ­Crowley County.  Roof collapse case involving property damages, personal injuries and business losses.  Parties were able to resolve the case on day 3 of a 6 day jury trial.
• 2018 – Julie Weber v. Keyan Pesaran, Nahid Pesaran, and Ahmad Pesaran – 5-day wrongful death trial – Boulder County. Represented parents for claim under Family Car Doctrine.  Defense verdict with respect to Family Car Doctrine claim.
• 2019 – Craig Cypher v. Mountain Man Welding and Fabrication, Inc., and James Fedje – 8-day trial – Adams County. Auto accident involving employee and claims under Federal Motor Carrier Safety Act. Represented employer under claim for respondeat superior. Defense verdict obtained for both defendants.

CONTACT

• Office: Denver Tech Center and Colorado Springs
• Phone: 303.741.4539 (Denver) ǀ 719.575.0010 (Colorado Springs)
• Extension: 202 (Denver) ǀ 303 (Colorado Springs)
• Email: (Please use our Contact Form or call our office to obtain email addresses.)
• Paralegal: Daria Duwe
• Legal Assistant: Cindi Jack