Date: 08-04-1999

Case Style: Homer James v. Coors Brewing Company and Yvonne Mannon

Case Number: 97-CV-1002

Judge: Lewist T. Babcock

Court: United States District Court for the District of Colorado

Plaintiff's Attorney: Kara T. Birkedahl, Steven Silvern, and Edmund M. Monas of the Silvern Law Offices, P.C., Denver, Colorado

Defendant's Attorney: K. Preston Oade, Jr. of Holme Roberts & Owen, L.L.P., Denver, Colorado; Daniel R. Satriana and Steven M. Gutierrez of Hall & Evans, Denver, Colorado; and Timothy P. Schimberg and Susan Hahn of Hahn, Fowler, Schimberg & Flanagan, P.C., Denver, Colorado

Description: Breach of contract - Intentioal Interference with Contract and Defamation. The facts that gave rise to this litigation and the nature and extent of the damages claimed by plaintiff are unknown at this time.

Outcome: The jury awarded economic damages of $325,000.00, against Coors, on his claim of breach of contract. The jury awarded non-economic damages of $200,000.00, economic damages of $5,000, and punitive damages of $200,000.00 to Homer James, against Coors, for his claim of defamation. The jury awarded non-economic damages of $100,000, economic damages of $1.00, and punitive damages of $100,000.00 to Homer James, against Yvonne Mannon, on his claim for Intentional Interference with Employment Contact. The jury awarded non-economic damages of $200,000, economic damages of $5,000.00, and punitive damages of $200,000 to Homer James, against Ms. Mannon, for his claim of defamation as to statements to Coors investigators. Finally, the jury awarded non-economic damages of $1.00, and punitive damages of $75,000.00 to Homer James, against Ms. Mannon, for his claim of defamation as to statements to law enforcement authorities.

Plaintiff's Experts: Unknown

Defendant's Experts: Unknown

Comments: The District Court judgment against Ms. Mannon for non-economic damages was reduced to $250,000 purusant to C.R.S. sec. 13-21-102.5(3)(a), plus prejudgment interest. The punitive damage judgment was reduced to equal the amount of economic damages, non-economic damages, and appropriate prejudgment interest awarded to Mr. James, or, $250,000.00 plus $5,002.00 plus the requisite prejudgment interest. James was also awarded $16,306.21 in costs and fees.