Salt Lake City, May 11, 2026 – Parr Brown Gee & Loveless secured a major appellate victory for the firm’s client, Yesneiri Maldonado-Velasquez, vacating a defense jury verdict in a wrongful death case against Ron J. Peterson Construction, Inc. The landmark opinion reaffirms that companies operating commercial vehicles on Utah highways may be held accountable for operating unsafe equipment even when minimum federal standards are met.
Ms. Maldonado-Velasquez sued Ron J. Peterson Construction for negligence and causing her husband’s death, including using the kind of trailer that increased likelihood of injuries – an “enhanced-injury” claim. The District Court granted summary judgment to Ron J. Peterson Construction, concluding that it had no duty to modify the trailer because it complied with federal minimum safety standards. Based on that ruling, Ms. Maldonado-Velasquez was prohibited from presenting evidence to the jury about the condition of the trailer and how it contributed to her husband’s death.
On appeal, the Parr Brown team argued that the federal minimum safety standards do not displace common law duties relating to safely operating equipment on roadways. In its published opinion, the Utah Supreme Court agreed, ruling that the district court improperly excluded critical evidence and wrongly narrowed the legal duties owed by the defendant, requiring the case to return for a new trial.
The Parr Brown team representing the plaintiff includes Dick J. Baldwin, Rodger M. Burge, Steven R. Glauser, and Daniel S. Sorenson.
The ruling represents another significant appellate victory for Parr Brown Gee & Loveless and underscores the firm’s strength in complex litigation and high-stakes appeals. Businesses or individuals facing complex appeals or seeking experienced appellate counsel may contact Dick Baldwin, Chair of Parr Brown’s Appellate Practice Group, at dbaldwin@parrbrown.com or 801-257-7967.
