A former Stevens Pass, WA, employee has filed a lawsuit against parent company Vail Resorts after she fell off a chairlift in 2022. The Herald Net reports that Miroslava “Mirka” Lewis fell approximately 30 feet from a ski lift and collided with a tree, resulting in severe injuries.
According to the complaint, Lewis endured devastating injuries, including a traumatic brain injury, collapsed lung, four fractured vertebrae, and other severe injuries. As a result, she underwent multiple surgeries on her breasts and knees and had to relearn fundamental skills such as speaking, walking, and writing.
According to the Snohomish County Superior Court lawsuit, Lewis alleges that Vail Resorts knew its ski lifts were “old, outdated, unsafe, and failed to meet industry standards” before the accident. The complaint further claims that Vail Resorts did not take appropriate action, leading to Lewis’s injuries, which have had a catastrophic impact on her life. Attorney Bob Zimmerman of Saltz Mongeluzzi and Bendesky stated that Lewis can no longer work as an accountant and will require lifelong care due to Vail’s alleged inaction.
The incident occurred after Lewis finished her shift on January 30, 2022. She requested the lift operator fully stop the chair so she could board safely. However, the operator did not comply, and Lewis could not get properly seated before the lift began down the mountain. As a result, she was thrown off the lift during its descent.
Neither Stevens Pass nor Vail Resorts has responded to the Herald Net’s request for comment on the lawsuit.
The lawsuit also claims that Vail Resorts failed to staff the resort adequately, neglected to assess workplace hazards, and provided insufficient training. Before this incident, Stevens Pass had received numerous complaints from attendees about long lift lines and limited parking due to the closure of half the mountain. Both employees and guests had voiced dissatisfaction with Vail Resorts’ management, and an online petition accusing the company of deceptive practices garnered over 46,000 signatures.
