Landmark cases
Real rulings by Colombian courts in each type of case we handle, explained in plain words.
Landmark casesSep 22, 20261 min read
Space building: COP 30.9 billion award against the builder, its executives, the former zoning official and Medellín
The Administrative Court of Antioquia widened the ruling over the collapse of tower 6 of the Space complex and also held the city liable for failing to supervise the construction. The award covers the lost homes.
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Landmark casesSep 22, 20262 min read
Colombia's Supreme Court orders the insurer to pay the victim directly (ruling SC072-2025)
In the case of a girl left with permanent after-effects by a late diagnosis, the Court held the health insurer and the provider liable and ordered La Previsora to pay up to COP 270 million directly to the claimants.
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Landmark casesSep 22, 20261 min read
Mocoa landslide: the court rejects force majeure and holds the Nation, Putumayo and the town liable
The Administrative Court of Cundinamarca found the 2017 tragedy was foreseeable and that the authorities didn't do what was needed to prevent it. It ordered payment of 63,148 monthly minimum wages to the victims. It is a first-instance ruling.
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Landmark casesSep 22, 20262 min read
Kidnapped by the FARC and then jailed by the prosecutors: the Sigifredo López case at the Council of State
The former Valle del Cauca deputy was arrested in 2012 based on a video comparison and released three months later. The Council of State confirmed prosecutors must compensate him, using its guideline amounts for short detentions.
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Landmark casesSep 22, 20262 min read
Employer fault in a conflict zone: company liable for a worker killed while repairing the Caño Limón pipeline
The company knew armed groups were in the area and still took no measures. Colombia's Supreme Court let stand an award of more than COP 300 million for the family.
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Landmark casesSep 22, 20261 min read
Fatal liposuction in Valledupar: Colombia's Supreme Court explains when a cosmetic surgeon is liable
A patient died after intestinal perforations during a liposuction. The Court set the rule: a cosmetic surgeon must use adequate means, but if a result was promised, fault is presumed.
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Landmark casesSep 22, 20262 min read
Club El Nogal: how far a venue's duty of safety goes
Colombia's Constitutional Court and then its Supreme Court concluded that a venue's safety duty is an obligation to take reasonable measures, not to guarantee a result. The club was cleared of liability for the 2003 bombing.
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Landmark casesSep 22, 20261 min read
Fundación (Magdalena) tragedy: a church, the town and the traffic authority held liable for the bus fire that killed 33 children
Colombia's Council of State split the liability: 80% for the church that hired the bus and 10% each for the town and the traffic authority, for failing to control an unsafe vehicle carrying children.
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Landmark casesSep 22, 20262 min read
Acquitted in criminal court, but still liable: Colombia's Supreme Court and a pedestrian death in Copacabana
The driver who killed a pedestrian was acquitted because of doubt in the criminal case. Even so, the Supreme Court ordered him, the car's owner and her insurer to compensate the widow.
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