currently practices in the Child Protection Unit. She is a Colorado native, born in Paonia. She attended college at Colorado Women’s College and then attended law school at the University of Denver Law School. Prior to her current position working in the Denver City Attorney’s Office, her career included: five years’ practice in child welfare as a guardian ad litem, a prior Assistant City Attorney position working in child protection for Denver, three years as an attorney in child protection in Adams County, and five years as a child welfare trainer for all Colorado county Departments of Human Services.
JOHN BECKMAN is an Assistant Director for Human Services Legal Section with responsibility over the Fraud, Adult Protection, and Human Services Employment Law sections. Formerly, he served nearly 6 years in our office as a Senior Attorney in the Litigation\Employment Law Section. John was born and raised in Chautauqua County, New York, and is a graduate of the New York State University Systems where he received his B.A. degree in English and politics, Phi Beta Kappa, with High honors, 1974. Thereafter he attended Law school at the
College of William & Mary, where he received his Juris Doctor degree, 1977. Prior to joining the City Attorney’s office, John maintained an active civil litigation practice for over 20 years, emphasizing the trial of labor and employment law cases. During those years, John served as lead counsel in the trial of hundreds of civil cases, and has many reported decisions in high-profile cases before state and federal Appellate courts. John has served as a Bar association lecturer, a National Institute of Trial Advocacy instructor, and has been active in educational and civic programs such as judging national law school moot court competitions and mentoring high school students moot court teams.
JACQUELINE HERNANDEZ BERARDINI is an Assistant City Attorney in the Municipal Operations Section. Jackie is a 1980 graduate of the University of Denver School of Law. Before joining the Office of the City Attorney, Jackie practiced environmental law and provided public policy counsel to the Colorado Attorney General and the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. She also provided in-house counsel to Kaiser-Hill Company at the Rocky Flats Environmental Technology Site on environmental and government contract matters. Most recently, she was in private practice, continuing the specialty emphasis in environmental and contract law. Jackie’s practice at the City Attorney’s Office is to provide legal advice to City agencies regarding environmental compliance and liability, defending environmental claims against the City and pursuing the City’s claims against third parties. This practice includes providing counsel regarding federal and state environmental and public health laws, drafting local legislation and rules, representing the City in administrative proceedings and in the courts, and advising City agencies regarding development and acquisition of environmentally impaired real estate. Jackie was an ad hoc professor at the
University of
Denver,
University College, and has spoken to a variety of professional and blue-collar audiences on a variety of environmental topics. Jackie became the President of the Board of Directors for Colorado I Have A Dream Foundation on January 14, 2009
DAVID M. BERNHART, JR. is an Assistant City Attorney with the Adult Protection Unit of the Human Services Legal Section. David graduated from
Creighton University,
Omaha, Nebraska, where he received his B.A. in Political Science in 1982, and his Juris Doctor in 1987. David has been an attorney in
Colorado since May, 1990. Prior to joining the City Attorney’s Office, he was in private practice as a sole practitioner and founding partner of a law firm in the metropolitan area. His previous areas of law practice encompassed real estate transactions, corporate and partnership law, landlord/tenant, criminal defense, domestic relations, civil, bankruptcy, and small business. He started with the Fraud Unit of the Human Services Section in February, 1998, and then transitioned to the Adult Protection Unit in February, 2001. David moved to the Mental Health Unit in August, 2005, and also covered Adult Protection Unit duties from March, 2006 to July, 2007. David resumed his responsibilities with the Adult Protection Unit in July, 2007. David is a member of both the
Colorado and Denver Bar Associations.
THOMAS BIGLER is an Assistant City Attorney in the Litigation Section representing
Denver and its officials and employees as lead counsel in all
United States federal and State of
Colorado courts. Thom’s practice focuses primarily on defense of civil rights, personal injury and property damage lawsuits. Prior to joining the Litigation Section, Thom practiced in the Municipal Operations Section where he was lead counsel litigating land use and regulatory cases in state and federal courts and before administrative boards and commissions. Thom has extensive experience advising and representing
Denver in land use and real estate matters including transactions, negotiations, development agreements, eminent domain, zoning, adult use, planning, telecommunications, Charter districts and statutory districts. Thom also has extensive experience advising the Denver City Council, Board of Adjustment for Zoning Appeals, Planning Commission and the statutory multi-jurisdictional Boundary Control Commission in procedural and substantive matters and representing departments before boards and commissions. Thom served as an Assistant Eagle County Attorney responsible for land use and general county law matters before joining the Law Department.
TIFFANIE W. BLEAU is an Assistant City Attorney in the Prosecution and Code Enforcement (PACE) Section. Ms. Bleau has lived in the
Denver area for most of her life. She briefly detoured to
California where she obtained her B.A. in Quantitative Economics and Decision Sciences from the
University of
California at
San Diego and her Juris Doctor degree from the UCLA School of Law. Prior to joining the Denver City Attorney’s Office, Ms. Bleau worked for
Jefferson County, the City of
Arvada and a small municipal practice firm.
DIANNE BRISCOE is an Assistant City Attorney in the Human Services Legal Section where she currently practices in the Employment Law/Civil Litigation Unit. Dianne began her practice with the City Attorney’s Office in1996 in the Airport Legal Services Section. Her airport practice specialty was contracts and leases, including the RFP and leasing of airport land for oil well drilling. Dianne transferred to the Human Services Section in 1998 where she worked in the Child Protection Unit before her current assignment in the Employment Law/Civil Litigation Unit. Before becoming an Assistant City Attorney, Dianne was counsel to the Colorado Governor’s Job Training Office, where her practice consisted of contracts, employment law, Equal Employment Opportunity and American Disabilities Act matters. At that time, Dianne also served on the Colorado Commission on Judicial Performance. Dianne is a graduate of the University of Denver College of Law (J.D. 1983),
East Texas State University (M.A. in Business Administration) and
Lincoln University (
Mo.) (B.A. in Sociology). Dianne has been a guest speaker for numerous community based organizations and at
Stillman College (
Tuscaloosa,
Alabama) and the
University of Denver, Graduate School of Social Work. She recently completed her term as President of the Sam Cary Bar Association and currently serves on the CBA Board of Governors. Dianne is also a member of the Colorado Hispanic Bar Association and the Colorado Women’s Bar Association.
DAVID W. BROADWELL was appointed an Assistant City Attorney in the Land Use and Revenue Section of the City and
County of Denver’s Department of Law in 1999. He is now in charge of special projects for the Department. Prior to joining the City, he served for seven years as the staff attorney for the Colorado Municipal League. He is the principal author of TABOR: A Guide to the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights (1999), and contributed to numerous other CML publications while at the League. For the past ten years, he has written the chapter on local government law for the Annual Survey of Colorado Law, published by Continuing Legal Education in Colorado, Inc. Mr. Broadwell also frequently participates as an amicus curiae representing the interests of Colorado municipalities in Colorado appellate courts, and regularly appears as a presenter on continuing legal education programs for local government attorneys in Colorado. In 2002, he received the Award for Distinguished Public Service by a Local Government Attorney from the International Municipal Law Association. From 1982 until 1992, Mr. Broadwell served as a planner and city attorney in
Glenwood Springs, Colorado. He holds his law degree and master’s degree in regional planning from the
University of North Carolina.
KERRY A. BUCKEY is an Assistant City Attorney in the Municipal Operations Section doing land use work . Kerry graduated with a B.S. in Biology from William and Mary before joining the Army in 1971 as an Armor Officer. In 1975, he was selected for the Judge Advocate General’s Funded Legal Education Program and attended CU Law School from which he graduated in 1978. He retired from the JAG Corps in 1996 having served as administrative law officer, international affairs officer, prosecutor, senior and regional defense counsel, deputy staff judge advocate and military judge. From 1997 to 1999 he was the City Attorney for Central City,
Colorado. He joined the City Attorney’s Office in March of 2000.
MICHELLE BUSH is an Assistant City Attorney in the Municipal Operations Section and joined the City Attorney’s Office in 2007. Prior to joining the City Attorney’s Office Michelle was a Deputy County Attorney for
Salt Lake County, Utah, where she focused on property tax litigation and handled bankruptcy matters. Michelle also served as an Assistant Attorney General for the State of
Utah from 1992 until 2004 and Property Tax Section Chief in that office since 1998. Michelle has extensive experience in state and local tax matters, and is admitted to the United States Supreme Court as well as the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals.
KEVIN CAIN is an Assistant City Attorney with the Airport Legal Services Section for the City and
County of Denver. Mr. Cain is a graduate of
Eastern Illinois University with a B.A. in Political Science, and earned his Juris Doctor degree from the
University of Colorado in 1999. Prior to joining the City Attorney’s Office, Mr. Cain was in private practice representing clients in a broad range of transactional matters and complex commercial litigation in both state and federal courts. Mr. Cain counsels
Denver International Airport on matters related to real estate transactions, open records requests, compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, and claims and litigation involving personal injuries and property damage.
JENNIFER COLLINS is an Assistant City Attorney assigned to the Human Services Legal Section, Child Protection Unit. Jennifer is originally from
Maryland. She graduated from
Grinnell College in 2000 with a Bachelor of Art in Psychology. She then attended the University of Colorado School of Law and received her Juris Doctor degree in 2004. After graduating from law school, she clerked for the Honorable H. Jeffrey Bayless.
DAVID V. COOKE is an Assistant City Attorney in the Municipal Operations Section of the City Attorney's Office. He primarily handles excise and property tax litigation as well as bankruptcy. Graduated from New England Law –
Boston in 1984.
LUIS A. CORCHADO is an Assistant Director in the Litigation Section. He joined the Litigation Section as a permanent employee on March 1, 2004. From approximately 1995 to 2000, he represented the City in all types of employment cases. Luis is the proud father of twin sons. In January 2003, Luis appeared on Jeopardy as a contestant. Luis was born in Puerto Rico and raised in the Big Apple and the
Garden State. He graduated from the University of Pennsylvania Law School in 1988. From 1989 until 1996, Luis helped create and then served the Colorado Hispanic League, a lobbying organization. In 1997, Luis joined the Colorado Hispanic Bar Association’s board and is still serving on that board. On the side, Luis worked as a litigation attorney for Davis, Graham & Stubbs, and the federal, state and
Denver governments. He served as an administrative law judge for the State of
Colorado for two years. He also served as a Deputy Regional Manager for a six-state region in the Civil Rights Office of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Last but not least, he was appointed by Governor Romer to serve two terms as a Colorado Real Estate Commissioner.
SUANNE CRAIG has been an Assistant City Attorney in the Child Support Unit of the Human Services Legal Section since 1989. Prior to joining the Denver City Attorney’s Office, she was a Deputy District Attorney in
El Paso County. Ms. Craig graduated from the University of Colorado School of Law and received her Juris Doctorate in 1985. Ms. Craig and was in private practice before joining the District Attorney’s Office in
Colorado Springs.
LINDA M. DAVISON is an Assistant City Attorney in the Human Services Legal Section. She is a graduate of Kent State University (B.S.) and the University of New Mexico (J.D.). Linda has been practicing law for 18 years and has participated in over 70 jury trials. She is a former prosecutor with the Arapahoe County District Attorney’s Office and the Colorado Attorney General’s Office, and was in private practice specializing in civil rights and employment law before joining the City’s employment law team.
LARA DELKA is an Assistant City Attorney currently assigned to the Child Support Enforcement Unit of the Human Services Legal Section. Lara was born in
Fort Collins,
Colorado and raised in
Sterling, Colorado. Lara attended
Simpson College in
Indianola, Iowa and received a B.A. in both English and Criminal Justice in 1992. Lara attended Washburn University School of Law in
Topeka, Kansas and received her Juris Doctorate degree in 1996. Prior to joining the City Attorney’s Office in 2000, Lara practiced with the law firm of Lohman & Lohman, P.C. in
Colorado Springs, Colorado from 1996 through 1998, with an emphasis on allocation of parental responsibility and dissolution cases. Lara then associated with the firm of Stoorman & Friednash, L.L.P. from 1998 through 2000, also with an emphasis in family law. Lara is a member of the
Colorado and Denver Bar Associations, as well as the Family Law Bar.
VICTOR C. DEVEREAUX is an Assistant City Attorney assigned to the Human Services Legal Section, Child Support Enforcement Unit. Mr. Devereaux was born in Rifle,
Colorado, raised on a ranch in
Rio Blanco County. He attended Metropolitan State College graduating Summa Cum Laude with a double major in Public Management and Political Science. He attended the
University of New York as an American Political Science Fellow. Mr. Devereaux taught at
Arapahoe Community College, has underground coal mining experience, established a successful retail business, and graduated from The University of Denver College of Law in 1987. He has served as the
County Attorney for Costilla and as a Trustee of the State Colleges in
Colorado. Mr. Devereaux established and maintained an active litigation practice emphasizing disability law, workers’ compensation, social security, personal injury and domestic relations. He joined the Denver City Attorney's Office in April 2002 and was assigned to the Human Service's Child Support Enforcement Unit until April 2008 when he was assigned to the Administrative Legal Unit. Mr. Devereaux is an active member of the Colorado Bar Association, past President of the Sam Cary Bar Association, and currently serves on the Commission on Judicial Performance.
VINCE DICROCE is the Director for the Prosecution and Code Enforcement Section. Mr. DiCroce was born and raised in the
Denver area. He left
Colorado in 1983 and served eight years in the United States Navy. While in the Navy, Mr. DiCroce obtained his B.A. in Political Science from The American University in
Washington, D.C. Thereafter, he attended the University of Maryland School of Law where he received his Juris Doctor degree, with honors, in 1993. Upon graduation from law school, Mr. DiCroce returned to
Colorado and began working with the City Attorney’s Office in 1994. Mr. DiCroce has extensive trial experience and has lectured and conducted trainings on domestic violence, criminal law, trial practice, and First Amendment topics.
JOSEPH DIGREGORIO, is an Assistant City Attorney assigned to the Prosecution and Code Enforcement Section, Mental Health Unit, and has been with City and
County of Denver since 1991. He graduated from
Gonzaga University Law School and received his Juris Doctorate Degree, 1986. After
Law School he opened his own law practice with emphasis on Family Law, Criminal Law and Bankruptcy. He has extensive experience in the litigation of paternity and child support actions and has presented numerous CLE Programs on various topics in Paternity and Child Support Actions.
LAURA GRZETIC EIBSEN has been an Assistant City Attorney with the Human Services Legal Section since 1991. She specializes in handling appeals in dependency and neglect cases, but has extensive experience litigating juvenile law cases in
Denver and in
Adams County. After graduating cum laude from
Georgetown University in 1979, Ms. Eibsen made her way to
Colorado as a VISTA Volunteer with the
Legal Center for Handicapped Citizens. She received her Juris Doctor degree from the University of Colorado Law School in 1984, where she was a member of the Law Review. She subsequently clerked for the Honorable Orrelle R. Weeks, the then-presiding judge of the Denver Juvenile Court. Ms. Eibsen served on the Executive Council of the Juvenile Law Section of the Colorado Bar Association and was a member of the Colorado Respondent Parents’ Counsel Task Force in 2006-2007.
SUZANNE A. FASING has been an Assistant City Attorney for
Denver since 1999. She currently practices in the Litigation Section where she defends federal civil rights cases and tort cases. Ms. Fasing has also practiced in the Human Services Section with an emphasis in juvenile law and child protection work. Ms. Fasing obtained her Juris Doctor degree from the
University of Denver College Of Law in 1978. She served as a former Deputy District Attorney in
Adams County and First Assistant Attorney General for the State of
Colorado. Ms. Fasing has been a guest speaker for the Colorado Bar Association Juvenile Law Section and for the National Association of Attorneys General and the North American Securities Administrators Association. She was also in private practice which emphasized civil and administrative litigation. She serves on the board of directors of Denver CASA (court-appointed special advocates) and on the board of the
University of Colorado Parents Association. She is a mentor through Big Sisters of Colorado.
NATHANIEL FEHRMANN is an Assistant City Attorney in the Prosecution and Code Enforcement Section. Nate got his start in prosecuting as a Deputy District Attorney in Eagle County Colorado in 2002. He started as a County court deputy, and then worked as a District court deputy for a year and a half before leaving
Eagle County for the front range. He left prosecuting briefly to work in the financial services industry for a little over a year. Prior to joining the Denver City Attorney’s Office, Nate also worked as a prosecutor for the City of
Westminster. Nate was raised in
Missouri and entered the Navy just out of High school where he served as a submariner during Desert Storm. He returned to
Missouri to get his Bachelors in Criminal Justice at
Southeast Missouri State University, and then earned his Juris Doctor in 2002 from the
University of
Missouri at
Columbia, before moving to
Colorado.
PETER W. FRIGO is an Assistant City Attorney in the Prosecution and Code Enforcement Section. Bio will be updated soon.
CHRIS GADDIS is an Assistant City Attorney in the Prosecution and Code Enforcement Section. Chris received his B.A. from Metropolitan State College of Denver in 1995, and then earned his J.D. from the University of Denver College of Law in 2000. He began working as a prosecutor in
Glenwood Springs, Colorado, for the 9
th Judicial District where he prosecuted misdemeanor, juvenile, and felony cases for four years. He also entered private practice for one and a half years doing criminal defense, family law, and general civil litigation. Just prior to joining the City Attorney’s office, he prosecuted felony cases in the 4
th Judicial District in
Colorado Springs.
GEORGE “SKIP” GRAY, III is an Assistant City Attorney for the City and
County of Denver in the Airport Legal Services Section. A native of
Denver, Skip is a product of the Denver Public School System. He is a graduate of
Mesa Junior College and the
University of Denver where he received his Associate, Bachelor, Master, and Juris Doctor degrees. Before joining the City Attorney’s Office as a prosecutor in 1994, Skip was Managing Partner for Gray Jones Hahn & Browne. Prior to that he was an employment law and commercial litigation associate with Holland & Hart, LLC. Today, Skip is a member of the Airport Legal Services Section of the City Attorney’s Office where he is presently involved in a variety of transactional work for
Denver International Airport. He has responsibility for negotiation and preparation of various Airport agreements, licenses and permits and provides day-to-day counsel to the Property and Concessions Management Section of the Airport. In addition, Skip chairs the Diversity Committee of the City Attorney’s Office, and is a member of the City-wide Diversity Advisory Committee, Past President of the Sam Cary Bar Association, an elected member of the Colorado Bar Association Board of Governors, and the
University of
Denver’s
College of Law Alumni Council.
STEVEN J. HAHN is an Assistant City Attorney in the Municipal Operations Section. Steve is a graduate from
Manual High School in
Denver,
Hampshire College in
Amherst,
Massachusetts, and the
University of
Denver;
College of Law (JD ’88) and Graduate School of International Studies (MA ’93). Steve is a 3rd generation
University of Denver Law school graduate. Steve previously worked for the Denver City Auditor, Mike Licht, the Honorable Gaspar Perricone in the 1st Judicial District, the Overseas Private Investment Corporation in Washington, D.C. and most recently was a partner at the law firm of Hahn, Smith Walsh and Mancuso, P.C., where he specialized in the representation of special districts, and as well as in the fields of real estate, general commercial, probate, family law and litigation. Steve is the past chairman of Metropolitan Volunteer Lawyers, formerly the Thursday Night Bar, (2006-2007) and is active in Cub and Boy Scouts.
MOLLY HAYES is an Assistant City Attorney in the Human Services Legal Section. She is a California native, born and raised in San Luis Obispo. She received her Bachelors degree in Political Science from Gonzaga University in 2001. Ms. Hayes liked Gonzaga and the state of Washington so much that she stuck around and graduated from the Gonzaga University School of Law in 2004. Prior to joining the Denver City Attorney’s Office, Ms. Hayes worked for a small family law firm, the 18th Judicial District Attorney’s Office, and a small special district practice. Ms. Hayes is licensed to practice law in Colorado and California.
LAURIE J. HEYDMAN is an Assistant City Attorney assigned to the Municipal Operations Section. Laurie double majored in Psychology and Pre-Law and minored in Speech Communications at the
University of Denver, receiving her B.A. in 1985, graduating Phi Beta Kappa and Cum Laude. She received her J.D. from the University of Denver College of Law, where she served as president of the Entertainment Law Society. Laurie came to the City Attorney’s Office in 1995 after six years in civil and commercial litigation. She is assigned a variety of work for the Section including bankruptcy, intellectual property, property tax appeals, contracts, municipal financing, and affordable housing. Her client agencies include the Department of Revenue, the Division of Cultural Affairs, the Assessor’s Office, the Office of Economic Development, and Theaters and Arenas. Laurie has received Special Recognition from the Metro City Attorney’s Association for her role in successfully defending
Denver’s affirmative action ordinance. Laurie also manages internships for the Section, supervising as many as eight students per semester.
NORMAN W. HIGLEY is an Assistant City Attorney assigned to the Airport Legal Services Section. He received his law degree from the University of Nebraska in 1987, and has an undergraduate degree in geology. Norm has lived in the Denver area since 1988. Prior to joining the City Attorney’s Office, he was in private legal practice for eighteen years. He also has worked in the engineering and architectural field for a regional consulting firm. He served for five years as a member of the Colorado Hazardous Waste Commission, and taught a graduate studies course in Environmental Law at the University of Denver. Norm has lectured and published in the fields of environmental law and real estate redevelopment, including contributing chapters to “Environmental Regulation of Colorado Real Property,” Bradford Publishing, 2007; and "Environmental Law Handbook," Colorado Association of Commerce and Industry, 1993. Norm represents Denver International Airport in matters related to engineering, design, construction, and professional services contracts as well as environmental permitting and compliance issues.
ANGELA HUNT is an Assistant City Attorney in the General Sessions Unit of the Prosecution and Code Enforcement Section. Ms. Hunt was born and raised in
Washington State. She obtained her undergraduate degree at
Washington State University, graduating in 1999 with a B.A. in Political Science and a minor in Philosophy. Following undergrad Ms. Hunt attended graduate school at
Columbia University where she received a Masters degree in International Affairs. Thereafter she attended law school at the
University of Denver where she was a member of Law Review and graduated with her Juris Doctor degree in 2006. Prior to working in the Denver City Attorney’s Office she worked in a small law firm in
Denver, Colorado.
FRANK INGHAM is an Assistant City Attorney in the Prosecution and Code Enforcement Section. Frank was born in
Broomfield,
Colorado, and graduated from
Regis High School in 1987. He received his B.A. from
Drake University in
Des Moines Iowa in 1991. After college he spent the next four years as a Sergeant in the U.S. Army, serving as a Training NCO in the 18th Airborne Corps. After the Army, Frank worked 6 years for Janus Mutual Funds in
Denver, supervising the Research Department, which handled auditing and tax issues. Frank attended law school at the
University of Denver, graduating in 2006. During law school he interned at the Larimer County District Attorney’s Office for one year. After graduation, he worked 17 months as a Law Clerk in the
District Court of Jefferson County for the Honorable Randall C. Arp. Frank was married in 2006 to his wife Sarah, who he met in undergrad in 1987. They are expecting a baby girl in March, to be named Claire Hepburn Ingham.
JENNIFER JACOBSON is an Assistant City Attorney in the Litigation Section working exclusively on law enforcement issues. Ms. Jacobson is a 1996 graduate of
Colorado State University with a degree in Political Science, and a 2000 graduate of Rutgers School of Law. After law school she relocated to
New York City where she worked at Employment Compliance Solutions, an employment law consulting firm before taking a position as agency counsel with the
District of Columbia, Department of Transportation. Prior to joining the City Attorney’s Office she worked for the US Postal Services in the
Denver office of their National Employment Litigation Unit.
MICHAEL JOYCE has been an Assistant City Attorney in the Prosecution and Code Enforcement Section since 1996. Mr. Joyce attended the
University of Northern Colorado where he received a B.A. degree in Social Science, with a secondary of education teaching credential. Mr. Joyce attended law school at the University of Arkansas School of Law in
Fayetteville, Arkansas, where he received his Juris Doctor degree in 1993. Within the City Attorney's Office, Mr. Joyce has been assigned to the Prosecution and Code Enforcement Section. Mr. Joyce has practiced in the following areas: Traffic, General Sessions, and the Department of Excise and Licenses.
LINDA LINCOLN is an Assistant City Attorney in the Prosecution and Code Enforcement Section. She received her B.S. from
Wayne State University and her J.D. from Michigan State University-Detroit College of Law. Linda worked for 9 years as a courtroom clerk/intern at the Wayne County Circuit Court in
Detroit,
Michigan before moving to
Colorado. She began her work in Colorado as a prosecutor for the Adams County District Attorney’s Office (3 years) and then continued this work at the Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office (16 years) where, in addition to handling felony prosecution dockets, she was appointed to serve as a Chief Deputy District Attorney which entailed supervising lawyers and support staff, advising police departments and overseeing or developing numerous special projects.
CHRISTIAN M. LIND is an Assistant City Attorney in the Litigation Section who specializes in defense of workers’ compensation claims. Born and raised in New Haven, Connecticut, Chris graduated from Yale College with a degree in American History in 1972. He came to Colorado soon after and received his J.D. degree from the University of Colorado Law School in 1978. After serving as a District Court law clerk for one year, he worked for the Adams County Attorney’s Office where he represented County officials and defended the County against tort claims. He moved to Wood, Ris, and Hames, P.C., a Denver insurance defense and litigation firm, in 1983 and became a partner in 1989. While there, Chris tried numerous personal injury, products liability, professional liability, and bad-faith cases. He also defended government entities, litigated insurance issues, and tried civil-rights and employment law cases. He began his workers’ compensation practice in 1990. He moved to Joel N. Varnell and Associates, in-house counsel for Farmers Insurance Group, in 1998 and served as lead counsel for Farmers Insurance Group’s workers’ compensation claims in the Front Range area between 1999 and 2006. Chris joined the City Attorney’s Office in July 2006. He is a member of the Colorado Defense Lawyers Association.
NIELS LOECHELL is an Assistant City Attorney assigned to the Civil Litigation and Claims Unit of the Human Services Legal Section. Niels was born in
Copenhagen,
Denmark and his family immigrated to
Endicott, New York in 1951. He attended the
University of
Michigan and
University of
Illinois, and received his B.A. from the
University of Illinois. He next attended the University of Denver Law School, participated in its Alaska Externship program, and received his J.D. Degree in 1974. Prior to joining the City Attorney’s Office in 1988, he was a Trial Attorney and Supervisory Trial Attorney for ten years with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission’s
Denver Regional Litigation Center and its Phoenix District Office. During those years he handled employment discrimination cases in
Colorado,
Arizona,
New Mexico,
Utah and
Texas.
CHRISTOPHER M. A. LUJAN, a
Denver native, is an Assistant Director in the Litigation Section and who became a member of the Litigation Section in February 2003. Mr. Lujan earned a B.A. degree in Political Science from the
University of Northern Colorado in 1994 and earned his law degree from the Northeastern University School of Law in 1997. As former prosecutor, he was a Deputy District Attorney in
Weld County before coming to work at the Denver City Attorney’s Office. Mr. Lujan later went on to work as a prosecutor with the Prosecution and Code Enforcement Section for the Denver City Attorney’s Office in August 2000. Mr. Lujan’s duties as a prosecutor focused primarily on the successful prosecution of drunk driving offenses and domestic violence crimes. Mr. Lujan now handles Career Service appeals, administrative law hearings, EEOC complaints, personal injury claims filed in state court, employment law cases filed in state and federal court, and excessive force lawsuits filed in federal court. In 2006, Chris was named to the Board of Trustees for
Bishop Machebeuf Catholic High School in
Denver.
KATHERINE MACKENZIE, is an Assistant City Attorney in the Human Services Legal Section. A native of Reno, Nevada, she received her Juris Doctor degree from the University of the Pacific – McGeorge School of Law in 1985. While an attorney in Reno, after a clerkship with the Nevada Supreme Court, she was in a private litigation practice for a number of years before joining the Washoe County Public Defender’s Office in that office’s Family Law Division. She relocated to the Denver area, and, after another stint in a private litigation firm, she joined the City Attorney’s Office in 2007 and represents the Department of Human Services in dependency and neglect matters.soon.
LEE MARABLE is an Assistant City Attorney with the Airport Legal Services Section. Mr. Marable was born in
Buffalo,
New York and raised in
Detroit, Michigan. Mr. Marable is a graduate of the State University of New York at
Albany and Vanderbilt University School of Law. Mr. Marable has been with the Department of Law since 1984. Mr. Marable specializes in all aspects of aviation and municipal law.
DOLORES MARTINEZ HERNANDEZ is an Assistant City Attorney in the Human Services Legal Section. She graduated from the University of Colorado School of Law and was the Managing Partner in a small law firm in
Pueblo, Colorado from 1980 to 1991, after working as a Deputy District Attorney in the 10th Judicial District. In
Pueblo, she implemented an Elder Law Project and subsequently a Guardian ad Litem Project. Dolores has experience working in the U.S. District Court, Bankruptcy Court, U.S. Tenth Circuit and handled an appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court. For a period of time, she represented attorneys in grievance matters on a pro bono basis. Since 1991, she has been with the City Attorney’s Office assigned to the Human Services Section where she has worked in the Child Protection, Adult Services, Mental Health, and, Welfare Fraud Units, and is currently assigned to the Child Support Unit. During her time with the City, she has served as a member of the following: Joint Subcommittee on the Uniform Guardianship and Protective Proceedings Act; Bioethics Committee; the City Attorney Training Committee; the Institute for Advanced Legal Studies at the University of Denver College of Law; the Colorado Welfare Fraud Council; City Attorney Mentoring Program. She is a current member of the Colorado Bar Association, Colorado Hispanic Bar Association, and the Sam Cary Bar Association.
PATRICK C. McKINSTRY is an Assistant City Attorney in the Prosecution and Code Enforcement Section. Mr. McKinstry is a fourth-generation Coloradan. He was raised in
Denver, and graduated from
Colorado Academy in 1988. Mr. McKinstry studied economics and history at the
University of Colorado. He completed OCS in
Quantico, Virginia in 1993, and spent four years in the United States Marine Corps. After the Marines, he earned his law degree and MBA from
Arizona State University. In 2007 Mr. McKinstry participated in the National Institute for Trial Advocacy’s National Session. He served as a Deputy District Attorney in the 18
th Judicial District before joining the Denver City Attorney’s Office.
SHANNON MEDDINGS is an Assistant City Attorney in the Human Servcies Legal Section. She is a native of
Kentucky. She graduated from the
University of Louisville in 1988 with a B.A. in psychology. Shannon attended the
University of
Denver,
School of Law, where she received a J.D. in 2002. Prior to joining the Denver City Attorney’s Office in May 2005, she most recently worked in private practice as a litigation attorney. She handled family law, adoption, guardianship, employment, criminal, and general civil litigation cases. Before that, she worked for the District Attorney’s office in 18th Judicial District, as the Fast Track Advocate, working with domestic violence victims and additionally she interned in county court for the DA’s Office. Shannon has 15 years of experience handling domestic violence issues through the courts, serving in various capacities: Legal Justice Coordinator for a DV Program in Louisville, Kentucky – The Center for Women and Families; Project Director, Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Response Unit – Jefferson County Police Department, Louisville, Kentucky; and Legal Advocate, conducting Civil Temporary Restraining Order Clinic, providing support, referrals and advice to victims, preparing legal research – Family Tree Women in Crisis, Arvada, Colorado.
Shannon is currently assigned to the Child Protection Unit.
CHRIS MOOTZ is the Director of the Human Services Legal Section & Acting Director of the Litigation Section. He graduated from the University of Denver School of Law and received his Juris Doctorate in 1978. After working as a general practitioner in the
Denver area for seven years, Chris was hired by the City Attorney’s Office as a child protection litigator in the Human Services Section in 1986. In 1992, he was promoted to Assistant City Attorney – Senior and assigned to the Employment Law Section. In May, 1999, Chris and his wife left the City for a year to travel “the world”. In 2000, they returned to
Denver and the City Attorney rehired Chris into the Employment Law Section. In May, 2001, Chris became supervisor of the Human Services Legal Section.
RICHARD MOORE is an Assistant City Attorney in the Human Services Legal Section. He is a graduate of the
University of Colorado and Denver University College of Law. He comes to Denver from the Jefferson County Attorney’s office, and prior to that was in private practice.
FRANKLIN A. NACHMAN joined the City Attorney’s Office in May 2007 as an Assistant City Attorney in the Employment Law Unit of the Litigation Section. He is a graduate of Wesleyan University and The University of Chicago Law School. Before moving to Colorado in 1984, he practiced general civil litigation in Chicago. While in Colorado he has had extensive trial and appellate litigation experience in both the public and private employment law sectors while a shareholder at Semple & Jackson, P.C. and Littler Mendelson, P.C. He has published articles in journals such as The Annual Survey of Colorado Law, The Journal of Air Law and Commerce, and Litigation, a publication of the American Bar Association. He has been the Tenth Circuit Editor for The Appellate Practice Journal, an ABA publication, and recently edited revisions to the chapter on Employment Law in West’s Colorado Methods of Practice.
KORY A. NELSON has been an Assistant City Attorney assigned to the Prosecution and Code Enforcement Section since 1989. He was born and raised in
Fremont, Nebraska. Mr. Nelson earned his Bachelor of Science degree from
Arizona State University’s Criminal Justice Program in 1985 with honors, after serving three years in the U.S. Army in
West Berlin,
Germany, and
Ft. Huachuca, Arizona. He graduated from the Arizona State College of Law in 1989. Mr. Nelson was the recipient of the Truman Young Memorial Prosecutorial Fellowship, which allowed him the opportunity to work as a student attorney actively prosecuting criminal cases in trial courts and handling appellate responses with the Phoenix Municipal Prosecutor’s Office, the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office, the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona, and the Arizona Attorney General’s Criminal Appellate Division. Mr. Nelson has practiced in the following areas: Traffic, General Sessions, and General Violations. Mr. Nelson also served as the City’s legal counsel for both the Director of the Department of Excise & Licenses and the Denver Public Nuisance Abatement Coordinator. Mr. Nelson has many favorable decisions in high-profile cases before the County, State, and Federal Appellate Courts. He is an Instructor for the Denver Sheriff’s
Training Academy and has provided several legal training seminars for many
Denver municipal agencies and inspectors. He is the prosecutorial legal counsel for
Denver’s photo traffic enforcement program. Mr. Nelson was the City’s lead counsel in the successful litigation against the State of
Colorado in defending
Denver’s state constitutional authority for home rule self-determination over
Denver’s pit bull ban ordinance in 2004-07.
ROBERT D. NESPOR is an Assistant City Attorney who became a member of the Litigation Section in August 2000. Before joining the City Attorney’s Office, Rob was engaged in private practice, emphasizing civil litigation and administrative law. While primarily a litigator, Rob also represents the City in collective bargaining and arbitration matters involving the Denver Police, Fire and Sheriff unions. Rob received his law degree from the University of Denver College of Law, where he was a member of the Transportation Law Journal. Rob also holds a B.S. degree in Business Administration from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
LINDA NICKELS is an Assistant City Attorney in the Human Services Legal Section and has been assigned to the Child Support Enforcement Unit since 2004. While obtaining her bachelor’s degree at the
University of Colorado, Linda focused on domestic violence issues, volunteering at the Boulder County Safe house. Upon graduation from the
University of
Denver,
College of Law, Linda worked as a law clerk for the Honorable Robert S. Hyatt, where she assisted in drafting legal memoranda and assisted with trials. Linda was hired by the Denver City Attorney's Office in 1999 and worked in Prosecution and Code Enforcement (PACE) for five years. While at PACE Linda prosecuted municipal ordinance violations focusing on domestic violence matters, and she also trained new attorneys and interns in the general sessions, arraignment and traffic courtrooms.
VICTORIA ORTEGA is an Assistant City Attorney assigned to the Municipal Operations Section. Vicky double majored in Political Science and International Spanish for the Professions at the
University of Colorado, receiving her B.A. in 1986. She received her J.D. in 1990 from the University of Colorado School of Law. Highly interested in pursuing a career in public sector law, Vicky came to the City Attorney’s Office in 1991. Currently, her workload includes reviewing, drafting and negotiating contracts, leases, and other legal instruments; grant administration and compliance, including high volume programs such Head Start, work force development, and human services; election law; and a variety of local government law issues. She has also developed an emphasis in Internet law, trademarks and copyrights. In 2003, Vicky received Special Recognition from the Metro City Attorney’s Association for her role in successfully defending
Denver’s affirmative action ordinance. Vicky also co-manages the Section’s internship program. She was selected to participate in the Colorado Hispanic Institute of Leadership and the Colorado Institute for Leadership Training. She has been a mentor for the Colorado Hispanic Bar Association tutorial program and has volunteered for several non-profit and community groups in
Denver.
DEBRA ASIMUS OVERN is an Assistant City Attorney in the Airport Legal Services Section. She is a native of
Jersey City and came to
Colorado in 1979 to earn her B.A. in Environmental Science from the
University of Denver. She received her J.D. from the University of Denver College of Law in 1992, Order of St. Ives. After graduation, Ms. Overn clerked for the Honorable Zita Weinshienk of the United States District Court for the District of Colorado, then began practice with the Sierra Club Legal Defense Fund. She later entered private practice as a commercial litigator, corporate lawyer serving small entities, and environmental pro bono attorney (she was named the Land & Water Fund’s Pro Bono Attorney of the Year for 2000). Currently, Ms. Overn represents DIA on matters related to environmental remediation, demolition, contract negotiation, real estate transactions, and land disposition at the former
Stapleton International Airport, provides general counsel to DIA’s Environmental Services, advises DIA staff on various economic development and property matters, and represents the City in administrative and civil proceedings. She is active in the
Denver legal community, including the Thompson Marsh Inn of Court and the DU Alumni Network.
KARLA J. PIERCE joined the City Attorney’s Office in November 1999 as an Assistant City Attorney in the Litigation Section. Immediately prior to joining the City Attorney’s Office, Karla was an associate in the firm of Miller and Steiert, P.C., in
Littleton, Colorado, where she practiced employment and personal injury litigation for two years. Prior to moving to
Colorado in 1997, Karla practiced law for seven years in
Jackson, Mississippi, where she was a partner in the firm of Hubbard, Pierce & Baria, PLLC. Karla holds a B.S. degree in Business Administration from
Mississippi State University and received her law degree from Mississippi College School of Law, where she was an editor of the Law Review and a member of the National Moot Court Team.
JOHN POLEY is an Assistant Director of the Prosecution and Code Enforcement Section of the Denver City Attorney’s Office. He is the direct supervisor for the attorneys assigned to the Specialty Courts and Traffic Unit who handle municipal juvenile, code enforcement, nuisance abatement, excise and licenses, and traffic. A native Coloradan, Mr. Poley received his Bachelor of Arts degree from the
University of Kansas in 1974. He received his Juris Doctor degree from the
University of
Denver,
College of Law in 1985, and was the law clerk for the Honorable John N. McMullen, Judge, Denver District Court. He has been a prosecutor for the Denver City Attorney’s Office since 1986 and is authorized to practice law in the State of
Colorado, the
United States District Court for the District of Colorado, the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals, and the United States Supreme Court.
PAUL W. PUCKETT is an Assistant City Attorney assigned to the Public Nuisance Abatement Unit of the Prosecution and Code Enforcement Section. Paul has been with the City since May 1992. Prior to joining the Denver City Attorney’s Office, Mr. Puckett worked for Colorado-Ute Electric Association. After Colorado-Ute, he entered into private practice for seventeen years, serving mainly municipal and quasi-municipal clients in western
Colorado that included Mt. Crested Butte, the Town of Lake City, the Crested Butte Water and Sanitation District, Crested Butte South Metropolitan District and the Lake City Water and Sanitation District. Relocating to
Denver in 1986, he was the Assistant Prosecutor for the City of
Glendale until he signed on with
Denver. Mr. Puckett attended the
University of Colorado, receiving his B.A. in English in 1971 and his Juris Doctor degree in 1974. He has taught numerous continuing legal education accredited courses in the subject areas of domestic violence and evidence law.
HELEN RAABE has been with the Department of Law since 1987 and is Assistant Director for the Airport Legal Services Section. She manages the legal staff and represents
Denver International Airport in various matters related to aviation, airport finance, real estate, and concessions. Before joining the Department of Law, she was a trial attorney in private practice at the law firm of Coghill & Goodspeed in
Denver and also served as a law clerk for the Honorable Richard P. Matsch, U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado. Ms. Raabe is a graduate of Lawrence University of Wisconsin with a degree in government and received her J.D. from the
University of Colorado in 1979. She is admitted to practice in
Colorado and before the U.S. District Court, the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals, and the U.S. Supreme Court. Recent awards include Outstanding Deputy City Attorney 2003 (Colorado Municipal League), Exceptional Contributions to Citywide Ethics Training 2003 (Board of Ethics), and Denver Pioneer Award 2001 (Career Service Authority). Ms. Raabe serves on the Colorado Supreme Court Committee on the Rules of Professional Conduct and the Legal Committee and Legal Affairs Steering Group of Airports Council International (ACI), and has recently been a presenter at legal seminars sponsored by ACI, by the American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE), and by the City Attorney’s Office.
DANIELLE RASH is an Assistant City Attorney in the Human Services Legal Section. Born and raised in Denver, she is a product of the Denver Public Schools. She graduated from Knox College in Galesburg, Illinois with a B.A. in Sociology and Education. Danielle attended the
University of
Denver,
School of Law, where she received a J.D. in 2005. Prior to joining the Denver City Attorney’s Office, she handled employment, family law, criminal and general civil litigation cases.
Danielle is currently assigned to the Child Protection Unit.
JOHN REDMOND is an Assistant City Attorney currently assigned to the Airport Legal Services Section. Previously, he was assigned to the Prosecution and Code Enforcement Section of the Denver City Attorney’s Office, focusing primarily on domestic violence cases. Mr. Redmond graduated from
San Jose State University with a B.A. degree in Radio, Television, and Film and a minor in Atmospheric Hazards and received his Juris Doctor degree in 1999 from the University of Denver College of Law. Mr. Redmond has participated in several Bar Association programs, including judging moot court competitions the past several years. Mr. Redmond enjoys golf, reading, and trying to keep up with his two young children.
ROBERT F. REYNOLDS is an Assistant City Attorney in the Prosecution and Code Enforcement Section. He joined the office in 1995 after earning his J.D. at the University of Denver School of Law and his B.A. from
Ripon College (
Wisconsin) with honors. Mr. Reynolds was active in local and state politics prior to joining the City Attorney’s Office. Mr. Reynolds is currently assigned to the General Sessions Unit and handles a trial docket of thousands of cases a year, ranging from domestic violence assaults, threats and restraining order violations, to resisting arrest and prostitution cases, to neighborhood disputes and other assaults and disturbances, which compromise the quality of life in
Denver.
JOSEPH M. RIVERA was hired in May 2007 as an Assistant City Attorney in the Litigation Section. A Colorado native, Mr. Rivera earned both his B.A. and Juris Doctorate degrees from the University of Colorado at Boulder, and holds a Master of Science in Public Policy from Arizona State University. In 2003, he was named a Judicial Fellow of the Colorado Supreme Court under Justice Alex Martinez. Immediately prior to joining the Denver City Attorney's Office, Mr. Rivera served as a Deputy District Attorney in Adams County, trying jury and court trials before the county and district courts. Mr. Rivera's previous employment with the City of Denver includes service as a project manager for the Denver Office of Workforce Development and as a policy manager for the Denver Department of Human Services. He is a graduate of the Colorado Institute for Leadership Training, and a member of the Denver and Colorado Bar Associations.
ANDY SALIMAN is an Assistant City Attorney in the Prosecution and Code Enforcement Section. He received his B.A. from
University of
Chicago, and his Juris Doctor degree from the
University of Denver. Mr. Saliman’s previous assignments with the City Attorney’s Office included: contracts, child support enforcement, dependency and neglect, and Municipal Operations. Prior to joining the City Attorney’s office he was a public defender for over nine years.
BRONWYN SCURLOCK is an Assistant City Attorney in the General Sessions Unit of the Prosecution and Code Enforcement Section. Ms. Scurlock was born and raised in
Portsmouth, Ohio. She attended college at the
University of
South Carolina in
Columbia, South Carolina where she graduated Cum Laude in 2000 with a B.A in English and a minor in Philosophy. Thereafter, she attended law school at the
University of
Toledo in
Toledo, Ohio where she was a member of Law Review, and graduated Cum Laude with her Juris Doctor degree in 2004. Shortly after graduation from law school, she moved to
Colorado. Prior to working in the Denver City Attorney’s Office, she worked in a small law firm in
Longmont, Colorado.
BARBARA SHAKLEE is an Assistant Director in the Human Services Legal Section. The Section provides legal advice and representation to the Denver Department of Human Services. She currently oversees the Child Protection Unit of this section. That Unit prosecutes civil child abuse cases in
Denver Juvenile Court and advises the Family and Children’s Division of the Department of Human Services. Barbara has lived in
Denver since she was a young child. She received her Juris Doctor degree in 1982 from the University of Denver College of Law. Her B.A. degree in Psychology was granted with highest honors in 1973 by Metropolitan State College of Denver. She also studied at
Trinity University in
San Antonio,
Texas and
Colorado State University. Barbara maintained a private law firm for ten years with special emphasis on family and juvenile law before joining the City Attorney’s Office in 1993. She has served on two Colorado Supreme Court Task Forces concerning child protection issues, upon appointment by the Chief Justice. She serves on local and statewide committees to develop interdisciplinary protocol, to draft state regulations and to help shape human services policy. During legislative sessions she monitors bills of interest in the human services field, testifies as needed at legislative hearings, and assists in clarifying issues or proposing amendments. She has presented training programs for the Colorado County Attorney’s Association, the
Kempe National Center on Child Abuse, University of Denver College of Law, and the
Colorado and Denver Departments of Human Services.
STUART L. SHAPIRO is an Assistant City Attorney in the Litigation Section. He has a wide range of litigation and other legal experience. He clerked at the Kansas Supreme Court, was an Assistant District Attorney, which included handling homicide cases, and was an attorney with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, involved in major litigation and bankruptcy cases during the time of the bank failure crisis. He has also done a variety of legal work as an in-house counsel for companies and in private practice. Stuart received his undergraduate degree from the
University of Connecticut and his Juris Doctor degree from the Washburn University School of Law. Stuart and his wife Susan have one daughter, and have lived for many years in the
Platt Park area of
Denver.
WENDY J. SHEA is an Assistant City Attorney in the Litigation Section. Bio will be updated soon.
KAREN GOLAN SIMPSON is an Assistant City Attorney in the Municipal Operations Section of the City Attorney’s Office. Karen received her J.D. form the
University of
Denver in 2005 and was inducted as a member of the Order of
St. Ives, an honor accorded to graduates ranking in the top 10% of the class. Karen received her B.S. in Environmental Policy and Behavior from the
University of Michigan in 2000. Prior to joining the City Attorney’s office, Karen worked as a real estate associate for the regional law firm Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, LLP. Karen’s practice includes drafting and negotiating contract and grant agreements on behalf of the City’s Office of Economic Development.
DANIEL BOBB SLATTERY is an Assistant Director of the Municipal Operations Section, with primary responsibility for oversight of the Section’s contracts lawyers. Dan received his undergraduate degree from
Stanford University, and his law degree at the University of Kentucky College of Law. His practice is primarily transactional, negotiating and preparing City contracts on a variety of subjects, including economic and housing development projects. Dan also advises the City’s Division of Theaters and Arenas on contract matters and other legal questions, and assists City agencies with questions regarding their obligations under the Colorado Open and Criminal Justice Records Acts.
KATHRYN SMITH is an Assistant City Attorney assigned to the Child Protection Unit of the Human Services Legal Section. Kathryn was born and raised in
Boulder,
Colorado and in 1993 received a B.A. in Political Science from the
University of Colorado. Kathryn worked in new technology development in the burgeoning high tech field in
San Francisco prior to returning to
Colorado to receive her Juris Doctor degree from the
University of
Denver,
School of Law in 1997. As a new attorney, Kathryn worked for the Colorado State Public Defender’s Office in
Boulder until opening her own practice in 1999. She handled a wide variety of criminal and civil matters for corporate and private clients, as well as serving as a Guardian ad Litem and Alternate Defense Counsel. Kathryn joined the City Attorney's Office and the Child Protection Unit in 2001. Kathryn conducts training on discovery and trial practice to many Human Services supervisors and employee groups. She has been a guest speaker at the University of Colorado Law School,
University of Colorado Economics Institute and the University of Denver Graduate School of Social Work.
OLIVIA L. HUDSON SMITH is an Assistant City Attorney in the Litigation Section. She is a graduate of the University of Denver, College of Law. Olivia L. Hudson Smith began practicing law after gaining tenure as a Special Education Teacher with the Denver Public Schools. Ms. Hudson Smith began her legal career with the Colorado General Assembly, Legislative Legal Service Office. In 1985, Ms. Hudson Smith joined the workers’ compensation insurance defense team for the Colorado State Fund (now Pinnacol Assurance). In 1990 she left the State Fund to represent injured employees with the law firm of Steven U. Mullens, P.C. in Colorado Springs and Pueblo. She returned to workers’ compensation insurance defense when she joined the City Attorney’s Office in 1992. Shortly thereafter, Ms. Hudson Smith began supervising the City’s workers’ compensation self-insured program including claims administration, litigation, and the workers’ compensation trust which then became part of the City Attorney’s Office. When administration of the City’s workers’ compensation self-insured program was reorganized under Finance, Ms. Hudson Smith remained with the Litigation Section. From 2000 to 2006 Ms. Hudson Smith served on the Colorado Child Support Enforcement Commission as an appointee of former Governor Owens.
CHARLES "CHUCK" T. SOLOMON is an Assistant City Attorney in the Municipal Operations Section. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and minors in Economics and History from
Colorado State University. He received his Juris Doctor degree from the University of Wyoming College of Law. Before joining the City Attorney’s Office in 1999, he worked at the Wyoming Legislative Service Office and the Wyoming Attorney General’s Office, where he primarily focused on tax matters. He represents the City in tax, land use, and public utility matters.
MICHAEL STAFFORD is currently assigned to the Mental Health Unit of the Prosecution and Code Enforcement Section of the City Attorney’s Office. He has been with the Denver City Attorney’s Office since the fall of 1994, and has worked in the Child Protection Unit for more than four years and with the Child Support Unit for three years. He has been with the Mental Health Unit since January 2002. Prior to that time, he worked in
Pueblo,
Colorado, at Pueblo County Legal Services and in
Cheyenne, Wyoming, in private practice. He graduated from the University of Wyoming College of Law in 1990.
RUSSELL STONE is an Assistant City Attorney currently assigned to the Prosecution and Code Enforcement section since 1998. Russell was born and raised in Denver, Colorado. He has degrees from the University of Colorado and Metropolitan State College. He received his Juris Doctor degree from the University of Denver. Mr. Stone served as a law enforcement officer, rising to the rank of Division Chief / Chief of Detectives. He has practiced law as a prosecuting attorney for the Colorado Attorney General’s Office, Appellate Section; for the District Attorney’s Offices in the 13th and 20th Judicial Districts of Colorado and rising to the position of Chief Deputy District Attorney. He is admitted to practice in all Colorado and Federal courts. He was a senior faculty member of Metropolitan State College of Denver for several years
RICHARD A. STUBBS joined the Litigation Section in 1997 as an Assistant City Attorney. Rick began his working life in data processing before switching to a legal career. After graduating from law school at the
University of Colorado in 1988, he worked as a judicial law clerk for the Honorable Frank N. Dubofsky of the Colorado Court of Appeals. He later worked for Bruno, Bruno & Colin, P.C., which represents law enforcement officers in civil rights, employment, and administrative cases. From 1997 through 2003, Rick represented the City in employment matters. Since, January 2004, he has worked exclusively on law enforcement issues, including development of the City’s civilian oversight system for its law enforcement agencies, open records issues, and a myriad of other law enforcement issues.
T. SHAUN SULLIVAN is Assistant Director of the Municipal Operations Section and has been an Assistant City Attorney since 1990. Shaun is a 1983 graduate of the
Georgetown University Law Center. Before coming to the City, Shaun worked at a large
Denver law firm in a practice that emphasized water rights, natural resources, and environmental law. Since joining the City Attorney’s Office, Shaun has been the principal attorney advising City agencies regarding environmental compliance and liability, defending environmental claims against the City and pursuing the City’s claims against third parties. Shaun’s practice includes providing counsel regarding federal and state environmental and public health laws, drafting local legislation and rules, representing the City in administrative proceedings and in the courts, and advising City agencies regarding development and acquisition of environmentally impaired real estate. Shaun has spoken to ICMA, the Colorado Bar Association and the Denver Chamber of Commerce on a variety of environmental and land use topics.
CHRISTINE SULLIVAN WILSON is an Assistant City Attorney in the Human Services Legal Section. Christine grew up on the
island of
Manhattan, in
New York City. She received her B.A., Phi Beta Kappa, Magna cum Laude, and her J.D. degree, from the
University of Denver. During law school, Christine did an internship with the City Attorney’s Office. After a period of private practice, she returned to the Human Services Section. Since 1994 she has provided legal services, representation and training to the Department of Human Services in the areas of dependency and neglect, delinquency, truancy and administrative law. Christine was a member of the team that won the Pioneer Award for intra-agency cooperation in 2003.
MAX R. TAYLOR, III, is an Assistant City Attorney in the Municipal Operations Section. Max graduated from
Belhaven College in 1999 with a Bachelor of Arts in History and Biblical Studies. He received his Juris Doctor and Master of Law in Taxation in 2003 from the University of Denver College of Law. Before joining the City Attorney's Office in 2005, he practiced in the areas of corporate law and estate planning. Max represents the City in bankruptcy, excise tax and property tax matters.
JANICE TONZ has been an Assistant City Attorney in the Prosecution and Code Enforcement Section since 1998. She is a graduate of the
University of Wisconsin, where she received her B.A. degree in Psychology (Phi Beta Kappa, Magna Cum Laude), and her M.S. degree in Educational Psychology. Ms. Tonz attended the University of Denver College of Law, where she received her Juris Doctor degree. Prior to joining the City Attorney’s Office, Ms. Tonz pursued her career as a School Psychologist. She is a member of the Minoru Yasui Inn of Court.
MARY E. TOORNMAN is an Assistant City Attorney in the Municipal Operations Section who joined the Denver City Attorney’s Office in 1997. Prior to joining the City, Mary began her legal career by serving on the Colorado Court of Appeals in a judicial clerkship position. She then worked at the Denver District Attorneys’ Office, conducting criminal trials at the County Court, Juvenile Court and District Court levels. Mary also worked in private practice, with an emphasis on workers’ compensation and insurance defense law. Before joining the Municipal Operations Section, she worked in the Civil Litigation Section defending federal claims against the City. Her current practice includes tax,
ADA and contract matters.
JO ANN WEINSTEIN is an Assistant City Attorney in the Municipal Operations Section and has been an Assistant City Attorney since 2001. Jo Ann first worked for Airport Legal Services, and in 2004 she moved to the Municipal Operations Section. Jo Ann concentrates in the areas of land use, real property, special districts, and municipal finance related to conduit bonds. Jo Ann is a 1970 graduate of
Washington University in St. Louis (A.B.) and a 1973 graduate of the University of Denver College of Law. Prior to joining the City Attorney’s Office, Jo Ann was in private practice with small firms concentrating in the areas of real estate, municipal law and commercial law, including litigation.
JENNIFER M. WELBORN is an Assistant City Attorney assigned to the Municipal Operations Section of the City Attorney’s Office. Jennifer is a graduate of
DePauw University, where she received her B.A. degree in Political Science in 1995. She attended law school at Indiana University-Bloomington, where she received her J.D. in 1998. Prior to joining the City Attorney’s office, Jennifer worked for the City of
Indianapolis and the Indianapolis Bond Bank for five years. Jennifer’s work is primarily in real estate and municipal finance.
LORI WEISER practices as an Assistant City Attorney in the Human Services Legal Section for the Child Protection Unit. Ms. Weiser is a
Colorado native and a 1996 graduate of the University of Denver College of Law. Working to protect abused and neglected children was a central theme in driving her toward becoming an attorney. Prior to joining the City Attorney’s Office, Ms. Weiser served on the Board of Directors and assisted with the incorporation of Denver CASA, a non-profit agency that advocates for dependent or neglected children in
Denver County court cases. She began working for the Child Protection Unit as an intern while still in law school and went on to serve two contract terms with this Unit prior to accepting her current position in 1999. In addition to managing a high-volume litigation caseload, Ms. Weiser is active in legislative and appellate matters.
PATRICK A. WHEELER is an Assistant City Attorney assigned to the Municipal Operations Section. Patrick received his B.A. degree with High Honors (Phi Beta Kappa) from the University of Texas-Austin in 1976. Thereafter, he attended
Law School at the University of Colorado-Boulder, where he received his Juris Doctor degree in 1984. Patrick served for seven years as an Assistant County Attorney for
El Paso County, Colorado. Since joining the Denver City Attorney's Office in 1993, Patrick has worked in a broad spectrum of general municipal law, including zoning, land development, subdivision, real estate, regulatory drafting, contracts, litigation and administrative law. He is the primary legal counsel for the Clerk and Recorder, Public Trustee, Denver Public Library and the Department of Parks and Recreation and has worked on major projects involving
Winter Park, Cableland,
Red Rocks Park, and the Denver Zoo.
ROBERT G. WHEELER is an Assistant City Attorney in the Municipal Operations Section. He was born and raised in Cleveland Ohio. In 1994, he graduated Phi Beta Kappa with a B.A. degree in Psychology from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. He received his Juris Doctor from the University of Colorado School of Law in 1997. From 1997 until 2008 he was in private practice at a Denver based law firm with an emphasis on litigation. His practice focused on construction litigation including construction defect and construction contract disputes. Since joining the City Attorney’s office he has focused on construction contracting and construction disputes.
KATHERINE L. WILMOTH is an Assistant City Attorney in the Municipal Operations Section. Katie received a B.S. in Economics from New York University in 1988 and her J.D. from Pace University School of Law (cum laude) in 1999. Before joining the City Attorney’s Office in 2003, she worked in private practice with an emphasis in environmental law, including toxic tort and Superfund litigation. Katie’s primary client is the City’s Department of Environmental Health. She provides counsel on environmental issues that arise under federal, state, and local laws, handles transactional matters, including contract negotiations and drafting, and drafts ordinances, rules and regulations. She also handles real estate matters, counsels the Agency of Human Rights and Community Relations, advises the Division of Small Business Enterprise on matters relating to the City’s various business enterprise programs, and represents the City in related administrative appeals.
ROBERT A. WOLF is an Assistant City Attorney in the Litigation Section. He was born and raised in the
Chicago area of
Illinois. He received his B.A. from the
University of
Illinois,
Urbana,
Champaign in 1977, then his J.D. from Loyola University of Chicago School of Law 1980. Mr. Wolf is a two-year member of Labor Law Moot Court. His prior employment in both public and private sectors include: Board of Education of the City of
Chicago, Board of Trustees of the
University of Illinois, private sector litigating labor and employment cases for over 20 years. He has experience in State, Federal and Appellate Courts. Currently Mr. Wolf is a member of the Litigation Section of the City Attorney’s Office.