City Attorney's Office

Public Nuisance Property Abatement Program

Denver's nuisance ordinance states that an owner, manager, tenant, lessee, occupant, or other person having any legal or other interest or right of possession in property cannot intentionally, knowingly, recklessly, or negligently “commit, conduct, promote, facilitate, permit, fail to prevent, or otherwise let happen, any public nuisance” in, on, or using the property. Essentially, there are certain illegal activities and crimes that if committed on the property, or the property is used during those activities and crimes, the City can file a public nuisance case against the property.  

Public Nuisance Vehicle Abatement Program

The Denver Revised Municipal Code allows the City to hold a vehicle suspected of being a Public Nuisance. It is important to note that forfeiture actions can only be filed by the Federal or State government when they want to seize property and permanently keep it. The vehicle will be in a legal “time out” to incapacitate the nuisance use.

Learn more about the Public Nuisance Abatement Programs

Support Services

The Victim Resource Program provides information and support services to victims of Denver municipal ordinance violations. We work to ensure that all victims have the opportunity to actively participate in the criminal justice process. Our Victim Specialists are eager to assist victims throughout the entire court process, from arraignment through sentencing.

Victim Specialists can help with safety plans, protection orders, address confidentiality, transportation to court, restitution, victims’ compensation, referrals for shelter, food, and counseling, and more.

Contact a Victim Specialist

(720) 913-8020
Rose Andom Center
1330 Fox Street
Denver, CO 80204

Monday – Friday: 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Information-for-Victims.pdf(PDF, 81KB)

VS-Resources.pdf(PDF, 96KB)

Intimate-Partner-Violence.pdf(PDF, 342KB)

Restitution.pdf(PDF, 74KB)

Safety-Planning.pdf(PDF, 75KB)

Resource-Contact-Information.pdf(PDF, 71KB) 

What is Wage Theft?

Wage theft is the failure to pay workers the full wages to which they are legally entitled. 

• Have you been issued an invalid paycheck?
• Have you not received pay for hours worked?
• Is your boss taking the tips you’ve earned?
• Is your boss refusing to pay you as promised?

If you answered yes to any of these questions AND your employer is in Denver, the City Attorney’s Office can help.

Learn more and file a claim

You can also contact us at 720-913-8050 or email CAOWageTheft@denvergov.org.

The Civil Litigation Section represents the City, City officials, and City employees in a variety of lawsuits, including torts and civil rights actions.  Civil Litigation attorneys also provide training, advice, and opinions regarding existing policies, practices and laws to City Departments and Agencies.

The Civil Litigation Section is also responsible for managing and investigating all claims made against the City, except for claims involving Denver International Airport and Human Services, who have their own claim teams.  Together, the civil litigation and claims team represent the City and County of Denver in approximately 120 lawsuits and over 600 claims annually.

• We provide high-quality legal services and timely handle a large volume of high-profile lawsuits, including cases challenging City policies and procedures and those involving the City’s safety agencies.
• We handle all stages of the litigation process including motions practice, discovery, trials, and appeals and practice in all levels of state and federal courts.
• We provide legal counsel to City agencies and departments, including assisting with risk assessment and management.
• We investigate and manage the majority of claims filed by individuals seeking monetary compensation from the City.

201 W. Colfax, Dept. 1108
Denver, CO 80202

Phone: (720) 913-3100
Fax: (720) 913-3190

We are the in-house legal department for Denver International Airport (DEN). We negotiate every real estate deal at the airport, from restaurants in the terminal and concourses, to the construction and opening of the hotel and rail line. We negotiated the contract to enhance security, increase capacity, improve passenger flow, and return the terminal to a passenger oasis. We protect the airport’s finances by securing bonds, litigating against legal claims, and ensuring regulatory compliance with federal, state and local laws. Stapleton is the former site of Denver’s airport and our team was also charged with ensuring legal compliance with the remediation and sale of that site.

• We ensure all solicitations for commercial enterprise within the airport meet legal requirements
• We draft all real estate and construction contracts for one of the world’s busiest airports
• We secure financing and bonding to help usher in the next era of airport expansion
• We defend the airport against all claims and litigation that may arise
• We make regulatory compliance a priority to ensure DEN is the safest and most secure transportation hub in the world

8500 Peña Boulevard, #9810
Denver, Colorado 80249

Phone: (303) 342-2540
Fax: (303) 342-2552

The Employment & Labor Law Section represents the City in all employment-related legal matters.  We perform many functions, including:

• Advising City agencies and departments on numerous and diverse personnel issues
• Representing City agencies and departments in all employment-related litigation filed against the City in state and federal courts
• Representing the City in various administrative forums, including defense of disciplinary actions, and charges of discrimination
• Assisting City agencies and departments in drafting and reviewing policies, rules, ordinances and executive orders involving personnel issues
• Defending workers’ compensation claims filed against the City, ensuring the City pays only what is fairly owed in workers’ compensation benefits
• Negotiating collective bargaining agreements with the City’s police officers, firefighters and deputy sheriffs
• Providing training to City managers, supervisors, HR professionals, and employees

201 W. Colfax, Dept. 1108
Denver, CO 80202

Phone: (720) 913-3125
Fax: (720) 913-3182

The attorneys of the Human Services Section dedicate their careers to strengthening our community through support of our most vulnerable populations, including at-risk children and adults. As in-house counsel for the Denver Department of Human Services, we advise, train, and represent the Department in its mission to protect and ensure the support of children, stabilize families, and achieve permanent solutions that are in the best interests of children and youth. Our attorneys support the internal framework of the Department of Human Services through the employment law and claims unit, providing access to public records, and prosecuting fraud. We advise the Career Service Board, the Civil Service Commission, the Welfare Reform Board, and the Denver Human Services Board.

• Represent the Denver Department of Human Services in dependency or neglect actions to protect children and stabilize families
• Establish paternity and child support obligations
• Ascertain legal guardianship for incapacitated adults
• Prosecute welfare fraud and abuse
• Represent the Denver Department of Human Services in employment law and other civil cases

Links to Additional Resources

Human Services

Adult Protection

Child Protection

Child Support

Request Discovery

1200 Federal Boulevard
Denver, CO 80204

Phone: (720) 944-2980
Fax: (720) 944-3210

We serve as legal counsel to city departments, agencies and elected officials. We draft the laws, ordinances, rules, and regulations for the City’s elected officials and each City agency and department. We negotiate and draft all contracts between the City and all outside entities. Those negotiations range from complex real estate, development deals, large construction projects to small service contracts. We also represent the City in all commercial litigation in federal and state court, as well as in administrative and regulatory hearings.

• We draft the laws that our legislative branch, City Council, considers for passage.
• We practice general transactional law, drafting each and every City contract.
• We negotiate and draft major construction contracts for the City, as well as intergovernmental agreements for major projects.
• We protect City residents through diligent application of environmental and land use law.
• We safeguard the City’s finances through our advice on taxation, finance and bankruptcy matters.

201 W. Colfax Ave., Dept. 1207
Denver, CO 80202

Phone: (720) 913-3275
Fax: (720) 913 -3180

We prosecute municipal crimes and traffic offenses and help crime victims safely navigate the criminal justice system. We also provide Denver residents with tools to help prevent crimes and provide alternative resolutions to traditional prosecutions.

• We prosecute persons charged with municipal crimes including domestic violence, assault, shoplifting, trespassing, and traffic violations.
• We handle nuisance abatement cases and licensing violations.
• We help victims of crimes understand their rights and provide planning to help victims safely participate in the criminal justice process.
• Our neighborhood prosecution team helps neighborhood organizations address criminal activity.

Training and Events

Our team is available to schedule a training on: domestic violence, the criminal justice system, abuse in later life, mental health commitments and issues, issues that impact your neighborhood, specific criminal issues (e.g., trespassing or noise violations), or other trainings upon request.

Prosecution and Code Enforcement Section staff are also leaders in the classroom offering instruction to Denver 5th graders helping the students to learn how the criminal justice system works, strengthen their decision-making skills, and gain exposure to the various careers within the criminal justice system.

201 W. Colfax Ave., Dept. 1207
Denver, CO 80202

Phone: (720) 913-8050
Fax: (720) 913-8010
CityAttorney.Prosecution@denvergov.org

We manage the day-to-day functions at the City Attorney’s Office.  Our staff include the Director of Administration, legal administrators, staff assistants and the Public Information Officer.  We perform the following:

• Process and manage Colorado Open Records Act (CORA) requests for the City Attorney’s Office to ensure compliance under the law
• Oversee hiring in all departments
• Support section efforts and internal communications
• Oversee and manage the City Attorney’s Office budget
• Process invoices
• Foster professional development
• Manage externships, internships and fellowships
• Host and coordinate staff functions
• Respond to public and media inquiries
• Oversee human resources, technology and engagement survey

201 W. Colfax Ave., Dept 1207
Denver, CO 80202 

Phone: (720) 865-8600 
Fax: (720) 913-3155

Melissa Sisneros
Public Information Officer (PIO)
720-913-3238
melissa.sisneros@denvergov.org