Colorado

‘Little Eichmanns’ Prof Wins Case, Is Awarded One Dollar

A controversial former ethnic studies professor at the University of Colorado at Boulder has won his wrongful dismissal case against his former employer after a state court jury apparently found that Ward Churchill’s termination was because of his political views. But the jury awarded Churchill only $1 in damages. Nonetheless,…

Apr 2, 2009 11:45 PM CDT

En Banc Appeals Court Reinstates Conviction of Ex-Qwest CEO

An en banc federal appeals court has reinstated the insider-trading conviction of Joseph Nacchio, the former chief executive of Qwest Communications. In a 5-4 ruling, the full 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals based in Denver said the trial judge did not err by excluding the testimony of a defense…

Feb 25, 2009 6:20 PM CST

Diversified Denver Law Firm Grows as Others Slow Down

A diversified practice and a fortuitous geographic location in a city that hasn’t suffered as much economically as many are among the reasons why a 42-lawyer Denver firm has been hiring litigation partners as BigLaw shops throughout the country make headlines for firing attorneys and staff. Although corporate work has…

Feb 4, 2009 10:38 PM CST

Judicial Diversity is Lacking, But Here’s What to Do to Improve, Report Says

Women and minorities are still underrepresented on the state trial and appellate court bench, regardless whether the judges are elected or appointed to their positions. But there are things that can be done to include their chances of winning seats proportionate to their representation in the general population, according to…

Feb 2, 2009 9:13 PM CST

Lawyer Reportedly Went Undercover in Drug Sting, Snagging Ex-Clients

An Ohio lawyer who once represented drug defendants has reportedly turned the tables, going undercover to help authorities arrest 30 people, including his former clients, a newspaper report says. Frank Pignatelli was facing a possible indictment as a co-conspirator when he agreed to work with authorities in the drug sting,…

Jan 29, 2009 6:49 PM CST

Judge Allows Bloggers to Use Computers, Cell Phones for Live Trial Coverage

A judge in Boulder, Colo., has refused to ban cell phones and computers from the child abuse trial of a man accused in the death of his infant son. On Monday Judge Lael Montgomery turned down a joint motion filed by prosecutors and defense lawyers to bar live-blogging in the…

Jan 6, 2009 4:36 PM CST

Denver DA Would Get $62K Pay Raise Under Council Proposal

Denver District Attorney Mitch Morrissey would get a 43 percent pay raise totaling more than $60,000 over the next four years under a proposal being considered by the city council. Morrissey makes $145,000 a year and hasn’t gotten a raise in four years, the Rocky Mountain News reports. The proposal…

Dec 23, 2008 2:16 PM CST

‘Jury Duty’ Scam Snags Social Security Numbers in 11 States

At least 25 people in Eagle County, Colo., have been victimized this year in a “jury duty” telephone fraud that has also operated in at least 10 other states. Duped by a claim that they failed to show up for required jury duty, the victims have provided their social security…

Dec 11, 2008 10:47 PM CST

Craigslist Rant Prompts Criminal Libel Charges

A Colorado man who reportedly bashed his ex-girlfriend and her lawyer on Craigslist now has the unusual distinction of being charged with criminal libel. The rarely used charges stem from posts that J.P. Weichel is alleged to have authored on the popular site’s “rants and raves” section last December, ABC…

Dec 2, 2008 9:05 PM CST

Judge Pumps Up the Volume on Manilow, Barney & Friends

A Colorado judge says his creative sentencing of noise ordinance violators is doing the trick. After he began requiring offenders to sit and listen to Barry Manilow or the theme from the children’s show “Barney and Friends,” Judge Paul Sacco says he’s seen fewer repeat offenders in court. Sacco told…

Nov 26, 2008 5:40 PM CST

Sued By Former Client, Denver Law Firm Eventually Wins $300,000

After a five-year litigation saga, a Denver law firm has not only prevailed in its defense of a case initially brought by a former client as a legal malpractice action but won $300,000 in a counterclaim alleging fraud. Ex-client Richard Crowe had contended that Franklin D. Azar & Associates and…

Nov 14, 2008 11:42 PM CST

Colo. Tribe Enforces 1874 Treaty, Expands Hunting to Public Land

A group of Southern Ute tribesmen from southwest Colorado are about to take a historic journey. It’s not because they need to look elsewhere to find healthy game to hunt, but they are venturing off their designated reservation to hunt on public land to enforce rights bestowed them under a…

Nov 3, 2008 11:32 PM CST

In Hard-Fought Presidential Race, More Ballot Battles are Likely

If the presidential ballot count in Ohio is close on Tuesday, lawyers who specialize in election law are likely to busy next week. Court challenges are expected in hard-fought states, especially over provisional ballots and questionable voter-registration status, and Ohio appears likely to be front-and-center in the legal fray, reports…

Nov 1, 2008 12:27 AM CDT

Federal Judge May Have Made False Statements in Probe, Order Says

A judicial council order says U.S. District Judge Edward Nottingham “may have made false statements” to investigators during a misconduct inquiry. The order by the Judicial Council of the Denver-based 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said it was dismissing misconduct complaints against Nottingham, the chief judge, because of his…

Oct 31, 2008 12:57 PM CDT

Ex-US Judge Nottingham Faces Revived Lawyer Ethics Probe

The former chief federal judge in Denver announced his resignation earlier this month amid reports he asked a former prostitute to lie about paying her for sex, but that hasn’t put an end to his legal worries. The FBI is investigating the report that U.S. District Judge Edward Nottingham asked…

Oct 29, 2008 3:01 PM CDT