press

Articles and press related to recent cases

 

Estate of Duane Manzanares v. Denver, et al.

Practice Area: Police misconduct
Outcome: Settled
Description: Excessive force (shooting)

Denver to pay $800,000 to family of man shot by three police officers near Colfax (Denverite, March 17, 2025)

Denver will pay $800,000 settlement in fatal police shooting of Pueblo man (Denver Post, March 17, 2025)

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Luethje v. Kyle, et al. (Douglas County Sheriff’s Department)

Practice Area: Police misconduct
Outcome: Ongoing
Description: Unlawful entry / Excessive force (canine)

Colorado deputies who sicced police dog on sleeping man not protected by qualified immunity(Courthouse News Service, March 19, 2025)

Federal judge refuses to dismiss lawsuit of Highlands Ranch man attacked by police dog (Colorado Politics, March 19, 2025)

Colorado deputies who sicced dog on sleeping homeowner ask 10th Circuit for immunity (Courthouse News Service, February 12, 2025)

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Schur v. Basalt Police Department

Practice Area: Police misconduct
Outcome: Ongoing
Description: Unlawful arrest / Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

BPD accused of wrongful arrests in civil rights case (Aspen Daily News, February 11, 2025)

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Walton v. Denver, et al.

Practice Area: Police misconduct
Outcome: Ongoing
Description: Excessive force (canine/shooting) / Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

Denver Deputy Sheriffs Accused of Assaulting an Alleged Criminal During a Mental Health Episode (Colorado Times Recorder, January 8, 2025)

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Ehrlich, et al. v. Metro Crisis Services

Practice Area: Employment
Outcome: Settled
Description: Race/sex discrimination and retaliation

988 crisis hotline counselors are sometimes targeted by sexually abusive callers (NPR, October 30, 2024)

Female helpline staffers launch lawsuit after harassment from callers (Fox 31 News, September 6, 2024)

Mental health hotline specialists file lawsuit claiming they were repeatedly forced to listen to ‘sex grat’ callers (9 News, September 3, 2024)

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Detreville v. Guervich and Weinheimer

Practice Area: Police Misconduct
Outcome: Ongoing
Description: False arrest / First Amendment

Federal judge green-lights lawsuit for trial by man arrested for recording Denver police station (Colorado Politics, Oct. 11, 2024)

Man gets arrested for recording ‘in’ police station when he wasn’t inside  (World Net Daily, Dec. 25, 2022)

Judge denies immunity to Denver officers in right-to-record suit  (The Gazette, Dec. 21, 2022)

Judge denies immunity to Denver officers in right-to-record suit (Colorado Politics, Dec. 21, 2022)

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Estate of Wilford Deweese v. Hancock, et al. (Manitou Springs PD and El Paso County Sheriff)

Practice Area: Police Misconduct
Outcome: Ongoing
Description: Excessive Force /Wrongful Death

Lawsuit filed in death of man who shot K-9 Jinx (Fox 31 News, April 16, 2024)

Lawsuit filed in death of man who shot K9 Jinx (KXRM Colorado Springs, April 15, 2024)

Press release (April 9, 2024)

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Valenzuela v. Coleman, et al (Denver Police Dept.)

Practice Area: Police Misconduct
Outcome: jury verdict for plaintiff
Description: Wrongful arrest

A protester lost his eye after police shot him with a projectile. Now the city is paying $550,000. Plus, another $825,000 goes to a man wrongfully arrested at the airport. (Denverite, September 15, 2023)

Denver to pay $825,000 to man jailed after presenting laundry-damaged ID at DIA (Denver Post, September 15, 2023)

Denver to pay out $825,000 in police class action lawsuit (Newsbreak, September 15, 2023)

Prison guard suing DIA cops who concluded laundry-damaged driver’s license was fake, arrested him (The Denver Post, February 14, 2018)

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Anthony Martinez v. Backer, et al (Southern Ute Police Dept.)

Practice Area: Police misconduct
Outcome: Resolved
Description: Police shooting / Excessive force

10th Circuit upholds immunity for Lafayette officers who used dog to bite unarmed man (Colorado Politics, July 18, 2023)

Trial underway for man shot by S. Ute police (The Durango Herald, July 21, 2013)

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Lehman v. Zehner (Douglas County Sheriffs)

Practice Area: Police Misconduct
Outcome: Ongoing
Description: Wrongful Arrest / Prosecution

Federal judge denies immunity to Arvada officer in wrongful arrest lawsuit (Colorado Politics, Nov. 3, 2022)

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Mistic v. Summers, City of Idaho Springs, Board of County Commissioners of Clear Creek County

Practice Area: Police Misconduct
Outcome: Settled
Description: Excessive force and wrongful incarceration

Idaho Springs, Colorado officer named in lawsuit resigns (9 News, Nov. 10, 2021)

Deaf Man Arrested, Jailed For 4 Months After He Couldn’t Hear Police Commands: Lawsuit (Huffpost, Oct. 1, 2021)

Deaf man sues after he says he was tased, spent months in jail for not following police commands (Fox 4, Oct. 1, 2021)

More details in Brady Mistic police brutality case (Daily Moth, Oct. 1, 2021)

Deaf man sues Idaho Springs police for unreasonable force during arrest (Denver 7, Sept. 29, 2021)

Idaho Springs Police Tased and Tackled Deaf Man, Lawsuit Says (Vice News, Sept. 29, 2021)

Deaf man sues police he claims tasered him for not complying with commands he couldn’t hear (Independent, Sept. 29, 2021)

Deaf man was beaten by cops because he could not understand them, lawsuit says (NY Post, Sept. 29, 2021)

A deaf man who claims he was tased during arrest says he didn’t comply because he couldn’t understand officers. Now he’s suing. (CBS Denver, Sept. 29, 2021)

Deaf Colorado man arrested for not complying with police commands he couldn’t understand, lawsuit says (NBC News, Sept. 28, 2021)

Claim: Notorious Cop Broke His Own Leg While Abusing a Deaf Man (NPR, Sept. 28, 2021)

Deaf man sues after police officers arrested him for not complying with commands he couldn’t hear (USA Today, Sept. 28, 2021)

Police arrested a man who didn’t comply with their commands. That’s because he is deaf, a new lawsuit says. (Washington Post, Sept. 27, 2021)

Former Idaho Springs officer faces lawsuit for 2019 arrest of deaf man (9 News, Sept. 26, 2021)

Deaf man files lawsuit against Idaho Springs police, county jail for 2019 arrest (Colorado Sun, Sept. 26, 2021)

Idaho Springs cops face another Taser lawsuit after using weapon on deaf man (KDVR)  Sept. 20, 2021)

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Billinger v. Helbig, Fryar and City of Fort Lupton

Practice Area: Police Misconduct
Outcome: Settled
Description: Excessive force

Brother of man killed by Ft. Lupton officer in 2019 disturbance files lawsuit (Greeley Tribune, January 20, 2021)

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Estate of Jesse Jenson v. Persichetti and Town of Lasalle

Practice Area: Police Misconduct
Outcome: Settled
Description: Excessive force

Widow of off-duty deputy killed by LaSalle officer in 2019 shooting files lawsuit against officer, town(Greeley Tribune, January 19, 2021)

Lawsuit claims LaSalle officer was ‘unfit for duty’ when she fatally shot an Adams County deputy (9 News, January 19, 2021)

Lawsuit filed in shooting of off-duty Adams County deputy 2 years after death (KDVR, January 18, 2021)

Lawsuit filed against LaSalle police officer who shot dead an Adams County deputy (Denver Post, January 18, 2021

Wrongful Death Lawsuit: Widow Sues LaSalle Police Over Killing Of Deputy Jesse Jenson (CBS Denver, January 18, 2021

Lawsuit filed in shooting of off-duty Adams County deputy 2 years after death (KDVR, January 18, 2021)

Widow of off-duty deputy killed by LaSalle officer in 2019 shooting files lawsuit against officer, town (Greeley Tribune, January 17, 2021)

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Lazzaro v. Garcia (Buena Vista Police dept.)

Practice Area: Police Misconduct
Outcome: Settled
Description: Unlawful detention / Excessive force

BVPD officer sued for rights violations had previous allegation with Salida PD (The Chaffee County Times, Jul 18, 2019)

Buena Vista Police officer sued over domestic call (The Chaffee County Times, Jul 12, 2019)

BV policeman faces lawsuit for allegedly violating man’s rights (The Mountain Mail, July 11, 2019)

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Brown v. McDermott (Aurora Police dept.)

Practice Area: Police Misconduct
Description: Unlawful stop / Search and detention

Black Couple Sues Colorado Police for Illegal Search (The North Star, April 21, 2019)

Young black couple sues Aurora police after broken tail light leads to frisks, car search (The Durango Herald, April 16, 2019)

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Watlington v. Browne (Colorado Springs Police dept.)

Practice Area: Police Misconduct
Outcome: Resolved
Description: Excessive force

Colorado Springs cops looking for older white suspect set police dog on young black man, lawsuit say (The Denver Post, December 13, 2017)

Lawsuit accuses Colorado Springs K-9 officer of allowing police dog’s ‘unjustified’ attack (The Gazette, December 13, 2017)

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Woodfork v. Wilson, et al (Adams County Police and Sheriff’s Dept.)

Practice Area: Constitutional Rights/Police Misconduct
Outcome: Settled
Description: First Amendment retaliation / Excessive force

A Denver Area Man Gave A Cop The Finger, So The Cop Snapped It In Half, According To Lawsuit (Inquisitr, December 16, 2017)

Suburban Denver deputy snaps man’s middle finger after he flipped lawman off, lawsuit says (The Denver Post, December 13, 2017)

Lawsuit: Officer breaks finger of suspect who flipped him off (9News, December 13, 2017)

Lawsuit: Man’s finger broken for flipping Adams County deputy off (Denver Channel 7, December 13, 2017)

Lawsuit claims man’s middle finger broken after flipping off Adams County deputy (Denver Fox 31 News, December 13, 2017)

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Estate of Justin Stieb v. Johnson, et al (Delta County Sheriff’s Dept.)

Practice Area: Police Misconduct
Outcome: Settled
Description: Deliberate indifference to inmate medical needs

Lawsuit: Inmate Denied Meds, Had 200 Seizures in Douglas County Jail (Westword, October 10, 2017)

Delta inmate found dead (Montrose, August 18, 2014)

Justin Stieb: Video Contradicts Official Version of Delta Jail Death (Westword, August 8, 2017)

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Hinman v. Joyce (Denver Police Dept.)

Practice Area: Civil Rights
Outcome: Settled
Description: Wrongful detention and wrongful prosecution

Denver Settles Gunman Case For $122,500 (CBS Denver Channel 4, May 23, 2017)

Denver settles gunman case for $122,500 (The Gazette, May 23, 2017)

Denver settles trumped-up hitman case for $122,500 (The Denver Post, May 22, 2017)

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Randall v. Clark, et al. (Denver Police Dept.)

Practice Area: Civil Rights
Outcome: Settled
Description: Wrongful arrest

Denver council asked to approve $47,000 payment to settle lawsuit against police officers (The Denver Post, April 10, 2017)

Denver will pay $47,500 to settle a case of mistaken identity for which three police officers were disciplined (Denverite, April 10, 2017)

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Reilly v. Johnson, et al. (Elbert County Sheriff)

Practice Area: Civil Rights
Outcome: Settled
Description: Wrongful arrest / Excessive force

Grandmother claims deputies jailed her for stealing own truck; alleges civil rights violations (Denver Channel 7, November 2, 2016)

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Valverde v. Denver (Police Dept.)

Practice Area: Civil Rights
Outcome: Resolved
Description: Wrongful shooting / Wrongful death

Joseph Valverde Killed by Cop While Trying to Surrender, Attorney Says (Westword, August 9, 2016)

Video: Denver Police named in excessive force lawsuit over deadly shooting (Denver Channel 7, July 25, 2016)

Family of man fatally shot during drug sting sues Denver (The Denver Post, July 26, 2016)

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Hoglund v. Denver (Sheriff Dept.)

Practice Area: Civil Rights
Outcome: Settled after officers were disciplined.
Description: Excessive force / Deprivation of bodily integrity

Lawsuit claims Denver Sheriff Department condoned hazing ritual (The Denver Post, May 12, 2016)

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Montoya v. Newman, et al (Huerfano County Jail)

Practice Area: Civil Rights
Outcome: Settled
Description: Indifference to medical necessity

County settles lawsuit for $200K (World Journal Huerfano, August 6, 2015)

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Lucero v. Putnam, et al. (Denver Police Dept.)

Practice Area: Civil Rights
Outcome: Settled
Description: Unlawful arrest / Excessive force / First Amendment retaliation

Councilwoman Says Denver Can Live With Latest Settlement Involving Police Force (CBS Denver Channel 4, May 3, 2015)

Denver’s excessive force payouts twice as much as Baltimore’s (The Colorado Independent, May 1, 2015)

Denver to pay $50K to woman slammed into wall by cop (Colorado Public Radio), March 3, 2015)

Patricia Lucero Gets $50K After Being Bloodied by Cop Who Wasn’t Disciplined (Westword, March 3, 2015)

Denver to pay $50K to woman slammed into wall by cop (Albuquerque Journal, March 3, 2015)

Federal civil rights lawsuit filed against Denver Police officers (The Denver Post, August 26, 2014)

Woman Claims Excessive Force In Lawsuit Against Denver Police Officers (CBS Denver Channel 4, August 27, 2014)

Independent Police Monitor, Chief Disagree On Force Case (CBS Denver Channel 4, March 13, 2014)

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Robinson v. City and County of Denver

Practice Area: Civil Rights
Outcome: Settled
Description: Mistaken identity arrest

Jailed 12 days, man proves his mistaken arrest by dropping pants in court; $88K settlement proposed (ABA Journal, January 6, 2015)

Denver set to settle another lawsuit over a mistaken arrest (The Denver Post, January 5, 2015)

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Olive v. Schnurr, Douglas County

Practice Area: Civil Rights
Date: Feb 21, 2014
Outcome: Jury verdict for Plaintiff

Denver police officer wins defamation lawsuit against woman who said he gave alcohol to toddler (Fox News 31 Denver, March 7, 2014)

Denver police officer, wife face charges after witness says they gave toddler sips of booze (The Denver Post, August 30, 2011)

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Scarlet Ranch v. Steele, et al. (Denver Police Dept.)

Practice Area: Civil Rights
Outcome: Settled
Description: Excessive Force / Destruction of Evidence

Sex Club Files Suit Against DPD (CBS Denver Channel 4, September 29, 2011)

Lawsuit Threatened Over Taped DPD Takedown (CBS Denver Channel 4, February 8, 2011)

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Lunn v. Sellers, et al. (Denver Police Dept.)

Practice Area: Civil Rights
Outcome: Settled
Description: Excessive Force / First Amendment Retaliation

Police brutality: Independent monitor says chokeholding Denver cop deserved to be fired (Westword, May 6, 2011)

Denver to pay $80,000 to settle 2 police excessive-force lawsuit (The Denver Post, June 14, 2011)

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Hudson v. Marks, et al. (Colo. Springs Police Dept.)

Practice Area: Civil Rights
Outcome: Settled
Description: Excessive Force / Malicious Prosecution

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Heaney v. Cordova, et al.

Practice Area: Civil Rights
Outcome: Settled while on appeal
Description: Excessive Force / Conspiracy, malicious prosecution

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Doty v. Jasper, et al. (Broomfield County)

Practice Area: Civil Rights
Outcome: Settled while on appeal
Description: Deliberate indifference to medical necessity