Most of the following may be true; some partially correct; some may be slightly libelous. We feel certain you’ll let us know.

GOOD THINGS

Charles Garcia was elected to serve as chair of the Denver Crime Prevention and Control Commission, a city and county advisory group aimed at reducing recidivism and the growth of the incarcerated population through a focus on diversionary programs and alternatives to sentencing.

Otten Johnson

Long-time employees of Otten Johnson, Shirley Wood and Jan Taylor, are joined by new employee, Matt Wagster, in spearheading the long-standing, annual firm tradition of adopting families during the holiday season. This year, more than $5,000 was raised, and families were adopted from Jewish Family Services, Colorado Coalition for the Homeless and Denver Kids.

Shelly Hunter of Hunter & Geist, on behalf of the Colorado Bar Association, donated $2,500 to the Legal Aid Foundation of Colorado and $2,500 to the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition of Iowa in lieu of holiday gifts.

Hon. Frederic B. Rodgers will receive an award for Outstanding State Chair Award at the ABA’s 2009 Fellows Awards in Boston. Rodgers is recognized for his work at the Colorado State Chair of the Colorado ABA Fellows.

Attorney Ken Fellman of Denver-based Kissinger & Fellman accepted a position on the board of directors for the Lutheran Medical Center Foundation.

Sims

Jones

Governor Ritter recently named Steven Sims, a Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck shareholder, to the Board of Directors of the Colorado Water Resources and Power Development Authority. The firm also announces that Marybeth K. Jones, an associate, was recently appointed to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation of Colorado’s Board of Directors.

Blass

Derek Blass of Zupkus & Angell was elected co-chair of Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper’s Latino Advisory Commission and delegate to the Advisory Board for the Agency for Human Rights and Community Relations.

CHANGES

Ethan Plaut joined the Denver office of Arnold & Porter as an associate. Plaut received his JD in May 2008 from the University of Colorado School of Law, where he was associate editor of the University of Colorado Law Review and Board Member of the Environmental Law Society. 

Adam T. DeVoe, Tal Diamant, Michael A. Gheleta, Aaron M. Hyatt, Susan P. Klopman and Amy Ruhl were elected shareholders in the Denver office of Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck.

Outerbridge

Cheryl Outerbridge has retired from the Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation after serving as legal editor for the past eight years. During her tenure, she was responsible for the proceedings of the Annual Institutes of the Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation, and editing the six-volume American Law of Mining, second ed., the two-volume Law of Federal Oil & Gas Leases, and the Mineral Law and Water Law Newsletters.

The Colorado Trial Lawyers Association, the largest specialty bar association in the state, filled two key staff positions by hiring Dan Schoen as director of legislative services and Nick Jurjovec as director of communications.

Curt Todd, formerly a partner in Lottner Rubin Fishman Brown & Saul, left the firm to open his own practice, Law Office of Curt Todd. He will continue to practice in the areas of bankruptcy and bankruptcy litigation, general civil and commercial litigation, evictions and landlord/tenant matters, construction litigation, mechanics’ liens, UCC and real property foreclosures and general business matters.

David Walker joined Dorsey & Whitney as an associate in the patent group. Also, Brad Hattenbach rejoined the firm as Of Counsel in the Patent Group of the Denver office. Hattenbach’s practice primarily involves the preparation and prosecution of national and international patent applications, management of international patent portfolios, preparation and prosecution of trademark applications, and preparation of technology licensing agreements.

Reed

Fairfield and Woods announced that Jaimee D. Reed joined the firm as an associate in the litigation department. Reed brings experience in civil litigation cases, including antitrust disputes, toxic tort and products liability.

Featherstone Petrie DeSisto announced that Bradshaw J. Smith is now an associate of the firm.

The Hustead Law Firm is pleased to announce that Stacy D. Mueller, formerly an associate with Baker & Hostetler, joined the firm.

Kerr Brosseau Bartlett O’Brien welcomes Kristin R. Anderson as a new member of the firm, continuing to emphasize her practice in complex litigation and employment law. The firm also

Rich

announced that Shane A. Garman joined as a new associate.

Onsager, Staelin & Guyerson expanded its bankruptcy and corporate practice by adding its newest member and former Of Counsel David M. Rich.

Patton Boggs announced that Robert Thibault has been made a partner in the Denver office.

The Regional Transportation District is pleased to announce that Derrick K. Black joined the RTD Legal Department as an assistant general counsel.

Rumler Tarbox Lyden Law Corporation is pleased to announce that James N. Thomaidis, formerly of Thomaidis Law, joined the firm as an attorney specializing in business law, commercial litigation and estate planning.

Holland & Hart partner Thomas O’Donnell is the firm’s next Managing Partner. As Managing Partner, O’Donnell will work with the firm’s Management Committee to implement its strategic objectives. The firm also is pleased to announce that Mark A. Davidson joined the firm’s Denver

Ramp

office as a partner in its natural resources department.

Kelly Garnsey Hubbell & Lass is pleased to announce that Jerremy M. Ramp is a member of the firm.

NEW JUDGES

Hon. Edward Bronfin and Hon. Kenneth Laff were appointed to the District Court Bench and Hon. Kerry Hada was appointed to the County Court Bench. Look for profiles of these judges in a future issue of The Docket.

NEW FACES

K Kalan of Berenbaum, Weinshienk & Eason and husband Sean welcomed the arrival of their son, Korben Kalan Hatzenbuehler, on Nov. 28, at 3:57 p.m. Korben weighed in at 8 lbs. 2 oz. and joins big sister, Carys.

SAD NEWS

John Ward, a mining engineer and lawyer, passed away on Dec. 24 at the age of 80 after a two-month battle with lung cancer. Ward retired in 1995, but continued to take on legal cases, mostly focused on land law and eminent domain issues.