Joshua A. Sommers

Member

Joshua Sommers is a civil litigator with a background rooted in insurance defense.  Mr. Sommers concentrates his practice on civil litigation matters involving transportation, products liability, and premises liability, with an emphasis on defending retailers, restaurants, and hospitality industry clientele.  He regularly protects the interests of large and small businesses, manufacturers, insurers, and retailers, in state and federal courts across Colorado and Nevada.  Mr. Sommers is experienced with all stages of litigation having successfully represented clients in binding and non-binding arbitrations, bench trials, and jury trials.

Prior to joining Hall & Evans, Mr. Sommers worked for defense firms in Denver, Colorado and Las Vegas, Nevada where he represented personal and commercial clients against claims of premises liability, products liability, automobile negligence, and uninsured/underinsured motorist claims.

Bar Admissions

  • Colorado, 2014
  • Nevada, 2014
  • U.S. District Court, District of Colorado
  • U.S. District Court, District of Nevada

Location

Denver Office

Education

JD: University of Nevada-Las Vegas, William S. Boyd School of Law, 2012
BA: University of Nevada-Las Vegas, 2007, Anthropology

Contact

sommersj@hallevans.com

More About
Joshua

Professional Associations
  • American Health Law Association
  • Colorado Defense Lawyers Association
  • Nevada Bar Association
Business & Community Service
  • ​Volunteer, The Right Step, Inc., Littleton, Colorado, 2019
  • Volunteer, Earthlinks, Inc., Denver, Colorado, 2018
  • Volunteer, Three Square Food Bank, Las Vegas, Nevada, 2016-2017

Timothy M. Murphy

Member

Tim is a native Coloradan with a diverse litigation practice and handles a variety of matters for individuals and business entities.  Tim’s practice is centered around construction law, environmental law, and transportation litigation. His legal experience also includes practice in the areas of premises liability, professional liability, FDPCA, contract disputes, and regulatory compliance.

Tim litigates cases in both state and federal court in Colorado and has experience in trials, arbitrations, and appeals. Tim’s professional focus is to manage litigation efficiently, provide practical legal advice, and obtain the best possible outcome for his clients.

Bar Admissions

  • Colorado, 2003
  • U.S. District Court, District of Colorado
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Tenth Circuit

Location

Denver Office

Education

JD: University of Denver Sturm College of Law, 2003
BA: University of Kansas, 2000, Environmental Science, Dean’s List

Contact

murphyt@hallevans.com

More About
Timothy

Career Distinctions & Honors
  • Colorado Super Lawyers®, “Rising Star,” Civil Litigation: Defense, 2013-2018
Professional Experience
  • While a student at the University of Denver College of Law, Mr. Murphy worked for EarthJustice and assisted in the representation of clients concerning federal land management and litigation under federal environmental laws, including the Clean Water Act, the National Environmental Policy Act, and the Endangered Species Act.
Professional Associations
  • Colorado Creditor Bar Association
Articles & Publications // Presentations // Webinars

Tim has authored sections on statutory employees, logo liability, and the validity of exculpatory agreements for the ALFA Transportation Compendium from 2008 to the present.

Business & Community Service
  • The Denver Foundation, Travis Kubiak Memorial Fund, Volunteer
  • Denver’s Road Home, Volunteer
  • Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado
  • Big Dogs Huge Paws, Contributor

Mark S. Ratner

Member

Mark has over a quarter-century in litigation, trial, and administrative experience in both State and Federal venues.  His primary focus at Hall & Evans is on representation of public entities and law enforcement personnel, in federal civil rights matters brought pursuant to the First, Fourth, Fifth, Eighth, and Fourteenth Amendments to the United States Constitution, as well as in employment matters involving the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, Americans with Disabilities Act as amended, and national origin discrimination claims brought pursuant to Title VII.

He has also represented Fortune 100 companies in administrative and investigatory matters with the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Colorado Civil Rights Division, and the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development.  Representation in front of these government agencies has been for charges of age, race, and disability discrimination, as well as claims of workplace harassment and hostile work environment.

Mark’s broad base of experience also includes bankruptcy, errors & omissions, insurance coverage opinions as well as representation of real estate appraisers and brokers in civil litigation and administrative matters in front of the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies and the Office of Banks and Real Estate (Illinois); representation of corporations in toxic tort exposure matters (asbestos, petrochemical, and lead paint); representation of homeowner associations under the Colorado Common Interest Ownership Act, and; representation of automobile manufactures in litigation and arbitration proceedings, for claims made under the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act and the Illinois Uniform Commercial Code.

Bar Admissions

  • Colorado, 2007
  • Arizona, 1998
  • Illinois (inactive), 1997
  • Kansas (inactive), 2016
  • Michigan, 1994
  • U.S. Virgin Islands, 2020
  • U.S. Bankruptcy Court, District of Colorado
  • U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Northern District of Illinois
  • U.S. Bankruptcy Court, District of Maryland
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Tenth Circuit
  • U.S. District Court, District of Colorado
  • U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois
  • U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois, Trial Bar
  • U.S. District Court, Southern District of Indiana
  • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan

Location

Denver Office

Education

JD: Michigan State University School of Law, 1994, AmJur Award for Highest Grade in Agency & Partnership, Dean’s List
BA: Michigan State University, 1990, Political Science

Contact

ratnerm@hallevans.com

More About
Mark

Appeals
  • Exby-Stolley v. Board of County Commissioners, Weld County, Colorado, 906 F.3d 900 (10th Cir. 2018)

  • Felkins v. City of Lakewood, 774 F.3d 647; 31 Am.Disabilities Cas. (BNA) 15 (10th Cir.2014)

  • Van De Wege v. Chambers, 2014 U.S. App. LEXIS 12134 (10th Cir.2014)(unpublished)
  • Johnson v. ExxonMobil Corp., 426 F.3d 887, 96 Fail Empl. Prac. Cas. (BNA 1171)(7th Cor.2005)
  • Kelley v. Carbone, 361 III.App. 477, 837 N.E.2d 438 (III.App.2nd Dist.2005)