Geoffrey T. Cunningham

Senior Associate

Geoffrey Cunningham’s litigation practice includes premises liability, construction defect, employment law, real estate litigation, HOA litigation, probate litigation, business litigation, and appellate work. He also represents insurers with bad faith and coverage matters.

Before joining Hall & Evans, Mr. Cunningham practiced insurance defense, criminal defense, corporate litigation, and family law in both Montana state and Federal District Court at a small firm in Billings, MT. Additionally, the broad nature of his practice included regular appellate cases at the Montana Supreme Court.

Mr. Cunningham is a Billings native who attended Billings Central Catholic High School and earned his bachelor’s degree from Montana State University. After graduating from the University of Wyoming College of Law, he returned to his hometown to begin his career as a litigator. He is licensed in Montana and Wyoming.

Practice Areas

Bar Admissions

  • Montana, 2015
  • Wyoming, 2017
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
  • U.S. District Court, District of Montana

Location

Billings Office

175 North 27th Street
Suite 1101
Billings, MT 59101

Education

JD: University of Wyoming, 2015
BA: Montana State University, 2011, History

Contact

cunninghamg@hallevans.com

More About
Geoffrey

Resume

Appeals
  • Hanson v. Town of Fort Peck, 2023 MT 208, 414 Mont. 1, 538 P.3d 404
  • First Nat’l Props., LLC v. Joel D. Hillstead Tr., 2020 MT 211, 401 Mont. 59, 472 P.3d 134
  • B.D. v. Deming, 2020 MT 205N, 401 Mont. 556, 468 P.3d 815
  • Oldman v. State, 2015 WY 121, 359 P.3d 964
Professional Associations
  • American Bar Association
  • State Bar of Montana
  • Wyoming State Bar
  • Yellowstone Area Bar Association
  • Montana Defense Trial Lawyers

Nathan R. Garcia

Senior Associate

Nathan Garcia is a versatile attorney with experience in civil litigation, transactional law, and trust and estate planning.

Mr. Garcia handles a wide variety of general civil litigation across Utah and Colorado including premises liability, insurance defense, and HOA matters.  His transactional work includes wills/trusts, entity formation, lease and contract negotiations, buy/sell agreements, and corporate governance. Mr. Garcia also handles complex trust and estate administration.

Prior to joining Hall & Evans, Mr. Garcia was the co-founder of a boutique law firm, and a nonprofit legal services firm based in Salt Lake City.

Practice Areas

Bar Admissions

  • Utah, 2011
  • Colorado, 2019
  • U.S. District Court, District of Colorado
  • U.S. District Court, District of Utah

Location

Salt Lake City Office
175 South Main Street
Suite 500
Salt Lake City, UT 84111

Education

JD: Seattle University School of Law, 2011

BA: University of Utah, 2008, Sociology

Contact

garcianr@hallevans.com

More About
Nathan

Resume

Linkedin

Troy R. Dickerson

Counsel

Troy Dickerson has specialized in common-interest community (HOA) and commercial association law since 2008, advising hundreds of Nevada associations on corporate governance, officer and director fiduciary duties, governing document interpretation, compliance enforcement, real property issues, and transactional matters. Mr. Dickerson has also successfully adjudicated over 75 compliance enforcement cases in favor of association clientele in alternative dispute resolution (ADR) proceedings, and routinely represents association clients before state and federal agencies and courts.

Mr. Dickerson studied finance and communications at BYU and received his law degree from The Ohio State University. During law school, he worked as a Judicial Extern at the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Ohio and clerked for a land use law firm in Columbus, Ohio, managed by one of his law school professors. After moving to Nevada in 2005, Mr. Dickerson represented corporate and gaming clients for several years as a business/real property litigation associate at one of the largest law firms in Las Vegas.

Location

Las Vegas Office
1160 North Town Center Drive
Suite 330
Las Vegas, NV 89144

Education

JD: The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law, 2003
BA: Brigham Young University, 1995, Business Management & Finance, Minor in Business Competency & Communications

Contact

dickersont@hallevans.com

More About
Troy

Resume

Linkedin

Professional Associations
  • State Bar of Nevada
  • Clark County Bar Association
  • Community Associations Institute (“CAI”)
Professional Experience
  • Prior to joining Hall & Evans, Mr. Dickerson supervised the general counsel department at the Las Vegas office of a regional law firm for over six (6) years and has practiced as senior counsel specializing in association matters at several law firms throughout Nevada.  Prior to attending law school, Mr. Dickerson worked in finance and as inventory manager for a retail business chain.
Articles & Publications // Presentations // Webinars
  • Author, “Can HOAs Regulate Residential Solar Panels?,” Las Vegas Review-Journal, December 31, 2017 (article contributor)
  • Author, “ADA and FHA Define Service Animals Differently,” Las Vegas Review-Journal, December 5, 2018 (article contributor)
  • Teacher, “CAI Board Leadership Development Workshop Module 5:  Association Rules and Conflict Resolution,” CAI Nevada Training, March 2018
  • Teacher, “CAI Board Development Workshop Module 2:  Communications, Meetings, and Volunteerism,” CAI Nevada Training, March 2017
  • Author/Teacher of Multiple NRED Certified Continuing Education Courses for Community Association Board Member and Manager education credit, 2014-2020
Other Activities
  • Raised in Southern California, Mr. Dickerson enjoys an occasional visit to the beach, running, watching college sports, spending time with his family, and learning jazz piano.

Susan G. Ridgeway

Senior Counsel

Susan Ridgeway’s practice emphasizes civil litigation and surrogacy and reproductive donation law.

Susan is an experienced litigator in both state and federal court and has a solid record of achieving proactive and cost-efficient resolutions for her clients, both in and out of court.

Her services typically involve real property (design, construction, development, management, sale, foreclosure), health care (professional employment, HIPAA compliance, business and software agreements, fertility law), and defense of legal malpractice claims.  She has represented large and small businesses and individuals in a wide range of matters. 

For the last fifteen years, a portion of Susan’s practice has been dedicated to establishing and protecting family rights in assisted reproductive technology arrangements.  She has obtained remedies for LGBTQ+ parents and their children, including two groundbreaking Montana Supreme Court decisions, routinely represents parties in surrogacy and gamete or embryo donation arrangements, and is recognized as a fertility law authority in Montana.

Practice Areas

Bar Admissions

  • Montana, 1991
  • Washington (inactive), 1992
  • U.S. District Court, District of Montana
  • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Washington
  • U.S. Bankruptcy Court, District of Montana

Location

Missoula Office
125 Bank Street
Suite 403
Missoula, MT 59802

Education

JD: University of Montana, 1990, with honors
BA: University of Montana, 1984, History, with honors

Contact

ridgeways@hallevans.com

More About
Susan

Resume

Linkedin

Career Distinctions & Honors
  • The Best Lawyers in America®; Family Law, 2024-2025; Commercial Litigation, 2025
  • Martindale-Hubbell®, AV Preeminent Peer Review Rated
  • Mountain States Super Lawyers®, Civil Litigation: Defense, 2020, 2022-2024; Business Litigation, 2021
  • University of Montana School of Law, Guest Lecturer, 2016-present
Professional Experience
  • Partner, Axilon Law, Missoula, Montana, 2015-2021
  • Solo Practitioner, Missoula, Montana, 2000-2015
  • Associate Attorney, Datsopoulos, MacDonald & Lind, P.C., Missoula, Montana, 1995-2000
  • Assistant Attorney General, State of Washington, Spokane, Washington, 1992-1995
  • Judicial Law Clerk, Washington State Court of Appeals, Seattle, Washington, 1990-1992
Professional Associations
  • American Bar Association, Litigation and Assisted Reproductive Technologies Groups
  • American Academy of Reproductive Technology Attorneys, Fellow
  • Family Law Institute of the National LGBT Bar Association
  • Society for Ethical Egg Donation and Surrogacy
  • State Bar of Montana
Business & Community Service
  • Friends of Missoula Parks, Board Member, 2016-present
  • Missoula City Parks and Recreation, Board Member, 2013-2016
  • Missoula County Public Schools, Writing Coach or Policy Committee Member, 2010-2013
  • Missoula Strikers Soccer Association, Team Manager, Assistant Coach, or Referee 2005-2011
  • Missoula Community School, Board Member, 2001-2002
  • Blue Mountain Clinic, Board Member, 1996-1999
Other Activities
  • Susan enjoys cycling, mountain biking, and playing ice hockey with friends.
Blog Posts About Susan

Heather A. Thomas

Member

Heather Thomas is an experienced trial attorney focused on achieving her clients’ goals and objectives for litigation whether it be trying a case to verdict or reaching an early and efficient resolution. Heather began her career working for her father’s construction supply company and now, she represents and defends builders, contractors and design professionals in various construction disputes and litigation.

Heather also worked as field counsel for a Fortune 500 Global Insurance Company where she was one of two attorneys in the Denver office approved to handle and defend clients against high exposure, million-dollar claims, including products liability and catastrophic personal injury claims. As field counsel, Heather appeared on behalf of her clients in courtrooms throughout the State of Colorado, including the U. S. District Court for the District of Colorado. In 2018, Heather served as first chair in a ski collision case in the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado where the jury determined the plaintiff was 49% at fault for her alleged injuries and damages.

Upon moving to Hall & Evans, Heather’s practice now includes representation of homeowner associations in various commercial disputes. Regardless of the type of case, Heather’s experience now allows her to evaluate and develop strategies early in the representation of her clients to determine how best to garner the most leverage and resolve the case in a manner most optimal for her clients. Early evaluation and case management help Heather to steer her cases to the best possible outcome for the client, whether it be litigation, mediation or settlement.

Heather communicates with her clients often during any case to ensure she understands their concerns and goals, and that they are keenly aware of the status of the matter throughout the litigation. Heather also evaluates the claims against her clients to assist with developing the evidence in a way most helpful in obtaining leverage in any given case whether it be via testimony or motions practice to gain a tactical advantage whether it be for trial or settlement. Heather is a Martindale Hubbell AV Preeminent® rated attorney who welcomes new challenges and clients to her practice.

Location

Denver Office
1001 17th Street
Suite 300
Denver, CO 80202

Education

JD: University of Denver Sturm College of Law, 2001

LLM: University of Denver Sturm College of Law, 2009, Environmental & Natural Resources Law & Policy

BS: Colorado State University, 1995, Natural Resources Management, Minor in Economics

Contact

thomash@hallevans.com

More About
Heather

Resume

Linkedin

Career Distinctions & Honors
  • Martindale-Hubbell®, AV Preeminent Peer Review Rated
Decisions
  • Patricia Klug v. E.B., a minor, 1:14-cv-03185-WYD (D. Colo. 2018)
Appeals
  • Munger v. Farmers Insurance Exchange, 174 P.3d 563 (Colo. App. 2007)
Professional Associations
  • Claims & Litigation Management Alliance
  • Colorado Defense Lawyers Association
  • National Ski Patrol
  • Home Builders Foundation, Board Member, 2013-2020
  • Home Builders Association, Government Affairs Committee, 2013-2016
  • Metro Housing Coalition, Board Member, 2013-2016
Articles & Publications // Presentations // Webinars
  • Speaker, “A Perfect Marriage: Resiliency and Insurability,” Claims and Litigation Management Alliance (CLM) Construction Conference, June 2020
Blog Posts About Heather

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