Lynn Kuznitz

Member

Lynn Kuznitz is a results-oriented attorney who defends her clients in State and Federal courts across the western United States. She has represented clients in a wide range of cases, including minor to catastrophic personal injuries, trucking and automobile accidents, railroad incidents, toxic torts, premises liability, and products liability. She has also represented clients in professional malpractice matters across a variety of disciplines. Lynn is a seasoned trial attorney who has obtained multiple defense verdicts, including at jury trial and through dispositive motions, and is experienced in all phases of litigation.

Prior to joining Hall & Evans, Lynn served as a captured counsel for a large global insurance company where she defended personal injury, property damage, subrogation, construction defect, and malpractice cases in both Colorado and Illinois.

Bar Admissions

  • Colorado, 2019
  • Illinois, 2014
  • 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

Location

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

Education

JD: University of Illinois College of Law, 2014, magna cum laude
BA: University of South Florida, 2011, History, Minor in Classics, magna cum laude

Contact

kuznitzl@hallevans.com

Steven L. Gonzales

Counsel

Steve Gonzales has over 20 years of civil litigation experience. His practice is currently focused on professional liability, catastrophic injury, construction, and transportation. Mr. Gonzales also has extensive experience in commercial litigation and intentional torts. He has successfully defended his clients in dozens of jury and bench trials in state and federal courts, and administrative proceedings.

Mr. Gonzales previously served as Chair of the New Mexico Supreme Court Disciplinary Board and brings an elevated understanding of professional licensing and ethics matters to his professional liability practice. He frequently represents doctors, nurses, engineers, surveyors, pharmacists, and other licensed professionals before licensing boards and commissions.

Mr. Gonzales strives to find creative, winning solutions to client challenges.

Bar Admissions

  • New Mexico, 2002
  • Maryland (inactive), 2000
  • U.S. District Court, District of New Mexico
  • U.S. District Court, District of Maryland
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Tenth Circuit

Location

Santa Fe Office
125 Lincoln Avenue
Suite 225
Santa Fe, NM 87501

Education

JD: University of New Mexico, 2000, cum laude
BUS: University of New Mexico, 1996, Communication & Journalism, Political Science

Contact

gonzaless@hallevans.com

More About
Steven

Career Distinctions & Honors
  • Martindale-Hubbell®, Distinguished Peer Review Rated
  • Nominated for District Court Judge by Second Judicial District Court Nominating Commission
Appeals
  • Sunquest Mktg. v. Lorentzen, No. 27,742, 2009 N.M. Ct. App. (Feb. 16, 2009)
  • Paz v. Tijerina, 2007-NMCA-109, 142 N.M. 391, 165 P.3d 1167
  • Gruber v. Gruber, 369 Md. 540, 546, 801 A.2d 1013, 1016 (2002)
Business & Community Service
  • New Mexico Supreme Court Disciplinary Board, 2008-2011; Chair, 2013; Vice Chair 2012
  • Second Judicial District Court Volunteer Attorney Program, Volunteer Attorney, 2009-2013
  • Lawlapalooza, Volunteer Attorney, 2010-2018
Decisions
  • Bevan v. Santa Fe Cty., 2017 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 129378 (D.N.M. Aug. 15, 2017)
  • Willis v. Smith, 2017 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 32477 (D.N.M. Mar. 7, 2017)
  • Murray v. Burt, 2011 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 170284 (D.N.M. Dec. 15, 2011)
Professional Associations
  • State Bar of New Mexico
  • First Judicial District Bar Association
Articles & Publications // Presentations // Webinars
  • Presenter, “The Disciplinary Process in New Mexico,” State Bar of New Mexico
  • Presenter, “Medical Malpractice Damages in New Mexico,” State Bar of New Mexico
Other Activities
  • Steve lives in his hometown of Santa Fe, New Mexico, with his wife and their two talented teenage children.  In his spare time, he is an avid explorer of New Mexico’s roads less traveled.

David A. Belsheim

Senior Associate

David Belsheim is a Senior Associate in the firm’s Healthcare/Medical Malpractice Practice Area. Mr. Belsheim frequently defends hospitals and healthcare professionals in medical malpractice and billing matters. He also is experienced with legal professional liability, transportation matters, and general civil litigation defense.

Mr. Belsheim is a graduate of the United States Air Force Academy and served as an Intelligence Officer in the Air Force. He earned his law degree from the University of Denver’s Sturm College of Law. Following law school, Mr. Belsheim clerked for the Honorable Herbert L. Stern, III, in Denver District Court. Mr. Belsheim served as Deputy District Attorney in Colorado’s 4th Judicial District and was an associate with McConnell Van Pelt, LLC before joining Hall & Evans.

Practice Areas

  • ​Healthcare/Medical Malpractice
  • Professional Liability
  • Transportation Practice

Bar Admissions

  • ​Colorado, 2011
  • U.S. District Court, District of Colorado

Location

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

Education

JD: University of Denver Sturm College of Law, 2011
BS: United States Air Force Academy, 2005, History & Foreign Area Studies, Minor in Chinese, with military distinction

Contact

belsheimd@hallevans.com

More About
David

Career Distinctions & Honors
  • Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America; Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants 2023-2025; Professional Malpractice Law, 2021-2025; Legal Malpractice Law, 2024-2025
Professional Associations
  • American Bar Association
Professional Experience
  • Associate Attorney, McConnell Van Pelt, LLC, Denver, CO, 2016-2020
  • Deputy District Attorney, 4th Judicial District Attorney’s Office, Colorado Springs, CO, 2014-2016
  • Law Clerk, Honorable Herbert L. Stern, III, Denver District Court, Denver, CO, 2012-2014
  • United States Air Force, 2001-2007

Jared R. Ellis

Member

Jared Ellis focuses his practice on professional liability, personal injury, and complex civil litigation. Mr. Ellis defends lawyers, physicians, healthcare professionals, healthcare institutions, and assisted living facilities in professional liability matters. He represents public entities, companies and individuals in cases involving allegations of negligence, including automobile accidents and premises liability matters, allegations of breach of fiduciary duty, intentional tort claims, including claims of fraud and conspiracy, and breach of contract actions.  He also represents companies and individuals in civil cases based on alleged statutory violations, including alleged violations of 42 U.S.C. § 1983, the Colorado Consumer Protection Act, Colorado Organized Crime Control Act, the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, (“RICO”).  He represents clients before state and federal courts, the Colorado Court of Appeals, and the Tenth Circuit. Mr. Ellis also represents professionals in administrative proceedings before the Colorado Medical Board, Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies Division of Professions and Occupations, and Office of Attorney Regulation Counsel.

Mr. Ellis formerly served as the Chair of the Lawyers Professional Liability Committee of the Colorado Bar Association and Chair of the Medical Malpractice Subcommittee of the Colorado Defense Lawyers Association.  He has taught CLE courses on professional liability matters.  Before joining Hall & Evans, Mr. Ellis practiced at a boutique professional liability defense firm, served as a Law Clerk to the Honorable Robert D. Hawthorne with the Colorado Court of Appeals, and to the Honorable Leland P. Anderson, with the First Judicial District in Golden, Colorado.

Bar Admissions

  • Colorado, 2005
  • U.S. District Court, District of Colorado
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Tenth Circuit
  • U.S. Supreme Court

Location

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

Education

JD: University of Denver Sturm College of Law, 2005
BA: Lewis & Clark College, 1999, Political Science with Honors in Forensics

Contact

ellisj@hallevans.com

More About
Jared

Career Distinctions & Honors
  • 5280 Magazine, “Top Lawyers,” Appellate, 2025
  • The Best Lawyers in America®, Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants, 2023-2025; Professional Malpractice Law – Defendants, 2023-2025; Litigation –  Insurance, 2024-2025
  • Martindale-Hubbell®, AV Preeminent Peer Review Rated
Appeals
  • Strepka v. Thompson, 831 Fed. Appx. 906 (10th Cir. 2020)
  • Smith v. Surgery Ctr. at Lone Tree, LLC, 2020 COA 145M (Colo. App. 2020)
  • Bailey v. Hermacinski, 2018 CO 14, 413 P.3d 157 (Colo. 2018)
  • Anderson v. Seven Falls Co., 696 Fed. Appx. 341 (10th Cir. 2017)
  • Ferrer v. Okbamicael, 390 P.3d 836 (Colo. 2017) 
  • Goodman v. Heritage Builders, Inc., 390 P.3d 398 (Colo. 2017)
  • K.W. v. Children’s Hosp. Colo. (In re P.W.), 364 P.3d 891 (Colo. 2016)
  • Warne v. Hall, 373 P.3d 588 (Colo. 2016) (amicus brief)
  • Air Wisconsin Airlines Corp. v. Hoeper, 571 U.S. 273, 134 S. Ct. 852 (2014)
  • Chapman v. Harner,  339 P.3d 519 (2014)
  • Simpson v. Cedar Springs Hospital, 336 P.3d 180 (Colo. 2014)
  • Day v. Johnson, 255 P.3d 1064 (Colo. 2011)
  • Estate of Ford v. Eicher, 250 P.3d 262 (Colo. 2011)
  • Wideman v. Colorado, 409 Fed. Appx. 184 (10th Cir. 2010)
Decisions
  • Carlson v. Town of Mt. Vill., No. 17-cv-02887-PAB-STV, 2019 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 48617 (D. Colo. 2019)

  • Strepka v. Thompson, No 18-cv-02557-RBJ-STV, 2019 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 156088 (D. Colo. 2019)

  • McClain v. Denver Health & Hosp. Auth., No. 17-cv-02238-PAB-NRN, 2018 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 168682 (D. Colo. 2018)

Professional Associations
  • Denver Bar Association
  • Colorado Bar Association
    • Ethics Committee, 2010-present
    • Lawyers Professional Liability Committee, 2015-present; Chair, 2019-2020; Co-Chair, 2018-2019
Articles & Publications // Presentations // Webinars
  • Program Co-Chair, “Best Practices and Ethics in the Profession: Being a Lawyer’s Lawyer,” CBA CLE, June 2019
  • Moderator, “Effective, Ethical Trial Advocacy: A Judge’s Roundtable,” CBA CLE, June 2019
  • Co-Speaker, “Ethics: Best Practices and Common Ethical Issues Facing Business Lawyers,” CBA CLE: Business Law Institute 2018, September 2018
  • Program Co-Chair, “Best Practices and Ethics in the Profession: Being a Lawyer’s Lawyer,” CBA CLE, June 2018
  • Co-Speaker, “Malpractice and Ethical Issues Facing Healthcare Lawyers” CBA CLE: 2018 Colorado Health Law Symposium, April 2018
  • Speaker, “Liability to Non-Clients: How to Mitigate Risk,” CBA CLE, November 2017
  • Author, “Liability to Non-Clients: How to Mitigate Risk,” The Colorado Lawyer, August/September 2017
  • Program Co-Chair, “Preventing Legal Malpractice – Litigation & Transactional Topics,” CBA CLE, January 2017
  • Program Co-Chair, “Preventing Legal Malpractice 2016 – Managing Risks,” CBA CLE, March 2016
  • Program Co-Chair, “Preventing Legal Malpractice 2016 – Staying Above the Line,” CBA CLE, March 2016
Professional Experience
  • Jaudon & Avery LLP, 2007-2019
  • Law Clerk, The Honorable Robert D. Hawthorne, Colorado Court of Appeals, Denver, Colorado, 2006-2007
  • Law Clerk, The Honorable Leland P. Anderson, District Court Judge, First Judicial District, Golden, Colorado, 2005-2006

James C. Worthen

Member

James Worthen is a seasoned civil litigator. His practice is focused in matters of wrongful death, serious personal injury, product liability, employment, and construction defect.  Mr. Worthen has successfully represented business and individuals in jury trials involving oilfield accidents, motor vehicle and recreational accidents, commercial litigation, medical malpractice, professional liability, and retail litigation. Mr. Worthen also represents insurance carriers in coverage opinions and in first and third-party bad faith claims.

Prior to joining Hall & Evans, Mr. Worthen was a partner at Murane & Bostwick, LLC.

Bar Admissions

  • Wyoming, 2005
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Tenth Circuit
  • U.S. District Court, District of Colorado
  • U.S. District Court, District of Wyoming
  • U.S. Supreme Court
  • Tribal Court of the Eastern Shoshone and Northern Arapaho

Location

Casper Office
152 North Durbin Street
Suite 404
Casper, WY 82601

Education

JD: University of Wyoming, 2005
BS: University of Wyoming, 2001, Political Science, Pi Sigma Alpha

Contact

worthenj@hallevans.com

More About
James

Career Distinctions & Honors
  • Martindale-Hubbell®, AV Preeminent Peer Review Rated
  • Mountain States Super Lawyers®, “Rising Star,” Personal Injury General: Defense, 2018-2019
Professional Associations
  • Wyoming State Bar, Torts Section and Federal Bar Section
  • Natrona County Bar Association
  • Defense Lawyers Association of Wyoming
  • Defense Research Institute
  • J. Reuben Clark Law Society
  • ALFA International
Articles & Publications // Presentations // Webinars
  • Moderator, “Game On: A Debate on #MeToo and its Impact on Business, Social Equality, and Due Process of Law,” ALFA International’s 2019 International Client Seminar, February 2019
  • Presenter, “Liability Trends in Oil & Gas Transportation,”ALFA International Oil & Gas Working Group Meeting, October 2017
  • Presenter, “Personal Electronic Devices Employment Policies,” Wyoming State Bar, Employment and Labor Section, February 2015
  • Presenter, “Civil Litigation in Tribal Court” Trial Attorneys of America, June 2013
  • Presenter, “Wyoming Employment Law Update, Annual Update,” Lorman Education Services, 2010 – 2016
  • Presenter, “Wyoming Workers Compensation Law,” Lorman Education Services, 2012-2015
  • Contributing Editor, “Labor and Employment Compendium – Wyoming,”ALFA International, 2011 – 2017
  • Contributing Editor, “Workers Compensation Compendium – Wyoming,” ALFA International 2011 – 2017
  • Contributing Editor, “Transportation Compendium – Wyoming,” Wyoming Section, ALFA International, 2013 – 2018
  • Contributing Editor, “Product Liability Desk Reference: A Fifty State Compendium – Wyoming,” Aspen Law & Business, 2013 – 2018
  • Contributing Author, “Desk Reference, A 50 State Summary – Wyoming,” Trucking Industry Defense Association, 2013 – 2015
Decisions
  • Viking Insurance Company v. Sumner, 2018 WL 4154774 (10th Cir. 2018)
  • C’Hair v. District Court of Ninth Judicial Dist., 357 P.3d 723 (Wyo. 2015)
  • Picozzi v. State ex rel. Wyoming Workers’ Safety, 304 P.3d 977 (Wyo. 2013)
  • Morris v. State ex rel. Wyoming Workers’ Safety, 276 P.3d 399 (Wyo. 2012)
  • Rice v. Collins Communication, Inc., 236 P.3d 1009 (Wyo. 2010)
  • Singer v. New Tech Engineering L.P., 227 P.3d 305 (Wyo. 2010)
  • Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. v. Gunter, 167 P.3d 645 (Wyo. 2007)
  • Montoya v. Walgreens, defense verdict on premises liability claim, April 2016
  • Encana Oil & Gas v. DHS Drilling, defense verdict on contract claim, March 2016
  • MDC v. Directional Rentals, defense verdict on contract claim, June 2015
  • Jones v. Kmart, defense verdict on premises liability claim, April 2015
  • Draper v. Kmart, defense verdict on premises liability claim, June 2012
  • Friedly v. Flanagan, defense verdict on malpractice claim, April 2007
Business & Community Service
  • Boy Scouts of America, Troop 535, Committee Chairman, 2005 – present
  • Trout Unlimited, Member, 2008 – present
  • Platte River Revival, Volunteer, 2014 – present