Valerie Garcia

Member

Valerie Garcia is an experienced trial attorney with a proven track record for success. Starting her legal career in the courtroom as an Assistant Deputy Public Defender, Valerie is well prepared to represent her clients through all phases of litigation, including deposition, mediation, arbitration, and trial. Early case analysis helps Valerie chart the appropriate strategy for a winning outcome, be it settlement, mediation, or litigation. With a focus on resolution, Valerie helps her clients preserve valuable relationships and see their way to optimal resolution based on cost-containment, damage control, and legal strategies.  When an aggressive defense at trial is the best course, Valerie is a vigorous advocate in any litigation setting. Valerie was voted one of the Top 100 Lawyers (2017-2021, 2023, 2025) and Top 50 Women (2015, 2017-2025) in Colorado by Colorado Super Lawyers®.

Location

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

Education

JD: University of Denver Sturm College of Law, 1998, Chancellor’s Scholar
BA: University of Colorado – Denver, 1992, Political Science

Contact

garciav@hallevans.com

More About
Valerie

Professional Associations
  • Claims and Litigation Management Alliance, Greater-Denver Chapter
    • National Chair, Regions 6-10, 2022-present
    • Region 8 Co-Chair, 2016-2022
    • Vice President, 2015-2016
    • Secretary, 2014
    • Education Chair, 2012-2014
  • Colorado Defense Lawyers Association
  • Defense Research Institute
  • Colorado Bar Association
    • The Colorado Lawyer Advisory Committee, 2022-present
  • Denver Bar Association
    • Mentoring Program, Program Chair, 2010-2011
    • Board of Trustees, 2008-2011
  • Home Builders Association’s Quality Construction Committee Participant, 2006
  • Women’s Construction Litigation Alliance, Midwest Regional Chair, 2014-present
  • International Association of Defense Counsel
Articles & Publications // Presentations // Webinars
  • Colorado Editor & Co-Author, Selected from over 700 attorneys nationwide, “CLM Claims Handling Guide”
  • Speaker, “Developments in Additional Insured Endorsements and Colorado Legislative Efforts at Construction Litigation Reform,” Colorado Claims Association, Annual Meeting, October 2015
  • Speaker, “Marijuana in the Mainstream: Practical Implications for Attorneys and Claims Professionals,” Claims and Litigation Management Alliance (CLM), Greater-Denver Chapter Meeting, August 2015
  • Speaker, “Construction Litigation Claims 101,” United Fire Group Claims & Underwriter Training, April 2015
  • Speaker, “Recreational Marijuana and Claims,” Construction Defect Claims Managers Association, September 2014
  • Speaker, “Top Ten Things that Keep Claims Professionals and Risk Managers Awake at Night,” Claims and Litigation Management Alliance (CLM) Construction Conference, August 2014
  • Speaker, “Presenting Exhibits from you iPad at Trial – TrialPad for Lawyers,” Colorado Defense Lawyers Association, May 2014
  • Speaker, “Beyond the Glass Ceiling,” University of Denver, Mentoring Program, 2014
  • Speaker, “Advising Your Clients regarding Marijuana in the Workplace,” Colorado Defense Lawyers Association, March 2014
  • Presiding Judge, Mock Trial and Presenter on Litigation Best Practices, Colorado Association of Real Estate Appraisers, October 2013
  • Speaker, “Ethical Considerations for Partnerships between Claims and Counsel,” Colorado Defense Lawyers Association Annual Meeting, August 2013
  • Speaker, “Negotiation Strategies for Claims Professionals,” Claims and Litigation Management Alliance (CLM) Training Session, May 2013
  • Speaker, “Real Estate Appraiser Liability Issues,” Northern Colorado Association of Real Estate Appraisers General Membership Meeting, April 2013
  • Speaker, “Hot Topics for Real Estate Appraiser Liability,” Colorado Association of Real Estate Appraisers General Membership Meeting, September 2012
  • Speaker, “Best Practices for Working with your Corporate Client’s Legal Department and Risk Management Group,” Panel Counsel Meeting at Defense Research Institute, April 2011
  • Speaker, “Practicing More Efficiently, While Staying Out of Trouble,” Denver Bar Association, 2010
  • Speaker, “Practicing with Professionalism,” University of Denver Law School Orientation, 2009
  • Speaker, “Risk Management for Contractors,” Turner Construction & University of Denver, 2006
  • Co-Author, “Developments in Construction Litigation,” Colorado Defense Lawyers Associations, 2004
  • Author, “Construction & Product Liability Legislative Update,” Denver Claims Magazine, 2003
Career Distinctions & Honors
  • Martindale-Hubbell®, AV Preeminent Peer Review Rated
  • Colorado Super Lawyers®, Construction Litigation, 2014-2022; Civil Litigation: Defense, 2023-2025
  • Colorado Super Lawyers®, Top 50 Women in Colorado, 2015, 2017-2025
  • Colorado Super Lawyers®, Top 100 Lawyers in Colorado, 2017-2021, 2023, 2025
  • Denver’s Top Rated Lawyers 2013-2018
  • Women Leaders in the Law 2014-2018
Business & Community Service
  • Appointed by Gov. Hickenlooper to the Judicial Performance Commission, 18th Judicial District, 2016-2019
  • Appointed by Douglas County Sheriff to Douglas County Cold Case Review Team, 2015-present
Professional Experience
  • Before joining Hall & Evans, Valerie was an equity shareholder at Kennedy Childs PC.
Appeals
  • Brown v. Installed Building Products, 14CA2266 (Colo. App. April 2016)
  • Winkler v. Shaffer, 356 P.3d 1020 (Colo. App. 2015)
Blog Posts About Valerie

Steven M. Hamilton

Member

Mr. Hamilton is a litigation, trial, and arbitration attorney with a diverse practice, but he mainly focuses on product liability defense and defense of claims for personal injury and property damage resulting from accident or other casualty.  His experience in the product liability field is national in scope and covers a wide spectrum of insured and self-insured manufacturers of engineered stone, vehicles, bikes, power tools, batteries, infrastructure components, firearms and ammunition, food and food products, exercise equipment, and other machines.  Mr. Hamilton’s experience in personal injury and property damage ranges from minor premises liability claims to major multi-vehicle accidents.

Mr. Hamilton is the Chair of the Hall & Evans Product Liability Practice Group.  The Practice Group holds at least two meetings each year and discusses changes and hot topics in product liability law as well as the firm’s product liability cases and any product liability events attended.

Mr. Hamilton is a Product Liability Advisory Council member and a Steering Committee member of the Product Liability and Complex Tort Practice Group for the global legal network, ALFA International.

Mr. Hamilton also presents and instructs the firm attorneys on a multitude of litigation and legal practice issues at least twice every year.

Bar Admissions

  • Colorado, 2003
  • Montana, 1997
  • U.S. District Court, District of Colorado
  • U.S. District Court, District of Montana
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Tenth Circuit

Location

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

Education

JD: University of Montana School of Law, 1997
BA: Montana State University, 1994, Business Administration, Marketing, University Honors Program

Contact

hamiltons@hallevans.com

More About
Steven

Career Distinctions & Honors
  • Colorado Super Lawyers®, “Rising Star,” 2009-2011
  • Martindale-Hubbell®, AV Preeminent Peer Review Rated
  • Member of Moot Court Team “Best Brief” at Regional Competition
  • Order of Barrister’s Award
  • Teaching Assistant, Legal Research and Writing, University of Montana School of Law
Decisions
  • Obtained a Defense Verdict for City in Alleged Negligent Intersection Design Case, 2025
  • Motion to Dismiss Granted in Colorado Products Liability Case for a Stone and Tool Retailer and Fees and Costs Awarded, 2024
  • Motion to Dismiss Granted in Colorado Products Liability Case for a Fitness Equipment Manufacturer and Fees and Costs Awarded, 2024
  • Obtained a Defense Verdict for City in Wrongful Death Case, 2022
  • Obtained a Defense Verdict for a Wood Chipper Manufacturer after an Eight-Day Jury Trial in Federal Court, 2012
  • Obtained a Directed Verdict for a Casino Owner in a Premises Liability Case, 2011
  • Obtained a Defense Verdict for a Highway Design Engineering Company in a Personal Injury Contribution Action after a Six-Day Jury Trial in Montana State Court, 2010
  • Secured dismissals over the last few years for a chassis manufacturer, a glass bowl manufacturer, and a car dealership based on a lack of personal jurisdiction.
Professional Associations
  • Product Liability Advisory Council, 2024 – present
  • ALFA International Product Liability & Complex Torts Practice Group Steering Committee, 2008 – present; Chair, 2017 – present; Vice-Chair, 2016 – 2017
  • Colorado and Denver Bar Associations
  • Montana State Bar Association
  • Silver Bow County Bar Association, President, 1999 – 2002
Business & Community Service

Tennyson Center for Children, Q and Brew Event Board Member

Articles & Publications // Presentations // Webinars
  • Moderator, “What Can We Learn from PR Blunders Made by Athletes? Strategies to Mitigate and Avoid Risk through Employee Communication Training,” ALFA Product Liability and Complex Torts Practice Group Seminar, September 2024
  • Moderator, “Covid Schooled Us: Lessons Learned and New Strategies Devised from Managing through the Pandemic,” ALFA Product Liability and Complex Torts Practice Group Seminar, June 2022
  • Moderator, “ALFA International Product Liability & Complex Torts Charlotte Regional Seminar,” April 2019
  • Program Chair, “ALFA Product Liability and Complex Torts Practice Group Regional Seminar,” April 2018
  • Editor/Speaker, “When Legal Nightmares Become Reality,” ALFA Product Liability and Complex Torts Practice Group Seminar, October 2017
  • Program Chair, “Turning Up the Heat on Effective Litigation Strategies:  The Hottest Topics in Product Liability and Complex Torts,” ALFA Product Liability and
  • Complex Torts Practice Group Seminar, May 2016
  • Panelist, “Key Elements of In-House Expert Success,” ALFA Product Liability and Complex Torts Practice Group Seminar, July 2014
  • Speaker/Moderator, “Defending A Product in a Lawsuit Filed in the United States – Liability Theories and Defenses,” ALFA International, Inc., Asia Regional Seminar with Product Liability and IP/IT, May 2014
  • Speaker, “Indemnity Agreements with Asian Suppliers and Vendors, Including Enforceability and Insurance,” ALFA International’s 2011 Product and Liability Practice Group Seminar, September 2011
  • Editor, ALFA Product Liability Tri-Annual Newsletter, 2008 – 2009
  • Editor, ABA-TIPS Products, General Liability, and Consumer Law Committee Newsletter, Summer 2006

Kenneth H. Lyman

Senior Counsel

Mr. Lyman is a trial attorney with a diverse litigation practice. Based on his substantial experience defending catastrophic personal injury claims, including serious brain, spinal cord and burn injuries, Mr. Lyman guides his clients through the complex process of investigation, discovery, mediation, and trial.

Energy and transportation companies rely on him to defend claims of personal injury and property damage arising out of mining operations, oil and gas exploration, oil field service operations, cranes, and trucking/transportation activities.

Mr. Lyman handles large and frequent product liability claims arising out of alleged recurrent design, manufacturing defects, or recall problems.

Mr. Lyman represents national retail chains and various national and local property owners in connection with the full range of tort claims.

Companies have also called upon Mr. Lyman to assist with disputed commercial transactions, including litigation of insurance coverage, bad faith, unfair claim practices, misappropriation of intellectual property, and contract disputes.

Bar Admissions

  • Colorado, 1982
  • U.S. District Court, District of Colorado
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Tenth Circuit

 

Location

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

Education

JD: University of Colorado School of Law, 1982
MBA: University of Colorado Graduate School of Business, 1982
BA: University of Colorado, 1975

Contact

lymank@hallevans.com

Ryan L. Winter

Member

Mr. Winter has a diverse litigation practice and represents a wide array of regional and national businesses. He has successfully defended hundreds of commercial and tort cases in state and federal court. A significant part of his practice focuses on large, complex tort cases, and his practice areas include sports and recreation law, product liability defense, professional liability defense, public entity defense, and premises liability defense.

Mr. Winter has served as the contact partner and supervising attorney on numerous high exposure, tort and commercial lawsuits, including cases involving allegations of wrongful death, brain injury, and other traumatic injuries. Mr. Winter is equally adept at defending cases in which the injuries are purely economic, as he has served as lead counsel on numerous multi-million dollar cases alleging property damage, design deficiencies, and construction defects. He has represented his clients as counsel in trials, appeals, arbitrations, and mediations. He has achieved defense verdicts, prevailed on appeals, and obtained summary judgment for his clients on a number of occasions. Mr. Winter tries to manage litigation efficiently while still obtaining the best possible outcome for his clients.

Bar Admissions

  • Colorado, 2000
  • U.S. District Court, District of Colorado
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Tenth Circuit

Location

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

Education

JD: University of Colorado School of Law, 2000, Editor of Journal
BA: Kansas State University, 1996, Political Science, Phi Beta Kappa and Honors Program

Contact

winterr@hallevans.com

More About
Ryan

Career Distinctions & Honors
  • Martindale-Hubbell®, AV Preeminent Peer Review Rated
  • Colorado Super Lawyers®, Personal Injury General: Defense, 2019-2025
  • Colorado Super Lawyers®, “Rising Star,” Personal Injury Defense, 2011-2013
  • Judicial Clerkship with Justice Nancy E. Rice of the Supreme Court of Colorado
  • Internship with the Colorado Attorney General’s Office – Tort Division
Professional Associations
  • Claims and Litigation Management Alliance, Denver Chapter Vice President
  • ALFA International, Business Litigation Practice Group Steering Committee
  • Phi Kappa Phi and Phi Beta Kappa
ARTICLES & PUBLICATIONS // PRESENTATIONS // WEBINARS

Mr. Winter is published and has received awards for his writing. He has lectured on a host of litigation related topics, and his speaking engagements include continuing legal education programs for attorneys. He has also lectured on a national stage to insurance claim professionals and general counsel for Fortune 500 companies.

Blog Posts About Ryan

Peter C. Middleton

Member

Mr. Middleton has over twenty years of litigation experience representing local, state, national and international insured and self-insured companies in complex catastrophic tort litigation, including multidistrict litigation.  He has enjoyed a thriving and diverse practice and successfully defended property owners, product manufacturers, outdoor recreational companies, event promoters, trucking and towing companies, hotels, bars, restaurants, healthcare and mental health providers, municipal organizations, construction design professionals, insurance companies and other businesses.  He regularly speaks at regional and national conferences for the sports, entertainment, recreation and hospitality industries.

Bar Admissions

  • Colorado, 2000
  • Illinois, 1997
  • Indiana, 1998
  • U.S. District Court, District of Colorado
  • U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois
  • U.S. District Court, Northern District of Indiana
  • U.S. District Court, Southern District of Indiana
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Tenth Circuit

Location

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

Education

JD: DePaul University College of Law, Chicago, IL, 1997, Cert. of Health Law
BA: University of Illinois, 1994

Contact

middletonp@hallevans.com

More About
Peter

Career Distinctions & Honors
  • Martindale-Hubbell®, AV Preeminent Peer Review Rated
  • Colorado Super Lawyers, Civil Litigation Defense, 2013-2015, 2025
Decisions

Recent notable decisions include:

  • August 2022: Jury trial defense verdict in premises liability case by quadriplegic plaintiff seeking $50M+ in damages against event promoter
  • July 2021: Hamric v. Wilderness Expeditions, 6 F.4th 1108 (10th Cir. 2021): summary judgment affirmed in rappelling fatality case against outdoor recreational company
  • April 2019: Jury trial defense verdict in liquor liability case against a tavern
Professional Associations
  • Illinois State Bar Association
Articles & Publications // Presentations // Webinars

 

  • Speaker, “Legal Liability Updates – What’s the Latest?,” Colorado River Outfitters Association Annual Conference, February 2022
  • Speaker, “Get Your House in Order – Colorado’s Premises Liability Act,” Colorado River Outfitters Association Annual Conference, March 2021
  • Speaker, “Legal Update – What Line Are You Taking?,” Colorado River Outfitters Association Annual Conference, February 2020
  • Speaker, “Legal and Business Mindfulness,” Colorado River Outfitters Association Convention and Trade Show, 2019
  • Author, “Public Accommodation: Colorado Determines that Refusal to Allow a Service Dog on a Chairlift is Not Discriminatory,” America Outdoors, Spring 2018 Newsletter
  • Speaker, “Legal Headwaters: Preparing for the Choppy Waters of Minors, Accident Investigations, and Potential Harassment Complaints,” Colorado River Outfitters Association Convention and Trade Show, February 2018
  • Speaker, “There Must be Some Kind of Way Out of Here: A Rock and Roll Take on Risk Management for Outfitters and Guides,” America Outdoors Association Annual Conference, December 2017
Other Activities

Mr. Middleton is the proud papa of an 19 year old daughter and 17 year old son.  He is an avid mountain biker.  Mr. Middleton also plays guitar, bass and harmonica and has occasional gigs in two different rock bands.