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.

Practice Areas

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

Resume

Linkedin

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
Blog Posts About James

Paul T. Yarbrough

Member

Mr. Yarbrough’s practice areas focus on trucking and transportation, sports & recreation, motorsports, gig-economy matters, aviation, complex civil litigation, and general personal injury.  Mr. Yarbrough has 35 years of trial experience, and his practice includes defending complex pre-litigation and litigated matters throughout Colorado, New Mexico, Wyoming, and other states. He handles motorsports related matters nationwide.

Mr. Yarbrough joined Hall & Evans in 2015 after relocating to Denver, Colorado. He previously was President and Managing Director at Butt Thornton & Baehr PC, a large defense litigation firm in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He participates in Hall & Evans’ 24/7 accident rapid response program.

Practice Areas

Bar Admissions

  • Colorado, 2015
  • New Mexico, 1988
  • U.S. District Court, District of Colorado
  • U.S. District Court, District of New Mexico
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Tenth Circuit

Location

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

Education

JD: University of New Mexico, 1988
BA: University of New Mexico, 1984, Economics and Political Science

Contact

yarbroughp@hallevans.com

More About
Paul

Resume

Linkedin

 

Career Distinctions & Honors
  • 5280 Magazine, “Top Lawyers,” Transportation, 2021-2024
  • Martindale-Hubbell®, AV Preeminent Peer Review Rated
  • American Board of Trial Advocates
  • Best Lawyers®, “Lawyer of The Year” in New Mexico for Transportation, 2015
  • Southwest Super Lawyers, 2013-2015
  • The Best Lawyers in America®; Transportation Law, 2007-2025, and Insurance Law, 2018-2025
  • New Mexico State Personnel Board, Chairman, 2011-2015
  • State Bar of New Mexico, “Outstanding Contribution Award”, 2000
  • National Coordinating Counsel, National Hot Rod Association – NHRA
  • National Counsel, SFI Foundation, Inc.
Business & Community Service
  • New Mexico Christian Legal Aid, Homeless Counseling
  • Motorsports Safety Education Foundation, Inc.
  • La Vida Llena Life Care Community, Past Board Member
  • Archdiocese of Santa Fe, Chairman of Schools Consultative Council
  • St. Thomas Aquinas Parish, Rio Rancho, NM, Finance Committee Chairman
  • St. Thomas Aquinas School, Rio Rancho, NM, Chairman of Advisory Board
  • Boy Scout Troop 702, Corrales, NM, Chaplain and Assistant Scout Master
  • Holy Ghost Catholic Church, Denver, CO, Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion
Articles & Publications // Presentations // Webinars
  • Mr. Yarbrough is a regular contributor and presenter for trucking transportation and motor sports topics and publications.
Professional Associations
  • Trucking Industry Defense Association – TIDA; Board Member, 2022-present; 2019 Annual Seminar Program Chair
  • ALFA International, Inc., Transportation Practice Group; Steering Committee; Past Chairman
  • American Board of Trial Advocates – ABOTA, Member
  • American Inns of Court, Master Bencher
  • American Trucking Associations – ATA, Member
  • Colorado Bar Foundation, Fellow
  • Defense Research Institute, Member
  • Colorado Defense Lawyers Association, Member
  • New Mexico Defense Lawyers Association, Member
  • State of New Mexico, Personnel Board, Chairman
  • Claims & Litigation Management, Member
  • Transportation Lawyers Association – TLA, Member
  • Legatus, Member, Denver Chapter
Other Activities
  • Running, road bicycling, skiing, golf, and clean mountain living with his wife of 37 years. Completed the 2022 Triple Bypass 110-mile bike race over three Colorado mountain passes.  After graduating from Las Cruces High School and becoming an Eagle Scout, Mr. Yarbrough “grew up” in the law from the age of 18 by working throughout college for a criminal defense attorney who represented inmates involved in the 1980 New Mexico State Penitentiary riots, and other notorious characters.  He interned for the United States Senate Budget Committee in Washington, DC in 1983 and put himself through UNM courtesy of American Legion speech scholarships.  He was a member of Phi Gamma Delta Fraternity. He began clerking at Butt Thornton & Baehr in 1986 during law school and remained with the firm until 2015. Mr. Yarbrough and his wife have three exceptional adult sons, three wonderful daughters-in-law, and the two best grandsons in the world.
Blog Posts About Paul

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

Resume

Linkedin

 

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

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.

Practice Areas

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.

Practice Areas

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

Resume

Linkedin

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

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