We are excited to announce the selection of Tom Werge as a Colorado Super Lawyers Rising Star for 2017. This is the third consecutive year Tom has been selected. Super Lawyers is a research-driven, peer influenced, rating system for outstanding lawyers. Selected lawyers have been recognized by their peers and for their professional achievements. Rising Stars acknowledges a select set of no more than 2.5% of lawyers in Colorado. Werge Law is honored to be acknowledged and we look forward to continuing to effectively serve our clients.
Werge Law Is Moving on Up /
Werge Law LLC is excited to announce that its office has moved to the penthouse-level of the historic Petroleum Building in downtown Denver. The new location is one floor above Werge Law’s previous office and has an amazing view of the Colorado State Capitol.
The Petroleum Building is located at 110 Sixteenth Street in Denver, on the corner of the Sixteenth Street Mall and Broadway. When it opened in 1957, it was the tallest building in Denver. The fourteenth floor was originally a private penthouse that housed prominent banker Kenneth King and oilman Marvin Davis. Now, it is the newest expansion for Modworks, which has housed Werge’s office since he launched his independent legal practice in 2015.
We look forward to sharing our office with you!
Werge to Speak at Fort Collins Startup Week Panel /
Werge Law attorney Tom Werge has been selected to serve on a Fort Collins Startup Week panel focused on how to start up a band successfully.
Tom launched his band, 12 Cents for Marvin, two decades ago while he was a student at Colorado State University in Fort Collins. 12 Cents recently released its fifth full length album, “It’s Not Over.” Other panelists for the Startup Week event are Oliver Mueller of Slow Caves, Danielle Anderson of Danielle Ate the Sandwich, and Tim Wenger as the moderator.
Fort Collins Startup Week is February 27 to March 3, 2017. It is a week-long celebration of the entrepreneurial spirit in Northern Colorado, and focuses on industries such as music, food & drink, and technology. The panel meets on Wednesday, March 1 at 2:00 p.m. at the brand new Music District.
Werge Law focuses on litigation and dispute resolution, small business, and music law matters, including providing legal services to bands and other music-related entities.
Werge Selected as Liaison Between Supreme Court Subcommittee and Bar Association /
Werge Law attorney Tom Werge has been selected to serve as liaison between Colorado Supreme Court Subcommittee on Proactive Management-Based Program (PMBP) and the Colorado Bar Association Solo and Small Firm Practice Section (SSF). Werge looks forward to contributing to PMBP’s mission of helping law firms proactively stay in compliance with ethical standards, best practices, and regulations. Werge will coordinate the work of PMBP with that of the SSF section, on which he currently serves as an At-Large Member of the SSF Executive Council.
Werge Law LLC Obtains Complete Dismissal of Oil and Gas Lawsuit /
On October 17, 2016, Werge Law obtained a complete dismissal in favor of its client in the District Court for the City and County of Denver. The plaintiff, a Colorado-based oil and gas producer, sued Werge Law’s client, a Texas company, for breach of contract.
The plaintiff argued that a single letter that the Texas company sent to Colorado, notifying the plaintiff of an assignment in an oil and gas interest it operated, was sufficient to pursue in court. The Court disagreed, citing New Frontier Media, Inc. v. Freeman, 85 P.3d 611, 614 (Colo. App. 2003) for the proposition that “[w]hen the only alleged basis for jurisdiction is a contract between a resident plaintiff and a nonresident defendant, the necessary minimum contacts are not present to confer personal jurisdiction over such a defendant.” The court found that it lacked personal jurisdiction over the Texas company and dismissed the lawsuit outright.
Tom Werge represented the Texas company.
Werge Law LLC Welcomes Angela Hahn /
Angela Hahn joins Werge Law LLC as an attorney of counsel.
Tom Werge is excited to welcome Angela Hahn to the Werge Law LLC team as an attorney of counsel. Angela has substantial experience in the representation of small businesses and in litigation. Although she has tried multiple cases to verdict, she is also a trained mediator. Angela is a member of the Colorado Bar Association and a Founding Member of Mother Attorneys Mentoring Association of Denver.
An interesting fact about Angela: she is also a published pharmaceutical chemist and has worked as a scientific expert consultant. Angela is sure to bring a breadth of knowledge and counsel to Werge Law.
We look forward to continuing to serve our clients’ legal needs through our growing team!
Brady's Suspension - Upholding an Arbitration Award /
This weekend, Tom Brady will return to the field after serving a four-game suspension for the Deflategate scandal. Although New England Patriots fans have decried the suspension, the punishment was upheld largely due to the deference courts give to private arbitration proceedings. The suspension was imposed following an arbitration authorized by the NFL and its players association, the NFLPA. Following the adverse result in arbitration, the NFLPA challenged the arbitration award on behalf of Brady all the way to the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.
The Second Circuit's opinion upheld the arbitration award, and clearly articulated what most courts do when faced with a challenge to an arbitration award: defer to the arbitrator. The Court stated:
"Our role is not to determine for ourselves whether Brady participated in a scheme to deflate footballs or whether the suspension imposed by the Commissioner should have been for three games or five games 4 or none at all. Nor is it our role to second guess the arbitrator’s procedural rulings. Our obligation is limited to determining whether the arbitration proceedings and award met the minimum legal standards . . . ."
The law in Colorado is similarly deferential to arbitration awards. Attorney Tom Werge recently prevailed in Douglas County District Court on behalf of a small business client who was forced to defend an arbitration award. In finding in favor of the client, the trial court cited to Mountain Plains Constructors v. Torrez, 785 P.2d 928, 930 (Colo. 2000), which held that "[t]he public policy of this state encourages the resolution of disputes through arbitration." The trial court denied the opposing party's request to vacate the arbitration award, identified that it had not identified any legal basis to set aside award, and it instead confirmed the award in favor of the client. The result for Tom Brady was the same - the court deferred to the arbitrator's suspension and upheld the arbitration award.
Werge Law LLC focuses on the representation of small business clients in litigation and dispute resolution matters, including in arbitration and related court proceedings.
Two Anniversaries /
Tom Werge is thrilled to celebrate two big anniversaries this week! It's the first anniversary of his law practice and the twentieth anniversary of his band. Werge Law is honored to be continuing the independent law practice Tom started through Lyda Werge one year ago this week! The first year has been a tremendous success, and we look forward to continuing to efficiently and effectively serve our clients in litigation and dispute resolution, small business, and music law matters.
Tom's band 12 Cents for Marvin also turns 20 this week! They are celebrating with the release of their appropriately-titled album, It's Not Over! Tom combines his love for music and the law through Werge Law's representation of musicians and bands in small business and music law matters.