Shughart Thomson & Kilroy Attorney Wins Colorado Trial Lawyer Case Of The Year

Shughart Thomson & Kilroy Attorney Wins
Colorado Trial Lawyer Case Of The Year


DENVER, June 26, 2006 – Shughart Thomson & Kilroy, P.C., is pleased to announce that managing partner G. Stephen Long has been honored with “The Case of the Year” award by the Colorado Trial Lawyers Association (CTLA). Pagosa Springs attorney Gerald Sawatzky served as Long’s co-counsel on the case.

Long took on the case, Bass v. Richards, based on the nature of the issue involved – First Amendment rights. The willingness of Long to undertake this representation was not in any way economic, but instead based on the worthiness of the cause and to correct an injustice. Bass, the plaintiff represented by Long, was terminated from his position as reserve deputy for Archuleta County Sheriff’s Department after he exercised his right to free speech and political association by privately supporting a non-incumbent candidate for the office of sheriff. Following his termination, he was vilified in the media, effectively ending his law enforcement career.

The odds of winning this case were very slim as First Amendment cases have not generally been successful in Colorado. In this instance, the truth prevailed. Eight years after the initial filing, Long and Sawatzky helped Bass win actual and punitive damages. “This outcome truly demonstrates that political association and free speech are sacred rights that jurors will protect, and that the potential for significant financial punishment may well result from a violation of these rights,” stated Long.

“The Case of the Year award acknowledges the positive impact that a single case can have on correcting injustices, advancing fairness under the law, changing attitudes or providing economic incentives to protect public safety," said John Sadwith, Executive Director of the CTLA. “The award allows the organization to recognize great achievements among the legal community and educates the public about the good that trial lawyers do. This case is a prime example of how an injustice can be corrected with the support of a passionate, experienced trial team.”

Long is the founder of the Denver office of Shughart Thomson & Kilroy, which opened in 1998. With no prior history in the city, over the last eight years the firm has grown in size and its reputation has allowed the firm to get involved with many high profile regional and national cases. The Denver office, consisting of 20 attorneys, provides the Colorado business community a full service approach to their legal needs. Taking on a case like Bass v. Richards is a clear demonstration of the commitment the firm has to the community and to advancing the rights of those in need.

About Shughart Thomson & Kilroy, P.C.
Founded in 1940, Shughart Thomson & Kilroy, P.C. (www.stklaw.com) serves a broad range of corporate, institutional and individual clients in the Midwest, across the United States and throughout the world. The firm has grown to over 170 attorneys and has offices in Phoenix, Arizona; Kansas City, Springfield and St. Joseph, Missouri; Overland Park, Kansas; and Denver, Colorado.

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Original release date: Monday, June 26, 2006
Contact: Kathryn Anastasio
816-395-0636
kanastasio@stklaw.com

Author: G. Stephen (Steve) Long
Firm: Shughart Thomson & Kilroy, P.C.

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