civil rights
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Federal judge dismisses some claims in ex-RTD police chief’s discrimination lawsuit
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A federal judge on Wednesday dismissed some of the claims brought by the former police chief of the Regional Transportation District in his employment discrimination lawsuit. Joel Fitzgerald Sr. led RTD’s police department after his August 2022 hiring until his termination in September 2024. Fitzgerald alleged his successes in transforming the department were overshadowed by…
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Federal judge declines to award attorney fees in ‘very weak’ voter intimidation case
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A federal judge agreed last week that three civic organizations presented a “very weak” voter intimidation case to her last year, but it was not so baseless as to award the defendants attorney fees after they prevailed at trial. Last July, U.S. District Court Judge Charlotte N. Sweeney concluded the organizers of an “election integrity”…
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Appeals court rules Denver ordinance’s constitutionality has no bearing on lawfulness of arrest
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Colorado’s second-highest court ruled on Thursday that regardless of whether a plaintiff could later show Denver’s ordinance was unconstitutional, arresting officers were acting with probable cause at the time and could not be held liable. A three-judge panel for the Court of Appeals pointed to a 1979 decision of the U.S. Supreme Court that indicated…
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Federal judge stands by ruling dismissing some of protesters’ claims against Denver
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A federal judge last week refused to alter her ruling allowing only some claims to proceed to a jury trial against Denver for its alleged constitutional violations against protesters. Numerous judges this year have found Denver or its officers may be held liable for excessive force or First Amendment violations in a series of lawsuits.…
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New Colorado legal organization named after pioneering Denver lawyer
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Members of the legal community gathered at the University of Denver on Wednesday night to dedicate a new professional organization to the late Irving P. Andrews, a prominent lawyer and civil rights advocate. “The very first step in his process is to recognize the suffering of those who are subject to injustice. To do so…
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‘Take me up to the 10th Circuit’: Federal judge, civil rights attorney defiant as $18,000 sanction on the line
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A federal judge and a prominent civil rights attorney both stood their ground at a hearing on Thursday over an impending $18,000 sanction resulting from a failure to turn over evidence as ordered. Sasha Cronick is pursuing claims of unreasonable search and seizure and false arrest against Colorado Springs officers who handcuffed her minutes after…
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Federal judge slams civil rights attorneys for ‘enabling and facilitating’ disobedience of court order
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A federal judge vented her frustration at a pair of civil rights attorneys last month for continuing to protest her finding that sanctions are warranted in the wake of their client’s refusal to turn over evidence to the defense. Sasha Cronick is pursuing claims of unreasonable search and seizure and false arrest against Colorado Springs…
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10th Circuit partially reinstates religious discrimination lawsuit of ex-Douglas County schools administrator
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A former high school administrator may pursue his claims of religious discrimination against the Douglas County School District, the federal appeals court based in Denver ruled on Tuesday. Corey McNellis worked at Ponderosa High School for 14 years and was the athletic director and assistant principal at the time of his termination in October 2020. According…
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10th Circuit agrees Colorado Springs postal worker failed to show discrimination, hostile work environment
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The federal appeals court based in Denver agreed last month that a Black U.S. Postal Service employee in Colorado Springs failed to credibly allege the offensive conduct of a supervisor rose to the level of racial discrimination or a hostile work environment. Paul P. Nelson, who worked for the Postal Service for 23 years, filed…
