THOMAS J. OVERTON
Phone Number: (303) 832-9249
Email: tom.overton@overtonlawfirm.com
Tom Overton knew what he wanted to do at a very young age. “I always wanted to be a lawyer,” says Overton. “Early on, I understood that as a lawyer, I could help people who might not be able to help themselves.”
As a trial attorney, Overton represents all types of businesses from Fortune 50 companies to family-owned operations, but his passion has always been representing local businesses and individuals. After working with a large national law firm in Denver, he began the predecessor of Overton Lapuyade in 1989.
Overton advises clients who are or might become involved in lawsuits. He handles a wide variety of civil litigation. During the last 35 plus years, Overton has handled virtually every type of business dispute: complex financial fraud, trademark infringement, corporate espionage, real estate disputes, disagreements over company ownership, injunctions against former employees, and more. “I understand how businesses operate and the problems they face,” he says.
Tom Overton also handles cases involving serious personal injury and death. Overton has tried cases involving car and truck accidents and injuries from defective products. His experience includes cases with catastrophic injures and brain damage as well as most of the common injuries that result from motor vehicle accidents.
Overton has a heart for giving back to his profession and to children’s causes. Overton has served on numerous boards in his profession and remains very active in The American Inns of Court. He served on the Jefferson and Gilpin County Judicial Nominating Commission. Overton and has served as the President of the Denver Children’s Home and has been honored by CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) as a “Hero for Kids”.
Tom Overton has been recognized by his peers for numerous professional honors, including: Super Lawyers Top100 Lawyers in Colorado (several times); Denver’s Top Lawyers by 5280 Magazine; Best Lawyers in America; and the Bar Registry of Preeminent Lawyers. He is Board Certified in Trial Advocacy by the National Board of Trial Advocacy, and he is a member of the American Board of Trial Advocacy.
BOARD CERTIFICATIONS / MEMBERSHIPS:*
Certified as a Civil Trial Advocate by the National Board of Trial Advocacy (accredited by the American Bar Association)
Certified as a Civil Pretrial Practice Advocate by the National Board of Trial Advocacy
American Board of Trial Advocates
Litigation Counsel of America, Senior Fellow
American Academy of Trial Counsel, Fellow
ATTORNEY REGULATION:
Hearing Officer and Mediator, Colorado Supreme Court Attorney Regulation Board, 1999-Present
Member, Committee on Conduct, United States District Court for the District of Colorado, 2015-Present
PROFESSIONAL HONORS:
Super Lawyers Top 100 Attorneys in Colorado
5280 Magazine Top Lawyers
Best Lawyers in America
Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers
AV rating (Highest Level) Martindale-Hubbell
AMERICAN INNS OF COURT:
President, Yasui Inn of Court, 2016-2017
Master of the Bench/Mentor, Yasui Inn of Court, 2012 – present
President, Thompson G. Marsh Inn, 2002-2003
Master of the Bench/Mentor, Marsh Inn, 1998-2011
Master of the Bench/Mentor, IP Inn of Court, 2010-2013
NATIONAL BOARD OF TRIAL ADVOCACY:
Member, Board of Directors and Board of Examiners, 2000-2005
Colorado State Coordinator, 1998-present
COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES:
Former Member, First Judicial District Nominating Commission
Hero for Kids, CASA of Jefferson and Gilpin Counties
Former Member, Colorado Intermountain Fixed Guideway Authority
Member, Board of Directors, Denver Children’s Home
Former Member, Denver Children’s Home Advisory Board
Member, Board of Directors, Denver Entrepreneurship Academy
Former Member, Board of Directors, The Colorado Ballet
Past President, Colorado Lawyers for the Arts
BAR ASSOCIATION ACTIVITIES:
Member, Life Fellow, American Bar Foundation
Member, Life Fellow, American Board of Trial Advocacy Foundation
Member, American Bar Association
Member, Colorado Bar Association
Member, Denver Bar Association
Member, First Judicial District Bar Association
Member, Faculty of Federal Advocates
Member, CBA Professionalism Committee
Member, Diversity Law Institute
Member, Trial Law Institute
REPORTED CASES:
Love v. Klosky, 413 P.3d 1267 (Colo. App. 2018)
Colorado Insurance Guaranty Association v. Sunstate Equipment Co., LLC, 405 P.3d 320 (Colo. App. 2016)
Bailey v. Lincoln General Ins. Co., 255 P.3d 1039 (Colo. 2011)
Lincoln General Ins. Co. v. Bailey, 224 P.3d 336 (Colo. App. 2009)
Olson v. Hillside Community Church, 124 P.3d 874 (Colo. App. 2005)
Hillside Community Church v. Olson, 58 P.3d 1021 (Colo. 2002)
Air Communication and Satellite, Inc. v. EchoStar Satellite Corp., 38 P.3d 1246 (Colo. 2002)
Brawner-Ahlstrom v. Husson, 969 P.2d 738 (Colo. App. 1998)
McRae v. Smith, 968 F. Supp. 559 (D. Colo. 1997)
EchoStar Satellite Corp. v. Advanced Communications Corp., 902 F. Supp. 213 (D. Colo. 1995)
EchoStar Satellite Corp. v. General Electric Co., 797 F. Supp. 855 (D. Colo. 1992)
Greenfield v. Hamilton Oil Corp., 760 P.2d 664 (Colo. App. 1988)
Rice v. Hamilton Oil Corp., 658 F. Supp. 446 (D. Colo. 1987)
Fredenberg v. Superior Bus Co., 631 F. Supp. 66 (D. Mont. 1986)
Adams-Arapahoe School District No. 28-J v. Celotex Corp., 637 F. Supp. 1207 (D. Colo. 1986)
Kopfman v. Freedom Drilling Co., 220 Neb. 323, 370 N.W. 2d 89 (1985)
Knittle v. Miller, 709 P.2d 32 (Colo. App. 1985)
LEGAL EDUCATION:
University of Tennessee
Knoxville, Tennessee
J.D. (with High Honors) June 1982
Honors and Activities:
Order of the Coif
Phi Kappa Phi
Tennessee Law Review, Assistant Editor, 1980-1982
Tennessee Judicial Newsletter, Editor-in-Chief, 1981-1982
Keenan Trial Institute
Graduate, 2019
Masters, 2020
National Institute of Trial Advocacy
Boulder, Colorado
National Program, 1986
UNDERGRADUATE EDUCATION:
Davidson College
Davidson, North Carolina
B.A. June 1979
LICENSES:
Colorado
U.S. District Court of Colorado
U.S. Court of Appeals, Tenth Circuit
U.S. Supreme Court
*Colorado does not certify attorneys as specialists in any field.