Earl, Edward D.

Jim Chalat has been selected for the Colorado SuperLawyers list each year that members of the Colorado bar have been considered for the distinction. He has earned this recognition through his success on behalf of his clients, in and out of the courtroom. In February of 2010, Mr. Chalat's client, a victim left paraplegic by a drunk driver , was awarded $18.5 Million following a district court bench trial. In June of 2007, Mr. Chalat obtained a $10.1 Million jury verdict, one of the largest verdicts ever awarded in a Colorado medical malpractice case.

A Colorado lawyer since 1977, Mr. Chalat is Board Certified as a Civil Trial Advocate by the National Board of Trial Advocacy, a nationally esteemed organization. He is a sustaining member of American Association for Justice (formerly the American Trial Lawyers Association) and the Colorado Trial Lawyers Association. Jim Chalat is rated "AV" (highest rating) by Martindale-Hubbell, the authoritative resource for information on the worldwide legal profession. He has also be rated 10 out of 10 by Avvo.

Mr. Chalat has published numerous professional articles, including the definitive articles on U.S. ski law and Colorado ski law. He has frequently been intereviewed as a national expert on ski litigation, and he is also a popular speaker for Continuing Legal Education, speaking on ski litigation, attorney ethics and malpractice, and general trial tactics.

Notable Verdicts and Cases

• $10.1 Million jury verdict, Bargai v. Carlson, 2006CV1550, Denver District Court, Colorado, June 18,2007.
• $8.3 Million jury verdict Grigg v. Wintergreen, CL-03-9452, Circuit Court for Albermarle
  County, Virginia, July 16, 2004.\
• Amicus curiae, for the prevailing party (plaintiff) Cooper v. Aspen, 48 P.3d 1229 (Colo.
  2002)
• $1.4 Million jury verdict, Nguyen v. Stecher, 01 CV 2541 Arapahoe County District Court
  (6/27/02)
• Amicus curiae for the prevailing party (prosecution) People v. Hall, 999 P.2d 207 (Colo.
  2000).
• $6.2 Million jury verdict, Hoar v. Great Eastern Resort, 506 S.E. 2d. 777 (Va. 1998)
• $2.4 Million jury verdict, Ulissey v. Shvartsman, 61 F.3rd 805 (10th Circ. 1995).
• Attorney discipline, Respondent suspended, People v. Watson, 833 P. 2d 50 (Colo. 1992).
• Non-settling defendant's damages, Wong v. Sharp, 734 F. Supp. 943 (D. Colo. 1990).
• Representation of blind vendors, Hudson v. Boxer, 632 F. Supp. 1569 (D. Colo. 1986)
  Plaintiffs' counsel, in three mass disaster cases: Glenwood Springs propane explosion,
  Joslin v. RMNG, Teller lift failure, Mills et al. v. Ralston, et ah, Steamboat Springs natural
  gas disaster.

Press and Media Appearances

• National Television: Evening News with Dan Rather, CBS; The Today Show, NBC; World
  News Tonight, BBC; panelist w/ moderator Chris Matthews, MSNBC;
• Local Television: with Professor Jan Laitos, segments for @Issue, 9 News; interviews for
  Denver's 7 and News4.
• Radio: Colorado Public Radio (Colorado Matters, 2/24/06) National Public Radio, KOA, KHOW, BBC.
• Print: Newsweek, The Denver Post, The Rocky Mountain News, The Guardian, The Los
  Angeles Times, The New York Times, The Boston Globe.