PHILOSOPHY:
A partner at SGR, LLC, Ms. Norton joined the firm in 1997 after serving as a judicial law clerk to the Hon. Harlan Bockman, Chief Judge of the Seventeenth Judicial District. She is admitted to practice in Colorado in both state and federal courts. She has successfully tried numerous civil cases, primarily to juries. Ms. Norton’s practice focuses on professional liability defense, including medical malpractice defense, products liability, premises liability, auto/trucking, property damage, aviation, non-profit defense and defense of catastrophic injury cases. She has obtained favorable verdicts and settlements in serious injury, complex and multi-party cases. She is a frequent lecturer on topics of interest to her clients and her firm’s associate attorneys and has been an Accredited Continuing Legal Education presenter on a number of topics, including discovery, rules of civil procedure, case evaluations and medical issues. Ms. Norton prides herself on providing high quality, efficient representation and obtaining favorable outcomes consistent with client goals.
PRACTICE AREAS:
- Professional Liability Defense, defense of licensed professionals including healthcare providers, engineers, attorneys and real estate agents
- Nursing Home and Care Facility Defense
- Defense of Licensed Professionals in Board Actions
- Non-Profit Defense
- Premises Liability
- Aviation Claims
- Products Liability
- Auto/Trucking Liability
- Torts and General Casualty
- Commercial Litigation
LAW SCHOOL:
University of Denver
Year degree obtained: 1996
Honors: Moot court competitor; American Jurisprudence Award for Jurisprudence
UNDERGRADUATE UNIVERSITY AND DEGREE:
University of Denver, B.A.
Year obtained: 1993
Honors: Cum Laude, award for Outstanding Political Science Student
NOTABLE REPORTED CASES/CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
- Anderson, Boulder District Court. Defense verdict related to student who sustained a skull fracture at track practice. Successful defense of appeal.
- Alexander, Adams County District Court, leg amputation trucking accident, defense verdict.
- Emery, Arapahoe County District Court, finger amputations in semi truck, defense verdict.
- Chappel, Denver District Court, premises liability ankle fracture on alleged ice, defense verdict.
- Koch, Denver County Court. Obtained directed verdict regarding dental malpractice claim.
- Sealed case (sealed related to identity of minor), Mesa County District Court, defense verdict for child placement agency.
- Delvalle, Denver District Court, auto/bus accident, defense verdict.
- Yardeny, Arapahoe County District Court, summary judgment granted in alleged malpractice case.
- Sepmeier, Eagle County District Court, motion for summary judgment granted related to defamation claims.
- Monroe, Denver District Court, alleged medical malpractice, defense verdict.
- Pent, Douglas County District Court, premises liability, alleged hot tub injury to child, defense verdict. Verdict upheld on appeal.
- Several Motions to Dismiss granted in alleged attorney malpractice claims, with fees and costs awarded.
- Published Colorado Supreme Court case: Silva, determining insurance reserves are not discoverable in Colorado.
- Published Colorado Supreme Court case: Ferrellgas, determining a defendant extinguishing a lien is entitled to a set off of the full amount of a lien, instead of the amount paid to extinguish a lien.
HONORS/AWARDS:
- Top Rated Lawyer, Litigation, Martindale-Hubbell
- AV Preeminent Peer Review Rating, Martindale-Hubbell
- 2017 – present, Colorado Superlawyer
- 2018 – 5280 Top Lawyer, Civil Litigation Defense
- 2019 – present, Best Lawyer’s in America
PUBLICATIONS/PRESENTATIONS:
- Author: Article for Colorado Claims Association – 2009 “Exercise Caution Related to Early Statements and Settlements with Injured Persons”.
- Author: “Summary of Colorado Law”- 2005 – present
- Author: “The Blame Game: Liability for the Criminal Acts of Another” – Eagle International Associates, October, 2022
- Author: “Successfully Battling the Reptile, Identifying and Responding to Reptile Issues” – Eagle International, March, 2019
- Author: “The Blame Game: Liability for the Criminal Acts of Another” – Eagle International Associates, October, 2022
- CLE Presentation: Colorado Pilot Program, 2012 – SGR in-house CLE
- Multiple client presentations related to Colorado law: 2008-present
- Multiple client presentations related to premises liability: 2008-present
- CLE Presentation: Voir Dire, 2010 – SGR
- CLE Presentation: Case Evaluation, 2020 – SGR (reprise and update of 2009 presentation)
- CLE Presentation: Case Evaluation, 2009 – SGR
- CLE Presentation: Medical Information, 2009 – SGR
- CLE Presentation: Rules of Civil Procedure, 2008 – SGR
- Panel Member: “The Professional as a Client” – September, 2015, Missoula, Montana
- Panel Member, “Evaluating Cases with Claimed Traumatic Brain Injuries and/or PTSD” – June, 2016, Merrill, Wisconsin
- Panel Member, “Evaluating Claims,” – June, 2018, Merrill, Wisconsin
- Panel Moderator, “Successfully Battling the Reptile Theory” – Eagle International Associates, March, 2019, Kansas City, Missouri
- Panel Moderator, “Liability for the Criminal Acts of Another” – Eagle International Associates, October, 2022, Denver, Colorado
- CLE Presentation – Evidence: Speaker, Educator and Volunteer, Colorado Defense Lawyers Association’s Trial Academy – March, 2019
- CLE Presentation: Panel Member and Presenter, “Equity Partnership, the Good, the Bad and the Ugly”, Colorado Defense Lawyers Association, Colorado Women’s Bar Association, Sam Cary Bar Association, South Asian Bar Association.
PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS:
- Council on Litigation Management (CLM)
- Defense Research Institute (DRI)
- Colorado Defense Lawyer’s Association (CDLA)
- Member, Eagle International Associates
- Colorado Women’s Bar Association
- Arapahoe County Bar Association
- Denver Bar Association
- Colorado Bar Association