Civil Litigation

What you are facing

Civil disputes cover a wide range of claims: contract breaches, business disputes, property disagreements, and other matters where one party is seeking money or a court order rather than a criminal conviction. Unlike a criminal case, a civil case is decided by a preponderance of the evidence, a lower standard than beyond a reasonable doubt, which changes both the risk calculation and the strategy on both sides.

Civil cases in Colorado follow a structured timeline set by the Colorado Rules of Civil Procedure, with deadlines for disclosures, discovery, and dispositive motions that can shape or end a case well before trial. Missing those deadlines can cost you claims or defenses regardless of the underlying merits.

Where these cases are won

Most civil cases are decided by what discovery uncovers rather than by courtroom performance. Written discovery, depositions, and document production establish what actually happened and what can be proven, and a case’s settlement value usually tracks closely with how that record develops. Early motions, including motions to dismiss claims that are not legally viable, can also narrow a case significantly before either side has spent heavily on discovery.

Settlement negotiations only carry real weight when they are backed by a record that would hold up if the case actually went to trial, which is why early case evaluation matters as much as anything that happens later.

How we handle them

We evaluate the claim or the defense early so you understand your realistic position before significant costs are incurred. We manage discovery methodically, pursue dispositive motions where the facts or law support them, and negotiate from a position built on the actual record rather than assumptions. Where a case does not settle on reasonable terms, we are prepared to try it.

Andrew Wooten’s background in complex civil litigation informs how we approach case strategy from the outset.