Blackburned

Who�s the bigger bully � the smartass attorney who scorched the Denver Fire Department, or the fussbudget judge who threw out the verdict?

A A A Comments (29) By Alan Prendergast Thursday, Dec 13 2007

Mark Manger

After 25 years, Bill Cadorna got burned by the Denver Fire Department.

Mark Manger

Mark Brennan doesn't shy away from taking on powerful figures.

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Download complete transcripts from Cadorna v. City and County of Denver here: Day One Day Two Day Three Day Four Day Five Day Six Day Seven Day Eight

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It's ten minutes to five on the afternoon of June 29, 2006, and Mark Brennan can feel the tension coiled inside him like a steel spring, wound to the breaking point. He sits in a nearly deserted courtroom in Denver's Alfred A. Arraj United States Courthouse with his client, Bill Cadorna, waiting for the jury to file in and announce its verdict. Eight grueling days of trial, more than three years of legal battles. It all comes down to the next few moments.

Closing arguments in Cadorna v. City and County of Denver wrapped up a mere three hours ago. It's taken the eight jurors scarcely more time to reach their decision than it did for the attorneys to summarize the case — not always a good sign, but Brennan has reason to anticipate victory. An hour and a half into deliberations, the panel sent a note out to U.S. District Judge Robert E. Blackburn: "May the jury award lawyers' fees?"

Brennan knows the answer to that one; the matter of attorneys' fees is up to the judge. But the question itself seems to bode well for the plaintiff. Brennan doubts that any jury would want to award fees to the government, particularly after hearing the evidence about how city officials treated his client, a 53-year-old former firefighter suing for age discrimination. And yet, and yet — in a trial like this one, almost anything is possible.

Brennan turns to Cadorna and claps him on the shoulder. "Whatever happens," he says, "I'm glad we didn't settle this thing. These have been the most enjoyable two weeks of my entire professional life."

Not many lawyers would regard the Cadorna trial as a career highlight. But Brennan, a 6'3" broad-shouldered Hoosier with a booming baritone voice, isn't like many lawyers. A solo specialist in employment law who seems to thrive on conflict, he relished taking on the collective might of the Denver City Attorney's Office, the Denver Fire Department and the Denver Civil Service Commission — and, in his view, he kicked their collective ass.

He'd held up to scrutiny — and yes, mockery — the city's costly and absurd criminal investigation of Bill Cadorna, a firefighter for more than 25 years. Along the way, he'd provided some unsettling glimpses of the petty spats and vendettas simmering at local firehouses, where some employees apparently spend their downtime bickering over what's for dinner, filing grievances against each other and tossing around homophobic and racial slurs while scheming to banish their elders from the pack.

Cadorna had been fired in 2003 for allegedly stealing a $20 cookbook from a Safeway. The bizarre case against him later fell apart, after one of the key witnesses admitted to lying on the stand. But the city refused to rehire Cadorna, telling him that he was too old to be reinstated.

To Brennan, the demolition of his client's career is a clear case of age discrimination. But getting it to the jury wasn't easy. Over the past eight days, he'd clashed frequently with the defense, including an explosive confrontation in a hallway with an assistant city attorney, whom Brennan called a "fucking weasel." He'd also been scolded repeatedly by Blackburn for breaches of the judge's strict trial protocols, everything from "speechifying" his objections to making faces. The duel with the judge had led to a showdown on the last day of testimony, when Blackburn cut off Brennan's cross-examination of a top city official and then slapped him with a contempt citation. But Brennan could tell that he was making his case with the jury — and that, he figured, was all that really mattered.

"They gave you the ultimate power to decide," he told the jury in his closing just a few hours earlier. "Otherwise there is no possibility of justice, so long as those who have all the wealth and power at their disposal have the only say on what is lawful and proper."

Now the jury gets to have its say. Brennan and Cadorna stand as the five men and three women enter the courtroom. The bailiff collects the verdict forms and hands them to Judge Blackburn, who reads them aloud. The plaintiff has prevailed on all counts; the city is guilty of age discrimination in its decision to fire Cadorna and in its refusal to rehire him. The jurors award him $610,571 in back pay and compensatory damages, a figure the judge is obliged to double because they also find the discrimination to be "willful." Add to that Brennan's legal fees, and the Hickenlooper administration is looking at an award in excess of $1.5 million, one of the largest judgments ever entered against the City of Denver.

Cadorna recalls the moment as one of the most electric of his life. "I thought, 'At last I'm vindicated,'" he says. "These eight people saw through the lies and bullshit."

But he has yet to receive a single dime of the vindication that the jury offered him. In September, a full fifteen months after Cadorna's victory, Judge Blackburn threw out the verdict and granted the city's motion for a new trial, ruling that Brennan's "boorish and unprofessional antics" had prejudiced the jury and prevented the city from receiving a fair trial.

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Markey 01/04/2008 8:40:00 PM

We are told from the political class: We are all God's Childern endowed with life, liberty, equality, equal protection of the law. Only problem, try to enforce that in a federal court---with an Co. Attorney(who takes an oath when he gets his bar card). Then, ones standing is cut to shreds to make a mockery of equal rights, under law, as the subject matter so sadly illustrates. If one is to bear witness to law breaking by the powerful, then retaliation is the order of the day--the pattern M. O.( East-slope DEALS). Witness the sham(one among many--metro wide) in Jefferson County, where Kaiser Hill launders money through county accunts to then have that $$$ dumped in a out fit of a P.I. firm(under shade of obfuscations, & laundered form of an Jefferson County Aviation Company) to investigate a critic of that county, & its waste and fraud and abuse of fiscal matters involving taxpayers money. What happens; the County DA( who would not indict an off-duty cop killing along the I-State in the County, Indiana off-ramp, Hwy 6) says he has a conflict to investigate, & another accounty DA does a whitewash, sweeps under the rug, all while the State AG looks the other way at vast obstruction of justice, or law breaking by County Officials. More of the political class, misrunning this state, as Bar-Man, Hicky-loop(his Real Estate cabal), will host the DEM-08 CONVENTION, FOR THE POLITICAL CLASS, AS THE NATION IS SOLD DOWN A RIVER OF RED INK TO PLACE IN SERVITUDE FUTURE GENERATIONS. Misjustice is out of control in this state: Just look at how Mark Brennan(Esq, near Centennial Airoport) was handed his head, for what: trying to repesent a fireman. The Fire-fighters union is Rudi's worst nightmare. You will see: The larger truth is not so easly swept under the rugs, after the toxic dust of 9-11 crippled so many in NYC, but then Rudi showed his true colors,( His million love affair on Long Island in NYC accounts) just as Blackburn burned the rights of a firefigther in a heap of his own GOP hate-laden antics, all on display, all over the Denver area( the WORD, the Westword), and now: AMERICA observers. Kaiser Hill: got billions on Rocky Flats, as the Dept of Energy funneled over $ 70 million to attorneys fighting the people of Colorado, as workers were crippled with toxic nuclear waste. Yet, Kaiser Hill used the County--Jefferson-- to run some Gestapo operation on a critic of the county, and the powers that be come to the aid of K-Hill--to cover up so much. Why won't the Governor of this State deal with the coruption that is going on ? Issues abound for August 2008, indeed.
Pat 12/31/2007 6:22:00 PM

Federal court judges appointed by Bush(family # 41 and 43(W) have gone on a war against Acts passed by Congress. They have devised many ruses to negate such Congressional Acts. Mark Brennan was caught in the middle of that war(he is not the only attorney to have been caught up in that war). Of course, an attorney has a duty to diligently, and zealously represent a client. When Mr Brennan did so, & to seek to bring justice to an old Vet Nam war era vet, who had been a long term Denver fire fighter, then Bush (W) appointee came up with the most abusud Bull crap(leveraging off the Brownstein games) to negate a jury verdict. Congress pass the provisions(Age Discrimination ACT) to double any verdict( taking the damge award over $ 1 million), which would have meant the City would have had to pay for its outrageous misconduct( tinged with gross corruption). What is going on is the Bush political class war against average Americans to make a mockery of equal justice under the law(s). We should all applaud people like Mark Brennan, who sought to truly honor his oath of duty to a client. So many attorneys do not, and only go through the motions. Rich Blackburn is the kind of guy who would just as soon take away your rights in America and spit on you, or any attorney(officer of the court) who would dare to go into a federal court room(for you, where he holds the gavel) He is a disgrace, and does grave harm to America(as we once knew it before the Bush dynasty) Of course, like many neocon cowards, he never served in the U S military(he was a Nam era Buffy), he just was a blood sucker drawing at the county coffers( working the party strings), before he became a judge, gaming the GOP party system to cash in on his judicial slot in the federal judiciary. Now, he will do more than just spit on Brennan, he has shown his true colors.
Oldy Boomer 12/28/2007 11:56:00 PM

A review of the transcript reveals a lot of leading questions by City attorneys, as objections to those were sustained Plus, it reveals the city seeking to cut off answers from its city personnel. This was most evident. When the area of budget shortfalls was examined, then the City seemed to go out of its way to obfuscate. So, this thing of getting rid of older people making more money, to replace with younger fir-figheters to pay less really stands out. But, what kind of budget outlays to politically connected law firms, there seems to be no cut backs in that area. A review of the transcript shows really shocking things, that raise many questions on the Hickenlooper Administration. Was it so desperate because of gross mismanagement, that it had to resort to the worst form of hired gun slinger activity(via the Brownstein Politico SHOP) to screw a worker out of a jury verdict. If so, then what else is wrong on the mismanagement of the Hickenlooper Administration ? Some rubber stamp by a GOP judge( who is dripping with anit-worker bias) does not put the matter to rest, it only raises many more questions.
Bret 12/28/2007 11:29:00 PM

How dare the old fire guy got(who got jacked around) got an attorney that would influence a jury to rule in his favor. Obviously, an attorney that could influence a jury to get justice for a plaintiff is not something that is wanted in Denver--by the special ones.( the Beer Hall Easterner from Penn-- the HICK ADMIN) Why, the nerve he( the fire- man who was devoted in his service to the city, for so long) must have had, and after waiting 3 years to wade through a sea of motions. Thank God, we have federal judges who make a mockery of American jury's in Colorado,(post jury trial) especially after some attorney deal contracts are kicked back to big campaign donors to the City. It just isn't right for a jury to do their job, and give justice to an ordinary citizen. What is this country coming to, when a jury can be influenced by a trial attorney for a citizen ? That judge sure put Brennan in his place. That will teach him to take cases for ordinary citizens, against powerful and perhaps corrupt fixers. Again, thank God we have people like Bush(W) and GOP Senators like Larry Craig, and Wayne Allard who know how to put true red color GOP flag waving conservatives on the bench.( to rig the justice system in so many ways-- chads, you name it). It must make you all so very proud to have voted for Wayne Allard, not that he has ever stood up in a court of law for one second for some poor citizen, but he sure knows how to pick judges that never did either, and after all , isn't that what really counts in Colorado, and the high plains. More "W" and Wayne justice, kinda like dog crap for people, but then you voted for that: Right !
scronin 12/27/2007 5:10:00 PM

Download the complete transcripts from Cordona v. City and County of Denver at blogs.westword.com/latestword.
scronin 12/27/2007 5:10:00 PM

Download the complete transcripts from Cordona v. City and County of Denver at blogs.westword.com/latestword.
scronin 12/27/2007 5:10:00 PM

Download the complete transcripts from Cordona v. City and County of Denver at blogs.westword.com/latestword.
scronin 12/27/2007 5:10:00 PM

Download the complete transcripts from Cordona v. City and County of Denver at blogs.westword.com/latestword.
Jonathon Kubischta 12/27/2007 11:45:00 AM

My sympathy to all who knew Sandy Widener and her family. I was unfortunetly sitting on the interstate for hours while emergancy crews worked on the accident, wondering what had happened and was saddened to learn that there were multiple fatalities. My thoughts and prayers go to Katy Parr in her recovery.
Smitty 12/26/2007 10:42:00 PM

Senator Allard blocked the nomination of Jim Lyons to the U. S. District Court(Co). Then, he later under a different President( Bush--W) was key in putting Robert Blackburn on the federal District Court Bench( U. S. D. C., Co). How much a role Richard Wadhams, now GOP Party Chairman(CO), and long time GOP operative, had in securing a judge(fed) benchship for Blackburn is not clear, but it does raise unresolved questions ! However, Allard used Whitewater and Clinton to block the nomination of Clinton Appointee Lyons. Yet, Sliverado S & L mess, and the hanky panky at Silverado with all the big real estate movers( the Chamber Sorts) was most curiously one of thsoe look the other way with DOG Doc Allard, given the key role in Real Estate deals connected to the Brownstein Firm. When C U had its Ward Churchill problem, that was used as a pretext to smear the C. U woman President( who had been a respected economics professor etc, so Hank Brown could become the C. U President, as he was a frat Bro of Norm Brownstein. Is it some hard core(faux) values this fratty club holds, as they wheel and deal in power in Colorado like it is some TURF deals of their CLUB ? Denver has always been an anti-uniion place, and anti- worker rights domain. But, it is a big pay to play place, namely Brownsteins clique pays into some political clique, then it is rewarded with legal slot favors, and other bennie political favors. The post trial motions attacking Mark Brennan are in the middle of that climate, Blackburn was the mere instrument to carry out that agenda. Mr Brennan is an employment lawyer for workers. The Buffy fratty boys Club don't fancy his kind of attorney. So, Brennan is smeared with the pretext of misconduct for standing up for his client. Unlike a lot of so called Co attorneys he did more than go through the motions, and send his client a big fact bill with a charging lien. Maybe the real issue is judicial misconduct, combined with raw political influence in the CITY HALL in Denver(with its favored private real estate esquire firms) ? The crooks at Silverado were big Chamber fellows, interliked with CITY real estate dealings, and some of you may still have not forgotten Silverado Director Neil Bush. This all is not exactly old forgotten Denver History. See Wesword articles from that era, still of record on the way deals work in the real estate circles in Denver. Don't forget Jim Watts, HUD, and the Winn Folks either, since political favors is the thing again rasing its head on matters.
Cindy 12/23/2007 8:26:00 PM

Mayor Hickenlooper's Administration has dumped via the City attorney's office mega money into big corporate law firms. And, a lot of that goes to the Brownstein Firm. The Mayor even puts Wynckooop CEO's on his task forces. Why Brennan named Dick Wadhams in his gripes is most curious.(See above) Wadhams is the one who raised the stuff on corporate lawyer Strickland, who was a named pard in the Brownstein firm, and had some Global Crossing stock problems when he ran for the U S Senate, and got defeated twice.( beaten like a drumb on the lawyer lobbyist channel). But Wadham merely had to take material rased by the Ex Dean of C U law.(Nichol) to point up the stuff on lawyer lobbyist Strickland( now with another big corporate law frim(Hogan-H) Granted the Brownstein firm had its own labor problems with woman( the Zarala suit), an interesting question is surfacing on how much $$$$$, bar owner and real estate developer Mayor Hick is funneling to powerful law firms who seem to deal in big real estate matters, that require connections. Of course Mayor Hick was tight with the Brownstein frim in getting the Hillary Dem Convention to come to Denver(to be August 2008). Who are the biggest slush fund donors to Mayor Hick: Brownstein Firm Esquires., is that even a given. Some small town ex County Judge, from S E Colorado is not exactly part of the DEM machine. However, who is one of the biggest exploiters of illegal aliesn in Colorado: Mayor Hick at his own -private bars and reasturants, and even one of them killed a cop, if any look at the news. So, setting up some guy who was a Vet(in Nam) must have been a piece of cake, to toy with Brennan, as major money was funneled to the Brownstein LAW-SHOP(taxpayers money, from the Mayor Hick Admin... Actually, come August will Waldhams have a field day---as Mayor Hick can be in the news on how rich he got off the sweat and blood of illegal aliens. It must require a lot of law services on his real estate empire, and so Brownstien ESQUIRES show up on task forces, all some back-scratch city: Brennan is fighting more that City HALL. Mayor Hick makes the Tammy-HAll machine look like rookies. But, hopefuly that influence did not seep into some fedeal court via Brownstein Esquires, but it is troubling, when some dare look at more than The Beer HAlls in Lodo. Why did Westwords piece leave out all the slush fund $$$ in matters
Mona 12/23/2007 7:57:00 PM

Some of you are off the charts: First, it was Dick Wadhams who caused Ted Stickland to never be a U S Senator, as he tagged him a rich lawyer lobbyist, who was with the Brwnstein Firm.( 2 defeats of Strickland in Senate Races) Second, the bar keep mayor who has goten rich off the backs of over 100 illegal alieens at his bars and cafes, & seems to throw loads of money via his administration at the Brownstein law firm. Third the Mayor Hick Admin seems to put a lot of Brownstein lawyers on his task forces. Brennan has no basis to lay all at the door of Dick Wadhams,, jsut because he grewup in S. E Clorado
Noland 12/22/2007 5:59:00 PM

So far, nobody has popped up any major case handled by Bob Blackburn, in either federal or state court, as a private licensed attorney---here Colorado, USA. A quick public record search reveals none of any significance. ZERO, NADA. A law school professor, who comments on T. V., quite often, was amazed at another ruling of Blackburn, as it was over-ruled by the 10th Circuit, the taser matter.( google it up from the well known Professor). Bishop Chaput was critical of Blackburn, when he sentenced 3 nuns to long prison terms for civil/ civic protests(at a missle silo in Northen Corlorado), as Blackburn did some grandstanding speeches, like some, neocon B S ARTIST. Most curiously, the ranch kid from Las Animas County, took a pass at serving in Nam, AWOL. Just like the Cheney klan. Someone here, noted he got his judgeship because he knows, Dick WAD, AKA Dick Walham. Mr Walham seems to use a lot of gay radicals, who planted false stories, and had false press credentials to get into the White House press plant world( way Dick Wad drove Senator Daschel from public office--the Senate.) Dick Wad is a buddy of Karl Rove, who seems to be unmarried( yes, he is no real family man, are you shocked by that tid bit), and hangs around the gay underworld of D. C., that so traffic in Cheney land. Lynn Cheney and her sex books , which she killed the 2nd printing on, because she is a hypocrite, but is a mean back handed man hating influence peddler.(see her Kerry is "not a good man" speeches, in sync with swiftboating operations.) Go ahead look it up, google it right up, and while you are at it look up how Gail Norton floats in that world( see the story, the Secret Life of Gail Norton---google it up, as she drifted to the Brownstein Firm after he disgraceful stints at the Dept of Interior, and her cover up job as the Colorado Attorney General on many matters. Yes, Gail and her connects to Jack Abramhoff, the convict, and con-man, who was so busy at the Rove Wing of the Bush White House. Of course, her new nesting place, the Brownstein (LLP LAW-POLITICO $$$$ shop). Hey, Larry Craig was some ranch kid, he must be a big buddy of Dick Wad, and his gay planted faux reporter clique, who so traffic in the Rove Wing of the West Wing Bush White Hosue. A trial atorney( Stanford Grad, employment attorney in Denver) asks questions about the uniform,(how used) or makes a comment on that in a U S Court run by Bobby Blackburn, , next thing, a Viet nam Vet's day in court is rendered moot, and it was as if it was not America(here Colorado) but some foreign land--injustice for Cordona, was something that more need to look into in how this came about. I don't think Westword told us the 1/8 of stuff surrounding this matter. C U is an 8th rate law school, I wonder if GAY pride Day is the biggest event, as it and YALE blocked marine recuriters on campus, until it was settled that was illegal. The YALE ruling. A black woman was barred from testifing after a mere smear was asserted that she pronounced some gay slur. That was false, but the U S Seante did not care about the truth or allowing a black woman to testify in the Thomas hearings to clear her good name.(more speeches from the buddy -hacks of Dick Cheney, now President of the Senate) A lot of radical gay reporters sure seem to hang around the GOP as opertives to kill the good name of people, and allow no replies, how J Edgar Hooveresqe. Now we see that Dick Wad thing seeping into courts, as run by Blacky Burn baby Burn-Las Animas heavy handed Bob, the cohort of Dick Wad. Dick Wad, and his pals at the Brownstein Politico Shop, how perfect for the coming August 2008 Convention, and high plains lyncing of a Viet Nam Vets day in court as if justice is barred in this part of America, and ho in the DEM party cares----none, they are too busy with GAY pride derby floats, and FOX triangulated politics. Clarece Thomas lied to get on the bench, nobody in the Seante checked to see if Bob Blackburn had even basic credentials going to his fitness to sit on a federal court. SAD. Now, Colorado is stuck with the creep for the rest of his legal life. Will Westword do more jokes aobut 1/2 lives, and 1/2 breeds, as if if their is tired citizenship in the Colorado wilderness of the brave new world of Blackburn, and his strange ways. Cordorna becme a "stranger to the law"---- it was fire-bombed by Blackburn, in effect, as if he is a non-person. The Cadorna matter is more than about Cordona, it is about all of you, your rights to are at risk, as Blackburn wears black robs on a Federal Court in Colorado. You, at least, should no longer remain in the dark on so much on this sorry saga. After all, you pay taxes don't you, as an American.
Noland 12/22/2007 5:59:00 PM

So far, nobody has popped up any major case handled by Bob Blackburn, in either federal or state court, as a private licensed attorney---here Colorado, USA. A quick public record search reveals none of any significance. ZERO, NADA. A law school professor, who comments on T. V., quite often, was amazed at another ruling of Blackburn, as it was over-ruled by the 10th Circuit, the taser matter.( google it up from the well known Professor). Bishop Chaput was critical of Blackburn, when he sentenced 3 nuns to long prison terms for civil/ civic protests(at a missle silo in Northen Corlorado), as Blackburn did some grandstanding speeches, like some, neocon B S ARTIST. Most curiously, the ranch kid from Las Animas County, took a pass at serving in Nam, AWOL. Just like the Cheney klan. Someone here, noted he got his judgeship because he knows, Dick WAD, AKA Dick Walham. Mr Walham seems to use a lot of gay radicals, who planted false stories, and had false press credentials to get into the White House press plant world( way Dick Wad drove Senator Daschel from public office--the Senate.) Dick Wad is a buddy of Karl Rove, who seems to be unmarried( yes, he is no real family man, are you shocked by that tid bit), and hangs around the gay underworld of D. C., that so traffic in Cheney land. Lynn Cheney and her sex books , which she killed the 2nd printing on, because she is a hypocrite, but is a mean back handed man hating influence peddler.(see her Kerry is "not a good man" speeches, in sync with swiftboating operations.) Go ahead look it up, google it right up, and while you are at it look up how Gail Norton floats in that world( see the story, the Secret Life of Gail Norton---google it up, as she drifted to the Brownstein Firm after he disgraceful stints at the Dept of Interior, and her cover up job as the Colorado Attorney General on many matters. Yes, Gail and her connects to Jack Abramhoff, the convict, and con-man, who was so busy at the Rove Wing of the Bush White House. Of course, her new nesting place, the Brownstein (LLP LAW-POLITICO $$$$ shop). Hey, Larry Craig was some ranch kid, he must be a big buddy of Dick Wad, and his gay planted faux reporter clique, who so traffic in the Rove Wing of the West Wing Bush White Hosue. A trial atorney( Stanford Grad, employment attorney in Denver) asks questions about the uniform,(how used) or makes a comment on that in a U S Court run by Bobby Blackburn, , next thing, a Viet nam Vet's day in court is rendered moot, and it was as if it was not America(here Colorado) but some foreign land--injustice for Cordona, was something that more need to look into in how this came about. I don't think Westword told us the 1/8 of stuff surrounding this matter. C U is an 8th rate law school, I wonder if GAY pride Day is the biggest event, as it and YALE blocked marine recuriters on campus, until it was settled that was illegal. The YALE ruling. A black woman was barred from testifing after a mere smear was asserted that she pronounced some gay slur. That was false, but the U S Seante did not care about the truth or allowing a black woman to testify in the Thomas hearings to clear her good name.(more speeches from the buddy -hacks of Dick Cheney, now President of the Senate) A lot of radical gay reporters sure seem to hang around the GOP as opertives to kill the good name of people, and allow no replies, how J Edgar Hooveresqe. Now we see that Dick Wad thing seeping into courts, as run by Blacky Burn baby Burn-Las Animas heavy handed Bob, the cohort of Dick Wad. Dick Wad, and his pals at the Brownstein Politico Shop, how perfect for the coming August 2008 Convention, and high plains lyncing of a Viet Nam Vets day in court as if justice is barred in this part of America, and ho in the DEM party cares----none, they are too busy with GAY pride derby floats, and FOX triangulated politics. Clarece Thomas lied to get on the bench, nobody in the Seante checked to see if Bob Blackburn had even basic credentials going to his fitness to sit on a federal court. SAD. Now, Colorado is stuck with the creep for the rest of his legal life. Will Westword do more jokes aobut 1/2 lives, and 1/2 breeds, as if if their is tired citizenship in the Colorado wilderness of the brave new world of Blackburn, and his strange ways. Cordorna becme a "stranger to the law"---- it was fire-bombed by Blackburn, in effect, as if he is a non-person. The Cadorna matter is more than about Cordona, it is about all of you, your rights to are at risk, as Blackburn wears black robs on a Federal Court in Colorado. You, at least, should no longer remain in the dark on so much on this sorry saga. After all, you pay taxes don't you, as an American.
Morgan 12/21/2007 9:20:00 PM

Dick Waldham got his head handed to him, when he ran the scumbag George Allen losing campaign(in Va,(campaign as misrun with Allen) with his pit bull attack on a Viet Nam Vet, which were gross and filled with vile lies. Now, a Senator, Senator Webb, should be alerted as to how Walham's creepy cabal has infested the Colorado federal Court system process, just look, & the flow of money is indeed curious: Money from City of Denver to Brownstein's political-juris operations,(see Brownstein op money flows in politics etc), then a creepy post trial motion, then the flaming nut case rambling of Blackburn under some cover of a ruling, post jury verdict. Is there 2 Americas: those who served in Nam era( like Cadorna), and the Brownstein cabal of political animals(draft evaders), who so pollute so much in the culture of corruption, passed off as Party politics these days Dick Walham's dity pit bull operations indeed are at issue. He and Allan like to tag Senator Webb with incest books. However, the political incest in Colorado is at issue, given how Blackburn went crazy( on the bench). Mr Brennan has a 1st amendment right. However, a nurse in Colorado in the University Hospital mess is no longer an American woman, who has full constitutional rights. She has been decertified by Rober Blackburn as a full citizen in America. with attributes of constitutional protections. Just like he sided with the rape antics at C U. Mr Brennan, we applaud your courage, your commitment to the U S Constituion, it seems Blackburn was one of those Dick Cheney kind of cowards. Mr Brennan can wear his attacks from Blakburn as a badge of honor. Blackburn raises the issue: impeachment, and special prosecutor calls are indeed on the table, citizens must call for outside, and an independent full investigation. The seeping of creepy politics into the federal bench is an issue. Maybe the CITY HALL in Denver will put out more money(flows) to its creepy political operative law firms like Brownstein,(taxpayer $$$$), yet this calls for a full audit, full disclosure. Yes, the flow of money, and politics in Denver is a big issue. Blackburn's fitness to even sit on a federal bench is now in question. Impeachment is on the table. He has done vast damage to notion of honest fedeal court administrations. He is blinded by his hate of plaintiff lawyers who represent people, like the Viet Nam vet. All Viet Nam vets should call for impeachment to put Blackburn on the radar. This is now a national issue, and he can't take away our constitutional rights, like he did to a citizen who was a nurse, as if her rights are just there to be spit on and ripped apart. Call for a full investigation, impeachment, and take back America from the Brownstein, Waldam, neocon chicken hawk fixer cabal, who are tearing apart the very foundations upon which America was founded and spitting on the US Constituion. Thank you Mr Brennan for serving America by diligently represening a Viet Nam vet, something that has made you a target from a nut case wacko from the GOP Party, who puts his party greed over the full Constitution. Mr Brennan thanks for educating America to the dangers posed to America by Blackburn's despicable judicial misconduct, given the total fabric in which events are unfolding. Every person who served in Vet Nam, or federal service should join with Cardona to address the travesty that has come about. Some want silence to cover this matter. Pit bull Waldham, the shyster operatiosn at Brownstein( ESQ, LLP etc) forgot one thing: Men died to defend the constituion, and Cadorna is their brother in the larger aspect of matters, and Blackburn is not going to take away America by his fancy puling, and his puking dirty tricks.
Prehoda 12/21/2007 8:13:00 PM

It is indeed ironic that the road to the federal bench for Blackburn was through Allard and his his political gun slinger, the political operative, who hates laywers. One may recall the mud slinging in the Ted Strickland matter, where his every professional minute was put under some rotten flattack. Allard showed his true hate for the justice system for ordinary Americans. So, now we see a guy who was a Viet Nam vet, under attack after a load of money was dumped in the Brownstein frim to pull the crap it did, as if soem pay back deal was in motion. Brownstein was one of those draft dodgers like Cheney and his ilk during the Nam era. Mr Brennan is a real lawyer, who is seservign of any br member who took an oath to defend the Constituion of the USa, now under attack from trators like Blackburn and the political animanla who so flaot in the Browntein cabal.
Mark Brennan 12/20/2007 8:07:00 PM

To "Rick": Your comments, too, add an important layer of insight and perspective to this situation. Please be assured, however, that my balls are very much intact, and as big as ever. There is considerable irony in my being rewarded for my reluctant but dedicated service to the truth, the law, and Mr. Cadorna with very public defamation by a judge who probably never took a serious personal or financial risk on behalf of a client in his entire career, and barely stepped foot in federal court before appointed to the federal bench ahead of what one must assume were dozens of highly experienced federal litigators who sought the job, but do not hail from then-Allard Campaign Chairman/now-Colorado Republican Party Chairman Dick Wadham's hometown of Las Animas, or did not get the seal of approval from Mike Norton, Norm Brownstein, and the people at whose bidding they work. As a 27-year Firefighter, including 16 years as a Rescue Diver (which those in the know recognize as a very unpleasant and dangerous, but necessary, job), Bill Cadorna earned every penny of his salary and pension, and a lot more. Instead of the "grateful thanks" of the City, he was disgraced and humiliated at the hands of an arrogant bureaucracy for which the truth and the law are mere "guidelines" with which it feels obligated to comply only when it advances the bureaucracy's agenda or the personal interests of the powerful. That Judge Blackburn saw nothing the least bit despicable in the City's misconduct, and excused their blatant violation of federal law on the pretext of my allegedly bad manners, says everything anyone needs to know about the wisdom of his nomination and selection for the federal bench. Sadly, the mistake of appointing such minimally qualified, undistinguished lawyers to the federal bench has been repeated dozens and dozens of times across the country in recent years, with disastrous consequences. To "Barker": Safeway's store manager, acting within the scope of his duties and during his employment, destroyed evidence that corroborated Bill Cadorna's innocence and would have prevented his prosecution for theft, or, possibly, his termination had it been disclosed when discovered. The store manager then committed the very serious felony of perjury (about which prosecutors tend to be most concerned only when it harms their all-important conviction rate) by denying the discovery of the exculpatory evidence he destroyed. The amount of the settlement must be kept confidential by agreement. Safeway got off for what, compared to its annual revenues, is a pittance. Mr. Cadorna simply lacked the resources to battle Safeway and the City simultaneously, and, given the way in which the City deliberately manipulated the store manager into misguidedly thinking he was being a good citizen in going way above and beyond the call of duty (and decency) in agreeing to prosecute Mr. Cadorna on the basis of the Asst. Chief's word, rather than the evidence, the greatest fault lay with the City. But for Judge Blackburn's mysterious desire to relieve the City of responsibility for its outrageous offenses to the law and the truth, the City would be accountable now. Judge Blackburn has, however, only delayed the day of reckoning by a few years. We are fully prepared (with the assistance of additional, highly expert counsel so that Judge Blackburn is deprived of the opportunity to use my personality as an excuse for screwing Mr. Cadorna again) to retry the case, and thereafter to appeal his grant of a new trial (which will ultimately be overturned by the Tenth Circuit) and simultaneously defend against the City's appeal of their second, probably even greater, loss. Precisely because Mr. Cadorna has his pension, and his wife earns a modest salary, he can survive while he waits them out. I would rather the matter came to an end so that I might proceed with pursuing another, less unrewarding career, but I can afford to await the final outcome, however distant. By making the serious mistake of using Judge Blackburn to publicly defame me in the vain hope it would pressure us into settlement, and then repeatedly insulting my ethics and integrity by suggesting I am now obligated to resign as Mr. Cadorna's counsel because I kicked the City's ass in the Super Bowl only to have our victory negated after the fact by the referee for "unsportsmanlike conduct" never called during the game, the City has achieved quite the opposite of what it hoped. They have made the very serious mistake of making this VERY personal, and have given me an extra measure of determination to see them squirm like the piss-ants they are when we once again expose them to the scorching sunlight of truth and justice, and they wind up paying not $1.5 million, but $2.5 or 3 million, to stop the torture. In short, they fucked up seriously, and will live to regret it. They are cowardly bullies, and expect everyone to kneel before them in the face of their ability to abuse their influence. They made the mistake of imagining I am as much of a pussy as they are, and would rather end the humiliation than seize the chance for turnabout and drive the sabre through their hearts. The voters of Denver should be demanding an investigation by an independent prosecutor (not that one could be found in this state) of why the City's bureaucracy has shown such indifference to the law, the truth, and the interests of the taxpayers.
Mandy 12/20/2007 7:02:00 PM

How many witnesses(to crimes and wrong doing) ended up dead or hurt, or crushed or intimidated when Ritter was D. A., as he is now the GOV ? Oh, that maybe beyond Calhoun's pay grade(at a weekly with so many ads for sex toys), or something that is just not looked into in so called Scribe circles in Colorado. When the Gov's race was on, a question was raised on his look the other way stuff, and the person running agaisnt him was then targeted to prosecute, as the GOV seems to use the political system, like he is Mr scorched earth BILL. What is the real message in Colorado: any who witnesses to wrong doing, beware if you pop your head up, and it displeases the power Circles. Strange how the Brownstein LLP was at thr center of matters, an motion city was all but shoved aside to gloos over, like some at Westword have no clue how things really operate in RITTER-CITY DA- Broweinstin LLP ville, and cabal.
Barker 12/20/2007 6:39:00 PM

This cooking book saga, which all started at Safeway seems to touch on more than just stew fired noodles. Why does the City, ex Bar owning Mayor's Administration, pass so much money to big politicallY connected law firms, who traffic in political lanes ? Safeway seems to have a lot of labor problems in Denver, and Colorado. However, doesn't it have a right to report stealing at its stores, or that which it has reason to be so, if that was in play ? If it does, then will it be sued ? Can any citizen be destoryed if he reports wrong doing, that was never touched on by Westywords, does its so called reporter have a thing on witnesses he feels are "rats" ? Why did Safeway hide the settlement from the public, as did Westword in the first piece ? Maybe Brennan got so much money for the fire-man, nearing retirment and double dip times it really miffed Judge Blackburn, and so the jury verdict was just an amount on a peice of paper. It sure went up in smoke, poof, gone, like in a presto, after the big time political guys pulled thier magic.
Rick 12/20/2007 6:11:00 PM

As Mr Mr Brennan points out, it was the post trial motion of the Brownstein Law firm, paid by a flow of money from the City, that caused him to be a target of hate from Robert Blackburn( in effect cutting to the chase). Most curiously, Westword responded in its Dec 20-26th Edition that � Cordora filed a separate lawsuit against Safeway, and reached a confidential settlement�. At ever step Cordona got money, until Sept 2006. He was paid a salary for 26 years from the City, between 1976 and 2003, he got back-pay, until his pension kicked in, he got a special disability benefit, he got secret $$$ from Safeway, the deal sealed( is it 2 mil or ten cents, ??). All lawyer Brennan got, in the larger sum of matters, was his name smeared for ever, because he dared to be a trial lawyer in federal court in Denver. However, Denver is a place were witnesses end up dead, or intmidated, and scared off, as pointed out by the Denver Post(and CNN), as 16 witnesses to crime have been murdered in Denver with no witness real viable protection, as many more have been intimidated. Denver�s own city attorney committed suicide after been charge with stealing City property, in an indictement by other County attrorneys, who failed to indict a Denver area cop for a road side killing, along the Interstate, while he was offf-duty. Because Brennan was touching on corruption in City hall, from those who wore uniforms, he was made a target. The Brownstein Firm brags , it has a lot of Ex DOJ attorneys and powerful ex Congressional Staffers to pull strings at the centers of power. Its senior Pard has been touted as the 51st Senator has he traffic in big bundled political $$$$$$. Cordona served in the Viet Nam era, Brownstein is just a fat kat lobbyist. The Westword piece revealed the ugly truth of how federal courts are open to shameless influence of those who traffic in the political lanes. There is immunity for the City, and DOJ attorneys to slander and defile the name of people like Brennan, to send a message� don�t care about your client, he is just a poor citizen, don�t be a stand up attorney in court. Blackburn did more to destroy the integrity of the federal court in Denver than a squad of terrorists, he has put a black eye over the Justice system in Colorado Was it to cover up corruption in high places--what really deep down at the core of matters ?? After all men in uniform seemed to get a Safeway guy put in a network to frame a low level public employee, who just wanted to be able to send his kids to College. Don�t care about people like Mr Cadona , Mr Brennan, is the message sent to your from on high in the Bar Circles, or you nuts will be cut off, and stuffed in your mouth, is the real message sent out by Blackburn(ET AL), cutting through all the flowery "puling" he has put out in official decrees. Gee, thanks to the Brownstein firm for its legal gunning for injustice to have corrupt power in Denver, that has got to make the Governor, the D. A. the Mayor, just swell with pride, as the Dem Convention just got $ 50 million to be handed out by the DOJ, and its string pullers. Most telling is the way, Westword glossed over the Brownstein law firm roll in matters, even confusing a reader who was of the impression that the City did not object to Brennan( hard print comment form Scott from Erie in Westword hard print edition of Dec 20-26). Now, Brownstein( LLP Law etc), and Westword have Brennan stewing in his own juices, putting up here he did not want to take the case. Why, was the price too high: Raw power in Denver weaving its way, to bring Brennan to his knees, after all very few cases, seem to go to trial in Blackburn�s federal court room to give a poor citizen any real day in Court. Now, Brennan has all but had his balls cut off, and stuffed in his mouth, to teach him a lesson, and to Bren the message: and a big signal to others: Large Corporation own the Denver Federal court house, and don�t you forget it, that is the civil injustice system in Denver. Oh by, the way, who are the big corporate law firms for Safeway, seems that was omitted from the Westword piece ? Pay backs are a bitch , aren�t they Mark, & Prendergast got you steaming in your own boiling pot, but he keeps writing the justice system is a place where truth is a victim and it just never address its own shortcomings. 16 witness murdered in Denver, used by the City D. A(as fodder to disgard), as the civil side of the courthouse hands out large was of $$$$ to political connected Firms, like Brownstein(LLP etc). Westword won�t touch the gravy train to the Brownstein firm from the City, only some national investigative reporter might get into, seems things too cozy in Denver back-scratch circles. But its piece revealed how ugly injustice is in Denver. The price to the larger society, UNTOLD !
Mark Brennan 12/20/2007 5:45:00 AM

To "Lonny" and "Madosa Legato": I thoroughly enjoyed your incisive and thoughtful comments. Similar thoughts have certainly crossed my mind, though you offered a few that had not. Fortunately, there are a number of stand-up lawyers in the Denver area who deserve much more credit than I for the extent to which they are willing to tilt at windmills in the hope of preserving at least the appearance of "Equal Justice Under The Law" in this country. I litigated this case quite against my will, unwilling to abandon my client when no one else would take up his cause. I told him from the beginning that I was not interested in litigating his federal claims and he needed to find an attorney who would be. I was motivated not by money, since my client could not possibly cover my fees on an hourly basis, but by outrage. Ironically, the very thing that made me want to exit the profession--disgust at the degree to which its is dominated by craven whores--is the very thing that sustained me through trial. We have also been blessed with a number of truly wonderful federal and state judges. For instance, Judge Richard Matsch, who presided over the McVeigh trial, is indisputably one of the finest trial judges to have ever sat on the bench in Colorado, or anywhere else. He is cantankerous as hell, but as fair-minded as the day is long. Judges of his generation are generally much less political, and, though motivated by varying philosophies or agenda, strive mightily to apply the rules fairly. They are, however, a dying breed. The newer generation includes more who are simultaneously nihilistic yet narrowly ideological, and are singularly injudicious in their abuse of their authority to serve ideological or political interests. They are the inevitable consequence of the degree to which the political process is controlled by monied special interests, and in which mere lip service is paid to the rights of the individual. They pose a much greater threat to respect for the courts or the rule of law than I ever could. To "Fair is Fair": Thanks, Mom! As I've tried to explain before, the reason the City did not move for a mistrial is that, although their highly experienced lead attorney and the battery of senior observers from the City Attorney's office were quite familiar with their right to move for one, they simply had no basis for moving for a mistrial. Likewise, the Judge, who, though his understanding of the Constitution and his oath of office is idiosyncratic, was quite familiar with his right to order a mistrial without a motion from the City if he had any reason to believe the trial had been polluted by my alleged "misconduct" (which was really nothing of the sort), found himself completely without grounds for granting one sua sponte (on his own initiative), during trial or after. The allegations of "misconduct" were first made in the City's post-trial motion for a new trial, filed long after the verdict. The allegations were an afterthought, and no attorney with whom I consulted about them took them seriously. They appeared to be nothing more than the City's effort to throw as much horse shit as they could shovel against the wall, in the vain hope some might stick. The leading appellate expert who authored our response to the City's motion for new trial (and who has handled literally thousands of appeals) regarded the motion for new trial as completely baseless, and assured me it would be denied. She, of course, based her analysis on the law. Silly us! We believed in the federal courts. We actually thought the outcome would be governed solely by the law and the facts, and would be left for the jury to decide, as the ultimate authority under the Seventh Amendment. We didn't know the trial was never about the City's blatant violation of the law, but was actually a beauty contest in which the winner would be the one least likely to offend the peculiar sensibilities of the judge. Hell, if the question to be settled at trial had been whether I am occasionally quite disagreeable, especially when confronted with arrogant disregard for the truth and the law, I would have stipulated to judgment against me! Without a doubt, if I were not of Northern European descent, but were instead Latino or Black, anyone reading the judge's grant of a new trial would be absolutely convinced that he was motivated by my race or ethnicity to so publicly defame me (protected by judicial immunity), and deprive my client of his justly won verdict. His motives remain unknown. Of one thing I am sure, however: they had absolutely nothing to do with the strength of our case or the possibility the jury was unduly influenced by my alleged "misconduct".
Fair is Fair 12/20/2007 12:10:00 AM

Well, as you can see, both Brennan and Blackburn are pricks. But that doesn't mean jury nullification. This is a case where justice was served and the Judge's ego outdone. Both Lawyer and Judge liked to use the $5 words, but Lawyer was smarter, and when you outsmart the King, the King will try to make you look like the Jester. The core of what pisses us off, is the ineptitude of people that we pay with our tax dollars, namely, the City Attorneys and the Judge. After having a crap case and wasting our money on a trial, the City Attorneys continue to try to justify their ineptitude by spending MORE of our dollars on a losing appeal. Cut your losses. YOU LOST, and if a mistrial wasn't declared during the trial because you didn't ask for it, YOU LOST. Stand up each time there's improper behavior and object by saying "its improper." After 10 times of objecting, ask for the mistrial. You didn't and took your chances. YOU LOST. QUIT WASTING OUR MONEY.
Madosa Legato 12/19/2007 6:29:00 PM

I am staying with friends in Denver, adding to your ski economy as the slopes are wonderful, and was reading your amazingly excellent area bi-monthly paper, W-W, and found it so interesting, Thus, my friends allowed me to weight in via their computer, to go into the digital mode. So, Bros and Sisters of the highland Rocky bar, my 2 cents: Oh, I see that Mr Brennan has put in a word or two(comment 6) which makes it even more delightful. Please don't leave the practice of law, there are so very few real stand up attorneys in Colorado, as many have discovered. It is so hard to get a good attorney(civil plaintiff side), to be a real stand up person---in a court in a civil case against powerful entites, and politicans etc. It took Mr B 3 years to get beyond all the motions. He did show the reeking injustice that befell Mr. old firemen guy. However, here is what I think was driving the "puling" judge who did not like the jury results, please follow the money and add your perspective( if so moved): 1) The old fire guy( Cad....) got back-pay( $$) from the time he was fired to the time his pension kicked in. He was on the Dept dole from around 1976 to 2003. 2) Plus, he got some disability benny $$$, another thing viewed as a double dip, in taxpayer circles 3) So, it was not like he was out in the cold with no $$$$, like an old guy tossed out in the 5 point area with no clothes on his back. 4), So along comes this age discrimination suit in federal court. Plus, the other atrorneys never did the real deal rep job that Mr Stand up ESQ, Mr B, did. 5) Mr B did one incredible job, that 99.8 % of other attorneys could not do---a real stand up guy. So rare these days, most who graduate from law school , never see the inside of a federal court( a dirty little secret of law schools, but so true ), & so few attorneys in Colorado ever argue before the U S. Supreme Court, the Rockirs have no attorney from this area on the U S Supreme Court, who grants only 1 % of cert petitions filed, leaving most out in the cold. 6) the jury verdict: around $ 1.5 million(before voided by FIAT. This was too much for the judge, from the small town: Wasn't he from the sex change capital of the world in some S.E. Colorado County, before his political inspired appointment to the federal bench, by the Co GOP anti groups, the Lary Craig GOP Senate, wide stancers and their CLUB ? So, in effect he seeks to cut the balls off of Mr Brennan, he( Mr B) was just a bit to much stand up for Colorado Federal courts. Was it the uniform remarks that drove Blackburn over the edge ? Mr Brennan says the W-W investigative reporter is a crack journalist, so to speak. After reading the piece I found it interesting, but then it left me with more questions, than answers: A) the coverup of perjury in Courts, and frame job investigations( puling for injustice) in Colorado, swept under the rug by the powers that be( looks like a Capone Chicago in the free flowing booze days) Well, time is still in play, so maybe more stuff will emerge & will come out later..... B) The use of political connected law firms to file motions to tube jury verdicts C) What % of civil cases filed ever go to a jury, hasn't it declined from about 15 % to 2 % ? Mr Fireman guy( the hot pot cookie CAD...) would make more money than the federal judge, and he was a public employee, so is that in play ? Next, will we see federal judges "puling" about their dinky federal salary ? Actually, there are judges who put that in their rulings, as they then rule against people. Shocking ? Then, the recent bribery indictments of the King of Torts in Mississippi burning The Scrubs gives a cockalorum like pale over Courts. You all, regular citizens, you better wonder on how people like Blackburn got appointed to the court, and why he never appeared to have ever represented some poor down and out citizen in his life, before he was put on a federal bench. His puling castrating ruling was one to cut off Mr B's balls( sub silento & su sponate) , and to show him( a trial attorney who took a matter to trial), and send a message: No real stand up attorneys are welcome in federal court in Colorado.( The chambers are owned by Rockwell and its ILK corporate BAR) That should concern many in Colorado, the Rockies, and America. But, if you don't need a good attorney on a problem, then don't try a Larry Craig, because it is dangerous out there in the jungles of jurisprudence traps. Oh, Yes, the Denver Post is a joke, it is like it is some News letter for Quest, I saw the Joe CEO (ex) coverage, and they are rooting for the CEO and his heist that bankrupted so many in Colorado, so Westwofd does cover stuff that the the so called main stream papers don't look at. Why; Colorado don't have a daily newspaper that is worth a dam: Digital, in a word, is driving down their readership, every year. Now, off to Aspen, and the non-salaried FAT KAT mecca, of the movers and shakers, and the Saudi CABAL, who get to share the snow with the 6 pack blokes, like me. Snow-burned, and all.
Mark Brennan 12/18/2007 7:19:00 PM

To Kramer: I respectfully disagree with your analysis, which is squarely at odds with the truth and, more importantly, the remarks of the jurors, but, as Voltaire once said, "I would defend to the death your right to say it." Please recall that, but for the willingness of courageous individuals to expose or oppose despotic efforts to suppress individual rights in the service of governmental or corporate aims, we would all still be subjects of the Court of St. James. I would be more than happy to make available to you the entire transcript of the trial in order that you might better understand the profundity of the judge's error in attributing our victory to anything other than dogged persistence and highly competent lawyering, coupled with stubborn resistance to the truth and the law by a massive, wealthy bureaucracy unwilling to admit its quite serious and unlawful misconduct despite overwhelming evidence. Indeed, I will see whether it may be possible for Westword to post them via its site so that all who have an interest might see for themselves that the far greater offense, to which Judge Blackburn (sworn to uphold the Constitution and the law of the land) seems quite oblivious or indifferent, was the City's. Politics does indeed "make for strange bedfellows". I have absolutely nothing to hide. That could hardly be said of the City of Denver. To Brody: Thank you very much for your very incisive and supportive comments. I would like to rise to Alan Prendergast's defense, however. In my view, Alan did an AMAZING job of mastering the complexities of the case in a short time, and in distilling them into an extraordinarily well-written piece that captured the essence of the situation quite well. Like Patti Calhoun, he is anything BUT a "chicken-hawk". To the contrary, he is enormously courageous to so habitually run the risk of exposing the weaknesses or failings of very powerful people of which most journalists and publishers are quite afraid, or to whom they are unduly sympathetic. Note, for instance, that the Denver Post, apparently because it did not wish to embarrass fellow traveler Hickenlooper, ran not a single story about this case at any time after the verdict. The News has stayed on top of it, but has either not chosen, or been unable because of the limitations on a daily's resources, to pursue it in-depth. But for Westword, and, particularly, Alan's remarkable willingness to take on stories that the major newspapers and other media won't touch, the truth about the extent to which this city and state are governed by knaves would never see the light of day. Westword and Alan are, along with other papers and journalists like them, national treasures.
Lonny 12/18/2007 7:09:00 PM

Nothing was ever noted that Blackburn had ever represented a plaintiff person in his live in federal court (WW on burning workers at the fire pit Station)? Being a small town D.A. and then a back scratch county Judge, and Allard(Senator for BIG Corporation PAC $$$$) gets this YAHOO(wack case) on the federal bench. SAD. Rapping students was fine with Blackburn at the U(Boulder), now rapping citizens of their rights is in play. Westword deserves credit for showing mad power going bonko, and now in Colorado in downtown Denver there is a temple of injustice, a place that honors lies, framing people, and mocking justice for ordinary citizens. The City of Denver, in cahoots with Safeway to frame people to ruin them, is shocking Some way to treat a Viet Nam Vet, but then the Bar boy, so called Mayor, who flopped as a gelogist, can hire his well connectedd corporate law firms to show how Denver is turning into a place where politics is played real down and dirty. The Colorado AG, Suther, he must be thrilled a Viet Nam vet got screwed by the City, covering up perjury may be implicate civil rights violations, calling for a investigation by the DOJ Civil rights Division, due to bad blood in Colorado to tamper with any real investigations, as thing are out of control in Denver. It took 63 years to show how Leon Jaworkski(recall Watergate too) framed back trooopers in the STATE OF WASHINGTON. SEE OR GOOGLES "RUSH TO JUDGMENT", AND IN 2008, NEW THINGS MAY POP OUT THAT WILL CONCERN THE MAYOR'S CRONIES, AS THE CITY CAN'T COVER UP THE CORRUPTION, it is just too much to contain by what was going down.
Brody 12/18/2007 6:42:00 PM

There are more than a few condradictions in the "B-Burned" piece by Legal chicken hawk Prendergast. First, he claims plaintiff Cadorna had to refinance his house "to keep up with legal fees". Don't most plaintiffs lawyers in that type of case do it on a contigencey basis, a % of recovery ? Looks like Alan P never understood matters on that. If not, does that mean Brennan is sucking out more legal fees, down the road ? But, of course, guys like B-Burn hate it when a plaintiff's lawyer get money to represent worker bees, as Denver is now the corporate shyster capital of the USA, a big black eye in the DEMs coming to town in August of 2008. Then, word-smith Predergast poop poops that achievement of trial lawyer Brennan, like he just does Westword pieces as some game for the corporate shyster bar of Denver. Keep in mind, it was the well connected political firm that filed motions to attack Brennan. Unlike Westord's chicken hawk, Brennan went to a top law school, Stanford. Very few trial lawyers for employees get to a jury in Denver, and now there are so very few trails in work issue cases as they are barred in motion nightmare traps. Cases that go before federal judges in Denver filed for rank and file workers are targeted to throw out. Devenr is an anti- worker town. Screwing a Viet Nam Vet like Cadorna must make some even "pule" like some neocon G-club at Cherry Creek Tavern. How did Blackburn get out of Nam ? Sure, Blackburn and Larry Craig, and the GOP hate American workers club, this travesty gives Denver a big black eye. Very few Attorneys in Denver are stand up attorneys in Court for workers. One comes along, like Brennan, who went to a real law school( N CA.), instead of the Ward Chruchill U pow wow rant place, and Brennan is nailed to the cross by Robert Cockalorum's antics. Denver has the worst federal judges in America, they reek with bias against rank and file workers(catering to corp law firm motions), but the corporate law firms, so into politics, help to secure that.( PAC Kick back city and thsoe environs) In the Colorado U case, Blackburn ruled C. U was a place were rapping students was swell, and the attorneys for Boland( Broncos) were cheering, Yippee. One even got on T. V. some B S artist, who was sayng the 10th Cir ruling was insane in effect. Of course, he was a Buffy Legal product, now one of the Bar's mouth pieces for the Networks to blather out his de jure justice slogans, like some snake oil con, come ons. The 10th Circuit tossed out that wack job nut cases ruling. It was a reflection of how Blackburn is detached from reality, outside of his small corner of his little GOP back scratch world, and clubs. Blackburns latest injustice is a big black eye for Denver, whether Mayor Honky Tonky knows it. What is really at issue is Denver( CITY) covering up perjury, and the frame job to extort workers out of their jobs. The DOJ-- others-- ought to look into that, the wack job B-Burned has no entitlement to be party to inducing perjury, and covering up frame jobs( from some CITY cabal of fixers), and making a mockery of due process. The wack job may be unfit to sit on any court, and that is the emerging issue. How did Professor Prendgrast ever find time away from his Colorado College writing classes to dig into the matter ? In some ways, he touched only the tip of the iceberg on the vast injustices that unfold in Denver. Due process is not a process where people can be framed, and raw abusive power is the cover to put it under the rug, no matter how old they are, or how young, or whether they are nurses, or firemen, or other public workers. But, then in another case B-Burn ruled a nurse loses her constitutional rights because she is a nurse in America--the university Hospital travesty. The step mother of the the student killed at Columbine, fired at U Hospital matter. And the U gets how many billions in federal funds ? Divesting people of their citizenship, its attributes should concern all people in Colorado. How many cases did Blackburn have for some poor worker as a plaintiff's lawyer before he was put on the Bench--- abut zero. He saw a real standup attorney for a worker and B-Burn just "puled" his guts out. In one way, Prendergast did an interesting piece, but he never touched the depths of the injustice that is going on---as it is doing grave harm to America. But, the issues are now more present than ever, as Blackburn's are now West-WORDED, and it was time indeed, and more need to be aware of how the B-Burns are unraveling America, it is so serious, there needs to be Eastwords, Heartland Papers that need to tune into matters. It took 3 years to get beyond all the motions, and Blackburn just spit on a Colorado jury. Then, he sits on the perjury and other wrong doing put in motion by Safeway, The City etc. He only puts matters on the radar: BIG TIME
Kramer 12/18/2007 1:13:00 PM

Judge Blackburn was exactly right in granting a new trial. This lawyer was out of control and crapped on the proceedings. Sort of like another lawyer, Craig Silverman, in Denver who had many of his trial overturned for this type of behavior, its just called prosecutorial misconduct on the criminal side: http://www.westword.com/1996-10-17/news/trial-by-ire/ Lawyers like these two cost the state and the people with their jerk behavior because we have to pay for the costs of the appeals and new trials. More citizens have to spend time sitting on juries because they just can't play it within the rules.
Nicole 12/13/2007 7:49:00 PM

I disagree with this judge's ability to vacate a judgment simply because he did not like the plaintiff's attorney. That's ridiculous! If the "antics" by the attorney were so egregious, why didn't the judge declare a mistrial DURING the trial? The case went all the way to the jury and the jury came back with a verdict. Anything that went horribly wrong during the trial should have been dealt with then and there, not 15 months after the verdict was rendered.
Yaakov 12/13/2007 4:57:00 PM

One must understand that federal judges are appointed for life and the only way you can get rid of them is if they die, a criminal offense, or they retire. With this in mind, it is apparent that some federal judges think themselves like God(s). Also, a courtroom is like a well rehearsed play. Everyone has their role and lines...and most lawyers, court officers, judges like it that way. So when Brennan deviates from the accepted path...punishment is meated out. That is way in criminal cases at least...most accept a plea deal...because if you fight,and if you lose...then the punishment from either the jury and or judge is worse.