David Lane

Marijuana: David Lane will sue over new rule treating pot magazines like porn

Last week, we noted a section of the main bill to regulate Amendment 64 that essentially treated marijuana magazines like porn. In the days that followed, High Times warned that a lawsuit would be in the offing if the language was included in the final version -- but it was. Now, attorney David Lan ... More >>

Edward Montour guilty plea ruling: David Lane on death penalty, James Holmes, "bloody 18th"

At a February hearing, Edward Montour sought to withdraw his guilty plea for a 2002 murder in an effort to avoid the death penalty he'd previously sought. The office of 18th Judicial District DA George Brauchler, who's also seeking death for accused Aurora theater shooter James Holmes, argued agains ... More >>

Daniel Zettler wins $43K in free-speech lawsuit against cop, David Lane may file another one

Last week, Daniel Zettler, a public defender in Salida, won a $43,000 settlement with the city over a 2011 bust in which he says he did nothing more than advise an arrestee to remember his rights. But the case may not be over. Attorney David Lane says he's thinking about filing another lawsuit again ... More >>

Ward Churchill case: Did he really only want $1 in lawsuit against CU?

Earlier this week, we wrote about the Colorado Supreme Court's ruling against Ward Churchill, despite an earlier verdict in which a jury agreed CU-Boulder had violated the controversial ex-professor's rights by firing him. Of course, the jury only awarded Churchill a dollar, but his lawyer said tha ... More >>

Ward Churchill's Colorado Supreme Court loss shows judges protect the powerful, lawyer says

In June, attorney David Lane appeared before the Colorado Supreme Court to argue that former CU-Boulder professor Ward Churchill should be reinstated, since a jury found his firing to be payback for a controversial 9/11 essay. But on the eve of the latest 9/11 anniversary, the court rejected this b ... More >>

James Holmes DA wanted Biblical references banned from different death penalty case

18th Judicial District DA Carol Chambers is in the national spotlight as the district attorney in charge of prosecuting James Holmes, the accused killer in the Aurora theater shooting. But shortly before questions about whether Chambers would seek the death penalty against Holmes, her office filed a ... More >>

Ashford Wortham-Cornelius Campbell suit: Alleged driving-while-black stop costs city $60K

Last night, the Denver City Council agreed to pay Ashford Wortham and Cornelius Campbell (plus their law firm, Kilmer, Lane & Newman) $60,000 over a 2009 traffic stop they allege was racially motivated. Attorney David Lane sees this payout as yet another example of Denver's wrongheaded approach to d ... More >>

Ward Churchill's CU rehiring bid reaches Colorado Supreme Court

This afternoon, just over a year after the Colorado Supreme Court agreed to hear the Ward Churchill case, attorney David Lane will appear before the jurists to argue why the professor, who was fired by CU-Boulder for reasons he sees as payback for a controversial 911 essay, should get his old job ba ... More >>

Seth Brigham, Boulder critic, rejects city's offer over restraining order

The legal battle arising from a restraining order filed by the City of Boulder against Seth Brigham, its most annoying critic. has gotten more complex. According to attorney David Lane, Brigham has rejected a settlement offer from Boulder, whose reps are expected to participate in a conference call ... More >>

Mario Ybarra jail takedown prompts internal affairs investigation -- thirteen months later

We recently told you about Adams County's decision to fork over $20,000 after a deputy took down career criminal Mario Ybarra while trying to fingerprint him. At the time, attorney David Lane decried the lack of punishment for those who'd filed false reports. Now, the Adams County Sheriff's Office h ... More >>

Police brutality: Denver provides eight years of complaints in James Moore case

When I spoke to attorney David Lane about the Adams County's $20,000 payout to prisoner Mario Ybarra, who was thumped by deputies after he gave them grief over a troublesome fingerprint device, I asked about his demand for every document related to excessive force complaints against Denver cops and ... More >>

Mario Ybarra brutality payout: Taxpayers should be mad, David Lane says

Another day, another cash payout for alleged law-enforcement brutality. This time, it's Adams County agreeing to fork over $20,000 after a deputy took down career criminal Mario Ybarra while trying to fingerprint him. And although attorney David Lane is happy to accept the money, he's upset that suc ... More >>

Dick Cheney-Secret Service case goes to Supreme Court: Speech vs. safety?

Dick Cheney.​While his fight on behalf of Occupy Denver's claims against the city may be over, attorney David Lane has another big case before him, on the biggest legal stage in the country. The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to hear the tale of Steven Howards, a Lane client who says his freed ... More >>

Occupy Denver hearing: Police officer made fake Twitter account to harass occupation "idiots"

​Yesterday's hearing for an injunction on behalf of Occupy Denver came with an unfair share of sarcasm and surprises, but one stood out far beyond the others: While one document from Officer James Henning suggested a plan to stay the current course until the occupation "wears itself out," anot ... More >>

Occupy Denver: David Lane will pitch his tent in court today

Occupy SNIAGRAB!​Honk if you're interested in what will happen in court today when David Lane pushes for an injunction against enforcement of ordinances he feels restrict Occupy Denver's free speech rights. Lane charges that the City and County of Denver has used these ordinances against the p ... More >>

Occupy Denver: Charge against plaintiff in David Lane lawsuit dropped days before court date

Update: Two of the charges incurred by supporters of Occupy Denver in recent weeks were dropped over the weekend when the city attorney's office decided against officially filing in both cases. The most notable of the two instances is that of Natalie Wyatt, who has since enlisted as a plaintiff on t ... More >>

Jason Graber deal won't get Denver Police out of releasing excessive-force files, says David Lane

Update below: Attorney David Lane lauded Judge John Kane for threatening to fine the City of Denver if reps delayed releasing eight years of excessive-force complaints against cops and sheriff's deputies for the Jason Graber brutality case. Now, city attorneys have agreed to settle the Graber matter ... More >>

Jason Graber brutality case: David Lane lauds $5,000 daily fine threat over police records

Jason Graber.​In July, Judge John Kane, ruling in a brutality case brought by Jason Graber, ordered Denver to release every document related to excessive force complaints against cops and sheriff's deputies for eight years. "Further obstruction will not be tolerated," he added, and he meant it ... More >>

Ward Churchill case heading to Colorado Supreme Court: Not about 9/11, attorney says

Ward Churchill.​Last November, when the Colorado Court of Appeals rejected ex-CU prof Ward Churchill's bid to get his old job back, attorney David Lane admitted that "the odds of either the Colorado Supreme Court or the U.S. Supreme Court looking at the case are slim." But he and Churchill hav ... More >>

LaLa Vazquez's valentine to Denver: Kenny Be's Playing Cupid

Lovely LaLa Vazquez.​ It pains my heart to see strained relationships. Why can't everyone just get along? Since it's the season of love, I've created Kenny Be Valentine's cards, intended to calm the cantankerous and help bring impassioned parties together. Below, LaLa's heartfelt offer of love ... More >>

Air Force Academy prayer luncheon lawsuit: Faculty members say event's unconstitutional

AFA chapel.​Attorney David Lane may have lost his last high-profile case -- an excessive-force complaint against Denver cop/ex-American Gladiators contestant Vicki Ferrari -- but he's hardly shying away from taking on big challenges. Note that he's just filed a lawsuit against the Air Force Ac ... More >>

Martinez family lawsuit: Members of Mexican band say Denver cops mistakenly beat them

Daniel Martinez III.​Attorney David Lane says he's got about a half-dozen active lawsuits against the Denver Police Department, including an excessive-force complaint against DPD officer and ex-American Gladiator contestant Vicki Fernandez that's scheduled for trial beginning today. His latest ... More >>

Suzanne Williams: David Lane says fatal Brianna Gomez crash shouldn't be in criminal court

Sen. Williams.​Last week, we told you about a Texas crash involving Senator Suzanne Williams; Brianna Gomez, who was seven months pregnant, died in the accident. According to attorney David Lane, who represents Williams, the senator has no memory of the collision -- and while he acknowledges ... More >>

"F*ck the condo people" song enough to get bar's liquor license revoked?

Murray Martinez.​Attorney David Lane is well known for defending the likes of controversial CU professor Ward Churchill on First Amendment grounds. So it's no surprise he's representing Murray Martinez, owner of Golden's venerable Buffalo Rose, against an attempt to revoke the venue's liquor l ... More >>

Ward Churchill case: CU firing should be nixed in name of academic freedom, says David Lane

Ward Churchill.​In February, controversial former CU professor Ward Churchill launched a new effort to win back his old job -- one that brought him to the Colorado Court of Appeals yesterday. How does Churchill's attorney, David Lane, think it went? "It's really difficult to read tea leaves b ... More >>

Douglas Bruce wins 60-61-101 case, but lawyer says order to testify "smacks of Big Brother"

Douglas Bruce.​The resolution of the latest case against tax-hater Douglas Bruce has been portrayed by the press as a mixed bag. True, Bruce wasn't held in contempt for not testifying in a lawsuit involving Amendments 60 and 61 and Proposition 101 -- but the judge ordered him to testify about ... More >>

Douglas Bruce linked to Balloon Boy and Ward Churchill by group fighting 60, 61 and 101

Douglas Bruce.​Coloradans for Responsible Reform has tons of money to fight tax-cutting amendments 60 and 61 and Proposition 101, not to mention some heavy hitters in its corner; for instance, its spokesman, Dan Hopkins, used to do the same job for Governor Bill Owens. So what's one of its key ... More >>

David Lane to sue University of Wyoming today over ban of controversial prof William Ayers

David Lane is keeping to his "nice" timetable.​On Tuesday, we told you about attorney David Lane's threat to sue if the University of Wyoming didn't reverse its ban of Weather Underground co-founder William Ayers by noon the following day. When asked if he would file paperwork the next day if ... More >>

David Lane threatens to sue University of Wyoming over refusal to let Weather Underground founder William Ayers speak on campus

David Lane has given the University of Wyoming a very short deadline.​Attorney David Lane loves big issues and controversial clients, including former CU professor Ward Churchill, wrongfully convicted Timothy Masters or Balloon Boy dad Richard Heene. And now, he's taken on another cause that' ... More >>

Denver fights David Lane policy for cops to put away their guns during depositions

David Lane doesn't want to depose anyone packing heat.​Last week, a motion for a protective order was filed on behalf of the City and County of Denver, Denver cop Shawn Miller and two other "unknown Denver Police Department officers." The issue? Attorney David Lane, who represents Jason Antho ... More >>

Marijuana and right-wing politics get together: Mason Tvert and Jon Caldara sign on to lawsuit about ballot petitions

"I agree with Mason Tvert about something? AARGH!"​At first blush (and second) (and third), marijuana advocate Mason Tvert and Jon Caldara, frontman for the conservative Independence Institute, are strange bedfellows. But today, they're partners in a legal love match. They're among the plaint ... More >>

Balloon Boy family shouldn't have to pay for sheriff to "look pretty on TV," lawyer says

Wasn't chasing this sucker more fun than rescuing Mr. Whiskers?​Two weeks ago, David Lane, attorney for Balloon Boy dad Richard Heene, griped that a $47,000-plus restitution charge for leading law-enforcement officials on a wild experimental-craft chase was way too high. That complaint has no ... More >>

Balloon Boy dad's latest bitch: Restitution costs are too high

"On second thought, you guys should pay me!"​We knew Balloon Boy dad Richard Heene wouldn't go away quietly. But with the help of attorney David Lane, he's managing to make noise even while serving a jail sentence for pretending that his son, Falcon, had floated away in an inflatable silver ch ... More >>

Death-penalty prosecutors want to kill David Lane's rhetoric in regard to trying to kill Edward Montour

David Lane has a way with four-letter words -- like "kill."​In the battle over resentencing Edward Montour Jr., an inmate who faces possible execution for the 2002 murder of a corrections officer at the Limon prison, defense attorney David Lane has accused the death-penalty team of prosecutors ... More >>

Balloon Boy dad Richard Heene pleads guilty, wants to look for work in New York and L.A.: reality-TV producers await with bated breath

As you can see by the Associated Press footage above, Balloon Boy parents Richard and Mayumi Heene weren't forced to do a perp walk when turning themselves in to Larimer County authorities, as their attorney, David Lane, had feared. Instead, the process was orderly and low key, unlike pretty much ... More >>

Are charges finally about to be filed against Richard Heene in Balloon Boy case?

David Lane represents Richard Heene. It's a dirty job, but somebody has to do it.​Update below: Boulder District Attorney Stan Garnett was appointed as special prosecutor after lawyer David Lane accused Larimer County Sheriff Jim Alderden of breaking the law by talking about a child-abuse inv ... More >>

Balloon Boy family lawyer David Lane: Child-abuse-investigation release breaks the law

David Lane, attorney for Richard Heene, has got some fancy lawyering to do. And he's ready.​David Lane, attorney for Balloon Boy dad Richard Heene, says he doesn't have enough fingers to plug all the info leaks coming from the office of Larimer County Sheriff Jim Alderden. On Friday, Alderden ... More >>

Another Balloon Boy mystery: What happened to Richard Heene's hair?

Another indication that Balloon Boy dad Richard Heene wanted to make the most of the media attention he got in the wake of the desperate search for his not-quite-airborne son Falcon: Over the course of the past few days, his hair seems to have gotten a trendy makeover. Throughout an appearance on t ... More >>

David Lane ties himself to the Balloon Boy case

David Lane hits the national airwaves -- and doesn't have to talk about Ward Churchill.​Attorney David Lane tends to take cases that have Big Picture, constitutional issues at stake: His clients in recent years have included Carol Kreck, who was arrested for protesting a John McCain campaign a ... More >>

Words of Wisdom from David Lane

Arapahoe County DA Charges Death-Penalty Fees to the State

How does DA Carol Chambers beat the high cost of a death-penalty prosecution? By billing the prison system.

One Reporter's Day in Court

David Lane's Subpoena Envy

Goodbye — and good riddance, Columbus.

Columbus Day Protestor Cases Dismissed

Whistle Stop

A Supreme Court decision may challenge workers' First Amendment rights.

The Writing's on the Wall

In the Hole

The state gives it up for an inmate rape.

A Fight to the Death

Frank Rodriguez was sentenced to die twelve years ago. Are we there yet?

STICKING POINT

ABORTION-CLINIC SUITS SCARE DENVER FROM NEEDLE-EXCHANGE PROGRAMS.

LIGHTS! CAMERA! LAWSUIT!

CATCH THE COURTROOM CONCLUSION TO THIS REAL-LIFE COP DRAMA.