James E. Puga

Jim Puga, a Colorado native, dedicates his practice to seeking compensation and justice for those injured by the negligence of others, with a particular focus on medical malpractice and personal injury. Jim has successfully tried, settled, or is currently handling cases throughout the United States including the states of Colorado, Arizona, Illinois, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oregon, and Wyoming. Prior to joining Leventhal & Puga in 1999 and dedicating his practice exclusively to the representation of those injured by the negligence of others, Jim handled complex business and civil litigation matters at the law firm of Davis, Graham & Stubbs and tried numerous cases as insurance defense counsel at smaller litigation boutique firms. Jim has been recognized since 2007 by Best Lawyers in America in the field of medical malpractice and since 2012 in the field of personal injury. Jim has also been recognized as a Colorado Super Lawyer since 2007. Jim has been AV rated by Martindale-Hubbel for over 15 years. In addition to his trial work, Jim has briefed numerous cases to the Colorado Court of Appeals, to the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals, and the Colorado Supreme Court. Jim has argued before the Colorado Supreme Court, and has numerous reported appellate decisions in the state of Colorado, the Federal District Court for the District of Colorado, and the 10th District Court of Appeals.

Jim is a faculty member with the National Institute of Trial Advocacy instructing in the area of trial skills and he has lectured for the State of Colorado to attorneys at continuing legal education seminars sponsored by the Colorado Trial Lawyers Association in the areas of medical malpractice and trial advocacy. Jim has also lectured at the American Association of Justice’s annual convention on medical malpractice and scientific evidentiary issues in medical malpractice, and he has lectured at the Western Trial Lawyer’s Association on matters of medical malpractice and scientific evidentiary issues in medical malpractice. Jim has lectured at the University of Colorado Medical School in the area of shoulder dystocia birth injury, as well as at various business and insurance related seminars. Jim is the current co-editor of the American Association of Justice Birth Trauma Litigation Newsletter.

Jim attended the University of Denver as a University Scholar, graduating cum laude and with University Honors in political science and history. Jim then attended the University of Denver College of Law on a College of Law scholarship graduating in 1989.

Jim is a member of the Colorado Trial Lawyers Association and the American Association for Justice, the American Association of Justice Leaders Forum, Trial Lawyers for Public Justice, and he is a member of the Colorado and Denver Bar Associations. Jim currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Colorado Trial Lawyers Association and he has also been active in his community as a youth baseball and lacrosse coach, tutoring disadvantaged students, and serving as a volunteer with Denver Kids, Inc. Jim has received recognition as Denver Kids, Inc.’s Friend of the Year.

In his free time, Jim enjoys spending time with his wife and teenage children, and is an avid reader, cyclist, and skier.

PUBLISHED CASES:

Estate of Ford v. Eicher, 250 P.3d 262; 2011 Colo. LEXIS 233, March 21, 2011 (No. 09SC229); Rudnick v. Ferguson, 179 P.3d 26; 2007 Colo. App. LEXIS 194, February 8, 2007 (No. 05CA0077); Hartmann v. Nordin, 147 P.3d 43, Colo. November 13, 2006 (No. 06SA51); Weaver v. Blake, 454 F.3d 1087; 2006 U.S. App. LEXIS 17278, July 11, 2006 (No. 03-1398, 03-1439); Visser ex rel. Eder v. Mahan, 111 P.3d 575, Colo. App., March 24, 2005 (No. 04CA1361); Bradley v. Val-Mejias, 379 F. 3d 892; 2004 U.S. App. LEXIS 15324; 59 Fed. R. Serv. 3d (Callagahan) 146, July 23, 2004 (No. 02-3421); Donelson v. Fritz, 70 P.3d 539, Colo. App. November 21, 2002 (No. 01CA0777); Midwest Mut. Ins. Co. v. Roland, 971 P.2d 295, 98 CJ C.A.R. 4626, Colo. App. September 3, 1998 (No. 97CA0523); Rosenthal v. Dean Witter Reynolds, Inc., 82 F.3d 426, 1996 U.S. App. LEXIS 21731; Andrikopoulos v. Minnelusa Co. 911 P.2d 663, Colo. App., July 13, 1995 (No. 94CA0280, 94CA01232); Burlington Northern R. Co. v. Hood, 802 P.ed 458, Colo, December 10, 1990 (No. 89SC394)