Michael Karlik

6 days ago | coloradopolitics.com | Michael Karlik

A federal judge this month agreed an incarcerated man may proceed to sue Denver and the commander of its major crimes division for refusing to return $3,406 that authorities confiscated after his arrest 20 years ago. Jurors convicted Brian Hicks of murder in 2011. Originally, police arrested Hicks in 2005 and charged him with attempted murder. However, prosecutors dismissed the charges after a key witness was slain.

1 week ago | denvergazette.com | Michael Karlik

The Denver-based federal appeals court ruled on Thursday that a trial judge incorrectly interpreted the meaning of "sudden" when he concluded an insurance company need not pay for damage to a home allegedly caused by prolonged construction work nearby. Experts hired by Allstate and homeowner Michael Catalano Jr. disagreed whether the damage to Catalano's Denver property was caused by age-related deterioration or by the vibrations from heavy equipment working on a sewer.

1 week ago | coloradopolitics.com | Michael Karlik

A federal judge agreed on Monday that a Denver sheriff's sergeant may proceed with his claim that he was subjected to sex-based discrimination when he was passed over for promotion in favor of female employees who were less qualified. U.S. District Court Judge Nina Y. Wang observed a forthcoming U.S. Supreme Court decision may alter the level of proof needed for "reverse discrimination" cases, meaning those in which an employer discriminates against a majority group, rather than a minority.

1 week ago | coloradopolitics.com | Michael Karlik

After the government and the defense both expressed rare agreement that a judge failed to ensure a Routt County defendant validly gave up his right to counsel, Colorado's second-highest court ordered a redo of the proceedings on Thursday. Jurors convicted Movses Mikaelyan in 2023 for the unauthorized use of a financial device. Shortly afterward, his public defender withdrew from the case.

1 week ago | coloradopolitics.com | Michael Karlik

A federal judge last week permitted a man's excessive force claims to proceed against law enforcement officers from Craig and Moffat County, who allegedly rammed him with a car as he was walking away with his hands in the air. Chief U.S. Magistrate Judge Scott T. Varholak noted that plaintiff Tanner Sholes, as alleged, was disobeying orders to get on the ground and was suspected of being a felon carrying a gun.