1950 West Littleton Blvd, Suite 113, Littleton, Colorado 80120
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Harmon S. Graves

Attorney

303-798-4262 phone

303-798-4338 fax

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Attorney Profile

Civil Litigation, Transaction and Consulting Attorney

In five decades of practicing law, Harmon S. Graves has made it a practice not to be far away from the civil courtroom. His trial and appellate experience includes appellate arguments in four federal appellate courts and trials in six federal and state courts in jurisdictions dispersed throughout the United States. Within the state of Colorado, Harmon S. Graves has tried matters in multiple state district courts along the Front Range and Western Slope, U.S. District Court District of Colorado, and the U.S. Bankruptcy court.

He is no stranger to the application of the law of foreign jurisdictions. One contract matter involved the application of Vatican law in a case filed in the U.S. District Court, Central District of California and resolved through negotiations in Vatican City.

The courtroom, however, is not where the majority of civil matters are resolved. Mediation and arbitration, often required by contract, and mediation directed by the trial court, often lead to more prompt resolution. There are some quirks to each procedure. Here are a few: The cost of mediation is commonly split between the parties, whereas arbitration and court trials permit the award of costs to the prevailing party; and absent a contract provision or specific statute permitting such an award, attorneys’ fees are not awarded to the prevailing party.

Legal matters are not, of course, destined for litigation. The majority of legal services are designed to avoid disputes. At Harmon S. Graves, P.C. consulting and transaction services in real estate, business organization, maintenance, and dissolution, contract interpretation and drafting, estate planning and administration are focused on proper design and handling which lessen the likelihood of exposure to litigation.

Harmon S. Graves has been engaged in the private practice of law for more than 50 years and has focused on general civil trial and appellate matters; international, personal injury, product liability and construction defect litigation, mediation and arbitration; a wide variety of commercial law matters including transaction and collection matters, organization, maintenance and dissolution of business and non-profit entities including homeowners associations and other special organizations; and estate planning, administration and litigation.

ADMITTED TO PRACTICE

  • State of Colorado
  • U.S. District Court, District of Colorado
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Tenth Circuit
  • Has been admitted pro hac vice in California, Oklahoma, Utah, West Virginia, and Wyoming for purposes of trial in those jurisdictions.

ACADEMIC

  • 1960, L.L.B., University of Denver College of Law, Denver, CO
    • Law Review
    • E.V. Dunklee Award “Most Promising Freshman Law Student”
    • Order of St. Ives honorary scholastic society
  • 1955, B.A., University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont, Distinguished Military graduate

MILITARY

Commissioned Second Lieutenant U.S. Army, 1955. Served with Mountain and Cold Weather Training Command, Camp Hale, Colorado, 1956, and with the 7th Infantry Division in Korea, 1956-57. Served as defense counsel and prosecutor in special courts – martial. Presented limited nuclear war and foreign policy options to civic groups as part of a military public information program. Resigned in 1958 with rank of 1st Lieutenant.

PUBLICATIONS

  • “Shifting The Maintenance Burden,” Common Ground (Jan/Feb, 2016)(Community Associations Institute Nat’l Publication)
  • “Shoddy Work, Negligent Construction, and Reconciling the Irreconcilable Under the CGL Policy,” (co-author), The Colorado
    Lawyer (November, 2009).
  • Passionate Landscape: The Painting Journeys of Buffalo Kaplinski (Sunstone Press, 2006).
  • “Estate Administrative Expenses and The Personal Representative,” The Colorado Lawyer (September, 2000).
  • “What to Tell Your Children About Your Estate Plan,” The Denver Business Journal (June, 2000).
  • “Your Estate Plan: Disclosure Reduces Discontent,” Colorado Mature Lifestyles (April, 2000).
  • “Evidentiary Issues in Drug and Medical Device Cases,” (co-author), Products Liability: Pharmaceutical Drug Cases (Shephard’s McGraw-Hill, 1988; supplemented 1990-92).
  • “Mexico’s Maquiladora Program: Issues for Colorado Manufacturers,” The Colorado Lawyer (August, 1992).
  • “Opinions and Interpretations,” comment in Walking With Beauty, The Art and Life of Gerard Curtis Delano, R.G. Bowman, Publishers Press, Inc. (1990).
  • “The Art Collector and The Tax Collector,” Art Journal (Summer, 1973).

PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES

  • Trust and Estate Section – Colorado Bar Association
  • Colorado and Arapahoe County Bar Associations
  • Interprofessional Committee and Medico-Legal Screening Panel
  • Colorado Bar Association (1969-73)

PRESENTATIONS

“Free Trade with Mexico: Its Foundations, Benefits, and Legal Considerations,” seminar presented to managing counsel of major U.S. corporations in conjunction with Hon. Leonardo French, Consul General of Mexico and Lic. Rafael Gama Perez of Tijuana, Mexico; Aspen, Colorado, 1993.

HONORS

  • Who’s Who – Attorneys: The Denver Business Journal, July, 2000, 2001, and 2002
  • “Denver Top Lawyers,” 2014, 2015, Denver Post

CIVIC

  • Blind Skier Guide, Foresight Ski Guides, Vail, CO (2007 – 2016)
  • Chairman, First Annual Fall Antiquities and Art Show, Denver Art Museum, 1998
  • President and Board Member of the Douglas Society, a supporting arm of the Native Arts Department of the Denver Art Museum, 1998-2003
  • President, Glenmoor Homeowner’s Association, 1993-94
  • Member of Board of Directors, Arapahoe County Fair Grounds, 1980-81
  • President and Member of Board of Directors, Cherryvale Sanitation District, 1972-76
  • Denver County Court volunteer probation counselor, 1965-66

Put experience to work for you

When you need a lawyer, there are few substitutes for experience. You want a lawyer who knows the law, who has been to court, who knows how to effectively present evidence and legal argument, and who provides competent transaction and consulting services to lessen exposure to litigation. Harmon S.

Graves, P.C., has over 50 years of experience representing clients throughout the Denver area. Contact the firm to arrange for your complimentary 30-minute consultation.

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