Kurt Zaner
Kurt Zaner has dedicated his legal career to representing folks against the modern-day Goliaths. In battling corporations that refuse to take responsibility, Kurt enjoys the challenge of standing up for people that seemingly have the odds overwhelmingly stacked against them.
A sought-after national speaker, Kurt frequently lectures on his winning trial techniques, effective legal writing strategies, and iconic discovery tactics that force top-value settlements. Kurt has secured the largest premises liability verdict in the history of Colorado ($16,000,000.00) and recently secured one of the largest personal injury verdicts in Federal Court for $30,000,000.00.
He has appeared on Good Morning America, World News Tonight, and every local media outlet including the Denver Post and local CBS, ABC, and Fox affiliates. He is a published author of Federal and State case law, including Colorado law establishing the right to punitive damages for victims of drunk drivers; he also authored legal articles on distracted driving as well as articles on ancient Roman trial methods.
As a trained stage actor, Kurt credits much of his trial success to his theatrical training in college and in Los Angeles prior to law school.
After graduating law school near the top of his class and receiving the American Bar Association’s and American Law Institute’s Best Graduate Award – awarded to the one student of the graduating class who best represents a combination of scholarship and leadership – Kurt went on to clerk for United States District Judge Ken Marra.
Working side by side with a Federal Judge on one of the largest caseloads in the country, Kurt learned the art of persuasive advocacy both through legal writing and courtroom theatrics.
Most importantly, he learned how cases are won from behind the bench.
Prior to co-founding Zaner Harden Personal Injury Lawyers, Kurt practiced with some of the best-known trial lawyers in the country. Kurt has successfully represented hundreds of clients across the State of Colorado, trying and winning cases at every level of Colorado State Court, including several million and multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements.
In 2017 he and his partner were recognized as having two of of the largest verdicts of the year across all practice areas, including a 1,700,000.00 verdict against an oil company’s distracted driver as well as a $2,500,000 verdict against a drunk driver that killed his client’s son and then fled the scene.
This drunk driving verdict landed on the front page of the Denver Post as the community was fed up with these kinds of reckless drivers avoiding accountability by running away.
Kurt defended this verdict all the way to the Colorado Supreme Court, In 2018, Kurt secured the largest premises liability verdict in the history of Colorado – $16,000,000.00 in Boulder for a father of three who was diagnosed with the crippling neurological condition CRPS after a temporary electrical box exploded.
A few years later, Kurt secured a verdict on another electrocution case where his client also developed CRPS, with a Denver jury delivering a $10,600,000.00 verdict (with interest). A year after that, Kurt secured a $4,300,000.00 verdict for a client hurt in a trucking crash. Less than a year later, Kurt won a $30,000,000.00 verdict for a client injured in a fracking explosion.
No matter how big or small the case, Kurt takes great pride in helping those that entrust their most significant legal problems to his law firm.
Kurt is very active in the Trial Lawyer community, both locally and nationally. Locally, he was recently elected to the Board of the Colorado Trial Lawyers Association (CTLA) for his fifth consecutive year and serves on several committees.
Nationally, after serving as President of the New Lawyers Division for the American Association of Justice (the 5,000 member NLD division of the most pre-eminent national trial lawyer organization in the Country),
Kurt now serves on the Budget Committee of the entire 20,000 member organization as well as the Board of Governors.
He also acts as a certified End Distracted Driving (EndDD Program) presenter, donating his time in high school classrooms in Colorado educating the next generation of drivers on the dangers of distracted driving.
Kurt is invited to speak across the country on novel legal strategies and methods that he has developed – techniques that have resulted in unprecedented successful results for his clients.
He has been a regular speaker for the American Association of Justice, having spoken in Boston, Palm Springs, Denver, Los Angeles, and Montreal on a variety of topics including trial techniques, writing strategies, and insurance bad faith. He also speaks regularly for Trial Lawyers University (formerly Trojan Horse) as well as The National Trial Lawyers’ national trial seminars.
On the State level, Mr. Zaner regularly teaches for the Colorado Trial Lawyers at their state convention, statewide CLEs, and for CTLA’s new lawyer bootcamps,
He has also spoken at several State Seminars around the Country, including the prestigious Arkansas Trial Lawyers College on one of his favorite topics: transplanting 2,000-year-old trial techniques from the Roman trial lawyer Cicero and demonstrating how they can be effective in today’s trials.
When not practicing law, Mr. Zaner spends much of his time with his wife and two young boys, outdoors in the mountains or on the stage in a local theater production.
Licensed in Florida and Colorado.
Publications
- Warembourg v. Excel , 471 P.3d 1213 (Co. Ct. App. 2020) – 63 page, 3-0 published opinion that affirmed the firm’s record-breaking 16 million dollar electrocution verdict. This opinion creates significant new law in the area of spoliation of evidence, setting new standards for when parties must hold onto evidence and how they may be punished if they do not preserve such evidence (blessing an irrebuttable presumption of liability and causation punitive sanction). Case settled for 15.7 million shortly after this opinion.
- “Lessons From Cicero” – Good Counsel, April 2017
- Alhilo v. Kleim, 413 P.3d 902 (Co. Ct. App. 2016), cert denied (Colo. June 26, 2017) – published opinion that affirmed the firm’s multi-million dollar motorcycle verdict and created helpful case law for victims of drunk drivers (allowing for prior DUIs to come in as evidence) and for those who have lost loved ones in a wrongful death case (clarifying the damage cap to afford survivors the maximum benefit).
- Spotlight, “Overcoming Liability Roadblocks in Bicycle Accident Case” American Association For Justice, Trial Edition(July 2015)
- “Sad But Preventable – a Trial Lawyer’s Quest to End Distracted Driving and Save Lives” The Colorado Trial Lawyers’ Association publication Trial Talk, Volume 62, Issue 3, April/May 2013 publication at p. 26 (sole author).
- “Driving While on the Cell Phone; Punitive Damage Awards Should Come Through Loud and Clear” ABA’s The Brief, Tort Trial & Ins. Prac. Sec., Summer 2007, Vol. 35, No.4 (co-author), republished in The Colorado Trial Lawyers’ Association publication Trial Talk, Volume 62, Issue 3, April/May 2013 publication at p. 41.
- “National Security Policy and Ratification of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty” 32 Houston Journal of International Law 1 (2009) (contributing author).
- Vidinliev v. Carey, 581 F.Supp. 2d 1281 (N.D. Ga. 2008) – created federal case law in the area of worker’s FLSA rights.
Bar Leadership
National
- American Association of Justice – Board of Governor, 2018-2020; 2022-2025.
- American Association of Justice – Executive Committee Member 2019-2020.
- American Association of Justice – Budget Committee Member 2020-2023
- American Association of Justice – Elected National President of NLD Division 2016.
- American Association of Justice – Elected National Vice President of NLD Division 2016.
- American Association of Justice – Elected National Treasurer of NLD Division 2015.
- American Association of Justice – Elected National Secretary of NLD Division 2014.
- American Association of Justice – Appointed Board of Governor on New Lawyers Division, June 2013.
- American Association of Justice – Appointed Chair of the Publications Committee for the NLD quarterly national publication, the Sidebar, July 2013.
State
- Colorado Trial Lawyer’s Association – Elected to serve as Board Member 2016-present
- Colorado Trial Lawyer’s Association – Appointed to serve on Executive Committee and Legislative Committee 2016-17, 2021-2022
- Colorado Trial Lawyer’s Association – Appointed to serve on Board as Board Member 2015-16.
- Colorado Trial Lawyer’s Association – Appointed Membership Chair November 2012 -2015.
- Colorado Trial Lawyer’s Association – Appointed New Lawyer Chair November 2013.
Community Involvement
- Actor (Len), A One Night Stand at the Vintage Theater, Don’t Throw the Cheese by Mark Ogle.
- Actor (Reverend Parris), The Crucible at Red Rocks Community Theater.
- Presenter, End Distracted Driving Campaign; presents programs to high school students to warn them of the dangers of distracted driving.
- Board of Director, Denver Athletic Club.
Podcasts
Settlement Nation: The Warriors Way with Trial Lawyer Kurt Zaner Podcast
Tip the Scales: Be a Champion: Unleashing Wellness for Victorious Verdicts Podcast
Dan talks Colorado caps on damages in catastrophic injury and death cases Podcast
Education
University of Florida, Levin College of Law
- Magna Cum Laude
- Order of the Coif (Graduated Top 7%)
- University of Florida Law Review, Board Member
- Recipient of ABA and ALI Best Graduate Award
- Outstanding Graduate Award, UF Trial Team
- Vice President, Florida Blue Key
University of Florida, B.A.
- Cum Laude, Roman History
- Phi Beta Kappa
Clerkship
- Federal Law Clerk to United States District Judge Kenneth A. Marra in the Southern District of Florida.
Recognition
- Secured Record Breaking 30 million dollar verdict in Denver Federal District Court in oil and gas explosion.
- Secured Top Trucking Verdict in Colorado in 2022 (4.3 million – personal injury/trucking crash)
- Secured #1 Top Personal Injury Verdict in all of Colorado in 2021 (10.6 million with interest – CRPS/electrocution)
- Secured #1 Top Personal Injury verdict in all of Colorado in 2018 4 (16 million – largest premises liability verdict in history of Colorado for CRPS/electrocution).
- Secured 2 of the top 20 verdicts in Colorado (#6 and 16) in 2017 across all practice areas (2.5 million and 1.1 million)
- Best Lawyers 2021. 2022
- 5280 Top Lawyer 2017, 2020, 2021, 2022
- Super Lawyers 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022
- Super Lawyers Rising Stars 2014, 2015
- Top 100 Trial Lawyers – The National Trial Lawyers Association
- Top 3 Best Rated Denver Injury Lawyer
- 10.0 SUPERB Rating by AVVO Lawyer Ranking System
- New Trial Lawyer of the Year for the State of Colorado, Colorado Trial Lawyers Association
Bar Admissions
- State of Florida
- Federal Southern District of Florida
- State of Colorado
- Colorado Federal District Court
Speaking Engagements
National
- Ohio Trial Lawyers Association of Justice– Featured Speaker 2023 at Winter Convention –How to Win Your Case in a Page and a Half“.
- Trial Lawyer University- Featured speaker at Trial Lawyers University Fall Convention 2023 in New York City – Dramatic theater techniques for trial, writing like a winner, and openings according to Cicero.
- Trial Lawyer University- Featured speaker at Trial Lawyers University Summer Convention 2023 in Huntington Beach – Dramatic theater techniques for trial, writing like a winner, and openings according to Cicero.
- Masters of Mass Tort Toxic Tort Seminar April 2022 (Denver) – featured panelist speaker on Ethylene Oxide litigation against medical sterilizers.
- Trial Lawyer University- Featured speaker at Trial Lawyers University Convention 2022 in Las Vegas – workshop instructor “How to use dramatic theater techniques in trial.”
- American Association of Justice – Featured Speaker on Advocacy Track at National Summer Convention 2022, Seattle, WA – “How to maximize settlement value at mediation.“
- National Trial Lawyers Trial Bootcamp – one of 8 featured national faculty at this prestigious three day seminar on trial skills.
- American Association of Justice – Featured Speaker on Advocacy Track at National Winter Convention 2022, Palm Springs, CA – “How investigation and checklists can lead to successful settlements and verdicts.“
- Louisiana Trial Lawyers Association – Featured Speaker 2021 –How to Win Your Case in a Page and a Half“.
- Trial Lawyer University- Featured speaker at Trial Lawyers University Convention 2021 in Las Vegas on $8.4 million dollar CRPS/Electrocution verdict for Jon Valaer in Denver, Colorado 2021.
- Virginia Trial Lawyers Association – Featured Speaker 2021 –How to Win Your Case in a Page and a Half“.
- American Association of Justice – Featured Speaker on Advocacy Track at National Winter Convention 2021 – “How to Win Your Case in a Page and a Half“.
- Trial Lawyer University- Webinar breaking down closing on $16 million dollar verdict for Brian Warembourg in Boulder, Colorado 2019.
- Trial Lawyer University- Webinar Case Analysis breaking down trial for $2.5 million dollar verdict on a DUI/Motorcycle wrongful death verdict, Alhilo v. Kliem, 2015.
- Trojan Horse – Main speaker for full-day Case Analysis CLE on our $16 million dollar verdict for Brian Warembourg in Boulder, Colorado 2019 – Case Analysis
- Trojan Horse – Guest Speaker for Steve Vartizarian’s Case Analysis, Los Angeles August, 2019 – Previewing the $16 million verdict in Boulder, Colorado.
- Western Trial Lawyers’ Association – Featured Speaker at 2019 Summer Convention in Maui, Hawaii – CRPS, Explosions, and How to Win Your Case in a Page and a Half
- American Association of Justice – Featured Speaker on Bad Faith Insurance Track at National Summer Convention 2018 in Denver – “Developing the Bad Faith Claim“.
- American Association of Justice – Featured Speaker on Advocacy Track at National Summer Convention 2017 in Boston – “Preparing your Client to Win at Deposition”.
- Arkansas Trial Lawyer College – Featured Speaker – “Opening Statements based on the Rhetoric tools of Cicero and the Greeks“.
- American Association of Justice – Featured Speaker on Advocacy Track at National Summer Convention 2016 in Los Angeles – “Settlement Strategies: The Best Defense is a Good Offense“.
- American Association of Justice – Featured Speaker at National Summer Convention 2015 in Montreal – “Overcoming Gender, Age, and Cultural Bias in Jury Selection“.
- American Association of Justice – Featured Speaker on Advocacy Track at National Winter Convention 2015 in Palm Springs – “How to Win Your Case in a Page and a Half“.
Colorado
- Colorado Trial Lawyers Association – Featured Speaker at Annual Summer Convention 2022 – “How to win physical impairment damages at trial.”
- Colorado Trial Lawyers Association – Featured Speaker at Writing Seminar 2021 – How to Win Your Case in a Page and a Half“.
- Colorado Bar Association – Featured Speaker at Motor Vehicle Accident Law Program 2020 – “Spoliation from the Plaintiff’s perspective.”
- Colorado Trial Lawyers Association – Featured Speaker at Annual Blockbuster Convention 2020 – “Jury Selection in Colorado.”
- Colorado Trial Lawyers Association – Featured Speaker at Annual Summer Convention 2020 – “How to ask for large damages in light of the damage caps.”
- Colorado Trial Lawyers Association – Featured Speaker at Annual Blockbuster Convention 2019 – “How destroyed evidence can lead to a $16,000,000 verdict”.
- Colorado Trial Lawyers Association – Featured Speaker with Marc Harden at New Trial Lawyers Bootcamp 2019 – “Opening and Closings.”
- Colorado Trial Lawyers Association – Featured Speaker with Murray Ogborn at New Trial Lawyers Bootcamp 2018 – “Opening and Closings.”
- Colorado Trial Lawyers Association – Featured Speaker with Marc Harden at New Trial Lawyers Bootcamp 2017 – “Opening Statements According to Cicero.”
- Colorado Trial Lawyers Association – Featured Speaker at Annual Blockbuster Convention 2017 – “Discovering your way to a Great Settlement”.
- Colorado Trial Lawyers Association – Featured Speaker at Annual Blockbuster Convention 2016 – “How to Win Your Case in a Page and a Half”.
- 2016 Sterling’s Seminar Personal Injury Law: From Start to Finish, Featured Speaker – “Settlement and Negotiation Strategies”.
- Colorado Plaintiff’s Employment Law Annual Convention 2016 – Featured Speaker “How to Win Your Case in a Page and a Half”.
- Colorado Trial Lawyers Association – Featured Speaker at Summer Convention 2015 – “How to Win Your Case in a Page and a Half”.