Victoria Clare Swanson
Phone: (719) 471-1984
Toll-free:(800) 994-1984
E-mail: victoria@searsandswanson.com
Fax: (719) 577-4356
Biography
When placing their personal or financial matters in the hands of an attorney, it is important for a client know the qualifications and experience of their attorney. Let me offer the following comments as an overview of my background and expertise as a civil trial attorney:
1. I am board certified by the National Board of Legal Specialty Certification as a civil trial specialist. In order to gain this certification, I have demonstrated to the National Board that I have been an attorney in good standing in the states where I am admitted (Colorado and Michigan), that I have practiced law for a substantial period of time, that I have tried a substantial number of complex cases to jury verdict, that I have continued my education in my field of law and that my attorney and judge peers have recommended my abilities for certification. Additionally, I had to demonstrate my knowledge and skills in a written examination.
2. From 1992 to 1993 I served as President of the Colorado Trial Lawyers Association (CTLA). This is a state-wide professional association of approximately 1200 Colorado lawyers and I was the first woman elected as president. My year of service as president was preceded by 5 years as officer and leader of that organization. In 2005 I received that organization’s highest recognition, the Norman L. Kripke Lifetime Achievement Award.
3. In addition to being authorized to practice within the state court system in Colorado, I am also authorized to practice before the Federal Court in Colorado (and in several other states), and before the U.S. Court of Appeals and the U.S. Supreme Court.
4. I have served in various leadership roles with the American Association for Justice, a national professional association of approximately 60,000 lawyers, particularly in areas relating to airplane crash litigation. I am also a member of the Colorado Bar Association.
5. I have been appointed by the Colorado Supreme Court to serve on its committee on Civil Jury Instructions, a committee which researches and writes the jury instructions used in all Colorado civil trials. I have served on that Committee since 1986.
6. I have authored numerous legal articles and have written all, or part of, several legal books including ones on Product Liability, Auto Accident Litigation, Colorado Courtroom Procedure, and Evidence. I have been designated as a “Super Lawyer” by the magazine 5280 since 2006.
7. I believe we all owe a duty of service to our community and, in that regard, I have
maintained a leadership position with St. Matthias Episcopal church for more than 10 years and I volunteer as an “on call” attorney for Ecumenical Social Ministries, which provides emergency services to those in need in Colorado Springs.
I am pleased to be associated with SEARS & SWANSON, P.C., a law firm of civil trial lawyers. Each one of us has demonstrated expertise in civil trial work and serves the public interest as leaders in our professional communities.
Curriculum Vitae Detailed
Education
Bachelor of Arts (With Distinction), Journalism
Ohio State University - 1972
Juris Doctor, University of Detroit School of
Law - 1975
Admitted to Practice
Michigan - 1975
Colorado - 1984
Certification
Civil Trial Advocate (National Board of Trial Advocacy)--1994 to present
Employment
Sears & Swanson, P.C. (formerly Sears, Anderson & Swanson, P.C.), Colorado Springs, Colorado
Partner (1991-present)
Practice: Civil Litigation
Personal Injury, Commercial Litigation
Victoria C. Swanson, P.C. Colorado Springs, Colorado
Sole Practitioner (1990-1991)
Practice: Aviation and Product Liability
Schaden, Swanson & Lampert (formerly Schaden & Heldman), Denver, Colorado/Detroit, Michigan
Partner (1979-1990)
Practice: Aviation and Product Liability
Richard F. Schaden, P.C., Detroit, Michigan
Associate Attorney (1977-1979)
Practice: Aviation and Product Liability
Lopatin, Miller, Bindes & Freedman, Detroit, Michigan
Law Clerk and Associate Attorney (1973-1977)
Bar Associations
Colorado Trial Lawyers Association (1984-present)
President (1992-1993)
President-elect (1991-1992)
Vice President (1990-1991)
Secretary (1989-1990)
Treasurer (1988-1989)
Member, Board of Directors (1986-present)
Member, Executive Committee (1987-1994)
Member, Amicus Committee (1999-2005)
Chair, Amicus Committee (2005-present)
Chair, Convention Committee (1987-1988)
Chair, Judiciary Committee (1989-1990)
American Association for Justice (formerly Association of Trial Lawyers of America (1975-present)
Chair, Aviation Section (1989-1990)
Chair, Women's Caucus (1987-1988)
Member, Amicus Committee (1980-1983)
Member, Basic Advocacy Committee (1985-1986)
Member, Membership Committee (1986-1988)
Colorado Bar Association (1984-present)
El Paso County Bar Association (1990-present)
Law Day Committee Co-Chair (1995-1996)
Law Day Committee Chair (1996-1997)
Colorado Womens Bar Assn. (1992-2005)
El Paso County Womens Bar Assn. (1992-2002)
Chair, Program Committee (1996)
Christian Legal Society (1999-2008)
Ecumenical Christian Legal Services Volunteer Lawyer (1999-present)
American Bar Association (1981 through 1986)
Member, Special Committee on Automobile
Insurance Legislation (1979-1986)
Chair (1985-1986)
Michigan Association for Justice (formerly Michigan Trial Lawyers Association (1975-present)
Member, Executive Board (1979-1986)
Member, Education Committee (1981-1982)
Women Lawyers Association of Michigan (1975-1984)
Chair, Amicus Committee (1979-1985)
Women Lawyers Association of Michigan,
Wayne County Region (1975-1984)
President (1981-1982)
Co-Chair, Program Committee (1980-1981)
State Bar of Michigan (1975-present)
Constitutional Law Committee (1981-1986)
Public Service
Colorado Supreme Court Committee on Civil Jury
Instructions
Member (1987-present)
State of Colorado, Division of Insurance Consumer Insurance Council (2001 - 2004)
Hearing Referee, Michigan Civil Rights Commission (1980-1986)
Hearing Referee, Attorney Discipline Board State of Michigan (1980-1986)
Mediator, Wayne County Mediation Tribunal (1980-1986)
Publications
(Under name of Victoria C. Swanson)
Author, Colorado Evidence Handbook Bradford Publishing Co. (2005)
Editor and Chapter author, Colorado Courtroom Handbook, Continuing Legal Education in Colorado, Inc. (1998); revision 2001, 2006
Editor and Chapter author, Colorado Courtroom Handbook for Civil Trials Second Edition, Continuing Legal Education in Colorado, Inc. (2007)
Editor and Chapter author, Colorado Auto Litigator's Handbook, Colorado Trial Lawyers Assn. (1994); revisions 1995, 1997, 1999, 2003
Editor and Chapter author, Colorado Auto Litigator’s Handbook, Second Edition, Colorado Trial Lawyers Assn (2007); revision 2008
Legal Editor, Colorado Handbook of Wrongful Death Law, Gregory Giometti author, Continuing Legal Education in Colorado, Inc. (1997)
Chapter editor, Federal Litigation Guide,
Matthew Bender & Company Inc.
-Pre-trial Motions (1989)
-Discovery of Experts (1992)
Chapter editor, Anatomy of a Personal Injury Lawsuit 3rd Edition, "Initial Interviews and Investigation of the Case" ATLA Press (1991)
Articles
“Protecting the Privacy of the Client with Psychological Injuries”, Trial Talk,
(April/May 2000)
"Women and the Law: The More Things Change,"
Trial, (February 1990)
Publications
(Under former name of Victoria C. Heldman)
Books
R. Schaden and V. Heldman, Product Design Liability
(Practising Law Institute, N.Y., N.Y. 1982)
Chapter Editor, Women Trial Lawyers: How They Succeed in Practice and in the Courtroom, "Pre-trial Motions" (Prentice-Hall, 1986)
Contributor to: Drug Litigation, Paul D. Rheingold, ed. (Practising Law Institute, N.Y., N.Y. 1981)
Articles
"No-Fault Insurance Schemes - An Answer to the Medical Negligence and Product Liability 'Crises'?, Trial Magazine (July, 1986)
"Wrongful Death Damages and Settlement", Annual Review of Michigan Law (Michigan Trial Lawyers Association, 1986)
"Suing the United States Under the Federal Tort Claims," Colorado Lawyer (October, 1985)
"Trial Techniques in the Sex Discrimination Case," Trial Diplomacy Journal (Spring, 1984)
"Ways & Means" (Consumer Product Liability) Detroit Free Press (July 20, 1975)
"The Right to Travel: Judicial Curiosity or Practical Tool?," 42 Jour Urban Law 751 (1975)
"Behavior Modification & Other Legal Imbroglios of Human Experimentation," 52 Jour Urban Law 156 (1974)
Seminar Instructor and Lectures:
Colorado Trial Lawyers Association
- Insurance litigation
- Evidence
- Mediation
- Settlement
- Basic Advocacy Course
- Expert Witnesses
- Faculty Members for Peoples Law School
- Products Liability
- Auto Litigation
Association of Trial Lawyers of America
- Products Liability
- Trial Practice (Faculty for Basic Advocacy Course)
- Trial of Sex Discrimination Case
- Aircraft Litigation
Michigan Trial Lawyers Association
- Michigan No-Fault Auto Insurance Law
- Mediation
- Crashworthiness
Washington State Trial Lawyers Association
- Expert Witnesses
Kansas Trial Lawyers Association
– Trial Practice
Federal Bar Association
- Discovery in a Civil Case
- Trial Practice
Institute of Continuing Legal Education (Michigan)
- Trial Practice (Faculty of Trial Advocacy Course)
National College of Advocacy
- Trial Practice
Roscoe Pound Foundation
- Trial Practice
University Teaching
Adjunct Professor, University of Detroit School of Law, 1982 - Product Design Liability
Listed
Who’s Who in America (2004, 2005, 2006, 2007)
Who's Who in American Law (1994/95); (2002/2003)
Who's Who in American Women (1987/88)
Colorado Super Lawyer, 5280 Magazine (2005, 2006, 2007)
Awards
Kenneth Norman Kripke Lifetime Achievement Award (2005)