David H. Miller Denver, Colorado
| Associate | |
| phone | 303-GOOD-LAW 866-701-7302 |
| fax | 303-832-7102 |
| Email Me | |
Mr. Miller is the co-founder and managing litigation partner at the firm of Sawaya & Miller, where he specializes in only bringing class action plaintiffs' wage and hour litigation against large employers. Mr. Miller started his legal career as a general practice litigator for 6 years before becoming the American Civil Liberties Union's first Legal Director in Colorado, a position he had for 13 years. He then became a founding partner in 2 of Colorado's most respected employment and civil rights law firms before joining the Legal Department of a Fortune 500 company, where, as an Associate General Counsel, he directed the company's employment litigation department, nationwide. Under Gov. Ritter's administration, he served as the Interim Director of the Colorado Civil Rights Division, and for more than a dozen years he has served as the pro bono General Counsel of a leading public safety non-profit organization that monitors and controls sex-offenders who are on probation or parole.
He has published almost a dozen articles in legal journals and periodicals, and has presented at more than two dozen continuing legal education seminars. He has participated as counsel in more than 30 reported opinions. He has received numerous civil liberties and public service awards, including the Denver Bar Association's Liberty Bell Award, the Anti-Defamation League's Annual Civil Rights Award, the Colorado Trial Lawyer's Case of the Year Award, and the ACLU's Sherman Civil Rights Award. For 4 years he was recognized as a "Super Lawyer" in the areas of employment and civil rights litigation.
Mr. Miller has served on the Board of Governors of the Colorado Bar Association, and for over 13 years was the Chair of the Association's Bill of Rights Committee. He has also served on the Board of Directors of the Colorado Lawyers Committee, the ACLU of Colorado, where he was Chair of the Board, and the Board of Editors of the Continuing Legal Education in Colorado Annual Survey.
Mr. Miller received his B.A., magna cum laude, in Latin and Classical Studies from Duke University, and obtained his J.D. from the University of Denver Law School, where he served as the Editor-in-Chief of the Denver Law Journal. He is admitted to all of the state and federal courts in Colorado, as well as the United States Supreme Court.
- Bar Admissions:
- Colorado, 1977
- U.S. District Court District of Colorado, 1984
- U.S. Court of Appeals 10th Circuit, 1984
- U.S. Supreme Court, 1992
- Education:
- University of Denver College of Law, Denver, Colorado
J.D.
Law Review: Denver University Law Review, Editor-in-Chief, 1975 - 1977 - Duke University, Durham, North Carolina,
1973
B.A.
Honors: Magna Cum Laude
Honors: With Honors
Major: Latin and Classical Studies
- Published Works:
- Constitutional Law Section for the ANNUAL SURVEY OF COLORADO LAW, 1993
- Right To Die Damage Actions: Developments In The Law, 65 DEN.U.L.REV. 181, 1988
- Civil Rights Attorney's Fees Awards, TRIAL TALK, November, 14, 1983
- Sex Based Classification In Tribal Ordinances And The Indian Civil Rights Act, (Co-Author), 54 DEN.U.L.REV. 115, 1977
- Note, Constitutional Law—10th Circuit Survey, 54 DEN.U.L.REV. 85, 1977
- Representative Cases:
- Romer v. Evans, 517 U.S. 620 (U.S. 1996)
- Neiberger v. Hawkins, 246 F. 3d (10th Cir. 2001)
- Hines v. Chrysler Corp., 215 F.3d 1337 (10th Cir. 2000)
- Univ. of Colo. v. Derdeyn, 863 P.2d 929 (Colo. 1993)
- Univ. of Colo. v. Derdeyn, 511 U.S. 1070 (U.S. 1995)
- Diaz v. Romer, 961 F.2d 1508 (10th Cir. 1992)
- Dahlem v. Bd of Educ., 901 F.2d 1508 (10th Cir. 1990)
- Thornier v. Meyer, 803 F.2d 1093 (10th Cir. 1986)
- The Guides, Ltd. v. The Yarmouth Group Property Management, Inc., 295 F.3d 1065 (10th Cir. 2002)
- Montez v. Owens, 32 F. Supp. 2d 1235 (D.Colo. 1999)
- Whitfield v. Bd of Co. Comm'rs, 837 F.Supp. 338 (D.Colo. 1993)
- Classes/Seminars Taught:
- Adjunct Professor (Housing Discrimination Law), University of Denver Law School, 2005
- Honors and Awards:
- Colorado Super Lawyer in the Areas of Employment Law and Civil Rights, 2006 - 2009
- Anti-Defamation League (Colorado) Civil Rights Award, 2004
- Co-Recipient, Colorado Trial Lawyers Association "Case of the Year Award Winner", 2004
- Recipient, Liberty Bell Award, Denver Bar Association, 1998
- Co-Recipient, Colorado Legal Initiatives Project Special Award (for Civil Rights Work), 1996
- Recipient, Sherman Civil Rights Award, ACLU of Colorado, 1995
- Professional Associations and Memberships:
- Colorado Bar Association, 2001 - 2003
- Board of Governor
- Colorado Bar Association, 1977 - Present
- Member
- Denver Bar Association, 2001 - 2003
- Delegate
- Denver Bar Association, 1983 - Present
- Member
- American Bar Association, 2006 - Present
- Member
- Colorado Plaintiffs' Employment Lawyers Association, 2001 - 2006
- Member
- National Employment Lawyers Association, 2011 - Present
- Member
- Colorado Trial Lawyers Association, Civil Rights Section, 1987 - 1993
- Section Editor, Trial Talk
- CBA CLE of Colorado, Inc., Annual Survey of Colorado Law, Constitutional Law Section, 1984 - 1995
- Board of Editors
- ACLU of Colorado, 2000 - 2008
- Board of Directors
- ACLU of Colorado, 2006 - 2007
- Chair of the Board
- Center For Legal Inclusiveness, 2008 - 2011
- Member, Education Committee
- Colorado Lawyers Committee, 2004 - 2006
- Board of Directors
- Past Employment Positions:
- Qwest Communications, Inc., Associate General Counsel, 2006 - 2011
- Colorado Civil Rights Division, Interim Executive Director, 2007
- King & Greisen, LLP, Litigation Counsel, 2002 - 2006
- Miller, Lane, Killmer & Greisen, LLP, Founding Partner, 1996 - 2002
- ACLU of Colorado, Legal Director, 1983 - 1996
- Cosgriff, Dunn & French, Associate / Partner, 1977 - 1983
- Pro Bono Activities:
- General Counsel of Teaching Humane Existence, 1996 - Present
- ACLU Board of Directors (and Board Chair), 2000 - 2008
- Pro Bono Counsel, Counsel for the Legal Center Serving Persons with Disabilities, 2010 - Present
- Volunteer Attorney, Colorado Hate Crimes Task Force, 2008 - 2011
- Languages:
- English
- Spanish













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