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  • Ralph A. Cantafio, Esq.
  • Richard L. Eddington, Esq.
  • Mark J. Fischer, Esq.
  • Reed F. Morris, Esq.
  • Jay M. Cranmer, Esq.
  • Elizabeth Wittemyer
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My practice focuses on diverse areas of civil litigation and trial work. I regularly advise clients facing commercial disputes, construction disputes, consumer protection issues, and employment discrimination. I also handle real estate disputes, including development ventures and landlord-tenant matters, while my natural resources practice focuses on oil and gas leasing, surface owner issues and public lands. For my clients not involved in litigation, I enjoy providing guidance to individuals and businesses trying to resolve disputes and attempting to avoid them. As a trial attorney, I am ready and willing to take a case before a judge or jury, and I handle each case looking toward the possibility of trial if it becomes necessary.

Beyond a lawyer, I am a husband, a father, and an outdoor enthusiast. I regularly volunteer for non-profits and community causes. I was recently selected by the Steamboat Springs City Council to sit on the citizen-advisory committee during the city manager hiring process (2008-09), and I currently sit on the Board of Directors for the Colorado Environmental Coalition (since 2008) and the Board of Trustees of the Colorado Foundation for Water Education (since 2010).

Litigation and Trial Experience includes:

• Representing a start-up taxicab company seeking authority in two-day bench trial before the Public Utilities Commission ALJ (2010).
• Representing condominium owners' association as first chair in jury trial in construction dispute securing settlement exceeding client’s pre-trial demand--settlement reached on day ten of trial (2009).
• Securing dismissal of criminal charges and civil settlement on behalf of Craig City Council candidate Francisco Reina acting as co-counsel with ACLU attorneys (2009).
• Winning summary judgment resulting in dismissal of all counterclaims filed against client in multimillion dollar real estate development dispute (2008).
• Winning two day bench trial in commercial real estate dispute, including post-judgment award of attorneys’ fees and costs (2008).
• Representing real estate development partner as second chair in jury trial receiving multimillion dollar settlement after four days of trial (2008).
• Representing landowners impacted by landslide securing a partial plaintiff’s verdict as second chair in seven day jury trial (2008).

Current Position:

• Associate, The Law Office of Ralph A. Cantafio, PC 2006 - present

Practice Areas:

Civil Litigation	Employment Litigation
Oil and Gas	Environmental
Commercial Transactions	Landlord/Tenant
Commercial Litigation	Real Estate Litigation
Construction	Collections
Construction Litigation

Bar Admissions:

• Colorado, 2004
• Wisconsin, 2003 (inactive)
• U.S. District Court (Colorado)

Education:

• Juris Doctor, University of Colorado School of Law, 2003
• Bachelor of Science, Biology, Michigan State University (Lyman Briggs School of Science), 2000, with honors

Professional Associations and Memberships:

• Northwest Colorado Bar Association, Member
• Colorado Bar Association, Member
• Colorado Trial Lawyers Association, Member
• Wisconsin Bar Association, Member