Jim Chalat of Chalat Law Offices, P.C. has practiced law in Colorado since 1977. He established the firm in 1984. He has been referred to in the public press as a "veteran personal injury trial lawyer." Board certified in civil trial advocacy by the National Board of Trial Advocacy, Jim Chalat has been rated "A/V" (highest) by Martindale-Hubbell.
In 1979, Jim was asked by the Colorado Bar Association to write a law review article about the then new Ski Safety Act of 1979. Jim was asked to write the article because of his ski patrol and ski racing experience. The article was the lead article of the March 1980 issue of the "Colorado Lawyer." Since then, Jim has published over 20 law review articles concerning ski law, including a 1999 update on Colroado Ski Law. Much of this information, along with current updates in ski law, can be found on this website and our sister site,
skisafety.com.These articles have appeared in the publications of both the National Ski Area's Association and the National Ski Patrol System as well as in professional journals for trial lawyers. Jim has tried ski cases of every variety, was one of the lead plaintiff's counsel in the Keystone lift cases, and has represented injured skiers from across the United States, Australia and the United Kingdom, earning multi-million dollar verdicts at trial for ski injuries.
Profile excerpted from Martindale-Hubbell Directory of Eminent Attorneys in the USA:
JAMES H. CHALAT, born Livermore, California, April 9, 1953; admitted to bar, 1977, Colorado; 1981, U.S. Court of Appeals, Tenth Circuit and U.S. Supreme Court; 1983, Michigan. Education: University of Michigan (B.G.S., 1974) University of Denver (J.D., 1977).
AUTHOR:"Colorado Narrows Construction of the Inherent Danger Rule" 45 Trial Talk 10-15 (April 1996); "$2,150,000 Verdict - General Negligence - Skiing Accident" 9 National Jury Verdict Reporter Issue 12 (11/94); "The Constitutional Foundations of Modern American Tort Law," 16 The Colorado Lawyer 970, (September 1987); "The Development of the Standard of Care in Colorado Ski Cases," 15 The Colorado Lawyer 373 (March 1986); "From Wright to Sunday and Beyond," with Feurhelm et al., 4 The Utah Law Review 885 (December 1985); "Ski Collision and Ski Equipment Cases," 34 Trial Talk 303 (10/85); "Michigan's Ski Law," 63 The Michigan Bar Journal 355 (May 1984); "Continuing Changes in Colorado's Ski Law," 13 The Colorado Lawyer 407 (March 198); "Ski Law," Ski Area Management Vol. 21, No. 3 (National Ski Areas Assn., May & June 1983); "The Changing Role of the Ski Patroller," The National Patroller (The National Ski Patrol System, Inc., Winter 1982);"Colorado Ski Act Update," 10 The Colorado Lawyer 161 ( July 1981); "Ski Tips for Attorneys," 9 The Colorado Lawyer 452 (March 1980). Section contribution: Stein, ed., Closing Argument, The Art and the Law, Sect. 331 Jury-Function, p.53 - 56, (Clark Boardman Calahan, Cum. Supp. 1995); Publisher: "Ski Safety News " (1989 --).
MEMBER: American, Colorado, Michigan and Denver Bar Associations; State Bar of Michigan; The Association of Trial Lawyers of America (Sustaining Member); Colorado Trial Lawyers Association; American Inns of Court; Instructor & Diplomate - National Institute of Trial Advocacy. Certified as a Civil Trial Advocate by the National Board of Trial Advocacy (1988--).
SPECIAL AGENCIES: Board of Trustees, Colorado Ballet; Colorado Disciplinary Counsel - Special Assistant Disciplinary Counsel, (1991--) ; A.S.T.M., F-27 Committee (1995 --); Jefferson County Juvenile Review Board, 1992-1993.
REPORTED CASES: Ulissey v. Shvartsman, 61 F.3rd 805 (10th Circ. 1995). Hudson v. Boxer, 632 F.Supp. 1569 (D.Colo. 1986); Wong v. Sharp, 743 F.Supp. 943 (D.Colo. 1986); People v. Watson, 833 P.2d 50 (Colo. 1992).
PRACTICE AREAS: Personal Injury; Legal and Medical Malpractice; Skiing and recreational accident cases.
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