Resume of Gregory B. Cairns
CONTACT INFORMATION:
CAIRNS & ASSOCIATES, P.C.
3900 E. Mexico Ave., Suite 300
Denver, CO 80202
Telephone: (303) 481-6345, (303) 248-6548 (cell)
Facsimile: (866) 377-2055
E-mail:
Website: cairnslegal.com
Focus of Practice
Workers’ compensation defense and related employment law.
Education
Juris Doctor: University of Texas at Austin, 1982
Coordinating Notes and Comments Editor, Texas International Law Journal;
Phi Delta Phi
Masters Candidate: University of Wisconsin at Milwaukee, 1977-1979
Bachelor of Arts Degree (with Honors): University of Wisconsin at Madison, 1975
Employment
2011- PresentCairns & Associates, P.C.
President
2009 – 2011Ruegsegger Simons Smith & Stern, LLC
Special Counsel
2004 – 2009Cairns Nemechek & Magruder, LLC (formerly Cairns Nemecheck & Sweeney, LLC)
Member
2000 – 2004Hall & Evans, L.L.C.
Special Counsel
1999 - 2000Cairns & Associates, P.C.
1991-1999Cairns, Dworkin & Chambers, P.C.
1991Law Offices of John M. Connell
Special Counsel
1986-1990Lavinder & Cairns, P.C.
Shareholder and Vice President
Practice emphasized insurance defense, workers’
compensation and other civil litigation.
1984-1986Clifton & Associates, P.C.
(Now Clifton Hook & Bovarnick, P.C.)
Associate
Practice emphasized insurance defense, workers’
compensation and civil litigation.
1982-1984Holland & Hart
Associate
Specialized in real estate and employment litigation
Bar Admissions
Admitted to practice in the State of Colorado, 1982
Career Distinctions
Mr. Cairns has written several articles in The Colorado Lawyer concerning employment issues, pre-judgment interest, and the history of The Denver Law Club, and has been a frequent speaker concerning workers’ compensation, pre-employment testing, the American Disabilities Act of 1990, and the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993. He has taught basic legal research in the paralegal training programs for Metropolitan State College in Denver and the Denver Paralegal Institute. In addition, he is the founder and principal instructor for The Center for Workers’ Compensation Training, a private occupational school. Mr. Cairns was named one of the “Outstanding Lawyers of America in 2003”. In 2005, Mr. Cairns won the honor of “Outstanding Respondent Attorney” as presented by Professionals in Workers’ Compensation at their Annual Awards Banquet.
In 2006, Mr. Cairns won an honorable mention for his poem “Love Letters” entered in First Annual the Colorado Lawyer Poetry Contest. In 2007, he won the honor of “President’s Award” as presented by Professionals in Workers’ Compensation at their Annual Awards Banquet. In 2009, he received the “Lansford F. Butler Award,” presented by the Workers’ Compensation Section of the Colorado Bar Association for exceptional service in the practice of workers’ compensation.
Professional Associations
American Bar Association
Colorado Bar Association; Member, Workers’ Compensation Section
Denver Bar Association
Colorado Defense Lawyers Association, Workers’ Compensation Committee Member
Colorado Self-Insurers Association
Medical Case Management/Managed Care Task Force, sponsored by Division of Workers’ Compensation, 1992-1993
Professionals in Workers’ Compensation; May 1997 to 2004, Board of Directors and President (year 2000)
The Denver Law Club, Vice-President (2009-2010), President (2010-2011)
Publications
- ”Recent Developments: Verlinden B. v. Central Bank of Nigeria,” Texas International Law Journal (Spring 1981).
- Tredennick & Cairns, “The Colorado Prejudgment Interest Statute: Potential For Market Rate Interest, “The Colorado Lawyer” (October 1986).
- Cairns & Tredennick, “Collecting Pre- and Post-Judgment Interest in Colorado: A Primer”, The Colorado Lawyer (May 1986).
- Cairns & Tredennick, “ An Update of Appendices From Collecting Pre- and Post-Judgment Interest in Colorado”, The Colorado Lawyer (June 1986).
- Cairns, “Alcohol and Drug Testing in the Work Place: What Private Employers Need To Know,” Prevent: Loss Control Newsletter published by Colorado Compensation Insurance Authority (Summer 1993).
- Winans & Cairns, “Background Checking: Reducing Workers’ Compensation Claims,” Risk Management (October 1996).
- Cairns & Brewer, “Workers’ Compensation, ADA and the FMLA: The Ten Questions Most Commonly Asked by Colorado Employers,” The Colorado Lawyer (October 1996).
- Cairns, “The Ten Ingredients of a Superlative Workers’ Compensation Program,” The Healthcare Savings Chronicle (July 2006).
- Cairns, “Workers’ Compensation and the Aging Worker,” Chapter 10, Senior Law Handbook, A joint project of the Elder Law and Trust and Estate Sections of the Colorado Bar Association, Continuing Legal Education Colorado, Inc. (2008 through 2014).
- Cairns, “Ten Tips For Hiring Smart,” ADP Monthly Newsletter (April 2010)
- Cairns, “The Law Club, 1914-39: The First Twenty-Five Years of Sense and Nonsense”, The Colorado Lawyer (October 2013).
- Cairns, “The Law Club, 1939-1964- Rise of “The Law Club Show”, The Colorado Lawyer (November 2013).
- Cairns, “The Law Club, 1939-1964- Rise of “The Law Club Show”, The Colorado Lawyer (November 2013).
- Cairns, “The Law Club, 1964-89-The Law Club Matures(?)”, The Colorado Lawyer (December 2013).
- Cairns, “The Law Club, 1989-2013: From the Wilderness to the Centennial” , The Colorado Lawyer (January, 2014)
Community Service
Mr. Cairns served on the Board and was President of Professionals in Workers’ Compensation, a trade organization of over 150 members active in the conduct of workers’ compensation matters, including medical personnel, insurance adjusters, risk managers, attorneys, and others. He was a Board member from 1997 through 2004, and been an active supporter of its predecessor group, Women in Workers’ Compensation, since its inception in 1989. Mr. Cairns has served on a number of advisory boards convened by the Director of the Division of Workers’ Compensation. profit organization dedicated to helping women through the power of employment. In addition, he served as president of the Denver Law Club, an organization dedicated to educating the Colorado Bar about legal ethics through parody songs and skits.
SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS
2015
“Twelve Things Supervisors Should Know About Workers’ Compensation,” training session for clients of Olsen and Olsen, February 25, 2015, Centennial, Colorado
“Legalities of Screening at the Three Stages of Employment,” presentation at Flood and Peterson Risk Control Outreach, March 6, 2015, Loveland, Colorado
“Top Ten Questions Municipalities Ask About Medical Marijuana,” National League of Cities, Risk Information Sharing Consortium (NLC-RISC) Spring Governance & Leadership Conference, March 13, 2015, Las Vegas, Nevada
“Managing Safety Through Good Hiring Practices,” presented by Gregory B. Cairns and Jeanette Hrubes, to COPRIMA, March 19, 2015, Greenwood Village, Colorado
“Legalization of Marijuana: Impact on Public Entities and Pools”, 2015 NLC-RISC Trustees Conference, May 8, 2015, Savannah, Georgia
“Law Club Annual Meeting Show”, master of ceremonies/writer/producer of a two hour musical comedy revue, May 15, 2015, Denver, Colorado
2014
“Hiring Right”, presentation sponsored by Pinnacol Assurance , February 20, 2014, Denver, Colorado
“The Law Club Centennial Celebration Show”, performer, The Broadmoor Hotel, April 26, 2014, Colorado Springs, Colorado
“Medical Marijuana in Colorado”, presentation to the Illinois Hospital Association, May 1, 2014, Peoria, Illinois
“Red Flags and Baggage: The Employers’ Guide to Employment Testing (Hiring Right)”, presentation to Colorado Safety Association Annual Conference, May 19, 2014, Westminster, Colorado
“Top Ten Questions Colorado Employers Ask About Medical Marijuana in the Workplace,” 23rd Annual Colorado PRIMA Conference, August 11, 2014, Vail, Colorado
“Twelve Things Supervisors Should Know About Workers’ Compensation,” training for managers at National Jewish Hospital, September 18, 2014, Denver, Colorado
“Basic Workers’ Compensation in Colorado: The Mechanics of Claims,” two-day basic class, October 23-24, 2014, Denver, Colorado
“Denver Law Club Ethics Revue 2014”, co- sponsored by the Law Club, Colorado Bar Association (CBA) CLE, and Ethics Committee of the CBA, actor/writer, November 4 & 5, 2014, Denver, Colorado
“Hiring Right,” presentation at Colorado Livestock Association Safety Meeting, November 12, 2014, Loveland, Colorado
2013
“Medical Marijuana in Colorado”, webcast presentation to CIRSA members, July 31, 2013, Denver, Colorado
“Ethics Review”, writer and performer for Colorado Annual Judicial Conference, September 10, 2013, Vail, Colorado
“The Denver Law Club Ethics Revue 2013”, writer and actor in presentation sponsored by the COBAR-CLE, November 4 and 15, 2013, Denver, Colorado.
2012
“Advanced Topics in Colorado Workers’ Compensation”, producer, moderator and speaker of half-day conference, April 13, 2012, Denver, Colorado
“Medical Marijuana”, presentation to the Colorado Springs Chamber of Commerce, May 8, 2012, Manitou Springs, Colorado
“Medical Marijuana”, presentation to the Longmont Chamber of Commerce, June 13, 2012, Longmont, Colorado
“Testing Your Employees”, presentation at Pinnacol annual seminar for stakeholders, June 20, 2012, Arvada, Colorado
“Testing Your Employees”, presentation at Pinnacol annual seminar for stakeholders, June 27, 2012, Grand Junction, Colorado
“Employee Do’s and Don’ts”, presentation to Pinnacol stakeholders, September 5, 2012, Denver, Colorado
“The Aging Workforce”, presentation sponsored by Pinnacol, October 5, 2012, Keystone, Colorado
“The Denver Law Club Ethics Revue 2012”, writer and actor in presentation sponsored by the COBAR-CLE, November 12 and 13, 2012, Denver, Colorado.
“Bury the Hatchet Show”, writer and performer in presentation sponsored by Colorado Bar, Workers’ Compensation Section, December 7, 2012, Denver, Colorado.
“The Aging Workforce”, presentation sponsored by Pinnacol, Assurance and Moody Insurance, December 12, 2012, Denver, Colorado
2011
“The Aging Workforce”, presentation to insurance brokers sponsored by Pinnacol Assurance, February 23, 2011, Denver, Colorado
“Functional Capacity Evaluations”, co-presenter with Jeanette Hrubes, PT, seminar sponsored by Denver Claims Association, February 25, 2011, Englewood, Colorado.
‘Medical Marijuana”, presentation to the CBA-sponsored Workers’ Compensation Spring Conference, March 18, 2011, Denver, Colorado
“Medical Marijuana”, presentation to Denver Motor Carriers’ Association, March 30, 2011, Denver, Colorado
“Medical Marijuana”, presentation to the Ft. Collins Chamber of Commerce, March 31, 2011, Ft. Collins, Colorado
“The Aging Workforce,” presentation at Pinnacol safety conference for stakeholders, April 21, 2011, Grand Junction, Colorado
“Medical Marijuana”, presentation to Pinnacol stakeholders, April 27, 2011, Denver, Colorado
“Basic Workers’ Compensation in Colorado: The Mechanics of Claims,” two-day basic class, May 12 and 13, 2011, Denver, Colorado
“The Aging Population”, presentation at annual Pinnacol conference for stakeholders, June 8, 2011, Denver, Colorado
“The Denver Law Club Ethics Review”, writer and actor in presentation to the Colorado Judicial Conference, June 11, 2011, Vail, Colorado.
“Medical Marijuana”, presentation to Pinnacol stakeholders, June 29, 2011, Grand Junction, Colorado
“The Aging Workforce,” presentation at Aspen Chamber of Commerce safety conference, August 2, 2011, Aspen, Colorado
“Medical Marijuana”, presentation at Pinnacol safety conference, August 6, 2011, Beaver Creek, Colorado
“Medical Marijuana”, presentation at Pinnacol safety conference, August 17, 2011, Denver, Colorado
“The Aging Workforce,” presentation to petroleum marketeers at Pinnacol safety conference, September 19, 2011, Beaver Creek, Colorado
“Medical Marijuana”, presentation at National League of Cities national risk management conference, October 25, 2011, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
The Denver Law Club Ethics Revue 2011”, writer, producer and actor in presentation sponsored by the COBAR-CLE, November 15-17, 2011, Denver, Colorado.
2010
“Ten Things Workers’ Compensation Safety Managers Need to Know About Workers’ Compensation,” presentation to Vail Resort safety managers, January 5, 2010, Keystone, Colorado.
“Top Ten Things Employers Need to Know About Workers’ Compensation,” presentation to clients of Flood and Peterson, January 30, 2010, Denver, Colorado.
“Bad Faith and Rule 16,” presentation to claims adjusters at Gallagher Bassett, February4, 2010, Greenwood Village, Colorado
“Telecommuting Injuries,” presentation to Colorado Self-Insurers Association, February9, 2010, Lakewood, Colorado
“Basic Workers’ Compensation in Colorado: The Mechanics of Claims,” two-day basic class, February 18 and 19, 2010, Greenwood Village, Colorado
“Medical Marijuana in the Workplace: Don’t Let Your Risk Management Program Go Up in Smoke!”, presentation at Flood and Peterson Risk Management Spring Symposium, March 5, 2010, Loveland, Colorado.
“Medical Marijuana in the Workplace: Don’t Let Your Risk Management Program Go Up in Smoke!”, presentation at Summit Point Consulting Breakfast Seminar, March 12, 2010, Englewood, Colorado.
“Drug Testing in the Workplace”, presentation to employer clients of Centura Centers for Occupational Medicine (CCOM), April 15, 2010
“Medical Marijuana in the Workplace,” panel discussion sponsored by Professionals in Workers’ Compensation, April 21, 2010, Denver, Colorado.
“Ten Facts That Every Employer Should Know About Medical Employment Testing!” presentation to Seminar sponsored by Peak Form Physical Fitness, April 30, 2010, Broomfield, Colorado.
The Denver Law Club Annual Meeting, master of ceremonies, writer and director, April 30, 2010, Denver, Colorado
“Analyzing the Indergard Decision,” presentation to Worksteps National Providers’ Conference, May 6, 2010, Las Vegas, Nevada.
“Employer Wellness Programs: Getting Employees into Them and Keeping Them There,” presentation to Worksteps National Providers’ Conference, May 7, 2010, Las Vegas, Nevada.
“Medical Marijuana in the Workplace: Don’t Let Your Risk Management Program Go Up in Smoke,” presentation at AON Employer Conference, May 11, 2010, Denver, Colorado
“Legislative Update 2010,” presentation to C-RING, May 13, 2010, Denver, Colorado
“Workers’ Compensation Update- 2010,” Moderator and presenter for full-day seminar for employers sponsored by Lorman Educational Services, June 9, 2010, Aurora, Colorado
“Breaking Up Is Hard to Do,” presentation to Center for Excellence and Colorado Springs Chamber of Commerce, June 23, 2010, Colorado Springs, Colorado
“Causality and Apportionment”, seminar for employers and risk managers, June 23, 2010, Denver, Colorado
“Legislative Update-2010”, training for Nordstrom employees, July 12, 2010, Santa Ana, California (via telephone)
“Basic Workers’ Compensation in Colorado: The Mechanics of Claims”, two-day training session for adjustors, July 15 and 16, 2010, Greenwood Village, Colorado.
“Medical Marijuana in the Workplace: Don’t Let Your Safety Program Go Up In Smoke!,” presentation to employers sponsored by Colorado Clinic for Occupational Medicine and Opioid Compliance Consultants, July 20, 2010, Pueblo, Colorado.
“Medical Marijuana in the Workplace: Don’t Let Your Safety Program Go Up In Smoke!,” presentation to employers sponsored by Harmony Hand Clinic and Opioid Compliance Consultants, July 27, 2010, Ft. Collins, Colorado.
“The Denver Law Club Ethics Review”, writer and actor in presentation to the National Conference of State Supreme Court Justices and Judicial Administrators, July 28, 2010, Vail, Colorado.
“The Aging Workforce”, presentation to the Colorado State PRIMA Annual Conference, August 9, 2010, Vail, Colorado.
“Medical Marijuana in the Workplace: Don’t Let Your Safety Program Go Up In Smoke!”, training session sponsored by Aurora chapter of NAIFA, August 11, 2010, Greenwood Village, Colorado.
“Causation and Apportionment”, two presentations to Pinnacol Assurance Select-Net physicians at annual conference, August 13, 2010, Genesee, Colorado
“Medical Marijuana in the Workplace: Don’t Let Your Safety Program Go Up In Smoke!”, presentation to C-RING, September 9, 2010, Denver, Colorado.
“The Denver Law Club Ethics Revue”, writer and actor for presentation to DouglasCounty judiciary, September 14, 2010, Castle Rock, Colorado.
“Medical Marijuana in the Workplace: Don’t Let Your Safety Program Go Up In Smoke!”, presentation to PRIMA-Denver, September 16, 2010, Denver, Colorado.
“The Denver Law Club Ethics Revue 2010”, writer, producer and actor in presentation sponsored by the COBAR-CLE, September 22 and 23, 2010, Denver, Colorado.
“Workers’ Compensation Update 2010”, presentation at Flood & Peterson annual safety conference, October 1, 2010, Ft. Collins, Colorado.
“Best Practices in Adjusting Cases”, training session for State Farm adjustors, October 26, 2010, Lakewood, Colorado
“Back to Work- A Treatment Based Evaluation of Work Related Low Back Pain”, panel discussion at the SERI Fall Spine Symposium, October 27, 2010, Northglenn, Colorado.
“The Ten Questions Municipalities Ask About Medical Marijuana”, presentation at the National League of Cities 2010 RISC Fall Staff Conference, October 28, 2010, Nashville, Tennessee.
“The Denver Law Club Ethics Revue”, writer, co-producer and actor for presentation at Colorado Judicial Excellence Annual Awards 2010, November 18, 2010, Denver, Colorado.
“Bury the Hatchet Show”, writer, producer and director of presentation sponsored by Colorado Bar, Workers’ Compensation Section, December 3, 2010, Denver, Colorado.
“Medical Marijuana-Don’t Let Your Safety Program Go Up in Smoke!”, presentation to Colorado Safety Association, December 14, 2010, Denver, Colorado.
2009
“The Aging Workforce,” and “Pre-screening Hiring Procedures,” presentation at ProGreen Expo, January 12, 2009, Denver, Colorado.
“ADA and the Workers’ Compensation Implications,” presentation at “the ADA Amendments of 2008 and Their Effect on Workers’ Compensation,” an outreach program sponsored by Flood & Petersen Insurance, Inc., February 20, 2009, Fort Collins, Colorado.
“Ten Facts that Every Employer Should Know About Medical Employment Testing!,” presentation for “Getting It Right: The Legalities of Reducing Injury Risks/Cost Containment Strategies,” seminar sponsored by Peak Form Physical Therapy, March12, 2009, Brighton, Colorado.
“Testing for the Best: Best Practices in Medical Employment Testing, Screening, Drug Testing and Background Checking,” full day seminar sponsored by Colorado Bar Association, Continuing Legal Education, organizer, moderator and presenter of two modules, April 29, 2009, Denver, Colorado.
“Post-Injury Drug Screening,” Presentation for Colorado Rehabilitation and Occupational Medicine Seminar; May 13, 2009.
“Employment Law and the Aging Workforce: Screening, Evaluation Methods, and More!,” 2009 Colorado Employment Law Conference, co-sponsored by the CBA Labor and Employment Law Section and CLE in Colorado, Inc., May 21, 2009, Denver, Colorado.
“The All New Ethics Revue”, a musical seminar presented by The Law Club and sponsored by the Colorado Bar Association, Continuing Legal Education, co-writer and performer, July 9, 2009, Denver, Colorado.
“Basic Workers’ Compensation in Colorado: The Mechanics of Administering Claims,” a two-day training course sponsored by the Center for Workers’ Compensation Training, a private occupational school, Summer Session, July 16-17, 2009.
“Fitness for Duty for the Aging Workforce: Legal Issues, Practical Solutions,” a presentation for Northern Colorado Human Resources Association, August 4, 2009, Greeley, Colorado.
“Top Ten Developments in Colorado Workers’ Compensation in 2009,” presentation at the Annual Colorado PRIMA Conference, August 10, 2009, Vail, Colorado.
“The ABC’s of Apportionment,”presentation at “Workers’ Compensation & Disability,” a three-day business forum sponsored by National Association of Medical Advancement, August 19, 2009, Denver, Colorado.
“Bad Faith and Colorado Workers’ Compensation Cases,” presentation to adjusters at State Farm Insurance, August 28, 2009, Lakewood, Colorado.
“Ethics Revue 2009,” a musical seminar presented by The Law Club to the Thompson Marsh Inn of Court, co-writer and performer, September 3, 2009, Denver, Colorado.
“Testing Your Current Workforce,” presentation to the Colorado Self-Insurers Association, September 8, 2009, Denver, Colorado.
“The ABC’s of Apportionment,” presentation to the University of Denver, School of Lawstudents enrolled in “Workers’ Compensation” class, September 10, 2009, Denver, Colorado.