Attorneys

John A. Sundahl

Phone: (307) 632-6421
Fax: (307) 632-7216
Email: jsundahl@spkm.org

John Sundahl has practiced law with this firm and its predecessor (Godfrey and Sundahl) since 1973. He has extensive trial experience, handling a variety of disputes in both the judicial and administrative arenas. Mr. Sundahl has been chosen by his peers each year since 1995 as one of the top Personal Injury Litigation attorneys as listed in "The Best Lawyers in America". He has been named as one of the "Rocky Mountain Super Lawyers", and he is a charter member of the American Board of Trial Advocates. Mr. Sundahl has been given an AV Preeminent rating by Martindale Hubbell – signifying that his peers rank him at the highest level of professional excellence.

He specializes in complex litigation, and has lectured extensively on subjects of jury selection, defense of damages, and discovery disputes. He is published in the field of discovery in brain injury cases.

Although much of his practice is devoted to defense of personal injury and medical malpractice cases, he is also actively involved in the fields of insurance disputes, bad faith, environmental litigation, public utilities, oil and gas, railroads, land disputes, condemnation, industrial and wind permitting, employment, and banking. In addition to practicing in all courts throughout the State of Wyoming, Mr. Sundahl also regularly appears before numerous administrative agencies, including the Wyoming Public Service Commission, the Environmental Quality Council, the State Board of Equalization, and the Wyoming Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, among others.

John is married to Harriet Hageman. He is an avid golfer and together they enjoy cooking and traveling in their spare time.

• University of Wyoming, B.A., 1970
• University of Wyoming, J.D., 1972

Admission to Practice:

• Wyoming, 1972
• United States District Court, District of Wyoming, 1972
• Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals, 1973
• United States Supreme Court, 1976

Associations and Honors:

• American Board of Trial Advocates
• Best Lawyers in America
• Land and Water Law Review
• Chambers and Partners, USA
• Defense Research Institute
• Rocky Mountain Super Lawyers
• Wyoming State Bar Association

Reported Cases:

• Araguz v. State ex rel. Wyo. Workers’ Safety & Comp. Div., 2011 WY 148; 262 P.3d 1261 (Wyo. 2011)
• Sinclair Oil Corp. v. Wyo. Dep’t of Revenue, 2010 WY 122; 238 P.3d 568 (Wyo. 2010)
• Dollarhide v. Bancroft, 2010 WY 126; 239 P.3d 1168 (Wyo. 2010)
• Jones v. Schabron, 2005 WY 65; 113 P.3d 34 (Wyo. 2005)
• Followwill v. Merit Energy Co., 371 F.Supp.2d 1305 (D.Wyo. 2005)
• Reichert v. Phipps, 84 P. 3d 353 (Wyo. 2004)
• Sinclair Oil Corp. v. Wyoming Public Service Commission, 2003 WY 22; 63 P.3d 887 (Wyo. 2003)
• Terry v. Sweeney, 10 P.3d 554 (Wyo. 2000)
• Goshen Irrigation Dist. v. Pathfinder Irrigation Dist., 62 F. Supp. 2d 1218 (D. Wyo. 1999)
• Ahrenholtz v. Time Ins. Co., 968 P.2d 946 (Wyo. 1998)
• Krier v. Safeway, 943 P.2d 405 (Wyo. 1997)
• Rissler & McMurry Co. v. State, 917 P.2d 1157 (Wyo. 1996)
• Harston v. Campbell County Mem. Hosp., 913 P.2d 870 (Wyo. 1996)
• Hutchinson Oil Co. v. Federated Serv. Ins. Co., 851 F. Supp. 1546 (D. Wyo. 1994)
• Burlington N. R.R. v. Wyoming State Bd. of Equalization, 820 P.2d 993 (Wyo. 1991)
• Vandehei Developers v. Public Service Commission of Wyoming, 790 P.2d 1282 (Wyo. 1990)
• Sun Ridge Dev. v. Cheyenne, 787 P.2d 583 (Wyo. 1990)
• McCullough v. Golden Rule Ins. Co., 789 P.2d 855 (Wyo. 1990)
• Lesh v. Allstate Ins. Co., 723 F. Supp. 624 (D. Wyo. 1989)
• Dinsmoore v. Board of Trustees of Memorial Hospital of Campbell County, 936 F.2d 505 (1989)
• AT&T Communications of Mountain States v. State Bd. of Equalization, 768 P.2d 580 (Wyo. 1989)
• State Farm Fire & Casualty Co. v. Bowen, 756 P.2d 773 (Wyo. 1988)
• State Farm Fire & Casualty Co. v. Paulson, 756 P.2d 764 (Wyo. 1988)
• Harmon v. Town of Afton, 745 P.2d 889 (Wyo. 1987)
• State v. Moncrief, 720 P.2d 470 (Wyo. 1986)
• Hot Springs School District v. Strube Constr. Co., 715 P.2d 540 (Wyo. 1986)
• Allstate Insurance Company v. Wyoming Insurance Department, 672 P.2d 810 (Wyo. 1983)
• Mountain Fuel Supply Co. v. Public Serv. Comm’n, 662 P.2d 878 (Wyo. 1983)
• Green River Dev. Co. v. FMC Corp., 660 P.2d 339 (Wyo. 1983)
• Thomson v. Wyoming In-Stream Flow Comm., 651 P.2d 778 (Wyo. 1982)
• Amoco Prod. Co. v. Hakala, 644 P.2d 785 (Wyo. 1982)
• Foremost Life Ins. Co. v. Langdon, 633 P.2d 938 (Wyo. 1981)
• Great W. Sugar Co. v. Johnson, 624 P.2d 1184 (Wyo. 1981)
• McGuire v. McGuire, 608 P.2d 1278 (Wyo. 1980)
• Stuebgen v. State, 548 P.2d 870 (Wyo. 1976)
• Centric Corp. v. Barbarossa & Sons, 521 P.2d 874 (Wyo. 1974)
• Lohman v. Jefferson Standard Life Insurance Company, 525 P.2d 1 (Wyo. 1974)
• Opheim v. United Mobile Homes, Inc., 511 P.2d 1289 (Wyo. 1973)

George E. Powers, Jr.

Phone: (307) 632-6421
Fax: (307) 632-7216
Email: gpowers@spkm.org

George E. Powers, Jr.

Having recently “retired” from the full-time practice of law, Mr. Powers is now Special Counsel to the firm. He will continue to consult with and assist the firm’s active attorneys as needed and will also be available to work as a mediator. Mr. Powers is admitted to practice before all Wyoming state courts, the United States District Court for the District of Wyoming and the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals.

For forty years, Mr. Powers’ practice primarily focused on civil trial and appellate litigation throughout the State of Wyoming with areas of special interest including medical malpractice, insurance claims and railroad litigation. He is a member of the Wyoming State Bar and the Laramie County Bar Association. George has lectured and participated in panel discussions relating to insurance law and civil litigation at meetings of the Wyoming State Bar and at the University of Wyoming Law School. He has received Martindale-Hubbell’s highest AV rating and has been recognized by his peers for inclusion in “The Best Lawyers in America” and in “Super Lawyers.”

Education:

• Yale University, B.A., 1975
• University of Wyoming, J.D., with honors, 1982

Admission to Practice:

• Wyoming, 1982
• United States District Court, District of Wyoming, 1982
• Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals, 1984

Associations and Honors:

• Association of Defense Trial Attorneys
• Best Lawyers in America
• Chambers and Partners, USA
• Defense Research Institute
• Land and Water Law Review, Water Division Editor
• Rocky Mountain Super Lawyers (2007-2014)
• Wyoming State Bar Association

Reported Cases:

• Bhd. Of Locomotive Eng’rs & Trainmen v. BNSF Ry. Co., 549 Fed. Appx. 780 (10th Cir. 2013)
• Mendenhall v. Mt. W. Farm. Bureau Mut. Ins. Co., 2012 WY 46; 274 P.3d 407 (Wyo. 2012)
• Eastman v. Union Pacific Railroad Co., 493 F.3d 1151 (10th Cir. 2007)
• Notwen Corp v. Am. Econ. Ins. Co., 206 Fed. Appx. 811 (10th Cir. 2006)
• Lawrence v. State Farm Fire & Casualty Co., 133 P.3d 976, 2006 WY 56 (Wyo. 2006)
• Scott v. Sutphin, 2005 WY 38; 109 P.3d 520 (Wyo. 2005)
• Jauregui v. Memorial Hospital of Sweetwater County, 2005 WY 59; 111 P.3d 914 (Wyo. 2005)
• McMackin v. Johnson County Healthcare Center, 73 P.3d 1094 (Wyo. 2003), on rehearing, Wyo 88 P.3d 491 (Wyo. 2004)
• Evans v. Farmers Insurance Exchange, 2001 WY 110; 34 P.3d 284 (Wyo. 2001)
• Farmers Insurance Exchange v. Dahlheimer, 3 P.3d 820 (Wyo. 2000)
• Sunderman v. State Farm Fire & Casualty Co., 978 P.2d 1167 (Wyo. 1999)
• Romero v. Schulze, 974 P.2d 959 (Wyo. 1999)
• Reese v. Board of Dirs. of Mem. Hosp., 955 P.2d 425 (Wyo. 1998)
• Farmers Ins. Exchange v. Shirley, 958 P.2d 1040 (Wyo. 1998)
• Jarvis v. Farmers Insurance Exchange, 948 P.2d 898 (Wyo. 1997)
• Verschoor v. Mountain W. Farm Bureau Mut. Ins. Co., 907 P.2d 1293 (Wyo. 1995)
• Whitney v. McDonough, 892 P.2d 791 (Wyo. 1995)
• Martin v. Farmers Ins. Exch., 894 P.2d 618 (Wyo. 1995)
• State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co. v. Shrader, 882 P.2d 813 (Wyo. 1994)
• Hutchinson Oil Co. v. Federated Serv. Ins. Co., 851 F. Supp. 1546 (D. Wyo. 1994)
• Bintner v. Burlington Northern Railway Co., 857 F.Supp. 1484 (D.Wyo.1994)
• First Wyo. Bank, N.A. v. Continental Ins. Co., 860 P.2d 1094 (Wyo. 1993)
• Farmers Insurance Exchange v. District Court of Ninth Judicial District, 844 P.2d 1099 (Wyo. 1993)
• Wilson v. State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co., 795 F. Supp. 1077 (D. Wyo. 1992)
• Herrig v. Herrig, 844 P.2d 487 (Wyo. 1992)
• Gookin v. State Farm Fire & Casualty Company, 826 P.2d 229 (Wyo. 1992)
• Farmers Ins. Exch. v. Williams, 823 F. Supp. 927 (D. Wyo. 1992)
• Dworkin v. LFP Inc., 839 P.2d 903 (Wyo. 1992)
• Department of Employment v. Roberts Construction, 841 P.2d 854 (Wyo. 1992)
• Spence v. Flynt, 816 P.2d 771 (Wyo. 1991)
• Darlow v. Farmers Insurance Exchange, 822 P.2d 820 (Wyo. 1991)
• Narans v. Paulsen, 803 P.2d 358 (Wyo. 1990)
• McCullough v. Golden Rule Ins. Co., 789 P.2d 855 (Wyo. 1990)
• Dynan v. Rocky Mountain Federal Savings & Loan, 792 P.2d 631 (Wyo. 1990)
• Nylen v. Dayton, 770 P.2d 1112 (Wyo. 1989)
• Wagner v. Campbell County, 695 F. Supp 512 (D. Wyo. 1988)
• Wyoming Insurance Department v. Avemco Insurance Company, 726 P.2d 507 (Wyo. 1986)
• Security State Bank v. Basin Petroleum Services Inc., 713 P.2d 1170 (Wyo. 1986)
• Hustler Magazine, Inc. v. United States Dist. Court, 790 F.2d 69 (10th Cir. 1986)
• DeJulio v. Foster, 715 P.2d 182 (Wyo. 1986)
• Rural Electric Co. v. Cheyenne Light, Fuel & Power Co., 762 F.2d 847 (10th Cir. 1985)
• Bjork v. Chrysler Corp., 702 P.2d 146 (Wyo. 1985)
• Arnold v. Mountain West Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Company, 707 P.2d 161 (Wyo. 1985)
• Carbon County Sch. Dist. v. Wyoming State Hosp., 680 P.2d 773 (Wyo. 1984)
• State ex rel. Mortgage Guar. Ins. Corp. v. Langdon, 671 P.2d 811 (Wyo. 1983)
• Allstate Insurance Company v. Wyoming Insurance Department, 672 P.2d 810 (Wyo. 1983)
• Thomson v. Wyoming In-Stream Flow Comm., 651 P.2d 778 (Wyo. 1982)

Paul Kapp

Phone: (307) 632-6421
Fax: (307) 632-7216
Email: pkapp@spkm.org

Paul grew up amid the oilfields surrounding Casper, Wyoming. After high school he served in the U.S. Army with the 2d Ranger Battalion until 1977. In 1981 he graduated Phi Beta Kappa from the University of Wyoming with a B.S. in geology. He went on to attend the University of Wyoming College of Law, graduating in 1984.

Paul joined the firm in 1984, becoming a partner in 1986. He is admitted to practice before all Wyoming state courts, the United States District Court for the District of Wyoming and the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals.

Paul’s practice covers the entire spectrum of civil personal injury defense litigation. He has developed extensive experience defending companies in personal injury cases arising out of accidents in the trucking, oil and gas, refining, construction and railroad industries. Likewise, in the regulatory world, he has successfully guided clients through regulatory inspections covering OSHA Health and Safety, the National Emphasis Program (NEP), and the Risk Management Program (RMP) under the Clean Air Act. He is a member of the Wyoming State Bar, Laramie County Bar Association, Defense Research Institute, National Association of Railroad Trial Counsel, Trucking Industry Defense Association, and the Wyoming Trial Lawyers Association. He has received an AV rating by Martindale-Hubbell. He is also listed in Chamber USA,  “The Best Lawyers in America,” and in “Mountain States Super Lawyers,” in the field of personal injury defense.

Paul has two daughters and is an active member of the community. He is an avid outdoorsman and particularly enjoys spending time “tinkering” at his cabin in the Laramie Range west of Cheyenne.

Education:

• University of Wyoming, B.S., with honors, 1981
• University of Wyoming, J.D., 1984

Admission to Practice:

• Wyoming 1984
• Nebraska 1999 (inactive)
• United States District Court, District of Wyoming 1984
• Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals 1984

Associations and Honors:

• Best Lawyers in America
• Chambers USA
• Defense Research Institute
• Laramie County Library Foundation Board
• Mountain States Super Lawyers
• National Association of Railroad Trial Counsel
• Phi Beta Kappa
• Teton Raptor Center Raptor Rescuers
• Trucking Industry Defense Association
• Wyoming State Bar Association
• Wyoming Trial Lawyers Association

Reported Cases:

• Long v. Daly, 2007 WY 69; 156 P.3d 994 (Wyo. 2007)
• Vasquez v. Wal-Mart Stores, 913 P. 2d 441 (Wyo. 1996)
• McCarthy v. James E. Simon Co., 923 P.2d 747 (Wyo. 1996)
• Daulton v. Daulton, 774 P.2d 635 (Wyo. 1989)
• Harmon v. Town of Afton, 745 P.2d 889 (Wyo. 1987)
• Hot Springs School District v. Strube Constr. Co., 715 P.2d 540 (Wyo. 1986)
• Ogle v. Caterpillar Tractor Co.; 716 P.2d 334 (Wyo. 1986)
• Intermountain Forest Industry Asso. v. Lyng, 683 F.Supp. 1330 (D. Wyo. 1988)
• McCarthy v. James E. Simon Co., 923 P.2d 747 (Wyo. 1996)
• Cordero Mining Co. v. United States Fid. & Guar. Ins. Co., 2003 WY 48 (Wyo. 2003)

Raymond W. Martin

Phone: (307) 632-6421
Fax: (307) 632-7216
Email: rmartin@spkm.org

Ray was born and raised in South Dakota, and moved to Longmont, Colorado where he graduated from high school in 1972. He became a partner in a small Colorado construction company at the age of twenty, and started his own company three years later. Ray continued with his construction company while attending the University of Wyoming and graduating Phi Beta Kappa with an international studies degree in 1983, and from the College of Law in 1986.

Ray and his family moved to Cheyenne after law school, and he has continued to practice with the firm in which he became a partner in 1991. He is admitted to practice before all Wyoming state courts, the United States District Court for the District of Wyoming and the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals. Ray has received Martindale-Hubbell’s highest AV rating, and is listed in “Best Lawyers in America” and in “Super Lawyers.” Ray has a state wide litigation practice, including the areas of construction, commercial litigation, personal injury defense and railroad law.

Ray has authored the Wyoming Chapter of LienlawOnline.com, and assisted with the drafting and comments to the Wyoming Department of Transportation’s administrative rules regarding railroad crossing, right-of-way and fireguard matters. Ray has lectured before insurance conferences and a national veterinarian group associated with the American Endurance Ride Conference, provided mediation and arbitration services to members of the Wyoming State Bar and has served as an expert witness in the legal malpractice setting.

Recreational pursuits include wilderness horse pack trips, hunting, whitewater rafting and woodworking.

Education:

• University of Wyoming, B.A., with honors, 1983
• University of Wyoming, J.D., 1986

Admission to Practice:

• Wyoming 1986
• Colorado 1986 (inactive)
• United States District Court, District of Wyoming 1986
• Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals 1986

Associations and Honors:

• American Bar Association
• Best Lawyers in America
• Construction Lawyers Society of America
• Defense Research Institute
• Phi Beta Kappa
• Rocky Mountain Super Lawyers
• Wyoming State Bar Association

Reported Cases:

• Collins v. COP Wyo., LLC, 2016 WY 18
• Sky Harbor Air Serv. v. Cheyenne Reg'l Airport Bd., 2016 WY 17
• Worker's Comp. Claim of Gonzalez v. Reiman Corp., 2015 WY 134
• Sky Harbor Air Serv. v. Reams, 491 Fed. Appx. 875 (10th Cir. 2012)
• Redco Constr. v. Profile Props., LLC, 2012 WY 24; 271 P.3d 408 (Wyo. 2012)
• Western Mun. Constr. of Wyo., Inc., v. Better Living, LLC, 2010 WY 92; 234 P.3d 1223 (Wyo. 2010)
• Collings v. Lord, 2009 WY 135; 218 P.3d 654 (Wyo. 2009)
• Hendricks v. Hurley, 2008 WY 57; 184 P.3d 680 (Wyo. 2008)
• Catamount Construction v. Timmis Enterprises, 2008 WY 122; 193 P.3d 1153 (Wyo. 2008)
• Bd. of County Comm’rs v. City of Cheyenne, 2004 WY 16; 85 P.3d 999 (Wyo. 2004)
• Reiner v. United States Life Ins. Co., 69 Fed. Appx. 965 (10th Cir. 2003)
• Nicodemus v. Union Pac. Corp., 204 F.R.D. 479 (D. Wyo. 2001)
• Haines v. Fisher, 82 F.3d 1503 (10th Cir. 1996)
• Wyoming Dep’t of Transp. v. International Union of Operating Eng’rs Local Union 800, 908 P.2d 970 (Wyo. 1995)
• Downen v. Sinclair Oil Corporation, 887 P2d 515 (Wyo. 1994)
• Hozian v. Weathermon, 821 P.2d 1297 (Wyo. 1991)
• Northern Improvement Co. v. State Highway Comm’n, 802 P.2d 889 (Wyo. 1990)
• Carlson v. Carlson, 775 P.2d 478 (Wyo. 1989)
• Sykes v. Lincoln County School District No. 1 & 2, 763 P.2d 1263 (Wyo. 1988)
• Allied Fidelity Insurance Company v. Environmental Quality Council, 753 P.2d 1038 (Wyo. 1988)

Kay Lynn Bestol

Phone: (307) 632-6421
Fax: (307) 632-7216
Email: kbestol@spkm.org

Kay Lynn was raised on a cattle ranch in the Sandhills of north central Nebraska. She graduated from Doane College in 1987 with a degree in social science and a teaching endorsement. After studying for a year at Christian Albrechts Universitat in Kiel, Germany, on a Fulbright scholarship, she attended the University of Texas Law School in Austin. She graduated with honors in 1991, then clerked for a year for Judge John T. Grant of the Nebraska Supreme Court. She moved to Cheyenne in 1992 to join the current firm, becoming a partner in 2001. She is admitted to practice before all Wyoming state courts, the United States District Court for the District of Wyoming and the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals.

Kay Lynn works primarily in the area of civil personal injury defense litigation, but also handles insurance coverage, professional malpractice, eminent domain, and civil rights matters. She is a Past Chair of the Wyoming Board of Law Examiners, and has served as President of United Way of Laramie County, the Defense Lawyers Association of Wyoming, and the Laramie County Bar Association. She is a member of the Wyoming State Bar, the Laramie County Bar Association, the Defense Research Institute, and the Ewing T. Kerr Chapter of the American Inns of Court. In her spare time, she enjoys traveling, riding horseback, reading, and spending time at the family ranch.

Education:

• Doane College, B.A., with highest honors, 1987
• Fulbright Scholar, Christian Albrechts Universitat, Kiel, Germany, 1988
• University of Texas, J.D., 1991, with honors, 1991

Admission to Practice:

• Wyoming 1992
• United States District Court, District of Wyoming 1992
• Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals 1992
• Texas 1991 (inactive)
• Nebraska 1992 (inactive)
• Colorado 1995 (inactive)

Associations and Honors:

• Benchmark Local Litigation Star
• Benchmark Tenth Circuit Litigation Star
• Benchmark Top 250 Women in Litigation
• Chambers and Partners, USA
• Defense Lawyers Association of Wyoming, President 2000-2001
• Defense Research Institute, State Representative, 2001-2003
• Ewing T. Kerr Inn of Court, 2003 – present
• Judicial Clerk to the Honorable John T. Grant, Nebraska Supreme Court 1991-1992
• Laramie County Bar Association, President 2001-2002
• Law School Liason Committee, 2004-present
• Rocky Mountain Super Lawyers
  Wyoming State Bar Board of Commissioners, 2011-present
• Texas International Law Journal, 1989-1991, Symposium Editor, 1990-1991
• Wyoming Board of Law Examiners 2003-2008 (Chair 2006-2008)
• Wyoming State Bar Association
• Wyoming State Bar Continuing Legal Education Chair – 2010-2012
• Wyoming State Bar Law School Liaison Committee

Reported Cases:

• Shue v. Custis, 531 Fed. Appx. 941 (10th Cir. 2013)
• Boyer-Gladden v. Hill, 2010 WY 12; 224 P.3d 21 (Wyo. 2010)
• Long v. Daly, 2007 WY 69; 156 P.3d 994 (Wyo. 2007)
• Brunkhardt v. Mountain West Farm Bureau, 691 N.W.2d 147 (Neb. 2005)
• Baker v. Pena, 36 P.3d 602 (Wyo. 2001)
• Orosco v. Schabron, 9 P.3d 264 (Wyo. 2000)
• Krier v. Safeway, 943 P.2d 405 (Wyo. 1997)
• Rissler & McMurry Co. v. State, 917 P.2d 1157 (Wyo. 1996)
• Vasquez v. Wal-Mart Stores, 913 P. 2d 441 (Wyo. 1996)
• Martin v. Farmers Ins. Exch., 894 P.2d 618 (Wyo. 1995)
• Verschoor v. Mountain W. Farm Bureau Mut. Ins. Co., 907 P.2d 1293 (Wyo. 1995)
• Whitney v. McDonough, 892 P.2d 791 (Wyo. 1995)

Jane M. France

Phone: (307) 632-6421
Fax: (307) 632-7216
Email: jfrance@spkm.org

Jane grew up in Rawlins, Wyoming. She attended the University of Wyoming and graduated with a degree in history and minor in Spanish in 2008. As an undergraduate, she spent a summer studying abroad in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

She attended the University of Wyoming College of Law and graduated in 2011. While in law school, she participated in the UW Legal Services Program and was a member of the Natural Resources and Environmental Law Club.

She joined the firm in 2011 and became a partner in 2017. She is admitted to practice before all Wyoming state courts and the United States District Court for the District of Wyoming.

Jane’s practice primarily focuses on civil trial and appellate litigation and includes a large amount of personal injury defense. Other areas of interest include defending medical malpractice claims, commercial and business litigation, public utility regulation and administrative law. She is also active in the construction field, representing many entities, including owners, contractors and suppliers regarding a variety of issues ranging from construction defects and contractual claims to liens.

In her spare time, she enjoys spending time outside. She is an avid hunter and enjoys floating the North Platte and Encampment Rivers. She is a licensed pilot and also tries to find time to golf and cook.

Education:

• University of Wyoming, B.A., 2008
• University of Wyoming, J.D., 2011

Admission to Practice:

• Wyoming 2011
• United States District Court, District of Wyoming 2011
• United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit, 2018

Associations and Honors:

• Community Action of Laramie County Board - Board of Directors (former member)
• Defense Lawyers Association of Wyoming,
  President-Elect 2015-2016
• Defense Lawyers Association of Wyoming, President, 2017-2019
• Defense Research Institute (DRI)
• DRI Wyoming State Representative, 2019-2022
• DRI Exceptional Performance Citation 2017-2018, 2018-2019
• Ewing T. Kerr Inns of Court
• Teton Raptor Center Raptor Rescuers
• University of Wyoming Alumni Association Board Member
• University of Wyoming Alumni Association Executive Committee Member
• Wyoming State Bar Association

Reported Cases:

• Collins v. COP Wyo., LLC, 2016 WY 18
• Sky Harbor Air Serv. v. Cheyenne Reg'l Airport Bd., 2016 WY 17
• Worker's Comp. Claim of Gonzalez v. Reiman Corp., 2015 WY 134
• Dirks v. Jimenez, 2015 WY 36

Publications and Lectures

• November 9, 2016 “Antitrust Law Concerns and Violations” presentation to the Wyoming Contractors’ Association
• November 14, 2019, panel speaker on the topic of Millennials at Leadership Wyoming Alumni Summit
• Tort Law Desk Reference: A Fifty-State Compendium, Wyoming contributing editor, 2014-2019.
• September 24, 2021 "Liens and Garnishments" presentation at the Legal Assistants of Wyoming Fall Seminar.

Patrick Brady

Phone: (307) 632-6421
Fax: (307) 632-7216
Email:pbrady@spkm.org

Patrick was born in Colorado, but has grown up all over the country. After graduating high school, Patrick served eight years in the U.S. Army and U.S. Army reserve, deploying to Iraq twice with the 1st Infantry Division as a human intelligence collector and team leader.

While still in the reserves Patrick attended Colorado State University and graduated with a degree in political science and philosophy. He graduated with distinction from University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law in 2014. While in law school he interned with the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, the Colorado Attorney General’s Office, and the Colorado Office of Legislative Legal Services. He also served as an associate articles editor with the McGeorge Global Business & Development Law Journal and was a founding member of the McGeorge Space Law Society.

Patrick joined the firm in 2014 and is admitted to practice in Wyoming state and federal courts as well as Colorado state and federal courts.

In his spare time, Patrick enjoys volunteering, traveling, hiking, fishing, camping, reading, and spending time with his seven nieces and two nephews.

Education:

• Colorado State University, B.A., 2010
• University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law, J.D., 2014.

Admission to Practice: 

• Colorado 2014
• Wyoming 2015
• U.S. District Court for the District of Wyoming 2015
• U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Wyoming 2018
• U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado 2020
• U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Colorado 2020

Associations and Honors:

• Wyoming State Bar 2015 to present
• Board of Directors, Community Action of Laramie County 2018 to present, Board Chair 2019 to present
• Board of Directors, Cheyenne Family YMCA 2018 to present, Board Vice President 2020, Board President 2021
• Cheyenne Kiwanis Club 2020 to present, Board Member 2022 to present
• Wyoming Legal Aid, Veterans Committee Member 2022 to present

Reported Cases:

• Sky Harbor Air Serv. v. Cheyenne Reg'l Airport Bd., 2016 WY 17, 368 P.3d 264 (Wyo. 2016)
• Bogdanski v. Budzik, 2018 WY 7, 408 P.3d 1156 (Wyo. 2018)
• Tozzi v. Moffett, 2018 Wy 133, 430 P.3d 754 (Wyo. 2018)
• Hedquist v. Patterson, 763 Fed. Appx. 705 (10th Cir. 2019)
• Hedquist v. Walsh, 786 Fed. Appx. 130 (10th Cir. 2019)

Publications and Lectures

• “Tort Law Desk Reference: A Fifty State Compendium,” contributing editor 2015-2019.
• Defense Research Institute, “Unfair Claims Settlement Practices Compendium,” contributor, 2018.
• Defense Research Institute In-Transit, “Post-Accident Conduct as a Basis for Punitive Damages,” June 2017.
• September 24, 2021 "Out of State Discovery" presentation at the Legal Assistants of Wyoming Fall Seminar.
• National Association of Legal Assistants, Facts & Findings: The Paralegal Magazine, “Foreign Subpoenas and the UIDDA,” May 2022.

Andrew F. Sears

Phone: (307) 632-6421
Fax: (307) 632-7216
Email:asears@spkm.org

Andy grew up in Midwest, WY, a small oilfield community approximately 45 miles north of Casper. He attended Casper College for three years before graduating from the University of Wyoming with a degree in political science.

Following his graduation from the University of Wyoming College of Law, Andy served two years as law clerk for the First Judicial District Court in Cheyenne, WY. He joined Murane & Bostwick in Casper as an associate attorney in 2011 and then as a partner in 2016. Murane & Bostwick closed at the end of 2018, leading Andy to join the Denver based firm of Hall & Evans. Andy decided to return to his Wyoming roots and joined our firm at the beginning of 2021.

Andy has spent his career defending clients in wide variety of cases including automobile accidents, premise liability claims, medical malpractice claims, personal injury claims involving recreational activities, and insurance bad faith. He spent the early part of his career representing employers and employees in workers’ compensation cases. As lead counsel, he has tried multiple medical malpractice and other types of personal injury lawsuits to defense verdicts before Wyoming juries. He has also successfully represented clients numerous times before the Wyoming Supreme Court.

Education

• Casper College A.S.(Political Science), May 2004
• Casper College A.S. (Pre-law), May 2004
• University of Wyoming B.S., May 2006
• University of Wyoming J.D., May 2009

Admission to Practice:

• Wyoming, 2009
• United State District Court for the District of Wyoming, 2011
• Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals, 2017

Associations and Honors:

• Natrona County Bar Association
  • Vice President, 2013
  • President, 2014
• Defense Lawyers Association of Wyoming
  • President, Current
  • President Elect, 2018-2019
  • Vice President, 2016-2017
• WAWA (Wyoming Amateur Wrestling Association)
  • Treasurer, Current

Reported Cases

• C’Hair v. Dist. Court of Ninth Judicial Dist., 2015 WY 116, 357 P.3d 723 (Wyo. 2015)
• Stroth v. North Lincoln County Hosp. Dist., 2014 WY 81, 327 P.3d 121 (Wyo. 2014)
• Harmon v. Star Valley Medical Center, 2014 WY 90, 331 P.3d 1174 (Wyo. 2014)
• Miller v. Beyer, 2014 WY 84, 329 P.3d 956 (Wyo. 2014)
• Bilyeu v. Wyo. Workers’ Safety and Comp. Div., 2012 WY141, 287 P.3d 773 (Wyo.2012)
• Zeimens v. City of Torrington, 2012 WY 97, 280 P.3d 1181 (Wyo. 2012)
• Wilson v. State, 2009 WY 1, 199 P.3d 517 (Wyo. 2009)

Meggan Nicholas

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Phone: (307) 632-6421
Fax: (307) 632-7216
Email:mnicholas@spkm.org

Meggan was born and raised in Greeley, Colorado. She attended University of Colorado at Boulder and graduated with a B.S. degree in Sociology. As an undergraduate, Meggan rode for CU's equestrian team.

Meggan received her Juris Doctorate from the University of Wyoming College of law in 2011. While in law school, she participated in the UW Family Law Clinic and was a member of women's law forum.

Meggan is admitted to practice in Wyoming, Colorado, the U.S. District for District of Wyoming, the U.S. District for District of Colorado, and the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals. Meggan began her career at Murane & Bostwick as an associate in 2012 before serving as a staff attorney for the Honorable Thomas Campbell in the First Judicial District for several years. Meggan joined her family law firm of Nicholas & Tangeman in Laramie, Wyoming before moving back to Cheyenne and joining Sundahl, Powers, Kapp & Martin in 2022.

Meggan has spent her career defending clients in a wide variety of cases including personal injury defense, employment law and workers' compensation. Meggan has tried cases in Wyoming and Colorado state court as well as Federal Court and has argued before the Wyoming Supreme Court.

In her free time, Meggan enjoys spending time with her family, competitively showing quarter horses, camping, and hiking.

Education:

• University of Colorado, B.A., 2005
• University of Wyoming College of Law, J.D., 2011

Admission to Practice:

• Wyoming Supreme Court 2011
• Colorado Supreme Court 2011
• United States District Court of Wyoming 2012
• United States District Court of Colorado 2012
• Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals 2013

Associations and Honors:

• Defense Lawyers Association of Wyoming 2022
• Wyoming State Bar Association 2011
• American Quarter Horse Association 2005

Reported Cases

• Kordus v. Montes, 337P.3d 1138 (Wyo. 2014)
• Jontra Holdings Pty Ltd v. Gas Sensing Tech. Corp., 479 P.3d 1222 (Wyo. 2021)
• Gas Sensing Tech Corp. V. New Horizon Ventures Pty Ltd,(471 P.3d 294 (Wyo. 2020)