Mike Thomson joined Purvis Thomson, LLP in the fall of 2001. Since then, he has represented people injured as a result of the actions of others in a variety of civil lawsuits. Mike limits his practice entirely to representing injured persons against wrongdoers, insurance companies, and corporations. The majority of his cases involve either serious automobile and trucking accidents or complex litigation including product liability, civil rights violations, brain injury/spinal cord injuries and wrongful death. He was the lead attorney in separate wrongful death product liability actions against Taser International, Inc. and Daimler Trucks North America, Inc. He was lead counsel in a defective seatback case against an Auto Manufacturer in which the jury returned a verdict of more than $2.9 million in damages.
Mike Thomson’s practice has given him significant experience in Federal and State District Courts as well as Federal and State Appellate Courts. He is licensed to practice in Colorado state courts, Denver Federal District Court, 10th Circuit Court of Appeals, and United States Supreme Court. His experience both before and after joining the firm gives him detailed knowledge of the operations of various governmental entities and the laws which govern the operations of such entities. Mike does a significant amount of pro bono work.
He grew up in the northwest suburbs of Chicago, graduating from Elk Grove High School in 1984. He is the oldest of 10 children. He graduated from Central Michigan University in 1991 summa cum laude with a bachelor’s of science degree in accounting. His love for the mountains brought him to Boulder, Colorado where he attended law school. Mike Thomson graduated from the University of Colorado School of Law in 1994. He is married to Teresa Steele Thomson, a retired principal from Denver Public Schools. They have six adult children and seven grand-children. He and his wife live in Denver. Mike regularly meets with clients in both Boulder and Denver offices for Purvis Thomson, LLP.
After graduating from law school, Mike worked as a political consultant in the state of Colorado for candidates for U.S. Senate, House of Representatives, State Legislature, District Attorney, and local school board. From January 1999 thru June 2000, Mike Thomson was the Director of Community Relations and Lobbyist for the Boulder Valley School District. During his tenure with the school district, the Daily Camera in an editorial once referred to him as “The ambassador for our schools.” Just as he was a strong advocate for the students of Boulder Valley School District, he is now a strong advocate for his clients and their rights.
Mike has spent his entire legal career working with John Purvis and Bill Gray (a now retired former partner in the firm), working for them as a law clerk while he was in law school and then returning to the firm as an associate attorney in 2001. He is honored to be part of a law firm that practices law with such distinction and integrity.
When not practicing law, Mike spends a great deal of time with his wife, children, and grand-children. Mike coached girls’ competitive fastpitch softball for nearly a decade. Mike loves hanging out with his beautiful wife, rooting for his beloved Chicago sports teams (the White Sox, Bears, Blackhawks, and Bulls) and Denver teams, playing the guitar, and singing classic rock and folk songs.
NEWS STORIES FOR REPRESENTATIVE CASES
• Jury orders Ford to pay Boulder driver $3M for injuries in 2009 crash
• Boulder police: 4 injured after woman crashes into Valmont post office
• Suspect in 2010 assault of Boulder police sergeant arrested in California
• Ex-CU Buffs lineman, sentenced to 45 days in jail, 2 years probation for Boulder assault
• Former high school fastpitch softball coach pleads guilty to securities fraud, theft
• Man's family allowed to pursue lawsuit against Taser International
• Former CU-Boulder student to get $230,000 in Halloween riot settlement
• Man Repeatedly Tasered for Leaving Courthouse Briefly with Court File
• Police handcuffed by internal discipline
• Lawsuit: Driver, family covered up evidence in fatal wreck
APPELLATE DECISIONS IN REPRESENTATIVE CASES
• St. Vrain Valley Sch. Dist. RE-1J v. A.R.L. by & through Loveland, 2014 CO 33, 325 P.3d 1014 (Colo. 2014) Nine-year-old student and her parents brought action against school district and district employee for negligent supervision and premises liability in connection with injuries sustained by student when she fell from "zip line" apparatus on public school playground.
• Wilson v. City of Lafayette, No. 07CV-02248PAB-BNB, 2010 WL 1291518 (D. Colo. Mar. 29, 2010) Under Colorado law, a genuine issue of material fact existed as to whether a warning issued for a TASER device was sufficient, precluded summary judgment in a products liability action.
• Bullock v. Daimler Trucks N. Am., LLC, No. 08-CV-00491-PAB-MEH, 2009 WL 6315339 (D. Colo. May 19, 2009) report and recommendation adopted, No. 08-CV-00491-PAB-MEH, 2010 WL 1286079 (D. Colo. Mar. 29, 2010) Deceased truck driver's wife's allegation that manufacturer knew of the vehicle's safety concerns and failed to test them provided prima facie proof of a triable issue of exemplary damages with regard to the manufacturer of the sleeper compartment, and thus, the wife was given leave to amend her compliant.
• Lemery v. Beckner, 323 F. App'x 644 (10th Cir. 2009) Plaintiff struck in the eye by a pepper ball shot by a police officer was momentarily stopped before running away, and thus, there was governmental termination of freedom of movement through means intentionally applied, such that the plaintiff was "seized" for purposes of his Fourth Amendment excessive force claim.
• Casey v. City of Fed. Heights, 509 F.3d 1278 (10th Cir. 2007) Law was clearly established that it was not reasonable for officer to use TASER immediately and without warning upon arriving on scene of struggle between another officer and misdemeanant, and, thus, officer was not qualifiedly immune from plaintiff's civil rights claim for excessive force under Fourth Amendment.
• Adams ex rel. Adams v. City of Westminster, 140 P.3d 8 (Colo. App. 2005) City employee's action against city for breach of contract and promissory estoppel regarding city's alleged failure to provide fringe benefits was not barred by Colorado Governmental Immunity Act (CGIA); nature of alleged injury arose from terms of contract of employment, employee did not claim damages for personal harms or injuries, and employee had not sought redress for injuries resulting from tortious conduct.
PRO BONO ACTIVITIES
• Treasurer, Front Range Girls Fastpitch Association
PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS AND MEMBERSHIPS
• Colorado Bar Association, Member
• Boulder Bar Association, Member
• Colorado Trial Lawyers Association, Member
• American Bar Association, Member
• Association of Trial Lawyers, Member
• American Association of Justice (Traumatic Brain Injury group), Member
• North American Brain Injury Society, Member
