HOME

PATRICIA JEAN CLISHAM

PRACTICE FOCUS

Ms. Clisham has focused exclusively on workers' compensation law since 1981. She represents insurers, employers and self-insured employers throughout the state in complex matters. Ms. Clisham was co-counsel on the Fulton v. King Soopers case, in which the Colorado Supreme Court established rights of employers under the reemployment statute. She also co-counseled the Lobb v. Industrial Claim Appeals Office, where the Court of Appeals established the scope of the term "employment" pursuant to the sweeping changes in permanent total disability cases pursuant to 1991 amendments to the Act.

Ms. Clisham also focuses on client education through frequent lecturing, workshops, and seminars regarding the general workers' compensation environment or specific issues. She is qualified in numerous courts as an expert witness in the areas of workers' compensation, bad faith in workers' compensation, and attorney malpractice in workers' compensation.

EDUCATION

Juris Doctor: University of Colorado, 1974
Honors: Finalist, Rothgerber Moot Court Competition

Bachelor of Science, Colorado State University, 1970; magna cum laude

BAR ADMISSIONS

Admitted to practice in the State of Colorado, 1974

United States District Court, District of Colorado

United States Court of Appeals, Tenth Circuit

CAREER DISTINCTIONS

Administrative Law Judge, State of Colorado, 1980-1988

Assistant State Attorney General, State of Colorado, 1976-1980

Staff Attorney, Metropolitan Legal Aid Society, 1974-1976

PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS

Colorado Bar Association (Workers' Compensation Section President, 1990-1991)

Colorado Self-Insurer's Association (Professional Member Representative)

Denver Bar Association

Division of Workers' Compensation Focus Group

Professionals in Workers' Compensation

Colorado Defense Lawyers Association (Workers' Compensation Committee Co-Chair, 1989-1990)

Defense Research Institute (Workers' Compensation State Liaison)

PUBLICATIONS

Co-author, "Workers' Compensation and Disability Issues" in Practitioners Guide to Colorado Employment Law (CLE of Colorado, Inc. 1998)

Contributing Author, "Employment Rights and Wrongs," as published in the Rocky Mountain News, 1995-1996

SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS

Disability Benefits and Offsets/Apportionment Issues, Professional in Workers' Compensation Education Day, 2003

Workers' Compensation and Employment Law and Ethics, a Lorman Education Services Seminar, 2004

Legislative and Case Law Update in Workers' Compensation, a Sterling Education Seminar, 2004

Return to Work Issues in Workers' Compensation in Colorado, a Lorman Education Services Seminar, 2002

Masters in Workers Compensation Workshop Co-Teacher, 2002

Advanced Topics in Colorado Workers' Compensation, Center for Workers' Compensation Training, 2002

Hot Topics in Colorado Workers' Compensation, Center for Workers' Compensation Training, 2001

Litigation Issues Regarding Course and Scope, a CLE of Colorado Seminar, 2001

Introduction to Workers' Compensation in Colorado, a Lorman Seminar, 2001, 2000

Litigation Issues Regarding Course and Scope, a CLE of Colorado Seminar, 2001

ADA, FMLA and Workers' Compensation in Colorado, a Lorman Seminar 2001, 2000, 1999

ADA, FMLA and Workers' Compensation, presented at Colorado Defense Lawyers Association, 2000

Effective Examination and Cross-Examination of Treating and Examining Physicians, a CLE of Colorado Seminar, 1998

Interrelationship of Workers' Compensation and Employment Laws, a Lorman Seminar, 1998

Division Independent Medical Examinations, CLE of Colorado Seminar, 1998

Subrogation, a Lorman Seminar, 1998

Development in Permanent Disability Issues and Apportionment, a Lorman Seminar, 1997

The Workers' Compensation Update and Current Complex Issues Summary, 1997

Controlling Workers' Compensation Costs, 1996

Developments in Permanent Disability Issues and Apportionment, and Penalties: The New Cottage Industry in Workers' Compensation? presented at Workers' Compensation for Workers' Compensation Professional in Colorado, a Lorman Education Services Seminar, 1997

Medical Treatment Guidelines, Division of Workers' Compensation Medical Treatment Guidelines, and Division Rules Regarding Independent Medical Examinations, a Lorman Education Services Seminar, 1996

Workers' Compensation, Americans with Disabilities Act, and Family and Medical Leave Act- Conflicting Statues, Accommodations and Modified Duty, presented at the Employment Law Update, a Continuing Legal Education International Seminar, 1997

Filing Requirements and Deadlines, presented at a Continuing Legal Education in Colorado, Inc. Seminar, 1996

Benefits, presented at a Continuing Legal Education in Colorado, Inc. Seminar, 1995

Workers' Compensation, a Lorman Education Services Seminar, 1993

Recent Case Law Developments and Bad Faith Claims in Workers' Compensation, presented at the Workers' Compensation for Employers, Self-Insured, and Insured in Colorado Seminar, a Lorman Education Services Seminar

Independent Contractor Issues Affecting Workers' Compensation Coverage, presented to the Rocky Mountain Floor Covering Association, 1995

Stress Claims Under S. B. 218, presented at the Colorado Compensation Claims Conference, 1994

Recent Workers' Compensation Law Developments, presented to Colorado Ski Country USA, 1993

Preserving Constitutional Challenges in Workers' Compensation Cases, presented to the compensation Education Association, 1993

Contact:

Direct dial: 303-468-5401
Direct fax: 303-942-7170

Back to Top

Back to Attorneys