303-830-1212

Katherine M.L. Pratt, Member

Katherine M.L. Pratt is a member with Wells, Anderson & Race, LLC. She handles trial-level litigation and civil appeals in the areas of employment law, civil rights, premises liability, and other civil litigation. Katie has litigated to successful conclusion disputes in both federal and state court, as well as before administrative agencies. Her practice focuses on the defense of both private and public entities and their employees in a variety of areas, including employment discrimination disputes, civil rights violations pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983, FLSA claims, retaliation lawsuits, unemployment benefits matters, contract based employment disputes, trade secrets matters, and premises liability actions. Katie also advises employers about human resources issues including emerging legal issues, new statutory requirements, policies, procedures, hiring, firing, and disciplining employees. Her appellate practice includes briefing and argument before the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals as well as in state courts. She earned her B.A. degree, magna cum laude, from Miami University Ohio and her J.D. degree from Loyola University Chicago School of Law.

Memberships
Colorado Bar Association

Colorado Defense Lawyers Association

National Association of Minority & Women Owned Law Firms (NAMWOLF)

Defense Research Institute

Faculty of Federal Advocates

Publications

“Non-Compete Agreements in Colorado: A New Era,” The Colorado Lawyer, November 2022, Vol. 51, No. 10, p. 30-35.

“Gender Pay Equity in the #MeToo Era,” The Colorado Lawyer, November 2018, pp. 54-59.

“Antitrust Scrutiny of Employment Restrictive Covenants,” The Colorado Lawyer, October 2014, Volume 43, No. 10, p. 33-36.

“Colorado Enacts Restrictions on Employer’s Use of Employee’s Private Social Media Postings,” ASAC Colorado Built, Winter 2014, p. 13-14.

Representative Cases

Estate of Walter v. Bd. of County Commissioners of Fremont County, et al. – In a case alleging failure to provide constitutionally adequate medical care to a pre-trial detainee in the County jail, achieved a defense verdict in favor of the County and the Sheriff.

Blair v. Osborne, 777 Fed. Appx. 926 (10th Cir. 2019) (unpublished) – Dismissal of prisoner complaint against former prosecutor seeking a reduced sentence was affirmed by the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals.

Carlson v. Town of Mountain Village, et al., 2019 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 48617 (D. Colo. March 25, 2019) – Successfully moved to dismiss a case alleging violations of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (“RICO”), the Colorado Organized Crime Control Act (“COCCA”), and federal civil rights claims.

Noflin v. Two Rivers Drug Enforcement Team, 2019 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 38070 (D. Colo. 2019) – The Court granted the defendant’s motion to dismiss the plaintiff’s claims because they had already been litigated in a prior action and were therefore barred by the doctrine of res judicata.

Estate of Vallina v. Cty. of Teller Sheriff’s Office, et al., 747 Fed. Appx. 643 (10th Cir. 2018) – Summary judgment affirmed in case involving alleged deliberate indifference to a serious medical condition after Mr. Vallina committed suicide in the jail.

Holdridge v. Blank, 255 F. Supp. 3d 1088 (D. Colo. 2017) – Summary judgment granted to officer on claim he was unlawfully seized because officer was reasonably justified in seizing the plaintiff to ensure he could carry out his community caretaking role of checking on another pedestrian.

Story v. City of Fruita, 2016 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 31659 (D. Colo. 2016) – Affirming recommendation to dismiss Fourth Amendment and municipal liability claims.

Nixon v. City & Cnty. of Denver, 784 F.3d 1364 (10th Cir. 2015) – Dismissal of a former police officer’s First Amendment and Due Process claims was affirmed.

Pippin v. Elbert County, 604 Fed. Appx. 636 (10th Cir. 2015) – Summary judgment in favor of the County Commissioners was upheld on appeal because they had a reasonable basis for seeking a protective order.

Johnson v. Weld County, 594 F.3d 1202 (10th Cir. 2010) – A female accounting employee failed to rebut the County’s evidence that the male candidate it hired as fiscal officer had superior qualifications and employee was not disabled under the ADA at the time of the promotion decision. Accordingly, summary judgment in favor of the County was upheld.

Ramey v. Boulder County, 2011 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 151428 (D. Colo. 2011) – Dismissal of claims for duress and willful and wanton conduct was appropriate when the same claims had been previously raised and rejected in a prior state case.

Katherine M.L. Pratt
Education

  • J.D., Loyola University Chicago School of Law, 2002
  • B.A., Political Science, Miami University Ohio, Magna Cum Laude, Phi Beta Kappa, 1998

Licensure

  • Illinois, 2002
  • Colorado, 2005
  • Wyoming, 2014
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit
  • U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois
  • U.S. District Court, District of Colorado
  • U.S. District Court, District of Nebraska



303-830-1212

Wells, Anderson & Race, LLC
1700 Broadway, Suite 900
Denver, CO 80290

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