Charles Mendez Photo

Charles Mendez

Attorney
  • Profile
  • Experience
  • Memberships
  • Awards
  • Practice Areas

Charles R. Mendez has devoted his career to representing victims of sexual abuse and medical malpractice, and he has helped secure millions of dollars for his clients. Since 2018, he has been selected each year by Colorado Super Lawyers as a Rising Star and has additionally been awarded “Ones to Watch” by Best Lawyers each year since 2021. Charles is a frequent lecturer and has published several articles, including a chapter in Colorado Civil Claims practice guide. He received the American Inns of Court, Warren E. Burger Prize for writing, which was presented by the late Justice Ginsburg at the Supreme Court of the United States. He was the winner of the 2014 Smith-Doheny Legal Ethics Writing Competition, administered by Notre Dame Law School. One of his recent articles was cited by the Supreme Court of Tennessee.

Charles attended the University of Denver, Sturm College of Law, where he served as a faculty fellow following his graduation. During law school, he was an award-winning member of the National Trial Team, a student attorney for the law school’s clinic, and a clerk for the Colorado Supreme Court, Office of Attorney Regulation Counsel.

Among other associations, Charles is a member of the Colorado Trial Lawyers Association, where he serves as an editor for Trial Talk, and is he is on the Young Professionals Committee of the Colorado Judicial Institute (CJI).

Awards & Achievements

  • Winner, 2014 Notre Dame Smith-Doheny Legal Ethics Writing Competition  
  • Winner, 2014 American Inns of Court, Warren E. Burger Prize for Writing, presented by Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg of the United States Supreme Court  
  • Selected to Best Lawyers, Ones to Watch, 2021-present 
  • Selected to National Trial Lawyers, Top 40 under 40 
  • Selected to Super Lawyers, Rising Stars, 2018-present 
  • Regional Finalist, American Association for Justice National Trial Tournament, Seattle, March 2013
  • Most Professional TeamLone Star Mock Trial Tournament, San Antonio, October 2012 

Presentations

  • CLE Presenter, Recent Updates in Professional Malpractice Law, Annual Tort Law Update 
  • CLE Presenter, Disqualification of Counsel, Colorado Bar Association CLE, February 2017
  • CLE Presenter, Client Autonomy for Organizational Clients, Denver City Attorney’s Office, January 2015
  • CLE Presenter, Client Autonomy and Professionalism, Trial Advocacy Department, University of Denver,  February 2015 

Publications

  • A Medical & Legal Preview of Cranial Compression Ischemic Encephalopathy (CCIE), AAJ Birth Trauma Litigation Group, February 2021 
  • Battery in COLORADO CIVIL CLAIMS: ELEMENTS, DEFENSES, AND SAMPLE PLEADINGS (2019) 
  • The Impact of the Affordable Care Act on the Colorado Collateral Source Rule, 94 DENV. L. REV. ONLINE 1  (2017) 
  • Deflating Autonomy, 66 SOUTH CAROLINA LAW REVIEW 401 (2014)
  • Is it More Than a Dream?, 17 LEGAL ETHICS 132 (Summer 2014) (reviewing Robert K. Vischer,  Martin Luther King Jr. and the Morality of Legal Practice: Lessons in Love and Justice
Education
  • University of Denver, Sturn College of Law University Denver, CO 2014
Memberships
  • American Association for Justice
  • Colorado Trial Lawyers Association
  • Colorado Bar Association
  • Colorado Judicial Institute, Young Professionals Committee
Awards
  • Ones to Watch - 2023
    Ones to Watch - 2023

LANDMARK VERDICTS & SETTLEMENTS

  • University of Michigan/Dr. Robert Anderson Sexual Abuse $490 Million
  • USA Gymnastics/USOPC Larry Nasser Sexual Abuse $380 Million
  • Birth Injury Involving Misuse of Drug to Induce Labor $70 Million
  • Settlement for Individuals Injured by a Defective Product $23 Million
  • Largest Medical Malpractice Settlement in Colorado $22.3 Million
  • Medical Malpractice Verdict for Victim of Paralysis $15 Million
  • Drunk Driving Accident Resulting in Rollover Collision $8.91 Million
  • Commercial Vehicle Accident Resulting in Catastrophic Injury $8 Million
  • Birth Injury Verdict Involving a Misplaced Device $7.2 Million
  • The Largest Personal Injury Verdict in Colorado in 2016 $6 Million

Client testimonials

Hear What Clients Have to Say About Our Attorneys
  • I put my TRUST in Dan Sloane.

    “Dan Sloane is very professional and impressed me during negotiations with his clever strategies. He sincerely cares and seeks justice. Dan knows what he's doing and won our case for us.”

    - Julie D.
  • David Woodruff and his team worked long and hard for my settlement.

    “David Woodruff and his team worked long and hard for my settlement. They were able to get more than I expected. I would highly recommend them.”

    - Heather N.
  • He was supportive, caring, and obviously legally astute.

    “Michael Nimmo took my case that a dozen other lawyers rejected. He was incredibly thorough backing up everything with my doctors. He was supportive, caring, and obviously legally astute. He won the case and the award helped me to transition to retirement.”

    - Patty M.
  • Went above and beyond in their empathetic approach.

    “Throughout the entire process, Stephen Wahlberg and his staff were professional, timely, and went above and beyond in their empathetic approach to the family and diligence and confidence in pursuing the case. I highly recommend him to anyone.”

    - Catrina A.
  • Dan Sloane of Denver Trial Lawyers was always there and helped guide me step by step through the process.

    “Dan Sloane of Denver Trial Lawyers was always there and helped guide me step by step through the process. He made the case easier for me to understand. I recommend him highly! Very trustworthy!”

    - Esther G.
  • I Trusted Dan So Much

    “I trusted him so much”

    - Christina