Proven Professional Experience
Mr. Fairhurst worked as an attorney at the civil rights firm Killmer Lane from 2013-2026, including as a partner and lead counsel in numerous cases since 2018. Examples of results Mr. Fairhurst helped to achieve follow.
Prelitigation settlement of excessive force claims against the Denver Police Department.
Federal jury verdict against a jail guard based on their failure to protect the plaintiff. Resulted in damages and attorneys’ fees.
Settlement in a lawsuit based on Division of Youth Services personnel subjecting a minor in custody to excessive force.
Settlement in a case involving Adams County deputies unlawfully invading the plaintiff's home and subjecting him to excessive force inside his home.
Federal judgment awarded in the plaintiff's favor in a case involving a Colorado Department of Corrections guard subjecting an inmate to excessive force.
Settlement involving denial of services at a grocery store (race discrimination case), reflecting the amount that can be publicly disclosed.
Settlement payments obtained in a disability discrimination case against the Colorado DOC. The case also resulted in a major, published Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals victory clarifying disability rights.
Settlement of an excessive force case based on the illegal use of a taser against the Colorado Department of Corrections.
Settlement of an excessive force case involving a jail guard working for the City of Broomfield, Colorado.
Denver District Court verdict awarded in the plaintiff's favor. Mr. Fairhurst was a key part of the trial representation team.
Aurora paid $15 million in a case involving the murder of a young Black man who had committed no crime. Mr. Fairhurst was a key part of the team representing two of the plaintiffs.
Adams County settlement to resolve claims against its deputies for an unlawful nighttime entry into the plaintiffs’ home. Key part of the legal team.
Settlement paid by a small Colorado town in an excessive force claim resulting in a federal jury verdict in the plaintiff's favor. Key part of the legal team.
Denver paid a prelitigation settlement in a case where the plaintiff was unlawfully killed in the Denver Jail while undergoing a mental health crisis. Key part of the legal team.
Federal jury award for two flight attendants in age discrimination claims. Included back pay, liquidated damages, front pay, and attorney fees. Key part of the legal team.
Denver settlement arising out of the death of an elderly homeless man in jail. Largest civil rights jury verdict at that time in CO history. Mr. Fairhurst played an important role at trial and post-trial.
Excessive force claim against a small Colorado town.
Discrimination claim for the two flight attendants.
Confidentiality in Private Settlements
Importantly, most settlements in employment cases involve private companies, are confidential, and cannot be publicly disclosed. Settlements with private defendants in civil rights cases are typically confidential as well. Thus, the cases above are just a representative sample of Mr. Fairhurst’s experience and do not provide an exhaustive list of the major results Mr. Fairhurst has helped obtain.
Outcome Disclaimer
Past results do not in any way imply the same results will be able to be obtained in the future. There is no guarantee the results will be the same for any specific type of case or client. The outcome of a particular case depends on a variety of factors unique to each case.
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