About Rick Dindinger
PROFESSIONAL HIGHLIGHTS.
1989. Degree in Business Administration from the University of Colorado.
1989-92. Shell Oil Company, Procurement Analyst.
1997. Graduated fifth in class from DU College of Law.
2000. Young Lawyer of the Year (Arapahoe County Bar Association).
2003. Earned partner status at Burns Figa & Will, P.C.
2004-05. Assistant Attorney General.
2006. Sworn in as Centennial City Council Member.
2006-08. Of counsel, Truhlar and Truhlar, LLP.
2008. Formed the Dindinger Law Offices, LLC.
2009. Elected by Centennial City Council to serve as Mayor Pro Tem.
2010. Sworn in to serve second term on the Centennial City Council.
LEGAL EXPERIENCE.
Fourteen years of legal practice including as partner of a major law firm and as an Assistant Attorney General.
From 2004 to the present, practice concentrates on employment law matters including Title VII, the ADA, the ADEA, the Equal Pay Act, the FLSA, State Personnel Board matters, Denver Career Service Board matters, the state Whistleblower Act, non-compete matters, Wage Claim Act matters, unemployment compensation, trade secret issues, employment agreements, layoffs, employment policies and procedures, workplace privacy issues, compensation plans, and non-soliciation agreements.
From 2004 to 2005, served as an Assistant Attorney General in the Civil Litigation & Employment Law Section. Represented departments of the State of Colorado in employment litigation matters, including termination, harassment, discrimination, whistleblowing, layoff, and State Personnel Board matters. Advised agencies regarding numerous employment matters, including employment handbooks, privacy issues, and the Fair Labor Standards Act. Lead counsel at numerous trials.
From 1997 to 2003, practice emphasized a wide variety of corporate and commercial litigation, including contract, employment, tort, attorney regulation and real estate matters. Corporate practice included incorporation of entities, preparation of corporate documents, and preparation and review of complex contracts.
OTHER EXPERIENCE.
City of Centennial, Colorado. Councilmember (January 2006 to present). Mayor Pro Tem (2009).
National American University. Adjunct Faculty (2004-05). Courses in business law.
Shell Oil Company. Procurement Analyst (1989-92). Negotiated and maintained over 140 national contracts.
EDUCATION.
Juris Doctorate. University of Denver College of Law. 1997.
MA in Theology. Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. 1994.
BS in Business. University of Colorado at Boulder. 1989.
CIVIC ACTIVITIES:
Arapahoe County Bar Association. Board of Directors (1999 to 2005); Law Day Chair (2005); Chair, Professionalism Committee (1998-99).
Mission Hills Church. Facilities & Finance Committee (2002 to 2005; Chair 2003 to 2005).
South Suburban Park & Recreational District. Youth basketball coach (2005 to 2007).
Colorado United/Littleton Soccer Club. Coach (2007-present); Assistant Coach (2003-04); Referee.
USA Swimming. Stroke & Turn Judge (2011-present).
PUBLICATIONS/ARTICLES:
2006, 2008, and 2010 Supplements to chapter regarding litigation of employment cases in CLE publication, Colorado Employment Law (2006) (co-author).
Editorial, "Vote ‘No’ on 40—Term limits a bad idea for state appellate judges," The Villager, September 14, 2006, p. 9.
"Representing State Employees in Termination Cases under the State Personnel System," 55 Trial Talk 33 (June/July 2006) (co-author).
Editorial, "Spring is good time to spruce up our neighborhoods," The Villager, March 30, 2006, p. 15.
"Nonprofit status and politics: What churches can and cannot do," Denver Catholic Register, July 14, 2004, p. 6 (co-author).
Editorial, "Term Limits a Bad Idea for State’s Judges," The Denver Post, Feb. 14, 2004, at 15C.
"Free Speech for Mushrooms but Not Peaches: Economic Regulations After United Foods, Inc.," 31 Colorado Lawyer 61 (April 2002).
"Discovery Tool: Entities Must Choose Representative Deponents Carefully," 26 Colorado Journal No. 11, p. 7 (March 13, 2002) (article also ran in the Arizona Journal, the Nevada Journal and the Washington Journal).
Editorial, "A ‘Just War’ Test--Strikes Against Osama bin Laden Meet Standards," 25 Colorado Journal No. 50, p. 6 (December 12, 2001) (article also ran in the Arizona Journal, the Nevada Journal and the Washington Journal).
"Come to Terms," 10 Washington Journal No. 43, p. 8 (October 22, 2001) (co-author).
"Effects of Offers of Reinstatement on Damages for Wrongful Termination," 49 Trial Talk 18 (August/September 2000).
"The Alter Ego Doctrine in Colorado," 28 Colorado Lawyer 53 (March 1999) (co-author).
Chapter regarding jury selection in CLE publication, Colorado Courtroom Handbook for Civil Trials (1998) (co-author).
"Seminole Tribe’s Impact on the Ability of Private Plaintiffs to Bring Environmental Suits Against States in Federal Court," 75 Denver Law Review 253 (1997).
"Seminole Tribe’s Impact on Environmental Suits Against States in Federal Court," 26 Colorado Lawyer 105 (Sept. 1997).
LECTURES/PRESENTATIONS:
Navigating the Rapids of State Personnel Actions. Boulder County Bar Association. 10/14/08.
Handling State Personnel System Claims. PELA Retreat. 8/24/07.
Pitfalls to Avoid in Terminations. Arapahoe County Bar Association. 2/14/07.
HONORS AND AWARDS:
Tommy D. Drinkwine Outstanding Young Lawyer of the Year Award (awarded by the Arapahoe County Bar Association, 2000).
Order of St. Ives, academic honor society at the University of Denver College of Law (1997).
CBA Mineral Law Section Natural Resources Writing Competition (1997).
Academic achievement award for highest grade in Constitutional Law II, Family Law, Torts II and Natural Resource Law Seminar.
Phi Alpha Chi, scholastic honor society at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary (1994).
President’s Award for Team Excellence at Shell Oil Company (1992).
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