Same attorney involved in city's two largest awards

By Javier Erik Olvera, Rocky Mountain News
May 29, 2004

Attorney Timothy Rastello has done what no other local lawyer can claim.

He is behind the two largest settlements - tallying more than $4.8 million - in the city of Denver's history.

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Some call the achievement an anomaly, but the well-known trial lawyer from Boulder believes it has more to do with one thing.

"Tenacity," said the 50-year-old, who reached the second settlement Tuesday of behalf of Helen Childs, the mother of Paul Childs, a developmentally disabled 15-year-old who was shot July 5 by Denver police officer James Turney.

The $1,325,000 settlement - which still needs the City Council's blessing - came nearly 11 months after the teen died.

Rastello joined famed attorney Johnnie Cochran in the case and oversaw a civil-rights claim against the city that asked for

$5 million and an overhaul of police procedures.

During the past five months, Rastello and city leaders, including City Attorney Cole Finegan, worked behind the scenes on settlement details.

About the same time, Mayor John Hickenlooper unveiled what he called the most comprehensive package of police reforms in Denver's history.

Last month, city officials put Turney on 10 months of unpaid suspension - a decision he is appealing.

The Colorado Trial Lawyers Association's immediate past president, Ross Buchanan, believes that much of Rastello's success comes from experience.

Buchanan said Rastello knew just what steps to take, something he learned while representing the family of man killed when a Denver police officer ran a red light in 1989 and smashed into his car.

For a dozen years, Rastello represented Colleen Williams, whose son, Randy Bartel, died in the accident involving officer Michael Farr.

After several challenges, the case made it before a jury, which awarded Williams $2,250,000 in 2001 - a verdict that was appealed by the city but later dropped.

In 2002, the city agreed to cover more than $1,250,000 million in attorneys' fees - increasing the total amount paid by the city to $3.5 million.

"People who know him are not at all surprised that he would have two fabulous settlements," Buchanan said. "He's professional and tough."

Rastello, a partner in Holland & Hart, takes it in stride, saying he's developed a reputation during his 22-year career as someone who will put up a fight.

"I feel very lucky and honored to have represented two mothers," he said.

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