The organization, One Colorado, has posted both English and Spanish  application forms, Frequently Asked Questions, and other tips for couples seeking civil unions at

http://www.one-colorado.org/your-rights/civil-unions.

A civil union will not serve as a medical power of attorney, HIPAA medical records release, or even an authorization to visit someone hospitalized.  Anyone entering in a civil union, or a traditional marriage, should still sign a medical power of attorney.

Partners entering into a civil union may enter into a marital agreement, just like the traditional prenup.

The new law does not say whether or not there can be common law civil unions.

Last week we overturned a determination by the section that a woman should repay two years of benefits, plus penalties.  Our client’s father gave her money to meet her expenses while she was unemployed and simultaneously receiving unemployment benefits.  The Benefit Payment Control  section treated the gifts by her father as wages, like she had a job.  It demanded that she repay the State her benefits, plus a 50% penalty.  It took persistence, and the hearing officer at the first stage ignored our evidence, but the Industrial Claims Appeals Office finally recognized what a mistake  the Benefit Payment Control people had made.

Two weeks ago we had a demand for repayment completely overturned.  Benefit Payment Control somehow confused our client with another person, and that other person’s wages were considered evidence that our client had a job while receiving unemployment.  The State was stubbornly wrong.  The State refused to respond to our client’s attempts by phone and letter to correct the error.  Had our client appealed on time, we could have fixed the problem quickly.  But, instead of appealing, he wrote letters.  By the time we got the case, the State was arguing that all appeals rights had been waived.  It was going to force our client to repay benefits based on some stranger’s wages.  We got this fixed by going over the heads of the collectors, but were forced to file a lawsuit against the Department of Labor first.  The lesson:  Don’t assume the Department will treat you right because you are in the right.  Assert your right to appeal, on time.

Plaintiff Brandon Coats appealed the trial court’s dismissal of his complaint. Defendant fired plaintiff after he tested positive for marijuana, which was a violation of defendant’s drug policy. Plaintiff is a quadriplegic and licensed by the state of Colorado to use medical marijuana pursuant to the Medical Marijuana Amendment (Amendment). Plaintiff alleged that he used marijuana within the limits of his license, never used it on defendant’s premises, and was never under the influence of marijuana at work.

The Court of Appeals noted that all marijuana use was, and remains, prohibited by federal law. The Court held that this renders medical marijuana use not “lawful activity” for purposes of CRS § 24-34-402.5, finding the term includes federal and state law.

This summary comes from the Colorado Bar Association, at http://www.cobar.org/opinions.

Public entities and public employees means means the state, county, city and county, municipality, school district, special improvement district, and every other kind of district  created under Colorado law.  It does not mean the federal government, or federal employees.

AN EMPLOYER SHALL NOT USE CONSUMER CREDIT
INFORMATION FOR EMPLOYMENT PURPOSES UNLESS THE INFORMATION IS
SUBSTANTIALLY RELATED TO THE EMPLOYEE’S CURRENT OR POTENTIAL JOB.
AN EMPLOYER OR EMPLOYER’S AGENT, REPRESENTATIVE, OR DESIGNEE
SHALL NOT REQUIRE AN EMPLOYEE TO CONSENT TO A REQUEST FOR A CREDIT
REPORT THAT CONTAINS INFORMATION ABOUT THE EMPLOYEE’S CREDIT
SCORE, CREDIT ACCOUNT BALANCES, PAYMENT HISTORY, SAVINGS OR
CHECKING ACCOUNT BALANCES, OR SAVINGS OR CHECKING ACCOUNT
NUMBERS AS A CONDITION OF EMPLOYMENT UNLESS:
(I) THE EMPLOYER IS A BANK OR FINANCIAL INSTITUTION;
(II) THE REPORT IS REQUIRED BY LAW; OR
(III) THE REPORT IS SUBSTANTIALLY RELATED TO THE EMPLOYEE’S
CURRENT OR POTENTIAL JOB AND THE EMPLOYER HAS A BONA FIDE PURPOSE
FOR REQUESTING OR USING INFORMATION IN THE CREDIT REPORT THAT IS
SUBSTANTIALLY RELATED TO THE EMPLOYEE’S CURRENT OR POTENTIAL JOB
AND IS DISCLOSED IN WRITING TO THE EMPLOYEE.

Thanks to Senator Jessie Ulibarri, who carried this important legislation.

Routt County Mining Co. v. Stutheit.  Dispute about a mining lease.  Decided by the Colorado Supreme Court in 1937.

When a contractor and owner have an agreed contract price, the contractor may not lien the property for more than the contract price by claiming that the value of the work was more than the contract provided. Byerly v. Bank of Colorado.  Colorado Court of Appeals decision published March 14, 2013

Where do I bike from here?  Along the 470 trail to Chatfield Reservoir or Bear Creek State Park.  On a high energy day, up Dinosaur Ridge.  Into downtown Littleton.   Along the Platte River.

Why not a law office in downtown Denver?  Why?

However, children under age 14 may be trespassers, and still sue the landowner for injuries suffered under Colorado’s “attractive nuisance doctrine.”  If a child was attracted onto the premises by an unusual activity being carried out on the premises or by an unusual condition, other than a natural condition, existing on the premises, the child will be treated as an invitee.  See blog posted April 8, 2013 for discussion of duties owed by landowner to invitees.

Common examples of attractive nuisances include unprotected pools, trampolines, defective play structures, old cars, piles of sand and debris, ponds, and dangerous animals.