Don Samuels

Practice Areas

Employment Litigation, Arbitration & Dispute Resolution

Employment Class & Collective Actions

Labor & Employment

Food, Drug & Device

Oil & Gas

Residential & Multifamily

Resort & Hospitality

COVID-19 Resources

Restrictive Covenants & Trade Secrets Litigation

Class Action & Multidistrict Litigation

Professional Memberships

Member of the American Bar Association Member of the Colorado

Member of the California Bar Association

Member of the Colorado Bar Association

Member of the Texas Bar Association

Member of the Washington Bar Association

Member of the Board of Directors (and incoming Chairman) of the Colorado Judicial Institute, 2015-present

Expert in these Jurisdictions

Bar Admission

Colorado, 1996

California, 1986

Texas, 1998

Washington, 2020

Court Admissions

U.S. District Court, District of Colorado

U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois

U.S. District Court, Northern District of New York

U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Pennsylvania

U.S. District Court, Middle District of Pennsylvania

U.S. District Court, Western District of Texas

U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas

U.S. District Court, Northern District of Texas

U.S. District Courts for the State of California (All)

U.S. Court of Appeals, Tenth Circuit

U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit

U.S. Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit

United States Supreme Court

U.S. District Courts for the State of Washington

U.S. District Court, District of New Mexico

Work Highlights

- Represented health care company in three-week whistle blowing arbitration.

- Served as arbitrator in four-day arbitration involving wrongful termination and related claims and counter-claims.

- Successfully defended a defense contractor in a “just cause” arbitration case.

- Obtained the dismissal of a lawsuit alleging violation of employment discrimination claims on the ground that the individual was an independent contractor.

- Represented manufacturing company involving racial discrimination and harassment case, which settled partway through trial.

- Represented California municipality in trademark infringement and breach of contract case, which resulted in a settlement and stipulated injunction.

- Represented California municipality in trademark infringement lawsuit, which resulted in a settlement agreement and the cessation of infringing use of the City’s trademarks.

- Represented California municipality in three week jury trial on claims of national origin discrimination, retaliation, harassment and failure to prevent harassment and discrimination. Defense verdict for individual defendant and on three of four claims against the city.

- Represented an information management firm in a one week jury trial on claims of wrongful termination in violation of public policy, violation of the Colorado Wage statute and related claims. Defense verdict on all but one claim.

- Defended information management firm in a wage and hour class action that resulted in a settlement approved by the court.

- Granted summary judgement for broadcast satellite service provider in a racial discrimination and retaliation case.

- Represented California municipality in an environmental case involving tunneling under city high school.

- Represented California municipality in a lawsuit involving gender discrimination, FEHA retaliation, whistleblower retaliation and failure to take corrective action. Case settled after successful mediation.

- Represented real estate investment company in connection with a wage and hour class action. Case was resolved after mediation and the court gave final approval to the settlement.

- Obtained permanent injunction enforcing non-competition agreement for private Colorado hair salon.

- Granted arbitration award in sexual harassment and retaliation in favor of broadcast satellite service provider.

- Granted summary judgement in favor of parking management company on all claims which involve race discrimination and race retaliation. Summary judgment affirmed by the 10th circuit.

- Obtained permanent Restraining Order against defendant who was threatening a city newspaper employee.

- Verdict in favor of toy manufacturer on all claims which involved copyright and trademark issues.

- Granted arbitration award in National Origin case in favor of broadcast television network.

- Granted arbitration award in favor of Colorado brewing company involved in a failed joint venture.

- Granted a Temporary Restraining Order and preliminary injunction on behalf client based on the “inevitable disclosure” doctrine.

- Represented church in a series of equitable cases in which a temporary, preliminary, and permanent injunction was sought and obtained. - A first amendment case, the first of its kind in Colorado, involving the conflict between freedom of speech and freedom of religion.

- Obtained unanimous jury verdict in favor of pipe inspection service connected with a failed cement-lined elbow in an oil field.

- Granted Temporary Restraining Order and Preliminary Injunction for a gaming technology company based on misappropriation of trade secrets, unfair competition, and inevitable disclosure “doctrine.”

- Successfully represented a physician group defending breach of contract action by terminated Colorado doctor. Case settled midway through trial.

Publications

May 26, 2023

Blogs

Department of Labor Issues Guidance on New PUMP Act

Co-Author, Polsinelli At Work Blog

January 12, 2023

Publications

Pregnant Employees Will Now Be Treated as “Disabled” Under Federal Law for Purposes of Reasonable Accommodation

Co-Author, Polsinelli At Work Blog

March 29, 2022

Publications

The Power of the Employee

Panelist, 2022 Rocky Mountain Corporate Growth Conference

October 5, 2021

Publications

Vaccine Mandate Exemption Requests

Quoted, Corporate Counsel

July 15, 2021

Publications

Polsinelli Attorney Donald L. Samuels Elected Chair of Colorado Judicial Institute

December 2020

Publications

AB1825 Sexual Harassment Training for Construction Company

Speaker

June 22, 2020

Publications

Colorado Joins Growing List of Jurisdictions Mandating Paid Sick Leave

Author, Polsinelli At Work Blog

June 22, 2020

Publications

4 Tips For Employers As The Bolton NDA Saga Plays Out​​​​​​​

Quoted, Law360

April 22, 2020

Publications

Are You Ready for More Layoffs?

Quoted, SHRM

March 13, 2020

Publications

Telework Takes Center Stage Amid Coronavirus Pandemic

Quoted, Law360

March 11, 2020

Publications

What Every Employer Should Know About Responding to Coronavirus

Author, ColoradoBiz

March 2, 2020

Updates

Just What the Doctor Ordered: Employer Guidance for Responding to COVID-19 Outbreak

February 26, 2020

Publications

Just What the Doctor Ordered: Employer Guidance for Responding To Coronavirus Outbreak

Co-Author, Polsinelli at Work Blog

October 10, 2019

Publications

Good News, for a Change, for California Employers in Connection with Wage and Hour Cases

Author, Polsinelli At Work Blog

October 3-4, 2019

Publications

Defense Counsel Approaches to Case Settlement

Speaker, 2019 Employment Law Conference, Colorado Bar Association CLE, Vail, CO

August 8, 2019

Publications

Colorado Court of Appeals Approves “Use or Lose It” Policy Regarding Vacation Pay

Co-Author, Polsinelli at Work Blog

June 26, 2019

Publications

Employment Law - Know Your Role

Presenter, Legal Education Conference, National Association of Public Pension Attorneys, San Diego, CA

June 14, 2019

Publications

The Latest on Arbitrations

Presenter, National Finance Industry Employment Lawyers Meeting, Seattle, WA

Education

Awards