Paul Wood is vice-chair of Moye White’s Trial Section. He has more than 25 years of experience representing clients in complex litigation, arbitration and appeals. He has specific experience in employment, commercial, securities, corporate governance and lender liability disputes.
Paul represents employers in a variety of disputes with employees, including claims to the EEOC and the Colorado Civil Rights Commission, as well as in state and federal courts on cases involving all types of discrimination, the Equal Pay Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act. He represents employers on issues related to employee contract interpretation, wrongful termination, trade secrets and breach of fiduciary duty.
In addition, Paul represents companies in complex cases involving breach of contract, unfair competition and other commercial disputes. He has particular experience working with public companies, their boards and individual directors in matters such as derivative shareholder suits, director and officer liability and corporate governance. He has advised executives and boards on sensitive internal investigations.
Paul has defended securities broker/dealers and other financial service firms on a wide range matters, including fraud defense, "raiding" and recruitment, non-compete and non-solicitation agreements, regulatory defense, class action defense, false claims act cases, hedge fund defense, privacy, USA Patriot Act Issues, Sarbanes Oxley and PCAOB compliance and defense. He has successfully represented many clients in arbitration and mediation proceedings in FINRA, JAMS and JAG venues.
Paul has experience with many industries and professions, including oil, gas, financial services, telecommunications, real estate, manufacturing, securities, accounting firms and other professional services. He has managed valuation and accounting issues related to public and private companies. Many of his clients are privately held companies that need aggressive legal counsel who understands the complexities of their business.
Paul is a frequent speaker on topics of securities and employment law for the Defense Research Institute and Stafford Continuing Legal Education, Inc. He recently spoke at a national DRI Litigation Conference on “Current Theories and Trends in Business Litigation Reflecting the Crisis in Financial Services, Investments and Credit Markets.”
He is a member of the Securities Industries and Financial Markets Association (SIFMA), the Defense Research Institute (DRI), and the Colorado and American Bar Association’s Litigation Sections.
Paul has an A.V. rating, the highest available, from Martindale Hubble and has been recognized as a “Colorado Super Lawyer” since its first publication. Prior to joining Moye White, Paul was a partner with the law firm of Miller Wood LLC.
Representative Trials
Employment Contract Case, District Court for the City and County of Denver, Colorado. Successfully defended a hospital in a breach of contract case brought by one of its physicians. Obtained a defense verdict after a one-week jury trial, and received an award of attorney's fees against the plaintiff in the amount of $150,000.
Bank Fraud Case, United States District Court for the District of Colorado. Obtained a fraud verdict in the amount of $1,250,000 in favor of the bank against a borrower who signed a promissory note with no intention of paying it after a five day jury trial. Successfully defended the bank against counterclaims.
Breach of Contract Case, United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts. Successfully defended a printing press reseller in a breach of contract action in a five day jury trial. Obtained an award of attorney’s fees after successfully defending the appeal to the First Circuit Court of Appeals.
Whistleblower Case, District Court for the City and County of Denver, Colorado. Successfully defended a subsidiary of a NASD-listed company and its officers in a case brought by a former controller alleging she was terminated in violation of public policy for threatening to report alleged accounting irregularities. Obtained a defense verdict after a one week jury trial in which the plaintiff sought over $1,500,000 in damages.
Construction Case, United States District Court for the District of Colorado. Settled a $5,000,000 construction dispute for less than 20 percent of demand after five day jury trial.
Premises Liability Case, District Court for Boulder County of Denver, Colorado. Obtained defense verdict in favor of landowner in $5,000,000 personal injury/premises liability case after two week jury trial.
Lender Liability Case, District Court for Arapahoe County of Denver, Colorado. Obtained defense verdict in $5,000,000 lender liability lawsuit and $200,000 judgment on fraud counterclaim after three week trial.
Mortgage Originator Case, District Court for the City and County of Denver, Colorado. Successfully defended mortgage originator against demand by bank to repurchase $11,000,000 in loans in four day bench trial.
Broker Deal Fraud Case, National Association of Securities Dealers Arbitration, Raleigh, North Carolina. Defense verdict in favor of a broker-dealer and one of its employees on fraud and breach of fiduciary duty claims arising from the recommendation of an investment strategy to multiple plaintiffs.
Broker-Dealer Fraud Claim, National Association of Securities Dealers Arbitration, Los Angeles, California. Defense verdict in favor of a broker-dealer and one of its officers on fraud claims arising from the purchase of collateralized mortgage obligations by an FDIC-insured bank.
Securities Fraud Arbitration, American Arbitration Association. Successfully defended a NASDAQ-listed company against state and federal securities fraud claims based in part on alleged accounting improprieties. Defense verdict after a one-week arbitration in which the Claimants sought over $5,000,000 in damages.
Other Representative Cases
ADA Case, United States District Court for the District of Wyoming. Defended railroad against claims for sex discrimination and violations of the American with Disabilities Act. Settled for less than 15 percent of demand.
RICO Case, United States District Court for the District of Wyoming. Settled claims for violation of the Racketeering Influence and Corrupt Organizations Act and wasting corporate assets arising from the alleged oppression of a minority shareholder against officers and directors of a closely held corporation for the market value of plaintiff’s shares.
Software Dispute, United States District Court for the Southern District of Alabama. Represented software developer in a lawsuit against a city for alleged failure to properly install a document imaging system. Settled counterclaims for nominal amount after obtaining summary judgment against city for failure to pay for software purchased.
Fraud Defense, United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin. Successfully defended CEO of bankrupt technology company from claims of fraud and malfeasance by creditor.
Class Action: Wage Act Case, District Court, Summit County, Colorado. Settled class-action claims for violation of the Colorado Wage Act and breach of fiduciary duty against officers and directors of a bankrupt company for less than 20 percent of demand.
Age Discrimination Case, United States District Court, District of Colorado. Nominal settlement in an age discrimination and defamation case where co-workers of 60 year old corporate executive were told by management that he resigned because of “misuse of company assets.”
Defamation Claim Case, District Court, Jefferson County, Colorado. Successfully defended the company and its president from claims of defamation and false light invasion of privacy after the president referred to the plaintiff as a “stalker” during a radio broadcast.
Shareholder Derivative Case, 2006 WL 2790408 (D. Colo. 2006). Obtained dismissal of shareholder derivative claims alleging violation of Sarbanes Oxley Act against officers and directors of public company; settled case for less than 10 percent of demand.
Constitutional Rights Case, District Court for El Paso County, Colorado. Defended a school district and its administrators against claims of constitutional rights violations for requesting that a teacher be tested for alcohol use while on duty; obtained dismissal of administrators under doctrine of qualified immunity and settled case for less than 15 percent of demand.