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Key Cases
Rick Rufner’s Published Appellate Cases:
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- Tripp v. Borchard, 29 P.3d 345 (Colo. App 2001); In this case, the Plaintiff, who was represented byMr. Rufner, brought claims for legal malpractice against a lawyer. Mr. Rufner asked the judge to recuse himself because of prior involvement with the underlying case. The judge refused and dismissed the case. On appeal Mr. Rufner contended that the trial judge abused his discretion in denying the motion for disqualification. Mr. Rufner’s allegations that the judge should have been disqualified, considered in light of the policy expressed in Colo. R. Civ. P. 121,¤1-17, were sufficient to raise a reasonable inference of the appearance of actual or apparent bias or prejudice and the required disqualification. The appeals court agreed and reversed the dismissal. Upon remand to the trial court, the case settled in favor of Mr. Rufner’s client.