Marilyn Chappell has extensive experience in handling insurance litigation and coverage issues for numerous insurance clients. Marilyn also has substantial experience in commercial litigation matters. Her practice includes all phases of litigation, at the trial court and appellate levels, in federal and state court.
- Represented defendant in trial to defense verdict on dispute involving royalties under a lease, August 2026
- Obtained dismissal of claim against trucking client for alleged loss of revenue from truck impact to bridge claimed by business near bridge, as no duty existed for purely economic loss from interruption in bridge access, September 2025
- Briefed appellate case interpreting Colorado insurance statute on “failure to cooperate” defense, 2024
- Obtained dismissal in insurance client’s favor of claim for alleged interference with contract, February 2024
- Represented defendant in trial to defense verdict on property insurance/bad faith claims, August 2021, affirmed on appeal, March 2023
- Summary judgment rulings in underinsured motorist insurer client’s favor, April and July 2023
- Summary judgment ruling in life insurer client’s favor, February 2022
- Summary judgment on extra-contractual claims in underinsured motorist insurer client’s favor, June 2021
- Key discovery ruling in life insurer client’s favor, August 2021
- Team participant in successful appellate briefing in real estate/mining dispute, June 2020
- Summary judgment ruling in liability insurer client’s favor, February 2019
- As Tenth Circuit and trial court defense team participant, obtained and defended dismissal order in underinsured motorist insurance matter, 2018
- As member of core Tenth Circuit appellate team, successfully defended dismissal of actions against multiple insurance-related entities, 2017
- Successfully briefed Tenth Circuit title insurance coverage issues, 2016
- Successfully handled appeals in multiple Colorado appellate court cases against insurers, 2018, 2017, 2015
- Authored successful amicus briefs on significant issues (2024, 2021, 2019, 2018, 2016, 2013)
- Crafted argument for dismissal of toxic tort suit alleging preconception injury, 2013
- Obtained favorable choice of law ruling, leading to resolution of multi-party aviation accident litigation, 2010
- Interviewee, Member Spotlight, Faculty of Federal Advocates, July 2026
- Think Before You Send – Civility and Professionalism in Emails, The Colorado Lawyer, February 2022
- Editor, Faculty of Federal Advocates Newsletter, edited and authored numerous articles, including on federal judges’ presentations, 2015 – 2019
- Co-Presenter, series of effective legal research and writing workshops, Colorado Defense Lawyers Association, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026
- Testified before Colorado Senate and House Judiciary Committees and Interim Committee on judicial discipline bill on behalf of Colorado Judicial Institute, 2022
- Testified before Colorado Legislative Council on Blue Book text for Judicial Discipline Ballot Measure, 2024
- Panelist, The Power of the Pool, Western Region Captive Insurance Conference, June 2022
- Coordinated, Viral Survival – Maintaining Mental Health in the Time of COVID-19, Faculty of Federal Advocates Webinar with Psychiatrist Michael Gendel, M.D., April 28, 2020
- Presenter, Top Ten Rules of Effective Legal Research and Writing, Faculty of Federal Advocates CLE, July 19, 2019
- Presenter with Colorado Supreme Court Justice Melissa Hart, Current Ethics Trends, Colorado Judicial Institute Straight Talk with Judges CLE, February 28, 2019
- Presenter, More Moving Motions, Faculty of Federal Advocates Federal District Court Bench/Bar Roundtable, April 20, 2018
- Presenter, Keep It Simple, . . . , with Chief Justice Michael L. Bender (ret.) at Colorado Judicial Institute Straight Talk with Judges CLE, March 1, 2018
- Testified to Colorado House Judiciary Committee on HB 17-1303, judicial performance evaluation statutes, on behalf of Colorado Judicial Institute, April 18, 2017
- Presenter, Top Ten Rules for Effective Legal Research and Writing, Faculty of Federal Advocates CLE, August 25, 2016
Admissions
- Colorado
- U.S. District Court, District of Colorado
- U.S. Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals
- U.S. Supreme Court
Memberships
- Colorado Bar Association
- Denver Bar Association
- Faculty of Federal Advocates
- Colorado Judicial Institute
- Minoru Yasui Inn of Court
- Colorado Defense Lawyers Association
- Colorado Bar Foundation Bar Fellow, 2025-present
Community Involvement
- U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge Selection Panel Member, Denver, Chairperson, 2026, Member, 2022
- Colorado Supreme Court Rules of Appellate Procedure Committee, Member, 2019 – present
- Colorado Judicial Institute, 2023 DeMuth Volunteer Award; Co-Chair, Judicial Awards Committee, 2024-present; Emeritus Board Member; Board Member 2012-2021
- Faculty of Federal Advocates, Emeritus Board Member, 2022-2024; Board President 2020, Board Member 2013-2021
- Minoru Yasui Inn of Court, President, 2024-25, Executive Committee Member, 2017 – present
- Colorado Defense Lawyers Association Amicus Committee, Member, 2017 – present
- Arvada Counsel for the Arts and Humanities, Member 2009 – 2012
- State Advisory Committee, Gifted and Talented Education, Chair, 2005 – 2007, Member, 2001 – 2007
Education
- J.D., University of Colorado, 1984
- B.A., summa cum laude, English, Colorado State University, 1981
– Boettcher Foundation Scholar
Judicial Clerkship
- Colorado Supreme Court Chief Justice Joseph Quinn, 1984-1985