Stephen Brunette Photo

Stephen A. Brunette

Of Counsel, Brunette Law, LLC
  • Profile
Bio

Experience You Can Trust

Stephen A. Brunette is an accomplished lawyer and legal author. His practice emphasizes probate litigation, conservatorships, guardianships, and appeals. Stephen A. Brunette has nearly four decades of experience in the practice of law and legal publishing. This experience is brought to bear in each cause he takes on. He has many legal publications and has organized and conducted several CLE programs for national and state organizations.

Personal Solutions

Your legal needs are as unique as your specific circumstances. Attorney Brunette can evaluate your situation, discuss possible solutions, and help you decide what to do next. The law and legal system may be complicated and confusing, but we'll do our best to keep it simple.

A Hometown Lawyer

Steve was raised in Colorado Springs and has devoted most of his professional life to providing legal counsel and representation to clients throughout his hometown. He has served on national boards and committees in legal publishing and forensic sciences but has returned to his roots as a hometown lawyer, committed to helping fellow Coloradoans through these challenging times.

Areas of Practice

  • Probate, wills, trusts, and estates
  • Guardianship
  • Probate litigation
  • Domestic and family law appeals
  • Conservatorship

Bar Admissions

  • Colorado
  • U.S. District Court District of Colorado
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit

Education

  • J.D., University of Nebraska-Lincoln, College of Law (1980)
  • M.A. (Psychology), University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Law & Psychology Program (1986)
  • Certificate in Public Policy Analysis and Program Evaluation, University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
    • Interdisciplinary program focused on administrative theory and process, public budgeting and finance, policy analysis, and program evaluation. (1980)
  • B.A., Cum Laude (Psychology), University of Colorado-Boulder (1973)

Selected Professional Training

  • Tenth Circuit Bench & Bar Conference (2018)
  • Summer Mortgage Conference, Foreclosure Echo: Addressing the Ongoing Consequences of the Foreclosure Crisis, National Consumer Law Center (2015)
  • Consumer Rights Litigation Conference, National Consumer Law Center (2014)
  • Fundamentals of Mediation (40-hour training for Basic Certification as Mediator), Anne Michelle McKenna, McKenna, Inc. (2011)
  • Construction Industry Arbitrator Training, American Arbitration Association (1997)
  • Mediation Skills and Settlement Conference Advocacy: The Art of Facilitating Settlement, Institute for Dispute Resolution, Pepperdine University School of Law (1996)
  • Arbitration Case Preparation and Presentation, American Arbitration Association (1996)

Professional Associations

  • American Bar Association
    • Standing Committee on Publishing Oversight (2000 - 2003)
    • Standing Committee on Scientific Evidence (1989 - 1995)
  • Section Membership:
    • Dispute Resolution (1994 - 1999)
    • Health Law Forum (1993 - 1995)
    • Litigation (1993 - 1997)
  • Natural Resources, Energy, & Environmental Law (1990 - 1993)
  • Science and Technology (1989 - 2000)
    • [Chair, Behavioral Science Committee (1996 – 1999, 2008 - 2010)]
  • Tort & Insurance Practice (1993 - 1997)
  • Forum on Entertainment and Sports Industries (2001 - 2003, 2008 - 2010)
  • International Law (2008 - 2010, 2017-2018)
  • American Academy of Forensic Sciences
    • Director (2001 - 2004)
  • Jurisprudence Section
  • Fellow (1996- 2005)
  • Chair (1997-1999)
  • Secretary (1996-1997)
  • Member (1994-1996)
  • Program Chair (1995)
  • Program Co-chair (1994, 1996)
  • Provisional Member (1989-1994)
  • Harold A. Feder Award Winner (2001).
  • Forensic Specialties Accreditation Board (1997-2003)
    • At-Large Member of a Board established by the AAFS and funded by the National Institute of Justice (NIJ), for the purpose of creating standards to accredit entities that certify individual forensic practitioners in various areas of specialization (1997-2003). Participating certification entities included: American Board of Forensic Toxicology (ABFT), American Board of Forensic Odontology (ABFO), Forensic Toxicology Certification Board (FTCB), American Board of Medico-Legal Death Investigation (ABMDI), American Board of Forensic Document Examiners (ABFDE), Association of Forensic Document Examiners (AFDE), International Association for Identification (IAI), American Board of Criminalistics (ABC), International Association of Forensic Engineering Specialties (IAFES). Affiliate entities include American Board of Forensic Pathology (ABFP), National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL), U. S. Department of Justice (DOJ), and NIJ.
  • Professional Oversight Task Force (1994-1997)
    • Precursor to Forensic Specialties Accreditation Board.
  • Forensic Sciences Foundation
    • Trustee (1995-2003)
    • Vice-chair (1997-1998)
    • Secretary (1998-1999)
    • Chair, Education Committee (1997-1998, 1999-2003)

Experience

  • Of counsel to Drexler Law, LLC, Colorado Springs, CO
  • Brunette Law Office, LLC, Colorado Springs, CO - 2014 - Present
  • GLG, PLLC Colorado Springs, CO - 2010 - 2014
  • Stephen A. Brunette Attorney & Counselor at Law, Colorado Springs, CO - 1996 - 2010
  • Of counsel to Tegtmeier, Frank & Jones - 2000-2003
  • Of counsel to Tegtmeier Law Firm - 1997-2000
  • Legal editor, in-house author Shepard's/McGraw-Hill, Colorado Springs, CO - 1986 – 1996
  • Associate attorney, Young & White, Omaha, NE - 1985 – 1986
  • Stephen A. Brunette Attorney & Counselor at Law, Lincoln, NE - 1981 - 1985

Publications

  • Stephen A. Brunette, Drug Interaction Litigation, in Handbook of Drug Interactions: A Clinical and Forensic Guide (Humana Press, 2004; and 2nd Ed., 2012).
  • Stephen A. Brunette, Legal Aspects of Forensics, McGraw-Hill Encyclopedia of Science and Technology, 9th Ed. (2000).
  • Shepard's Expert and Scientific Evidence Quarterly
  • Bert Black, Marc S. Klein, Stephen A. Brunette (Eds.), Shepard's Expert and Scientific Evidence Quarterly (1993-1995). Issues focused on:
    • Immediate Reactions to Daubert v Merrell-Dow Pharmaceuticals (Vol. 1, No. 1, Summer 1993)
    • Electric and Magnetic Field Litigation (Vol. 1, No. 2, Fall 1993)
    • Forensic Science (Vol. 1, No. 3, Winter 1994)
    • Practice and Procedure: Daubert Hearings (Vol. 1, No. 4, Spring 1994)
    • Science and the Regulatory Process (Vol. 2, No. 1, Summer 1994)
    • Social and Behavioral Science Evidence (Vol. 2, No. 2, Fall 1994)
    • Science and Forensic Science (Vol. 2, No. 3, Winter 1995)
    • Scientific Fraud and Misconduct (Vol. 2, No. 4, Spring 1995)
    • Causation in Toxic Tort Litigation (Vol. 3, No. 1, Summer 1995)
  • Stephen A. Brunette and Stephen F. Lynch, Significant Recent Cases on Expert and Scientific Evidence, 1(4) Shepard's Expert and Sci. Evid. Q. 615 (Spring, 1994).
  • Stephen A. Brunette, Introduction to Post-Daubert Forensic Science, 1(3) Shepard's Expert and Sci. Evid. Q. 421 (Winter, 1994).
  • Stephen A. Brunette, Significant Developments in Expert and Scientific Evidence, 1(2) Shepard's Expert and Sci. Evid. Q. 421 (Fall, 1993).
  • Stephen A. Brunette, Keeping Up With EMF Research, 1(2) Shepard's Expert and Sci. Evid. Q. 261 (Fall, 1993).
  • Stephen A. Brunette, Review of Significant Literature Addressing Scientific Evidence, 1(1) Shepard's Expert and Sci. Evid. Q. 63 (July 1993).
  • Stephen A. Brunette, Daubert Has Immediate Impact?, 1(1) Shepard's Expert and Sci. Evid. Q. 107 (July 1993).

Professional/Scientific Journals/Monographs

  • Stephen A. Brunette, Admissibility of Expert Testimony Based on Opinions or Conclusions of Non-Testifying Others, 1 Scientific Evidence Review 83, ABA Standing Committee on Scientific Evidence (1992).
  • Stephen A. Brunette and Bruce D. Sales, The Role of Psychologists in State Legislation Governing Sex Offenders, Professional Psychology, 1980, 11, 194-201.
  • Stephen A. Brunette and William F. Battig, Recognition of Pictorial as Compared with Verbal Descriptions, Bulletin of the Psychonomic Society, 1974, 4, 524-526.

COA Articles

  • Stephen A. Brunette, Cause of Action for Injury to Student in School Playground Accident, 2 COA2d 487, Shepard's/McGraw-Hill, 1993.
  • Stephen A. Brunette, Cause of Action for Injury Caused by Negligent Operation of Police Vehicle, 1 COA2d 819, Shepard's/McGraw-Hill, 1993.
  • Stephen A. Brunette, Cause of Action for Injury Suffered in Collision Involving Ambulance, 29 COA 655, Shepard's/McGraw-Hill, 1992.
  • Stephen A. Brunette and D. Bradley Pettit, Cause of Action to Invalidate or Set Aside Deed Based on Undue Influence, 28 COA 291, Shepard's/McGraw-Hill, 1992.
  • Stephen A. Brunette, Cause of Action Against Provider of Mental Health Treatment for Injury Caused by Patient, 20 COA 89, Shepard's/McGraw-Hill, 1989.
  • Stephen A. Brunette, Cause of Action Against Parent at Common Law for Injury Caused by Child, 18 COA 113, Shepard's/McGraw-Hill, 1989.
  • Stephen A. Brunette, Cause of Action to Recover for Injury to or Death of Student in Accident Involving Transportation To or From School, 17 COA 745, Shepard's/McGraw-Hill, 1988.
  • Stephen A. Brunette, Cause of Action for Adoption Without Consent of Parent on Ground of Abandonment, 16 COA 219, Shepard's/McGraw-Hill, 1988.
  • Stephen A. Brunette, Cause of Action to Recover Workers' Compensation Benefits for Occupational Disease, 15 COA 61, Shepard's/McGraw-Hill, 1988.
  • Stephen A. Brunette, Cause of Action for Violation of State Consumer Protection or Deceptive Trade Practices Statute in Connection with Real Estate Transaction, 14 COA 227, Shepard's/McGraw-Hill, 1987.
  • Stephen A. Brunette, Cause of Action Against Hospital for Infection Contracted by Patient, 13 COA 491, Shepard's/McGraw-Hill, 1987.
  • Stephen A. Brunette, Cause of Action Against Blood Bank for Negligence in Supplying Blood, 12 COA 679, Shepard's/McGraw-Hill, 1987.

Newsletters

  • Editor, Attorney Sanctions Newsletter, Shepard's/McGraw-Hill (1990 - 1991)
  • Editor, Expert Evidence Reporter, Shepard's/McGraw-Hill (1989 - 1990)
  • Editor, Elder Law Review, Young Lawyers Section, Nebraska State Bar Association (1984 - 1985)
  • Stephen A. Brunette, "Evidentiary and Policy Issues in Conservatorship Proceedings Involving Persons of Advanced Age," 3(4) Elder Law Review 1 (Young Lawyers Section, Nebraska State Bar Association, 1985)

Seminar/CLE Programs Presented

  • American Bar Association
    • Program Chair and Moderator, Duty and the Delusional Client: Ethics and Expert Evidence from the Edge. Program of the Behavioral Sciences Committee, Section of Science and Technology, American Bar Association Annual Meeting, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, August 3, 1998.
    • Organizer/Moderator, Forensic Arts, Sciences, and Sleights of Hand: Some Special Cases of Specialized Knowledge and Illusion. Program of the Scientific Evidence Committee, Section of Science and Technology, American Bar Association Annual Meeting, San Francisco, California, August 3, 1997.
    • Co-Moderator with Marc S. Klein and James O'Reilly, Judicial Control of Scientific Evidence: Beyond Daubert. Program of the Standing Committee on Scientific Evidence, Section of Science and Technology, American Bar Association Annual Meeting, New Orleans, Louisiana, August 7, 1994.
  • American Academy of Forensic Sciences
    • Organizer and Moderator, Emerging Forensic Scientist Competition Education Committee, Forensic Sciences Foundation
      • 52nd Annual Meeting, American Academy of Forensic Sciences (AAFS), Reno, Nevada, February 23, 2000
      • 53rd Annual Meeting, AAFS, Seattle, Washington, February 21, 2001
      • 54th Annual Meeting, AAFS, Atlanta, Georgia, February 13-16, 2002.
      • Presenter, "Proposed Amendments to FRE 702," in Jurisprudence Section Workshop: How to Be a Better Expert Witness. 51st Annual Meeting, AAFS, Orlando, Florida, February 15, 1999.
      • Presenter, Determining Decisional Capacities of Delusional Persons: Foundations in Fact and Fantasy. Program of the Jurisprudence and Psychiatry & Behavioral Science Sections. 50th Annual Meeting, AAFS, San Francisco, California, February 12, 1998.
      • Program Chair/Moderator with Grant Sperry, Forensic Arts, and Sciences: Questioned Documents. Program of the Questioned Documents and Jurisprudence Sections. 48th Annual Meeting, AAFS, Nashville, Tennessee, February 22, 1996.
      • Program Chair/Moderator, Forensic Arts and Sciences: Odontology. Program of the Jurisprudence and Odontology Sections. 48th Annual Meeting, AAFS, Nashville, Tennessee, February 22, 1996.
      • Program Chair/Moderator with Joseph P. Bono, Forensic Arts, and Sciences: From the Laboratory to the Courtroom. Program of the Criminalistics and Jurisprudence Sections. 48th Annual Meeting, AAFS, Nashville, Tennessee, February 22, 1996.
      • Organizer/Moderator, Forensic Scientific Evidence and Testimony in the Courtroom. Plenary Session, 47th Annual Meeting, AAFS, Seattle, Washington, February 15, 1995.
      • Co-Moderator with Kenneth S. Field, Improving Judicial Access to ''Valid'' and “Reliable” Forensic Science. Program of the Criminalistics, General, and Jurisprudence Sections, 46th Annual Meeting, AAFS, San Antonio, Texas, February 17, 1994.
      • Moderator, Elements of Causation in Toxic Tort Litigation: Preparation for Proof. Program of the Jurisprudence and Toxicology Sections, 46th Annual Meeting, AAFS, San Antonio, Texas, February 18, 1994.
      • Presenter, Judicial Scrutiny of Scientific Literature on which Expert Testimony Is Based. Paper presented at the 45th Annual Meeting, AAFS, Boston, Massachusetts, February 18, 1993.
      • Presenter, Medical and Scientific Evidence of Causation in Toxic Tort Litigation. Paper presented at the 44th Annual Meeting, AAFS, New Orleans, Louisiana, February 20, 1992.
  • International Association of Forensic Sciences
    • Moderator, Technology and Jurisprudence, Breakout Session following Plenary Session on "The Challenge and Opportunity of Modern Technology for Forensics," 15th Triennial Meeting, International Association of Forensic Sciences (IAFS), Los Angeles, California, August 27, 1999.
  • American Academy of Forensic Psychology
    • Presenter (with Eric Y. Drogin, J.D., Ph.D.), On the Same Page as the Judge: The National Benchbook on Psychiatric and Psychological Evidence and Testimony (ABA Commission on Mental and Physical Disability Law, 1998), Workshop of the American Academy of Forensic Psychology (AAFP), Las Vegas, Nevada, April 15, 1999.
  • American Psychology-Law Society
    • Presenter, Workers' Compensation for “Mental Injury.” Paper presented at the Biennial Convention of the American Psychology-Law Society, Chicago, Illinois, October 1983.
  • National Center for State Courts
    • Presenter (with Joe Cecil, J.D., Ph.D.), Daubert and Other Approaches to Scientific Evidence. Presented at the Fourth National Court Technology Conference, National Center for State Courts, Nashville, Tennessee, October 14, 1994.
  • Law Education Institute
    • Presenter, Foundations of Forensic Identification Evidence. Presented at the LEI Seminar, Criminal Law Program, Snowmass Village, Aspen, Colorado, January 6, 2003.
  • Colorado Bar Association
    • Panelist, Admissibility of Evidence, Preparing the Forensic Case for Trial; in "Firearms, Fingerprints, and Forensics: Gathering, Preserving and Admitting Evidence in Criminal Trials." CLE in Colorado, Colorado Bar Association, Denver, Colorado, May 22, 2003.
  • El Paso County Bar Association
    • Who Owns Blackacre? Representing Colorado Real Property Owners Against Failed Mortgage-Backed Securities Schemes, in El Paso County Bar Association Foreclosure Assistance Committee CLE on Advising and Representing Homeowners Facing Foreclosure, March 9, 2012.
  • Law Schools
    • Visiting Scholar Presentation, Planning for Summit Conference on Future Directions for Science in Criminal Law, to “lunch bunch” faculty of Boalt Hall, University of California, Berkeley, May 8, 2001.
    • Program Chair and Moderator, Symposium on Specialized Knowledge: I. Medical and Scientific Evidence of Causation; II. Psychiatric and Psychological Evidence, Institute for Advanced Legal Studies, University of Denver College of Law, April 30, 1998.

Contact Us

Schedule Your Consultation Today
  • Please enter your first name.
  • Please enter your last name.
  • Please enter your phone number.
    This isn't a valid phone number.
  • Please enter your email address.
    This isn't a valid email address.
  • Please make a selection.
  • Please enter a message.