Hon. C. Scott Crabtree (Ret.) is a JAMS DENVER neutral.  JAMS Denver is a licensee office. Policies and procedures may differ between JAMS, Inc., and JAMS Denver. Please visit https://jamsdenver.com/ or contact Lisa Gaige at admindocs@jamsdenver.com or 303-534-1254 for information related to JAMS Denver. 

Hon. C. Scott Crabtree (Ret.) presided over 100’s of jury and court trials during his 15 years on the Colorado District Court bench.  He was repeatedly recognized for his ability to reduce tensions by his sense of humor and his calm demeanor. Judge Crabtree will bring those same skills to his mediation and arbitration practice to aid the parties in resolving their disputes in a focused, but composed setting.  While on the bench he saw too many cases fall apart in trial that would have really benefitted from a mediated settlement. 

Prior to his appointment to the bench he was an A-V rated trial attorney in the Denver Metro area for twenty years practicing in the areas of business, commercial, insurance, construction and hospitality litigation. During that time he also founded and led a national association of hospitality industry attorneys.  That association is still a thriving and forceful organization in the hotel and hospitality industry.

ADR Experience and Qualifications

• As a judge he presided over a wide variety of cases including business litigation, personal injury, insurance coverage/bad faith, contract disputes, real estate, domestic relations, construction defect, professional malpractice and probate matters
• While in private practice Judge Crabtree taught college courses in hotel and hospitality law
• Prior to his judicial appointment he was engaged in volunteer mediation in Jefferson and Adams Counties
• As a judge he provided settlement conferences for cases assigned to fellow judges
• Judge Crabtree was an active participant and presenter for training the State of Colorado’s judges
• He was a frequent presenter for judges’ panels on civil practice
• Judge Crabtree was the author of the ground-breaking decision declaring Colorado’s same sex marriage ban unconstitutional

Areas of Mediation and Related Services

• Business/Commercial
• Construction
• Employment
• Estates/Probate/Trusts
• HOA Disputes
• Hotel and Hospitality
• Insurance 
• Personal Injury/Torts
• Professional Liability
• Real Property  

Honors, Memberships, and Professional Activities

• Member Colorado Bar Association and Adams Broomfield Bar Association
• Past member Colorado Civil Rules Committee
• Past President, Colorado District Judges Association
• Past Board Member, Colorado Hotel & Lodging Association
• Allied Member of the Year, Colorado Hotel & Lodging Association
• Past President, Academy of Hospital Industry Attorneys
• Inaugural member State of Colorado Judicial Education Committee
• Frequent participant in Colorado Bar Association High School Moot Court Competition
• Finalist for CJI Judicial Excellence Award
• Board Member, Colorado Judicial Institute

Background and Education

• Judge, Adams and Broomfield Counties 2001-2016
• Private litigation practice 1981-2001
• Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Colorado, 1975-1981, Chief of Civil Division
• Deputy District Attorney, 18th Judicial District, 1972-1975
• J.D. University of Nebraska College of Law, Lincoln, Nebraska 1972
• B.A. Colorado College, Colorado Springs, Colorado 1968