Practice Areas

  • Litigation
  • Medical Malpractice
  • Professional Liability

Admissions

  • Colorado
  • Connecticut
  • New York

Douglas C. Wolanske

Partner

Phone: 303.623.1800
Email: dwolanske@messner.com
Office: Denver

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BackgroundEducation & HonorsAwardsAssociations

Mr. Wolanske has over 25 years of experience as a trial lawyer and has obtained over 50 jury verdicts, primarily in medical malpractice trials. His practice has focused on the defense of complex litigation including medical negligence claims and professional liability in both New York and Colorado.

Mr. Wolanske received his undergraduate degree from the University of Colorado at Boulder in 1993 where he also played on the varsity football team. He obtained his legal education at Syracuse University, graduating Magna Cum Laude in 1996. He is a member of the Justinian Honorary Law Society of Syracuse University College of Law. Mr. Wolanske is admitted to practice law in Colorado, New York and Connecticut. His professional memberships include the Denver, Colorado and American Bar Associations, as well as the Colorado Defense Lawyers Association and Defense Research Institute.

In 2011, Mr. Wolanske was elected to the American Board of Trial Advocates. “ABOTA is an organization with a primary mission of preserving the constitutional vision of equal justice for all Americans and our civil justice system. A select group of Colorado lawyers are currently ABOTA members. ABOTA is an invitation-only organization consisting of lawyers who have tried a minimum of 20 civil jury trials to conclusion.

In 2014, Mr. Wolanske was named Colorado Lawyer of the Year by Law Week Colorado based on his successful defense of 5 different medical malpractice cases at trial during that year.  Mr. Wolanske has been named to 5280s “Top Lawyers” yearly since the publication began giving honors to attorneys in Colorado.  He has also been identified as a Colorado Super Lawyer yearly since 2010.

Mr. Wolanske is also AV certified with Martindale-Hubbell. This peer review rating attests to a lawyer’s legal ability and professional ethics and reflects the confidential opinions of members of the Bar and Judiciary. This is the highest rating possible for attorneys to achieve with 10 years or more experience. He has maintained this certification for over 20 years.

Mr. Wolanske is married to a Physician Assistant, Sherry Fushimi; and has two children, Brooklyn Wolanske (13) and Carston Wolanske (10).

  • Syracuse University College of Law, J.D.1996 Magna Cum Laude
  • University of Colorado at Boulder, 1993
  • Best Lawyers – 2022
  • 5280 – Top Lawyers of 2022
  • Denver Bar Association
  • Colorado Bar Association
  • American Bar Association
  • Colorado Defense Lawyers Association
  • Defense Research Association
Community Involvement

Mr. Wolanske serves on the Board of the Mountain Area Midget Football Association as Second Vice President and coaches his son’s football team.

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