Casper Attorneys
201 North Wolcott
Casper, WY 82601
Phone: 307-234-9345
Fax: 307-237-5110 Contact Us Map
Cheyenne Attorneys
508 West 27th Street
Cheyenne, WY 82001
Phone: 307-634-7500
Fax: 307-638-7882 Contact Us Map
The Wyoming State Bar does not certify any lawyer as a specialist or expert. Anyone considering a lawyer should independently investigate the lawyer's credentials and ability, and not rely upon advertisements or self-proclaimed expertise.
W. Henry Combs, III specializes in trials and trial advocacy. He has extensive experience in defending civil rights, contracts, medical malpractice, ski accidents, industrial accidents, premises liability and traffic accident claims involving personal injury and wrongful death. He has conducted many jury trials in federal district court in Wyoming and in many Wyoming state district courts. He handles appeals of both appellant and appellee to the Wyoming Supreme Court and the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit. He is a board certified member of The National Board of Trial Advocacy.
Admissions:
Wyoming Supreme Court
United States Supreme Court
U. S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit
U. S. District Court for the District of Wyoming
Experience:
Following graduation from the University of Wyoming College of Law and admission to the Wyoming State Bar in 1975, Mr. Combs began his practice with Murane & Bostwick as an associate, becoming a partner in 1977. His practice includes the defense of personal injury and wrongful death claims. He has been lead counsel in medical malpractice cases, representing physicians and hospitals, and cases involving ski area litigation, traffic accidents, work related accidents, and claims involving brain damage, quadriplegia and other serious injuries.
Professional Organizations:
American Bar Association
Member, Tort & Insurance Practice and Law Practice Management Sections
Wyoming State Bar
Member, Committee to Resolve Fee Disputes, 1990-1992
The Defense Research Institute
ALFA International
Contact Member
Listed in Woodward and White’s “Best Lawyers in America”.
Listed in "Mountain States Super Lawyers
National Board of Trial Advocacy (Board Certified as a civil trial attorney)
Lectures & Seminars
Mr. Combs has lectured on Evidence, Procedure, Medical Malpractice and Recreation Law
Education
Legal:
J.D., University of Wyoming, Laramie, Wyoming (1975)
Undergraduate:
B.S., University of Wyoming, Laramie, Wyoming (1972)
Civic Organizations:
Casper Area Chamber of Commerce
American Water Ski Association
United States Handball Association
The BMW Club of North America
James R. Bell concentrates his practice in the areas of insurance law, business and commercial litigation, defense of personal and property damage injury claims, employment law, real estate, contract law, and zoning and planning law. Mr. Bell’s experience includes representation of clients before various state and local administrative commissions and boards. He also represents both appellants and appellees before the Wyoming Supreme Court and the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit.
Admissions:
Wyoming Supreme Court
U. S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit
U. S. District Court for the District of Wyoming
Experience:
Following graduation from the University of Wyoming College of Law and admission to the Wyoming State Bar in 1977, Mr. Bell began his practice in Lusk, Wyoming, where he was engaged in private practice and was the part-time Niobrara County Deputy Prosecuting Attorney. In 1978, Mr. Bell moved to Casper, Wyoming and was a staff attorney for Legal Aid Services. In 1979 he joined the Casper City Attorney’s Office as Deputy City Attorney. In that position he gained extensive experience in all areas of municipal law. While there he advised the City Council and department heads on matters involving municipal operations. He was involved with municipal contracts concerning real estate, professional services, subdivision of property, construction of municipal projects, franchises and revenue bonds and was involved with matters concerning municipal water rights and transfer of the same.
In 1985, Mr. Bell joined Murane & Bostwick as an associate, becoming a partner in 1991. Since coming to the firm, Mr. Bell’s practice has included a broad range of areas, including commercial transactions, real estate, probate, wills and estates, bankruptcy, employment issues, environmental issues, insurance disputes and claims, personal injury and property damage claims and litigation in all of these areas. Mr. Bell has also acted as a special assistant attorney general for the state of Wyoming in insurance liquidation matters.
Mr. Bell has served as lead counsel in litigation involving such claims as insurance bad faith, toxic torts and claims under federal and state environmental laws, soft tissue injuries, employment termination and discrimination on the basis of race, gender, age and disability, repossession and foreclosure of property, creditor’s claims in bankruptcy, and breach of contract and warranties under the U.C.C.
Professional Organizations:
American Bar Association
Member, Environment, Energy and Resources Law and Real Property, Trust and Estate Law Sections
Board of Directors of Legal Aid Service, Inc. (1988-1995); Chairman (1990-1991)
Lectures & Seminars:
Mr. Bell has spoken and participated in giving seminars on various legal topics within his areas of practice to attorneys and business leaders through Lorman Education Services, the National Business Institute and to groups such as the Wyoming Association of Municipalities, the Wyoming Trucking Association and Leadership Casper.
Education:
Legal
J.D., University of Wyoming, Laramie, Wyoming (1977)
Kathleen J. Swanson concentrates her Practice in personal injury defense, insurance coverage, trucking litigation, medical malpractice defense, employment law, worker’s compensation and insurance litigation. Ms. Swanson is admitted to practice in all state and federal courts in Wyoming. She is also admitted to practice law in Missouri.
Admissions:
Wyoming Supreme Court
U. S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit
U. S. District Court for the District of Wyoming
Missouri Supreme Court
Experience:
Ms. Swanson joined Murane & Bostwick in 1999. For several years, Ms. Swanson was associated with another Casper, Wyoming firm where she concentrated her practice in the fields of defense of personal injury claims, employment law and insurance litigation. She continues to practice in those areas, in addition to defense of medical malpractice claims.
Ms. Swanson has served as lead counsel in defending litigation involving such claims as closed head, spinal cord, psychological and brain injuries.
Professional Organizations:
American Bar Association
Member, Tort and Insurance Practice and Litigation Sections
Wyoming State Bar
Natrona County Bar Association
Wyoming Trial Lawyers Association
ALFA International
Contact Member
Education
Legal:
J.D.,University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Arkansas (1994)
Honors:
Graduated with High Honors Dean’s Honor Roll (199 1-1994)
Activities:
Member, Arkansas Law Review Student Member, American Bar Association
Undergraduate:
B.A., University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico (1991)
Major:
Criminal Justice
Honors:
Graduated with Distinction
Dean’s List (1987-1991)
Amigo Academic Scholarship
Western Athletic Conference All-Conference Academic
Activities:
Golden Key National Honor Society Phi Eta Sigma Academic Honor Club
Varsity Cross-Country and Track
James C. Worthen concentrates his practice in the defense of all areas of civil litigation; including employment law, personal injury, industrial accidents, products liability and worker's compensation.
Admissions:
Wyoming Supreme Court
U. S. District Court for the District of Wyoming
10th Circuit Court of Appeals
Tribal Court of the Eastern Shoshone and Northern Arapaho
Experience:
Mr. Worthen grew up in Green River, Wyoming. He attended the University of Wyoming and obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science and a Juris Doctorate from the University of Wyoming, College of Law.
Prior to graduation from law school, Mr. Worthen clerked for the Honorable Alan B. Johnson, Federal District Court of District of Wyoming. He was also employed by the Wyoming Healthcare Commission to review the licensing procedures for healthcare professionals for the State of Wyoming.
Upon graduation, Mr. Worthen joined Murane & Bostwick in 2006 as an associate and became a partner in 2010. He has been lead counsel in wrongful death and traumatic injury cases and has successfully represented individuals and businesses in oilfield accidents, commercial and retail litigation, motor vehicle accidents, asbestos and toxic exposure, and product liability claims. Mr. Worthen has also successfully represented businesses in worker’s compensation and discrimination claims under Title VII, the ADA, and the Wyoming Fair Employment Act.
Reported Cases:
Person v. State 100 P.3d 1270 (Wyo. 2004) Kitzke v. State of Wyoming, 84 P.3d 950 (Wyo. 2004) Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. v. Gunter 167 P.3d 645 (Wyo. 2007) Rice v. Collins Communication, Inc. 236 P.3d 1009 (Wyo. 2010) Singer v. New Tech Engineering L.P. 227 P.3d 305 (Wyo. 2010)
Professional Organizations:
American Bar Association
Member, Young Lawyers, Tort Trial and Insurance Practice and Labor and Employment Law Sections
Wyoming Bar Association
Natrona County Bar Association
Trial Attorneys of America
Defense Research Institute
ALFA International
Lectures & Seminars
Presenter - The Wyoming Workers Compensation System. Lorman Education Services
Education:
Legal:
J.D., University of Wyoming (2005)
Honors:
Finalist: Pace Environmental Moot Court Competition, 2002
Undergraduate:
B.S., University of Wyoming (2001)
Major:
Political Science
Honors and Activities:
University of Wyoming Debate Team, 1997-2001
2nd Place, National Parliamentary Debate Championship, 2001
Member, Phi Sigma Alpha, Political Science Honorary Society, 1998-2001
Civic Organizations:
Boy Scouts of America, Troop 1535 - Volunteer
Wyoming Wildlife Federation - Member
Jeff S. Meyer joined the Casper office of Murane & Bostwick in 2008. He concentrates his practice in civil litigation in the areas of insurance defense, medical malpractice, worker’s compensation, employment law, and product liability.
Admissions:
Wyoming Supreme Court
U. S. District Court for the District of Wyoming
Nebraska Supreme Court
U. S. District Court for the District of Nebraska
Experience:
Mr. Meyer began his professional career at a private, general law practice in Crete, Nebraska, following his graduation from law school in 1996.
In November of 1997, Mr. Meyer became a Deputy Lincoln County Attorney, in Lincoln County, Nebraska. His focus was on the prosecution of criminal offenses. In August, 1999, Mr. Meyer became the Chief Deputy Lincoln County Attorney, and continued to focus on the prosecution of criminal offenses. In November of 1999, Mr. Meyer was appointed Lincoln County Attorney, to fill the unexpired term of the previous County Attorney. Mr. Meyer was subsequently elected as Lincoln County Attorney in 2002, and re-elected in 2006. His focus continued to be on the prosecution of criminal offenses. Mr. Meyer also was responsible for handling civil matters that affected Lincoln County, and served as the legal representative for the other elected officials of Lincoln County. Mr. Meyer continued as Lincoln County, Nebraska Attorney until joining Murane & Bostwick in 2008.
Mr. Meyer also served on the Nebraska County Attorney’s Association Board of Directors, and was a member of the Association’s Legislative Committee.
Professional Organizations:
American Bar Association
Member, Tort and Insurance Practice and Litigation Sections
Wyoming State Bar Association
Natrona County Bar Association
Nebraska State Bar Association
Education:
Legal:
J.D., University of Nebraska College of Law (1996)
Undergraduate:
B.A., Political Science, Hastings College, Hastings, NE
Andrew F. Sears joined the Casper Office of Murane & Bostwick, LLC in 2011. He concentrates in the areas of civil litigation, administrative law and criminal defense..
Admissions:
Wyoming Supreme Court
United States District Court for Wyoming
Experience:
Following his graduation from the University of Wyoming College of Law, and prior to joining Murane & Bostwick, Mr. Sears served two years as law clerk for First Judicial District Court Judges Peter G. Arnold, Thomas Campbell, and Michael K. Davis, as well as Judge Edward Grant prior to his retirement. He participated in motion hearings and preparation of draft rulings, attended and participated in many jury trials and related proceedings involving serious felony charges, and preparation of decisions for the judges’ consideration. While attending law school, he worked at the Defender Aid Clinic where he represented clients convicted of crimes in post-conviction proceedings under the guidance of a faculty supervisor. During that time, he filed and argued motions in several state district courts, argued a case before the Wyoming Supreme Court, and filed a habeas corpus petition with the U.S. District Court for the District of Wyoming.
Professional Organizations:
Wyoming State Bar
Natrona County Bar Association
American Bar Association
Education:
Legal
J.D., University of Wyoming College of Law (2009)
Honors & Activities:
2008-2009 Defender Aid Program Outstanding Student Intern
Rothgerber, Johnson & Lyons Trial Advocacy Competition
Represented the University of Wyoming in regional trial advocacy competition in Seattle, WA
Undergraduate
B.S., Political Science, University of Wyoming (2006)
G. G. “Greg” Greenlee. After more than 45 years in the practice of law, all of which with Murane & Bostwick and most of which involved the defense of claims against individuals and companies and their insurers, Mr. Greenlee is no longer accepting assignments as lead trial counsel. His practice now consists of claim and exposure analysis for in-house counsel, claims representatives and other firm members, including, trial tactic recommendations, evidence evaluation and witness assessment. He is also available to participate in accident site investigations or inspections, witness interviews and consultation with expert witnesses. Where other firm members have schedule conflicts, or at the direction of the client, Mr. Greenlee is available to take or defend depositions.
Admissions:
Wyoming Supreme Court
United States Supreme Court
U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit
U.S. District Court for the District of Wyoming
U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado
Experience:
Following graduation from the University of Wyoming College of Law and admission to the Wyoming State Bar in 1966, Mr. Greenlee began his practice with Murane & Bostwick in Casper, Wyoming as an associate, becoming a partner in 1968. In 1995 he and his wife Patti moved to Cheyenne from Casper to establish the Cheyenne office of Murane & Bostwick. Over the first ten years with the firm the nature of his practice shifted from business and contract law to litigation. For the past 35 years his practice has involved the defense of personal injury and wrongful death claims arising from motor vehicle and industrial accidents or as a result of alleged product failure. Mr. Greenlee is now the firm’s senior member.
Mr. Greenlee has served as lead counsel in defending litigation involving such claims as wrongful death, chemical sensitivity, closed head injuries, reflex sympathetic dystrophy, spine and spinal cord injuries, limb amputation, quadriplegia, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, burns, brain injury and psychological injuries. Mr. Greenlee was the principal author of Wyoming’s Comparative Fault Statute enacted with minor changes by the Wyoming State Legislature in 1994.
Professional Organizations:
Wyoming State Bar
Past 7th Judicial District Bar Commissioner
Past chairman or member of various bar or court committees, including
Uniform District Court Rules, Pattern Jury Instructions, Continuing Legal Education, and Civil Division - Permanent Rules Advisory Committee
American Bar Association
Member, Litigation Section
Laramie County Bar Association
Life Fellow, American Bar Foundation
International Association of Defense Counsel
Member, Product Liability Committee
Past State Chair, Defense Research Institute
ALFA International
Contact Memeber
Member, Transportation Practice Group
Trucking Industry Defense Association
Listed in Woodward & White’s “Best Lawyers in America”
Listed in 2010-2012 editions of “Mountain States Super Lawyers”
Ewing T. Kerr Inn of Court
Recipient, Thomas G. Gorman Excellence in Professionalism Award, 2006
Publications
Co-author and Former Supplement Editor, Wyoming Trial Handbook,
West Group (1995 and Annually) (Now out of print)
Contributing Editor, Wyoming Section of the Product Liability Desk
Reference, Aspen Law & Business (Annually since 1998)
“Trying the Automobile Injury Case in Wyoming”, National Business
Institute (1997)
“Evidence in Trial Practice in Wyoming”, National Business Institute
(1991 and 1993)
“Damages - For Plaintiff and Defense Attorneys in Wyoming”, National
Business Institute (1989)
Co-author, “Comparative Negligence and Strict Liability - A Marriage of
Necessity”, Wyoming Section, Land & Water Law Review, (1983), and “The Marriage Revisited”, Wyoming Section, Land & Water Law Review (1987) (Both articles relate to the applicability of comparative fault to strict products liability)
Lectures & Seminars
Lecturer, speaker, presenter or panel member at various seminars or programs on various topics, primarily trial practice and evidence, for the Wyoming State Bar, the University of Wyoming, the Defense Lawyers Association of Wyoming, the Summit Bar Review, the Wyoming Claims Seminar, the National Business Institute, the Laramie County Bar Association, the Natrona County Bar Association, the Casper Legal Secretaries Association, the Legal Assistants of Wyoming and the Wyoming Claims Association.
Education
Legal:
J.D., University of Wyoming, Laramie, Wyoming (1966)
Honors:
Omicron Delta Kappa Honorary Society
Editor-in-Chief, Wyoming Law Journal
Editor-in-Chief, Land & Water Law Review
“Who’s Who in American Colleges & Universities”
Activities:
Law School Senator, ASUW Student Senate (Outstanding Senator, 1965)
Undergraduate:
B.S., University of South Dakota, Vermillion, South Dakota (1959)
Major:
Business Administration
Honors:
“Outstanding Senior in Marketing & Statistics”, Greater South Dakota Association
Civic Organizations
Past President, Casper Area Chamber of Commerce
Past President, Kiwanis Club of Casper
Past President, Natrona County United Fund
Loyd E. Smith joined the Cheyenne office of Murane & Bostwick in September, 1996. Prior to joining Murane & Bostwick, Mr. Smith practiced with a local Cheyenne firm from 1989 to 1996. After graduating from the University of Wyoming College of Law with honor in 1987, Mr. Smith first served as a general assignment law clerk for the Wyoming Supreme Court and thereafter as a law clerk to the Honorable Richard J. Macy, Justice of the Wyoming Supreme Court.
Mr. Smith is admitted to practice in both Wyoming and Colorado. His litigation practice is concentrated in the areas of personal injury defense, trucking litigation, insurance coverage and bad faith, employment litigation, civil rights law and environmental law. Mr. Smith’s practice also includes environmental, business, corporate, construction litigation and real estate law. Mr. Smith has represented litigants in trials in both state and federal courts and has handled appeals to the Wyoming Supreme Court and the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit. Mr. Smith’s reported decisions include:
Beaulieu v. Florguist, 86 P.3d 863 (Wyo. 2004) Hoecher v. Runyan, 21 P.3d 339 (Wyo. 2001) Meyerv. Conlon andNational Farmers Union Property and Casualty, 162 F.3d 1264 (10th Cir. 1998); Progressive Casualty Insurance Company v. Brown’s Crew Car ofWyoming, Inc., 27 F.Supp.2d 1288 (D. Wyo. 1998) Marshall v. Chicago and NorthwesternTran~portation Co., 31 F.2d 1028 (10th Cir. 1994).
Admissions
Wyoming Supreme Court and all Wyoming State Courts
Colorado Supreme Court and all Colorado State Courts
U. S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit
U. S. District Court for the District of Wyoming
U. S. District Court for the District of Colorado
U. S. Bankruptcy Court for the Districts of Wyoming and Colorado
Professional Organizations
American Bar Association
Member, Litigation Section
Trucking Industry Defense Association
Wyoming State Bar
Laramie County Bar Association
ALFA International
Lectures & Seminars
Mr. Smith has lectured or presented at seminars for the Defense Lawyers Association of Wyoming, Wyoming Licensed Insurance Adjusters and various business and employer groups on topics ranging from insurance practices to workers’ compensation.
Education
Legal:
J.D. with Honor, University of Wyoming, Laramie Wyoming (1987)
Honors:
Order of the Coif
Undergraduate:
B.A., University of Wyoming, Laramie, Wyoming (1974)
Civic Organizations
Greater Cheyenne Chamber of Commerce
Kiwanis Club of Cheyenne
