Joseph Zonies

Partner

Joseph Zonies is a partner with Reilly Pozner LLP and leads the firm’s mass tort and personal injury practice groups. In addition, he has litigated cases against and on behalf of large corporations, including a number of Fortune 500 companies. Joe recently was appointed to the Plaintiffs Steering Committee in the Avandia mass tort litigation in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. As one of the leaders in this multi-district litigation, he chairs a number of critical committees. In addition, Joe has represented hundreds of clients in other pharmaceutical mass tort litigations, including Baycol, Zyprexa, Vioxx and Ephedra where he has recovered millions of dollars for his clients. As part of his class action practice, Joe was appointed as class counsel against a national office retailer where the class recovered over $3 million in unpaid overtime wages. He also represents the interests of individuals who have been injured or killed by the wrongful conduct of others. Joe has represented individuals or survivors of those killed in car, bicycle, truck and motorcycle accidents. He also has represented those injured as the result of medical malpractice and dangerous conditions on properties. Joe earned his B.A. in Communications and Theater from the University of Notre Dame. After spending several years acting and producing and directing music videos, he attended the University of Denver College of Law. There, he graduated first in his law school class. During this time, he earned the highest grade in his class in eleven courses ranging from Torts and Securities Regulation to Tax and Water Law. After law school, Joe clerked for the Honorable John C. Porfilio in the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit. Joe lives in Broomfield, Colorado with his wife and their four children. He enjoys barely surviving triathlons that are far beyond his capabilities and occasionally appears on television as an actor.

Education

  • University of Denver College of Law, J.D., 1997
  • University of Notre Dame, B.A., 1987

Bar and Court Admissions

  • Colorado
  • United States District Court for the District of Colorado

Professional Memberships

  • Amicus Committee - Colorado Trial Lawyers Association
  • Board Member - Colorado Trial Lawyers Association
  • Class Action - Colorado Bar Association
  • Colorado Bar Association
  • Denver Bar Association
  • American Association for Justice

Published Opinions and Recent Speaking Engagements

  • Chase v. Farmers Ins. Exchange, 129 P.3d 1011 (Colo. App. 2004)
    • 129 P.3d 1011 (Colo. App. 2004)
  • Pritchett v. Office Depot, Inc., 420 F.3d 1090 (10th Cir. 2005)
    • 420 F.3d 1090 (10 Cir. 2005)
  • Mass Torts – the Ups and Downs, Colorado Trial Lawyers Association, Snowmass, Colorado
  • The Medicine of Vioxx, Moderator, Mealey's Conference, Amelia Island, Florida
  • Class and Collective Action Wage Cases, CBA Annual Employment Law Conference, Denver, Colorado
  • Learned Intermediary, Mealey's Conference, Las Vegas, Nevada
  • Mealey's Conference, Las Vegas, Nevada
  • Presentation of Results of Focus Group, Mealey's Conference, New Orleans, Louisiana