Denver, CO (February 24, 2026) – Venable LLP is pleased to announce that its intellectual property litigation team, comprising Jim Sawtelle, Tara Bailes, Gina Jones, and Lisa Crisswell, obtained a full defense verdict for two clients facing copyright infringement and related business tort claims.
The case was tried before a jury in the United States District Court for the District of Colorado. The firm’s clients, a general contractor that builds large-scale gathering spaces for Christian organizations, along with its principal, were accused of copyright infringement and other claims arising from the use of plaintiff’s architectural drawings in the construction of a multi-million-dollar church facility in Colorado Springs.
The jury deliberated for approximately two hours before returning its verdict in favor of both clients on each of the five claims submitted. The Venable team’s nimble and diligent legal strategy led to a complete success in the courtroom.
Sawtelle served as lead trial counsel, handling jury selection, opening statements, direct and cross examination, oral argument, and the jury instruction charging conference. Bailes assisted with witness preparation, examined a primary witness, and handled all trial briefing, including the clients’ Rule 50 motion, as well as opposing the plaintiff’s effort to submit a jury instruction on punitive damages, which was successfully defeated. Jones handled all exhibits and technology at trial, including visual aids that jurors later noted as especially helpful during their deliberations. Crisswell assisted with pretrial and trial filings, as well as overall administrative support. Venable worked with co-counsel Jack Storti of Berg Hill Greenleaf Ruscitti, LLP.
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Venable LLP is an American Lawyer Global 100 law firm headquartered in Washington, DC that serves as primary counsel to a worldwide clientele of large and mid-sized organizations, nonprofits, high-net-worth entrepreneurs, and other individuals. With more than 900 professionals in California, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Maryland, New York, Virginia, and Washington, DC, the firm strategically advances its clients objectives in the United States and around the globe. Venable advises clients on a broad range of business and regulatory law, legislative affairs, complex litigation, and the full range of intellectual property disciplines. For more information, please visit https://www.Venable.com/.