David K. TeSelle
Trial Lawyer David K. TeSelle is a Colorado and Arizona licensed and officed attorney who has successfully tried numerous cases to jury verdicts in both state and federal court, as well as private arbitration. In 2019, Mr. TeSelle was a lead trial lawyer successful in obtaining on one of the largest personal injury jury verdicts in Arizona history ($58.5 million). Then in 2021, after the trial court reduced the verdict post-trial to $17 million, Mr. TeSelle successfully argued before the Arizona Court of Appeals to get the full $58.5 million judgment reinstated for his clients.
Mr. TeSelle continues to be actively engaged in high-profile trial litigation nationwide. He is currently a lead lawyer in national litigation on behalf of thousands of “gold star” military families whose loved ones were injured or killed by terror attacks in Iraq against Iran, its agents and instrumentalities, and the multi-national banks who provided Iran and its terror proxies material support. He is also a lead trial lawyer in litigation against insurance companies in their attempts to avoid coverage for COVID-based property damage to both small and large businesses for business interruption nationwide.
Mr. TeSelle has also successfully battled the largest banks in the world including in litigation related to the 2008 economic collapse (the so-called “Big Short” cases) and regularly represents numerous plaintiffs in large class action and mass tort actions against corporate bad actors, large and small. Mr. TeSelle has represented both plaintiffs and defendants, and his focus is on complex trial litigation. Mr. TeSelle has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for his clients.
Finally, Mr. TeSelle also represents a select group of successful corporate and business clientele in trial and litigation-related business issues.
At Burg Simpson, Mr. TeSelle is a Preferred Shareholder and the leader of Burg Simpson’s Complex Commercial Trial Team. The business and commercial litigation department has achieved Tier 1 status by US News and World Report (the highest-ranking available). His team includes over a dozen of the best trial lawyers in the country.
Mr. TeSelle’s primary practice areas include: Complex Commercial Litigation; “Bet Your Business” Litigation; Catastrophic Injuries; Mass Torts; Class Action; Shareholder, Partnership and LLC Member Disputes; Fiduciary Duty Violations; Construction Defects; Securities; Insurance Bad-Faith; COVID-19 Business Interruption Claims, Lender Liability; Shareholder Derivative Actions
Mr. TeSelle also represents and provides guidance to state and federal whistleblowers under the False Claims Act (so-called Qui Tam actions) when they expose fraud against the state and federal government.
Mr. TeSelle is AV-rated by Martindale-Hubbell, has been repeatedly recognized in Best Lawyers in America (including achieving Best Lawyers-Lawyer of the Year status in 2017), and Colorado Super Lawyers. He is a Fellow in the Litigation Counsel of America, maintains a 10.0 AVVO rating, and has been honored as a Top 100 Trial Attorney by the National Trial Lawyers Association (of which he is Past President of the National Trial Lawyers Business Torts section).
Mr. TeSelle was born in Lincoln, Nebraska, grew up in Reading, Pennsylvania, and has lived in Colorado for the past twenty-four years. Mr. TeSelle graduated from Columbia College of Columbia University in New York, NY in 1991. Mr. TeSelle received his law degree from Penn State Dickinson Law in 1994.
Honors & Accolades
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Best Lawyers® “Lawyer of the Year 2017,” Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions – Plaintiffs, Denver
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Top Verdict® “Top 50 Jury Verdicts,” All Practice Areas, 2019
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Nation’s Top One Percent 2015, National Association of Distinguished Counsel
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Selected to Best Lawyers® in America, 2013-2025
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Selected to Colorado Super Lawyers®, 2012-2018 and 2020 – 2023
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Top 100 Attorney, The National Trial Lawyers
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AV Preeminent® Rating, Martindale-Hubbell
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AVVO®, Highest Distinction of Superb 10.0 Attorney Rating
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Senior Fellow, Litigation Counsel of America
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President, National Trial Lawyers Business Tort Trial Lawyers Association
Bar Admissions
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Colorado, 1998
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Pennsylvania (Inactive), 1994
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U.S. District Court, District of Colorado, 1998
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U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Pennsylvania
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U.S. Court of Appeals, 10th Circuit
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Arizona, 2015
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United States District Court for Arizona
Education
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J.D., 1994, Dickinson School of Law, Pennsylvania State University
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B.A., 1991, Columbia College, Columbia University in New York, NY
Professional Affiliations
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Project Participant, Colorado Supreme Court Well-Being Recognition Program for Legal Employers Pilot Project
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President of the National Trial Lawyers Business Tort Trial Lawyers Specialty Association, 2012-2015
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The National Trial Lawyers (NTL)
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Colorado Trial Lawyers Association (CTLA)
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American Bar Association
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Colorado Bar Association
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Arapahoe County Bar Association (ACBA)
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Jefferson County Bar Association
Publications & Media
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July 16, 2020: “Review of Chiafalo and Baca: The “Faithless Electors” Supreme Court Cases”
The National Law Review: Online article by David K. TeSelle. -
2020: Short Informational and Promotional Videos
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- Bet the Company Litigation, 2020
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- Biological Resource Center Case, 2020
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- Qui Tam, 2020
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December 12, 2019, Burgsimpson.com. “There is More Work to be Done to Protect Consumers from Body Brokers.”
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December 11, 2019: David K. TeSelle interviewed by The Daily Show regarding the $58 million verdict in the Biological Resource Center case in Arizona.
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November 19, 2019: Jury Awards a $58.5 Million Verdict in the “Body Parts Case”
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May 10, 2019: David TeSelle interviewed by Contact 7 Chief Investigative Reporter Tony Kovaleski regarding Sunset Mesa Funeral Home
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March 19, 2015: Fox News in Los Angeles, California reports on the arsenic in wine lawsuit Burg Simpson filed in California Superior Court on March 19, 2015, which features David TeSelle speaking at the press conference held to announce the lawsuit.
Teaching Positions
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Adjunct Faculty, University of Denver Sturm College of Law