Teresa Cinnamond is a partner in the Denver office of Lewis Brisbois. Teresa has over 30 years’ experience successfully defending clients in liability matters alleging damages ranging from tens of thousands of dollars to over one billion dollars. Prior to joining Lewis Brisobois, Teresa was a General Liability Defense Partner at a global law firm. Teresa has significant expertise in all areas of general liability defense practice including construction site accident, construction defect, premises liability, negligent security, dram shop liability, defamation, and sexual abuse claims. Teresa also has extensive experience defending claims of professional negligence brought against insurance brokers and attorneys and defends claims of breach of fiduciary duty brought against corporate directors and officers. Teresa has experience directing defense counsel in the United States in general liability defense matters on behalf of an international insurer and also has litigated insurance coverage disputes and appeals.

Teresa has focused her career on state and federal court litigation. Collaborating with clients and their insurers, Teresa approaches each case with curiosity, listens to insureds, conducts thorough fact investigations, works closely with fact and expert witnesses, and develops and implements defense strategies that deliver timely, favorable results. Teresa proposes practical, cost-effective solutions and employs strong courtroom and settlement negotiation skills at every stage of litigation, including during mediations and trials. She has a deep understanding of the industries in which her clients operate and the business imperatives of clients and their insurers.

Throughout her career, Teresa has mentored attorneys at various stages of their careers. She also mentors law students beginning their careers. She is committed to collaborating with colleagues and developing a law firm culture that is client-centered, supportive, and empowering. 

Publications

Pro Bono & Philanthropy

Professional Presentations

• Lead Speaker, “Nuclear Verdicts in Construction Litigation: Defense Strategies to Mitigate Risk,” Strafford/BAR-BRI Webinars, July 8, 2025
• Lead Speaker: “Construction Site Injury Litigation: Defense Counsel Perspective,” Strafford Webinars, October 17, 2023
• Speaker, Construction Defect Claims, 17th Annual American Bar Association Tort, Trial and Insurance Practice Section Conference, May 2008

Admissions

• State Bar Admissions
  • Colorado
  • New Jersey
  • New York
• United States District Courts
  • United States District Court for the District of Colorado
  • United States District Court for the District of New Jersey
  • United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York
  • United States District Court for the Southern District of New York
• United States Courts of Appeals
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit

Associations

CLM Alliance, Denver Chapter

Awards & Honors

• Notes and Comments Editor, Hofstra Law Review
• Member, Hofstra Law Review
• Recipient, Property Law Award for Graduating Class, Maurice A. Deane School of Law at Hofstra University
• Recipient, May Thompson Evans Scholarship in Political Science, University of Richmond  
• Recipient, United States Army ROTC Scholarship

Education

Maurice A. Deane School of Law at Hofstra University

Juris Doctor, with honors

University of Richmond

Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Political Science, with honors

Representative Matters

General Liability

• Defended individual and law firm against claims by major corporate plaintiffs of defamation, damage to brand, and lost profits, stemming from defendant’s alleged media appearances and social media activity following the 2020 U.S. Presidential Election.
• Defending individual against claims by multi-national corporation alleging defamation and damages, including lost profits, stemming from defendant’s alleged statements following the 2020 U.S. Presidential Election.
• Defending individual alleged to be “state actor” against claims of violation of plaintiff’s civil rights through alleged fear tactics and security detail activities during investigation of election results. Complaint dismissed and appeal is pending.
• Defended warehouse owner and its property manager in catastrophic construction site accident case alleging negligence and failure to warn. Roofing contractor’s foreman fell through translucent skylight panel twenty-five feet onto concrete floor resulting in paraplegia. Secured directed verdict, after trial on liability, based on lack of a duty of care owed to plaintiff. Directed verdict upheld on appeal.
• Secured summary judgment dismissing complaint in case involving fall through portion of roof obscured by materials resulting in permanent injuries requiring a life care plan. Successfully argued indemnification agreement in contract between plaintiff’s employer and property owner and provision requiring compliance with “all applicable laws and standards” too broad to be enforced, common law claims barred, and implied indemnity claims without merit.
• Secured summary judgment dismissing complaint against developer and property owner in case of serious personal injuries sustained by worker due to alleged hazards on work site. Successfully argued no duty of care owed to plaintiff.
• Defended general contractor in construction site accident case involving fall from ladder during interior renovation project. Located non-party witness who admitted to erecting ladder rebutting evidence that insured’s employee erected ladder. Secured contribution pursuant to policy of insurance under which client may have been an additional insured.
• Defended laboratory owner in construction site accident case involving fall by painter from elevated work platform during laboratory renovation project. Owner supplied materials, work platform, and directed painting work. Plaintiff fell from platform striking head upon cleaning equipment left near work platform and subsequently died.
• Defended engineering firm that provided pond maintenance services against claims of alleged negligence in maintaining large pond at condominium complex in which woman drowned. Worked closely with engineering, herbicide, and geology experts who helped establish that level of algae in pond and client’s use of chemicals was proper and that adjacent rocks were not slippery or otherwise a contributing cause of the drowning.
• Reached global settlement with no contribution on behalf of general contractor client on multi-trade construction project involving demolition followed by work of several trades, including plaintiff’s employer. Plaintiff fell through pile of demolition debris while traversing debris to reach entryway that was not cordoned off.
• Defended condominium board and its property manager against claims of Legionnaire’s disease and mold related injuries by multiple residents of 6- story,120-unit complex.
• Defended owner of large apartment complex against habitability claims caused by alleged bed bug infestation.
• Defended major pharmacy retailer against claim that store manager intentionally removed safety section of conveyor system containing pop-out roller to fit system within dimensions of receiving room. Lack of pop-out roller caused serious crush injury to worker’s hand.
• Defended urban apartment complex owner in case of crush injury to hand when alleged poorly maintained garbage compressor malfunctioned.
• Defended construction manager and site safety manager against claims brought by motorcyclist for alleged improperly placed “Road Closed – Local Traffic Only” signage. Plaintiff had been served alcohol by two co-defendant bars on the night of accident and drove into open trench in roadway.
• Defended private club with gym against claims of negligence in connection with sexual abuse of multiple minors by their basketball coach.
• Defended night club against claims bouncer assaulted and intentionally injured patron and targeted him because he was gay.
• Defended hotel against claims it negligently failed to prevent physical assault in parking lot.
• Defended hotel against claims it overserved patrons at bar leading to assault of other patrons in hallway.
• Defended apartment building owner against claims of negligent failure to maintain security system in vestibule to prevent assault of tenant.
• Defended bar against claims it violated Dram Shop Act by selling alcohol to visibly intoxicated patron resulting in motor vehicle accident in which a husband and wife were killed.
• Defended medical alert system provider against claims for failure to timely respond to emergency call by subscriber resulting in her death. Developed evidence demonstrating alleged contract was properly cancelled and any delays were caused by others.
• Defended construction manager and site safety manager for injuries sustained during construction of manhole caused when alleged defectively installed and untested rigging eye failed, striking plaintiff. Thirty-three-year-old plaintiff alleged inability to work and underwent multiple surgeries including craniocervical fusion with suboccipital decompression. Settlement reached with client’s insurer contributing less than ten percent of global settlement.
• Defended veterinary hospital owner against claims of traumatic brain injury to a construction worker caused by an “explosion” during the decommissioning and relocation of an MRI machine. Service engineer allegedly breached vacuum seal of MRI’s cooling container causing liquid helium to boil and turn to gas. A thousand-pound internal helium tank blew through an adjacent wall, the ceiling partially collapsed, and debris struck plaintiff. Fact issues included coordination of trades and whether metal tools had been safely stored in multi-room work area.
• Defended apartment building owner against claims of negligently placed discarded items causing trip and fall on city sidewalk.
• Defended apartment building owner against claims of negligently installed stairs and carpeting.
• Defended apartment building owner against claims of negligent failure to repair interior stairs.
• Defended commercial bank against claims of negligently maintained interior track-off mats.
• Defended commercial property owner against claims of negligent failure to remove snow and ice from adjacent sidewalks.
• Defended commercial property tenant against claims of negligent failure to remove snow and ice from parking lot.
• Defended snow removal company against claims of negligent failure to remove snow and ice in violation of contract requirements.
• Defended grocery store against claims of slip and fall due to alleged olive oil spilled in aisle. 

Professional Liability

• Defending an insurance brokerage firm, its founder, and an employee in a case alleging fraudulent misrepresentation, negligent misrepresentation, and violation of the Colorado Consumer Protection Act, in connection with the sale of a health insurance policy.
• Defended insurance broker against claims of negligent failure to prevent cancellation of insurance policy.
• Defended attorney against claims of malpractice when client who sought to refinance mortgage was left with two mortgages rather than one.
• Defended attorney against claims of malpractice in real estate transaction alleging failure to properly negotiate sales contract leaving commercial purchaser with alleged diminished ability to develop and use property due to environmental regulations. 

Construction Defect

• Defended developer and general contractor in multimillion-dollar construction defect lawsuit involving alleged roofing, framing, siding, plumbing, and other defects in a 4-building, 121-unit condominium complex. Plaintiff sued twenty-five subcontractor defendants in the action.
• Defended specialty iron railing subcontractor in multimillion-dollar construction defect lawsuit involving significant alleged water infiltration and damage, multiple exterior construction defects, and causation issues.
• Secured summary judgment for building envelope waterproofing contractor in multimillion-dollar construction defect lawsuit. Successfully argued work was accepted by the general contractor and specific contract terms protected contractor from claims of defect following acceptance of work and permitted recoupment of unpaid lien and attorneys’ fees.
• Defended contractor in claims of construction defects involving alleged defective workmanship under the Colorado Construction Defect Action Reform Act, C.R.S. Section 13-20-801, et. seq.
• Defended flooring contractor on residential renovation project against claims of defective workmanship and damage to property.

Insurance Coverage

• Defended excess insurer against claim for additional insured coverage. Court held disclaimer of coverage was proper where parties seeking additional insured coverage had not entered direct contract with named insured.
• Defended insurer in case of alleged bad faith failure to properly investigate and settle claims under policies of uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage.