Susan G. Ridgeway

Senior Counsel

Susan Ridgeway’s practice emphasizes civil litigation and surrogacy and reproductive donation law.

An experienced litigator in both state and federal court, Susan has helped small and large companies with their legal needs for over 25 years. Her clients include construction contractors, property developers, banks, health care providers, cryobanks, manufacturers, suppliers, and retailers. Susan has a solid record of achieving proactive and cost-efficient resolutions for her clients, both in and out of court.

A portion of Susan’s practice has been dedicated to establishing and protecting family rights.  For 12 years she has provided legal services to create and protect families in assisted reproductive technology arrangements.  She is recognized as a legal authority in Montana on surrogacy, reproductive donation, and parentage rights and has obtained remedies for LGBTQ+ parents and their children, including two groundbreaking Montana Supreme Court decisions.

Practice Areas

Bar Admissions

  • Montana, 1991
  • Washington (inactive), 1992
  • U.S. District Court, District of Montana
  • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Washington
  • U.S. Bankruptcy Court, District of Montana

Location

Missoula Office
125 Bank Street
Suite 403
Missoula, MT 59802

Education

JD: University of Montana, 1990, with honors
BA: University of Montana, 1984, History, with honors

Contact

ridgeways@hallevans.com

More About
Susan

Resume

Linkedin

Career Distinctions & Honors
  • The Best Lawyers in America®; Family Law, 2024-2025; Commercial Litigation, 2025
  • Martindale-Hubbell®, AV Preeminent Peer Review Rated
  • Mountain States Super Lawyers®, Civil Litigation: Defense, 2020, 2022-2024; Business Litigation, 2021
  • University of Montana School of Law, Guest Lecturer, 2016-present
Professional Experience
  • Partner, Axilon Law, Missoula, Montana, 2015-2021
  • Solo Practitioner, Missoula, Montana, 2000-2015
  • Associate Attorney, Datsopoulos, MacDonald & Lind, P.C., Missoula, Montana, 1995-2000
  • Assistant Attorney General, State of Washington, Spokane, Washington, 1992-1995
  • Judicial Law Clerk, Washington State Court of Appeals, Seattle, Washington, 1990-1992
Professional Associations
  • American Bar Association, Litigation and Assisted Reproductive Technologies Groups
  • American Academy of Reproductive Technology Attorneys, Fellow
  • Family Law Institute of the National LGBT Bar Association
  • Society for Ethical Egg Donation and Surrogacy
  • State Bar of Montana
Business & Community Service
  • Friends of Missoula Parks, Board Member, 2016-present
  • Missoula City Parks and Recreation, Board Member, 2013-2016
  • Missoula County Public Schools, Writing Coach or Policy Committee Member, 2010-2013
  • Missoula Strikers Soccer Association, Team Manager, Assistant Coach, or Referee 2005-2011
  • Missoula Community School, Board Member, 2001-2002
  • Blue Mountain Clinic, Board Member, 1996-1999
Other Activities
  • Susan enjoys cycling, mountain biking, and playing ice hockey with friends.
Blog Posts About Susan

Michael N. DiCanio

Member

Michael DiCanio has over fifteen years of complex litigation experience with an emphasis on construction liability. Mr. DiCanio represents construction professionals, architects, and engineers in construction defect and professional liability disputes. Mr. DiCanio’s practice also involves representing clients in insurance disputes under a wide range of insurance policies, including directors and officers professional liability, first-party property, business interruption, commercial general liability, media liability, and builders risk.

Previously, Mr. DiCanio managed the defense of high-stakes litigation as in-house litigation counsel for a national home builder and practiced at global law firms in New York and New Jersey.

Practice Areas

Bar Admissions

  • New York, 2007
  • New Jersey, 2015
  • Colorado, 2021
  • U.S. District Court, District of Colorado
  • U.S. District Court, District of New Jersey
  • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of New York
  • U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York

Location

Denver Office
1001 17th Street
Suite 300
Denver, CO 80202

Education

JD:  Brooklyn Law School, 2006, cum laude
BS: University of Richmond, 2003, Finance, Dean’s List

Contact

dicaniom@hallevans.com

More About
Michael

Resume

Linkedin

Publications & Seminars
  • Author, “Preparing for the Inevitable: Insurance for Data Breaches,” New York Law Journal, May 19, 2015
  • Author, “Handling Hurricane Insurance Claims Post-Sandy,” Law360, July 21, 2014
  • Author, “Insurance Coverage For Invasion of Privacy Claims,” Corporate Counsel, May 7, 2013
  • Author, “Cleaning Up the Mess: Business Income Coverage in the Wake of Hurricane Katrina,” Coverage, May/June 2010
  • Author, “A “Suspension,” “Interruption,” or “Total Cessation” of Operations – Not So Fast,” New Appleman on Insurance: Current Critical Issues in Insurance Law, Fall 2009
  • Author, “A Risk Worth Taking? – The Role of In-House Counsel in Enterprise Risk Management,” Corporate Counsel, May 2007
Blog Posts About Michael

James C. Worthen

Member

James Worthen is a seasoned civil litigator. His practice is focused in matters of wrongful death, serious personal injury, product liability, employment, and construction defect.  Mr. Worthen has successfully represented business and individuals in jury trials involving oilfield accidents, motor vehicle and recreational accidents, commercial litigation, medical malpractice, professional liability, and retail litigation. Mr. Worthen also represents insurance carriers in coverage opinions and in first and third-party bad faith claims.

Prior to joining Hall & Evans, Mr. Worthen was a partner at Murane & Bostwick, LLC.

Practice Areas

Bar Admissions

  • Wyoming, 2005
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Tenth Circuit
  • U.S. District Court, District of Colorado
  • U.S. District Court, District of Wyoming
  • U.S. Supreme Court
  • Tribal Court of the Eastern Shoshone and Northern Arapaho

Location

Casper Office
152 North Durbin Street
Suite 404
Casper, WY 82601

Education

JD: University of Wyoming, 2005
BS: University of Wyoming, 2001, Political Science, Pi Sigma Alpha

Contact

worthenj@hallevans.com

More About
James

Resume

Linkedin

Career Distinctions & Honors
  • Martindale-Hubbell®, AV Preeminent Peer Review Rated
  • Mountain States Super Lawyers®, “Rising Star,” Personal Injury General: Defense, 2018-2019
Professional Associations
  • Wyoming State Bar, Torts Section and Federal Bar Section
  • Natrona County Bar Association
  • Defense Lawyers Association of Wyoming
  • Defense Research Institute
  • J. Reuben Clark Law Society
  • ALFA International
Articles & Publications // Presentations // Webinars
  • Moderator, “Game On: A Debate on #MeToo and its Impact on Business, Social Equality, and Due Process of Law,” ALFA International’s 2019 International Client Seminar, February 2019
  • Presenter, “Liability Trends in Oil & Gas Transportation,”ALFA International Oil & Gas Working Group Meeting, October 2017
  • Presenter, “Personal Electronic Devices Employment Policies,” Wyoming State Bar, Employment and Labor Section, February 2015
  • Presenter, “Civil Litigation in Tribal Court” Trial Attorneys of America, June 2013
  • Presenter, “Wyoming Employment Law Update, Annual Update,” Lorman Education Services, 2010 – 2016
  • Presenter, “Wyoming Workers Compensation Law,” Lorman Education Services, 2012-2015
  • Contributing Editor, “Labor and Employment Compendium – Wyoming,”ALFA International, 2011 – 2017
  • Contributing Editor, “Workers Compensation Compendium – Wyoming,” ALFA International 2011 – 2017
  • Contributing Editor, “Transportation Compendium – Wyoming,” Wyoming Section, ALFA International, 2013 – 2018
  • Contributing Editor, “Product Liability Desk Reference: A Fifty State Compendium – Wyoming,” Aspen Law & Business, 2013 – 2018
  • Contributing Author, “Desk Reference, A 50 State Summary – Wyoming,” Trucking Industry Defense Association, 2013 – 2015
Decisions
  • Viking Insurance Company v. Sumner, 2018 WL 4154774 (10th Cir. 2018)
  • C’Hair v. District Court of Ninth Judicial Dist., 357 P.3d 723 (Wyo. 2015)
  • Picozzi v. State ex rel. Wyoming Workers’ Safety, 304 P.3d 977 (Wyo. 2013)
  • Morris v. State ex rel. Wyoming Workers’ Safety, 276 P.3d 399 (Wyo. 2012)
  • Rice v. Collins Communication, Inc., 236 P.3d 1009 (Wyo. 2010)
  • Singer v. New Tech Engineering L.P., 227 P.3d 305 (Wyo. 2010)
  • Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. v. Gunter, 167 P.3d 645 (Wyo. 2007)
  • Montoya v. Walgreens, defense verdict on premises liability claim, April 2016
  • Encana Oil & Gas v. DHS Drilling, defense verdict on contract claim, March 2016
  • MDC v. Directional Rentals, defense verdict on contract claim, June 2015
  • Jones v. Kmart, defense verdict on premises liability claim, April 2015
  • Draper v. Kmart, defense verdict on premises liability claim, June 2012
  • Friedly v. Flanagan, defense verdict on malpractice claim, April 2007
Business & Community Service
  • Boy Scouts of America, Troop 535, Committee Chairman, 2005 – present
  • Trout Unlimited, Member, 2008 – present
  • Platte River Revival, Volunteer, 2014 – present
Blog Posts About James

Stephanie A. Montague

Member

Ms. Montague focuses on first-party insurance bad faith litigation, insurance coverage disputes, and other tort liability cases in both state and federal courts. She has expertise in sales, marketing and coverage matters for personal and commercial lines of insurance, emphasizing lawyers’ professional liability, motor vehicle, and homeowners insurance. Her experience includes all phases of civil litigation from discovery and pre-trial matters, trials, mediations, arbitrations, and appeals at the state and federal levels.

Practice Areas

Bar Admissions

  • Colorado, 1995
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Tenth Circuit
  • U.S. District Court, District of Colorado

Location

Denver Office
1001 17th Street
Suite 300
Denver, CO 80202

Education

JD: University of Denver College of Law, 1995
BA: University of Texas at Austin, 1991, Government

Contact

montagues@hallevans.com

More About
Stephanie

Resume

Linkedin

 

Career Distinctions & Honors
  • Martindale-Hubbell®, Distinguished Peer Review Rated
Professional Associations

  • American Bar Association

  • Colorado Bar Association

  • Denver Bar Association

  • Defense Research Institute

  • Colorado Women’s Bar Association

  • Colorado Defense Lawyers Association, Vice President, 2024-present; Treasurer, 2023-2024; Secretary, 2022-2023; Legislative Committee Member

Decisions
  • Pompa v. American Family Mut. Ins. Co., 506 F. Supp. 2d 412 (D.Colo. 2007)
  • American Standard Ins. Co. v. Savainano, 298 F. Supp. 2d 1092 (D.Colo. 2003)
Appeals
  • State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co. v. Stein, 940 P.2d 384 (Colo. 1997)
  • Carlisle v. Farmers Ins. Exch., 946 P.2d 555 (Colo. App. 1997)
  • Martinez v. Allstate, 961 P.2d 531 (Colo. App. 1997)
  • Travelers v. Mid-Century Ins. Co., 961 P. 2d 509 (Colo. App. 1997)
  • Mid-Century Ins. Co. v. Travelers, 982 P.2d 310 (Colo. 1999)
  • Fazio v. State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co., 520 F.3d 1139 (10th Cir. 2008)
  • Browning v. Am. Fam. Mut. Ins. Co., 396 Fed. Appx. 496 (10th Cir. 2010)
License
  • Licensed Colorado Property and Casualty Insurance Producer, 2008-2014
Business & Community Service
  • Colorado Bar Exam Grader, Colorado Supreme Court, 2019-present
Blog Posts About Stephanie

Matthew J. Hegarty

Member

Mr. Hegarty joined the firm in 2012 and was promoted to Member effective September 2019. Mr. Hegarty’s practice concentrates on trial and appellate litigation, chiefly the defense of matters implicating public entities and their employees under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 and the Colorado Governmental Immunity Act, of a wide variety of employment discrimination claims, and of ERISA and long-term disability claims, along with defense representation in recreational use law, premises liability matters, construction defect matters, land use matters, and other civil claims. Mr. Hegarty’s clients include a wide variety of municipalities and public officials, small- to medium-sized businesses, and nonprofits throughout Colorado and other Rocky Mountain states. Mr. Hegarty also provides pro bono immigration representation to undocumented women and their families via referrals from Denver’s Justice and Mercy Legal Aid Clinic.

Practice Areas

Bar Admissions

  • Colorado, 2010
  • U.S. District Court, District of Colorado
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Tenth Circuit

Location

Denver Office
1001 17th Street
Suite 300
Denver, CO 80202

Education

JD: Liberty University School of Law, 2010, cum laude
BA: Liberty University, 2007, Communication, summa cum laude

Contact

hegartym@hallevans.com

More About
Matthew

Resume

Linkedin

 

Career Distinctions & Honors
  • Colorado Super Lawyers®, “Rising Star,” Employment & Labor, 2018-2020
  • Managing Editor, Liberty University School of Law, Law Review
  • Finalist, Moot Court ABA National Appellate Advocacy Competition
  • Recipient, Founders Scholarship
Appeals
  • Lincoln v. Maketa, 880 F.3d 533 (10th Cir. 2018)
  • Cvancara v. Reams, 676 F. App’x 774 (10th Cir. 2017)
  • Sherman v. Klenke, 653 F. App’x 580 (10th Cir. 2016)
  • Felkins v. City of Lakewood, 774 F.3d 647 (10th Cir. 2014)
  • Lovern v. Dorscheid, 576 F. App’x 869 (10th Cir. 2014)
Professional Associations
  • Faculty of Federal Advocates
  • Defense Research Institute
Professional Experience
  • Senior Appellate Law Clerk, Colorado Court of Appeals, Honorable David Furman
  • Summer Clerk, United States Attorney’s Office, District of Colorado
Articles & Publications // Presentations // Webinars
  • Speaker, “Legal and Business Mindfulness,” Colorado River Outfitters Association Convention and Trade Show, 2019
  • Author, “The Law of Life Insurance: Key Issues in Each State,” DRI Defense Library Series, pp. 47-60, Robert B. Delano ed., 1st ed., 2017
  • Co-Author, “Lessons for Lawyers New to Civil Appellate Practice in Colorado Courts,” The Colorado Lawyer, December 2014
  • Contributing author, “Probate Bond Manual Second Edition,” American Bar Association
Business & Community Service
  • Volunteer, Street Law – teaching at-risk and incarcerated youth about legal issues.
  • Justice and Mercy Legal Aid Clinic – assisting victims of domestic violence with various legal issues.
Blog Posts About Matthew

© 2012-2025 Hall & Evans, LLC | Disclaimer | Privacy Policy