About Michael Watts

I am the owner of Retherford, Mullen & Moore. I began here as an associate in 2009, became a partner in 2015, and became the sole owner in 2019. I handle cases in multiple practice areas, including general insurance defense (auto, premises liability, commercial general liability), professional liability defense, employment law defense, and bad faith litigation. I also represent licensed professionals in actions brought against them by State licensing boards. I have tried multiple cases over the years, taken and defended hundreds of lay and expert witness depositions, prepared and argued motions and litigated countless cases. Some of my recent successes include:

• Defense verdict for a local hospital in a medical malpractice case involving surgical complications;

• Defense verdict for a large insurance company on a bad faith claim;

• Defense verdict in a wrongful death trial involving claims of civil conspiracy, negligence and negligent entrustment;

• Defense verdict for a local hospital in a medical malpractice case involving post-surgical privacy issues;

• Defense verdict in a medical malpractice case involving wrongful death claims against an emergency room physician;

• Defense verdict in a personal injury automobile accident case;

• Defense verdict in a trial involving claims of breach of contract and negligence against a trucking company;

• Securing a permanent injunction on behalf of a hospital client;

• Multiple dismissals and other favorable results representing licensed professionals (physicians, nurses, therapists, psychologists, etc.) in licensing board actions;

• Prevailing in summary judgment motions for two large insurance carriers in cases involving claims of bad faith.

In 2025, I was nominated and inducted into the American Board of Trial Advocates. This is a selective organization that admits attorneys who have the required jury trial experience and who also maintain a strong professional reputation in the legal community.

I have been selected as a “Super Lawyer” every year since 2022 and was a “Rising Star” through Colorado Super Lawyers from 2014 to 2022. I maintain a “10/10 – superb” rating on the attorney website Avvo. I have volunteered with Hire Heroes, and organization that helps military veterans find employment in the civilian sector. I have previously been a member of the Claims Litigation Management Alliance, an alliance of insurance industry professionals and attorneys. I am a member of the Colorado Defense Lawyer’s Association and previously served on the Board of Directors.

I frequently present continuing legal education seminars, with an emphasis on legal ethics and professionalism. I am a firm believer that professional and cooperative approaches to cases work best for everyone involved in litigation.

Practice areas

• Professional Liability Defense

• Medical Malpractice Defense

• General Civil Litigation

• Employment Law Defense

• Trial Practice

• Automobile Accidents and Injuries

• Insurance Bad Faith

• Insurance Coverage

• Commercial Litigation

• Wrongful Death

• Insurance Defense

• Self-Insurance Defense

• Products Liability

• Personal Injury

• Premises Liability

• Professional Malpractice

• Criminal Defense