Recognition Follows Transition from Leading Colorado’s Largest Prosecutor’s Office to Securing Record-Setting Civil Verdicts
DENVER, Colo. — Less than two years after leaving public office and entering private practice, former 18th Judicial District Attorney John Kellner has been certified as a Life Member of both the Million Dollar Advocates Forum and the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum, two of the nation’s most selective organizations for trial attorneys.
The distinction places Kellner among fewer than one percent of attorneys nationwide who have secured million-dollar and multi-million-dollar verdicts, awards, or settlements on behalf of their clients.
Kellner joined Dan Caplis Law as managing partner in January 2025 after serving as the elected District Attorney for Colorado’s 18th Judicial District, the state’s largest judicial district. During his tenure, he became known for prosecuting some of Colorado’s most complex homicide and cold case investigations, earning statewide recognition as Colorado Prosecutor of the Year.
Since joining the firm, Kellner has already helped secure one of the largest jury verdicts in Colorado history. Working alongside Caplis, he helped obtain a $205 million wrongful death verdict on behalf of the family of a six-year-old girl who was killed on an amusement park ride. The verdict was more than 40 times greater than the defendant’s final pretrial settlement offer.
“John has spent his entire career standing up for people whose lives have been forever changed by tragedy,” said Dan Caplis, founder of Dan Caplis Law. “Whether he was pursuing justice for victims of violent crime or holding negligent corporations accountable, his approach has always been the same: prepare relentlessly, fight fearlessly, and never lose sight of the people depending on you.”
The Million Dollar Advocates Forum was established in 1993 and is recognized as one of the country’s most prestigious trial lawyer organizations. Membership is limited to attorneys who have achieved million-dollar verdicts, awards, or settlements, while the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum recognizes attorneys who have secured multi-million-dollar results for their clients.
About Dan Caplis Law
Dan Caplis Law is a Colorado-based personal injury law firm representing clients throughout Colorado in cases involving brain injuries, car crashes, trucking accidents, catastrophic injuries, premises liability, wrongful death, and other serious injury matters.