Nicolson Law Group
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memberships

NAMWOLF (National Association of Minority and Women Owned Law Firms)

Arapahoe County Bar Association

Colorado Defense Lawyers Association

Los Angeles County Bar Association

education

Southwestern Law School, Scale Program, JD 1989

University of California, Davis, BA 1984

admission

State Bar of California

United States District Court Central District of California

United States District Court Northern District of California

United States District Court Southern District of California

United States District Court Eastern District of California

State Bar of Colorado

United State District Court of Colorado

United States Court of Appeal Ninth and Tenth Circuits

David S. Canter

p 818.858.1120 d 818.208.2736



David S. Canter is a Partner at Nicolson Law Group and is an experienced civil litigator and trial lawyer. David has practiced law for over 30 years and is licensed and admitted to practice in all State and Federal Courts in both California and Colorado.

Over the course of his career, David has successfully represented individuals, small “mom and pop” companies, mid-size businesses, and large, multimillion dollar corporations in matters involving construction defect, short-term health insurance plans, insurance defense, insurance bad faith, first-party property loss, commercial transportation, premises liability, assault and battery, defamation suits, wrongful termination, misappropriation of trade secrets, breach of contract, mortgage repurchase litigation, business disputes, fraud, breach of fiduciary duty, ADA compliance, nuisance abatement and law enforcement/internal affairs investigations.

Having represented both plaintiffs and defendants in trial, arbitration, administrative hearings, and mediation, David has a unique, balanced perspective of all legal matters. Whether representing a person or a corporation, a plaintiff or a defendant, David’s approach remains the same: provide the client with a candid, reasonable evaluation of the parties’ respective claims and defenses; counsel the client on the costs and benefits of proceeding with litigation; encourage alternative dispute resolution at the appropriate juncture; negotiate professionally and in good faith with his adversaries; and at all times, zealously represent his clients’ interests from the onset of his engagement through the ultimate conclusion of the matter.

David has been recognized as a Super Lawyer in General Litigation (Colorado, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020), is a member of several legal and professional organizations including the Los Angeles Bar Association, the Arapahoe County Bar Association and the Colorado Defense Lawyers Association, and has presented on a number of topics important to the defense bar including “Tort Liability versus No Fault Insurance,” and the potential impact of the Colorado Court of Appeals’ decision in Fisher v. State Farm.

David completed law school in just two years, graduating from Southwestern Law School’s SCALE program in 1989. David received his Bachelor of Arts in Rhetoric from the University of California, Davis in 1984, and continued his studies as a graduate student in the Rhetoric Department at U.C. Davis, teaching courses in public speaking and small group communication.

relevant experience


Representation of an insurer in a bad faith action after the insurer denied the insured’s demand that the insurer replace the insured’s entire roof even though the roof sustained only minor damage.

Representation of an insurer in an action alleging bad faith breach of the insurance contract after the insurer denied coverage for property damage allegedly caused by the renter of the insured’s recreational vehicle.

Representation of insurer in a property damage coverage dispute after insured’s death within the insured recreational vehicle resulted in a total loss of the vehicle.

Representation of insurer in a property damage coverage dispute after insured’s death within the insured recreational vehicle resulted in a total loss of the vehicle.

Representation of issuer of short-term health insurance policies in the defense of claims of bad faith breach of the insurance contract for alleged unreasonable delay and denial of payment of covered benefits.

Representation of lenders in actions asserting breach of contract and fraud in actions to recover funds from mortgage brokers and correspondent lenders following borrowers’ defaults on home loans.

Representation of business partner in a marijuana dispensary in action asserting breach of contract, fraud, breach of fiduciary duty following the other partner’s breach of the partners’ operating agreements.

Representation of the operator of an adult entertainment business after the city initiated a nuisance abatement action against the operator.

Representation of law enforcement officers in internal affairs investigations and disciplinary hearings after alleged violations of department policies.

Representation of the driver of an 18-wheeler who allegedly caused a multi-vehicle accident on the interstate.

Representation of a marijuana dispensary after one of its employees struck a pedestrian.

Representation of a homeowner’s association in a breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty action after one of the members objected to the HOA board’s approval of the construction of a structure within the subdivision.

Representation of a skier who allegedly collided with another skier, causing both skiers significant injuries.

Representation of a homeowner on a premises liability claim after the driver of a vehicle drove his vehicle into a river adjacent to the client’s property.

Representation of the owner of a hunting cabin after a co-owner started a large and destructive wildfire.

Representation of the owner of a rental property after the tenant started a fire within the property, causing injuries to the tenant.

Representation of the seller of a home in a breach of contract, fraud, fraudulent concealment action after the buyer discovered extensive mold growth in the buyer’s newly-purchased property.

Representation of a motorcyclist in a product defect action against the motorcycle dealership after the motorcycle failed while being operated on the highway immediately after the client purchased the motorcycle.

Representation of the decedent’s estate in a wrongful death action after the decedent’s alleged murder of his wife and subsequent suicide.

Representation of a customer in an assault and battery action after the customer was attacked by a machete-wielding 7-Eleven clerk.

Representation of a father and his minor son after the son hosted a party where alcohol was served to and consumed by underage individuals.

Representation of a client in a product defect action after the client suffered a fractured ankle while attempting to disembark from a tram at Universal Studios.

Representation of a client who suffered personal injuries while attempting to enter a ride at Knott’s Berry Farm.

Representation of a concrete/plastering subcontractor in a construction defect case arising from the allegedly defective construction of a residential pool.

representative matters


Obtained $7.5 Million judgment on behalf of motorcyclist who suffered catastrophic injuries after colliding with a vehicle that made an illegal left turn.

Obtained a defense verdict on behalf of an insurer in a claim for bad faith breach of the insurance contract after the insurer denied uninsured motorist benefits.

Obtained a verdict in favor of a client who suffered injuries after slipping and falling in the laundry room of the client’s apartment building.

Obtained a verdict in favor of a client who suffered injuries after the defendant made an illegal left turn in front of the client.

Obtained a verdict in favor of a client who suffered injuries in rear-end motor vehicle accident.

Obtained a defense verdict on behalf of a client who rear-ended another motorist.

Obtained a defense verdict on behalf of client/driver of a dump truck who allegedly caused or contributed to the cause of a motor vehicle accident; obtained an award of costs against opposing counsel.

Successfully moved the court to dismiss claims asserted against client for alleged violations of the Consumer Protection Act.

Obtained a dismissal of all claims sounding in discrimination against persons with disabilities, which were asserted against a “mom and pop” cookie store by a “high frequency litigant.”

Obtained a dismissal of all claims asserted against the former client of a law firm who posted allegedly defamatory statements about the law firm on the internet.