Discrepancies in the Case of the Accidental Death of an Ultracyclist

Shawn Gillum practiced as an attorney in Denver and handled complex cases and proceedings. One high profile case Shawn Gillum handled centered on the fatal collision of a pickup truck with ultracyclist Bob Breedlove in Trinidad, Colorado, during the 2005 running of Race Across America.

Initially characterized as a tragic accident by the police, investigations of the victim’s friends showed otherwise. In particular, the county coroner's description of Breedlove's body conflicted fundamentally with the story given by the driver of the truck. The police narrative was that Breedlove was weaving erratically and lost control of his bike before drifting into the wrong lane and being struck.

As Mr. Gillum, representing the Breedlove family, described it to Outside Magazine, the assigned prosecutor was unhelpful in resolving discrepancies. In addition to refusing to meet with the family, she declined to postpone the arraignment process until more facts could be collected. In addition, the driver got off with a minimal penalty, a suspended driver's license for operating a vehicle without insurance or a valid license. These factors influenced an effort by the Breedlove family to work and get the case reopened.

University of Denver Sturm College of Law Provides Real-World Training

Shawn Gillum most recently worked as a journalist with WOOD TV8 in Grand Rapids, Michigan, where he gave some on-air legal analysis of local criminal cases, and previously as a news anchor at KCWY News 13. Shawn Gillum holds a juris doctor from the University of Denver Sturm College of Law.

Strongly committed to equipping students with the real-life tools they need to practice law, the Sturm College of Law combines classroom academics with practical experience. Sturm is the only law school in the country to offer three practical skills programs - clinical training, legal writing, and trial advocacy - all ranked in the top 10 by U.S. News & World Report.

In addition to a traditional JD program, the school offers a part-time JD program, as well as several options for LLM and master’s degrees. Because they receive such broad training in all aspects of the law, graduates are highly sought after by employers. In 2017, more than 93 percent of program graduates secured positions within 10 months of graduation.

A Primer on Colorado's Marijuana Laws

Shawn Gillum has worked in law for more than a decade. During this time, he has worked on a number of cases involving marijuana. Before marijuana laws were relaxed, Shawn Gillum helped dismiss all charges against his client that was at the time the biggest marijuana farming case in Colorado.

After Amendment 64 was passed on the 2012 November ballot, Colorado became one of the states with the most progressive marijuana laws. Amendment 64 provides that all adults aged 21 or over can posses one ounce of marijuana. It also made recreational use of marijuana legal in the state of Colorado. On the other hand, users of medical marijuana still must register to obtain the medications they need.

Stores selling marijuana and other cannabis products can stay open until midnight, though cities can have custom rules. Smoking marijuana in public is still not allowed, only in private venues. Driving under the influence of THC is still illegal, with the maximum allowed concentration being five nanograms per ml of blood. Having marijuana in an open container inside a car’s passenger section is also illegal. Finally, it is illegal to carry marijuana when leaving Colorado, as is sending it via mail.