Meet Our Attorneys

Douglas W. Benson

Douglas W. Benson, founder of Benson & Associates, lives in Arvada with his wife and three children, and devotes his practice exclusively to representing homeowners and homeowners associations experiencing construction-related problems along the front-range, mountain communities and western slope.

Mr. Benson completed his undergraduate studies at Christian Heritage College, where he majored in English. He received his Juris Doctor degree from California Western School of Law. During law school, he served on the Honors Advocacy Board and the California Western Law Review. Mr. Benson was also a member of the ABA Negotiations Team and was the recipient of the American Jurisprudence Award in torts and alternative dispute resolutions.

Mr. Benson has been an assigned mediator for the courts on numerous occasions. He utilizes his alternative dispute resolution skills in resolving claims for clients by focusing on mediation and arbitration. Mr. Benson is also a seasoned trial lawyer who has won several multimillion verdicts and awards for individual homeowners and homeowner associations in recent years.

Mr. Benson has spoken for various organizations nationally, and presented more than 40 seminars throughout the western United States. Recently, Mr. Benson spoke at the “Mealey’s Construction Defect Litigation Conference” in Marina Del Rey, California on the topic of “Construction Defects in Colorado.” He has authored articles on construction and insurance related issues for clients and organizations. Mr. Benson is currently a member of the Colorado and Denver Bar Associations.

To contact Mr. Benson, please call 720-898-9680, or email doug[at]bensonpc.com.

Heidi E. Storz

Heidi E. Storz, a partner at Benson & Associates, concentrates her practice in the area of construction defect litigation. Originally from Colorado, Ms. Storz received her bachelor degree in psychology from the University of Colorado with Magna Cum Laude honors. Graduating in the top 10% of her law school class, she received her Juris Doctorate from Northern Illinois University. During law school, Ms. Storz was awarded a Dean’s scholarship and the Marla Dickerson Public Interest Award and served as a Law Review Assistant Editor and as a Moot Court Justice. In addition, she completed an externship with Federal District Court Judge Philip G. Reinhard. Prior to entering the legal profession, Ms. Storz worked for over seven years in the human service field as an advocate for people with developmental disabilities and worked abroad as a counselor for victims of child abuse and neglect.

To contact Ms. Storz, please call 720-898-9680, or email hstorz[at]bensonpc.com.

Jeffrey P. Kerrane

Jeffrey P. Kerrane, a partner at Benson & Associates, is licensed to practice in Colorado, California, and Nevada. Jeff concentrates on construction defect litigation and has contributed in the recovery of over $80 million for his clients. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics from UCLA and a Juris Doctor degree from the University of San Diego School of Law. Jeff has studied abroad in Rhodes and Madrid.

Jeff brings over 12 years of experience in construction defect litigation to Benson & Associates. Prior to joining the firm, Jeff was a partner in the Burdman Law Group in Las Vegas and in the Law Offices of Cisneros & Kerrane in San Diego. Jeff’s experience includes numerous jury trials, arbitrations and mediations.

Jeff has authored articles on construction defect and community association law and has been published in journals such as the Santa Clara Law Review, Nevada Lawyer, California Regulatory Law Reporter, Condo Management Magazine, Recharger Magazine, and local newsletters of the Community Associations Institute (CAI). He is a frequent speaker on construction defect and community association law topics, and has lectured for CAI, the Nevada Ombudsman’s Office for Community Associations, the Nevada Real Estate Division, the Greater Las Vegas Association of Realtors, and California Association of Community Managers.

Jeff received awards in 2002 and 2003 from Clark County Legal Services and was named the 2003 Children’s Pro Bono Attorney of the Year. He also received an American Jurisprudence Award in Ethics. Currently, Jeff is a member of the Sustainable Community Task Force for the City and County of Broomfield which is tasked with updating the Environmental Stewardship Chapter of Broomfield’s 2005 Comprehensive Plan.

Jeff and his wife Julie are the proud parents of their seven year old daughter and four year old triplets.

To contact Jeff Kerrane, please call 720-898-9680, or email jkerrane[at]bensonpc.com.

Alex M. Nelson

Alex Nelson joined Benson & Associates 2008, and brought with him a wealth of experience in construction defect litigation and insurance coverage issues. Prior to joining B&A, he practiced at a Denver law firm that served the construction industry, working for both general contractors and real estate developers. His experience spans a wide range of both litigated and non-litigated matters, primarily focused in the areas of construction defects, real estate, insurance, and other commercial disputes. He has worked in both state and federal courts, including trial through jury verdict, and is experienced with all forms of alternative disputes resolution, as well as post trial and appellate work. He has written, spoken, and consulted on construction defect and liability insurance related issues. Alex’s practice is now focused exclusively on representing homeowners and homeowners associations in construction defect claims.

Alex received his B.A. in Environmental Studies and German from Middlebury College, and his J.D. from the University of Colorado School of Law.

He is a founder and benefactor of the annual Stigler/Nelson Alpine Endeavors Scholarship (affectionately known by students as the “Ski Bum Scholarship”) at the University of Colorado School of Law. The scholarship is awarded to the third year law student whose essay demonstrates a passion for alpine sports, and an ability to excel in them in spite of the rigors of the legal curricula.

Alex lives in Boulder with his wife Jen, daughter Gabrielle, and their two German shepherds.

To contact Alex, please call 720-898-9683, or email anelson[at]bensonpc.com.

Tia M. Zavaras

Tia M. Zavaras is an attorney at Benson & Associates, where her practice is focused on the representation of homeowners and homeowner associations in construction defect litigation.

Tia was raised in Phoenix, Arizona and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from the College of Social Work at Arizona State University. Prior to entering law school, Tia worked as a social worker, primarily with at-risk juveniles. She earned her Juris Doctor from the University of Denver College of Law and served as the law clerk in the Superior Court of Arizona for the Honorable J. Kenneth Mangum. Tia is licensed in both Colorado state and federal courts. Tia resides in Littleton with her husband and two sons. She brings a diverse background to Benson & Associates PC, as she has experience representing civil plaintiffs in mass tort litigation as well as criminal defendants in Colorado state courts. Tia is a member of the Denver Bar Association, the Colorado Bar Association, and the Colorado Criminal Defense Bar Association.

Landon L. Reed

Landon L. Reed is an attorney at Benson & Associates, representing homeowners and homeowner associations in construction defect litigation. Landon received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from Arizona State University graduating with Magna Cum Laude honors. He received his Juris Doctorate from the University of Nebraska. During law school, Landon worked as a law clerk for the State of Nebraska Attorney General’s Office. He wrote ten appellate briefs, arguing three of his briefs before the Nebraska Court of Appeals and one before the Nebraska Supreme Court.

After graduating law school, Landon served as a Deputy District Attorney in Pueblo County where he tried over twenty jury trials, in addition to negotiating and litigating thousands of cases pretrial. Landon was later hired by District Attorney Bill Ritter in Denver where he served as a Deputy District Attorney. He tried an additional twenty three jury trials that ranged in subject matter from traffic violations to first degree murder. Landon’s last assignment was to the Family Violence Unit where he specialized in litigating crimes against women and children.

Landon joins the team at Benson & Associates with an extensive litigation background and an understanding of what it means to craft and build a home with care. While growing up in Arizona, he was fortunate to have spent several summers with his father building homes in Pine, Arizona. The experience left him with an appreciation for craftsmanship that every homeowner deserves.

To contact Landon, please call 720-898-9687 or e-mail lreed@bensonpc.com