Melinda S. McCorkle
Ms. McCorkle is a partner with Kline, McCorkle & Pilger, where she has practiced since 2011. Ms. McCorkle has been awarded the highest rating (AV) by Martindale-Hubbell, which is reflective of her peers’ perception of her legal skills. In 2017, Ms. McCorkle was selected as one of the “10 Best Personal Injury Attorneys” in Wyoming by the American Institute of Personal Injury Attorneys. In 2014, Ms. McCorkle was elected the Wyoming State Bar Commissioner for the First Judicial District by the attorneys in her district, a position she still holds. Ms. McCorkle is an adjunct professor at Laramie County Community College and teaches Tort (injury) law.
Ms. McCorkle represents individuals and businesses in complex civil litigation, including civil rights and Title IX, major personal injury and wrongful death, and all accompanying appellate briefing and argument. Ms. McCorkle also represents employers and employees in employment related matters and was recently asked to join the American Employment Law Council. Ms. McCorkle routinely represents professionals in professional licensing disputes, particularly attorneys with issues involving the Office of Bar Counsel and legal malpractice lawsuits. Ms. McCorkle has written and argued numerous cases before the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals and enjoys appellate work irrespective of whether she handled the initial case.
Over the last several years, Ms. McCorkle has been involved in several major cases, including the watershed case of Osborne v. Baxter Healthcare Corp., 798 F.3d 1260 (10th Cir. 2015), a case involving the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) on which numerous articles have been written. In 2017, Ms. McCorkle litigated and settled a case involving the sexual assault of a minor student by a teacher in violation of 42 U.S.C. § 1983 and Title IX (B.A.L. v. Laramie County School District No. 1, et. al., Civ. Action No. 16-CV-91 (D. Wyo. 2016)). In B.A.L., Ms. McCorkle defeated several dispositive motions and successfully argued against dismissing the principal in either his individual or official capacity. Ms. McCorkle has also represented educational institutions such as the University of Wyoming and successfully obtained dismissal of all claims via motions to dismiss for sixteen defendants and fourteen claims in Jemaneh v. Univ. of Wyoming, 622 F. App’x 765 (10th Cir. 2015), cert. denied, 136 S. Ct. 2419, 195 L. Ed. 2d 788 (2016). Ms. McCorkle has also been involved in numerous personal injury and wrongful death cases. In 2014, Ms. McCorkle defeated a motion for summary judgment on a co-employee case, which requires a showing of willful and wanton misconduct. The insurer then filed a declaratory judgment action arguing it did not have to defend or indemnify its insured. Ms. McCorkle defeated the insurer in the District Court and in the Tenth Circuit, after which, the insurer settled the case for 2.5 million dollars for Ms. McCorkle’s clients. Peerless Indem. Ins. Co. v. Cloud Peak Hosp., LLC, No. 14-CV-99-SWS, 2015 WL 11022848 (D. Wyo. Jan. 2, 2015), aff'd sub nom. Peerless Indem. Ins. Co. v. Swanner, 651 F. App’x 785 (10th Cir. 2016).
Prior to joining Kline, McCorkle & Pilger, Ms. McCorkle prosecuted for the Laramie County District Attorney’s Office during which time she gained extensive litigation and trial experience, handling numerous hearings, bench trials and jury trials for hundreds of cases. Immediately after law school, Ms. McCorkle clerked for the Honorable Clarence A. Brimmer, United States District Court, District of Wyoming. As a law clerk, Ms. McCorkle gained valuable insight into the judicial arena and performed extensive research and drafted numerous orders in various areas of the law, including Title VII, ERISA, due process, social security, natural resources, and First, Fourth, Fifth and Sixth Amendment rights issues.
Ms. McCorkle graduated from the University of Wyoming College of Law, magna cum laude, in 2004, during which time she gained several distinctions, including the International Academy of Trial Lawyers Award, National Association of Women Lawyers Outstanding Graduate Award, Order of the Coif, and was a staff member of the University of Wyoming Land and Water Law Review. Ms. McCorkle was also selected as the recorder and member of the Wyoming State Bar Select Committee to Review the Rules of Professional Conduct, an elite committee comprised of judges, prosecutors, criminal defense attorneys and civil litigators chosen to review and suggest revisions to the ethical rules governing attorneys. Prior to attending the University of Wyoming College of Law, Ms. McCorkle graduated from the University of South Carolina, magna cum laude, in 1999 (B.A., Journalism).
Bar Admissions:
Ms. McCorkle represents individuals and businesses in complex civil litigation, including civil rights and Title IX, major personal injury and wrongful death, and all accompanying appellate briefing and argument. Ms. McCorkle also represents employers and employees in employment related matters and was recently asked to join the American Employment Law Council. Ms. McCorkle routinely represents professionals in professional licensing disputes, particularly attorneys with issues involving the Office of Bar Counsel and legal malpractice lawsuits. Ms. McCorkle has written and argued numerous cases before the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals and enjoys appellate work irrespective of whether she handled the initial case.
Over the last several years, Ms. McCorkle has been involved in several major cases, including the watershed case of Osborne v. Baxter Healthcare Corp., 798 F.3d 1260 (10th Cir. 2015), a case involving the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) on which numerous articles have been written. In 2017, Ms. McCorkle litigated and settled a case involving the sexual assault of a minor student by a teacher in violation of 42 U.S.C. § 1983 and Title IX (B.A.L. v. Laramie County School District No. 1, et. al., Civ. Action No. 16-CV-91 (D. Wyo. 2016)). In B.A.L., Ms. McCorkle defeated several dispositive motions and successfully argued against dismissing the principal in either his individual or official capacity. Ms. McCorkle has also represented educational institutions such as the University of Wyoming and successfully obtained dismissal of all claims via motions to dismiss for sixteen defendants and fourteen claims in Jemaneh v. Univ. of Wyoming, 622 F. App’x 765 (10th Cir. 2015), cert. denied, 136 S. Ct. 2419, 195 L. Ed. 2d 788 (2016). Ms. McCorkle has also been involved in numerous personal injury and wrongful death cases. In 2014, Ms. McCorkle defeated a motion for summary judgment on a co-employee case, which requires a showing of willful and wanton misconduct. The insurer then filed a declaratory judgment action arguing it did not have to defend or indemnify its insured. Ms. McCorkle defeated the insurer in the District Court and in the Tenth Circuit, after which, the insurer settled the case for 2.5 million dollars for Ms. McCorkle’s clients. Peerless Indem. Ins. Co. v. Cloud Peak Hosp., LLC, No. 14-CV-99-SWS, 2015 WL 11022848 (D. Wyo. Jan. 2, 2015), aff'd sub nom. Peerless Indem. Ins. Co. v. Swanner, 651 F. App’x 785 (10th Cir. 2016).
Prior to joining Kline, McCorkle & Pilger, Ms. McCorkle prosecuted for the Laramie County District Attorney’s Office during which time she gained extensive litigation and trial experience, handling numerous hearings, bench trials and jury trials for hundreds of cases. Immediately after law school, Ms. McCorkle clerked for the Honorable Clarence A. Brimmer, United States District Court, District of Wyoming. As a law clerk, Ms. McCorkle gained valuable insight into the judicial arena and performed extensive research and drafted numerous orders in various areas of the law, including Title VII, ERISA, due process, social security, natural resources, and First, Fourth, Fifth and Sixth Amendment rights issues.
Ms. McCorkle graduated from the University of Wyoming College of Law, magna cum laude, in 2004, during which time she gained several distinctions, including the International Academy of Trial Lawyers Award, National Association of Women Lawyers Outstanding Graduate Award, Order of the Coif, and was a staff member of the University of Wyoming Land and Water Law Review. Ms. McCorkle was also selected as the recorder and member of the Wyoming State Bar Select Committee to Review the Rules of Professional Conduct, an elite committee comprised of judges, prosecutors, criminal defense attorneys and civil litigators chosen to review and suggest revisions to the ethical rules governing attorneys. Prior to attending the University of Wyoming College of Law, Ms. McCorkle graduated from the University of South Carolina, magna cum laude, in 1999 (B.A., Journalism).
Bar Admissions:
- Wyoming Supreme Court and all Wyoming State Courts
- Colorado Supreme Court and all Colorado State Courts (presently inactive)
- North Carolina Supreme Court and all North Carolina State Courts (presently inactive)
- U.S. District Court for the District of Wyoming
- U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado
- Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals
- University of Wyoming College of Law, Juris Doctorate magna cum laude, 2004
- University of South Carolina, B.A. in Journalism, magna cum laude, 1999
- Adjunct Professor, Laramie County Community College, Cheyenne, WY: Tort Law (2016-present)
- Assistant District Attorney, Laramie County District Attorney’s Office, Cheyenne, WY (2006-2010)
- Associate, Hathaway and Kunz, P.C., Cheyenne, WY (2005-2007)
- Law Clerk for the Honorable Clarence A. Brimmer, United States District Judge for the District of Wyoming, Cheyenne, WY (2004-2005)
- Summer Associate, Lonabaugh and Riggs, LLP, Sheridan, WY (2003)
- Summer Associate, National Organization for Women Legal Defense Fund, New York, NY (2002)
- American Board of Trial Advocates - Wyoming Chapter - Interpretation of Exclusions in Insurance Policies (2015)
- Equal Justice Wyoming: Employee Rights in Wyoming (2015)
- Publication: Making Lemonade from Lemons: Constructive Approaches to Resolving Attorney Discipline, Wyoming Lawyer (August 2014).
- LexisNexis Martindale Hubbell "AV Preeminent" rating
- Wyoming Civil Pattern Jury Instruction Committee (2017 - present)
- American Institute of Personal Injury Attorneys: selected as one of the "10 Best Personal Injury Attorneys" in Wyoming (2017-2018)
- American Employment Law Council (by invitation only) (2017-present)
- Association of Professional Responsibility Lawyers (2015-present)
- Wyoming State Bar Commissioner, First Judicial District (2014-present)
- Protection and Advocacy for Individuals with Mental Illness (PAIMI) Advisory Council - Vice-Chair (2013-present)
- Wyoming Trial Lawyers Association (2011-present)
- Laramie County Bar Association (2004-present)
- Laramie County Juvenile Services Joint Powers Board (2008-2010)
- SAGE System of Care Initiative (2007-2009)
- Laramie County Provider Leadership Consortium (2007-2009)
- Wyoming State Bar Select Committee to Review the Rules of Professional Conduct (2003-2005)
- Academic Distinctions: International Academy of Trial Lawyers Award; Order of the Coif; Dean's List; National Association of Women Lawyers Outstanding Graduate Award; Wyoming Law Review - Staff, Case Note Author
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