J. Matt Thornton

Associate He / Him / His

Minneapolis

Tel 612.371.6207
Fax 612.371.3207

J. Matt Thornton is an associate in the Litigation Group. Matt's practice focuses on commercial litigation in both federal and state courts, including individual actions and class action defense, privacy and cybersecurity matters, product liability and mass tort. Matt also has experience litigating media and entertainment disputes, including defending defamation and privacy-related claims, obtaining access to government records, and safeguarding First Amendment rights.

Matt is involved in all aspects of his cases and prides himself in providing creative, business-oriented solutions for his clients. Among other things, Matt has extensive experience briefing dispositive motions, defending discovery disagreements, handling third-party discovery disputes, arguing substantive motions in court, preparing witnesses to give testimony, taking and defending depositions, negotiating individual and class action settlements, spearheading mediation, and maintaining clear, concise, and timely communications with clients.

Services

Experience

Representative Matters

Secured early dismissal of privacy-related claims brought against film producer.
Negotiated pre-motion dismissal of defamation claims brought against local blogger.
Prevailed on summary judgment in a high-profile quasi contract dispute involving more than a billion dollars in alleged damages.

Obtained a six-figure settlement on behalf of publisher whose publications were being censored by county jail in contravention of the First Amendment.
Successfully assisted a restaurant owner in challenging a citation issued by City for violating sign ordinance. The City reversed the citation and amended its sign ordinance to remove provision banning signs that “that an average reasonable person would find highly offensive to public decency."
Pursued and prevailed on First Amendment claims against a prominent public figure who censored his constituents’ criticism on his government-sponsored social media pages.
Aided the Colorado Freedom of Information Coalition in its efforts to ensure the public's right of access to government records is not arbitrarily ignored.
Defended large product liability class actions alleging breach of the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, express and implied warranties, and myriad consumer protection statutes.
Represented a hemp startup in a partnership dispute, in which he helped the client regain control of the company, secure the company’s assets, and expel all wrongdoers.
Defended numerous lawsuits involving allegations of negligence, fraud, conspiracy, and violations of myriad statutes, including the Fair Credit Reporting Act, the Telephone Consumer Protection Act, and Fair Debt Collection Practices Act.
Assisted clients in responding to data breaches, including a "phishing" scam that required notification to individuals residing in 30 states, and helped navigate the resulting litigation.
Defended a mobile advertising company in a multi-million dollar breach of contract dispute.
Represented large corporations in a putative class action alleging, among other things, wage and hour violations and violations of the TCPA.
Favorably settled an age discrimination and retaliation lawsuit filed by a serial litigant.
Represented a development company in a dispute over earnest money.
Defended a large trust from a family member's unlawful attempt to reach the trust's assets.
Obtained clemency for an inmate sentenced to years in prison under outdated and discriminatory sentencing guidelines for possessing a small amount of crack cocaine.
Represented, pro bono, a disabled individual in a landlord/tenant dispute resulting in a highly favorable settlement for the client.

Professional Highlights

Judicial Internships

In law school, Matt served as a Judicial Intern for Justice Gregory Hobbs, Jr. of the Colorado Supreme Court.

Professional Activities

American Bar Association

Colorado Bar Association

Denver Bar Association

Recognition & Accomplishments

The Best Lawyers in America, "Ones to Watch," Appellate (Denver), Commercial Litigation (Denver), 2022

Board Memberships & Community Service

Cleo Parker Robinson Dance

Publications

Co-author, "Exploring the Rise in State Wiretap Claims," JD Supra, March 4, 2021

Co-author, "Government Attorneys—Tell Your Clients They Can't Censor People on Social Media," Bloomberg Law Insight, September 3, 2019

Co-author, "Oregon, New York, Alabama, and Rhode Island Join List of States Considering Data Breach Legislation Post-Equifax," Pratt's Privacy & Cybersecurity Law Report, May 2018

Co-author, "Flooring It into the Future with Self-Driving Cars," ColoradoBiz Magazine, July 13, 2017

Co-author, "Overview of the Association of Corporate Counsel Model Information Protection and Security Controls for Outside Counsel Possessing Company Confidential Information," Ballard Spahr memo, April 2017

Related Insights

Credentials

Education

University of Denver, Sturm College of Law (J.D. 2015; Order of St. Ives)
Denver University Law Review, Staff Editor; Denver Journal of International Law and Policy, Staff Editor
Jessup International Moot Court Team, Captain

Virginia Commonwealth University (M.A. Economics, magna cum laude)

Virginia Commonwealth University (B.S. Economics, magna cum laude)

Admissions

Colorado

Minnesota

U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado

U.S. District Court for the District of New Mexico

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit