About Us

Mr. Chapman is a Wyoming native. He graduated from Cody High School in 1969.  He graduated from the University of Wyoming with a degree in sociology and went on to receive a Juris Doctorate from the University of Wyoming in 1976.  He worked as a special assistant in the criminal division of the Wyoming Attorney General’s Office during and after law school.  He was appointed and served as the Laramie County Public Defender in 1977. 

In July 1978, Mr. Chapman was appointed Wyoming’s first State Public Defender by Governor Ed Herschler.  He established offices and hired lawyers in all 23 Wyoming Counties, hired a new staff of 35, and edited and published the Public Defender Systems Criminal Defense Form Manual, which is still in use by the Public Defenders.  He has tried seven murder cases around the state as Public Defender.  Mr. Chapman has been in private practice since November, 1980.   Mr. Chapman’s legal practice specifically involves serious personal injury, emphasizing head, brain and spine injuries and wrongful death; tractor trailer/truck wrecks; complex business and other litigation; litigation management; insurance bad faith; professional practice and licensing consulting; and a wide variety of criminal defense matters ranging from traffic court to capital homicide.  He is a past president of the Wyoming Trial Lawyers Association and continues to serve on its Board of Directors.  He served on the board of the Self-Help Center in Natrona County, Wyoming, assisting in establishing a shelter for domestic abuse victims.  Mr. Chapman primarily now practices from his home office in Kelly, Wyoming, in Teton National Park.  

He is now "of counsel" with the firm Chapman, Valdez and Lansing.  https://www.chapmanvaldez.com

He has five children. Daughter Anne is a Duke Law graduate and currently a partner in Mitchell | Stein | Carey | Chapman, a Phoenix law firm specializing in criminal defense.  Daughter Casey is a businesswoman in Casper, Wyoming.  Emma is a December 2016 graduate of Seattle University School of Law and a member of the Washington State Bar.   Daughter Hannah is a graduate of the University of Washington School of Medicine, now in Birmingham in a fellowship in Urogynecology.   His son resides and works in the Teton Valley.  Mr. Chapman enjoys fishing, hunting, commentating and reading.

Education

University of Wyoming, College of Law, Laramie, Wyoming 1976,  J.D. 

University of Wyoming, Laramie, Wyoming 1973, B.S. in Sociology 

Bar Admissions 

Wyoming bar 1976

U.S. Court of Appeals 10th Circuit 1976

U.S. District Court, District of Wyoming, 1976

Published Works

Wyoming Public Defender Manual, 1978

Honors 

AV Designation given by Martindale Hubbell Law Directory

Best Lawyers in America Designation for the past 20 years  

Representative Cases

Wells Fargo Bank Wyoming, N.A. v. Hodder 144 P.3d 401 Wyo., 2006 

Fox v. Tanner, 101 P3d 939 (Wyo 2004)

Oukrop v. Wasserburger, 755 P2d 233 (Wyo 1988)

State v. Meenan as special prosecutor, CR AC NO. 15959-V 

Representative Clients

Homax Oil Sales, Inc. 

Bailly's Plumbing and Heating

Plains Tire and Battery, Inc.

Wyoming Cardiopulmonary Inc.

Central Wyoming Senior Center 

BOP, Inc.

B&B Tool; 

Tom Davis, M.D.

Davis ENT

Storm King Investments

State of Wyoming Attorney General as special prosecutor, 2003

Town of Evansville, 1996-2004 

Injured persons throughout the state of Wyoming

Persons charged with crimes--State and Federal 

Litigation percentage:  

85% of practice devoted to litigation 

Classes/Seminars taught: 

Various Subjects in Criminal and Civil Law; Wyoming Trial Lawyers Assn., 1984-2013

Brain and Head Injuries Seminars WTLA, various years

Supervision of legal staff (ethics) 2002 Wyoming State Bar

Defending Drunk Drivers, NBI various years;

Professional Associations & Memberships

Wyoming State Representative, 1981-1982 

Wyoming State Bar Association 

Wyoming Trial Lawyers Association (board member)

American Trial Lawyers Association

National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers

Wyoming 

Wyoming Trial Lawyers Association (former president)

Past Employment Positions

Wyoming Public Defender, Director 1978-1980

Laramie County Public Defender, director, 1976-1978

Pro Bono Activities

Repesenting various individuals in insurance disputes, 1982-2016

Legal Commentator

KTWO TV’s Report to Wyoming, 1980-2021

Fraternities

Sigma Chi