Childers Hanlon & Hudson

Civil lawsuits are not always resolved in the trial courts. A small number of them end up in the appellate courts. To ensure that we can handle every case from start to finish, we have attorneys experienced in all aspects of appellate practice in state and federal courts. We are also available to assist other attorneys handling cases on appeal.  

Appellate courts rely heavily on written briefs and petitions. The ability to present complicated facts and issues to a court in a coherent and engaging manner is a necessity to ensure every possible chance of success. We believe that good legal writing is craft that requires careful attention to grammar, usage, and readability. In our written work, we try to draw the court’s attention with prose that is clear and interesting. No judge enjoys getting bogged down in unending sentences filled with legalese.  ​  

Our lead appellate attorney is Christopher Bork. After receiving an undergraduate degree in English writing and journalism, he has continued to be a student of the English language and its use. In his 32-year career, he has been the sole or principal author of over 40 briefs and petitions to Arizona’s appellate courts. He has personally argued most of the appeals for which he wrote the briefs.  His clients on appeal have prevailed in approximately two-thirds of the cases. Ten of his appeals have resulted in published opinions by Arizona’s courts.   

Representative Appellate cases include:  Wickham v. Hopkins, 226 Ariz. 468, 250 P.3d 245 (Ct.App. 2011)(premises liability case limiting homeowner liability for injuries and damages to guests) ; Desert Golf Cars v. Yamaha Motor Co., 198 Ariz. 103, 7 P.3d 112 (Ct. App. 2000)(secured reversal of trial court's ruling denying defense and indemnity of product seller from manufacturer); Spirlong v. Browne, 236 Ariz. 146, 336 P.3d 779 (Ct. App. 2014)(successful appeal on behalf of property owner sued for strict liability for dog bite injuries caused to plaintiff by roommate's dog)[See Gary Hudson's bio page for a link to the Court of Appeals Oral Argument video]