Biography

Timothy R. Olson's practice focuses on mining law and occupational safety and health law, including the litigation of MSHA and OSHA enforcement actions.  Mr. Olson also conducts seminars and training sessions on safety and health enforcement and discrimination topics under various state and federal acts.  Additionally, he presents on safety and health topics to various organizations, including the International Society of Mine Safety Professionals, the National Ready Mix Concrete Association, and various state safety councils and associations.

Mr. Olson is a graduate of the S.J. Quinney College of Law at the University of Utah.  He received his B.S. in Mining Engineering from the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology in 1991.  In recognition of his academic achievements, he was awarded the American Institute of Mining Engineers Scholarship, the Douglas W. Fuerstenau Scholarship, and the Edwin Oshier Memorial Scholarship.

Prior to entering the practice of law, Mr. Olson worked for more than a decade as a mining engineer.  He has substantial expertise with both underground and open-pit mining.  Mr. Olson has worked at mines in Arizona, Nevada, South Dakota, and Australia, and he is familiar with the technical and operational aspects of mines and mineral process plants.

Mr. Olson is licensed to practice law in the State of Colorado and is admitted to practice before the United States District Court in Colorado and the United States Courts of Appeals for the District of Columbia and Tenth Circuits.  He is a member of the Colorado Bar Association.

Mr. Olson served for four years in the United States Army where he was awarded the Army Achievement Medal and was twice decorated with the Army Commendation Medal.

Areas of Practice
                                                                                                                                                          
Mine Safety and Health Law (MSHA)
Occupational Safety and Health Law (OSHA)
Mining Law             
       
Legal Experience
                                               
2008 - Present             Timothy R. Olson, P.C.                                         
2004 - 2008                  Jackson Kelly PLLC             
                                               
Engineering and Management Experience

1994 - 2002                  Homestake Mining Company               
1991 - 1994                  ASARCO, Inc.           
                                               
Education
                                            
2004                             J.D.    S.J. Quinney College of Law, University of Utah                
1991                             B.S.    South Dakota School of Mines & Technology (Mining Engineering)         
   
Short Courses
                                          
2008                            Mining Law Short Course, Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation                
2006                            Basic Trial Skills Course, National Institute for Trial Advocacy (NITA)
                                            
Bar Admissions
                                                   
2005                             Colorado               
                                               
Court Admissions
                                                  
2005                             U.S. Court of Appeals, D.C. Circuit            
2005                             U.S. Court of Appeals, Tenth Circuit           
2005                             U.S. District Court, District of Colorado                                                                    
Professional Involvement

• Colorado Bar Association
• Colorado Mining Association
• Nevada Mining Association
• Northwest Mining Association

Representative Cases

• Climax Molybdenum Company v. Secretary of Labor, MSHA, (2008)(ALJ)(decision pending).
• Phelps Dodge Tyrone, Inc. v. Secretary of Labor, MSHA, 2007 WL 2229391 (July 2007)(ALJ). 
• Powder River Coal, LLC. v. Secretary of Labor, MSHA, 29 FMSHRC 393 (May 2007)(ALJ).

Teaching and Lecturing

• Speaker, Contractor Issues in Mine Safety and Health Law, Northwest Mining Association Annual Convention, 2008
• Speaker, Challenges to DOL Rulemakings: Recent Experiences, National Safety Council, Annual Congress and Expo, 2008
• Speaker, Contractor Issues in Mine Safety and Health Law, New Mexico Mine Safety and Health Conference, 2008
• Speaker, MSHA Critical Issues Update, 12th Annual Elko Underground Mining Conference, 2007
• Speaker, Recent Developments in Mine Safety and Health Law, ISMSP Critical Issues Conference, 2007
• Speaker, Handling OSHA Inspections, National Ready Mix Concrete Association, Fall Conference and EXPO, 2006
• Speaker, MSHA Critical Issues Update, International Society of Mine Safety Professionals - Rocky Mountain Chapter, 2006
• Speaker, OSHA Supervisory Training Course, Colorado Ready Mixed Concrete Association, 2006
• Speaker, Handling Safety and Health Inspections and Challenging Enforcement Actions, MSHA Spring Thaw, 2006

Awards and Honors

• Recipient, American Institute of Mining Engineers Scholarship
• Recipient, Douglas W. Fuerstenau Scholarship
• Recipient, Edwin Oshier Memorial Scholarship
• Awarded, Army Achievement Medal
• Awarded, Army Commendation Medal

Timothy R. Olson, P.C.
Phone:  (303) 659-5040
Email:  tim@tro-law.com