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.

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 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 Courts in Colorado and North Dakota, and the United States Courts of Appeals in the D.C. and Tenth Circuits.  He is a member of the Colorado Bar Association and the Adams/Broomfield 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

Education

• S.J. Quinney College of Law, University of Utah (J.D., Law)
• South Dakota School of Mines & Technology (B.S., Mining Engineering) 

Short Courses

• Mining Law Short Course, Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation (RMMLF)
• Trial Skills Course, National Institute for Trial Advocacy (NITA) 

Bar and Court Admissions

• State of Colorado
• U.S. Court of Appeals, D.C. Circuit
• U.S. Court of Appeals, Tenth Circuit
• U.S. District Court, District of Colorado
• U.S. District Court, District of North Dakota

Representative Cases

• McCarty Excavating, Inc. v. Colo. Div. of Reclamation, Mining and Safety (Aug. 2009)(MLRB).
• Climax Molybdenum Co. v. MSHA, 2008 WL 4190444 (Aug. 2008)(ALJ).
• Phelps Dodge Tyrone, Inc. v. MSHA, 2007 WL 2229391 (July 2007)(ALJ). 
• Powder River Coal, LLC. v. MSHA, 29 FMSHRC 393 (May 2007)(ALJ).

Professional Involvement

• Adams/Broomfield Bar Association
• Colorado Bar Association
• Colorado Mining Association
• Nevada Mining Association
• Northwest Mining Association

Teaching and Lecturing

• Speaker, Mine Supervisor Responsibilities - Agent of the Operator, New Mexico Mine Safety and Health Conference, 2010
• Speaker, Legislative and Regulatory Update, Northwest Mining Association Conference, 2009
• Speaker, Contractor Issues in Mine Safety and Health Law, Northwest Mining Association Conference, 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
• Twice Awarded, Army Commendation Medal

Timothy R. Olson
Office Phone:  (303) 659-5040
Cell Phone:     (303) 249-6395
E-mail:  tim@tro-law.com