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Nicole A. Westbrook Represents Prominent Businessman in Defamation Case

October 08, 2024

Denver, Colorado – Brian Watson, a prominent self-made Colorado businessman, has filed a federal lawsuit against Chicago, IL and La Jolla, CA socialite Laura S. Elsaden for allegedly spreading false and defamatory claims about him at an exclusive mountain ranch community, damaging his name and reputation. Watson is seeking over $100 million in damages, claiming Elsaden maliciously called him a “criminal” who frequents “prostitutes” during an event at the exclusive C Lazy U dude ranch located in Granby, Colorado in the summer of 2024.

In the lawsuit (1:24-cv-02302), attorney Nicole A. Westbrook, of Jones & Keller, P.C., states Watson has never used prostitutes, has no criminal record, and has never been convicted of a crime.

According to the suit, the C Lazy U dude ranch is over 100 years old and is an all-inclusive resort that hosts guests from around the world. Conde Nast has named C Lazy U one of the top 10 resorts in the world for the past few years, and in 2018 it was named the best resort in Colorado. It was also selected as the winner of Oprah Daily’s inaugural 2024 Hotel O-Wards, Wine Spectator Award of Excellence for the ninth year in a row: top 500 Hotels worldwide, by Travel+Leisure, two Top Ten Awards by USA Today’s 2023 Best Readers’ Choice Awards, and many more.

Watson founded Northstar Commercial Partners, a national real estate investment company, 24 years ago. He first started visiting the ranch to spend time with family almost 20 years ago and entertain potential business prospects. During the past few years, Watson purchased land and built a second home on the ranch, and now lives there full-time.  According to court documents, Watson has invested a significant amount of time and money to build his family home at the C Lazy U Ranch in Granby. He has also used the property to conduct business including hosting investors, commercial real estate owners, tenants, brokers, lenders, his employees, and prospective business contacts.

According to the complaint, Elsaden’s defamatory statements have caused Watson severe emotional distress and made him hesitant to bring family, friends and business contacts to the ranch for concern they may also be accosted.

Read the full article at lawfirmnewswire.com.

Nicole Westbrook, an attorney with Jones & Keller P.C., litigates complex business matters, achieving outcomes that improve lives, and is a trial instructor and frequent writer on legal issues. Nicole can be reached at nwestbrook@joneskeller.com.

This information is not intended as legal advice. Readers should seek specific legal advice before acting with regard to the matters addressed above.