Jonathan Haas, then 46 years old, was booked into the Denver County Jail on Friday, Oct. 29, 2021. (Denver Police Department)
An attorney will lose his law license for half a year after admitting he intentionally hit a cyclist with his vehicle while driving down Cherry Creek South Drive one Friday afternoon.
Jonathan D. Haas, 47, was driving west near Cook Park just before 3 p.m. on Oct. 29, 2021, when a cyclist yelled at him, according to an agreement between Haas and a state agency.
As he drove alongside the cyclist at 15 to 20 miles per hour, Haas argued with him, sprayed water on the man and then swerved his vehicle into him. The collision broke the victim’s helmet and left him with a possible concussion, in addition to scrapes and bruises.
Haas initially kept driving but then stopped, got out of his vehicle and began fighting the man as witnesses worked to restrain the two. Denver police arrived and arrested Haas. He spent a night in jail on a charge of assault with a deadly weapon before posting bail.
As part of a plea agreement the following April, Haas admitted to misdemeanor assault, lost his driver’s license for one year, completed anger management and aggressive driving classes, and paid $2,267 in fines. His insurance company covered payments to the cyclist.
Haas’ case then came to the attention of the Colorado Office of Attorney Regulation Counsel, a state agency that investigates criminal and unethical behavior by lawyers. Haas has been a lawyer here since 2008 but doesn’t list a current employer on state forms.
Last Friday, Haas admitted wrongdoing and agreed to a nine-month suspension of his law license. Three months will be shaved off if he doesn’t violate probation in his criminal case. He also must pay a $224 fine by April 10, the day his suspension takes effect.
In recommending the six-month suspension to Disciplinary Judge Bryon Large, the Office of Attorney Regulation Counsel noted that Haas did not have a prior disciplinary record and that “the COVID pandemic may have contributed to his overall stress level.”
Requests for comment from Haas through his attorney, Nicole Black with Cohen Black Law in Denver, were not answered this week.
