Trial Attorney, Dormer Harpring, LLC
By Pagett Dusic
Amy Rogers, a trial attorney at Dormer Harpring, LLC, traces her drive, determination and deep sense of purpose back to her roots in the small town of New Martinsville, WV. Growing up as the middle child between two brothers, she was surrounded by a family who encouraged independence, curiosity and a wide range of interests from sports and the arts to academic challenges.
“My favorite part of growing up in a small town was knowing everyone in our community and feeling the safety to play all around town and head home when the streetlights turned on,” she says.
Later, after moving to Follansbee, WV, she graduated from Brooke High School as a three-time state cheerleading champion and Promise Scholar. Her strong work ethic and broad interests naturally led her to West Virginia University (WVU), where a freshman philosophy class sparked her love of critical thinking.
“After I took my first philosophy class, I was instantly hooked,” says Rogers. “But feeling uncertain as to whether I had a future as a philosopher, I decided that a business degree seemed like a practical endeavor.”
Rogers earned degrees in both philosophy and business administration before deciding to attend WVU College of Law. As the first in her family to pursue a legal education, law school presented a learning curve. She spent countless hours with textbooks and online resources to grasp the language and logic of the law. Rogers embraced the challenge with determination and was driven by a desire to help.
One pivotal role for Rogers during law school was working in the Immigration Law Clinic. There, she successfully represented asylum clients by submitting applications, preparing clients for interviews and then traveling with them to Washington, D.C. She and her clinic partner successfully appealed a Board of Immigration Appeals decision to the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals, a defining moment that underscored the power of legal advocacy to change lives.
“It was an incredible honor to help them and provide counsel during one of the most painful and fearful times in their lives,” Rogers says.
That experience, paired with her passion for oral advocacy through Moot Court and the Lugar Trial Competition, reinforced her commitment to a client-centered approach to law.
These formative years laid the groundwork for her career in personal injury and civil rights litigation, where she continues to fight for individuals facing some of the most difficult circumstances of their lives. The foundation of rigorous academic preparation and meaningful real-world experience at WVU Law helped shape Rogers into the tenacious, compassionate advocate she is today.
Now a trial attorney at Dormer Harpring in Denver, CO, Rogers focuses on personal injury, product liability and civil rights cases. She joined the firm in 2024, drawn by its mission-driven approach and willingness to take challenging cases to trial. Already, she has tried two cases to verdict and thrives in the firm’s collaborative environment. Despite the long hours, she finds energy in the shared pursuit of justice with her team.
Rogers is deeply connected to her Appalachian roots and brings that perspective to her legal work. As the granddaughter of a coal miner, she draws inspiration from her family’s struggles, including her grandfather being denied black lung benefits. That history, along with West Virginia’s legacy of labor activism, shaped her passion for representing individuals who may not have a voice against powerful institutions.
“I take my role seriously and do not take lightly the individual sacrifices made to ensure baseline freedoms and protections for everyone,” she says.
Whether she’s challenging corporate negligence or defending civil rights, Rogers is driven by a deep commitment to justice and a profound connection to her roots.
Mentorship has also played a key role in her development. Rogers credits the beginning of her professional foundation to her first boss who introduced her to the intricacies of representing individuals with traumatic brain injuries and taught her the value of perseverance in trial work. That early mentorship was instrumental in her growth and continues to shape her approach today, especially as she builds her own leadership path.
One of Rogers’ most impactful professional achievements came in April 2025, when she and her team secured a landmark $4 million civil rights verdict in federal court. The case centered on Jackson Maes, a man who died by suicide in a remote Colorado jail after his repeated pleas for help were ignored. Maes was the third person in less than a decade to die in the same manner in that jail. The jury found the jail staff had failed to follow policies or provide training to its staff. The jury held the defendants accountable for a preventable death. For Rogers, the case was about more than the verdict.
“Suicidal thoughts should never be a death sentence,” she says. “This case sent a message that people in custody deserve mental health care and dignity.”
It’s a case that not only marked a milestone in her career but also sends a powerful message of which standards are acceptable for individuals in custody.
Outside the courtroom, Rogers is deeply involved in strengthening the legal community through leadership and mentorship. She chairs the Women Trial Lawyers’ Network, a subsection of the Colorado Trial Lawyers Association (CTLA), which she has led for the past three years. In this role, she helps organize retreats and summits focused on trial skills and leadership development and writes a monthly member spotlight column to help lift up other women attorneys in her community. She also serves on CTLA’s board of governors and executive and nominating committees.
“Cultivating a network of supportive women lawyers has proved to be the most valuable resource I have in my toolkit,” Rogers says. “When challenges arise, I can seek out the guidance and wisdom of our membership.”
Rogers continues her education and professional development through the Trial Lawyers College, National Institute for Trial Advocacy and the American Association for Justice. She is also a recent graduate of the Colorado Bar Association’s COBALT leadership program.
While Rogers now resides in Denver, she remains a passionate ambassador for her home state of West Virginia.
“When I think of West Virginia, I think of the grit that exists in these hills,” she says. “My grit and determination led me to find success in my professional career and personal life. I am also thankful for the humility of the people in these hills, who taught me from an early age to treat everyone with respect and kindness and to not view yourself as being above others.”
Rogers is most proud of the life she’s built and the difference she’s made, whether in the courtroom, at voter registration drives through her volunteerism with HeadCount, or in mentoring the next generation of women trial lawyers.
No matter where she goes, her roots, values and unwavering commitment to justice remain at the heart of her work.
