In April, 44-year-old plumber Jeffrey Hannasch’s legal battle for his adoption records led to a landmark Court of Appeals ruling. As a result of Hannasch's case, some 8,000 people adopted in Colorado between July 1, 1951, and July 1, 1967, will have an easier time obtaining their previously sealed adoption records.
Rich Uhrlaub, a volunteer coordinator with Adoptees in Search —The Colorado Triad Connection, heard about Hannasch’s case, and helped bring in lawyers Susan Combs and Marcy Glenn from Holland and Hart, who agreed to take the case on appeal on a pro bono basis.
In a unanimous published decision, the Colorado Court of Appeals reversed the district court’s order refusing Hannasch's request to access his adoption records. The court accepted Holland & Hart's view of Colorado’s adoption-records statute that an adoptee may have access to all court records and papers regarding the adoption.
Read more about Hannasch's compelling story and victory, here.
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