Law Schools

U of Denver Law Prof Dies Today After Bicycle Accident

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An assistant professor at the University of Denver Sturm College of Law died today after a bicycle accident early yesterday.

After initially saying in an e-mail to students that 32-year-old Erik Bluemel had been assaulted, law school officials later announced that police had determined he had a bicycle accident early yesterday, according to the Denver Post.

A police spokeswoman says Bluemel crashed his bike under a bridge, and that the cause of the accident is under investigation.

“We have lost a wonderful colleague, teacher and friend,” said Jose “Beto” Juarez Jr., the law school dean, as he called for the law school community to keep Bluemel’s family in their thoughts and prayers.

A graduate of New York University School of Law, Bluemel clerked for Judge Kermit Edward Bye on the St. Louis-based 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. He taught administrative law and environmental law at the University of Denver.

Bluemel was very well-liked and a brilliant teacher, says Ben Goff, vice president of the law school’s student bar association.

Updated at 5:55 p.m. to include and accord with new information from Denver Post.

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