wellon-b-poeWELLON B. POE

Shareholder and Director

wbp@czwlaw.com
405.524.2070

Wellon B. Poe is a shareholder and director at Collins, Zorn & Wagner. Wellon joined the firm in 2011 and has a broad practice in a variety of areas, including general civil litigation, administrative law, appellate practice, business transactions, civil rights, governmental, insurance defense, labor and employment, law enforcement, legal malpractice, open records act, personal injury, and property. Wellon has a long standing commitment of serving the public since his legal career began in 1987. From 2005 to 2011, Wellon served as the Chief Legal Counsel for the Oklahoma Department of Public Safety. From 1987 to 2005, he was an Assistant Attorney General for the Oklahoma Office of the Attorney General.

Wellon has argued before the Supreme Court of the United States in the case of Clingman v. Beaver, 544 U.S. 581 (2005). He has also argued and written briefs for numerous cases before the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit. Wellon has been a frequent lecturer and instructor on the topics of governmental tort claims, law enforcement, civil rights and administrative issues for the Oklahoma Bar Association, Oklahoma Department of Public Safety, Oklahoma Highway Patrol, and Oklahoma Council on Law Enforcement Education and Training.

BAR ADMISSIONS

  • Oklahoma
  • United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma
  • United States District Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma
  • United States District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma
  • United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit
  • Supreme Court of the United States

EDUCATION

  • University of Oklahoma College of Law, Juris Doctor, 1987
  • Northeastern State University, Tahlequah, Oklahoma, Bachelor of Arts, 1984

PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS

  • Oklahoma Bar Association
  • American Bar Association
  • Federal Bar Association
  • Oklahoma County Bar Association
  • Defense Research Institute, Inc.
  • Phi Alpha Delta

HONORS & AWARDS

  • Outstanding Service Award, Honorary State Trooper, Oklahoma Highway Patrol Troopers Association
  • Northeastern State University College of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Outstanding Alumnus 2000 to 2001
  • America’s Most Honored Professionals

PUBLISHED OPINIONS

  • Oklahoma Public Employees Association v. State ex rel. Oklahoma Office of Personnel Management, 267 P.3d 838 (Okla. 2011)
  • Bruner v. Baker, 506 F.3d 1021 (10th Cir. 2007)
  • Clingman v. Beaver, 544 U.S. 581 (2005)
  • Steelman v. State ex rel. Oklahoma Police Pension and Retirement System, 128 P.3d 1090 (Okla. Civ. App. 2005)
  • Vickers v. State ex rel. Oklahoma Police Pension and Retirement System, 120 P. 3d 862 (Okla. Civ. App. 2005)
  • Strong v. State ex rel. Oklahoma Police Pension and Retirement System, 115 P.3d 889 (Okla. Civ. App. 2005)
  • Alexander v. Oklahoma, 382 F.3d 1206 (10th Cir. 2004), reh’g den. 391 F.3d 1155 (10th Cir. 2004)
  • Bordwine v. Oklahoma Firefighters Pension and Retirement System, 99 P.3d 703 (Okla. Civ. App. 2004)
  • McFarland v. Childers, 212 F.3d 1178 (10th Cir. 2000)
  • Childress v. City of Arapaho, 210 F.3d 1154 (10th Cir. 2000)
  • New Mexico ex rel Ortiz v. Reed, 524 U.S. 151 (1998)
  • Delong v. State ex rel. Oklahoma Department of Public Safety, 956 P.2d 937 (Okla. Civ. App. 1998)
  • Massengale v. Oklahoma Board of Examiners in Optometry, 30 F.3d 1325 (10th Cir. 1994)
  • Brooks v. State of Oklahoma, 862 F. Supp. 342 (W. Dt. Okla. 1994)
  • Medena v. State of Okla., 871 P.2d 1379 (Okla. 1993)
  • Robison v. Maynard, 857 P.2d 817 (Okla. Civ. App. 1992)
  • Baker v. Cowley, 931 F.2d 1394 (10th Cir. 1991)

SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS

  • Speaker for the Oklahoma Bar Association
  • Speaker for the Oklahoma Highway Patrol
  • Speaker for the Lorman Education Services
  • Speaker for the Oklahoma Department of Public Safety
  • Speaker for the National Association of Extradition Officials
  • Speaker for the Oklahoma Council on Law Enforcement Education and Training

COMMUNITY SERVICE

  • Oklahoma Higher Education Alumni Council
  • Northeastern State University Foundation, Board of Directors, 1989 to Present
  • Northeastern State University Foundation, Board of Directors, President, 1998 to 2000
  • National Association of Extradition Officials, Board of Directors, 1991 to 1999
  • National Association of Extradition Officials, President, 1996 to 1997
  • Coach of Basketball, Football, and Softball, Youth Sports, Edmond, OK