We Are Helping New Mexicans Recover From The Calf Canyon and Hermit’s Peak Fires
The Calf Canyon/Hermit’s Peak fires burned over 340,000 acres of homes, buildings, land, forest, and pastures in our beautiful Northern New Mexico this spring and summer. The fire devastated communities in and around Las Vegas, Sapello, Rociada, Mora, Ledoux, and Pendaries. The Gallinas River watershed has been seriously damaged, which put the Las Vegas water supply at risk. Some wells are now showing high levels of e coli and other fire-related contaminates. Pastureland is covered with ash, and is being invaded by noxious plants that are not suitable for grazing. Many of our clients lost homes that their families have held for generations, along with animals, equipment, and even wells. Retaining ponds have been destroyed with thick ash and debris. Some of our clients relied on their forested land for income, and now have nothing left for their future.
Both fires were ignited by the United States Forest Service as “prescribed burns.” These fires were started despite historic drought conditions and the high winds we expect during New Mexico’s spring season.
After the fires became the largest wildfire in New Mexico History, the monsoon season brought devastating floods. Those floods washed ash, soil, trees and rocks down the mountains and into our clients’ properties and water tables.
Congress approved the Calf Canyon Hermit’s Peak Fire Assistance Act to compensate victims of these fires. So far, up to $2.5 billion is available to pay claims. We are working with our clients to put together the most comprehensive claims packages we can based on expert assessments and reports. These claims will include losses that were not paid by FEMA or insurance. We are seeking damages for economic losses, business losses, and financial losses, to the full extent of what the Fire Assistance Act allows. We are leaving no stone unturned in fighting for our Northern New Mexico neighbors and friends.
We have recovered tens of millions of dollars for our clients.
Hospital negligence resulted in catastrophic injury. This was a case involving a patient who entered the hospital for routine observation but left the hospital with catastrophic and permanent injuries due to neglect and improper treatment. This case involved extensive expert testimony on all aspects of the client’s care, both by hospital administration, hospital employees, and contractors who were involved in her treatment.
Semi-truck negligence caused wrongful death. This case involved a semi-truck driver who was intoxicated on illegal substances and killed our client. The key to this case was both aggressive discovery work, and understanding the trucking laws that regulate truck drivers and motor carriers, so we could prove how reckless it was to put the driver on the road that day.
Semi-truck negligence caused catastrophic injury. This case involved a semi-truck driver who lost control of his vehicle in a high-traffic area, causing devastating injuries to our client. We were able to reconstruct every step of the events leading up to the crash that day to piece together why this happened, using sophisticated experts in reconstruction engineering.
Semi-truck and corporate negligence caused traumatic brain injury. Our client suffered a traumatic brain injury as a result of the defendant’s negligence in parking a commercial vehicle. The key to this case was understanding trucking regulations and local ordinances at play to show how the situation should have been handled safely.
Semi-truck causing wrongful death. This sad case involved the tragic death of our clients when a semi-driver was high on illegal substances. The key to this case was working closely with law enforcement and our reconstruction expert to identify all of the assets we could recover for these clients so that they could be as fully compensated as possible.