The cases listed below are cases that our firm has handled over the last ten years. Although the settlements are generally confidential, all of the cases listed involved significant settlements, including settlements over a million dollars.

James and Sarah Peterson v. Anasazi Medical Assoc.

The Jones Firm represented a young man who went to his doctor because of back pain, the pain was misdiagnosed and a serious spinal condition was missed. The doctor and the insurance company refused to settle the case. The case was tried to a jury and resulted in a verdict of $805,537.

In Re Shuttlejack: Bus Negligence

The Jones Firm represented seven children in a bus accident on a school ski outing. The firm was instrumental in facilitating a settlement among all plaintiffs achieving for its clients a settlement in excess of $2 million.

Harrington v. Ford Motor Company: Automobile Products Liability

Our client was killed when he was ejected during a rollover accident. We proved that our client was belted and that the seat belt malfunctioned. After filing suit and proceeding through discovery, Ford agreed to pay a substantial settlement. The case settled for a confidential amount.

Duran v. International Baler Corp. et al.: Products Liability

The Jones Firm represented an individual whose foot was cut off in an industrial paper baler. We alleged defects in the guarding on the baler and in the construction of the recycling facility. The claims against Johnson Controls settled for $300,000 and a claim against the paper baler manufacturer settled for a confidential amount.

Lucero v. General Motors Corp.: Automobile Products Liability

The Jones Firm represented a young man who was rendered a paraplegic in a rollover accident involving a GM Blazer. The main defect claims involved a seat back failure and glazing claims. The case was filed in San Miguel County and after extensive discovery and motions practice, the case settled for a confidential amount. The settlement enabled our client to move on with his life, including going back to school and finding financial independence.

Buldain v. Stack, M.D.: Medical Negligence Wrongful Death

The Jones Firm represented the estate of a young man who died as a result of a prescription drug overdose. We brought suit against the physician for the prescription of Fentanyl. The case was hard fought and we were prepared to present the case to the jury. On the Courthouse steps, the insurance company agreed to pay a substantial settlement. The amount remains confidential.

Abrams v. Sandia National Laboratory: Employment Discrimination

Our client was terminated following allegations of sexual harassment. Employment discrimination and retaliation claims were brought against Sandia National Laboratory. Suit was filed in Albuquerque. After extensive discovery and shortly before trial, the case settled for a confidential amount. (The Jones Firm handles many discrimination claims, including claims against various universities, Los Alamos Laboratory and the State of New Mexico).

Estate of Mack Grass v. Gandy Corp. et al: Oil Field Wrongful Death

The Jones Firm served as co-counsel in a wrongful death case resulting from an oil pit explosion. Our client was a worker in the oil field and suit was filed against his employer and other entities. After defeating motions to dismiss relating to the Worker’s Compensation bar, and less than a week before trial, the case settled for a confidential amount.

Hogan v. Ryder: Products Liability

The Jones Firm represented a 9 year old whose fingers were severed from his hand by a lift gate on a Ryder truck. Through pre-suit mediation, the case was settled for a confidential amount.

Chavez v. Inn of the Mountain Gods Casino: Dram Shop Claim

The Jones Firm brought suit on behalf of a young girl suffering catastrophic injuries in a car accident involving a drunk driver. Suit was filed against the casino in which the driver was drinking alleging a dram shop claim. After defeating motions to dismiss based on sovereign immunity, the case was settled for a confidential amount.

Leland Meier v. St. Vincent Hospital: Premises Liability Wrongful Death

Our client was wheelchair bound after a coma. After a visit to the hospital for a Coumadin shot, he was placed on the outside curb by a St. Vincent employee. His wheelchair fell over the curb and he died as a result of hitting his head. We alleged, and proved, that St. Vincent was negligent in its care of our client. Due to the respect of our Firm and the work we did in putting the case together, the case settled for a confidential amount very early in the process.

Montoya v. St. Catherine Healthcare et al.: Nursing Home Negligence

The Jones Firm represented a client who died as a result of debubitus ulcers developed from sub-standard care in two different nursing home facilities. Nursing home negligence was proven during the case and it resulted in a settlement during mediation.

Newell v. Los Alamos National Laboratory: Construction Site Incident

The Jones Firm represented a client who was an ironworker that was catastrophically injured while working on a construction project at the Los Alamos National Laboratory. He was injured when a steel staircase fell from a crane and partially landed on him. He suffered many broken bones and is permanently impaired. Suit was filed against numerous defendant and was hard fought. Shortly before trial, the case settled with all of the defendants accepting financial responsibility. The settlement enabled our client to purchase a home and move on with his life, despite the loss of his ability to go back to work as an ironworker.

In Re WorldCom Securities Litigation: Securities Litigation

The Jones Firm worked closely with the New Mexico Attorney General obtain a $21.8 million gross settlement on behalf of the State Investment Counsel and various State retirement funds, while serving as local counsel in a complex securities lawsuit filed in Santa Fe County against various investment banks and others accused of securities fraud.

State of New Mexico v. AOL-Time Warner: Securities Fraud

The Jones Firm served as local counsel and worked with the Attorney General to obtain a $15.8 million gross settlement in a federal lawsuit filed in Santa Fe County. The Firm alleged causes of action against AOL, Time Warner, various investment banks and others relating to the ill-fated merger between AOL and Time Warner.

New Mexico Tax and Revenue v. Amoco Oil Co. et al

Our firm represented the State against three oil companies relating to failure to pay severance taxes arising from a class action settlement. After a five day trial, the Firm won a $2,833,000.00 judgment.

Numerous Auto Accident Cases –

Our firm handles both large and small plaintiff cases. We currently have a number of auto accident cases at various stages of proceedings, including several cases set for trial in the next few months. Our view of these cases is that they should be actively pursued and litigated if settlement offers are unfair.

OTHER SIGNIFICANT CASES HANDLED BY THE JONES FIRM

In Re The Estate of Georgia O’Keefe:

The Jones Firm represented the niece of the famous artist, in contesting Georgia O’Keefe’s will on various grounds. The case was filed in Santa Fe and the Firm was successful in getting approximately $60-$70 million of the artist’s artwork, the bulk of her estate, transferred to non-profit museums and foundations rather than an individual as provided in the will.

United Nuclear Corp. v. General Atomic Company:

The Jones Firm represented the plaintiff UNC in an antitrust case alleging violation in the mining and marketing practices used in western New Mexico. After trial of the case for one week of a planned three week trial before a Santa Fe jury, the case settled for over $300 million. At the time, and probably even today, for New Mexico, it is the largest settlement after trial for a single plaintiff.

Brewer v. Southern Union Gas Co.:

The Jones Firm filed suit in New Mexico federal court as a consumer class action with most named plaintiffs being members of the National Education Association of New Mexico, a long-time client. This case was an antitrust case asserting natural gas price fixing in the San Juan Basin, New Mexico. After extensive discovery, motion practice and a successful trial on liability, the case settled for in excess of $75 million.