Practice Areas

• Construction Litigation; Banking; Real Estate Litigation; General Trial practice in areas of probate & trust, insurance, personal injury defense, product liability defense and commercial and contract litigation.

With Sommer Udall Sutin Law Firm Since

• 1982

Experience

• Eric has extensive litigation experience. In the first fifteen years of practice, he actively defended defendants in personal injury and insurance bad faith litigation and represented a local bank in numerous types of cases including, foreclosure and defense of lender liability claims. In the last ten years, his practice shifted to a more varied litigation practice for both plaintiffs or defendants in the areas of probate and trust litigation, guardian and conservatorship litigation, real estate litigation, products liability defense, construction defects litigation and insurance coverage issues related to construction defects. He still periodically represents defendants in personal injury cases.



• In his years of practice, Eric has developed significant mediation, arbitration, and trial experience. He has tried in excess of twenty five jury trials in the areas outlined above, and has been involved in numerous arbitrations and mediations.

Education

• B.A., Stanford University, Political Science, 1979
• J.D., University of New Mexico, 1982
• Hastings Center for Trial and Appellate Advocacy Program, March 1983

Bar Admissions

• New Mexico (Federal and State) since 1982
• United States Court of Appeals, 10th Circuit

Reported Appellate Decisions

• Bogle v. Summit Investment Co. 137 N. M. 80, 107 P.3d 520 (Ct. App. 2005)
• Dalton v. Franken Construction Co. 121 N.M. 539, 914 P. 2d 1036 (Ct. App 1996)
• Loya v. State Farm, 119 N. M. 1, P. 2d. 447 (S. Ct. 1994)
• Sanchez v. Herrera, 109 N. M. 155, 783 P. 2d 485 (S. Ct. 1989)
• Gonzales vs. Maes, 106 N. M. 342, 742 P. 2d 1047 (S. Ct. 1987)
• Universal Life Church v. Coxon, 105 N.M. 57, 728 P.2d 467 (S. Ct. 1986)

Professional Associations and Memberships

• Past President and Board Member, New Mexico Defense Lawyers
• Member, First Judicial Bar Association
• Member, American Bar Association
• Member, Defense Research Institute

Recognitions

• 1998 Lawyer Referral For The Elderly Program Pro Bono Award
• Board of Editors member 1981-1982, Natural Resources Journal
• Hastings Center for Trial and Appellate Advocacy Program - March 1983 (A ten day intensive trial practice program)