The Attorneys and Staff of Curtis and Lucero

 

Lisa K. Curtis, Esq.

Founding Partner

Telephone: 505-243-2808
Lisa@CurtisLawFirm.org

For almost 20 years, Lisa has prosecuted negligent and reckless corporations, people, insurance companies and the government in civil cases for New Mexico's working families, dedicating her career to helping and protecting victims killed or permanently harmed because of the wrongful conduct of others.

Lisa graduated from the University of New Mexico School of Law in 1993, where she was distinguished with the Tort Scholar Award for her graduating class. Following law school, she immediately began civil trial practice. Her practice has focused over the last decade on prosecuting primarily medical malpractice cases for patients killed or permanently harmed by bad medical care.  She has handled and tried cases on behalf of hundreds of victims. She has worked directly against insurance companies for bad faith insurance practices, automobile and semi-truck crashes, products liability cases, Fair Labor Standards Act violations and violent torts, most notably helping children who were the victims of sexual abuse. It was because of this work that Lisa introduced key legislation in the 2012 session to extend the time a victim of childhood sexual abuse can pursue charges against their abuser.

Lisa has had the privilege of representing countless New Mexico families over the years, including the Cardon family.  After a long trial against a careless doctor, the jury found the doctor to have recklessly caused the death of their much beloved mother. The jury assessed a verdict of over $6 million against the doctor. The Jury's high verdict sent a message to the New Mexico Medical Board who then restricted that doctor's license, so that similar harm could not happen to another family.

Other cases represented by Lisa include holding an alcoholic surgeon accountable in a wrongful death case, who negligently operated while actively drinking (he then surrendered his license to practice medicine because of the case); and another powerful doctor’s license was taken because he was sexually abusing his patients. These and other doctors, who have committed gross negligence, have had their licenses surrendered or restricted because of Lisa's commitment to the victims and their families.

In Spencer v. Health Force, Lisa's case created case law that requires home healthcare agencies to make sure their employees are safe for the vulnerable elderly and disabled population they care for. In other appellate cases she solidified rights of people against irresponsible insurance companies in both the Supreme Court and the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals through Sloan v. State Farm. Lisa is known in the legal community for protecting the rights of children in the settlement of claims through our state appellate court, and is currently fighting our government to be responsible when they caused an elderly man's wrongful death.

Lisa was selected for inclusion by her peers for "The Best Lawyers in America", a Super Lawyer for New Mexico in Medical Malpractice, and a Top 100 Trial Lawyer for New Mexico by The American Trial Lawyers Association. She was appointed by the Supreme Court and currently serves on the State Bar Committee on the Judiciary and the New Mexico Supreme Court Civil Rules Committee.

Lisa is Trustee of her Fund, the LK Curtis Children's Fund, which seeks out programs to protect and enhance the education and lives of children in New Mexico. Lisa is married to her very supportive husband, Bob Curtis, and is raising four very busy teenage children.

Law School: University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico, Juris Doctorate 1993 “Tort Scholar Award”

Bar Admissions: State of New Mexico Supreme Court – 1993, United States District Court 1994, Tenth Circuit United States District Court of Appeals – 1994

Honors and Awards: The Best Lawyers in America® Personal Injury, Super Lawyer for New Mexico Medical Malpractice, American Trial Lawyers Association Top 100 Trial Lawyers New Mexico, President New Mexico Trial Lawyers Association 2011-2012

Seminars/Classes Taught:

• Adjunct Professor University of New Mexico School of Law, Advanced Trial Evidence, 2011, 2010, 2009
• American Association for Justice, “The Three Sure Deaths, The Fates, Pulmonary Embolus, Aortic Dissection and Aortic Aneurysm”, Las Vegas, NV, April, 2010, “Preparing and Trying the Surgical Mishap Case”, Phoenix, AZ, February, 2009
• New Mexico Trial Lawyers Foundation, lectures on trial practice in both state and federal court for last 15 years.
• United Stated District Court Federal Bar Association, lectures on Federal Court rules and procedure.

 

Amalia S. Lucero, Esq.

Partner

Telephone: 505-243-2808
Amalia@CurtisLawFirm.org

Mrs. Lucero has been practicing Plaintiff’s personal injury law for eleven years. She came to work for Mrs. Curtis’ firm in her first year of law school at the University of New Mexico School of Law as a clerk in 1996.  During her training she also worked as a clerk for the United States Attorney, United States Federal District Judge Leroy Hanson, was an observer at the Truth and Reconciliation hearings in South Africa, and a member of the UNM National Moot Court Team.  Upon graduation from law school Mrs. Lucero took a one year leave of absence from the firm to undertake a clerkship with the first female New Mexico Supreme Court Chief Justice Pamela B. Minzer.

Mrs. Lucero returned to practice with Mrs. Curtis’ firm in 2000 representing families and individuals injured by another’s negligence. She has done extensive work in pre-suit, litigation, trial and appellate practice in most of the Courts in New Mexico and the Federal Court system.  She has been elected to the Board of Directors for the New Mexico Trial Lawyers Association and is a copy editor for the New Mexico Trial Lawyers Journal.  In 2009 she was made a named partner of the firm embracing the firm ideals to serve and find justice for those who have been wrongfully harmed.

Areas of Practice

• Personal Injury
• Sexual Abuse
• Medical Malpractice
• Wrongful Death
• Premise Liability

Bar Admissions: State of New Mexico Supreme Court 1999, United States District Court 1999, Tenth Circuit United States District Court of Appeals 2002

Education
University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico 1999
J.D., Juris Doctorate
University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico 1995
B.A.
Major: Political Science
Honors: Magna Cum Laude in General Honors

Membership

• Member of Board of Directors of the New Mexico Trial Lawyers
• Copy Editor for the New Mexico Trial Lawyers Journal 2009-present
• American Association for Justice 2000-present
• Member of Inn of Courts, 1999-2003

Appellate Decisions

• Spencer v. Health Force; 137 N.M. 64,2005 NMSC 2, 107 P.3d 504,

Speaker at Seminars/Papers

• NMTLA Tort Update, April 2010-Statute of Limitations-Update
• NMTLA Subrogation Law Update, May 2007
• NMTLA Evidence Handbook- assisted in the revisions made in 2004-2005

 

Pauline Guillen-Montaño
Paralegal to Lisa K. Curtis, Esq.

Pauline@CurtisLawFirm.org

Mrs. Montaño has been a legal assistant for over 25 years in many areas of legal practice.  She received her Associates Degree in Paralegal Studies in 2004.  Mrs. Montaño’s heart has been to work with a firm that protects families who have been injured.   As Mrs. Curtis’s paralegal and office manager for the past 15 years, Mrs. Montaño's responsibilities include interaction with clients on a daily basis, drafting of pleadings, trial preparation and overall managerial duties.  Mrs. Montaño manages a team of professional assistants who work closely together and who provide efficient and caring service to the firms’ clients.

 

Joreen Scanlon

Joreen@CurtisLawFirm.org

I started with the firm in 2005 and have continued my work here as a Curtis & Lucero Legal Assistant.  I primarily assist each of the attorneys with the investigation of potential cases under review.   I talk with all potential clients to obtain a thorough history of what they have been through and document the details of each potential case.   I work directly with the lawyers who review the case and our in-house nurse and physician to obtain information for their investigations.  I work on the cases during the review process until the case has been accepted when the case is then turned over to the attorney’s specific Legal Assistant to see through to completion.

I enjoy assisting potential clients and I feel satisfaction in knowing that at the end of each day we are helping people find some bit of justice for the losses and pain they have suffered.  I feel very confident in Mrs. Curtis and Mrs. Lucero and in the service they provide.  I see the day-to-day hard work and dedication they put into each of their cases and the passion they have for what they do.
I am happy to be part of the team.

 

Juliann DuBerry, legal assistant to Amalia Lucero, Esq.

Juliann@CurtisLawFirm.org

Born and raised in Albuquerque, I am a graduate of the University of New Mexico with a B.A. in History. Upon graduation, I was drawn to the law and plan on attending law school. I previously worked for another law firm in town, but eventually found a better fit in the Cutis & Lucero family. My role as Mrs. Lucero’s legal assistant encompasses many diverse roles. On the most basic level, my role is to assist Mrs. Lucero in the many facets of her practice to the best of my ability. I interact with clients on a daily basis, assisting in pre-litigation claims and the discovery process after suit is filed. I also work closely with the other members of the Curtis & Lucero team as to best serve our clients and their needs.

 

Steven Mills
Office Assistant

Steven@CurtisLawFirm.org

Mr. Mills is a graduate of the University of New Mexico with a B.A. in Mass Communication & Journalism.  He started with the firm in college and has been a critical part of the day to day working of the firm, particularly during trial for the last 5 years.  Mr. Mills works in investigations, research and overall right-hand to Attorney Curtis.  As part of the firm Mr. Mills works very closely with everyone in the office and feels there is no task too big or too small to accomplish to make sure our clients are taken care of and their cases prosecuted to the full extent of the law.