John C. Bienvenu

John is a partner and trial attorney in the Santa Fe office and the head of the firm’s civil litigation group. His practice is dedicated to impact litigation in the areas of civil rights, constitutional law, discrimination, sexual harassment, first amendment violations, consumer law, and business torts. He has served as lead counsel in numerous class actions and other complex civil disputes in state and federal courts throughout New Mexico and nationwide.

John received his legal training at Stanford Law School and formerly practiced with the California law firm Brobeck, Phleger & Harrison. He is recognized for having successfully litigated a number of groundbreaking cases on behalf of individuals, classes, and associations. He also represents businesses and governmental entities on a select basis.

REPRESENTATIVE CASES

Class Actions

Kelley, et al. v. Regents of the University of California, et al. ($10.4 million recovered for families of decedents whose bodies were subjected to secret research during Cold War, in addition to disclosure of classified documents and formal apology)

Barber, et al. v. Regents of the University of California, et al. ($16.4 million recovered for pay discrimination against female and Hispanic employees at national laboratory, in addition to changes in personnel policies)

Leyba, et al. v Santa Fe County Board of Commissioners, et al. ($8.5 million recovered for unlawfully searched jail detainees, in addition to changes to unconstitutional search policy)

Lira, et al. v. Dona Ana County Board of Commissioners, et al. ($5.3 million recovered for unlawfully searched detainees, in addition to changes to unconstitutional search policy)

Shannon, et al. v. Hidalgo County Board of Commissioners, et al. ($1 million recovered on behalf of class of pretrial detainees)

Torres, et al. v. Valencia County Board of Commissioners, et al. ($3.3 million recovered on behalf of class of pretrial detainees)

In re Ocwen Federal Bank FSB Servicing Litigation ($6 million settlement pending)

Lu, et al. v. Education Trust Board of New Mexico, et al (pending class action to recover losses in college savings accounts)

Civil Rights

Sherwood v. Santa Fe County Board of Commissioners, et al. ($1.8 million settlement on behalf of detainee for failure to provide appropriate psychiatric care and supervision)

Green v. Public Regulation Commission of New Mexico, David W. King, et al. ($841,842 jury verdict for sexual harassment and retaliation)

Vigil v. City of Espanola ($724,716 jury verdict for retaliatory discharge).

EDUCATION

Stanford Law School, J.D. (with distinction) 1988

University of California at Berkeley

University of New Mexico, B.A. (summa cum laude, with distinction) 1985

DISTINCTIONS AND HONORS

AV-Rated Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory

Selected for The Best Lawyers in America in Mass Torts Litigation and Labor and Employment Law

Selected for Southwest Super Lawyers

BAR ADMISSIONS

State Bar of New Mexico

State Bar of California (inactive)

United States Courts of Appeal for the Ninth and Tenth Circuits

United States District Courts for the Districts of New Mexico, California and Arizona

United States Court of Federal Claims

MEMBERSHIPS AND AFFILIATIONS

American Association for Justice

American Trial Lawyers Association

New Mexico Trial Lawyers Association

American Bar Association

National Employment Lawyers Association

Cooperating Attorney for the American Civil Liberties Union

PROFESSIONAL AND CIVIC ACTIVITIES

Master of the Bench, Oliver Seth Inn of Court

Member, New Mexico Supreme Court Rules of Evidence Committee

Member, City of Santa Fe Public Campaign Finance Advisory Committee

President, Board of Directors, Center for Contemporary Arts, Santa Fe, N.M.

Board of Directors, Beard Land Improvement Co., Modesto, CA

Board of Directors, Modesto and Empire Traction Co., Modesto, CA