ROTHSTEIN DONATELLI HUGHES DAHLSTROM SCHOENBURG & BIENVENU LLP
ATTORNEYS AT LAW
  |
John C. Bienvenu Partner |
BIOGRAPHY
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 and landmark cases on behalf of individuals, classes, and associations. He also represents businesses and governmental entities on a select basis.
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
Listed in The Best Lawyers in America
Listed in Southwest Super Lawyers
REPRESENTATIVE CASES
- 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. Doña 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 settlement pending on behalf of class of pretrial detainees)
- Torres, et al. v. Valencia County Board of Commissioners, et al. ($3.3 million settlement pending on behalf of class of pretrial detainees)
- 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).
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
Board Member, Center for Contemporary Arts, Santa Fe, N.M.
PRACTICE AREAS
Class actions and complex civil litigation
Civil rights
Constitutional law
Labor and employment
Consumer Law
Business torts and commercial disputes
CONTACT INFORMATION
505-988-8004
jbienvenu@rothsteinlaw.com