Michelle A. Hernandez

Experience

Representative Cases

• Successful appeal for nursing home, the New Mexico Court of Appeals overturned what had been New Mexico's largest personal injury verdict of $53.2 Million ($3.2 in compensatory, and $50 Million in punitive) in a case involving a woman who died in a nursing home.  The Court of Appeals decision was appealed to the Supreme Court and the case settled after the Court granted a writ of certiorari.  Member of the Modrall Sperling defense team representing ManorCare.  See Keith v. ManorCare, Inc., 147 N.M. 452, 224 P.3d 1257 (2009).

• See Fritzsche v. Albuquerque Municipal School Dist., 194 F.Supp. 1194 (D. N.M. 2002).

• See Santa Fe Techs. v. Angus Networks, 131 N.M. 772, 42 P.3d 1221 (Ct. App. 2001).

• See Teran v. Consol. Freightways Corp. of Delaware, Cir. No. 00-229 RLP/WWD, Doc No. 53 (D. N.M. 2000).

Representative Clients

• ManorCare
• Sunrise Senior Living
• Mountain States Mutual Casualty

Activities

Professional Activities

• State Bar of New Mexico, 1997-present; Committee on Women and the Legal Profession, 2013
• New Mexico Commission on Professionalism, Executive Committee, 2012
• Member, New Mexico Supreme Court Committee on the Rules of Civil Procedure, 2011-present
• American Bar Association, Member, Minority Trial Lawyer Committee, 2009-present
• New Mexico Defense Lawyers Association, President, 2012; President-Elect, 2011; Annual Meeting Coordinator, 2011; Treasurer/Secretary, 2010; Managing Partner Luncheon Coordinator, 2009; Board of Directors, 2007-present
• New Mexico Association of Commerce and Industry, Member, 2007-2011; Board of Directors, 2009-2011; Vice-Chair, Legal Reform Committee, 2011; Chair, Legal Reform Committee, 2010
• Hispanic National Bar Association, Member 1997-present; Deputy Regional Vice-President, 2008-2009; Annual Convention Steering Committee and CLE Coordinator, 2009
• Leadership Albuquerque Alumni Association, President, 2008-2009; Board of Directors, 2007-2008
• International Association of Defense Counsel, Member 2005-present; Membership Committee, 2011-present, New Mexico State Membership Chair, 2013; Diversity Committee, Vice-Chair 2010-present; Conference Planning Committee – Tennis Coordinator, 2011;
• New Mexico Emerge, Board of Directors, 2007
• New Mexico Bar Association, 1997-present
• Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce Leadership Conference, Chair, Planning Committee, 2006-2007; Planning Committee, 2005-2006
• Leadership Albuquerque, Member, 2004-2005
• University of New Mexico Alumni Association, Awards Committee, 2003-present; Board of Directors, 2000-2006; Treasurer, 2003-2004; Homecoming Committee – Southwest Fiesta Chair, 1997-1999
• New Mexico First Town Hall, Chief Recorder, 2003; Recorder, 2002
• H. Vearle Payne American Inns of Court, 2000-2003

Firm Committees

• Chair, Healthcare Industry Group, 2007-present
• Marketing Committee, 2008-2009
• Technology Committee, 2006-present
• Paralegal Committee, 2002-2003
• Recruiting Committee, 2000-2005

Discourse

Articles

• CGL Policy Covers Loss of Computer Data
• The End of the Federal Pre-emption Defense?

Presentations

• "Litigation Risk," New Mexico Healthcare Association, 2011 Leadership Symposium
• "Women in the Courtroom," Panel Moderator, New Mexico Defense Lawyers Association, 2010
• "Dealing with the Difficult Expert," Litigation Counsel of America, Spring Conference, 2010
• "Depositions," New Mexico Healthcare Association Annual Meeting, 2009
• "Privileges, Standards, and Record Keeping," Case Management Society of America, Rio Grande Chapter, Annual Meeting, 2009
• "School Law in New Mexico," Lorman Presentation, 2003
• "Student Handbook and School Rules," Lorman Presentation, 2002

Honors

• New Mexico Board Certified Health Law Specialist, 2010-present
• Fellow, American Bar Foundation , 2010-present
• Fellow, Litigation Counsel of America, 2007-present
• Martindale Hubbell AV® Preeminent Peer Review Rated
• New Mexico Business Weekly, 40 Under Forty, 2011
• Who's Who in American Law, 2007