LANCE D. RICHARDS

Firm Status: Shareholder

Educational and Professional Background:University of New Mexico (B.B.A. 1992); University of Tulsa College of Law (J.D. 1995).

Admitted to Practice: Oklahoma Supreme Court (1995); New Mexico Supreme Court (1997); United States District Court, District of New Mexico (1999); Acoma Pueblo Tribal Court (2003).

Professional Activities and Honors: American Board of Trial Advocates (President, New Mexico Chapter 2007-2008, Vice-President, New Mexico Chapter 2006); Board of Directors for the New Mexico State Bar Trial Practice Section 2008-2010 (Chairman 2009); Trucking Industry Defense Association (TIDA); American Trucking Associations (ATA); National Transportation Safety Board Bar Association; New Mexico Defense Lawyers Association; Litigation Counsel of America; New Mexico Medical Review Commission.

Experience: Mr. Richards' current practice includes the defense of pharmacists, construction companies, and oil and gas companies but focuses primarily on the defense of trucking companies and their insurance carriers. He is actively involved in handling first response investigations (i.e., "legal triage") for the numerous motor carriers he represents.  He is the youngest member of the New Mexico Chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates, an organization that requires a minimum of 20 civil jury trials tried to conclusion for admission, and is Immediate Past Chapter President.  In 2009 he will assume the duties of Chairman of the New Mexico State Bar Trial Practice Section.   Mr. Richards has tried more than 30 jury trials to conclusion for major insurance and trucking companies. He is a former Assistant District Attorney, 9th New Mexico Judicial District (1996-1998)

Representative Trucking Companies: KLLM, Inc., Swift Transportation Co., Schneider National Carriers, Inc., Covenant Transport, Werner  Enterprises, Marten Transport, Brian Kurtz Trucking, MCT Transport, Forward Air, Inc., Quality Carriers, Arrow Trucking Co. Inc.,  Warren Transport.

Representative Insurance Company Clients: Canal Insurance Co. (Preferred Counsel), United Services Automobile Associate (USAA), Lincoln General Insurance Co., Carolina Casualty Ins. Co., First Mercury Insurance Co., Great American Custom Ins., Comcar Industries, Inc., Mercury Insurance Group, The Hartford, OneBeacon Ins. Co., INS Insurance Co., Great West Casualty Co., Westfield Ins. Group, The Travelers Companies, Inc., AXIS Ins., Titan Ins. Co., Cherokee Ins. Co., Zurich North America Ins. Co., Philadelphia Ins. Co.

Recent News: In May 2009, Mr. Richards tried Kenneth Myers v. Rogers Trucking. Inc. and Robert Gwinn in Federal Court, Albuquerque, New Mexico. Plaintiff claimed Defendants' tractor/trailer rear-ended his pickup truck on westbound 1-40. Defendant Rogers Trucking, out of Bristol, Tennessee insured by Cherokee Insurance, alleged Plaintiff suddenly and unexpectedly cut into their driver's lane of travel, causing the accident. Plaintiff suffered a subdural hematoma, confirmed by CT scan. The jury returned after a two-hour deliberation with a defense verdict.

Reported Cases: DeFillippo v. Neil, 2002 N.M. App. LEXIS 67, 2002 NMCA 85, 132 N.M. 529, 51 P3d 1183 (NMCtApp 1995); Pincheira v. Allstate Ins. Co., 2004 NM APP LEXIS 7, 2004 NMCA 30, 86 p3d 645 (NMCtApp 2004)

Telephone: (505) 842-8255
Telecopier: (505) 764-6099
E-mail: richardsl@civerolo.com