Eric M. Sommer, Partner

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Practice Areas

• Construction Litigation; Banking
• Real Estate Litigation
• Trial Generalist (includes probate and trust, insurance, personal injury defense, product liability defense, and commercial and contract litigation)
• Mediation & Arbitration

With Sommer Udall Law Firm Since

• 1982

Experience

In his thirty eight years of practice, Eric has developed significant mediation, arbitration, and trial experience. He has tried in excess of thirty five jury trials and has been involved in numerous arbitrations and meditations as an advocate, mediator and arbitrator.

Currently, about twenty percent of his practice is mediation that include resolving disputes in the areas of construction, personal injury, product liability, professional liability, real estate, business,  and probate/estates.\

Eric’s litigation practice comprises a varied litigation portfolio for both plaintiffs and defendants in numerous areas. These include construction defects, real estate and property, insurance coverage, insurance bad faith, probate and trust, product liability and guardian and conservatorship litigation.

In the first fifteen years of practice, Eric actively defended personal injury and insurance bad faith litigation. He also represented a local bank in numerous types of cases including foreclosure and defense of lender liability claims. Eric still periodically represents uninsured defendants and insurers in personal injury and property claims.

Education

• B.A., Stanford University, Political Science, 1979
• J.D., University of New Mexico, 1982
• Hastings Center for Trial and Appellate Advocacy Program, March 1983
• National Institute of Trial Advocacy – Articulate Advocate Program, June 2016

Bar Admissions

• New Mexico (Federal and State) since 1982
• United States Court of Appeals, 10th Circuit

Reported Appellate Decisions

• Bogle v. Summit Investment Co. 137 N. M. 80, 107 P.3d 520 (Ct. App. 2005)
• Dalton v. Franken Construction Co. 121 N.M. 539, 914 P. 2d 1036 (Ct. App 1996)
• Loya v. State Farm, 119 N. M. 1, P. 2d. 447 (S. Ct. 1994)
• Sanchez v. Herrera, 109 N. M. 155, 783 P. 2d 485 (S. Ct. 1989)
• Gonzales vs. Maes, 106 N. M. 342, 742 P. 2d 1047 (S. Ct. 1987)
• Universal Life Church v. Coxon, 105 N.M. 57, 728 P.2d 467 (S. Ct. 1986)
• New Mexico State Investment Council, et. al. vs. Daniel Weinstein, et. al. 2016-NMCA-069, 382 P.3d 923 (NMSIC I)

Professional Associations and Memberships

• Past President and Board Member, New Mexico Defense Lawyers
• Member, First Judicial Bar Association
• Member, American Bar Association
• Past Member, Defense Research Institute

Recognitions

• 1998 Lawyer Referral For The Elderly Program Pro Bono Award
• Board of Editors member 1981-1982, Natural Resources Journal
• Hastings Center for Trial and Appellate Advocacy Program  – March 1983 (A ten day intensive trial practice program)
• Defense Research Institute – Exceptional Performance Citation – 1997

Outside Interests

• Soccer
• Biking
• Mountain Hiking and Backpacking