Attorneys

Areas of Practice

• Civil Rights Defense
• Public Law
• Commercial Law/Litigation
• Employment Law
• Insurance Defense
• Real Estate

Bar Admissions

• State of New Mexico (1997)
• U.S. District Court for the District of New Mexico (2002)
• U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado (2006)
• U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit (2007)
• U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas (2014)
• U.S. Supreme Court (2016)

Education

• B.A., University of Washington (1993)
• J.D., University of New Mexico (1997)

Background & Practice Experience

Blaine is a Managing Director of Mynatt Martínez & Springer P.C. He was born in Albuquerque and was raised in the South Valley. He attended the University of Washington on a swimming scholarship after graduating from Rio Grande High School. He graduated in 1993 with a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Law. He then returned to Albuquerque and obtained his Juris Doctorate from the University of New Mexico School of Law in 1997.

Blaine has been recognized by a number of trade publications and institutions including A.M. Best, the American Society of Legal Advocates. Blaine also earned the prestigious AV Preeminent peer review rating from Martindale Hubbell. He is a Fellow of the distinguished Litigation Counsel of America and earned the distinction of being elevated to the Order of Juris in recognition of having tried over fifty cases before a jury.

Blaine has successfully resolved employment law claims under the ADA, and Title VII, in federal court. He has handled and favorably resolved multiple excessive force cases and wrongful death claims against New Mexico Counties, Cities, and quasi-government entities. Among his many accomplishments, Blaine obtained total defense verdicts in the cases of Minton v. Doña Ana County and Landau v. Las Cruces Public Schools. He also successfully argued two civil rights cases in the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals, one which resulted in a published opinion. Gutierrez v. Cobos, 841 F.3d 895 (10th Cir. 2016).

Areas of Practice

• Civil Rights Defense
• Public Law
• Commercial Law/Litigation
• Employment Law
• Insurance Defense
• Real Estate

Bar Admissions

• State of New Mexico (2001)
• U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces (2002)
• U.S. Air Force Court of Criminal Appeals (2002)
• U.S. District Court for the District of New Mexico (2005)
• U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado (2007)
• U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit (2007)
• U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas (2014)
• U.S. Supreme Court (2016)
• U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit (2017)

Education

• B.S.W., New Mexico Highlands University (1998)
• J.D., cum laude, St. Mary’s University School of Law (2001)

Background & Practice Experience

Damian is a Managing Director and Vice President of Mynatt Martínez & Springer P.C. He is from Las Vegas, New Mexico and graduated from New Mexico Highlands University in 1998 with a Bachelor’s of Social Work. He obtained his Juris Doctorate, cum laude, from St. Mary’s University in 2001, where he was a member of the Phi Delta Phi and John M. Harlan honors fraternities. Prior to joining the firm, Damian was a Captain in the United States Air Force Judge Advocate General Corps. He was also a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of New Mexico and the Northern District of Texas. Damian was appointed to the Board of Regents of Northern New Mexico College in 2015.

Damian confines his litigation practice primarily to the defense of municipalities and police departments from claims of excessive force and constitutional violations arising under the color of both state and federal law and insurance defense. He has obtained multiple total defense verdicts on behalf of Otero County, the City of Las Cruces, and other government entities in high-profile law enforcement defense cases. Damian has also successfully resolved multiple matters through summary judgment and qualified immunity. Damian has fully litigated thirty-eight (38) jury and bench trials. Damian’s litigation experience also includes appellate practice. He has been lead counsel in several appeals and argued before both of New Mexico’s Higher Courts, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.

Damian also currently acts as County Attorney for Hidalgo and Grant Counties and has acted as County Attorney for San Miguel County. He is also New Mexico counsel for El Paso County Hospital District, where he has successfully represented the Hospital District in jurisdictional matters.

Areas of Practice

• Government Law
• Insurance Defense
• Commercial Law
• Employment Law
• Civil Rights Defense
• Property and Land Use

Bar Admissions

• State of New Mexico (2007)
• U.S. District Court for the District of New Mexico (2010)
• U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit (2010)
• U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas (2014)
• State of Texas (2014)
• U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit (2017)

New Mexico Supreme Court Appointments

• Rules of Civil Procedure for the District Courts Committee (2017)
• Rules of Civil Procedure for the State Courts Committee (2018)

Education

• B.S. Indiana University, Kelley School of Business (2003)
• J.D. Indiana University, Robert H. McKinney School of Law (2007)

Background & Practice Experience

Brad began his career as an attorney in 2007, representing the State of New Mexico as an Assistant District Attorney in the Third Judicial District. In 2010, Brad joined the firm as an Associate Attorney and is now a Shareholder and Director. In his civil practice Brad has built on the firm’s core practice areas including the representation of numerous government entities across Southern New Mexico, both as general counsel and in litigation. More recent examples include the direct representation of the City of Sunland Park, and the defense of New Mexico public schools and counties in tort, civil rights, and employment cases.

Brad also defends privately insured individuals and companies in both New Mexico and Texas, in a variety of cases including premises liability, personal injury, construction defect, auto and trucking cases. Brad has tried over twenty (20) cases to the jury, and has significant experience in the appellate courts, both state and federal.

Areas of Practice

• Civil Rights Defense
• Public Law
• Commercial Law/Litigation
• Employment Law
• Insurance Defense
• Real Estate

Bar Admissions

• State of New Mexico (2012)
• U.S. District Court for the District of New Mexico (2012)
• U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit (2015)
• U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas (2016)
• U.S. Supreme Court (2018)

Education

• B.A., New Mexico State University (2008)
• J.D., University of New Mexico School of Law (2012)

Background & Practice Experience

Ben is a native New Mexican. He grew up in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico where he learned to speak, read, and write Spanish fluently. These language skills have become indispensable when communicating with the firm’s Spanish-speaking clients. He received his B.A. from New Mexico State University in 2008 and his Juris Doctorate from the University of New Mexico in 2012. He was admitted to the State Bar of New Mexico in September 2012.

Ben has significant litigation experience defending municipalities, counties, and state entities, including trying more than ten trials, motion practice based on qualified immunity and New Mexico law, and successful appellate work before the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals. He has also defended several public schools in Southern New Mexico in lawsuits involving employment discrimination claims and claims under the New Mexico Tort Claims Act.

In addition to litigation, Ben isthe attorney for various governmental entities, including Hidalgo County, Grant County, the City of Anthony, Village of Williamsburg, the City of Sunland Park, the Town of Hurley, the City of Anthony, the City of Elephant Butte, the Mesilla Valley Public Housing Authority, the Mesilla Valley Regional Dispatch Authority, the Animal Services Center of the Mesilla Valley, and the El Paso County Hospital District. The areas of advice are varied and include the New Mexico Inspection of Public Records Act (IPRA), the Procurement Code, the Open Meetings Act (OMA), the New Mexico Human Rights Act (NMHRA), the Joint Powers Agreement Act, the Governmental Conduct Act, employment law, administrative law, municipal law, animal law, and jurisdictional issues.

Ben sits on the Board of Directors for University Presbyterian Church. He also provides a significant amount of pro bono work for non-profit entities.

Areas of Practice

• Civil Rights Defense
• Public Law
• Commercial Law/Litigation
• Employment Law
• Insurance Defense
• Real Estate

Bar Admissions

• State of Texas (2004)
• State of New Mexico (2016)
• U.S. District Court for the District of New Mexico (2016)
• U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit (2017)
• U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas (2017)

Education

• B.S., Texas A&M University (2001)
• J.D., South Texas College of Law (2004)

Background & Practice Experience

Sara grew up in Texas. She attended Texas A&M University where she graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics in 2001. She then attended South Texas College of Law in Houston, Texas and earned her Juris Doctorate in 2004.

While living in Texas, Sara began her legal career with a small firm focusing primarily on family law, criminal defense, probate and estate planning, and civil litigation. Her family moved to Colorado where she worked as a Claims Examiner for the U.S. Department of Labor, followed by a move to California, where Sara spent time raising her sons and volunteering in their various school and extracurricular activities. Prior to joining Mynatt Martínez & Springer P.C. in 2016, Sara worked as Special Assistant Attorney General for the New Mexico Child Support Division.

Sara currently assists the firm’s directors in handling a variety of litigated and non-litigated matters for insurance companies, government entities, municipalities, and counties. She is involved in all aspects of litigation including discovery, motions practice, oral arguments, and hearings.

Dispositive Motions

• Michael Cadena v. Silver Consolidated School District, Beth Lougee, and Lon Streib
• Anthony Nodine v. Carlsbad Municipal Schools et al.
• Angel Martinez and Jessica Cazares v. Adrian Agustin Munoz and R. Perea Trucking

Areas of Practice

• Civil Rights Defense
• Public Law
• Commercial Law/Litigation
• Employment Law
• Insurance Defense
• Real Property

Bar Admissions

• New Mexico (2015)
• U.S. District Court for the District of New Mexico (2015)

Education

• B.A., Summa cum laude, University of New Mexico (2012)
• J.D., Magna cum laude, J. Reuben Clark Law School at Brigham Young University (2015)

Background and Practice Experience

Alan is a native New Mexican. He attended the University of New Mexico where he graduated summa cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in history. He then studied law at the J. Reuben Clark Law School at Brigham Young University in Provo, UT. While there, Alan served as an Executive Editor on the BYU Law Review, was a member of BYU’s national moot court team and was published in BYU’s Journal of Public Law. In May of 2015, Alan graduated magna cum laude from BYU.

Alan currently assists the firm’s directors in handling a variety of litigated and non-litigated matters for government entities, quasi-public agencies, municipalities, commercial entities, and counties. He is involved in all aspects of litigation including discovery, motion practice, attending and arguing at hearings, and trials.

Alan is proud to be an Eagle Scout in the Boy Scouts of America and a believer in the value of community service. After high school, Alan served a two-year mission in Italy on behalf of his faith. During law school, he mentored local fifth graders, sharing with them the value of educational pursuits. He also acted as President of BYU’s chapter of the J. Reuben Clark Society, an organization dedicated to promoting fairness and virtue founded upon the rule of law through public service and professional excellence. Here in Las Cruces, Alan works closely with the youth in his religious congregation.

Areas of Practice

• Civil Rights Defense
• Public Law
• Commercial Law/Litigation
• Employment Law
• Insurance Defense
• Real Estate

Bar Admissions

• State of New Mexico (2016)
• U.S. District Court for the District of New Mexico (2016)
• U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit (2017)
• U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit (2018)

Education

• B.A., Summa cum laude New Mexico State University (2013)
• J.D., University of New Mexico School of Law (2016)

Background & Practice Experience

Haley attended New Mexico State University and graduated summa cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in Government in 2013. Haley went on to attend the University of New Mexico School of Law and graduated in 2016. During law school, Haley served as a Manuscript Editor on the Natural Resources Journal. Haley also interned with the Appellate Division of the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Appellate Division of the New Mexico Public Defender Department. Haley also clerked with an administrative law judge at the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and worked as a contract clerk under the Criminal Justice Act.

Currently, Haley assists the law firm’s directors in representing various counties, cities, and school districts in the U.S. District for the Districts of New Mexico and Arizona and the U.S. Courts of Appeals for the Ninth and Tenth Circuits. Haley also represents businesses and organizations in southern New Mexico in both litigation and transactional matters. She is involved in all aspects of litigation including discovery, motions practice, attending and arguing hearings, trials, and appellate practice. Haley has prevailed in numerous dispositive motions filed with the U.S. District for the Districts of New Mexico and Arizona and appellate briefs filed with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.

Areas of Practice

• Civil Rights Defense
• Public Law
• Commercial Law/Litigation
• Employment Law
• Insurance Defense
• Real Estate

Bar Admissions

• State of New Mexico (1967)
• U.S. District Court for the District of New Mexico (1967)
• U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas (1977)
• U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit (1970)
• U.S. Supreme Court (1970)

Education

• B.A., Creighton University (1964)
• J.D., University of New Mexico School of Law (1967)

Background & Practice Experience

Mr. McNeill graduated from Creighton University in 1964 with a degree in Political Science. He then obtained his Juris Doctor from the University of New Mexico School of Law in 1967. He spent the next 20 years with the Judge Advocate General’s Corps in the United States Army and attended such schools as the Judge Advocate General’s School Advanced Course in 1970 and the United States Army and Command General Staff College in 1983. While with the Judge Advocate General’s Corps, David represented the United States Government in a wide variety of matters including, but by no means limited to, tort claims, criminal matters and contract issues.

During his years of private practice, David has been involved in virtually every aspect of civil litigation, including slip-and-fall claims, automobile accidents, insurance defense, commercial litigation, and construction-based litigation.