Victor F. Poulos, J.D.

In May of 1977 Victor Poulos was being honorably discharged from the US Army Judge Advocate General’s Corps at Ft. Hood, Texas after 4 years serving his country as an Army Infantryman then lawyer. Heading to the Southwest with a new license to practice law in Texas and New Mexico, his family was thrilled with the arrival in April of 1981 with their first child. But something was not right with her. Soon it was evident that their daughter was born severely brain damaged due to medical negligence. Putting their trust in lawyers with little medical negligence experience increased their trauma and anxiety. 45 years later, his precious disabled daughter still requires 24 hour care, deepening his personal understanding of how greatly medical negligence impacts not only the victim, but their loved ones as well. Not a day goes by that Victor doesn’t think of the damage medical negligence caused his own daughter and family.

After learning firsthand how the legal system works for those with little means, Victor dedicated his life on the spot in 1981 to fight for the rights of people with ordinary resources who have been wrongfully harmed by another. What started as an automobile negligence defense firm quickly evolved into a Plaintiff’s medical malpractice injury firm. 

Today, Victor remains a champion of New Mexico citizens’ rights in and out of the courtroom. From Chairman of the New Mexico Human Rights Commission, to trying over 120 jury trials as a lawyer, Victor has dedicated himself and his law firm to cases and causes that matter to all New Mexico citizens. Poulos & Cavazos is his home and life mission – fighting for the “people” – not for insurance companies. This is a guiding principle at Poulos & Cavazos.  

Victor, or “Vic” as his family, friends, clients and even adversaries call him, has been consistently named By Southwest Super Lawyers Magazine as a “Top 50” attorney. He has been recognized as a nationwide “Top 25” Medical Malpractice Trial Lawyer by the National Trial Lawyers Association, and a “10 Best Attorneys” in 2025 as published by the American Institute of Personal Injury Attorneys. Named an “AV Preeminent Lawyer for over 25 years by Martindale Hubbel, Vic has led the legal community as President of the local chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates and now serves as Treasurer of the New Mexico Trial Lawyers Association. 

Vic participates as a lead attorney on each and every firm case from his offices in Las Cruces, NM. As a private pilot for over 50 years, Vic can reach you at your home anywhere in New Mexico within an hour. He personally understands the pain, harm, and economic losses that medical negligence places on families. His life and work mission is to ensure that the harms that are inflicted on New Mexico residents by negligence is placed on the backs of the wrongdoer for just compensation by settlement or verdict. 

Vic’s detailed resume follows.  Let his experience and dedication guide you to a just result in your case. 

Formación académica

• Licenciado en la Universidad de Kansas, 1974
• Licenciado en Derecho por la Universidad de Washburn, 1976

Courts Where Admitted

• Tribunal Supremo de Iowa 1977
• Tribunal Supremo de Kansas 1977
• Tribunal Supremo de Texas 1982
• Tribunal Supremo de Nuevo México 1981
• Supreme Court of Arizona 2025

Licensed to practice before all State Courts of Texas, New Mexico, Iowa, Kansas, and Arizona. Licensed to practice before the United States District Courts of Kansas, Iowa, New Mexico, and Texas (Western, Eastern, Southern, and Northern Districts of Texas), as well as the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit and the U.S. Tax Court.

Board Certified – Personal Injury Trial Law (Texas)
Texas Board of Legal Specialization, 1995 to 2022.

Experiencia legal

• Cuerpo de Abogados del Ejército de los Estados Unidos, 1977 a 1981. Actuó como juez fiscal en más de 120 juicios con jurado por delitos graves. Se le concedió la Medalla al Servicio Meritorio, 1981. Baja honorífica, Fort Hood, Texas, 1981.
• Mayfield and Perrenot, P.C., El Paso, Texas, 1981 to 1996. Head of firm’s litigation section, which was comprised of six attorneys and six legal assistants. Practice initially consisted of commercial litigation but evolved into an insurance defense and Plaintiff medical malpractice specialty.
• Despacho Jurídico de Victor F. Poulos, P.C., 1520 N. Campbell, El Paso, Texas 79902. Del 1 de julio de 1996 al 31 de diciembre de 1999. Representó a demandantes en reclamos de responsabilidad por productos, lesiones personales y negligencia médica.
• Poulos & Dickey, L.L.P., 1520 N. Campbell, El Paso, Texas 79902. January 1, 2000 to May 31, 2002. Two attorneys and two paralegals primarily focuses on medical malpractice and healthcare negligence actions, personal injury, deceptive trade practice defense, and business litigation. Lead local counsel for Allstate Insurance Company.
• Volk Poulos & Cavazos, L.L.P., 5915 Silver Springs Drive, Building l, El Paso, Texas 79912. June 1, 2002 to 2013. Comprised of three attorneys, one nurse and two paralegals representing victims of birth injuries, pediatric and adult malpractice, and hospital negligence and other catastrophic injury claims. Business litigation on a contingent basis.
• Poulos & Cavazos LLP, 2013 to 2025. Five attorneys, all representing victims of medical negligence. Business litigation on a contingent basis.
• Poulos & Cavazos LLP, 2025 to present. Three attorneys representing victims of negligence and wrongful death in Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona.

Énfasis en la práctica

Amplia experiencia en juicios con jurado como abogado principal en siniestros generales, construcción, automóviles, mala fe, responsabilidad por productos defectuosos, prácticas comerciales engañosas, negligencia médica, lesiones personales y litigios comerciales complejos. Ha presentado y argumentado personalmente recursos ante el Tribunal Supremo de Kansas, el Tribunal Supremo de Nuevo México, los Tribunales de Apelación de Texas, el Tribunal Supremo de Texas y el Tribunal de Apelación del Quinto Circuito.

• Abogado de juicio y apelación en Moriel vs. Transportation Insurance Company, 879 S.W. 2d, 10 (Tex. 1994).
• Selected by peers as a “Texas Super Lawyer” 2008 – 2010; Southwest Super Lawyer 2015-2025
• Calificación AV de Martindale-Hubbell. Premio AV Preeminente por 25 años.

Membresía actual en organizaciones profesionales

• Colegios de Abogados de Texas y Nuevo México
• Colegio de Abogados de El Paso; Colegio de Abogados del Condado de Doña Ana
• Colegio de Abogados del Estado
• Asociación Americana de Justicia
• American Board of Trial Advocates, Representante de la Junta Nacional y Presidente, Capítulo de El Paso 2006
• New Mexico Trial Lawyers Foundation: Board of Directors 2010 to present
• New Mexico Trial Lawyers Association: Board of Directors, Treasurer 2010-present
• Fellow, Texas Bar Foundation; Board of Directors El Paso Chapter Director 2014-present
• Lawyer Pilots Bar Association 2010-present.
• New Mexico, Human Rights Commission 2019-2024. Chairman 2020-2024
• Court of Appeals, New Mexico Judicial Nominating Commission 2019-2021.

Seminarios jurídicos

Asistió al Curso Básico de Abogacía de la ATLA en Reno, Nevada, en 1978, y ha asistido al menos a dos seminarios anuales desde esa fecha con énfasis principal en negligencia médica y técnicas de litigio.

Lecturer: New Mexico Trial Lawyers Foundation “Voir Dire As An Evidentiary Hearing” May 2002; “Use of Demonstrative Aids in Trial” 2023.

Otros intereses comerciales

• Propietario, Viñedos Zin Valle. Bodega y viñedos de confianza. Producción y venta de 2000 cajas, desde 2004 hasta la actualidad.
• Renelli's, Inc. Restaurante italiano, fundado con su socio Richard N. Azar. De 1996 a 1998.
• Propietario de Miglioverde Brew Pub, Montepulciano, Italia, actualmente
• Propietario de la Bodega y Villa Fattoria Svetoni, Montepulciano, Italia, actualmente
• Propietario de Saturn of El Paso, Inc. Franquicia de automóviles adquirida con el socio Gerhard Mueller. Vicepresidente y consejero general. De 1990 a 2006. Concesionarios en El Paso, Texas y Las Cruces, Nuevo México.
• Flitelite. Propietario y Consejo de Administración. Fabricante de productos relacionados con la aviación.

Membresía actual en organizaciones cívicas

• Instructor, Derecho de la Aviación, Central Texas College. 1979 a 1981
• Director, Vicepresidente, Goodwill Industries, Inc. 1982 a 1984
• Liderazgo en El Paso. 1984
• Iglesia Metodista Unida de San Marcos, Consejo de Administración. De 1984 a 1986.
• Nominado, Jaycees Outstanding Young El Pasoan, 1986.
• Director de campaña del Honorable Ward Koehler, Juez del 168º Tribunal de Distrito, 8º Tribunal de Apelación. 1986 y 1988
• Consejo de Administración de Sunturians, de 1987 a 1993.
• Presidente de Sunturians, 1996.
• Junta Directiva de Epilepsia El Paso, 1990 a 1991.
• Presidente de la financiación de la campaña de la alcaldesa Suzie Azar, de 1990 a 1991.
• Junta directiva de Therapeutic Horsemanship of El Paso, Inc. de 1992 a 1994.
• Tesorero de la campaña de C.R. "Bobby" Ortiz, candidato republicano, distrito 16 del Congreso. 1994 y 2004.
• Comisión Histórica del Condado de El Paso; Historiador del Año, 1996.
• Consejo de Administración de Amigo Airsho, de 1984 a 1988.
• Presidente de Amigo Airsho, 1987.
• Cámara de Comercio de El Paso, Comité Jurídico, 1996.
• Aeropuerto Internacional de El Paso, Consejo de Administración, Vicepresidente, 2001 a 2006.
• Colegio de Abogados de El Paso, Junta Directiva, 2001 a 2004.
• Sociedad Zoológica de El Paso, Consejo de Administración, desde 2005 hasta la actualidad. Vicepresidente y Presidente de
• Chairman of Marketing Committee, 2006; Chairman of Capital Fundraising Committee, 2008; President 2009.
• El Grupo Paso del Norte, de 2005 a 2009.
• Junta Directiva de la Fundación de la Policía de El Paso, 2007 a 2010. Primer Vicepresidente 2008.
• Rebuilding Together, El Paso Advisory Board of Directors, 2007.
• Comité de Campaña del Congreso, Honorable Silvestre Reyes, Congresista, 16º Distrito Judicial. 2008 a 2012.
• Board of Directors, War Eagles Museum, Santa Teresa Airport, NM 2016-2024
• Board of Directors, El Paso Humane Society Endowment Board of Directors 2016 to 2023; Vice President 2018-2021
• Lecturer and Wine Host, AMA Waterways 2015 – 2019. Wine Host; River Cruises in Europe.

Intereses externos

• Private Pilot/Restoration of Antique Aircraft/Owner of 1941 Waco Upf- 7 aircraft and 2017 Cirrus Vision Jet
• Fly Fishing
• Enología y Viticultura
• Written over 500 published articles on wine related topics

References: Available on Request