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. 

Educational Background

• B.A. University of Kansas, 1974
• J.D. Washburn University Law School, 1976

Courts Where Admitted

• Supreme Court of Iowa 1977
• Supreme Court of Kansas 1977
• Supreme Court of Texas 1982
• Supreme Court of New Mexico 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.

Legal Experience

• United States Army Judge Advocate General’s Corps, 1977 to 1981. Served as Judge Advocate prosecutor in over 120 felony jury trials. Awarded the Meritorious Service Medal, 1981. Honorable Discharge, 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.
• The Law Office of Victor F. Poulos, P.C., 1520 N. Campbell, El Paso, Texas 79902. July 1, 1996 to December 31, 1999. Represented Plaintiffs in product liability, personal injury and medical negligence claims.
• 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.

Practice Emphasis

Extensive jury trial experience as lead counsel in general casualty, construction, automobile, bad faith, product liability, deceptive trade practice, medical malpractice, personal injury and complex business litigation. Briefed and personally argued appeals before the Kansas Supreme Court, New Mexico Supreme Court, Texas Courts of Appeal, Texas Supreme Court, and the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals.

• Trial and Appellate Counsel in 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
• AV Rated Martindale-Hubbell. 25 Year AV Preeminent Award.

Current Memberships In Professional Organizations

• State Bar Associations of Texas and New Mexico
• El Paso Bar Association; Dona Ana County Bar Association
• State Bar College
• American Association of Justice
• American Board of Trial Advocates, National Board Representative and President, El Paso Chapter 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.

Legal Seminars

Attended the ATLA Basic Advocacy Course in Reno, Nevada in 1978, and have attended at least two seminars annually since that date with primary emphasis in medical malpractice and litigation techniques.

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

Other Business Interests

• Owner, Zin Valle Vineyards. Bonded Winery and Vineyards. 2000 case production and sales, 2004 to present.
• Renelli’s, Inc. Italian restaurant, founded with partner Richard N. Azar. 1996 to 1998.
• Owner, Miglioverde Brew Pub, Montepulciano, Italy, present
• Owner, Fattoria Svetoni Winery and Villa, Montepulciano, Italy, present
• Owner, Saturn of El Paso, Inc. Automobile franchise purchased with partner Gerhard Mueller. Vice President and General Counsel. 1990 to 2006. Dealership locations in El Paso, Texas and Las Cruces, New Mexico.
• Flitelite. Owner and Board of Directors. Manufacturer of Aviation related products.

Current Memberships In Civic Organizations

• Instructor, Aviation Law, Central Texas College. 1979 to 1981
• Director, Vice President, Goodwill Industries, Inc. 1982 to 1984
• Leadership El Paso. 1984
• St. Mark’s United Methodist Church, Board of Trustees. 1984 to 1986.
• Nominee, Jaycees Outstanding Young El Pasoan, 1986.
• Campaign Manager, Honorable Ward Koehler, Judge 168th District Court, 8th Court of Appeals. 1986 and 1988
• Board of Directors, Sunturians, 1987 to 1993.
• President, Sunturians, 1996.
• Board of Directors, Epilepsy El Paso, 1990 to 1991.
• Campaign Finance Chairman, Honorable Suzie Azar, Mayor, 1990 to 1991.
• Board of Directors, Therapeutic Horsemanship of El Paso, Inc., 1992 to 1994.
• Campaign Treasurer, C.R. “Bobby” Ortiz, Republican Candidate, 16th Congressional District. 1994 and 2004.
• El Paso County Historical Commission; Historian of the Year, 1996.
• Board of Directors, Amigo Airsho, 1984 to 1988.
• President, Amigo Airsho, 1987.
• El Paso Chamber of Commerce, Legal Committee, 1996.
• El Paso International Airport, Board of Directors, Vice Chairman, 2001 to 2006.
• El Paso Bar Association, Board of Directors, 2001 to 2004.
• El Paso Zoological Society, Board of Directors, 2005 to present. Vice President and Chairman of
• Chairman of Marketing Committee, 2006; Chairman of Capital Fundraising Committee, 2008; President 2009.
• The Paso Del Norte Group, 2005 to 2009.
• El Paso Police Foundation Board of Directors, 2007 to 2010.  First Vice President 2008.
• Rebuilding Together, El Paso Advisory Board of Directors, 2007.
• Congressional Campaign Committee, Honorable Silvestre Reyes, Congressman, 16th Judicial District.   2008 to 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.

Outside Interests

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

References: Available on Request