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.
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.
Contact info:
(575) 376-6583
vanessa@pouloscavazos.com