N3B Logo, shown here as fair use under copyright law for criticism, news reporting, or commentary, and/or nominative fair use under trademark law. Trent A. Howell is not associated with N3B.

Tashia Owen & Edward Martinez v. Newport News Nuclear BWXT-Los Alamos, LLC, Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc., and BWX Technologies, Inc.

On January 20, 2026, we filed Tashia Owen & Edward Martinez v. Newport News Nuclear BWXT-Los Alamos, LLC, Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc., and BWX Technologies, Inc., an action against the primary Legacy Hazardous Waste Cleanup contractor(s) at Los Alamos National Laboratory, under the Federal False Claims Act and the New Mexico common law of Wrongful … Continue reading Tashia Owen & Edward Martinez v. Newport News Nuclear BWXT-Los Alamos, LLC, Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc., and BWX Technologies, Inc.

Rogers Administration Building, New Mexico Highlands University, Las Vegas, New Mexico

Natalie Bradley v. New Mexico Highlands University, Regents, Dr. Gloria Gadsden, and Jill Diamond

On May 20, 2024, we filed Natalie Bradley v. New Mexico Highlands University, Regents, Dr. Gloria Gadsden, and Jill Diamond, an action under the Family and Medical Leave Act (“FMLA”), Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (“ADA”), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, New Mexico Human Rights Act (“HRA”), and New Mexico Whistleblower … Continue reading Natalie Bradley v. New Mexico Highlands University, Regents, Dr. Gloria Gadsden, and Jill Diamond

Jim.henderson, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

Nadine Trujillo v. City of Española and David Valdez

Nadine Trujillo resigned under duress on May 31, 2019 from her job as Espanola Utilities Billing Supervisor. Ms. Trujillo has sued the City and its former City Manager, David Valdez, alleging they constructively discharged her after/through weeks of retaliation including a hostile work environment beginning April 12th, improper police investigation, interrogation, and intimidation on April 27th and May 7th, and forced workplace administrative leave on May 15th. The Complaint alleges the City and Valdez subjected Ms. Trujillo to this retaliation for her good-faith report to the City of facts implicating Valdez in the theft of $18,000.00 in City funds on April 12th.

Till Krech from Berlin, Germany, CC BY 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

Santa Fe ‘Time’s Up’ Lawsuits

Below are press links regarding our recent lawsuits, Christa Valdez and Madeleine Lauve v. International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees ("IATSE"), IATSE Local 480, and Jon B. Hendry and Michelle Labounty v. IATSE, IATSE Local 480, and Jon B. Hendry. #timesup Suit Accuses NM Union Leader of Sexual HarassmentOne of New Mexico’s most prominent union … Continue reading Santa Fe ‘Time’s Up’ Lawsuits

Guyyoung1966, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

Comcast May Raise Bar on Employment Class Certification

With its decision in Comcast Corp. v. Behrend, 133 S. Ct. 1426 (2013), the United States Supreme Court muddled the degree to which a district court may scrutinize the merits of a class action at the certification stage. In Comcast, the class plaintiffs sought to address one of the considerations for certification - the capacity … Continue reading Comcast May Raise Bar on Employment Class Certification

Dtobias, CC BY-SA 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

SOX Covers Employee Complaints of More Than Shareholder Fraud

An employee who complains of matters not specifically related to fraud against shareholders may still claim retaliation under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 ("SOX"). Lockheed Martin v. Department of Labor, No. 11-9524 (10th Cir. June 4, 2013), http://www.ca10.uscourts.gov/opinions/11/11-9524.pdf. In Lockheed Martin, the employee internally reported what she believed was mail or wire fraud. When later … Continue reading SOX Covers Employee Complaints of More Than Shareholder Fraud

Undocumented Worker Recovers Work-Comp Benefits

The Supreme Court of New Mexico has held, an employer who did not demand documentation of a prospective employee's lawful status at the time of hire could not later use the worker's undocumented status as a defense to paying benefits under the New Mexico Workers' Compensation Act. Gonzales v. Performance Painting, Inc., No. 32,844 (N.M. … Continue reading Undocumented Worker Recovers Work-Comp Benefits