VERDICTS & CASE STUDIES

Following a state court trial in Bernalillo County, New Mexico, in July 2026, law firm Bowman and Brooke successfully secured a unanimous defense verdict on behalf of HDR Engineering, Inc., an employee-owned design firm specializing in engineering, architecture, environmental, and construction services. The jury deliberated for just two hours before returning a verdict in favor of HDR, rejecting the plaintiff’s $10 million damages claim and fully resolving a long-standing dispute regarding a prominent transit project in Albuquerque. 

The litigation, The City of Albuquerque vs. HDR Engineering, Inc., et al. (Case No. D-202-CV-2021-03520), involved a complex review of project responsibilities following structural issues with decorative streetlights installed along the transit route.

Throughout the trial, the Bowman and Brooke team, led by Partner William Auther, successfully clarified HDR’s contractual scope of work. While HDR provided foundational engineering, architectural, and construction management services from the project’s conception, the trial team made it clear that HDR did not manufacture, supply, or install the streetlights, and therefore bore no liability for the subsequent mechanical and structural issues.

"This verdict is a testament to HDR’s integrity and our client’s commitment to defending its work product—even through trial," said Auther. "We are seeing a growing trend in complex infrastructure litigation where plaintiffs take a shotgun approach, attempting to hold design professionals to a standard of absolute perfection for downstream product failures. We are pleased that the jury carefully reviewed the evidence and delivered a unanimous verdict that definitively clears HDR of liability."

“First and foremost, we are dedicated to delivering exceptional design and engineering solutions for the communities we serve,” said Tom McLaughlin, HDR’s Transportation Business Group President.

“We value our relationships with municipalities and project partners and seek to resolve issues collaboratively. We also have a responsibility to stand behind our work and defend it when necessary.
“We are grateful to the jury for its thoughtful consideration of the evidence. The verdict affirms what we have maintained throughout this process: Our team did not cause the alleged damages on this project.”

On October 7, 2026, the court denied the city’s post-trial motions and awarded HDR $77,886 in costs, plus post-judgment interest accruing at 15%, further reinforcing the finality of the defense victory. In addition to Auther, the Bowman and Brooke trial team included Partner Daniel Rock, Associate Sarah Brunswick, and Paralegal Stacy Hayes.