Greenberg Traurig’s Mexico City Pro Bono Team Obtains Victory in Matter of Patrimonial Responsibility of the State

MEXICO CITY - Jan. 8, 2025 - A team from global law firm Greenberg Traurig, LLP's Mexico City office, through its pro bono work, secured a victory in favor of a client seeking monetary compensation from the State for the temporary and unjustified deprivation of his liberty.

L.A.R. is a 70+-year-old man with hypertension and diabetic neuropathy controlled with medication. In 2014, L.A.R. was the victim of an automobile accident. He ended up before a civic judge demanding compensation for damages. The judge, with no apparent reason, referred him to the court's jail, where he remained isolated and without access to his medications. There is no record of this detention. L.A.R. initiated proceedings against the responsible officials, but the file was "lost" before resolution.

L.A.R. sought out the Greenberg Traurig team to obtain compensation for the physical and emotional damages suffered. The Greenberg Traurig team initiated a comprehensive strategy by filing a claim before the Human Rights Commission and a claim of patrimonial responsibility of the State for the irregular actions of the authorities. Through the Commission, Greenberg Traurig's attorneys obtained a psychological analysis that demonstrated the impact suffered by L.A.R. as a result of these actions and a confirmation that the authorities did violate his human rights. This decision was used to claim the State's patrimonial responsibility - in other words, that the State should compensate L.A.R.

After two years of litigation, a court has ordered the competent authorities to pay L.A.R. a compensation for moral damages. This is one of the few precedents that exists in this type of matter.

In these types of cases, there is usually no evidence of authorities' activities, nor are there people willing to demand compensation. Hugo Hernández, associate of the Litigation Practice, said: "This case represented an important challenge, since we had few elements to face our burden of proof regarding the State's responsibility for the damages caused to the mental and physical health of L.A.R., and we are proud to have obtained a positive decision for our client."

Members of Greenberg Traurig's Mexico City pro bono team included in this matter were Partner Joselino Morales, Associates Hugo Hernández and Miguel Saiz, and law clerks Regina Cordova and Pamela Pérez. Partner Víctor Manuel Frías and Associate Daniela Reyes coordinate Greenberg's pro bono work in the Mexico City office.

About Greenberg Traurig's Mexico City Office: Greenberg Traurig's Mexico City office offers clients innovative, strategic advice and legal services that span both traditional fields and contemporary regulatory sectors. The office has more than 60 bilingual attorneys who have been contributors to major national projects in Mexico and leverages the resources and reach of the firm's global platform to provide clients with tailored legal services reflective of the specific industry and market conditions in which they operate. The Mexico City office is an integral part of the firm's award-winning Latin America Practice, and has been recognized with leading competition, corporate, M&A, compliance, infrastructure, real estate, tax, international trade, privacy, energy, tax and administrative litigation, civil and commercial litigation, and banking practices in Mexico.

About Greenberg Traurig's Pro Bono Program: Greenberg Traurig lawyers across the firm's offices provide pro bono legal services to the indigent and working poor, as well as to numerous civic and charitable organizations dedicated to assisting them. The firm focuses its resources on specialized and interrelated issues including civil rights and affirmative action, anti-human trafficking, family law matters, children's rights, criminal appeals, immigration and political asylum, housing, and homelessness.

About Greenberg Traurig: Greenberg Traurig, LLP has more than 2750 attorneys in 48 locations in the United States, Europe and the Middle East, Latin America, and Asia. The firm is a 2024 BTI "Leading Edge Law Firm" for delivering on client expectations for the future and is consistently among the top firms on the Am Law Global 100 and NLJ 500. Greenberg Traurig is Mansfield Rule Certified Plus by The Diversity Lab. The firm is recognized for powering its U.S. offices with 100% renewable energy as certified by the Center for Resource Solutions Green-e® Energy program and is a member of the U.S. EPA's Green Power Partnership Program. The firm is known for its philanthropic giving, innovation, diversity, and pro bono. Web: www.gtlaw.com.