Gauthier & Maier Law Firm, P.C. Wins $36 Million Lawsuit Against State Farm

Jan 4, 2024

Advocating for the victims in this case ensured they received validation and compensation for their losses, publishes maierattorney.com

Albuquerque New Mexico - January 4, 2024 —

A New Mexico jury has awarded a local family $36 million in an auto accident and bad faith conduct lawsuit against State Farm Insurance Company. With Gauthier & Maier Law Firm, P.C. representing the plaintiffs, the jury found that State Farm had sold the victim in the case a $1 million insurance policy that was improperly changed to $25,000 after her auto accident. The jury also determined the company attempted to cover up the fact that the plaintiff had purchased $1 million in coverage prior to the accident.

On September 2, 2017, State Farm policyholder Andrea Lovato and her four-year-old nephew were involved in a serious accident on Highway 47 in Valencia County. A vehicle was traveling in Lovato's lane at twice the advised speed limit, resulting in a head-on collision. Lovato lost her life in the accident, and her nephew underwent emergency surgery to resolve abdominal injuries and internal bleeding.

State Farm initially refused to acknowledge the $1 million policy. Instead, they reduced their payout to the $25,000 limit Lovato maintained before upgrading her coverage. Though Lovato's mother later discovered the additional coverage, the company continued to refuse to honor it. They alleged that Lovato was fully at fault for the accident, negating the full $1 million payout.

On October 31, 2023, the jury for the case determined that Lovato was not wholly at fault for the accident. It also found that State Farm had committed bad faith, violated the Unfair Trade Practices Act, and breached the Unfair Insurance Practices Act. Lovato's family was awarded $12 million in damages for the auto accident and another $24 million in bad faith and breach of contract damages.

Attorneys Lauren Law Barela and Shane Maier of the Gauthier & Maier Law Firm, P.C. led the trial against State Farm Insurance Company. "The Gauthier & Maier Law Firm is proud to have represented the four-year-old boy who survived the accident and the family of the policyholder in this lawsuit," said Maier. "We're dedicated to advocating for people who've been victims of someone else's negligence. We're happy to have helped the family receive the validation and compensation they deserve."

About Gauthier & Maier Law Firm, P.C.:

Gauthier & Maier Law Firm, P.C. is a New Mexico personal injury law firm based out of Albuquerque and Los Lunas. Both Gauthier and Maier are former insurance defense lawyers who are committed to providing clients with exceptional representation. The firm is also dedicated to offering extensive insight into how insurance companies handle claims to maximize the payouts their clients receive. They pride themselves in helping clients receive the justice they deserve. The firm handles auto, motorcycle, and semi-truck accidents; insurance bad faith; slip and falls; wrongful deaths; nursing home abuse; medical malpractice; police brutality; and abuse at school cases.

Contact Info:
Name: Shane Maier
Email: Send Email
Organization: Gauthier and Maier Law Firm, P.C.
Address: Albuquerque, NM, 87106
Phone: 505-226-3205
Website: https://www.maierattorney.com

Release ID: 89117889

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Top 30 in The Korea Times University Rankings 2027

As competition for international students intensifies worldwide, The Korea Times has expanded and refined its University Rankings 2027, evaluating 60 universities across four categories: education, research, student support and graduate outcomes. The rankings aim to assess how well Korean universities are building sustainable environments for international students and scholars, shifting the focus beyond enrollment numbers toward the quality and depth of internationalization. This year’s evaluation features 19 indicators worth a total of 200 points, with 65 percent of the score directly tied to globalization. The following tables present the top 30 universities overall, along with the top 30 in each category.

Top 30 in The Korea Times University Rankings 2027

Korea Times University Rankings focus on universities' internationalization capabilities

The Korea Times University Rankings 2027 focus on universities’ internationalization capabilities rather than their overall institutional strength. Unlike comprehensive rankings such as QS and Times Higher Education (THE), which place greater emphasis on reputation and research, The Korea Times rankings evaluate the diverse resources and achievements of universities from an internationalization perspective. Through the assessment, The Korea Times aims to help international students considering studying in Korea make informed choices and promote healthy competition among universities to strengthen their internationalization capabilities. Differences in evaluation method The Korea Times excluded the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) and the Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH) from its University Rankings, although both rank among Korea’s top universities in global rankings. The exclusion was based on a comprehensive consideration of the number of international students, institutional size and regional balance among Korean universities. In the QS

Korea Times University Rankings focus on universities' internationalization capabilities

Evaluation criteria revised to better assess universities' internationalization

The Korea Times has revised the evaluation criteria for its University Rankings 2027 to provide a more comprehensive and rigorous assessment of the internationalization of Korean universities. This year’s evaluation expanded its coverage from 54 universities last year to 60, while increasing the total score from 190 points across 18 indicators to 200 points across 19 indicators. Notably, The Korea Times introduced a new indicator measuring the proportion of full-time international faculty. It also changed the calculation method for the academic retention rate of international students, focusing the measure on degree-seeking students, and refined the evaluation period for research performance. The new international faculty indicator, worth 10 points, is designed to strengthen the assessment of internationalization in the education and research environment, marking the biggest change in this year’s rankings. Accordingly, the education category’s score increased from 60 points to 70 points. The category now consists of seven indicators, including the ratio of degree-seeking internationa

Evaluation criteria revised to better assess universities' internationalization

New indicators sharpen focus on quality over quantity in university globalization

Academics and industry observers said revision to The Korea Times University Rankings 2027 represent a meaningful step forward, with updated indicators that offer a more comprehensive measure of university internationalization. This year’s revisions placed greater emphasis on faculty diversity, student success and sustained research collaboration. Shin Jang-sup, a professor of economics at the National University of Singapore, said the overall framework has improved from last year, highlighting the addition of an indicator measuring the proportion of international full-time faculty, as well as changes to the international student retention indicator. “Including the international student retention rate is a very desirable change,” Shin said. “It strengthens the rankings’ focus on evaluating universities from the perspective of international students.” Seo Myeong-seok, managing director of the Korea Advancing Schools Foundation, also emphasized that the revisions have strengthened the overall framework. He pointed to the introduction of the international full-time faculty ratio,

New indicators sharpen focus on quality over quantity in university globalization

Universities need to do more to support international students

Internationalization is no longer an option for Korean universities but a necessity for their survival, as the nation’s higher education system faces an unprecedented structural transformation. Yet The Korea Times University Rankings 2027 reveal a stark reality: Korean universities still have a long way to go to achieve full-fledged internationalization. Universities have met the basic requirements for internationalization. But investment in faculty recruitment and student support has failed to keep pace with the increasing number of international students, while graduate outcomes remain weak. The Korea Times launched the university rankings last year to assess the level of internationalization among domestic universities. This year’s rankings covered 60 universities using 19 indicators in four categories: education, research, student support and graduate outcomes. Universities were assessed on a 200-point scale, with 70 points allocated to education, 50 points to research, 40 points to student support and 40 points to graduate outcomes. The education category saw the strongest overall

Universities need to do more to support international students

Top Korean universities hold firm as new contenders gain ground

Korea University retained the top spot in The Korea Times University Rankings 2027 for the second consecutive year, as the country’s leading universities largely held their ground while Sejong University emerged as the biggest mover in the top 10. First launched last year, The Korea Times University Rankings aim to look beyond the number of international students to assess how well universities are building the broader ecosystem needed for globalization. This year’s results suggest that while Korean universities have made progress in attracting and managing international students, many still lag in areas such as international faculty, financial support and post-graduation outcomes. The disparity was evident across the four evaluation areas. Universities performed strongest in education, while scores were lower in student support and lowest in graduate outcomes, underscoring the challenge of building an environment that supports international students not only upon arrival but throughout their studies and beyond graduation. Korea University topped the rankings with 149.52 points out o

Top Korean universities hold firm as new contenders gain ground

Regional universities excel in student support category

Seoul-based universities dominate the top 30 of The Korea Times University Rankings 2027. Their dominance is, however, less evident in the student support category, where regional universities are investing more in helping international students find jobs and settle after graduation. Among the 60 universities evaluated nationwide, 18 of the 24 universities in Seoul made the top 30, reaffirming the capital’s long-standing dominance in internationalization. Five of nine schools in Gyeonggi Province and Incheon are included in the list, while four of 13 universities in metropolitan cities outside the capital region made the cut. Only three of the 14 universities in provincial areas made the top 30, showing that they still lag well behind major universities in Seoul and other metropolitan areas. Those figures indicate that internationalization capabilities remain concentrated in the capital region. The education, research and graduate outcomes categories showed a consistent regional pattern, with Seoul scoring highest, followed by Gyeonggi and Incheon, metropolitan cities outside the capita

Regional universities excel in student support category

Regional, smaller universities challenge hierarchy as globalization paths diverge

Some universities outside Seoul and the capital region demonstrated strong international competitiveness in specific areas in The Korea Times University Rankings 2027, despite the dominance of the country’s top-tier schools in the overall standings. This indicates that universities are strengthening their international capabilities in different ways across areas such as student recruitment, educational environments, international research, student support and graduate outcomes. Korea University, Seoul National University and Yonsei University — the country’s three leading institutions collectively known as “SKY” — held the top three spots in the overall top 30. However, regional and smaller universities including Handong Global University, Incheon National University, Woosong University and Kyungsung University performed strongly in categories such as education, student support and graduate outcomes. Handong Global University, based in Pohang, North Gyeongsang Province, stood out by ranking second in student support behind only Seoul National University, despite placing 23rd

Regional, smaller universities challenge hierarchy as globalization paths diverge

New metrics reshuffle top 30 university rankings, expose globalization gaps

The top 30 of The Korea Times University Rankings 2027 remained largely stable — 28 of last year's 30 universities held their places — but beneath that continuity, a revised methodology reshaped individual positions and exposed widening gaps in the quality and depth of internationalization at Korean universities. Seoul-based private universities dominated the top 30, though seven universities outside the capital region also made the cut. They included regional flagship national universities — Pusan, Kyungpook, Jeonbuk and Chungnam — as well as private institutions known for their internationalization efforts, such as Woosong, Handong Global and Yeungnam universities. Yeungnam University and Kookmin University were the only newcomers, climbing three and four spots from 32nd and 34th last year to 29th and 30th, respectively. Yeungnam's rise was driven largely by its strong performance in international research. The private university in Gyeongsan, North Gyeongsang Province, ranked ninth among the 60 institutions in the research category with 30.95 points, placing first in the shar

New metrics reshuffle top 30 university rankings, expose globalization gaps

Seoul's Jongno 3-ga rises to world's coolest neighborhood

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Seoul's Jongno 3-ga rises to world's coolest neighborhood

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US sanctions boost China’s science-driven innovation by over 70%, study finds

Rare honour: Trump will greet Xi at Joint Base Andrews, not just White House

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Rare honour: Trump will greet Xi at Joint Base Andrews, not just White House

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Singapore Management University president highlights growing role of social sciences in AI era

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5-year term upheld for drunk driver who killed Japanese woman

Korea, France stage joint air drills to enhance interoperability

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Korea, France stage joint air drills to enhance interoperability

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Korea's 1st unmanned military ground vehicle gets ready for battlefield

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President Lee vows to crack down on transnational crimes, scalping

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Sungkyunkwan University research offers design guidelines for organic solar cells

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9 sent to prosecution for alleged extortion targeting foreigners in Yangsan, Gimhae

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Illegal imports of weight-loss drugs top 5,000 through Aug.: customs agency

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Gov't supports bill easing restrictions on civilian contact with N. Koreans: lawmaker

Special counsel team raids election watchdog in probe into ballot shortages

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Special counsel team raids election watchdog in probe into ballot shortages

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Korean Catholic Church voices 'deep concerns' over abortion bill plan

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Chungnam National University students complete AI research program in US

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Ex-President Yoon indicted over wife's luxury bag case

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Busan unites foreign workers through sports, culture, safety

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Korea Foundation honors US Peace Corps vets for decades of grassroots diplomacy

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Seoul city to hike Han River ferry fares for weekends starting next year

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Confirmation hearing reports adopted for justice, defense minister nominees

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Doosan Corp. bets $700 mil. on chip substrate material biz

LG chairman stresses 'prompt, tenacious execution' in AI investment

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LG chairman stresses 'prompt, tenacious execution' in AI investment

KT joins state project to build AI-driven 'dark factory' solutions

KT said Thursday it has joined a government-led research project to develop design and construction solutions for "dark factories" — fully automated, unmanned plants that run around the clock using artificial intelligence (AI) across every stage of production. The project falls under a Ministry of Science and ICT initiative to build a research and development ecosystem for a software platform based on collaborative intelligence and physical AI. It aims to build a dark factory near Jeonbuk Innovation City in North Jeolla Province. Besides KT, the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, LG Energy Solution, Harim Foods, Shinsung E&G and the Korea Productivity Center are taking part as joint research institutions. KT will develop a system built on modular edge AI data center infrastructure — compact, distributed AI data centers pre-assembled on factory floors — to generate and verify Sim-Ready synthetic data, or digital data usable in virtual simulation environments, along with an integrated environment for operating AI agents. Through the research, KT aims to resolve error

KT joins state project to build AI-driven 'dark factory' solutions

CJ ENM eyes European growth with major brand push in Poland

CJ ENM, the Korean entertainment powerhouse behind hits like "Parasite" and Studio Dragon dramas, is widening its reach into Central and Eastern Europe. Following its participation in the 2026 Korea-Poland Brand Week in Warsaw on Tuesday and Wednesday, the media company announced plans Thursday to accelerate content distribution and forge local production alliances across the region. The event was hosted by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and organized by the Korea Creative Content Agency (KOCCA). During the two-day event, CJ ENM signed a memorandum of understanding with the Korean Cultural Center in Poland and KOCCA to expand the reach of Korean content in the country. Under the agreement, the company plans to widen exchanges with European institutions and broaden the footprint of Korean content through screenings, promotional events and other programs. CJ ENM ran experience booths tied to its dramas "Lovely Runner" and "The Legend of Kitchen Soldier," letting visitors engage directly with the shows. It also held a special screening of "The Legend of Kitchen Soldier," alongsi

CJ ENM eyes European growth with major brand push in Poland

Hansae Mobility increases commitment in Uzbekistan

Senior executives from Hansae Yes24 Group attended a Korea-Uzbekistan business forum in Seoul as the conglomerate moves to expand investment and localize operations in Uzbekistan, the group said Thursday. Hansae Yes24 Holdings Vice Chairman Kim Suk-hwan, Hansae Vice Chairman Kim Ik-whan and Hansae Mobility CEO Sung Nag-gon joined the forum at the Shilla Seoul hotel on Tuesday. The event, jointly hosted by Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Korean Prime Minister Han Seong-sook, brought together government officials and business leaders from the two countries to discuss Uzbekistan’s investment environment and ways to broaden strategic economic cooperation. Hansae Mobility, one of the group’s future growth engines, has worked with Uzbekistan automaker UzAuto Motors since its early stages. The Korean company began localizing production of key automotive components late last year and started full-scale mass production this month. Hansae Mobility plans to invest a total of $25 million in Fergana Province. It has invested $13 million in the first phase this year and plans to add $1

Hansae Mobility increases commitment in Uzbekistan

Hanwha, EDGE to build UAE's integrated air defense network

Hanwha Systems will team up with the United Arab Emirates’ state-run defense conglomerate EDGE to establish an integrated air defense network, covering long- and medium-range capabilities as well as counter-drone defenses. According to Hanwha Systems, Thursday, the CEOs of the two companies signed a term sheet for the air defense network project during a ceremony in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday (local time). The term sheet outlines the direction of the planned introduction of weapons systems for the integrated air defense network and review agendas at each stage of the project. The two sides plan to determine details of the project in line with the direction of defense cooperation between the two countries. Through government approvals and consultations, the two companies will pursue establishing a local joint venture and discuss its operation and local production. Through the partnership, Hanwha Systems plans to expand its role from supplying individual weapons systems to participating in the integrated air defense network, by linking ground weapons systems, including the Chunmoo multiple roc

Hanwha, EDGE to build UAE's integrated air defense network

Korean Air finalizes $44.8 bil. purchase plan announced last year

Korean Air has finalized contracts to purchase 103 next-generation Boeing aircraft and aircraft engines and maintenance services from U.S. companies in deals worth a combined $44.8 billion, completing a major U.S. procurement plan announced last year. The airline said Wednesday that it signed final agreements covering $36.2 billion worth of Boeing aircraft and $8.6 billion in spare engines and engine maintenance services from GE Aerospace and CFM International. The deals finalize the $44.8 billion U.S. purchase plan announced by Hanjin Group Chairman Cho Won-tae in Washington in August 2025, during President Lee Jae Myung's visit to the United States. Korean Air said the signing ceremony was held Tuesday at the Conrad Seoul hotel in Yeouido and jointly hosted with Boeing. Senior executives attending the event included Cho, Boeing Commercial Airplanes President and CEO Stephanie Pope and CFM International President and CEO Gaël Méheust. Government and financial officials from Korea and the United States also attended, including Korean Minister of Trade, Industry and Resources Kim Jung-k

Korean Air finalizes $44.8 bil. purchase plan announced last year

Seoul's streetwear titan Musinsa expands physical footprint to Shenzhen

Musinsa, the Korean e-commerce titan that built an empire out of Seoul’s trendsetting streetwear scene, is doubling down on physical retail in China. The company will open locations on Oct. 31 for both its flagship multibrand boutique and its private-label basic line, Musinsa Standard, side by side in Shenzhen — marking its expansion beyond eastern China into the country's southern fashion hub. The Korean fashion platform said Thursday that both stores will open at ONE AVENUE, a major mixed-use shopping complex in Shenzhen’s Futian central business district. The move marks Musinsa’s first offline expansion into southern China after establishing retail operations centered on Shanghai and Hangzhou. The company said Shenzhen, a major economic and industrial center in southern China, has a large population of young consumers with strong purchasing power. Musinsa Store will initially carry about 30 Korean fashion brands, with plans to add more based on customer response and demand. The store is intended to serve as an offline base for introducing Korean fashion labels to Chinese consume

Seoul's streetwear titan Musinsa expands physical footprint to Shenzhen

Noul brings AI cervical cancer screening technology to Indonesia

Noul, a Korean medtech firm specializing in artificial intelligence (AI)-driven diagnostic tools, has entered the Indonesian market through its first supply agreement for an automated cervical cancer screening system as the Southeast Asian nation works to scale up preventive care. The company said Thursday it signed the agreement with an Indonesian medical device distributor and plans to supply at least 50 miLab CER units to local medical institutions and laboratory networks over three years. Noul said it will initially work with hospitals, screening centers and laboratory networks before seeking opportunities in Indonesia’s public procurement market. The company said it has secured regulatory approvals for miLab CER in several Southeast Asian markets, including Vietnam and the Philippines, providing a foundation for further expansion across the region. Indonesia, with about 280 million people, is Southeast Asia’s largest health care market, according to Noul, which said cervical cancer places a significant burden on women in the country. Noul said Indonesia plans to include cervical

Noul brings AI cervical cancer screening technology to Indonesia

Sales of Galaxy Z Fold 8 increase following unveiling of Apple's 1st foldable smartphone

Domestic sales of Samsung Electronics' new Galaxy Z foldable smartphone have increased following the unveiling of Apple's first foldable smartphone, the iPhone Duo, industry sources said Thursday. Sales of the Galaxy Z Fold 8 in Korea rose about 10 percent in the week following the unveiling of the iPhone Duo from the previous week, according to the telecommunications industry. The increase is believed to have been driven in part by consumers who had delayed their purchases while waiting for Apple's new product and subsequently opted for the Galaxy Z Fold 8 instead. The iPhone Duo's price and hardware specifications are also considered factors in Korean consumers' purchasing decisions, they said. The iPhone Duo is priced at 3.29 million won ($2,380) for the 256-gigabyte model in Korea, more than 1 million won above the 2.28 million won price of the 256GB Galaxy Z Fold 8. The 2-terabyte iPhone Duo model is priced at 5.09 million won. The price gap in Korea is relatively wide compared with the United States, where the 256GB models of the two smartphones differ by about $100 in price.

Sales of Galaxy Z Fold 8 increase following unveiling of Apple's 1st foldable smartphone

Condoleezza Rice, Lee Kyung-chul receive inaugural Lee Hong-koo Diplomacy Award

Former U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Lee Kyung-chul, special representative for Middle East peace at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, have been named the inaugural recipients of the Lee Hong-koo Diplomacy Award. The Seoul Forum for International Affairs (SFIA), a private diplomatic think tank, announced it has rebranded its Youngsan Diplomat Award, which recognizes individuals who have made outstanding contributions to Korean diplomacy, in honor of former Prime Minister Lee Hong-koo. Lee Hong-koo, who died in May at the age of 91, served as the founding chairman of SFIA. The awards were presented Wednesday at FKI Tower in Seoul’s Yeongdeungpo District during an event marking SFIA’s 40th anniversary. About 100 guests from Korea and abroad attended, including former U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. Rice served as national security advisor under former U.S. President George W. Bush before becoming U.S. secretary of state from 2005 to 2009. She is now director of the Hoover Institution at Stanford University. Lee was appointed Korea's special representative for Middle Ea

Condoleezza Rice, Lee Kyung-chul receive inaugural Lee Hong-koo Diplomacy Award