Turner W. Branch

In Memory Of
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Education

  • J.D., Baylor University School of Law, Waco, Texas, 1965
    Honors: Recipient T.R. McDonald Outstanding Student Award
    Law Review: Section Editor, Baylor University Law Review, 1964 – 1965
  • B.A., University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico, 1960

Bar Admissions

  • New Mexico, 1966
  • Colorado, 1988
  • Texas, 1988
  • District of Columbia, 1989
  • U.S. District Court District of New Mexico, 1966
  • U.S. District Court District of Colorado, 1988
  • U.S. District Court Western District of Texas, 1988
  • U.S. District Court Southern District of Texas, 1988
  • U.S. District Court Northern District of Texas, 1991
  • U.S. District Court Eastern District of Texas, 1993
  • U.S. Court of Appeals 10th Circuit, 1966
  • U.S. Court of Appeals 5th Circuit, 1968
  • U.S. Court of Appeals 9th Circuit, 1993
  • U.S. Supreme Court, 1972
  • Laguna Tribal Court, 1990

Published Works

  • Rule 167 – Production, Privilege and Waiver, Probate of a Subsequent Will is Not a Will Contest, Baylor Law Review, 1964-1965
  • Book Review: Render Unto Caesar, the Flag Salute Controversy, Baylor Law Review, 1964-1965
  • Release-After Discovered Injury, 19 Defense Law Journal 2, 1970
  • Closing Arguments, Callahan & Company, 1970-present
  • Wrongful Death of a Minor in Police Custody, 28 American Jurisprudence Trials 307, 1981
  • American Jurisprudence Trial, Handling a Bad Faith First Party Insured Case, Medical Misdiagnosis Damages and the So What? Defense, New Mexico Trial Lawyer, January, 1983
  • American Jurisprudence Trial, Handling a Bad Faith First Party Insured Case, Medical Misdiagnosis Damages and So What? Defense, Michigan Trial Lawyer, March, 1983
  • Misdiagnosis of Cancer, 30 American Jurisprudence Trials, 1983
  • Obstetrics and Gynecology Malpractice, 40 American Jurisprudence Trials 1, 1990
  • The Trial of An Ophthalmology Case, 32 American Jurisprudence Trials, 1985
  • Failure to Protect the Public From Intoxicated Drivers, 34 American Jurisprudence Trials 499
  • Branch on Construction Site Accidents, Wiley Law Publications, 1987
  • Using Lay Opinion Testimony, Vol. 36, Issue 3, March, 1987
  • Trial Talk, Colorado Trial Lawyers Association Publication, 1987
  • Exemplars of Cross-Examination of Lay Witnesses, Matthew Bender, Cross-Examination of Lay Witnesses (Contributor), 1988
  • Construction Accident Pleading and Practice, Wiley Law Publications (Editor and Contributing Author), 1988
  • Lessons from Unsuccessful Trials, Trial Magazine, 1993
  • The Rise of Hedonic Damages and the Fall of Punitive Damages, 15 Trial Diplomacy Journal 2, Mar/April, 1992
  • Hedonic Damages, Law Education Institute CLE

Representative Cases

  • Hansler v. Bass, 743 P.2d 1031 (N.M.App. 1987)
  • Stover v. Journal Pub. Co., 731 P.2d 1335 (N.M.App. 1985)
  • Karbel v. Francis, 709 P.2d 190 (N.M.App. 1985)
  • Harrell v. City of Belen, 603 P.2d 722 (N.M.App. 1979)
  • Hicks v. State, 544 P.2d 1153 (N.M. 1975)
  • Jessen v. National Excess Ins. Co., 776 P.2d 1244 (N.M. 1989)
  • Salazar v. Otis Elecator Co., No. 12, 354 (1993)

Honors and Awards

  • Best Lawyers in America
  • Who’s Who in American Law
  • President, Albuquerque Chapter, American Board of Trial Advocacy
  • Examiner, National Board of Trial Advocacy
  • Pi Sigma Alpha
  • Omicron Delta Kappa
  • Recognized as a “Southwest Super Lawyer” the top 5% in New Mexico, Super Lawyer Magazine, 2008, 2009, 2010
  • Martindale-Hubbell, AV Peer Review Rated Attorney
  • Selected Top Plaintiffs Lawyer in America by Law Dragon, Winter 2007
  • Fellow, Litigation Counsel of America – Trial Lawyer Honorary Society, 2009

Past Employment Positions

  • New Mexico House of Representatives, House Judiciary Committee, Member, 1968 – 1974
  • New Mexico House of Representatives, House Corporation and Banking Committee, Member, 1968 – 1974
  • City of Gallup, City Attorney, 1970 – 1972
  • State of New Mexico, Liquor Control, Director, 1966 – 1968
  • United States Marine Corps, 1st Lieutenant, Active Duty, 1960 – 1963

Fraternities/Sororities

  • Phi Delta Phi
  • Pi Kappa Alpha

Birth Information

  • August 22, 1938, Houston, Texas, United States of America

Turner W. Branch

In Memory Of

NM State Bar Memorium

Turner Williamson Branch is a 1956 graduate of the Marist School, Atlanta, and was graduated in 1960 with a B.A. in Political Science from the University of New Mexico where he was president of the student body and a member of Phi Sigma Alpha, the Political Science Honors Society. He was listed in Who’s Who in American Colleges and Universities.

Upon graduation, Mr. Branch was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps on active duty at Quantico, Va. Thereafter, Mr. Branch was assigned to Camp Pendleton, Ca. and joined the Second Battalion of Fifth Marines, First Marine Division, a noted infantry organization that won fame with the Battle of Belleau Woods in France in World War I and thereafter in World War II in the Pacific Islands, in the Korean War as well as in Vietnam. Mr. Branch was promoted to First Lieutenant and served three-and-a-half years on active duty. He left the Marine Corps in July of 1963 to attend Baylor University in Waco, Texas. Mr. Branch graduated in November 1965 from Baylor Law School, where he was a Section Editor of the Law Review. He received the T.R. McDonald Award as an outstanding student at the Law School. He served as chairman of the Student Grievance Committee, was selected to Omicron Delta Kappa and to the International Legal Fraternity of Phi Delta Phi. He was also selected for the first edition of Best Lawyers in America (derived from a survey of lawyers from around the country), Who’s Who in American Law Schools, and Who’s Who in American Universities and Colleges for a second time.

He returned to Albuquerque, N.M. to practice law in 1965. He is a member of the State Bars of New Mexico, Colorado, and Texas and the Bar Association of the District of Columbia. He was admitted to practice before the United States Supreme Court in 1972.

Mr. Branch was elected a Fellow in the International Academy of Trial Lawyers, an organization of only five hundred lawyers throughout the world, and served on that organization’s Board of Directors. He is a life member of the Association of Trial Lawyers of America and served as the New Mexico representative for the Association of Trial Lawyers of America for twelve years. He is a former Trustee for the National College of Advocacy, Diplomate in the American Board of Trial Advocates, National Board of Directors of the American Board of Trial Advocates, former President New Mexico Chapter of ABOTA 1982-83, and received an outstanding service award from the American Board of Trial Advocates. He is a board recognized Specialist as a civil trial advocate by the National Board of Trial Advocacy and has been certified as a Civil Trial Specialist since 1984. He served on the Board of Governors of the Western Trial Lawyers Association and served as a board member of New Mexico Trial Lawyers from 1968-76.

Mr. Branch has served as:

  • Vice-Chair of Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee for L-Tryptophan, Litigation (MDL 863)
  • Liaison Counsel for Breast Implant Litigation, Multi-District, Litigation No. 926
  • Member of Executive Committee for Castano Tobacco Litigation in United States District Court for the Eastern District of New Orleans
  • Represented the New Mexico Attorney General in: State of New Mexico, ex rel Tom Udall, Attorney General of State of New Mexico v. The American Tobacco Company, et al., Santa Fe County District Court (New Mexico) Cause No. SF 97-1235
  • Plaintiffs’ Counsel in New Mexico class action entitled: Carol A. Connor et al. v. The Tobacco Company et al., Bernalillo County District Court (New Mexico) Cause No. CV 96-0009422
  • Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee for Amtrak Bayou Canot case in Mobile, Alabama, (MDL No. 1003)
  • National Liaison Counsel in Omniflox Litigation case in the United States District Court in Chicago, Illinois, (MDL No. 1004)
  • Co-Chair of Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee for the Norplant Litigation in the Eastern District of Texas, (MDL No.1038)

In addition, Mr. Branch has been an active participant in the diet drug litigation since its inception. He was a founding member of the Texas Document Depository, which now holds over five million pages of the drug manufacturers’ records. Mr. Branch has published seven articles and a book, all legal publications plus numerous articles for publications and Trial Magazine and other trial lawyer association meetings, which are listed in detail on the attached Martindale-Hubbell biography. He has argued numerous cases before state and federal appellate courts and has tried over two hundred and fifty civil jury trials to completion.

Classes/Seminars Talk

  • Member of Faculty, National Advance College of Advocacy, University of Nevada-Reno, 1984
  • Lecturer, Trial Tactics, Kansas Trial Lawyers Continuing Legal Education, Keystone, Colorado, 1988
  • Member of Faculty, National College of Advocacy, University of Washington School of Law, 1985
  • Member of Faculty, Maximizing Damages, National College of Advocacy, Snowmass, Colorado, 1985
  • Member of Faculty, Basic Trial Advocacy Course, National College of Advocacy, San Diego, California, 1986
  • Member of Faculty, Specialized Course in Premises Liability, National College of Advocacy, Vail, Colorado, 1986
  • Lecturer, Final Arguments, Kansas Trial Lawyer, CLE, Santa Fe, 1989
  • Specialized Course in Evidence, Association of Trial Lawyers of America, Albuquerque, New Mexico, 1986
  • Hedonic Damages, Kansas Trial Lawyers Association, CLE, Durango, Colorado, 1990
  • Lecturer, Proving Economic Damages in FELA Cases, New York City, 40th Annual Association of Trial Lawyers of America Convention, New City, 1986
  • Lecturer, Trial Technique, National Business Institute, September 1990
  • Hedonic Damages, New Mexico Defense Lawyers Association, April 1991
  • Maximizing Settlement Techniques, Association of Trial Lawyers of America, Washington, District of Columbia, April 1991
  • Damages and Arguing Damages, Kansas Trial Lawyers Association, Durango, Colorado, 1990
  • Voir Dire and Jury Selection, Texas Trial Lawyers Association, Steamboat Springs, Colorado, 1990
  • Using Rule 26 at Trial, Legal Education Institute, Vail, Colorado, January 1991
  • Handling Automobile Cases, the Aspects of Crashworthiness, National Business Institute, June 1991
  • Masters Program, Hastings College, University of California Advanced Trial Techniques and Strategy, San Francisco, August 1991
  • Lecturer, Masters in Trial, Using Jury Instructions to Your Advantage, BNA/PEI, Albuquerque, New Mexico
  • Lecturer, Lawyer Storytelling, LEI, Vail, Colorado, 1993
  • Lecturer, Lawyer Storytelling, LEI, Palm Springs, California, 1993
  • Lecturer, Preparing Witnesses for Direct and Cross-Examination, Association of Trial Lawyers of America Conference, Redondo Beach, California, 1993
  • Lecturer, Closing Arguments, South Dakota Trial Lawyers, 1993
  • Lecturer, Using Video Settlement Brochures in L-Tryptophan Cases, Association of Trial Lawyers of America Summer Convention, San Francisco, California, August, 1993
  • Lecturer, Handling Catastrophic Premises Liability Cases, BNA/PEI, Albuquerque, New Mexico, 1993
  • Lecturer, Products Liability, BNA, Albuquerque, New Mexico
  • Lecturer, Hedonic Damages, CLE
  • Instructor, Ultimate Trial Advocacy Program, Association of Trial Lawyers of America, Georgetown Law School March 1992
  • Lecturer, Damages and Settlement Seminar, Association of Trial Lawyers of America, Nashville, Tennessee, May 1992
  • Lecturer, Cross-Examining the Expert, New Mexico Trial Lawyer Seminar, January 1992
  • Lecturer, BNA Seminar on Damages, National Business Institute
  • Lecturer, Scheduling and Taking Depositions Under the Hague Convention, Association of Trial Lawyers of America Mid-Year Convention, Boca Raton, Florida, January 1992
  • Presentation, 11-16-26-37 Hike, Use of Federal Rules to Settle Cases, Georgia/Florida Trial Lawyers, Orlando, 1992
  • Lecturer, Association of Trial Lawyers of America Tort Track Annual Convention, 1992
  • Lecturer, Association of Trial Lawyers of America, L-Tryptophan Section, Annual Convention, Washington, District of Columbia, 1992
  • Faculty, Obstetric Malpractice, Legal, Medical and Nursing Perspectives, Texas Trial Lawyers at CLE, Steamboat Springs, Colorado on Trial Tactics, 1990
  • Lecturer, A BMW Seminar, 1988
  • Lecturer, Rise of Hedonic Damages and the Fall of Punitive Damages, ABOTA, Masters in Trial, Tulsa, Oklahoma, October 1993
  • Lecturer, Rise of Hedonic Damages and Fall of Punitive Damages, Nebraska Trial Lawyers, 1993
  • Lecturer, Hedonic Damages, Iowa Trial Lawyers, 1993
  • Lecturer, Premises Liability: Preparation and Trial of a Difficult Case in New Mexico, National Business Institute, Albuquerque, New Mexico, September 1993

Professional Associations and Memberships

  • Elks Lodge 460
    Member
  • Kiwanis Club
    Member
  • Masonic Lodge
    Member
  • Shriners
    Member
  • American Board of Trial Advocates, 1990 – Present
    Member, Board of Directors
  • New Mexico Trial Lawyers, 1968 – 1974
  • Member
  • Association of Trial Lawyers of America, 1968 – 1974
    Delegate
  • Cartwright Memorial Endowment Fund, 1988 – Present
    Co-Chair
  • American Arbitration Association, 1968 – Present
    Member, Negligence Advisory Committee
  • Association of Professional Responsibility Lawyers – ABA
    Charter Member
  • New Mexico Medical-Legal Grievance Committee, 1984 – Present
    Member
  • 2nd Judicial District, 1989 – 1991
    Member, Judicial Selection Committee
  • Multi-District Litigation L-Tryptophan Cases, MDL=865
    Vice-Chairman, Steering Committee
  • United States District Court, Columbia South Carolina, 1991 – Present
    Member
  • The H. Verle Payne American Inns of Court, 1992
    Master Bencher
  • ABOTA, Masters in Trial, New Orleans, LA., Liaison Counsel for New
    Mexico MDL=926 (Breast Implant Lit.), N.D. AL., US District Court
  • National College of Advocacy, Kansas City Trial Lawyers Association, 1993
    Advocate
  • Equal Access to Justice Fund Committee, 1969
    Co-Chair
  • Colorado Bar Association
    Member
  • South Western Colorado Bar Association
    Member
  • American Bar Association, 1988 – 1989
    National Vice-Chairman, Tort Insurance Practice Section
  • State Bar of New Mexico, 1972 – Present
    Member
  • State Bar of New Mexico, 1982 – 1986
    Chairman, Fee Arbitration Committee
  • State Bar of New Mexico, 1969 – Present
    Member, Legal-Medical Review Committee
  • State Bar of Texas
    Member
  • Albuquerque Lawyers Club
    Member
  • New Mexico Trial Lawyers Association
    Member, Board of Directors, 1969-1973 and 1991-1992
  • Pennsylvania Trial Lawyers Association
    Member
  • New York Trial Lawyers
    Member
  • Texas Trial Lawyers Association
    Member
  • Colorado Trial Lawyers Association
    Member
  • Association of Trial Lawyers of America, 1970 – 1974
    Life Member, State Committeeman
  • Association of Trial Lawyers of America, 1978 – Present
    Sustaining Member
  • National College of Advocacy, 1990 – Present
    Member, Board of Trustees
  • ABOTA-The Masters in Trial, Trial Dem., Philadelphia, New Orleans and, 1984 – 1985
    Wash., DC, Nat. Advance College of Trial Advocates, Vice Chairman
  • American Society of Law and Medicine
    Member
  • American Judicature Society
    Member
  • American Board of Trial Advocates
    Diplomate
  • American Board of Trial Advocates, 1983 – 1984
    President, New Mexico Chapter
  • American Board of Trial Advocates, 1990 – Present
    Member, National Board of Directors
  • American Board of Trial Advocates
    Tri-Chair, Expansion Committee
  • National Board of Trial Advocacy, 1986 – Present
    Examiner
  • College of the State Bar of Texas
    Member
  • New Mexico Bar Foundation
    Patron
  • International Academy of Trial Lawyers, 1993
    Member, Admissions Committee
  • International Academy of Trial Lawyers
    Diplomate