Executive Committee

TURNER BRANCH

Turner Williamson Branch is a 1956 graduate of the Marist School, Atlanta, and 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 the 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 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.

Litigation Percentage:

100% of Practice Devoted to Litigation

Certification/Specialties:

Civil Trial Advocate, National Board of Advocacy

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

Education:

Baylor University School of Law, Waco, Texas, 1965 J.D., Doctor of Jurisprudence Honors: Recipient T.R. McDonald Outstanding Student Award Law Review: Section Editor, Baylor University Law Review, 1964 - 1965

University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico, 1960 B.A., Bachelor of Arts

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)

Classes/Seminars Taught:

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

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

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

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