Profile
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 the outstanding… Read More
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 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.
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
Litigation Percentage
100% of Practice Devoted to Litigation
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
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
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
