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Perennial honoree is joined on the annual list by Tim Newsom
DALLAS – Frank L. Branson, founder of the Law Offices of Frank L. Branson and an original selection among D Magazine’s Best Lawyers in Dallas, is named to the list for a 22nd year, marking his selection for each year the list has been published.
Mr. Branson is joined on the 2026 list by Tim Newsom, a first-time honoree. Both are recognized for representing plaintiffs in personal injury and product and medical liability matters.
I’ve been honored to receive this award since 2001,” Mr. Branson said. “And even though much has changed in the world, my determination to work with my colleagues to represent our clients to the best of my ability remains constant.”
In addition to the D Magazine list, Mr. Branson has for decades been a staple on the Texas Super Lawyers and The Best Lawyers in America legal guides. He was selected to Lawdragon’s Hall of Fame in 2021 and that same year received a Lifetime Achievement Award from Law.com’s Texas Legal Awards.
Mr. Branson’s firm is built on a “commitment to integrity, hard work and the will to prevail.” That approach has produced some of the profession’s largest trial verdicts and settlements on behalf of clients who have suffered harm from trucking collisions, airplane crashes, injury from gas or electric lines and harm caused by defective products or work site injuries.
Mr. Newsom is board certified in personal injury trial law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization and in civil trial law by the National Board of Trial Advocacy and has been named to the list of Texas Super Lawyers each year since 2005. He is a past president of TEX-ABOTA, the Texas arm of the American Board of Trial Advocates, an invitation-only organization of experienced trial lawyers.
Along with other firm attorneys, Mr. Newsom recently helped secure a $44.1 million jury verdict against a trucking company and its driver for a fatal crash during Winter Storm Uri in February 2021.
D Magazine uses peer nominations and reviews by an independent panel of attorneys and the magazine’s editorial team to select attorneys who offer what the magazine describes as “unparalleled counsel” in one or more of 39 practice categories.
The full list of honorees is available in the May 2026 issue of D Magazine.
About The Law Offices of Frank L. Branson
The Law Offices of Frank L. Branson represents clients in cases involving complex product liability, catastrophic injury, truck accidents, commercial air crashes, electrical and gas explosions, hospital and medical negligence, and truck and auto catastrophic injury. To learn more about the firm, visit http://www.flbranson.com.
Media Contact:
Barry Pound
800-559-4534
barry@androvett.com
TopVerdict.com cites $44.1 million award in 2021 Winter Storm Uri fatal vehicle wreck
DALLAS – A $44.1 million jury verdict won by the attorneys with The Law Offices of Frank L. Branson in a case stemming from the ice storm that blanketed Texas in 2021 has been cited as the 18th-largest verdict in Texas for 2025 by TopVerdict.com.
Attorneys [https://tim%20newsom/]Tim Newsom, John T. Burkhead, and Debbie Dudley Branson of The Law Offices of Frank L. Branson and Jeffrey S. Levinger of Levinger PC represented the plaintiffs in Vardy et al. v. New Prime Inc., et al., which was tried last December in the 44th State District Court in Dallas.
The case was the fifth-largest award in Texas for a transportation-related case during 2025, according to the Top Verdict service, which recognizes U.S. law firms and attorneys who have obtained one of the highest jury verdicts, settlements, or bench awards in the nation or an individual state.
Christopher Ray Vardy, 49, of Boyd, Texas, was killed in one of the 130 collisions that occurred on an icy stretch of the southbound TEXpress section of Interstate 35W on the morning of Feb. 11, 2021, at the height of the deadly ice storm that gripped most of the state.
Evidence presented during trial showed that Steven Ridder, who was driving an 18-wheeler operated by New Prime Inc., was not adequately trained for winter driving conditions and failed to exercise extreme caution in hazardous weather. The 18-wheeler rear-ended Mr. Vardy’s vehicle, which was stopped because of other crashes. Cranes and heavy machinery were required to find and extricate Mr. Vardy and his truck from the crash debris. The Tarrant County Medical Examiner confirmed that his injuries were survivable and that he was conscious during a period of pain and suffering following the crash.
The jury agreed with attorneys representing Mr. Vardy’s family that Mr. Ridder was negligent, and New Prime, Inc. was grossly negligent. Documents filed in the lawsuit quoted first responders as saying they had never seen a vehicle damaged as extensively as Mr. Vardy’s.
The verdict included $24.1 million in compensatory damages and $20 million in punitive damages.
The Law Offices of Frank L. Branson also recorded the 38th-ranked verdict of 2025, winning $9.45 million in McClure, et al. v. Hotel Crescent Court, which was tried in the 162nd State District Court in Dallas.
Plaintiff James Shelton McClure, 74, required ankle replacement surgery after he stepped into an unmarked, unbarricaded fountain basin in the Hotel Crescent Court courtyard. The basin had been drained of water due to freezing conditions during Winter Storm Uri.
About The Law Offices of Frank L. Branson
The Law Offices of Frank L. Branson represents clients in cases involving complex product liability, catastrophic injury, truck accidents, commercial air crashes, electrical and gas explosions, hospital and medical negligence, and truck and auto catastrophic injury.
To learn more about the firm, visit http://www.flbranson.com
Media Contact:
Barry Pound
800-559-4534
barry@androvett.com
Firm founder Frank L. Branson marks 23rd year among honorees
DALLAS – Five attorneys with the Law Offices of Frank L. Branson, led by the firm’s founder, have been selected to the 2026 edition of Texas Super Lawyers for excellence in plaintiffs general personal injury cases.
Frank Branson, a member of the Super Lawyers list since its 2003 debut, is joined by Debbie D. Branson, John T. Burkhead, Tim Newsom and Wendell P. (Chip) Martens. This is the 18th appearance for Ms. Branson, the second for Mr. Burkhead, the 21st for Mr. Newsom, and the first for Mr. Martens.
The Branson firm is known nationwide for its work in complex personal injury and wrongful death cases. Mr. Branson is regularly listed among the top attorneys in Texas, and Ms. Branson is known for shaping trial preparation for the firm’s high-stakes cases.
Mr. Burkhead has demonstrated success in connecting with jurors in catastrophic injury cases, and Mr. Newsom, who is board certified in personal injury trial law and civil trial law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, has been an acknowledged leader in the legal profession, including service as past regional president of the American Board of Trial Advocates.
Mr. Martens is a longtime consumer advocate and a former staff member of the Center for Auto Safety. He assisted in the successful representation of Consumers Union, publisher of Consumer Reports magazine, in a lawsuit filed over critical reviews and has litigated hundreds of automobile product liability cases.
“Our firm has a wealth of resources at its disposal to assist people who have fallen victim to catastrophes not of their own doing,” Mr. Branson said. “We are pleased that Super Lawyers and our colleagues and peers have recognized our successful efforts.”
Texas Super Lawyers recognizes the top 5% of attorneys in the state based on peer nominations, independent research, and professional achievement.
About The Law Offices of Frank L. Branson
The Law Offices of Frank L. Branson represents clients in cases involving complex product liability, catastrophic injury, truck accidents, commercial air crashes, electrical and gas explosions, hospital and medical negligence, and truck and auto catastrophic injury. To learn more, visit www.flbranson.com
Media Contact:
Barry Pound
800-559-4534
barry@androvett.com
A Dallas County jury just sent a message that was impossible to ignore.
Jurors last week returned a $44.1 million verdict against a trucking company and its driver for a fatal crash during the February 2021 winter ice storm on I-35 — a verdict significant enough to be reported by The Dallas Morning News, underscoring the broader public importance of the decision. The evidence showed the driver lacked adequate winter-weather training and was traveling at an unsafe speed for conditions. Jurors found gross negligence and imposed $20 million in punitive damages, holding the company accountable for putting an unfit driver on the road. This decision wasn’t about second-guessing an accident. It was about responsibility. It was about deterrence. And it was about jurors doing exactly what the civil justice system asks of them: protecting their community when safety rules are ignored, and human life is treated as secondary to schedules and profits. Congratulations to the trial team who carried this case to verdict — Frank L. Branson, John Burkhead, Tim Newsom, Debbie Branson, and appellate counsel Jeffrey Levinger — and to the jurors who took their responsibility seriously and spoke for the community.
Trial firm earns top-tier honors for expertise in five practice areas
DALLAS — The Law Offices of Frank L. Branson once again has been honored in the Best Law Firms guide to the legal profession, earning Tier One recognition among North Texas practitioners for the firm’s work representing clients in commercial litigation, medical malpractice law, personal injury litigation, professional malpractice law, and product liability litigation.
“Being recognized by our clients, colleagues and competitors is very gratifying for everyone here, from attorneys to our support team,” said firm founder Frank L. Branson. “We remain committed to our mission to deliver justice for those who have been harmed by the negligence of others and continue to focus on achieving the best possible results.”
Best Law Firms offers a lengthy history in evaluating the top law firms nationwide. Selection is based on a combination of client and peer evaluations with comprehensive data about the firms. To be eligible, a firm must have at least one attorney recognized by The Best Lawyers in America guide.
Mr. Branson has been featured on that list annually since its inception in 1987. He was once again joined this year by Debbie Dudley Branson, Tim Newsom and Linda Yee Villa, all four of whom are repeat honorees.
About The Law Offices of Frank L. Branson
The Law Offices of Frank L. Branson represents clients in cases involving complex product liability, catastrophic injury, truck accidents, commercial air crashes, electrical and gas explosions, hospital and medical negligence, and truck and auto catastrophic injury and is widely acknowledged as one of the country’s premier trial firms based on its record verdicts and settlements in high-stakes injury cases.
To learn more about the firm, visit http://www.flbranson.com
Media Contact:
Barry Pound
barry@androvett.com
214.559.4630
Legal legend again among Texas Top 10; four from firm recognized on list
DALLAS – The Law Offices of Frank L. Branson is once again celebrating top honors from Texas Super Lawyers, with four attorneys recognized among the best in Personal Injury General: Plaintiff statewide.
Firm founder Frank L. Branson continues his long-standing streak, earning recognition every year since Texas Super Lawyers debuted in 2003. This year marks his 18th consecutive appearance among the Top 10 Attorneys in Texas, as well as inclusion on the Top 100 in Texas and Top 100 in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metro Area lists. Known for landmark verdicts and settlements, Branson’s work has set the standard in complex personal injury and wrongful death cases.
Debbie D. Branson, also an 18-year honoree, is recognized for her strategic insight and hands-on role in shaping trial preparation across a wide range of the firm’s high-stakes cases. By anticipating the moves of opposing counsel and building narratives that resonate, she helps position clients for the best possible outcomes.
John T. Burkhead makes his debut on the Texas Super Lawyers list after previous honors as a Rising Star. A trusted member of the trial team, Burkhead is known for meticulous case preparation and the ability to connect with juries in complex, emotionally charged cases.
Tim Newsom, Board Certified in both Personal Injury Trial Law and Civil Trial Law, celebrates his 21st consecutive year on the list and a place among the Top 100 Attorneys in DFW. Newsom’s career has been defined by determined advocacy for clients in catastrophic injury cases.
“These honors are never just about one lawyer,” Mr. Branson said. “They’re about a team committed to fighting for people whose lives have been turned upside down. That’s why we do what we do.”
Texas Super Lawyers recognizes fewer than 5% of attorneys in the state based on peer nominations, independent research, and professional achievement.
About The Law Offices of Frank L. Branson
The Law Offices of Frank L. Branson represents clients in cases involving complex product liability, catastrophic injury, truck accidents, commercial air crashes, electrical and gas explosions, hospital and medical negligence, and truck and auto catastrophic injury. To learn more, visit www.flbranson.com
Contact:
Barry Pound
800-559-4534
barry@androvett.com
Mr. Branson is honored for excellence in five practice areas
DALLAS – Veteran Dallas trial lawyer Frank L. Branson is recognized for excellence in five practice areas in the 2026 edition of The Best Lawyers in America, and three other attorneys with The Law Offices of Frank L. Branson are honored by the peer-reviewed legal guide.
Mr. Branson, who has been selected to the Best Layers list annually since 1987, was listed among the nation’s best in commercial litigation, plaintiffs’ personal injury and product liability litigation, and plaintiffs’ medical malpractice and professional malpractice law.
Also recognized for excellence by Best Lawyers were Debbie Dudley Branson for commercial litigation and plaintiffs’ personal injury litigation, Tim Newsom for commercial litigation and plaintiffs’ personal injury litigation and Linda Yee Villa for plaintiffs’ personal injury litigation.
All are repeat honorees by Best Lawyers, which uses nominations, peer recommendations and staff research to select the nation’s top lawyers across a wide range of practice areas.
In addition to his more than four decades on the Best Lawyers list, Mr. Branson is a member of the Lawdragon Hall of Fame and has been selected by Texas Super Lawyers among the state’s Top 10 lawyers annually since 2007. He also has been recognized for excellence by D Magazine, D CEO, The Texas Lawbook and the National Law Journal.
About The Law Offices of Frank L. Branson
The Law Offices of Frank L. Branson represents clients in cases involving complex product liability, catastrophic injury, truck accidents, commercial air crashes, electrical and gas explosions, hospital and medical negligence, and truck and auto catastrophic injury.
To learn more about the firm, visit http://www.flbranson.com
Media Contact
Barry Pound
800-559-4534
Barry@androvett.com
Veteran trial lawyer reflects on decades of advocacy, industry reform
DALLAS – The Law Offices of Frank L. Branson is proud to announce that firm founder and renowned trial attorney Frank L. Branson is featured in Lawdragon’s prestigious Lawyer Limelights series, which spotlights Hall of Fame members for their lasting impact and contributions to the legal profession.
“Knowing Better and Doing Better with Hall of Fame Member Frank Branson” details Mr. Branson’s journey from his early experiences as an independent insurance adjuster to becoming one of the nation’s most respected trial attorneys. The article highlights his commitment to representing victims of catastrophic injuries and negligence, emphasizing his belief in holding powerful entities accountable to effect meaningful change.
“Instead of attacking the people whose lives have been devastated by corporate and medical misconduct, if the insurance companies had spent the money to improve safety and their product, I think we’d have had a much better result for the people,” Mr. Branson told Lawdragon.
Throughout his distinguished career, Mr. Branson has a long history of securing multimillion dollar verdicts and recoveries in cases involving truck wrecks, defective products, oilfield injuries, aviation disasters, injuries from medical and hospital treatment and workplace accidents. His innovative use of multimedia demonstrative evidence and a dedicated team have set standards for effective trial advocacy and impactful representation.
Celebrating his impact over decades, the Lawdragon Limelight showcases how Mr. Branson’s approach has evolved to reflect broader changes in society and the courtroom.
“When I started practicing, the jury pools in Dallas had been historically drawn from property ownership. About a decade into my practice, they changed that to a driver’s license, and that made a tremendous difference,” said Mr. Branson. “Now, the jury panels are much more reflective of my clients.”
The full Lawdragon profile will appear in the 20th anniversary magazine issue.
About The Law Offices of Frank L. Branson
The Law Offices of Frank L. Branson represents clients in cases involving complex product liability, catastrophic injury, truck accidents, commercial air crashes, electrical and gas explosions, hospital and medical negligence, and truck and auto catastrophic injury.
To learn more about the firm, visit http://www.flbranson.com
Media Contact
Alyssa Woulfe
800-559-4534
alyssa@androvett.com
The Law Offices of Frank L. Branson exposes failures in guest safety protocols
DALLAS – A Dallas County jury has awarded $9.45 million to a man who suffered a serious fall at Hotel Crescent Court in Dallas’ Uptown district.
The verdict comes after a week-long trial in the 162nd Judicial District Court, where jurors heard evidence that the hotel failed to secure or warn guests about a dangerous condition in its courtyard that led to a guest’s fall.
“Hotel operators failed to provide minimum lighting required by building codes and failed to take basic steps to warn or protect guests from a very real hazard,” said trial lawyer Tim Newsom with The Law Offices of Frank L. Branson. “We are pleased that the jury held the hotel accountable for choosing to protect their property over guest safety.”
Attorneys Debbie Dudley Branson and Linda Yee Villa tried the case alongside Mr. Newsom.
According to the lawsuit, James Shelton McClure, 74, and his wife were guests at the hotel while seeking refuge during the historic Winter Storm Uri, which brought record-low temperatures across the state and left millions of Texans without electricity.
The attorneys say the incident occurred in the early morning hours of March 6, 2021. While the McClures were walking their dog in the hotel’s courtyard, Mr. McClure unknowingly stepped into an empty fountain basin that sits level with the concrete surface. The basin, approximately two feet deep, had been drained of water due to the freezing conditions.
The petition says the area was unlit, and there were no cones, barriers or warning signs indicating the presence of the drop-off.
As a result of the fall, Mr. McClure suffered serious orthopedic and neurological injuries. He underwent four surgeries for a broken ankle, ultimately requiring a total replacement. The fall also aggravated a pre-existing neck condition, leading to nerve damage to his dominant hand.
The case is James Shelton McClure and Madeline McClure v. Hotel Crescent Court, et al., Cause No. DC-22-05954 in Dallas County.
About The Law Offices of Frank L. Branson
The Law Offices of Frank L. Branson represents clients in cases involving complex product liability, catastrophic injury, truck accidents, commercial air crashes, electrical and gas explosions, hospital and medical negligence, and truck and auto catastrophic injury.
To learn more about the firm, visit http://www.flbranson.com
Contact
Alyssa Woulfe
800-559-4534
alyssa@androvett.com
Trial firm earns repeat top-tier honors for expertise across five practice areas
DALLAS – The Law Offices of Frank L. Branson remains among notable elite law firms earning repeat recognition as one of the Best Law Firms in the nation, with top-tier honors across multiple specialties in North Texas.
The firm received the highest recognition in the Dallas-Fort Worth area for excellence in plaintiff matters involving personal injury litigation, product liability litigation, professional malpractice, medical malpractice and commercial litigation.
“We zealously represent our clients in complex and catastrophic injury cases, so it is gratifying to receive this ranking once again,” said firm founder Frank L. Branson. “It’s a reflection of the hard work and dedication of our entire team, and, most importantly, the trust our clients place in us every day.”
Best Law Firms is a highly respected ranking of exceptional law firms nationwide. Selection is based on a thorough analysis of submitted information, interviews with industry leaders and feedback from clients and other attorneys. To be eligible, a firm must have at least one attorney recognized by The Best Lawyers in America guide, which honored firm founder Mr. Branson and attorneys Debbie Dudley Branson, Tim Newsom, John Burkhead and Linda Yee Villa in the latest edition. Mr. Branson has earned such recognition every year since the inaugural guide in 1987.
The firm successfully advocates on behalf of those catastrophically harmed by dangerous products, trucking accidents, oil field and workplace disasters and reckless business practices.
About The Law Offices of Frank L. Branson
The Law Offices of Frank L. Branson represents clients in cases involving complex product liability, catastrophic injury, truck accidents, commercial air crashes, electrical and gas explosions, hospital and medical negligence, and truck and auto catastrophic injury and is widely acknowledged as one of the country’s premier trial firms based on its record verdicts and settlements in high-stakes injury cases.
To learn more about the firm, visit http://www.flbranson.com
Media Contact:
Alyssa Woulfe
800-559-4534
alyssa@androvett.com