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Texas legal legend Frank L. Branson has been named among the Top Five attorneys in the state in the area of Personal Injury Litigation by the editors of Texas Super Lawyers. This year marks the first time the publication has recognized the state’s five top-tier attorneys in specific practice areas.
Mr. Branson has also continued a long-standing streak among the Top 100 Attorneys in Texas, as well as inclusion on the Top 100 in North Texas. This year marks his 24th consecutive appearance on those annually published lists. Known for landmark verdicts and settlements, Mr. Branson’s work has set the standard in complex personal injury and wrongful death cases.
The firm’s Tim Newsom is also recognized for the second consecutive year among the Top 100 attorneys in North Texas. Mr. Newsom served as lead trial counsel in securing one of the largest wrongful death verdicts in Texas in 2025, a $44.1 million jury award against a trucking company and its driver for a fatal crash during Winter Storm Uri.
Earlier this year, five attorneys from the Law Offices of Frank L. Branson were selected for the 2026 edition of Texas Super Lawyers, a distinction reserved for the top 5% of attorneys in the state. Those honorees include Mr. Branson and Mr. Newsom together with Debbie Dudley Branson, John T. Burkhead, and Wendell P. (Chip) Martens.
Frank Branson, Debbie D. Branson, John T. Burkhead, Tim Newsom and Wendell P. (Chip) Martens have been selected among the Lawdragon 500 Leading Litigators for 2027, the first time the nationwide legal guide has recognized a significant number of attorneys who primarily represent plaintiffs on the annual list.
Each attorney is honored for expertise in the practice areas of Personal Injury, Wrongful Death, Product Liability, and Trucking Litigation.
The Branson firm is renowned for its work in complex personal injury and wrongful death cases. Last year attorneys with the firm secured one of the largest wrongful death verdicts in Texas, a $44.1 million jury award against a trucking company and its driver for a fatal crash during Winter Storm Uri.
Developed through more than 30 years of reporting on the legal profession, the Lawdragon selection process involves nominations and independent identification of top attorneys, extensive research, and reviews by panels of editorial advisors.
The complete listing of the 2027 Lawdragon 500 Leading Litigators is available here.
Veteran litigator is among four with The Law Offices of Frank L. Branson honored
DALLAS – Well-known Dallas trial lawyer Frank L. Branson is celebrating another milestone in his storied career with his 41st consecutive selection to The Best Lawyers in America legal guide.
Mr. Branson, who has been honored annually since 1987, was cited in the 2027 Best Lawyers list for excellence for representing plaintiffs in personal injury, product liability, medical malpractice, and professional malpractice litigation, and commercial litigation.
He is joined on the 2027 Best Lawyers list by three other attorneys with the firm.
Debbie Dudley Branson, selected to the list since 2012, was recognized for plaintiffs personal injury litigation and commercial litigation. Much of her work is concentrated on strategies that include focus groups, attitudinal surveys, jury selection, witness preparation, and jury debriefing. Ms. Branson has served on numerous professional and community boards during the past three decades including president of both the Texas Trial Lawyers Association and Dallas Women’s Foundation.
Tim Newsom has been named to the Best Lawyers list annually since 2022 and is recognized for his work in commercial litigation and plaintiffs personal injury litigation. 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, 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. Mr. Newsom served as lead trial counsel in securing one of the largest wrongful death verdicts in Texas in 2025, a $44.1 million jury award against a trucking company and its driver for a fatal crash during Winter Storm Uri.
Honored on the Best Lawyers list for the past four years in the area of plaintiffs personal injury litigation, Linda Yee Villa also focuses on premises liability and product liability litigation, as well as insurance coverage disputes. Active in several professional organizations, she is licensed to practice in all Texas State Courts and all Federal District Courts in Texas.
Mr. Branson, a member of both the Lawdragon and D Magazine Hall of Fame, is regularly recognized for excellence by D CEO, The Texas Lawbook, Texas Lawyer and The National Law Journal. During his career Mr. Branson 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, defective products or work site injuries, and medical malpractice.
Each year, Best Lawyers editors employ nominations, peer recommendations and staff research to select the nation’s top lawyers across a wide range of practice areas.
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.
Trucking company, driver liable for fatality in first case to go to trial
DALLAS – A Dallas County jury has returned a $44.1 million verdict against a Missouri-based trucking company and one of its drivers for liability in a fatal accident that occurred on Feb. 11, 2021, during the height of a catastrophic ice storm affecting the entire state.
The crash that killed 49-year-old Boyd resident Christopher Ray Vardy was among the 130 accidents that occurred on the southbound TEXpress section of Interstate 35 that morning in what is believed to be one the largest multi-vehicle pileups in North Texas history.
Evidence presented during the trial showed that trucking operator New Prime Inc.’s driver, Steven Ridder, did not receive adequate winter weather driving training and failed to exercise extreme caution in hazardous weather. The 18-wheeler owned by New Prime and driven by Mr. Ridder rear-ended Mr. Vardy’s vehicle, which was stopped because of other crashes in front of him. Cranes and heavy machinery were required to find and then extricate Mr. Vardy and his truck that were buried amidst crash debris and injured victims. The jury agreed with attorneys representing Mr. Vardy’s family that the big rig was being driven at an excessive speed, given the weather conditions.
“Trucking companies have the obligation to make sure their big rigs are being operated safely, which means taking extra precautions during extreme weather conditions, given the enormous size and weight of these vehicles,” says Frank L. Branson, founder of The Law Offices of Frank L. Branson. “The attention paid by this jury to the evidence during trial and deliberations and their resulting verdict gives the Vardy family a measure of comfort and sense of justice in their tragic loss.”
Documents filed in the lawsuit state that first responders reported they had never seen a vehicle damaged as extensively as Mr. Vardy’s. The Tarrant County Medical Examiner confirmed that his injuries were survivable, and he was conscious during a period of pain and suffering following the crash.
The verdict specifies $24.1 million in compensatory damages and $20 million in punitive damages due to gross negligence. The $20 million in punitive damages were imposed against New Prime for recklessly employing an unfit driver.
The verdict apportioned 75% of the liability on Mr. Ridder, for whom New Prime is responsible.
“This jury took its responsibility seriously and spoke for the community,” said John Burkhead of The Law Offices of Frank L. Branson. “This decision should deter companies from putting profits and schedules ahead of human life.”
In addition to Mr. Branson, plaintiffs were represented at trial by John Burkhead, Tim Newsom and Debbie Branson of the Law Offices of Frank L. Branson, and Dallas appellate attorney Jeffrey Levinger.
The case, Tamara Suzanne Vardy, Ed.D., et al. v. New Prime Inc., et al., Cause No. DC-21-09849, was heard in the 44th District Court of Dallas County.
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