Thomas B. Branch, III practices in the area of general civil litigation with an emphasis on product liability and corporate litigation.
Mr. Branch has been a trial lawyer since 1960 and the majority of his trial practice has been devoted to product liability cases since 1980. Products involved in cases tried by him before juries in federal and state court systems have included sophisticated electronic devices, ladders, firearms, power tools, medical prostheses and other devices, valves, control systems, computers and many others. He has defended the manufacturers and distributors of such products in cases involving serious personal injury and large property damage. He also has represented insurance companies in first party litigation in coverage disputes in life, casualty, environmental and professional liability claims.
While Mr. Branch has experience in corporate litigation ranging from contractual disputes to securities fraud and antitrust, recently he has represented closely held corporations and partnerships in litigated dissolutions and reorganizations. These have included minority and majority shareholder representation and representation of law firms and lawyers in partnership withdrawals and reorganizations. He has represented businesses in the specific performance of contracts for the sale and acquisition of real estate and other assets. He also has represented clients in state and federal courts in Tennessee, New York, Ohio and California. A growing part of his practice is the enforcement of restrictive covenants in employment and acquisition agreements.