Overview

Turner Williams is a member of the firm's transportation and maritime team. Turner has significant experience in defending all types of railroad litigation, including personal injury, wrongful death, toxic exposure, rail grade crossings, and property damage matters.

In addition to transportation related matters, Turner also handles personal injury and property damage matters for heavy industry clients such as paper mills, automotive suppliers, and product manufacturers.

Turner serves as counsel for most of the Class I’s, short lines and regional railroads within his firm’s footprint. He is also counsel for a number of national insurance carriers in the areas of transportation, general products liability, and life sciences.

After law school, Turner clerked for United States District Court Judge Daniel H. Thomas, 1983 – 1984.

Experience

  • Current representation of railroad clients in FELA personal injury and wrongful death cases
  • Current representation of railroad clients in rail grade crossing accidents
  • Current representation of railroad clients in toxic exposure claims
  • Current representation of railroad clients in property damage claims as a result of track derailments, trestle and bridge collapses, trespass and nuisance
  • Current representation of railroad clients in cumulative trauma claims
  • Representation of a railroad client in an above the elbow amputation case
  • Representation of a railroad client in an above the knee and elbow amputation case
  • Representation of a railroad client in a below the knee double amputation case
  • Tried to defense verdict a railroad hearing loss case in February 2017
  • Tried to defense verdict FELA and tort wrongful death, premises liability and defective product cases (case names available upon request)
  • Representation of a manufacturing client in a matter on the front end wherein the plaintiff lost his right hand in a press brake. Persuaded plaintiff's counsel after court ordered pre-suit machine inspection to not file suit based upon strong contributory negligence
  • Representation of a manufacturing client and four co-employees in a crushed hand case
  • Representation of a manufacturing client and co-employee wherein plaintiff failed to engage a machine's light curtain causing the machine to activate which severed the plaintiff's thumb
  • Representation of a manufacturing client in a case where employee lost a hand; Case was voluntarily dismissed by plaintiff in federal court
  • Representation of a manufacturing client in a case where worker sustained a crushed hand in a heavy press machine while making bends on metal parts. Plaintiff dismissed case against our client, on multiple claims, including negligence and wantonness in failing to provide a safe workplace
  • Representation of a manufacturing client in a case where employee contracted nasopharyngeal cancer allegedly from metal grinding and dust; case was dismissed in favor of client
  • Representation of a manufacturing client in a case where employee suffered brain damage after being struck in the head by a robot arm; case was settled in favor of client for less than $25,000
  • Summary judgment for four co-employees in case where employee was struck in the head by a robot and claimed brain injury
  • Summary judgment was granted in favor of a manufacturing client in a case where employee lost a hand while working in a machine shop
  • Summary judgment on behalf of a manufacturing client in a case where employee lost his hand on shear machine while working on airplane parts
  • Summary judgment on behalf of a manufacturing client in a case where employee lost a hand using press brake machinery

Honors & Recognitions

  • Listed in The Best Lawyers in America®️, Railroad Law since 2007, Transportation Law since 2007, Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants since 2022, Litigation - Insurance since 2022, Insurance Law since 2022, Commercial Litigation since 2022
    • Listed in The Best Lawyers in America®️, "Lawyer of the Year," Transportation Law, Birmingham, Alabama (2018, 2020), Railroad Law (2016, 2021, 2024)
  • American Board of Trial Advocates, Fellow
  • Litigation Counsel of America, Fellow
  • Mid-South Super Lawyers, Transportation and Maritime (2017-2019)

Newsroom

Speaking Engagements

Professional & Community

Civic Activities

  • Rotary Club of Birmingham
  • University of Alabama President's Cabinet
  • Culverhouse College of Commerce & Business Administration, Board of Visitors
  • Presiding Judge for the City of Mountain Brook, Alabama

Professional Activities

  • National Association of Railroad Trial Counsel (NARTC), Executive Committee, Former Regional Vice President
  • American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association (ASLRRA), General Counsel Committee
  • Defense Research Institute
  • International Association of Defense Counsel

Paralegal/Assistant

Legal Practice Assistant

Teresa Shell
(205) 458-5104
tshell@burr.com

Burr
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