Jeff Croasdell is a seasoned trial attorney and Partner in the firm’s Albuquerque office. For more than three decades, he has represented clients in complex, high-exposure litigation involving products liability, aging services, general liability, health care, medical malpractice, transportation, and aviation matters. Jeff has extensive experience trying both jury and bench trials in state and federal courts throughout New Mexico and is known for providing practical, strategic counsel from case inception through verdict and appeal.Following law school, Jeff served as a law clerk to Chief Justice Richard E. Ransom of the New Mexico Supreme Court. He is admitted to practice before all New Mexico state courts, the United States District Court for the District of New Mexico, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit.Jeff is a frequent speaker at continuing legal education programs both in New Mexico and nationally, where he presents on trial practice, civil procedure, and emerging issues in health care and liability law. In addition to his active litigation practice, Jeff is dedicated to mentoring the next generation of attorneys. Since 2012, he has served as an adjunct professor at the University of New Mexico School of Law, teaching civil procedure. He instructs first-year law students through a practicum course and also teaches an advanced version of the course to third-year students, emphasizing practical skills and courtroom preparedness.Outside of his practice, Jeff remains actively involved in his community, serving as a church and youth leader and coach, while also volunteering with non-profit organizations.Jeff earned his Juris Doctor, cum laude, from the University of New Mexico School of Law. He received his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of California, San Diego.RecognitionThe Best Lawyers in America , Lawyer of the Year, 2016, 2019 - 2020, 2022 - 2025Awarded in: AlbuquerqueMass Tort Litigation/Class Actions - DefendantsProduct Liability Litigation - DefendantsTransportation LawPersonal Injury Litigation - DefendantsThe Best Lawyers in America Awarded in:Liability Litigation - DefendantsPersonal Injury Litigation-DefendantsMass Tort/Class Actions - DefendantsTransportation LawAviation LawMedical Malpractice Law - DefendantsSouthwest Super Lawyers; Personal Injury Defense: Products.Southwest Super Lawyers, Top 25 Lawyers in New Mexico, 2017, 2025Benchmark Litigation - The Definitive Guide to America’s Leading Litigation Firms and Attorneys ; Products Liability, General Commercial Litigation and Aviation law aviation lawChambers USA-America’s Leading Lawyers for Business; Litigation: General Commercial.New Mexico Business Weekly , One of New Mexico’s “Best of the Bar”, 2011.PresentationsPersonal Jurisdiction Challenges American Conference Institute’s 10th Annual Advanced Summit on Defending and Managing Automotive Product Liability Litigation, June 2017
Overcoming the Increasing Use of Reptile Theory as a Trial Tactic Used for the Jury American Conference Institute’s 9th Annual Advanced Forum on Defending and Managing Automotive Product Liability Litigation, June 2016Expert Witnesses: Using New Mexico Court Rules to Your Advantage National Business Institute CLE, December 2015Practical Pointers on Experts: Effectively Cross-Examining Plaintiff’s Expert, Sharing Defense Experts, and Developing Qualified Newer Experts American Conference Institute’s 8th Annual Advanced Forum on Defending and Managing Automotive Product Liability Litigation, June 2015Preparing and Defending Daubert Challenges and Creating the Right Strategy to Effectively Cross-Examine Your Adversary’s Expert American Conference Institute’s 6th Annual Advanced Forum on Defending and Managing Automotive Product Liability Litigation, June 2013Preparing and Defending Daubert Challenges and Creating the Right Defense Strategy to Effectively Cross-Examine Plaintiff’s Expert American Conference Institute’s 5th Annual Advanced Forum on Defending and Managing Automotive Product Liability Litigation, June 2012Runaway Awards: Minimizing the Risk of Punitive Damages ExposureAmerican Conference Institute’s 4th Annual Advanced Forum on Defending and Managing Automotive Product Liability Litigation, June 2011
Overcoming Sympathy for Plaintiffs and Bias Against ManufacturersAmerican Conference Institute’s 3rd Annual Advanced Forum on Defending and Managing Automotive Product Liability Litigation, September 2010
Evidence and Expert Testimony Best Practices: Supporting Your CaseNational Business Institute CLE, December 2008
Jury Communication and Advocacy: Using Themes, Telling a Detailed Story, and Overcoming Sympathy for Plaintiffs and Bias Against ManufacturersAmerican Conference Institute’s Premier Forum on Defending and Managing Automotive Product Liability Litigation, October 2008
Evidence and Expert Testimony Best Practices: Supporting Your CaseNational Business Institute CLE, December 2007
Countdown to Trial: A Crash Course in Trial Preparation for ParalegalInstitute for Paralegal Education, November 2007
Admissibility of Evidence and Expert Testimony In New MexicoNational Business Institute CLE, December 2006
Admissibility of Evidence and Expert Testimony in New MexicoNational Business Institute CLE, December 2004
Evidentiary Issues at Trial: DamagesState Bar of New Mexico Center for Legal Education, December 2004 Supreme Court Strikes Down Punitive Damage AwardsNew Mexico Defense Lawyers Association, May 2003 Your Witness: Finding, Preparing and Using Your Expert in Federal CourtNational Business Institute CLE, April 2003
Somatization and Secondary Gain Syndrome2002 DRI Product Liability Seminar, February 2002 Mock Trial2002 Bridge the Gap Program, November 2002 Motions Practice in State Court2002 Bridge the Gap Program, November 2002
PublicationsProduct Liability Compendium: Warnings, Instructions and Recalls, DRI Defense Library SeriesNew Mexico Chapter, 2018DRI Summary of Child Product Liability Law for the United States and CanadaNew Mexico Chapter, DRI Defense Library Series, September 2015The DRI Product Liability Compendium: Warnings, Instructions, and RecallsCo-Author, October 2012
DRI Punitive Damage CompendiumNew Mexico Chapter, DRI Defense Library Series, 2009Failure to Warn CompendiumNew Mexico, DRI Defense Library Series, October 2007A Lawyer, A Doctor, and An Engineer: Ethical Considerations for EngineersNew Mexico Society of Professional Engineers, June 2007In the PressHall Booth Smith Extends National Reach with Expansion of its New Mexico Office with Three PartnersMarch 16, 2026Hall Booth Smith P.C. is excited to announce its further expansion to New Mexico with the addition of three highly experienced Partners based in Albuquerque.
