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.
Recognition
•The Best Lawyers in America , Lawyer of the Year, 2016, 2019 - 2020, 2022 - 2025
Awarded in: Albuquerque
•Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions - Defendants
•Product Liability Litigation - Defendants
•Transportation Law
•Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants
•The Best Lawyers in America Awarded in:
•Liability Litigation - Defendants
•Personal Injury Litigation-Defendants
•Mass Tort/Class Actions - Defendants
•Transportation Law
•Aviation Law
•Medical Malpractice Law - Defendants
•Southwest Super Lawyers; Personal Injury Defense: Products.
•Southwest Super Lawyers, Top 25 Lawyers in New Mexico, 2017, 2025
•Benchmark Litigation - The Definitive Guide to America’s Leading Litigation Firms and Attorneys ; Products Liability, General Commercial Litigation and Aviation law aviation law
•Chambers USA-America’s Leading Lawyers for Business; Litigation: General Commercial.
•New Mexico Business Weekly , One of New Mexico’s “Best of the Bar”, 2011.
Presentations
•Personal 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 2016
•Expert Witnesses: Using New Mexico Court Rules to Your Advantage
National Business Institute CLE, December 2015
•Practical 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 2015
•Preparing 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 2013
•Preparing 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 2012
•Runaway Awards: Minimizing the Risk of Punitive Damages Exposure
American Conference Institute’s 4th Annual Advanced Forum on Defending and Managing Automotive Product Liability Litigation, June 2011
•Overcoming Sympathy for Plaintiffs and Bias Against Manufacturers
American 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 Case
National Business Institute CLE, December 2008
•Jury Communication and Advocacy: Using Themes, Telling a Detailed Story, and Overcoming Sympathy for Plaintiffs and Bias Against Manufacturers
American Conference Institute’s Premier Forum on Defending and Managing Automotive Product Liability Litigation, October 2008
•Evidence and Expert Testimony Best Practices: Supporting Your Case
National Business Institute CLE, December 2007
•Countdown to Trial: A Crash Course in Trial Preparation for Paralegal
Institute for Paralegal Education, November 2007
•Admissibility of Evidence and Expert Testimony In New Mexico
National Business Institute CLE, December 2006
•Admissibility of Evidence and Expert Testimony in New Mexico
National Business Institute CLE, December 2004
•Evidentiary Issues at Trial: Damages
State Bar of New Mexico Center for Legal Education, December 2004
•Supreme Court Strikes Down Punitive Damage Awards
New Mexico Defense Lawyers Association, May 2003
•Your Witness: Finding, Preparing and Using Your Expert in Federal Court
National Business Institute CLE, April 2003
•Somatization and Secondary Gain Syndrome
2002 DRI Product Liability Seminar, February 2002
•Mock Trial
2002 Bridge the Gap Program, November 2002
•Motions Practice in State Court
2002 Bridge the Gap Program, November 2002
Publications
•A Regulatory Compliance Model for Punitive Damages
Journal of Legal Economics, 2026
•Product Liability Compendium: Warnings, Instructions and Recalls, DRI Defense Library Series
New Mexico Chapter, 2018
•DRI Summary of Child Product Liability Law for the United States and Canada
New Mexico Chapter, DRI Defense Library Series, September 2015
•The DRI Product Liability Compendium: Warnings, Instructions, and Recalls
Co-Author, October 2012
•DRI Punitive Damage Compendium
New Mexico Chapter, DRI Defense Library Series, 2009
•Failure to Warn Compendium
New Mexico, DRI Defense Library Series, October 2007
•A Lawyer, A Doctor, and An Engineer: Ethical Considerations for Engineers
New Mexico Society of Professional Engineers, June 2007
In the Press
Hall Booth Smith Extends National Reach with Expansion of its New Mexico Office with Three Partners
March 16, 2026
Hall 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.
