Ronald C. Morgan

Ronald Calvin Morgan, a prominent Albuquerque trial lawyer, made a peaceful transition from this earthly life at sunrise on October 29, 2014. He died at home, surrounded by his loved ones after a long illness, during which he suffered greatly. His equanimity and grace during that time was a gift to us all. Ron was born and raised in Central Kentucky. The eldest son of a prominent Anderson County family, his parents Calvin Harrison Morgan and Delcie Jane Disponett Morgan were small business owners in Lawrenceburg – home of Wild Turkey and Four Roses bourbon. As a young man, he worked as a tobacco cutter, a hod carrier, and a school bus driver, as well as for the family business: the Morgan Sinclair service station. He served in the United States Army and was awarded The Army Commendation Medal for Meritorious Service in Europe from September 1971-June 1972. He was stationed at a computer facility in Heidelberg, Germany that was bombed by the radical Baader Meinhof Group. Specialist 5 Morgan was luckily on leave at that time. Upon returning home, Ron attended The University of Kentucky and earned a Bachelor’s degree in accounting, as well as a Juris Doctorate of Law. In his early career in Kentucky, he developed a lifelong passion for fighting on behalf of the little guy by working in the Consumer Protection Division of the AG’s office. He also worked for and was mentored by Edward F. Prichard Jr., general counsel for the national Democratic Party and part of FDR’s brain trust for the New Deal. Ron was a CPA in 3 states, and passed the bar exam in 2 states. He burst onto the scene in Albuquerque as an exceptional trial lawyer. Always self-employed, in 35 years he represented innumerable plaintiffs for personal injury, legal malpractice, and bad-faith insurance claims. He was annually listed in Super Lawyers and Best Lawyers publications for well over a decade for these specialties. As described by a former partner, Ron was “a fighter. He was like the welterweight who gets up off the canvas and punches his opponent in the nose. He never gave up. That is why he was able to recover seven-figure settlements for his clients and often won his cases on appeal. He loved fighting for lost causes, and often took the cases no one else wanted – most of which he won by always giving 100 percent.” In 2011, Ron successfully represented Vincent Kee, the developmentally disabled Navajo man who was kidnapped and tortured by three McDonald’s employees in Farmington, NM. Another prominent case was a 12 year class action law suit against Allstate Insurance Co., involving unfair practices of computer software applications that processed claims. Hundreds of ordinary New Mexicans benefitted from the outcome. He was also long-time counsel for Allsup’s Convenience Stores, for which he won a jury award of $5 million (4.5 million in punitive damages) against their insurance company for unfair practices. Ron was also a driving force for reshaping the law in New Mexico and had several occasions to argue his cases before the Supreme Court. He established the claim for negligent infliction of emotional distress, new duties for insurance companies to protect their customers, and enhanced consumer relief under the Unfair Trade and Practices Act, to name just a few. For decades, Ron devoted his enormous energies to aid the efforts of the trial lawyer organizations at the local and national levels. He served as a board member, journal editor, and president of the New Mexico Trial Lawyers Association. For many years, he also served as a New Mexico representative on the board of AAJ, the national trial lawyers organization in Washington DC. In addition, he participated as a speaker and panelist on numerous Continuing Legal Education programs, and provided important lobbying services and expert testimony in the New Mexico Legislature. He was held in high esteem by his peers and colleagues – not only the plaintiff’s attorneys, but also the judges and those who opposed him in court. In April of this year, he was honored at the 30th Annual Amicus Honors Dinner for a lifetime contribution to the law. The loss to the profession is palpable, and he will be sorely missed. He was passionate about politics, and raised considerable amounts for local and national Democratic candidates over the last 30 years. He believed that as a society we have a duty to lift all boats, and supported many organizations that would help the poor and the disadvantaged. Whenever he encountered a homeless person, he opened his heart and his wallet to them. An avid golfer, Ron was fortunate to play on many of the great golf courses of the world (including St. Andrews) across four continents and many islands. He used the life metaphors that the game offers as a way to better his world off the course. He was a vigorous lover of life who enjoyed running, hiking, fishing, skiing, traveling, fine wine, and of course, a good bourbon. He also practiced the Ishaya Ascension meditation. He is survived by his loving and devoted wife of five years, Christina M. Joy, also a small business owner in Albuquerque; his brother, Jimmie Morgan, and sister Pamela Morgan Ware of Lawrenceburg, KY, his brother, John David of Frankfort, KY, as well as nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins and one grandniece – mostly all of the Anderson Co./Lexington, KY area. He is also survived by his son, Nicholas Sitterly Esq. of Albuquerque, NM. He was cremated and his remains will be lovingly scattered across the earth in places of sacred natural beauty everywhere, including a burial near his parents’ graves in Lawrenceburg. There will be a memorial service to honor him in the Spring.

Ronald C. Morgan

April 4, 1949 - October 29, 2014