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Admitted: 1980, California and Florida; 1982, U.S. District Court, Central District of California
Law School: University of Florida, J.D.
Member: State Bar of California; State Bar of Florida; American Board of Trial Advocates; Association of Southern California Defense Counsel.
Mr. Smith attended Emory University in Atlanta, and the London School of Economics. He received his B.A. in English from Emory University in 1975. He attended the University of Florida in Gainesville, and received his J.D. in 1978. He became a member of the Florida Bar in 1979 and the California Bar in 1980. He was admitted to practice before the United States District Court, Central District of California, in 1982.
Since the early 1980's, Mr. Smith has both handled and tried complex and high level cases in a variety of fields. His litigation experience includes extensive products liability defense work for numerous nationwide corporate manufacturers, and trial work in the fields of land subsidence, personal injury, public entity issues, insurance coverage, and subrogation. He has also defended Student Rights and First Amendment cases. His work in the public entity area has also included the defense of sexual molestation and wrongful death cases. He has represented several private companies, and has handled and tried cases involving transportation, building/ grounds maintenance, and water rights. Mr. Smith has taught legal courses at the college level.
In 1986, Mr. Smith joined a major civil defense firm, becoming a partner in that firm with Mr. Declues and Mr. Burkett and handled complex cases for both private and public clients while engaged in helping to direct a statewide firm.
Mr. Smith is a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates, an organization of experienced trial lawyers dedicated to the promotion of civility, integrity and professionalism in trial advocacy. He is also a member of the Association of Southern California Defense Counsel.
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