Legal Services & Lawyers

I have lived and worked in Memphis since I was 8 years old.
I consider myself a Memphian and I am proud to say so. When I am not practicing law, I spend my time with my family; match pistol shooting; gourmet cooking and wood working. I am very passionate about my profession and I take pleasure in reading the law everyday.

I represent clients in family law, personal injury, criminal defense, and probate. I focus on my clients' individual needs. I always keep my clients informed about the status of their case and current legal issues that will effect them. I am readily available to answer questions and discuss all topics of law.

Mr. Wright was born in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. He attended Middle Tennessee State University (B.S., summa cum laude, 1977); the University of Tennessee (J.D., 1980) Order of the Coif, Law Review. He was admitted to the Tennessee, Sixth Circuit and Fourth Circuit Bar in 1981. Author credits include: Tennessee Current Legal Summaries. Co-Author: Avoiding Environmental Liability in Tennessee; Hazardous Waste in Tennessee; Distinguished Alumni Speaker - University of Tennessee College of Law 2008. He has been on the Executive Committee of the Tennessee Bar Association Section on Environmental Law since the founding of the section and is a past Chair of the Section. He is also the Co-Chair of the Knoxville Bar Association Environmental Law Section, the Past President of the Knoxville Legal Aid Society (three terms), and is a past Director of Knoxville Montessori School. Notable cases include: Joe Chadwell v. Knox County, Tenn. Sup. Ct. (Environmental Law); Davis v. Indian Mountain Clinic, Tenn. Ct. App. (Medical Malpractice); Deaton v. Sensaboy, Tenn. Ct. App. (Civil Rights and Medical Malpractice); Anthony v. Felknor and Cunningham, Tenn. Ct. App. (Legal Malpractice); Cincinnati Insurance Co. v. Fred S. Post, Tenn. Sup. Ct. (Insurance Law); Campbell County v. Brownlee-Kesterson, Inc., Tenn. Ct. App. (Product Liability); Jefferson County v. Celotex, Tenn. Ct. App. (Product Liability); Lockett v. Blalock Construction.

Areas of Practice:

Corporate and Banking
Environmental Law & Toxic Torts
Products Liability
Lender Liability
Personal Injury
Medical Malpractice & Medical Devices
Bar Admissions:
Tennessee, 1981
U.S. District Court Eastern District of Tennessee, 1982
U.S. Federal Courts, 1981
U.S. Court of Federal Claims, 2002
U.S. Court of Appeals 4th Circuit, 1981
U.S. Court of Appeals 6th Circuit
U.S. Supreme Court, 2004
Education:
University of Tennessee College of Law, Knoxville, Tennessee, 1980
J.D.
Honors: Order of the Coif
Law Review: University of Tennessee Law Review


Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, Tennessee, 1977
B.S.
Honors: Summa Cum Laude


Published Works:
Tennessee: Current Legal Summaries


Avoiding Environmental Liability in Tennesse; Hazardous Waste in Tennessee (Co-Author)


Representative Cases:
Cincinnati Ins. Co. v. Fred S. Post (Tenn. Sup. Ct. (Insurance Law))
K.M.C. Co., Inc. v. Irving Trust Co., 757 F.2d 752 (C.A.6 (Tenn.) 1985)
Anthony v. Felknor & Cunningham (Tenn. Ct. App. (Legal Malpractice))
Joe Chadwell v. Knox County (Tenn. Sup. Ct. (Environmental Law))
Davis v. Indian Mountain Clinic (Tenn. Ct. App. (Medical Malpractice))
Deaton v. Sensaboy (Tenn. Ct. App. (Civil Rights and Medical Malpractice))
Campbell County v. Brownlee-Kesterson, Inc. (Tenn. Ct. App. (Product Liability)
Jefferson County v. Celotex (Tenn. Ct. App.(Product Liability))
Lockett V. Blalock Construction (Tenn. Ct. App - Disc Costs/Prejudg. Intrst (Construction Law-Blasting))
Wilson v. McCann Steel Corp. ((Corporation Law))
Ward v. Bush Construction ((Tenn. Ct. App. (Construction; Tennessee One-Call))
Representative Clients:
CNA
Pepsi Bottling Group
Frito-Lay, Inc.
Sedgwick CMS
Wampler's Farm Sausage, Incorporated
Family Brands International
Shaner Group
References:
Wamplers Farm Sausage
Pepsi Bottling Group, Inc.
Frito Lay, Inc.
Professional Associations and Memberships:
Tennessee Bar Association, Section on Environmental Law, 2003 - 2004
Member, Past Chair, Executive Committee


Knoxville Bar Association, Environmental Law Section
Co-Chair


Knoxville Legal Aid Society
Past President (Three Terms)


Fraternities/Sororities:
Phi Delta Phi
Birth Information:
Murfreesboro, Tennessee

EDUCATION
Harvard University (B.A., cum laude, 1975; Rhodes Scholar finalist); University of Texas at Austin (J.D., with honors, 1978). Order of the Coif. Texas Law Review, 1977-1978.

EXPERIENCE
Mr. Smith has been a trial attorney for 29 years. For the past nineteen years he has represented primarily individuals in plaintiff's personal injury litigation. In 2006 he obtained a record $7.2 million verdict in a wrongful death case in Warren County, Tennesee. He served as plaintiffs' counsel in the Tri-State Crematory class action litigation against Georgia Farm Bureau ($80 million judgment) and represented class members who received $36 million in settlements.

He has been recognized by his peers as one of the Best Lawyers in Lawyers in America in Personal Injury Litigation and as one of the Best Lawyers in Tennesse by Business Tennessee, a statewide business journal, in the 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007 editions. Mr. Smith was also named a Mid-South "Super Lawyer" in 2007. The Business Tennessee Best Lawyers List described Mr. Smith as "An all-star across the state." The list identified attorneys from all regions of the state and recognized Mr. Smith as one of seven "best lawyers" in Tennessee in the area of Personal Injury (Plaintiff) practice.

He has tried over 100 cases in state and federal courts throughout the nation, in Tennessee, Texas, Missouri, Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, Kentucky, Indiana, Mississippi, Florida, Ohio, South Carolina, Virginia, Montana, Pennsylvania, Minnesota and Washington D.C.

He began in private practice with the national law firm of Baker & Botts in Houston, Texas (1978-1983). He served as an Associate Professor of Law teaching Torts, Evidence and Professional Responsibility at Vanderbilt University School of Law (1983-1988). Mr. Smith has been evaluated by his peers and received an "AV" rating by Martindale-Hubbell--the highest rating possible--indicating Very High to Preeminent Legal Ability (A) and a Very High general ethical standards ratings. (V).

Mr.Smith has served as Plaintiffs' counsel in a number of significant cases including: The Tri-State Crematory Class Action Litigation, The NHC Nursing Home Fire Litigation, the Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant Litigation.

Mr. Smith testified as a legal expert on product liability law (joint and several liability) before the 100th Congress (House of Representatives) Subcommittee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Competitiveness. His testimony and paper appeared in the Congressional Record.

Mr. Smith also presented expert testimony to the landmark Presidential Commission on the Human Immunodeficiency Virus Epidemic, Hearings on Discrimination, Ethics and Testing, Vanderbilt University,Nashville, TN, March 16-18, 1988. In his testimony Mr. Smith advocated federal laws to protect privacy in testing and to outlaw discrimination of persons with HIV/AIDS. Of interest, the opposing expert view was presented at this panel by then federal judge Kenneth W. Starr (later Independent Counsel on the Whitewater matter).

CERTIFICATIONS
Certified as a Civil Litigation Specialist by the National Board of Trial Advocacy and the Tennessee Commission on Continuing Legal Education and Specialization.

Mr. Smith is also certified as a Medical Malpractice Specialist by the American Board of Professional Liability Attorneys and the Tennessee Commission on Continuing Legal Education and Specialization.