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Mr. Simeon Christie Smith IV

Mr. Simeon Christie Smith IV

SmithBush, LLP
  • Personal Injury, Criminal Law, Medical Malpractice
  • District of Columbia, Louisiana
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Biography

S. Christie Smith IV is the senior partner of SmithBush, LLP, a regional Louisiana law firm originally established in 1911 to represent laborers--and too often their widows and children--who were harmed by the burgeoning and unregulated timber industry in the rural South. Mr. Smith's work today is the modern extension of that century-old practice, in a broader, litigation-based platform. As a consumer advocate and lawyer-in-the-trenches, he has spent his career representing regular people in the fight for safer working conditions, reliable products, civil rights, and fair access to the courts. His practice focuses on litigating wrongful death and catastrophic injury cases resulting from defective products and drugs, automobile collisions, motorcycle accidents, industrial incidents, medical errors, and Federal Tort Claims liability. On occasion, he defends individuals in the most serious types of criminal charges or in cases where their Constitutional rights have been intentionally or systemically abridged. He has tried cases across the Gulf South, from personal injury and damage claims to first degree murder and narcotics traficking. He is one of the few lawyers dually board-certified in both civil and criminal trial advocacy by the National Board of Legal Specialty Certification, has been recognized in the "Top 50 Louisiana SuperLawyers" List, holds an "AV--Preeminent" rating, the highest rating available from the Martindale-Hubbell Directory of Attorneys, and is listed in Best Lawyers in America. He is widely-published and frequently lectures on emerging issues in trial and Constitutional law.

Education
Louisiana State University - Baton Rouge
J.D. | Civil Law
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Louisiana State University - Baton Rouge
B.A. | English Literature, Philosophy
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Louisiana State University - Baton Rouge Logo
Professional Experience
Senior Partner
SmithBush, LLP
- Current
Partner
The Smith Law Firm, LLP
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Member
Smith, Ford, & Clark
Speaking Engagements
The Safeguards of Liberty Are Frequently Forged in Disputes Involving Not-Very-Nice People"
CenLa Pro Bono Project
"Discovery Practice Against Government Entities--the 'Touhy Situation'", Winning with the Masters, New Orleans, Louisiana
Louisiana Association for Justice
"Hedonic Damages: Giving Meaning to 'Life, Liberty, and the Pusuit of Happiness'"
Office of the Staff Judge Advocate
"The Word 'Automobile' Is Not a Talisman in Whose Presence the Fourth Amendment Fades Away and Disappears"
Office of the Staff Judge Advocate
"The Collateral Source Rule in Retreat", Last Chance CLE, Baton Rouge, Louisina
Louisiana Association for Justice
"Constitutional Considerations in Trial Practice"
CenLa Pro Bono Project
"Straining Patriotism Under the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act (USA PATRIOT ACT)", Fort Polk, Louisiana
Fort Polk Judge Advocate General
"'Collosus' and Other Fallen Wonders"
Office of the Staff Judge Advocate
"Recent Developments in Personal Injury Law", Yours to Choose, New Orleans, Louisiana
Louisiana Trial Lawyers Association
"Understanding the 'Minor Impact Soft Tissue' Injury Defense", Last Chance CLE, Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Louisiana Trial Lawyers Association
"Nuts and Bolts of Appellate Argument", Last Chance CLE, New Orleans, Louisiana
Louisiana Trial Lawyers Association
Certifications
Board Certified, Civil Trial Law
National Board of Legal Specialty Certification
Board Certified, Criminal Trial Law
National Board of Legal Specialty Certification
Death Penalty, Lead Counsel
Louisiana Indigent Defense Assistance Board
Awards
Top 50 Louisiana SuperLawyers
SuperLawyers, Thomson Reuters Publishing
Each year, Super Lawyers recognizes the top lawyers in Louisiana, selected via peer nomination, independent research and peer evaluation. Those Louisiana lawyers who receive the highest point totals during the nomination, research and peer review process are further recognized as the "best of the best" in Louisiana Super Lawyers "Top Lists."
Induction
Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum
The Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum is one of the most prestigious groups of trial lawyers in the United States. Membership is limited to attorneys who have won multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements that have actually been paid to the client. Fewer than 1% of U.S. lawyers are members. Many of our members have achieved numerous million and multi-million dollar results (several members have won billion dollar cases). Their practice areas include most areas of litigation. The common fact is that they have each demonstrated, in an objective and tangible way, their ability to accomplish superior results in complex cases.
AV-Preeminent Rating
Martindale-Hubbell
The Martindale-Hubbell® Peer Review Ratings™ help buyers of legal services identify, evaluate and select the most appropriate lawyer for a specific task at hand. They are an objective indicator of a lawyer's high ethical standards and professional ability, generated from evaluations of lawyers by other members of the bar and the judiciary. An AV Preeminent® (4.5-5.0) rating, the highest available, is a significant rating accomplishment - a testament to the fact that a lawyer's peers rank him or her at the highest level of professional excellence.
Inducted to SuperLawyers
Key Professional Media
Top 5% of lawyers in their fields. Super Lawyers is a rating service of outstanding lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have attained a high-degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. The selection process includes independent research, peer nominations and peer evaluations.
"Top 100 Trial Lawyers"
The National Trial Lawyers
The National Trial Lawyers is composed of the premier trial lawyers from across the country who meet stringent qualifications as civil plaintiff and/or criminal defense trial lawyers. Only the top 100 trial lawyers from each state or highly-populated regions who are actively practicing are eligible for invitation.
Selected for inclusion
Best Lawyers in America
Best Lawyers is described as the oldest and most respected peer-review publication in the legal profession, as the most reliable, unbiased source of legal referrals. Best Lawyers' lists of outstanding attorneys are compiled by conducting exhaustive peer-review surveys in which tens of thousands of leading lawyers confidentially evaluate their professional peers. Lawyers are not permitted to pay any fee to participate in or be included on our lists.
Induction
Million Dollar Advocates Forum
Advocates must have acted as Principal Counsel in a trial verdict (and final judgment not subject to appeal, reduction, or modification), award or settlement in the present value amount of One Million Dollars or more.
Professional Associations
Louisiana Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
Life Member
Current
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Roscoe Pound Foundation
Fellow
Current
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Federal Fifth Circuit Bar Association
Member
Current
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National Association of Crimnal Defense Lawyers
Member
Current
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Central Louisiana Pro Bono Project
Board of Directors
Current
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Louisiana Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
Board of Directors (past)
Current
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Thirtieth Judicial District Bar Association
President (past)
Current
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Louisiana Trial Lawyers Association
Governor (past)
Current
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Louisiana State Bar Association
(past) Delegate--House of Delegates
Current
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American Association for Justice
Life Member
Current
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District of Columbia Bar Association
Member
Current
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Louisiana Trial Lawyers Association
Member
Current
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Louisiana Association for Justice
Governor (past)
Current
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Louisiana Association for Justice, Criminal Law Section
Chairman (past)
Current
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Louisiana Association for Justice, Automobile Torts Section
Member
Current
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Louisiana Bar Foundation
Fellow
Current
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Louisiana Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
Member, Amicus Curiae Committee
Current
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Jurisdictions Admitted to Practice
District of Columbia
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Louisiana
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5th Circuit
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8th Circuit
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9th Circuit
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11th Circuit
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Coushatta Tribal Court
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D.C. Circuit
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Federal Circuit
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U.S. Supreme Court
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Fees
  • Free Consultation
  • Credit Cards Accepted
    Visa, MsterCard, American Express
  • Contingent Fees
    33% to 40%; No Recovery, No Fee
  • Rates, Retainers and Additional Information
    Criminal Defense is billed hourly, usually at $250/hr for out-of-court work and $350/hr for in-court work. Sliding scale and capped fee arrangements are possible in some circumstances.
Practice Areas
    Personal Injury
    Animal & Dog Bites, Brain Injury, Car Accidents, Construction Accidents, Motorcycle Accidents, Premises Liability, Truck Accidents, Wrongful Death
    Criminal Law
    Criminal Appeals, Drug Crimes, Expungement, Fraud, Gun Crimes, Internet Crimes, Sex Crimes, Theft, Violent Crimes
    Medical Malpractice
    Birth Injury, Medical Misdiagnosis, Pharmacy Errors, Surgical Errors
Additional Practice Areas
  • Car Accidents
  • Constitutional Law
  • Federal Tort Claims
Languages
  • English: Spoken, Written
  • French: Spoken, Written
Websites & Blogs
Website
Main Office Website
Contact & Map
Leesville Office
300 Courthouse
Post Office Drawer 1528
Leesville, LA 71496
Toll-Free: (800) 379-6526
Telephone: (337) 239-2244
Fax: (337) 239-4186
Alexandria Office
CaptialONE Bank Building, Suite 1003
934 Third Street
Alexandria, LA 71309
Toll-Free: (800) 379-6526
Telephone: (318) 445-6546