Mr. Simeon Christie Smith IV

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.

Louisiana State University - Baton Rouge

J.D. | Civil Law

1993 - 1996

Louisiana State University - Baton Rouge

B.A. | English Literature, Philosophy

1987 - 1992

Senior Partner

SmithBush, LLP

2008 - Current

Partner

The Smith Law Firm, LLP

1997 - 2008

Member

Smith, Ford, & Clark

1997

The Safeguards of Liberty Are Frequently Forged in Disputes Involving Not-Very-Nice People"

December 1, 2014

CenLa Pro Bono Project

"Discovery Practice Against Government Entities--the 'Touhy Situation'", Winning with the Masters, New Orleans, Louisiana

December 1, 2013

Louisiana Association for Justice

"Hedonic Damages: Giving Meaning to 'Life, Liberty, and the Pusuit of Happiness'"

October 1, 2012

Office of the Staff Judge Advocate

"The Word 'Automobile' Is Not a Talisman in Whose Presence the Fourth Amendment Fades Away and Disappears"

October 1, 2011

Office of the Staff Judge Advocate

"The Collateral Source Rule in Retreat", Last Chance CLE, Baton Rouge, Louisina

December 1, 2008

Louisiana Association for Justice

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

Top 50 Louisiana SuperLawyers

SuperLawyers, Thomson Reuters Publishing

2013

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.

Louisiana Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers

Life Member

Current

Roscoe Pound Foundation

Fellow

Current

Federal Fifth Circuit Bar Association

Member

Current

National Association of Crimnal Defense Lawyers

Member

Current

Central Louisiana Pro Bono Project

Board of Directors

Current

District of Columbia

Louisiana

5th Circuit

8th Circuit

9th Circuit

11th Circuit

Coushatta Tribal Court

D.C. Circuit

Federal Circuit

U.S. Supreme Court

• 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.

• Car Accidents
• Constitutional Law
• Federal Tort Claims