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Timothy P. Smith

Personal injury Attorney at Traverse City, MI

4.0   4 reviews
Free consultation
Free consultation
  • Licensed for 30 years
    State MI
    Acquired 1993
    Status
    Active in Good Standing No misconduct found

We have not found any instances of professional misconduct for this lawyer.

About Timothy

Learn Timothy’s areas of practice.

5
Practice areas
  1. Brain injury
    25%
    I regularly lecture other attorneys on the proper way to handle cases involving traumatic brain injury and closed head injuries. I also sat on the Board of Directors to the Brain Injury Association of Michigan.

    29 years, 75 cases

  2. Personal injury
    25%
    I only represent individuals who have been injured. We do not do any work for insurance companies. This is all I've done since graduating from Notre Dame Law School in 1992.

    31 years, 300 cases

  3. Car accident
    15%
    I have represented individuals involved in car and automobile accidents for over 25 years.

    29 years, 150 cases

  4. Wrongful death
    15%
    Since graduating from Notre Dame Law School, I have exclusively represented plaintiffs in a wide variety of claims from Auto Accident, Slip and Fall and Dog bites to Product Liability, Employment Discrimination and Catastrophic Injury. I have a particular focus in Traumatic Brain Injury Litigation.

    29 years, 12 cases

  5. Child custody
    5%
    On an annual basis, I have regularly represented individuals with both custody and support issues. For more information, please review the Legal Guide re: Custody that I authored he at Avvo.

    29 years, 20 cases

  6. Debt collection
    5%
    I represent one of the largest credit unions in Michigan. I collected over $1.3 Million dollars in delinquent accounts for them during 2018.

    29 years, 100 cases

  7. Divorce and separation
    5%
    I represent both husbands and wives in all family law matter from pre-divorce negotiating, through the divorce process and post-judgment custodial issues

    29 years, 35 cases

  8. Slip and fall accident
    5%

    29 years, 75 cases

SMITH & JOHNSON, ATTORNEYS PC - NORTHERN MICHIGAN'S PREMIERE LAW FIRM

Mr. Smith has practiced as a trial attorney since graduating Notre Dame Law School in 1992. He has litigated cases across the country including cases from Ventura County, California to Middlesex County, New Jersey. He practices in both State and Federal courts.

In 2017, he began representing Michigan cities and counties in what has shaped up to be one of the largest pieces of litigation ever in the history of our federal court system. The majority of Northern Michigan and Upper Peninsula counties retained Mr. Smith and his team to represent their interests in MDL No. 2804, In RE: National Prescription Opioid Litigation currently pending in the Federal Court for the Northern District of Ohio. In the fall of 2020 he filed 2 of the first Paragard IUD cases in Michigan. Those cases are now transferred, along with a recently filed third case, to MDL No. 2974 in the Northern District of Georgia as part of In RE: Paragard IUD Products Liability Litigation.

In addition to complex Federal Court MDLs, he successfully represents individuals in a broad array of civil cases. In 1998, in Oscoda County, he obtained the highest plaintiff’s verdict in the history of that county in an auto accident case. He has a proven track record not only in injury cases, but also divorce, criminal and civil litigation.

As a commercial litigator, he has collected over 5.5 million dollars since 2017 for a single Credit Union client in south central Michigan.

In 2002, at 34 years of age, he was one of the youngest attorneys in the state to receive an AV-rating, the highest rating, from Martindale-Hubbell. In 2016, 2018 and 2020, Best Lawyers listed Mr. Smith as the Plaintiff’s Lawyer of the Year for Northern Michigan. Both Best Lawyers and Martindale-Hubbell rely on peer review from other attorneys and local judges as to these rankings, which represent the highest level of professional excellence in the field. Mr. Smith has been identified as one of the Top 100 trial attorneys in the State of Michigan by the National Trial Lawyers since 2019.

He is a frequent speaker in the area of litigation strategies and techniques and has annually moderated the Michigan Trial Lawyers Winter Seminar since 2000. In 2006, he was named to the 40 under 40 list by the Grand Traverse Business News and was named to the “A-List” of attorneys in Northern Michigan by Traverse the Magazine.

Mr. Smith has sat on the Board of Directors for the Father Fred Foundation, the Board of Trustees of the Great Lakes Children Museum, the Board of Directors for the Brain Injury Association of Michigan, and the Executive Board of the Michigan Association for Justice, a/k/a – Michigan Trial Lawyers Association. He currently sits as a director on the Traverse City Area Chamber of Commerce Board.

Mr. Smith was a licensed fly fishing guide from 1999 to 2009, spent many evenings coaching kids’ basketball, softball and volleyball, enjoys hunting and fishing throughout Northern Michigan and currently enjoys being an empty nester with his wife now that his three children have headed off to college.

 

Awards

Top Contributor 2012
Top Contributor
2012

Photos and videos

Contact Timothy

Smith and Johnson, P.C.
603 Bay St
PO Box 705
Traverse City, MI, 49685
Smith and Johnson, Attorneys PC
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Reviews

4.0 / 5.0
  4 customer reviews
5 Star
 
75%
4 Star
 
0%
3 Star
 
0%
2 Star
 
0%
1 Star
 
25%
Posted by anonymous | August 11, 2009
Very helpful
Mr. Smith was very professional and gave me great advise. He responded quickly and gave me specific, very helpful answers. I would seek out his advise and counsel regarding any legal matters I may have in the future.
Posted by B.M. | March 15, 2019
This review is from a potential client who consulted with this attorney.
| Consulted Attorney
Kindness matters
Tim was very responsive to my messages that made him stand out in front of others attorneys. He answered all my questions. It was only after speaking to him that I felt better about what was going on with my case. He is very knowledgeable, patient and kind. I would rate more than 5 stars if I could. Bless what you do for others, it is appreciated!! I didnt hire Tim becasue he helped me find another avenue to take that made more sense. Thank you Tim !
Read less
Posted by anonymous | November 5, 2013
Professional
My experience with Mr. Smith was superb. Not only is he well versed in the law, he is also a fearless advocate for his clients and displays the utmost integrity.
Posted by Carol | July 8, 2022
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
Sat on my case; dismissed for failure to timely file.
See Attorney Grievance Commission File No. 22-0763 “Mere errors in judgment...are not grounds for a malpractice action...”

Cost

Rates
  • Free Consultation 60 minutes
  • Hourly Rates $ 290-300 per hour
  • Contingency 33%-40%
  • Pro bono 10 %
  • Retainer Sometimes
Payment methods
Cash, Check, Credit Card

Resume

AVVO RATING 9.9 (Superb)

Work Experience

  • Partner
  • Smith and Johnson, Attorney's PC
  • 1995 - Present
  • Associate Attorney
  • Nolan, Reincke, Thomsen and Villas, PC
  • 1992 - 1994

Education

  • University of Notre Dame Law School
  • Juris Doctorate
  • 1992
  • University of Notre Dame
  • Bachelor of Arts
  • 1989

Legal Cases

  • Parish v. Jessup Farms
  • $321,501 verdict following trial
  • Schwartz v. Booth
  • Gross verdict of 1.3 million - net of $615,000
  • Perez v. Cherry Ke
  • Pre-suit settlement of $825,000

Associations

  • Brain Injury Association of Michigan
  • Board of Directors
  • 2009 - Present
  • The Sara Jane Brain Project
  • Legal Advisory Committee
  • 2009 - Present
  • Father Fred Foundation Capital Campaign
  • Co-Chair - raised $2.4 million dollars for the poor
  • 2004 - Present

Languages Spoken

  • English

Honors and Awards

  • Plaintiffs Lawyer of the Year for Northern Michigan
  • Best Lawyers in America
  • 2018
  • AV Rated
  • Martindale-Hubbell
  • 2018
  • Super Lawyer
  • The American Trial Lawyer Association
  • 2009
  • "A-List" Attorneys in Northern Michigan
  • Traverse
  • 2008
  • 40 under 40
  • Grand Traverse Business News
  • 2007
  • Father Fred Leadership Award
  • Ancient Order Of Hibernians
  • 2003
  • AV Rated
  • Martindale-Hubbell
  • 2001
  • Distinguished Service Award
  • Lutheran Social Services of Michigan
  • 1994
View all awards

Publications

  • State Bar of Michigan Litigation Section
  • Hedonic Damages in Michigan
  • 2004

Speaking Engagements

  • 72nd Annual Convention
  • Litigating Pituitary Gland Injury Cases
  • 2017
  • Seminar Web
  • Endocrine System Dysfunction following Traumatic Brain Injury
  • 2009
  • Closed Head Injury Litigation
  • Post-traumatic Hypo-pituitarism
  • 2008
  • Auto No-Fault Seminar
  • Closed Head Injuries
  • 2007
  • Auto No-Fault Seminar
  • Rental Car Liability
  • 2005
  • Destroying the Defense Medical Examiner
  • Preparing to Depose the Defense Examiner
  • 2002
  • Michigan Trial Lawyers Association Winter Seminar
  • Litigation Strategies and Techniques [from 2000 to present]
  • 2000
View all speaking engagements

Attorney endorsements

Received (6)
Given (6)
Endorse Timothy
Personal injury Attorney | Jun 12
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"I endorse this lawyer. I have known Tim for many years in a professional capacity. He is a top-notch lawyer. Tim is exceptionally smart, very experienced, and gets fabulous results for his clients. I would trust Tim with my own case. Tim is not only well-known and highly-respected in Northern Michigan, but throughout the state. I hold Tim in the highest regard."
Personal injury Attorney | Feb 07
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"I have known Tim and his firm to be the leading injury law firm in the Northern Michigan area for years. Tim passionately fights for his clients' rights bring excellent results! I highly recommend Tim and his firm for your Northern Michigan legal needs!"
Personal injury Attorney | Nov 02
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"Mr. Smith is widely regarded as one of Northern Michigan's finest lawyers, and indeed is one of the best personal injury lawyers in the State. He is a sought after speaker and instructor for other lawyers, and a zealous courtroom advocate. Mr. Smith is considered to be a leading authority in difficult auto cases, and especially home modification cases. He truly cares for his clients, and has the skills and the team to acheive the best results. I highly endorse this lawyer."
Family Attorney | Apr 22
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"I endorse this lawyer. Tim is smart, creative, authenticate, genuine, honest, hard working and positive. He is fair and ethical and resected by the judiciary. He's figured it out. Good man, great lawyer with a good soul."
Personal injury Attorney | Jul 10
Relationship: Worked together on matter
"Tim is a ferocious and tireless advocate for his clients. He has an outstanding legal mind and his strategic approach to litigation is innovative and effective. He achieves solid results for his clients. On a personal level, he is engaging, has a great sense of humor and knows how to have a good time. I highly endorse this fine attorney."
Personal injury Attorney | Jul 09
Relationship: Worked together on matter
"Tim is a very skilled and knowledgeable attorney who can properly recognize the issues in a case and who will take the right steps to maximize success for his clients."
View more endorsements
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Personal injury
Traverse City Personal injury Lawyer Timothy P. Smith
Timothy P. Smith
Personal injury Attorney
Traverse City, MI
Licensed for 30 years
Free Consultation