About David
Practice areas
- Personal injury: 50%
Primary practice focuses on serious and catastrophic injuries. Prior cases include serious brain injuries, paralysis, severe lumbar and cervical disc herniation, burn cases, broken bones, loss of eyesight and other eye injuries and many other types of injuries. Cases also include medical and dental malpractice, auto accidents, truck accidents, motorcycle, moped, bicycle and pedestrian accidents, premise liability, UM and UIM claims and all other types of serious personal injury claims.
32 years, 100 cases
- Litigation: 30%
Litigation practice includes, but is not limited to, commercial litigation, real estate and construction disputes, will and trust disputes, breach of contract, debtor/creditor matters and Family law.
32 years, 100 cases
- Estate planning: 20%
Providing customized estate planning services including wills, trusts, guardianships and convervatorships and all types of probate matters.
32 years, 100 cases
Languages spoken
Japanese, Spanish, Russian, Filipino
Resume
| State | Status | Acquired | Updated |
|---|---|---|---|
| HI | Active | 1989 | 07/08/2017 |
| LA | Inactive | 1985 | 12/21/2014 |
| Award name | Grantor | Date granted |
|---|---|---|
| Commercial Litigator of the Year | Acquisition International | 2014 |
| Top Lawyers In Hawaii | SHOWMARK MEDIA, LLC | 2014 |
| Who's Who Among Executives and Professionals | Cambridge | 2012 |
| Race for the Marble | Tulane University Law School | 1985 |
| First Place in Appellate Advocacy Competition | Loyola Law School | 1983 |
| Title | Company name | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Owner | Smith Law Firm | 2004 - Present |
| Of Counsel | Carlsmith Ball, LLP | 2007 - 2008 |
| Partner | Van Pernis, Smith and Vancil | 1989 - 2004 |
| Associate | Camp, Carmouche, Barsch, Hunter, Gray, Hoffman, & Gill New Orleans La | 1986 - 1989 |
| Law Clerk | Second Circuit Court Of Appeals | 1985 - 1986 |
| Association name | Position name | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| American Bar Association | Member | 2016 - Present |
| Hawaii State Bar Association | Member | 1989 - Present |
| West Hawaii Bar Association | Past Vice President/Current Member | 1989 - Present |
| Case name | Outcome | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Multiple Internal Injuries | Favorable settlement in high six figures. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tiki Shark Art Inc. v. CafePress | Settled | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Multi Million Dollar Recovery | Three Million Dollar Recovery plus attorneys' fees | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| See all legal cases | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Publication name | Title | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Kona Coffee Council | Tort Liability for Small Businesses | 2012 |
| Southern Reporter Second | Municipality Liability for Maintenance of Roadways | 1986 |
| School name | Major | Degree | Graduated |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tulane University Law School | Law | JD - Juris Doctor | 1985 |
| University of Texas | Political Science | BA - Bachelor of Arts | 1981 |
| Conference name | Title | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Fundamentals of Landlord-Tenant Law | Landlord Tenant Law | 2012 |
Attorney endorsements
(3)
Rene Heimgartner, Criminal defense Attorney
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
Mr. Smith is an excellent Kona attorney.
Mark Ropp, Estate planning Attorney
Relationship: Worked together on matter
David is a very competent and thorough lawyer. He handled a complex, multi-state issue for one of my clients with a property in Hawaii. Throughout the process, I could always count on David communicating well and handling the matter efficiently and effectively. I highly recommend this lawyer.
Cost
- Hourly Rates $230-250/hour
- Contingency fees 30%-40%A contingency fee is the percent of the final award a lawyer will receive as compensation. For some of these cases, lawyers will only be paid if there is a successful outcome.
Cash, Check, Credit card
Contact
78-6800 Alii Drive
Suite 39
Kailua Kona, HI, 97640
Website