David has over thirty (30) years of experience as an attorney in Hawaii and the U.S. mainland handling various types of serious personal injury matters, complex litigation and transactional matters. His experience includes a one year judicial clerkship with the LA. 2d Circuit Court of Appeals, three (3) years in Louisiana as an associate with a large insurance defense law firm and over twenty-five (25) years in Hawaii, including four years as an associate, a special “Of Counsel” position with one of the oldest and largest law firms in the State of Hawaii, and over twenty (20) years as a partner/member of his own law firm. In his thirty years of practice, David has handled a wide variety of legal disputes and transactional matters, including but not limited to, numerous high value personal injury, business and real estate matters, copyright and trademark filings and disputes, commercial matters, real estate and business transactions and disputes and general civil litigation matters. David has previously handled a wide variety of personal injury cases, including but not limited to, motor vehicle and trucking accidents, pedestrian, motorcyle, moped, biking and boating accidents, admirality and maritime cases, electrocution, construction and job site injuries, ocean and pool injuries, police brutality, wrongful death claims and all tpes of premise liability cases. David has also handled practically every type of injury including permanent brain damage cases, spinal injuries, paralysis, serious fractures, organ damage and other internal injuries, permanent scarring, burn and disfigurement cases, blindness and many other serious injury cases.
Practice areas
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.
37 years, 100 cases
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.
37 years, 100 cases
Providing customized estate planning services including wills, trusts, guardianships and convervatorships and all types of probate matters.
37 years, 100 cases
Languages spoken
Japanese, Spanish, Russian, Filipino
State | Status | Acquired | Updated |
---|---|---|---|
HI | Active | 1989 | 07/12/2022 |
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 |
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 | Degree | Graduated |
---|---|---|
Tulane University Law School | JD - Juris Doctor | 1985 |
University of Texas | BA - Bachelor of Arts | 1981 |
Conference name | Title | Date |
---|---|---|
Fundamentals of Landlord-Tenant Law | Landlord Tenant Law | 2012 |
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 |
Maureen Gregory v. Theresa McDaniels, Et. Al. | Half Million Dollar Verdict |
Posted by anonymous
January 24, 2017
Posted by Sharon
November 18, 2015
Posted by anonymous
November 15, 2015
Rene Heimgartner, Litigation Attorney on Mar 18, 2017
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
Mr. Smith is an excellent Kona attorney.
Mark Ropp, Estate planning Attorney on Oct 11, 2016
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.
Daniel Peters, Personal injury Attorney on Dec 3, 2014
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
I endorse this lawyer.
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