Profile
Timothy P. Smith is a member of Smith & Johnson, Attorneys, P.C., a Traverse City, Michigan, firm handling business law, family law, commercial litigation, construction law, criminal defense, employment, estate planning, personal injury and real estate-related matters for clients statewide. A 1992 graduate of University of Notre Dame Law School, Mr. Smith has dedicated the last 16 years of his career almost exclusively to representing plaintiffs in personal injury lawsuits involving car accidents, truck accidents, construction accidents, property owner negligence and various other causes.
Mr. Smith has received several professional honors from the legal community at large. In 2009, he was recognized by the American Association for Justice as one of Michigan's top 100 trial attorneys. He holds an AV Preeminent* peer review rating through Martindale-Hubbell and has received a 10.0 (superb) rating through Avvo as well. Mr. Smith is also a member of numerous legal organizations, including the Michigan Bar, the National Head Injury Foundation, the Brain Injury Association and the Traumatic Brain Injury Litigation Section of the American Association for Justice.
*AV Preeminent and BV Distinguished are certification marks of Reed Elsevier Properties Inc., used in accordance with the Martindale-Hubbell certification procedures, standards and policies. Martindale-Hubbell is the facilitator of a peer review rating process. Ratings reflect the anonymous opinions of members of the bar and the judiciary. Martindale-Hubbell peer review ratings fall into two categories: legal ability and general ethical standards.
About Timothy Smith
Law School: University of Notre Dame Law School
Admitted: 1993, Michigan
Professional Webpage: www.smith-johnson.com/attorneys-at-law/timothy-p-smith/
Honors and Awards:
- Recognized in 2008 by Traverse the Magazine as one of the "A-List" attorneys in Northern Michigan.
- Recognized by Grand Traverse Business News in 2006 as one of "40 under 40" years of age who are most influential in area business.
- Nominated to and accepted into The Fellows of the Michigan State Bar Foundation - lawyers elected to membership in the Fellows are chosen for outstanding professional ability and community service.
- Recipient of the Ancient Order of Hibernians Distinguished Service Award 2003 for working to raise money for the Father Fred Foundation which clothes and feeds the poor of Northern Michigan.
- Recipient of the 1994 Distinguished Service Award from Lutheran Social Services of Michigan for work in helping Haitian teenagers seeking political asylum here in the United States.
- Top 100 Trial Attorneys in Michigan. The American Trial Lawyers Association limits it's membership to the Top 100 trial attorneys in each state. Membership is through a peer reviewed process starting with nomination by existing members, Top 100 Trial Attorneys in Michigan, The American Trial Lawyers Association, 2009
Special Licenses/Certifications:
- Recieved an A-V rating from Martindale-Hubbel at the age of 34.
Bar/Professional Activity:
- Member, Michigan Trial Lawyers Association Executive Board
- Asked by the Michigan Trial Lawyers Association to organize and moderate their winter seminar re: litigation strategies and techniques 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2011.
Pro bono/Community Service:
- Regularly performs pro bono work in Northern Michigan. Has served on the Excutive Boards of The Great Lakes Children's Museum and The Father Fred Foundation. Has served on the Advisory Council of National City Bank.
- Asked to serve on the Legal Advisory Council to the Sara Jane Brain Foundation, 2009
- Elected to the Board of Directors of the Brain Injury Association of Michigan., 2009
Scholarly Lectures and Writings:
- Regular speaker at Michigan Association for Justice's annual Auto No-Fault seminar.
- Presenter, 2 webinars on "Endocrine Dysfunction following Traumatic Brain Injury" to a national audience.
- Frequent Lecturer, Traumatic Brain Injury, Litigation Strategies and Techniques.
- Lead Author, Hedonic Damages in Michigan, Michigan Bar Association Litigation Section Magazine, 2002
Verdicts and Settlements:
- Many 6 and 7 figure verdicts and settlements. In 1998, I recieved the highest plaintiffs verdict in the history of Oscoda County Michigan.
Representative Clients:
- My partners and I perform specialized Auto No-Fault collection work and general collection work for many Michigan health care providers including Munson Medical Center, Great Lakes Plastic Surgery Center, Great Lakes Orthopaedic Center, Lighthouse Neuro Rehabilitation, Irvine Head injury Program, St. Francis Hospital of Escanaba, Alpena Regional Medical Center, Tri-County Home Care, Rehab Solutions and Associates PC, E.S.S.I.E., LLC, Functional Recovery Inc., Kresnak Consulting LLC, Triumph Rehabilitation, Rehabilitation Transit, Interim Health Care, Hall Periodontics, Foust Case Management Inc., and A-Elite Home Care Services.
Other Outstanding Achievements:
- I'm a licensed fly fishing guide here in Northern Michigan. I'm a member of the Orvis Pro-Staff. I'm federally permitted to guide both the Au Sable and the Manistee Rivers. I'm also the lead guitarist for The Surreal McCoys. Our album in 2008 hit #40 on the top 50 chart for X-Country Radio on XM radio. I've been married to my wife Shawn for 18 years and have two daughters - Caroline and Molly, and a son named Luke.
Educational Background:
- Traverse City Senior High School, 1985
- University of Notre Dame - English and Philosophy, 1989
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