Carol A. Smith

  • Attorney
  • Livonia, Michigan Office

Carol Smith is an attorney in our Livonia office where she focuses her practice on insurance defense matters. She has considerable litigation and trial experience representing clients in third-party auto claims, as well as first-party no-fault and uninsured motorist claims.

Overview

Carol Smith is an attorney in our Livonia office where she focuses her practice on insurance defense matters. She has considerable litigation and trial experience representing clients in third-party auto claims, as well as first-party no-fault and uninsured motorist claims. Additionally, she advises clients on numerous areas of law, including insurance coverage, general liability, personal injury protection (PIP) and bodily injury claims.

She is a member of the State Bar of Michigan, Oakland County Bar Association, Defense Research Institute, and Michigan Defense Trial Counsel. Ms. Smith earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Oakland University and a Juris Doctor degree, cum laude, from Thomas M. Cooley Law School.

Prior to becoming a lawyer, Ms. Smith was a paralegal for five years during which time she gained valuable legal knowledge and experience that she used as a stepping stone to becoming a practicing lawyer. She worked full-time as a paralegal during the day and attended law school full time in the evenings. Despite the busy schedule, she managed to maintain the honor roll and dean’s list every term, received several book awards, and graduated cum laude. She has transferred this hard work and dedication to her legal practice.

Practice Groups

Education

Thomas M. Cooley Law School, cum laude, J.D., 2014
Oakland University, B.A., Political Science and Psychology, 2008

Honors

Michigan Super Lawyers, Michigan Rising Star Top Rated PI General Defense Attorney, 2022

Memberships and Associations

State Bar of Michigan
Oakland County Bar Association
Defense Research Institute (DRI)
Michigan Defense Trial Counsel (MDTC)

Published Articles

Representative Cases

Attorney Carol Smith recently scored an impressive trial win in federal court. The plaintiff, a family physician from Chicago, was visiting the Silver Lake State Park in west Michigan when he rented a Jeep Wrangler from Carol’s corporate client to drive on the sand dunes. Following a one-hour guided tour by the client through the dunes, the plaintiff crested a steep dune at a high rate of speed, causing the vehicle to become airborne and roll. He blamed the accident on negligent instruction by the tour guide to give the vehicle full throttle while climbing the hills, as well as the lack of warning that this particular hill had become peaked. He suffered several fractures of his cervical and thoracic spine, requiring two surgical fusions to repair, and claimed that he would never return to work as a doctor.

After seven hours of deliberating, the Jury found heavy comparative negligence by the plaintiff, which prohibited any award of non-economic (pain and suffering) damages. He was awarded past wage loss that was reduced by the 76% negligence the Jury attributed to him. It will be further reduced by the considerable disability benefits he has received. The Jury further agreed with the defense that the plaintiff is capable of returning to his former employment and awarded nothing for future wages. The exact judgment has not yet been determined but is expected to be less than six figures. The plaintiff attorneys asked the Jury for $20 million. The lowest settlement demand received was $2 million. This is a clear victory for Carol and her clients.

Jurisdiction and Court Admissions

Michigan State Courts
United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan
United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan
United States Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals

Practice Groups

Education

Thomas M. Cooley Law School, cum laude, J.D., 2014
Oakland University, B.A., Political Science and Psychology, 2008

Honors

Michigan Super Lawyers, Michigan Rising Star Top Rated PI General Defense Attorney, 2022