Office: Los Angeles
Phone: (310) 481-7648
ksmith@wshblaw.com
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| Education: | Pepperdine University School of Law , 1983
J.D.
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Pepperdine University , 1980
B.A.
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| Experience: |
Commercial Litigation
Represents corporate and non-profit agencies in litigation involving contract and business tort claims, including unfair competition, interference with contractual relations, claims of malfeasance, and breach of fiduciary duty.
Represents board members and boards of directors against claims of breach of fiduciary duty, professional liability, wrongful acts, and fraud.
Negotiates and litigates intellectual property issues and rights.
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Construction
Represents owners, contractors and design professionals in complex litigation including construction defect, delay and disruption claims, mechanics lien and stop notice issues and construction accident litigation involving catastrophic injuries.
Provides risk management training and counseling on numerous issues including: safety training, rapid response to accidents, risk transfer, and employment issues.
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Product Liability
Defense of manufacturers, distributors, and retailers of numerous products, such as heavy equipment, pharmaceuticals, power tools, baby products, home appliances, and recreational equipment, in cases involving allegations of wrongful death and catastrophic injuries, including burns, brain damage, severed limbs and digits, and disfigurement.
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Toxic Tort
Successfully defended actions involving acute and chronic exposure to benzene, diesel fumes, hydrofluoric acid, and asbestos. Extensive experience defending mold actions, and has successfully tried to verdict several mold cases including the first mold case brought in California against a general contractor.
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Transportation
Represents trucking companies in litigation involving catastrophic injuries.
Provides risk management training and counseling on a variety of issues including driver qualifications, safe practices, rapid response to accidents, insurance coverage, risk transfer, and employment issues.
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Presentations and Papers
Panelist, Trucking Industry Defense Association (TIDA), 2008
Chair, American Bar Association Construction Conference, (2002).
Speaker, American Bar Association Transportation MegaConference (2003, 2001, 1999).
Technology Resources For Trucking Litigation, (March 2001) American Bar Association.
Transportation Megaconference, New Orleans.
Recent Developments Affecting Self Insurers and Risk Managers, (1999, 2000) Tort & Insurance Law Journal, Annual Survey of Tort and Insurance Law, ABA Section on Tort & Insurance Practice.
The Internet, Opportunities & Concerns in Litigation & Trial (Sept. 1999) Conference on Highway Accident Litigation, American Trucking Association Litigation Center.
Self Insureds in Today's Legal Climate, Continuing Loss Issues (1999) Insurance Coverage Litigation Committee Meeting, ABA Section on Tort & Insurance Practice, Monterey.
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Memberships & Community Activities
American Board of Trial Advocates
ABA (Product Liability; Commercial Transportation)
DRI (Commercial Litigation; Commercial Transportation; E&O; Product Liability)
Trucking Industry Defense Association
Court Appointed Arbitrator & Mediator, Los Angeles County Superior Court
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Awards
Named Southern California Super Lawyer; 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010.
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Kevin represents Fortune 500 companies, insurers, and major corporations in the areas of commercial litigation, product liability, toxic tort, transportation and motor carrier, and construction issues in state and federal courts. Kevin is a skilled trial lawyer, is a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates, has been named a Southern California Super Lawyer and has successfully represented individuals and major corporations in numerous state and federal trials. He is past Chair of the American Bar Association's Self Insurers and Risk Managers Committee. He is also Vice Chair of the American Bar Association's Commercial Transportation Committee. |
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