Michael J. Smith engages in civil litigation with an emphasis on representing health care professionals. He has successfully defended health care providers at trial and in disciplinary actions. He has represented health care providers in professional negligence suits, licensure and disciplinary proceedings, credentialing matters, and business disputes. Mr. Smith's practice also involves counseling health care providers in the areas of risk management, medical record issues, and the development of practice management guidelines and procedures. Mr. Smith has also represented clients in claims based on premises liability, products liability, motor vehicle liability, breach of contract, construction disputes, securities arbitration/litigation, accounting malpractice, and insurance coverage disputes.

Primary Practice Areas

• Medical Malpractice Defense Law
• Civil Litigation

Martindale-Hubbell Rating

• AV (highest rating obtainable)

Bar Admissions

• United States Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit, 2005
• United States District Court, Eastern District of Missouri, 2001
• United States District Court, Western District of Missouri, 1994
• United States District Court, District of Kansas, 1996
• Supreme Court of Missouri, 1994
• Supreme Court of Kansas, 1996

Education and Academic Honors

• J.D., University of Missouri-Columbia, 1994
• B.S.B.A., magna cum laude, Finance and Banking, Economics, University of Missouri-Columbia, 1991

Representative Reported Cases

• Stern v. Internal Medicine Consultants, 452 F.3d 1015 (8th Cir. 2006)
• Urologic Surgeons v. Bullock, 117 S.W.3d 722 (Mo. App. E.D. 2003)
• Mueller v. Bauer, 54 S.W.3d 652 (Mo. App. E.D. 2001)

Representative Clients

• TIG Specialty Insurance
• Hudson Specialty Insurance
• Intermed Insurance Company
• Barnes-Jewish Hospital

Selected Lectures and Publications

• "The Defense of Medical Malpractice Cases After Tort Reform," presented at the Missouri Bar Association's Annual Medical Malpractice Continuing Legal Education Seminar, 2007
• "Double Indemnity?," presented at the Healthcare Services Group Annual Defense Counsel Seminar, 2006
• "Missouri Tort Reform," presented to The Medical Protective Company's risk management seminar for its insureds, 2005
• "Deposition Tips and Traps," presented to the Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Washington University Emergency Medicine Departments, 2002
• "Efficient Injustice: The Demise of the 'Substantial Injustice' Exception to Arbitral Finality," published in the University of Missouri Journal of Dispute Resolution, 1993