Biography
Judge Smith has more than four decades of experience resolving disputes, both as a trial court judge and an independent mediator, arbitrator, special master, and discovery referee in both federal and state court litigation. As a trial judge for more than 26 years, he presided over thousands of cases, many of which were complex litigation matters involving business/commercial issues.
Judge Smith takes pride in his efforts to prepare himself for any proceeding, it being his belief that a neutral who understands the evidence and the issues at the commencement of any mediation or arbitration will be more effective and efficient in achieving a resolution of the dispute.
Representative Matters
- Disputes related to money or interest owed under loan agreements
- Numerous panel arbitrations regarding failure to perform and breach of contract
- Disputes regarding collecting large amounts in attorney fees
- Special master for accounting issues related to crafts industry arbitration
- Matters regarding breach of contract, quantum merit, and monetary damages
- Issues regarding non-compete claims related to sale of company
- Numerous disputes involving Homeowners Associations
- Claims related to non-disclosure of pertinent information regarding purchase and sale of real property
- Accounting referee for large arbitration case regarding award of major city contract for waste collection and disposal
- E-Discovery master for major commercial dispute regarding copyright and trade secret violations of popular toy
- Hearing officer for large city for disputes related to medicinal marijuana
- Discovery referee for complex fraud cases
- Discovery referee for disputes related to mortgage fraud
- Court reference for numerous employment disputes
- Special Master for auditing and writ of possession related to matching up invoices and serial numbers with hospital equipment
- Breach of guaranty claims against guarantors regarding construction loan documents
- Chair, Presiding Judges Advisory Committee to the Judicial Council, 1995
- Governing Board, Center for Judicial Education and Research (CJER), 1986-1992
- Judicial Criminal Advisory Committee on Trial Court Coordination, 1974-1978
- Judicial Criminal Justice Planning Committee, 1974-1978
- President, Camp Osceola Board of Directors, 1974
- President, Orange YMCA Board of Directors, 1964-1973
- Member, Executive Committee, Orange County Superior Court, (7 years, not continuously)
- Professor, Western State University College of Law, 1972-1989; (teaching Trial Practice, Trial Advocacy, Constitutional Law, Criminal Law, and Introduction to Legal Education)
- Member, faculty of numerous programs presented by the Center for Judicial Education and Research (CJER) and the California Judges Association (CJA)
- Taught at the California Judicial College and has served as Team Leader of the Large Court section of the Presiding Judges Institute presented by CJER
- Participated in numerous CEB programs on various subjects including E-Discovery, Bias In the Workplace, Arbitration Procedures, Effective Mediation Practices, Managing Mental Health and Evidence
- Served as instructor in Criminal Law for the Orange County Peace Officers Academy
- "Levity Over Decorum," ADR Profile, Daily Journal, June 14, 2013
- Judge, Orange County Superior Court, 1980-1995 (Presiding Judge, 1994-1995; Assistant Presiding Judge, 1991-1994; Complex Litigation Panel, 1992-1993; Presiding Judge, Probate Dept. 1987-1988; Supervising Judge, Criminal Panel, 1984-1985; Family Law Panel, 1982)
- Judge, West Orange County Municipal Court, 1971-1980
- Sole practitioner with emphasis on litigation, 1967-1971
- Partner with Schlegel, Friedemann, Kelley & Smith, 1964-1967
- Deputy District Attorney, County of Orange, 1963-1964 (founded Fraud Div., 1964)
- Admitted to the California Bar and the U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit, 1963
- LL.B. (JD), Hastings College of the Law
- B.A., University of Redlands
Counsel Comments
- “[Judge Smith was] able to take the cares and sorrows of interesting, sometimes very complex, clients and communicate to them that their outcome would be just.”
- Prominent OC Attorney
News
Events
Practice Areas
- Arbitration
- Business/Commercial
- Construction Defect
- Estates/Probate/Trusts
- Intellectual Property
- Personal Injury/Torts
- Real Property
- Special Master/Discovery Referee
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