Karl H. Smith
EDUCATION
J. D., Law, University of South Carolina
Columbia, South Carolina
B.A., University of South Carolina
History and Psychology
Columbia, South Carolina
ADMISSIONS
S. C. Circuit Court: Common Pleas, General Session
South Carolina Court of Appeals
South Carolina Supreme Court
U. S. District Court of South Carolina, Civil, Criminal
U. S. 4th Circuit Court of Appeals
PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS
American Bar Association
American Association for Justice
South Carolina Bar Association
South Carolina Association for Justice
South Carolina Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
Darlington County Bar Association
PERSONAL INFORMATION
Mr. Smith, a native of Hartsville, attended the University of South Carolina in Columbia. He graduated with a double major in History and Psychology. He completed a semester of graduate work in Public Administration before entering the USC School of Law. Upon graduation from law school in 1978, he worked for the South Carolina Attorney General's Office in Columbia, South Carolina. In 1982, he became an associate at the Saleeby and Cox Law Firm, in Hartsville, South Carolina. In 1989, he became a partner of Saleeby, Cox, Saleeby, Smith and Auman. In 1992, he became a partner in the new firm Stanton, Jones and Smith, also located in Hartsville. Finally in 1997, Smith started the Smith Law Firm. Today, he is principle share holder in Smith Watts and Associates, LLC.
During his legal career Mr. Smith has served as City Judge, County Attorney for Darlington County, Attorney for Darlington County Water and Sewer Authority, Attorney for the Church of God Camp Meeting Associates, and served on the Board of the South Carolina Trial Lawyers Association.
Primarily a Plaintiff's attorney, Mr. Smith has obtained numerous verdicts and settlements for his clients. In 1992, he represented one of two Plaintiffs that received a jury verdict of $10,000,000.00 actual damages and $2,500,000.00 in punitive damages. He has negotiated settlements of $700,000.00 in a vehicle wrongful death, $550,000.00 in a negligent child care case, $600,000.00 in a UTPA case, $300,000.00 in a motorcycle accident and more than twenty other settlements of $250,000.00 or more in vehicular accidents. He has negotiated recent settlements of 1.4 million in a vehicle accident, 1.46 million in a wrongful death case, 1.3 million in a personal injury claim, $700,000.00 in a vehicle accident, $550,000.00 in a negligent child care case, $600,000.00 in a UTPA case, $350,000.00 in a motorcycle accident case and more than thirty other settlements of $200,000.00 or more in personal injury cases. He has received numerous jury verdicts of substantial amounts. Mr. Smith has also handled real estate transactions involving more than $10,000,000.00 in real estate acquisitions along with corporate sales, and home purchases. Yet, he handles divorce and custody cases for countless clients.
Mr. Smith has represented many clients in criminal defense. He has countless 'not guilty' verdicts in both state and federal court. His successes include charges of trafficking, murder, C.S.C, arson, manufacturing of illegal weapons, aggravated assault and battery and DUI.
Mr. Smith is married to Jo Ann Sisty Smith from Asheville, North Carolina. He has two daughters, Jo and Courtney, two daughters by marriage, Heather and Lori, and one son Zachary. He is a member of the First Church of God in Hartsville.
