Litigation
Jun. 15, 2002
Stand-Up First-Chair
Top 30 Women Litigators - Suzelle Smith - Suzelle Smith In 1985, Suzelle Smith and Don Howarth struck out on their own to form Howarth & Smith, a litigation boutique. Even though Smith was only a second-year associate, she was confident that she could handle her own practice.
Suzelle Smith
In 1985, Suzelle Smith and Don Howarth struck out on their own to form Howarth & Smith, a litigation boutique. Even though Smith was only a second-year associate, she was confident that she could handle her own practice.
"I had shown that I could stand up in the courtroom," Smith says.
At that point in her career, Smith worked on "bet the company" defense litigation. Suzuki was having some problems, and it hired Smith to change its strategy.
"What they needed was a woman first-chair trial lawyer," Smith said.
In 1996, James Heath sued Suzuki, claiming that a defect in his father's 1997 Suzuki Samurai caused it to roll over, paralyzing him.
James Butler, name partner in Columbus, Ga.-based Butler Wooten Fryhofer Daughtery & Sullivan, represented Heath. Butler was regarded as "automotive America's worst nightmare" and recently had won a $90 million verdict against Suzuki, according to Smith.
Smith won a defense verdict in Heath v. Suzuki Motor Corp., CV295-164 (S.D. Ga., verdict June 11, 1996), after only three hours of jury deliberation. Butler had tried 147 cases to a jury verdict and never had lost one, according to Smith. Butler could not be reached for comment.
"[That case] catapulted me into the national rank of national trial lawyers," Smith says.
Smith, 48, also handles plaintiffs' work. She's working as lead counsel on the first class action against terrorists and terrorist groups for the Sept. 11 attacks. The case was filed May 9 on behalf of the victims and the decedents' families. Havlish v. Bin Laden, CV0035 (D. D.C., filed May 9, 2002).
"It's about war on terrorism and seeing that it never happens again," Smith says.
Smith and Howarth are not only law partners but also life partners. They have been married for 16 years and have two sons.
Outside her practice, Smith describes herself as an exercise fanatic.
"You have to have something like that so you don't go crazy," Smith says.
Stefanie Knapp
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