Mark Smith’s clients include hospitals, doctors and other health care providers throughout the state of Tennessee. He handles the defense of medical negligence claims and suits involving allegations of wrongful death and catastrophic injuries with the potential for significant financial exposure. Other practice areas include general, commercial, estate and appellate litigation, as well as high-exposure plaintiff’s personal injury cases. Mark has practiced law 32 years, including more than 10 years in Dallas, where he was a partner at Strasburger & Price.
Mark is a Nashville native and honors graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill. He worked as a newspaper reporter at the Richmond Times-Dispatch before graduating from the University of Virginia School of Law in 1991. In 1992, he received a master’s degree in foreign affairs, also from the University of Virginia.
Representative Experience
- Obtained defense verdict for hospital in jury trial alleging medical negligence and neurological injury in connection with delivery of an infant. Olinger v. University Medical Center, 269 S.W.3d 560 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2007), perm. app. denied (Tenn. June 30, 2008)
- Obtained appellate reversal of what was then the largest additur in reported Tennessee appellate history. Walton v. Tullahoma HMA, LLC, 572 S.W.3d 180 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2018), perm. app. denied (Tenn. October 10, 2018)
- Obtained defense verdict for emergency physician in jury trial involving claims of wrongful death
- Obtained defense verdict for hospital in jury trial involving claims of wrongful death
- Multiple summary judgments and dismissals in favor of hospitals and doctors, in suits alleging failure to diagnose heart attack, failure to diagnose cancer, medication errors, nursing negligence, wrongful death, and other claims of medical malpractice
- Part of the trial team that obtained defense verdicts in two month-long jury trials, on claims brought by former psychiatric patients against a major health care corporation. One of those verdicts was recognized by the National Law Journal as the nation’s “Biggest Defense Win” in 1999
Education
- University of Virginia, M.A.
- University of Virginia, J.D.
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, B.A.
Bar Admissions
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Washington D.C.
Recognition
- Best Lawyers in America®, Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants (2017 – 2025)
- Martindale-Hubbell, AV Preeminent Peer Review Rated
Professional Activities
- Member, Defense Research Institute
- Member District of Columbia Bar Association
- Member, Texas Bar Association
- Member, Tennessee Bar Association
- Member, Nashville Bar Association
Civic Activities
- Past President, Tennessee Chapter, Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America
- Youth Sports Coach