Fire Litigation

In 1991 David Randolph Smith obtained the then largest wrongful death verdict in Williamson County, Tennesse history ($960,000.00) in a case involving the death of a teenage worker in a massive warehouse fire at the Jewell Tobacco Warehouse in Franklin, Tennessee. Mr. Smith has since prosecuted a number of fatal fire cases involving premises and product defects Kentucky and Tennessee.

NHC Nursing Home Fire Litigation & Settlements

The firm served as lead counsel in the tragic NHC Nursing Home fire (Sept. 23, 2003) that resulted in seventeen deaths and substantial confidential settlements.

On October 14, 2004 Mr. Smith announced settlements in 28 of the the 32 cases. The firm settled the death cases and injury cases for confidential amounts after weeks of mediation. The NHC fire was a sentinel event in nursing home safety and has directly led to changes in fire safety in nursing homes nationwide.The federal Government (GAO) published an extensive report on nursing home fire safety and federal legislation (Nursing Home Fire Safety Act of 2004 (H.R. 4987)) was introduced following the fire.

If you have questions about a potential fire case, please contact our offices toll-free (1.880.394.2119) for a free and confidential evaluation of your case today.

What You Should Know

Fire cases require experience and the use of cause and origin fire experts, building and fire code experts, engineers and accident reconstruction experts. It is vital to obtain legal counsel early on to gather important fire scene evidence and interview witnesses and obtain their statements.

We have used leading national fire safety experts (for example Koffel & Associates from Baltimore, Maryland in the NHC Nursing Home fire litigation) as well as product safety experts and engineers to successfully prosecute fire cases involving dormitory fires, house fires, vehicle fires and commercial buildings (warehouses and nursing home).

Fire cases tragically also involve serious burn injuries -- often from explosions or backdrafts. Our expertise in medical litigation (Mr. Smith is one of only 10 attorneys who is Board Certified in Medical Malpractice Litigation) ensures that damages experts and life care plans will be presented in a thorough and professional manner.

Our approach to fire litigaton begins not at the courthouse, but at the scene of the fire. With extensive experience in fire investigations, we provide valuable advice to clients and experts at the critical, early stages of fire scene examination when key evidence can be lost or mishandled. We have close working relationships with local, state and federal law enforcement and fire service officials, independent origin and cause investigators and engineers. If you are seeking a Tennessee fire attorney, we would be pleased to hear from you.