Matthew J. Smith

Phone: 

(386) 506-5024

Fax: 

(513) 579-0222

Areas of Practice

  • Insurance Coverage
  • Bad Faith Litigation
  • Claim Investigation
  • Property and Casualty Defense



Education

Salmon P. Chase College of Law, Northern Kentucky University. 
Juris Doctorate Degree, 1983.

Mr. Smith completed his law studies as a night student while working full time and completed the traditional four-year program in just over three years graduating in the top one-third of his class.  He also served as Chief Justice of the Moot Court Board advancing two years to the national moot court competition at the University of Virginia, College of Law in Charlottesville, Virginia.  Mr. Smith was later asked to return to his alma mater as an adjunct instructor of Insurance Law.

University of Cincinnati, College Conservatory of Music.
Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Radio, Television and Film, 1980.



Admitted to Practice

  • Supreme Court of the United States
  • United States District Courts:
    • Northern District of Ohio
    • Southern District of Ohio
    • Eastern District of Kentucky
    • Western District of Kentucky
    • Eastern District of Michigan
    • Northern District of Indiana
    • Middle District of Florida
    • Southern District of Florida
    • Eastern District of Oklahoma
  • Courts of Appeals:
    • United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
    • District of Columbia Court of Appeals
  • State Courts:
    • Ohio
    • Kentucky
    • Michigan
    • Florida



Orlando, FL

801 International Parkway
5th Floor
Lake Mary, Florida 32746
(386) 506-5024

Additional Locations

  • Cincinnati, OH
  • Columbus, OH
  • Detroit, MI
  • Ft. Mitchell, KY

Notable Experience

SIGNIFICANT APPELLATE DECISIONS

Smith v. Allstate Indem. Co., 304 Fed. Appx. 430 (6th Cir. 2008)
http://www.ca6.uscourts.gov/opinions.pdf/08a0783n-06.pdf

myTriggers.com, Inc. v. Hartford Cas. Ins. Co., 2009 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 14741 (Feb. 18, 2009)

Aubin Indus., Inc. v.  Jeffrey Smith, 2008 FED App. 0721N (6th Cir. 2008)
www.ca6.uscourts.gov/opinions.pdf/08a0721n-06.pdf

Wagner-Meinert, Inc. v. EDA Controls Corp., 2007 FED App. 0149N (6th Cir. 2007)
www.ca6.uscourts.gov/opinions.pdf/07a0149n-06.pdf

Jahn v. Equine Servs., PSC, 233 F.3d 382 (2000)
www.ca6.uscourts.gov/opinions.pdf/00a0398p-06.pdf

Smith v. Allstate Ins. Co., 2007 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 95674 (June 11, 2007)

Smith v. Allstate Ins. Co., 2006 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 93998  (Dec. 29, 2006)

Wagner-Meinert, Inc. v. EDA Controls Corp., 444 F. Supp. 2d 800 (2006)

Clark v. Scarpelli, 91 Ohio St. 3d 271 (2001)
www.supremecourt.ohio.gov/rod/docs/pdf/0/2001/2001-ohio-39.pdf

United State Co. v. Bird, 2001 Ohio App. LEXIS 2410 (5th Dist. May 18, 2001)

Pursley v. MBNA Corp., 2007 Ohio 1445 (8th Dist. 2007)
www.supremecourt.ohio.gov/rod/docs/pdf/8/2007/2007-ohio-1445.pdf

Combs v. Black, 2006 Ohio 2439 (10th Dist. 2006)
www.supremecourt.ohio.gov/rod/docs/pdf/10/2006/2006-ohio-2439.pdf


PUBLICATIONS AND PRESENTATIONS

2011:

  • Combined Training Session of the International Association of Arson Investigators (IAAI) and National Society of Professional Insurance Investigators (NSPII); “Emerging Investigation Trends” and “Ethical Considerations in the Investigation of Fire Losses”; Charlotte, North Carolina. 
  • National Society of Professional Insurance Investigators (NSPII), National Seminar; “Emerging Trends in the Investigation of Insurance Claims”; Chicago, Illinois.
  • The Professional Association for Chartered Property Casualty Underwriters (CPCU Society), Annual Meeting; "Winning Strategies for Resolving Conflicts & Claims: Arbitration"; Las Vegas, Nevada.
  • Combined Training Session of the International Association of Arson Investigators (IAAI) and National Society of Professional Insurance Investigators (NSPII); “Emerging Investigation Trends” and “Ethical Considerations in the Investigation of Fire Losses”; Washington, D.C.
  • EMC Insurance Company, Annual Claim Manager Meeting; "Emerging Trends in the Investigation of Insurance Claims"; Des Moines, Iowa.
  • Combined Training Session of the International Association of Arson Investigators (IAAI) and National Society of Professional Insurance Investigators (NSPII); “Emerging Investigation Trends” and “Ethical Considerations in the Investigation of Fire Losses”; Portland, Oregon.
  • Southern Loss Association, Property Seminar; “Ethical Considerations in the Investigation of Fire Losses”; Atlanta, Georgia.
  • Ohio Arson School; “Ethical Considerations in the Investigation of Fire Losses”; Columbus, Ohio.
  • USAA Property & Casualty Insurance Company; “Emerging Trends in the Investigation of Insurance Claims”; San Tampa, Florida.
  • Combined Training Session of the International Association of Arson Investigators (IAAI) and National Society of Professional Insurance Investigators (NSPII); “Emerging Investigation Trends” and “Ethical Considerations in the Investigation of Fire Losses”; Jamaica, New York.
  • Florida Insurance Fraud Education Committee (FIFEC), Annual Seminar; “The Ethical Investigation of Insurance Claims”; Orlando, Florida. 
  • USAA Property & Casualty Insurance Company; “Emerging Trends in the Investigation of Insurance Claims”; San Antonio, Texas. 
  • Safe Auto Insurance Company SIU Unit Training; “The Ethical Investigation of Insurance Claims”; Columbus, Ohio. 
  • State Auto Insurance Company SIU Unit Training; “Emerging Trends in the Investigation of Insurance Claims”, “The Ethical Investigation of Insurance Claims” and “Things You Always Wanted to Ask an Insurance/SIU Lawyer, but either… A) Were Afraid to Ask, or B) Didn’t Want to Get a Bill for”; Cincinnati, Ohio. 
  • Kentucky State Arson Task Force (KSATF) and International Association of Arson Investigators (IAAI), Kentucky Chapter Arson Investigators Seminar; “Ethical Considerations in the Investigation of Fire Losses”; Elizabethtown, Kentucky. 
  • Ohio Auto Theft Investigators Association (OATIA), Annual Motor Vehicle Theft Seminar; “The Ethical Investigation of Insurance Claims”; Columbus, Ohio. 
  • International Association of Special Investigation Units (IASIU), Ohio Chapter Annual Seminar; “The Ethical Investigation of Insurance Claims”; Columbus, Ohio. 
  • Chubb Group of Insurance Companies, Arizona Service Center; “Emerging Trends in the Investigation of Insurance Claims”; Phoenix, Arizona. 
  • National Society of Professional Insurance Investigators (NSPII), Arizona Chapter Kickoff; “Emerging Trends in the Investigation of Insurance Claims”; Phoenix, Arizona. 
  • Combined Training Session of the International Association of Arson Investigators (IAAI) and National Society of Professional Insurance Investigators (NSPII); “Emerging Investigation Trends” and “Ethical Considerations in the Investigation of Fire Losses”; Irving, Texas.
  • Ohio Joint Insurance Fraud Seminar; “Emerging Trends in the Investigation of Insurance Claims”; Columbus, Ohio.
  • EMC Insurance Company, Bi-Annual Meeting; “Emerging Trends in the Investigation of Insurance Claims”; Blue Ash, Ohio.

2010:

  • National Society of Professional Insurance Investigators (NSPII), National Seminar; “The Ethical Investigation of Insurance Claims”; Lexington, Kentucky.
  • Cincinnati Insurance Company, State-Wide Claims Training Program; “Bad Faith Litigation and Mold Loss Claim Analysis”; Elizabethtown, Kentucky.
  • State Auto Insurance Company, National Staff Counsel Training Program; “Emerging Trends in the Investigation of Insurance Claims”; Columbus, Ohio.
  • Merchants Insurance Group, New York State Claims Training Program; “Good Faith Claims Handling”; Buffalo, New York.
  • Florida Insurance Fraud Education Committee (FIFEC), Annual Seminar; “The Ethical Investigation of Insurance Claims”; Orlando, Florida.
  • Southern Loss Association, Property Seminar; “The Ethical Investigation of Insurance Claims”; Atlanta, Georgia.
  • International Association of Special Investigation Units (IASIU), Ohio Chapter; “The Ethical Investigation of Insurance Claims”; Cincinnati, Ohio.
  • Combined Meeting of the National Society of Professional Insurance Investigators (NSPII) and International Association of Special Investigation Units (IASIU); “The Ethical Investigation of Insurance Claims”; Lexington, Kentucky.
  • International Association of Special Investigation Units (IASIU), Ohio Chapter; “Ten Things to Consider in the Investigation of Insurance Claims”; Columbus, Ohio.
  • Cincinnati Insurance Company, National Claims Training Program; “Ten Things to Consider in the Investigation of Insurance Claims”; Cincinnati, Ohio.
  • Ohio Auto Theft Investigators Association (OATIA); “Combating the CSI Mystique - The Effect of Television, Movies and Pop Culture on Claims Investigation and Courtroom Testimony”; Cleveland, Ohio.
  • International Association of Arson Investigators (IAAI), Indiana Fire Investigation Conference; “Combating the CSI Mystique - The Effect of Television, Movies and Pop Culture on Claims Investigation and Courtroom Testimony”; Indianapolis, Indiana.
  • Cincinnati Claims Association; “Emerging Trends in the Investigation of Fire Losses”; Cincinnati, Ohio.
  • Grange Mutual Insurance Company, National Special Investigations Unit Training Seminar; “Emerging Trends in the Investigation of Fire Losses”; Columbus, Ohio.
  • Northern Kentucky University; Guest lecturer on the investigation of insurance fraud; Highland Heights, Kentucky.
  • Ohio Association of Civil Trial Attorneys, Insurance Coverage Seminar; “Addressing the Rights and Duties of Mortgagees and Lien Holders in First Party Property Claims”; Columbus, Ohio.
  • The Investigator, February 2010 Issue; “Bad Faith Law in Ohio – An Overview”; Ohio Chapter of the International Association of Special Investigation Units.
  • Association of Certified Fraud Examiners; “Case Studies in the Investigation of Insurance Fraud”; Cincinnati, Ohio.
  • University of Cincinnati, College of Business; Guest lecturer on insurance fraud investigation; Cincinnati, Ohio.
  • The Cincinnati Insurance Company, National Claims Training Program; “The Things You May Be Missing in Claims Investigations”; Cincinnati, Ohio.

2009:

  • United America Insurance Group; “Bad Faith Law in Ohio – An Historical View with Modern Applications for Handling of Litigation”; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
  • Greater Cincinnati Regional Arson Investigators Seminar; “Spoliation of Evidence – An Analysis of Ohio Law”; Evendale, Ohio.
  • Ohio Association of Civil Trial Attorneys, Personal Injury Defense Seminar; “The Presence of Third Parties and Videotaping of Independent Medical Examinations”; Columbus, Ohio.
  • National Society of Professional Insurance Investigators (NSPII), National Seminar; “Combating the CSI Mystique - The Effect of Television, Movies and Pop Culture on Claims Investigation and Courtroom Testimony”; Columbus, Ohio.
  • Wilson, Elser, Moskowitz, Edelman and Dicker, LLP; “An Overview of Property Insurance Coverage Disputes and Insurance Fraud Investigations”; New York, New York.
  • Ohio Joint Insurance Fraud Seminar; “The Ethical Investigation of Insurance Claims”; Columbus, Ohio.
  • National Society of Professional Insurance Investigators (NSPII), Regional Seminar; “The Ethical Investigation of Insurance Claims”; St. Louis, Missouri.
  • Virginia State Police/Virginia NSPII Chapter, Annual Training Seminar; “The Ethical Investigation of Insurance Claims”; Richmond, Virginia.
  • Florida Insurance Fraud Education Committee (FIFEC), Annual Seminar; “The Ethical Investigation of Insurance Claims” and “Combating the CSI Mystique - The Effect of Television, Movies and Pop Culture on Claims Investigation and Courtroom Testimony”; Orlando, Florida.
  • Atlanta Claims Association, Annual Ethics Seminar; “The Ethical Investigation of Insurance Claims”; Atlanta, Georgia.
  • Farmers Insurance Group of Companies, Large Property Loss Annual Meeting; “The Mortgage Foreclosure Process in Insurance Claims”; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
  • Ohio Association of Auto Theft Investigators; “Legal Trends and Updates”; Columbus, Ohio.

2008:

  • Florida Insurance Fraud Education Council (FIFEC); “Successful Claim Investigation:  The Claims Professional/Attorney Partnership”; Orlando, Florida.
  • Chubb Group of Insurance Companies; “Identifying Files for Referral to S.I.U. Investigation:  The Things You May Be Missing”; Phoenix, Arizona.
  • The Cincinnati Insurance Companies, Annual Meeting; “Ten Things to Consider as You Handle Claims”; Cincinnati, Ohio.
  • The Ohio Arson Training Program, 2008 Mock Trial Program; Columbus, Ohio.
  • Liberty Mutual Insurance Company; “The Latest Updates and Developments on Defending Low-Impact Accident Claims”; Cincinnati, Ohio.
  • National Society of Professional Insurance Investigators (NSPII), Ohio Chapter; “Courtroom Testimony Training”; Columbus, Ohio.
  • The Ohio Auto Theft Investigators Association (OATIA), Motor Vehicle Theft Seminar; “Expert Witness Testimony” and “Combating the CSI Mystique”; Columbus, Ohio.

2007:

  • Property Loss Research Bureau (PLRB); Midwest Claims Conference Keynote Address, “Insurance Fraud in America Today, Why There is a Problem and Why  We Should be Concerned”; Columbus, Ohio
  • Florida Insurance Fraud Education Council (FIFEC); “The Ethical Investigation of Insurance Claims”; Orlando, Florida
  • Chubb Insurance Group, “Battling Fraud in the Property and Casualty Insurance Industry”; Chicago, Illinois.
  • American Orthotic & Prosthetic Association; “ Avoiding and Successfully Navigating Litigation”, multi-year program presented in Washington, D.C.
  • Las Vegas, Nevada; Orlando, Florida; Newark, New Jersey; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania;  San Antonio , Texas; Tampa, Florida and Indianapolis, Indiana
  • Ohio Casualty Insurance Company, a division of Liberty Mutual Insurance Group, “Fundamentals of Bad Faith Insurance Law”; Fairfield, Ohio.
  • Allstate Insurance Company, “Bankruptcy and its Effect on Property Claim Files and Lawsuits”, Indianapolis, Indiana
  • National Society of Professional Insurance Investigators (NSPII) Florida Chapter, Keynote Speaker; Fort Lauderdale, Florida

2006:

  • State Farm Mutual Insurance Company; Multi-State Training Program, “The Effect of Bankruptcy Filings on Insurance Claims Investigations”; Louisville, Kentucky.
  • Ohio Arson School, Columbus, Ohio.  “Effective Deposition and Courtroom Testimony”; Columbus, Ohio.
  • “The Ethical Investigation of Insurance Claims”, Scottsdale Insurance Company and the National Society of Professional Insurance Investigators (NSPII) Arizona, Chapter; Phoenix, Arizona.
  • American Orthotetics & Prosthetics Association Annual Meeting, Mock Jury Trial Program Presented by AIG Insurance Group; Hollywood, Florida.
  • International Association of Arson Investigators (IAAI), Annual Training Conference, Denver, Colorado.  Presentation on the “Ethics of Claims Investigations”.
  • Liberty Mutual Insurance Group, “Identifying the Medical and Legal Perspectives of Bodily Injury Fraud”; Cincinnati, Ohio.
  • National Society of Professional Insurance Investigators, Advanced Insurance Fraud Seminar, “A Case Study:  Competing Arguments in a Fire Claim Investigation”; Cincinnati, Ohio.

2005:

  • Allstate Insurance Company, “Successful Claim Investigation”, Indianapolis, Indiana.
  • National Society of Professional Insurance Investigators (NSPII); International Association of Special Investigation Units (IASIU) and Ohio Department of Insurance Joint Seminar, “Bad Faith Law Fundamentals and Analysis of Bad Faith Litigation from a Plaintiff and Defense Attorneys View”; Plain City, Ohio.
  • Farmers Insurance Group of Companies, “Successful Claim Investigation: The Claims Professional/Attorney Partnership,” Multi-year program presented in Las Vegas, Nevada; Kansas City, Kansas; Novi, Michigan and Olathe, Kansas.
  • Auto-Owners Mutual Insurance Company, All-Ohio Claims Meeting, “Tort Reform in Ohio”; Dayton, Ohio.
  • Lima, Ohio Claims Association, Keynote Address on Ohio Tort Reform; Lima, Ohio.

2004:

  • Claude W. Pettit College of Law, Ohio Northern University, “Litigation Problems in Defending Churches”; Ada, Ohio.
  • National Society of Professional Insurance Investigators Advanced Insurance Fraud Seminar, “The Ethical Investigation of Insurance Claims;” Louisville, Kentucky.  Program also presented in 2003 in St. Louis, Missouri.

Prior to 2004:

  • National Society of Professional Insurance Investigators Advanced Insurance Fraud Seminar Presentations:
  • “Identifying the Medical & Legal Perspectives of Bodily Injury Fraud,” St. Louis, Missouri, 2002.
  • “The Rising Use of Telemarketing in Medical Fraud and Attorney Solicitations,” Cincinnati, Ohio, 2001.
     

EXPERT WITNESS RETENTION/TRIAL TESTIMONY

David Lister v. Farmers Insurance of Columbus, Inc.  Court of Common Pleas, Licking County, Ohio.  Case No: 01-CV-757.  Expert  testimony at jury trial on behalf of defendant resulting in jury returning verdict in favor of insurer on claim for bad faith and punitive damages.

Destiny Management v. Cincinnati Insurance Company, Court of Common Pleas, Cuyahoga County, Ohio.  Case No:  CV-02-472184.  Retained expert for defendant on case involving bad faith and breach of insurance contract claims. Case resolved prior to testimony being given. 

Wayne O. Coppage d/b/a Eagle Crest Golf Course. Non-litigated storm damage claim and related issues of insurance claim investigation and bad faith involving Praetorian Insurance Company; 2008. Assisted in successful mediation of claim.


MEMBERSHIPS

  • American Bar Association
  • Ohio State Bar Association
  • The Florida Bar Association
  • Ohio Association of Civil Trial Attorneys
  • Kentucky Bar Association
  • District of Columbia Bar Association
  • The Michigan Bar Association
  • Cincinnati Bar Association
    Co-chair Joint Committee with the Cincinnati Academy of Medicine
    Tort and Insurance Law Committee
  • National Society of Professional Insurance Investigators (NSPII)
    National President, 2006 -2007
    National Board of Directors, 2004 - 2008 and 2000 - 2002
    Ohio State Chapter President, 2001
    Ohio Chapter Board, 1998 - 2002
    Outstanding Achievement Award for Service in Fighting Insurance Fraud: 
         National Award, 2004
         Ohio Chapter Award, 2002
    Florida Chapter Member, 2011 
  • The International Association of Arson Investigators (IAAI)
  • National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB); Government Relations Pillar Committee for redevelopment of NICB efforts to fight insurance fraud. Special Appointment, 2007
  • International Association of Special Investigation Units
         Member - National Chapter
         Member - Ohio Chapter
  • Council on Litigation Management
  • Cincinnati Citizens Police Association