W. Thomas Smith, Principal

Tom aggressively represents persons injured and the families of those killed as a result of the fault of others. He has successfully represented clients with injuries caused by defective consumer products, medical devices, motor vehicles, and industrial equipment, construction site negligence, medical negligence, negligent service of alcohol, defects in commercial and residential premises, motor vehicle accidents, the negligence of gas and electric utilities, and many other acts of negligence. In addition, he has represented clients in such diverse areas of civil practice as claims for sexual abuse, claims on behalf of minority shareholders, claims against lawyers and accountants for malpractice, claims against adoption agencies and social workers for wrongful adoption, and on behalf of bank depositors as a class action. His experience in these areas has given him an in-depth understanding of the unique needs of seriously injured clients and their families. In addition to his role as an advocate, Tom educates his clients about the legal system and their rights within that system.

Recognized by his peers for his achievements, Tom is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers. In addition, he was elected to the American Board of Trial Advocates with the rank of Advocate and served as president of the Massachusetts Chapter from 2000 to 2001.

Tom joined Sugarman in 1977 and has been a principal of the firm since 1981.

Selected Cases

Sexual assault by school van driver,  Settlement from the driver's employer after 13-year-old special-needs student was sexually assaulted by her school van driver.

Roofer suffered burns while attaching flashing to two family house,  Settlement for worker's multiple injuries from burns and fall from roof height.

Liquor server's liability,  Settlement against bar that over-served patron to intoxication who drove a short distance from bar and collided with plaintiff's car. Drunken patron had .27 BAC.

Leibovich v. Antonellis, 410 Mass. 568 (1991),  Upheld jury verdict won by Sugarman lawyers for injury to teenaged son injured in a car crash and allowed parents to recover damages for their injuries caused by their son’s physical injury.

Karlin v. Massachusetts Turnpike Auth., 399 Mass. 765 (1987),  Sugarman lawyers won appeal which established that the Turnpike Authority was not immune from suit where it caused a quadriplegic injury and that the amount of recovery was not limited by statute.

Industrial plastic roll-stand,  Settlement in product liability suit for workplace hand injury caused by roll stand. Manufacturer of machine had failed to properly guard a nip point with a barrier guard, light curtain, electric eye, trip wire, or presence-sensing device to prevent workers from coming into contact with nip rolls.

Hooper v. Davis-Standard Corp, et al, 482 F. Supp 2d 157 (2007) ,  After Sugarman Lawyers successfully resolved a product liability action in favor of a machine worker (recovering a substantial settlement from the machine manufacturer), the worker’s employer tried to bring an action against the same manufacturer for its business loss. The machine manufacturer successfully defeated the claims of the employer.

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