Christopher D. Smith
West Virginia
Bailey & Glasser, LLP
209 Capitol Street
Charleston, WV 25301
United States
Tel: 304.345.6555
Email:
csmith@baileyglasser.com
Web:
www.baileyglasser.com
Christopher Smith is an attorney in the Charleston, WV office of Bailey & Glasser, LLP. His practice is focused on complex civil litigation, including appeals, class actions, commercial litigation and product liability litigation.
Christopher helps clients navigate complex cases ranging from early motions practice to discovery disputes to appellate proceedings. He has handled several cases before the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia including matters related to sensitive election law and complex class action issues.
Prior to practicing law, Christopher served in LifeBridge AmeriCorps, a West Virginia-based branch of the national service organization. Chris continues his community involvement through work with organizations such as the West Virginia Child Advocacy Network.
Representative Matters
- Part of trial team that obtained a verdict on behalf of Ramaco Resources Inc. of approximately $32.7 million against Chubb-related insurance companies for breach of contract in a denial of insurance coverage case. The trial court subsequently reduced the verdict, but it was substantially reinstated by the Court of Appeals.
- Represented a Justice on the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia in challenging impeachment proceedings by drafting a petition for writ of mandamus challenging those proceedings. After issuance of a writ in the client’s favor, drafted a brief in opposition to a petition for writ of certiorari at the Supreme Court of the United States challenging issuance of the writ.
- Represented a hospital in challenging class certification in a consumer class action by formulating and drafting a petition for writ of prohibition challenging class certification.
- Prevailed on an appeal where the opposing party argued that they were entitled to an additional $4 million in damages under an indemnification clause.
- Obtained two summary judgment rulings in a contract dispute that entitled the client to its defense costs and dismissed an opposing party’s indemnification claim.
- Succeeded in obtaining a ruling setting aside a verdict in excess of $1 million in a loan-related dispute.
- Obtained an order unsealing a decades-old opioid case that the manufacturer wrongly sealed on behalf of a media company making a documentary on the opioid epidemic.
Our appellate and supreme court lawyers have handled appeals in virtually every substantive legal area, including commercial, constitutional, consumer (Fair Credit Reporting Act, TCPA, debt collection, “pay to pay” schemes, and more), antitrust, bankruptcy, class actions, environmental, international, ERISA, ESOP, bank fraud, personal injury, mass tort, federal preemption, arbitration, and criminal law.
As soon as our litigation teams get involved in a matter (and sometimes before cases are even filed), our appellate team identifies potential issues likely to arise on appeal, then follows up with trial consulting and support. An appellate lawyer on a trial team can assist in presenting the best possible case to a court or jury, while providing invaluable perspective on preservation of issues for appeal.
Bailey Glasser appellate lawyers also co-counsel with other lawyers and law firms with regard to their appeals by providing strategic guidance, support, and assistance with briefing and argument. We are honored that other law firms turn to us for assistance when it becomes apparent that an investment in the best possible legal representation is necessary and we integrate seamlessly with legal teams already in place. This assistance also includes helping to undo adverse judgments at the trial level or helping position a case for a desired settlement.
Bailey & Glasser, LLP was founded in 1999 in Charleston, West Virginia. Now a full-service firm with offices across the country, Bailey Glasser handles our clients’ most challenging and consequential legal issues, in both litigation and corporate matters. We approach our clients holistically, view their issues strategically, and look out for their future success proactively. We take pride in our creativity, tenacity, and ability to be collaborative with lawyers both inside and outside our firm.
Bailey Glasser has a proven track record of successfully handling national high-stakes litigation in a wide array of areas, bringing a trial-focused approach on behalf of both plaintiffs and defendants that vigorously protects their interests. We represent businesses in many industries and of all sizes (from Fortune 500 companies to family offices), individuals, governmental entities and government servants, and even other law firms call upon us to help them due to our unique blend of resources and trial experience.
Some of our litigation practice areas include complex commercial litigation, including in finance and energy; class action and mass tort cases; multi-district litigation involving medical devices, pharmaceuticals, and automobiles; bankruptcy and insolvency proceedings; individual negligence cases; and appellate representation, including to the Supreme Court of the United States.
Bailey Glasser’s sophisticated corporate practice provides strategic guidance, counseling, and innovative solutions for virtually every type of corporate, real estate, and financial transaction. Those projects include business formations, public and private securities offerings, corporate finance transactions, tax issues, mergers and acquisitions, spinoffs, real estate development, leasing, personal property transactions, executive hiring and compensation, ownership disputes, and commercial lending.