Travis R.  Smith

Biography

Travis is a civil litigation attorney with an emphasis on premises liability, product liability, construction liability, and commercial litigation.

He defends grocery stores, hotels, restaurants, hospitals, retail stores, landlords, and other businesses in lawsuits arising from negligence and other actions claimed to have occurred on the premises they own or operate.

Travis defends manufacturers, suppliers, distributors, and sellers of products, equipment, and components in lawsuits alleging strict liability, negligence, defective design, manufacturing defects, and inadequate warnings or instructions.

He defends contractors, subcontractors, owners, and developers in various construction liability claims, including construction defect, construction injury, and other matters.

Travis represents commercial airlines in aviation litigation in state and federal courts. He has defended aviation claims involving injuries to and deaths of passengers and others arising from alleged negligence, violations of FAA regulations, pilot error, defective aircraft equipment, and other circumstances.

He is experienced with toxic tort litigation, including cases involving personal injury, disease, or wrongful death resulting from exposure to asbestos, silica, coal tar pitch, benzene, and other chemicals. His clients include premises owners and operators, product manufacturers and distributors, and construction contractors. Travis has defended clients in asbestos-related disease litigation in Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, Ohio, West Virginia, Florida, California, and Washington.

He also represents individuals, corporations, and small businesses in various commercial matters, including breach of contract, protection of creditors’ rights, landlord/tenant disputes, and general disputes between businesses. He has obtained judgments that have enabled his clients to recover or collect thousands of dollars.

Travis has experience working with commercial general liability insurance carriers, third-party claims administrators, and self-insured companies in connection with general liability, personal injury, wrongful death, and property damage claims. Many of his clients’ cases involve complex medical issues. Travis has experience with technical issues and has worked with expert witnesses for forensic investigation and testing of sites and products.

Education

  • Indiana University Maurer School of Law  (J.D., cum laude)
    • Indiana Journal of Global Legal Studies, managing editor
    • Sherman Minton Moot Court Board, member
  • Indiana University  (B.S.)

Bar Admissions

  • Indiana

Court Admissions

  • U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana
  • U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana

Affiliations/Memberships

  • Claims & Litigation Management Alliance (CLM)
  • Defense Research Institute (DRI)
  • Defense Trial Counsel of Indiana (DTCI)
  • Indiana State Bar Association
  • Indianapolis Bar Association

Distinctions

  • Best Lawyers
    • Litigation - Insurance (2023-2024)