J. Craig Smith

Craig Smith specializes in cases involving complex legal questions and the vindication of plaintiffs’ rights at both the trial and appellate level. Craig is perhaps best known nationally for representing multiple victims from across the US who have been burned by exploding cooking spray cans, as well as for appearing on behalf of his cousin in a Georgia case before the United States Supreme Court in 2009. This case, Mohawk Industries, Inc. v. Carpenter, 130 S. Ct. 599, 175 L.Ed. 2d 458 (2009) went into the history books both as Justice Sonia Sotomayor’s first written opinion, and also as a substantial victory for civil rights plaintiffs battling large corporate defendants who see to use the appellate process to delay trial. Among a number of multimillion-dollar settlements and verdicts, other representative matters include an appearance in front of the Connecticut Supreme Court in a case against a trucking company for the wrongful death of a truck mechanic, a substantial verdict against Ford Motor Company involving fraud in South Carolina, and a $1.7 million verdict against the Town of Darien, CT on behalf of a motorist who was struck by a tree on a town road. Before entering the legal profession, Craig had a successful acting career in the theater, movies, and television. His appearances include roles in the movie Queen, the sequel to Roots, with Martin Sheen and Halle Berry; a regional tour of A Streetcar Named Desire; and the television show The Heat of the Night. Craig hails from Woodstock, Georgia. Awards and Honors Super Lawyers® Selectees J. Craig Smith included in a Super Lawyers® list Honors National Board of Trail Advocacy Certification, 2013-Present Super Lawyers, Rising Stars, 2010 & 2011 Best Lawyers Other Sources of Feedback About J. Craig Smith Included on the 2025Connecticut Super Lawyers list Past Lists 2024 Connecticut Super Lawyers list 2023 Connecticut Super Lawyers list 2022 Connecticut Super Lawyers list 2011 Connecticut Super Lawyers list 2010 Connecticut Super Lawyers list

• Attorney

• Important U.S. Supreme Court decision regarding attorney-client privilege for a man suing his former employer
• $1.7 million verdict upheld for a man injured when a tree fell on his car
• Favorable Decision in a case for a college cheerleader who became a quadriplegic after falling during practice

• South Carolina, 1999
• Connecticut, 2003
• Georgia, 2006
• U.S. District Court District of South Carolina, 1999
• U.S. District Court District of Connecticut, 2004
• U.S. District Court Northern District of Georgia, 2007
• U.S. Court of Appeals 11th Circuit, 2008
• U.S. Supreme Court, 2008

• Greater Bridgeport Bar Association (Member)
• Connecticut Trial Lawyers Association (Member)
• American Association for Justice (Member)