David Campbell Smith
Email Contact: david@attorneysmith.com
Direct telephone: 310-229-5761 or 310-963-9857
David Campbell Smith is an experienced civil litigator, with an emphasis and interest in unfair competition, unfair business practices, consumer claims (particularly in the areas of mortgage lending and servicing), class actions, real estate and banking.
David first became exposed to the area of "debt servicing" when he was selected several years ago as Regional Counsel for Risk Management Alternatives, Inc. (RMA), at the time one of the country's largest debt collection companies. In his years representing RMA, David handled dozens of cases involving deceptive debt collection practices and consumer fraud and gained invaluable experience in the area of debt collection and servicing. David's work on behalf of RMA included acting as lead trial counsel in an action in United States District Court, which resulted in a favorable verdict (for RMA) after a jury trial. David no longer represents RMA because the company filed for bankruptcy protection in 2005.
David has used his experience in this area to successfully represent plaintiffs against mortgage lenders and servicers. For example, in a recent case, David represented borrowers who claimed that Fairbanks Capital Corporation, one of the largest servicers of "subprime" mortgages, engaged in deceptive and illegal practices. David took the case to trial and obtained a significant jury verdict in favor of his clients. Another case David was recently involved in was against CitiMortgage, where David's clients also alleged deceptive mortgage servicing practices. This case settled on confidential terms on the first day of a jury trial.
David is a graduate of the University of Natal in Durban, South Africa (B.A. 1980; LL.B., with honors, 1983). David was associated with the New York-based firms of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom and Donovan Leisure Newton & Irvine, before joining Santa Monica-based Stern, Neubauer, Greenwald & Pauly. David was a shareholder of Stern, Neubauer from 1995-2000, after which he started his own practice.
David is a member of the Los Angeles County Bar Association and various South African bar associations. He has served as an arbitrator and mediator for the Los Angeles County Superior Court. David is admitted to practice in all courts in the State of California, the United States District Court for the Central District of California and other District Courts in California, as well as various courts in South Africa.
David has volunteered his time for several pro bono legal organizations, including Public Counsel and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.