Jared Smith has a broad range of experience handling product liability, construction defect, premises liability, automotive negligence, and commercial litigation. He has effectively defended numerous cases involving significant personal injuries and property damage.  Jared has significant experience in mass tort defense, specifically asbestos litigation. He also litigates commercial matters involving the Federal Fair Debt Collection Act and Florida Fair Debt Collections Practices Act.  

Jared is an active member of the Construction Law Committee Florida Bar Real Property, Probate and Trust Law section as well as the Hillsborough County Bar Association Construction Law Committee. Jared has defended multimillion dollar construction defect and Chinese drywall claims.

Before joining Rumberger, Kirk & Caldwell, Jared had the honor of serving four years in the U.S. Air Force as part of the illustrious Judge Advocate General's Corps (JAG). He obtained his certification under Article 27 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice as a U.S. Air Force Military Trial and Defense Counsel. Jared often went head to head in court with fellow JAGs whom he still considers to be some of the nation’s sharpest trial attorneys.  In addition to prosecuting military criminals, he was appointed in 2003 as a Special Assistant United States Attorney to prosecute civilian crimes in federal court. While assigned to MacDill Air Force Base, Jared advised the Chief of Operations for MacDill’s 2004 AirFest and provided counsel to the Chief of Staff of the MacDill hospital. Jared also oversaw the handling of all personal injury and medical malpractice claims against the base during his tenure.

Jared graduated from Fort Hays State University, summa cum laude, with a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting in 1996. In 2000, he earned his J.D. from Washburn University School of Law finishing at nearly the top of his class, graduating 3rd in his class of 134 students. Immediately following law school, he clerked for the Honorable Justice Edward J. Larson of the Kansas Supreme Court, where he had the distinct privilege of researching and directly assisting with the highest court’s decisions on several critical matters of first impression under state law.

• Education

  Washburn University, School of Law - J.D., magna cum laude, 2000
  Fort Hays State University - B.B.A., Accounting, summa cum laude, 1996
  

• Honors

  • Florida Super Lawyers Rising Star 2010

• Bar Admissions

  • Florida (2006)
  • Kansas (2000)

• Court Admissions

  • U.S. District Courts of Florida (Middle) (2006)
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces

• Notable Cases

  • Robert Myers and Joyce Myers v. Cook / Tampa Bay Moving Systems, Inc. >>
  • Marietta Jordan v. Stonington Insurance >>

• Professional & Civic Activities

  • Hillsborough County Bar Association
    • Construction Law Committee
  • American Bar Association
    • Construction Industry Forum
    • Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section
  • Florida Bar
    • Real Property, Probate and Trust, Construction Law Committee

• Articles & Presentations

  • Florida chapter of the 2007 DRI Products Liability Defenses, State by State Compendium, Co-author

• Community Involvement

  • Deacon, Idlewild Baptist Church