The life and Career of Stuart H. Smith, and his case with Oil giant Chevron

Born in the Deep South in the early 1960s, Smith could not have anticipated what his career path would ultimately become. Considered a small family for those raised in the south, Smith and his two brothers, along with his parents, remained in the coastal Louisiana area. After attending Catholic school, Smith dropped out of high school at the age of fifteen. Eventually, he earned his GED and then received his BS from Louisiana State University and ultimately, his JD from Loyola University in New Orleans in 1986. Within a few years, Smith teamed up with Andrew Sacks and formed Sacks & Smith. This plaintiff law firm was successful on all fronts and quickly became synonymous with all that's good in the legal field: ethical, fair and determined. A few short years later in 1997, Smith, along with Michael Stag, formed SmithStag, defined as a firm ''focusing on plaintiff-oriented, environmental and toxic tort cases''.



In 1992, Smith came face to face with one of the big oil companies, specifically, Chevron. A small pipe yard in southeast Mississippi suspected Chevron was withholding crucial information about the pipe it was sending to Street, Inc where it was cleaned and then returned to the oil company. After investigators from Mississippi's Division of Radiological Health United tested the pipe, it was discovered radiation was present in amounts 500 times the normal or ''natural'' level. This case remains one of the longest running jury trials in the history of Mississippi. Chevron ultimately settled the case though the exact dollar amount was never disclosed.

In the summer of 2010, the BP Oil Disaster had Smith and his team watching these tragic events unfold, sometimes moment by moment. Just as it did for everyone else who calls the Gulf region ''home'', this tragedy still cuts deep. Smith has become the passionate voice for those most affected by this devastation. Never shy or one to step away from a challenge, the most recent news of a 30 mile oil slick in March, 2011 has Smith once again demanding answers and accountability from BP, the Coast Guard and politicians. He is a formidable force against those who damage the environment and destroy lives in the process.

Smith is active in both local and national politics and when not squaring off against corporate conglomerates, he resides in both Miami Beach and New Orleans. He is a licensed pilot and scuba diver and enjoys time spent on his yacht. His friends and colleagues say the best description for Smith is ''larger than life''. For more information on Stuart Smith and his work, visit OilSpillAction.com or his firm's website at SmithStag.com