Civil & Criminal Litigation

The firm of Hartnett, Smith & Associates has tried to verdict more than 35 civil jury trials since its founding in 1995 in San Mateo County and the Bay Area, and in Counties from Indio in the South to Del Norte in the North. Working as a team, trial attorney Chuck Smith and litigator Jim Hartnett have litigated cases including breach of contract disputes, fraud claims, employment claims, partnership and corporate dissolution, personal injury, wrongful death, trust/will contests and many more. Going back to their litigation days from when they began their law practices, they have more than 50 years of combined litigation experience.

Building upon his experience in the Courtroom obtained as a prosecutor for 10 years in San Mateo County, Chuck Smith has trial skills and experience that rank him at the absolute top of trial lawyers practicing in the Bay Area. Smith and Hartnett work together to provide excellent service and results to their clients. Smith and Hartnett take a hands-on approach that provides efficiency and value to the client.

Among the recent trial successes Smith and Hartnett have obtained are the following:

• Successful defense of venture capitalists sued for $20,000,000 for alleged breach of contract, fraud - DEFENSE VERDICT and recovery of $150,000 of costs.
• $450,000 PLAINTIFF VERDICT for young mother injured in automobile accident at San Jose Airport.
• $750,000 judgment (plus attorney fees) in business dispute over the sale of a business and a non-competition provision.
• Judgment securing over $30,000,000 for client against a challenge to a trust in probate court.

The trial successes of Smith and Hartnett allow them to litigate and negotiate from a position of strength, armed with the knowledge that, if the matter does not resolve with a favorable statement, they have the ability and experience to win in trial.