Smith LaCien LLP

Smith LaCien LLP – Trial Lawyers

Dedicated to Helping Victims of Medical Malpractice Obtain Justice

People who have been seriously injured or whohave lost a loved one due to someone else’s negligence may be entitled to compensation for their hospital and medical expenses, physical rehabilitation, and pain and suffering. But successin a court of law usually requires the savvy skills and expertise of an experienced personal injury lawyer.

The Chicago trial lawyers at Smith LaCien LLP regularly handle high-stakes cases for plaintiffs and their families who were harmed or even killed due to medical negligence. Without legal representation, however, they would not otherwise have the means to pursue a claim. The firm gets justice for its clients by holding the negligent parties accountable, and they only get paid if they win the case.

Exceptional Results for Plaintiffs

Every day, Smith LaCien lawyers face off against powerful insurance companies, large corporations, medical institutions, and other entities that caused serious harm due to their careless actions. The firm has a long track record of achieving exceptional results for its clients, with more than $3 billion in verdicts and settlements, and over 150 cases that have resulted in outcomes exceeding $1 million.

While the numbers are impressive, that alone does not capture what the results mean for their clients. Fair and adequate compensation for their injuries and losses provide an important path forward for the victims to start rebuilding their lives.

Founded by experienced, award-winning lawyers Todd A. Smith and Brian LaCien, Smith LaCien has experience in every type of catastrophic injury case, from truck, pedestrian, bicycle, and car accidents to airport and airplane crash injuries and fatalities, as well as medical malpractice, product liability and wrongful death cases. They have also handled mass tort and class action lawsuits, including litigation over faulty Takata airbags, the crash of the 737 Max passenger aircraft in Ethiopia, and hair relaxer products that caused cancer.

Proving Liability

Proving liability in court requires the plaintiff to prove with a preponderance of evidence that the defendant was at fault due to an act of negligence or recklessness. Smith LaCien lawyers thoroughly investigate the circumstances of the incident to find evidence demonstrating that the at-fault party owed the plaintiff and others a duty of care to take reasonable measures and prevent harm. The firm has access to top resources and uses a litigation strategy that incorporates thorough research, esteemed expert witnesses, accident reconstruction techniques and sophisticated computer modeling, when warranted.

Medical malpractice is where they excel. Smith LaCien LLP is considered a leader in the field of medical malpractice case law. In one recent case, they obtained a $20 million settlement for a college student who suffered brain damage while undergoing heart surgery. In another instance, a 74-year-old client suffered an adverse reaction to a pharmaceutical product, resulting in blindness. He was awarded a $10 million settlement. Results like these happen time after time.

Being Held Accountable

“When placing your trust in the care of doctors or a hospital, you expect to be taken care of,” says Smith, an award-winning attorney and bar leader, who has been practicing law for over 40 years. “When professionals you thought you could trust behave negligently or carelessly, it can have a major impact on all areas of life, leaving them suffocating under medical bills, hours of rehabilitation and physical therapy, and the inability to work.”

“Regardless of the circumstances leading up to the malpractice incident, health care providers and facilities must be held accountable for mistakes that cause great harm to patients in their care,” adds LaCien. “Surgical errors like wrong-patient and wrong-side surgeries and hospital staffing mistakes and omissions happen more often than you’d expect.”

Awards and Honors

For its success, Smith LaCien has been recognized with many awards and honors. Jury Verdict Reporter’s annual “Settlements Report” recognized the firm as one of Illinois’ Top 10 plaintiff’s injury law firms in 2024. Its largest settlement last year was $19 million, awarded to the family of a child who died from a birth injury.

Most recently, the firm was recognized by Best Lawyers in America® as a “2025 Best Law Firm,” earning a Tier 1 ranking for its work in Medical Malpractice Law – Plaintiffs. They were also ranked high in mass/class action, medical malpractice and product liability. Four of its lawyers are on the list of Best Lawyers of America© and two are on the Best Lawyers of America “Ones to Watch” list.

For a free consultation or to learn more about Smith LaCien LLP, visit https://www.smithlacien.com or call (312) 509-8900.