Atty. Blane A. Smith
Insurance Law Expert Mr. Smith began the practice of law in 1980 and has devoted his career to the specialty of insurance law.
Construction Defect & More Attorney · Serving Sacramento, CA · 45+ Years Experience
Profile Summary
About Blane A. Smith at a Glance
Blane A. Smith is a Founder based in Sacramento, California, practicing at Law Office of Blane A. Smith. They have 45+ years of legal experience, licensed to practice since 1981. Their practice focuses on wrongful death, personal injury, construction, litigation, and civil rights. Admitted to practice in California U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit U.S. District Court, Central District of California (1981). Educated at McGeorge School of Law, University of the Pacific (J.D., 1980) and Western Washington State University (B.A. History, 1977). Recognitions include AV Preeminent. Serves clients in Sacramento, CA and the surrounding metropolitan area.
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About Blane A. Smith
- Insurance Law Expert Mr. Smith began the practice of law in 1980 and has devoted his career to the specialty of insurance law
- His work includes consultation and litigation related to the duties of insurers to their insureds and bad faith claims
- After eight years as a partner in the firm of Thompson Heller, he became a partner in Farmer Murphy Smith & Alliston in 1996 and founded Farmer Smith Law Group LLP along with Craig Farmer in 2007, which later became Farmer, Smith & Lane, LLP. In 2020, he formed the Law Office of Blane A. Smith
- He is frequently retained in an advisory capacity concerning insurance coverage and claims handling and has served as a consultant and expert witness in these fields
- Skilled Litigator Mr. Smith has conducted litigation in State and Federal Courts throughout California at the trial and appellate level and has served as counsel of record in significant published appellate opinions concerning insurance law issues
- Educator Mr. Smith has presented over thirty seminars since 1995 for attorneys and insurance professionals and has participated in training for insurers
- Blane has written extensively on these topics: • Bad Faith • Claims Handling • Policy Interpretation • Uninsured Motorist Claims • Insurance Coverage Analysis • Insurance Litigation Mr. Smith has been a featured speaker for California’s Continuing Education of the Bar program and a panelist on the Northern California Association of Defense Counsel
- He is a contributing author to the CEB work California Property Insurance
- Law and Litigation
- He has authored periodic reviews of case developments in insurance law since 1984
- While attending law school, he was an associate comment editor for the Pacific Law Journal
- He is the author of “The California Legislature Steers the Antitrust Cart Right Off the Illinois Brick Road”, generally regarded as entailing the most obscure pun of any scholarly work in the field of anti-trust law
- Associations, Training, Background Blane is a native of Kirkland, Washington
- He is a member of the Association of Defense Counsel, Sacramento County Bar Association, and the Sierra-Curtis Neighborhood Association
- He served as comptroller of the Harry S. Truman Club
- He is also a proud member of the Primerus Legal Society, an organization committed to maintaining integrity, quality, civility, professionalism, reasonable fees, continuing education and community service in the legal profession
- He and his wife, Shannon, have three children
Practice Areas Explained
Blane A. Smith's Areas of Legal Practice
Each practice area below reflects the types of cases Blane A. Smith handles, with a practical overview of what that area of law involves and how it may apply to your situation in Sacramento.
Wrongful Death in Sacramento
Blane A. Smith is one of 30,932 wrongful death attorneys indexed nationally. Browse wrongful death attorneys in California →
Personal Injury in Sacramento
Personal injury attorneys help accident victims recover compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and pain & suffering. Most work on contingency — no fee unless you win.
Blane A. Smith is one of 262,557 personal injury attorneys indexed nationally. Browse personal injury attorneys in California →
Construction Law in Sacramento
Blane A. Smith is one of 40,302 construction attorneys indexed nationally. Browse construction attorneys in California →
Civil Litigation in Sacramento
Civil litigation attorneys for breach of contract, business disputes, civil rights, and class action lawsuits.
Blane A. Smith is one of 450,751 litigation attorneys indexed nationally. Browse litigation attorneys in California →
Civil Rights in Sacramento
Civil rights attorneys for discrimination, police misconduct, constitutional rights, and civil liberties cases.
Blane A. Smith is one of 69,634 civil rights attorneys indexed nationally. Browse civil rights attorneys in California →
Jurisdictional Context
Why Local Counsel Matters in Sacramento
Practicing law in California. Legal matters in California are governed by state-specific rules of civil and criminal procedure, statutes of limitations, and substantive law. Cases originating in Sacramento are typically filed in the local municipal court or the appropriate California state district court, depending on subject matter and amount in controversy. An attorney licensed in California brings working knowledge of local procedural deadlines, judicial practices in this venue, and the substantive law that applies to cases brought here. Out-of-state attorneys generally cannot represent clients in California courts without local counsel or pro hac vice admission.
Sacramento Courts and Legal Process
Choosing a Sacramento-based attorney means your counsel already knows the local docketing timelines, preferred filing formats, and how individual judges typically rule on procedural motions — details that only come from practicing in this jurisdiction day after day. That local familiarity can translate to better strategy, faster filings, and fewer costly surprises.
Looking for additional California attorneys? Browse all attorneys in Sacramento or all attorneys in California.
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Professional Profile
Why Clients in Sacramento Choose Blane A. Smith
Selecting an attorney is one of the most consequential decisions you can make when a legal matter arises. Below are the core qualities that distinguish Blane A. Smith's practice in the field of wrongful death, personal injury, construction, litigation, and civil rights.
Decade-Tested Legal Experience
Blane A. Smith brings 45+ years of hands-on legal practice — enough to have navigated the recurring fact patterns, procedural traps, and negotiation dynamics that shape case outcomes.
Broad Practice Area Coverage
Covering wrongful death, personal injury, and construction, Blane A. Smith can address the full spectrum of a client's legal needs without requiring referrals to separate specialists for each issue.
Local Presence in Sacramento
A Sacramento-based practice means Blane A. Smith attends hearings in the same courthouses, knows the local clerks, and understands the unwritten scheduling norms that affect every case filed here.
Case Types
Common Legal Issues Blane A. Smith Handles in Sacramento
Below is a representative sample of the types of matters Blane A. Smith has experience with under California law. If your situation involves one of these case categories, this attorney may be well positioned to help you understand your options.
This list is illustrative, not exhaustive. Contact Blane A. Smith directly to discuss the specifics of your situation.
Search Reference
How People Find Blane A. Smith Online
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Blane A. Smith's Practice Areas & Specializations
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