Gerson H. Smoger, Ph.D., J.D.

Dr. Smoger has represented a wide range of clients in personal injury and consumer litigation with a special interest in birth and early childhood injuries, injuries related to the brain and neurological system, and injuries caused by errant pharmaceuticals or environmental exposure, including their carcinogenic and adverse immunological properties. He has been a frequent lecturer for national and international legal, scientific and medical conferences on such diverse topics as class actions, closed-head injuries, cognitive dysfunction, the art of cross examination, Federal and state law regarding the use of expert witnesses, and exposure to a diverse array of substances, including lead, dioxin, solvents, chlorine gas, and various pharmaceuticals.

He has served as a lead counsel in a number of significant cases, such as the representation of the people of Times Beach, groundwater contamination by Teledyne, Fairchild, and IBM, chlorine gas exposure in Alberton, Montana, childhood lead contamination in Herculaneum, Mo. and consumer class actions involving the fraud of "light" cigarettes. He has also served as counsel for the Agent Orange Coordinating Council (AOCC), Children Afflicted by Toxic Substances (CATS), the Oil, Chemical and Atomic Workers' International Union (OCAW), and the Environmental Research Foundation. Recently, he successfully argued before the U.S. Supreme Court the right of Vietnam veterans to bring suit for Agent Orange exposure. Dr. Smoger served on the Executive Committee of the American Association for Justice  (formerly ATLA) (2003-2006), as a member of its Board of Governors (1996 - 2006), and is currently Chair-Elect of its Section on Toxic, Environmental and Pharmaceutical torts and chair of its Amicus Curiae Committee. He has also served as Vice-Chair of the American Bar Association's Toxic Torts, Hazardous Substances and Environmental Law committee (1993-2001), and is on the Executive Committee and Board of Directors of Public Justice (formerly TLPJ) (1996 - 2008), currently serving as its President-Elect and on the advisory board of the Center for Constitutional Litigation.  In 2004 he was named by Public Justice as a finalist for their Trial Lawyer of the Year award and has been acknowledged each year as a "SuperLawyer."

Dr. Smoger earned his Bachelor's Degree from Lycoming College (Summa Cum Laude) before he undertook graduate studies at Stanford University and the U. of Pennsylvania, where he passed his orals with distinction at the age of 21 and subsequently was awarded his Ph.D. He received his Juris Doctor's Degree from the U. of California - Berkeley's Boalt Hall School of Law. He is a member of the bars of CA, TX,  and the U.S. Supreme Court.
 

Ilene J. Smoger, M.S., J.D.

Ms. Smoger earned a Bachelor of General Studies degree from the University of Michigan in 1976 (where she graduated with distinction), a Master of Science degree from Eastern Michigan University in 1981, and a Master of Science degree (business major) from the University of Texas at Dallas in 1988, where she was a member of the Accounting Honor Society. She attended Southern Methodist University School of Law where she received her Juris Doctor degree in 1991. She received the Robertson & Miller Award for the highest grade in Oil & Gas Law and was also a member of the International Legal Fraternity of Phi Delta Phi.

Ms. Smoger currently practices in the area of personal injury law.  Ms. Smoger handles all areas of personal injury law, including automobile, truck, and boating accidents, wrongful death actions, nursing home negligence claims, denial of  insurance claims and pharmaceutical claims.

Ms. Smoger was previously with the law firm of Geary, Glast & Middleton, P.C. and a director in the law firm of Jackson, Vaden & Smoger, P.C. She previously practiced in the areas of business and corporate law, real estate law and estate planning.

Ms. Smoger serves on many boards, including the North Dallas Bar Association (1996-2007 Board Member, 1997 President, 1996 President Elect), the Dallas Women Lawyers Association (1999-2000 Board Member, 1996-1998 Vice President) and the Dallas Brain Injury Association (1996-2001 Advisory Board). She is also a member of the State Bar of Texas and the Dallas Bar Association. She frequently lectures about brain injuries to community groups and the legal community.

Outside the firm, Ms. Smoger holds a 6th degree black belt in Okinawan Shorin Ryu and a 7th degree black belt in Okinawan Shudokan and is the head martial arts instructor of the Okinawan Karate Club of Dallas, Inc.  She teaches martial arts all over the country.  In 1997 she was honored by the World Martial Arts Hall of Fame as "The Woman Of The Year In The Martial Arts".