J. Allen Smith
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Allen is Chairman of the Board of SettlePou and head of the firm's Commercial Litigation practice. Allen has been Board Certified in Civil Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization since 1992. His experience and ability to be creative with assessments and solutions make him a powerful advocate for his clients.
Areas of Practice:
Commercial Litigation
Financial Services Litigation
Eminent Domain & Condemnation -
About
As the son of an attorney, with two brothers who are also attorneys, and his own son is a licensed attorney, Allen’s roots in law run deep. He regularly speaks at industry and legal conferences, has written many articles, and is featured often in both local and national media.
Allen is a sixth-generation Texan and native Dallasite, and he oversees a cattle operation that has been a family business for more than 70 years.
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Education
Southern Methodist University, B.B.A., 1981
South Texas College of Law, J.D., 1984
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Admissions & Honors
2019 OAAA Hall of Fame recipient
Recipient of Private Bar Involvement Award for Pro Bono Legal Services, awarded by the Dallas Bar Association and Legal Services of North Texas, November 12th, 1992
Selected in Texas Super Lawyers, published by Thompson Reuters, 16 years in a row (2007-2022)
Selected in Texas Super Lawyers Business Edition, published by Thompson Reuters (2013, 2014)
Selected in Super Lawyers Corporate Counsel Edition, published by Thompson Reuters (2009)
AV Preeminent Rating, Martindale Hubbell for over 30 years
10 out of 10 AVVO Rating
Who's Who in American Law
Who's Who in Texas
Life Fellow, Texas Bar Foundation
Texas State Bar Admittance, 1984
U.S. Supreme Court
U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit
All Federal Court Districts in Texas
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Associations
Association Counsel, Out of Home Advertising Association of America, Washington DC (2023-present)
Chairman, Taxation Committee, Outdoor Advertising Association of America (2002-2003)
Chairman, Valuation Committee, Outdoor Advertising Association of America (2003-Present)
Chairman, Judiciary and Legislative Committee, Dallas Mortgage Bankers Association (1994)
First Vice President, Fort Worth Mortgage Bankers Association (1995-96)
President, Fort Worth Mortgage Bankers Association (1996-97)
Texas Mortgage Bankers Association, Vice Chairman, Liaison Committee (1995-97)
Counsel, Texas Outdoor Advertising Association (2002-present)
State Bar of Texas
Dallas Bar Association, Trial and Civil Litigation Sections
Co-Chair, Southern Methodist University Reunion Committee (2011)
Board Member, Texas Historical Foundation (2010–2020)
Board Member, Central Citizens Association (2001–2005)
Board Member, Southern Methodist University Mustang Club (1989–1994)
Board Member, Dallas Civic Garden Center—Fair Park (1987–1989)
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Articles & Presentations
Condemnation and Relocation of Outdoor Advertising Signs, OAAA Legal Seminar, November 15-16, 2022, Arlington, VA.
The First Amendment Threat to the Viability of the HBA, State Regulation, and the Statutory Requirement of Just Compensation, OAAA Legal Seminar, December 10, 2020, Washington, DC (virtually)
Billboard Taxation, OAAA Media Conference, May 20-22, 2019, Las Vegas, Nevada
Interviewed and quoted in Dallas Morning News article entitled “CEO’s at D-FW’s Top 100 Places to Work offer some of their leadership secrets” January 13, 2019
Takings and Just Compensation, Outdoor Advertising Association of America Legal Seminar, November 14th, 2018, New York, New York
Interviewed and quoted in Dallas Morning News Top 100 places to Work October 2018 article entitled “Making a Comeback”
Outdoor Advertising Valuation and Tax Assessments Update, 2017 National Webinar International Association of Assessing Officers
Condemnation of Outdoor Advertising Signs, 2016 OAAA Legal Seminar, Las Vegas, Nevada
Billboard Valuation Law, International Right of Way 2016 Annual Conference, Nashville, TennesseA Uniform Approach to Ad Valorem Valuation, Outdoor Advertising Association of America Legal Seminar, Washington, DC
Condemnation Update, Outdoor Advertising Association of America Legal Seminar, Washington, DC
Extraordinary Remedies, Houston and Dallas Continuing Legal Education Seminar
Alternative Dispute Resolution, Annual Texas Mortgage Bankers Association Seminar, Dallas, Texas
Analysis of Premises Liability of Seller/Buyer and Mortgor/Mortgagee, Premises Liability Seminar, Dallas, Texas
Mediation and Arbitration: The Effective Alternatives to Litigation for Resolving Disputes, Outdoor Advertising Association of Texas Annual Conference, Houston, Texas
Annual Legislature and Judiciary Report, Dallas Mortgage Bankers Association, Dallas, Texas
When Do You Call Your Attorney?, Outdoor Advertising Association of Texas Annual Seminar, Austin, Texas
Real Property Preservation Rights Act, Outdoor Advertising Association of Texas Annual Seminar, Austin, Texas
Eminent Domain Rights of the Property Owner, Outdoor Advertising Association of Oklahoma Seminar, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Valuation and Condemnation Topics, Outdoor Advertising Association of America Legal Forum, Washington, DC
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Articles & Presentations Continued
Eminent Domain Litigation Issues—Tips Regarding the Commissioner’s Hearing and Trial De Novo Process, State Bar of Texas, Legal Assistants Division Seminar, Dallas, Texas
Determining the Value of Billboards—Crossfire Session, International Right of Way Association, 48th Annual International Education Seminar, Mobile, Alabama
Outdoor Advertising Appraising, American Society of Appraisers International Appraisal Conference, Tampa, Florida
Outdoor Advertising Condemnation and Inverse Condemnation Update, Outdoor Advertising Association of America Legal Forum, Key Biscayne, Florida
Billboards—Property Interest Pertaining to Outdoor Advertising Signs, Advanced Real Estate Course, State Bar of Texas, San Antonio, Texas
Valuation of Billboards: Personalty vs. Realty, American Association of State Highway Transportation Officials and Federal Highway Administration Annual Conference, Austin, Texas
Valuation Issues Panel, Taxation v. Condemnation, Florida Outdoor Advertising Association Annual Convention, Key West, Florida
Valuing Your Billboards: Getting Fair Market Value and Avoiding Mistakes, Outdoor Advertising Association of America Legislative Conference, San Diego, California
Condemnation and Valuation of Outdoor Signs, Outdoor Advertising Association of America Legal Seminar, San Diego, California
Billboard Valuation: What’s the Issue?, National Alliance of Highway Beautification Agencies Ninth Annual Conference, Cleveland, Ohio
The Federal Court’s Vanishing Jurisdiction in Fifth Amendment Takings Litigation, Outdoor Advertising Association of America Legal Seminar, San Juan, Puerto Rico
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Articles & Presentations Continued
Regulatory Impact on the Value of Billboards, National Alliance of Highway Beautification Agencies’ Twelfth Annual Conference, Branson, Missouri
Taxes and Takings, Outdoor Advertising Association of America National Webinar
A National Review of Uniformity in Ad Valorem Tax Valuation of Billboard Property, 7, 1 Journal of Property Tax Assessment & Administration Taxes 61-70
Taxes, Outdoor Advertising Association of America National Webinar
The Rule 263 Trial By Agreement, Co-author with Bradley E. McLain, 27, 3 The Texas Lawyer Special Edition, Litigation and E-Discovery 20
Eminent Domain 101 for Real Estate Lawyers, Dallas Bar Association Real Estate Section, Belo Mansion, Dallas Texas
Interviewed and quoted in Pay Up, Texas Lawyer
Featured in The Big Picture, Texas Lawyer, 2-part series article
Interviewed and quoted in Settlement Sessions Go High-tech, Lawyers USA
Featured in View from the Top: Managing Partners Survey Shows What a Difference Five Years Make, Texas Lawyer
Interviewed and quoted in Bad Economy a Boon for Pre-suit Mediation?, Lawyers USA
Interviewed and quoted in Managing Partner’s Survey, Texas Lawyer
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Articles & Presentations Continued
Reported Case: City of Austin, Tex. v. Reagan Nat’l Advert. of Austin, LLC, 596 U.S. ___ (2022)
Reported Case: U.S. Bank Tr., N.A. as Tr. for LSF8 Master Participation Tr. v. Freedom Indeed Found., Inc., No. 08-20-00101-CV, 2021 WL 754345 (Tex. App.—El Paso Feb. 26, 2021, no pet.)
Reported Case: Reagan National Advertising of Austin, Inc. v. City of Austin, No. 19-50354 (5th Cir. 2020)
Reported case: State of Texas v. Moore Outdoor Properties, L.P., and Arlington Outdoor of Fort Worth, L.P., No. 08-12-00034-CV (Tex.App.—El Paso) (Nov. 13, 2013) (slip opinion)
Reported Case: Alma R. Massey Santibanez v. Saxon Mortgage, Inc., et al. (Tex. App.—Eastland, August 23, 2012 (No. 11-10-00227-CV)
Reported Case: Tharp v. Tharp, 772 S.W.2d 467 (Tex. App.—Dallas 1989)
Reported Case: Patrick Media Group, Inc. v. Dallas Area Rapid Transit, 879 S.W.2d 375 (Tex. App.—Eastland 1994)
Reported Case: Boyd v. Diversified Financial Systems, 1 S.W.3d 888 (Tex. App.—Dallas 1999)
Reported Case: Bosque Asset Corporation v. Greenberg, 19 S.W. 3rd 514 (Tex. App.—Eastland 2000)
Reported Case: Eller Media Company v. The State of Texas, 51 S.W.3d 783 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 2001)
Reported Case: Diversified Financial Systems, Inc. v. Hill, Heard, O’Neal, Gilstrap and Goetz, P.C., 63 S.W.3d 795, 44 Tex. Sup.Ct. J.1182 (Tex. 2001)
Reported Case: Peoples v. Sebring Capital Corporation, 209 F.R.D. 428 (N.D. Ill. 2002)
Reported Case: Villalon v. Bank One, 176 S.W.3d 66 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2004, pet. denied)
Reported Case: Martin v. Cadle Company, 133 S. W. 3rd 897 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2004)
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Articles & Presentations Continued
Reported Case: City of Houston v. Clear Channel Outdoor, Inc., 161 S.W.3d 3 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2004), rev’d, 197 S.W.3d 386 (Tex. 2006) (per curium).
Reported Case: In re Lamar Corp., No. 13-06-596-CV, 2006 WL 3234027 (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi November 9, 2006, orig. proceeding)
Reported Case: Lamar Adver. Co. v. Texas Dept. of Transp., No. 03-06-00356-CV, 2007 WL 1790584 (Tex. App.—Austin 2007, no pet.)
Reported Case: Lamar Corp. v. Jowers, No. 13-06-497-CV, 2007 WL 1218042 (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi April 26, 2007) (appeal dism’d by agr.)
Reported Case: City of Houston v. Clear Channel Outdoor, Inc., 233 S.W.3d 441 (Tex. App.—Houston [14 Dist.] 2007, no pet.)
Reported Case: Dallas County Community College Dist. v. Clear Channel Outdoor, Inc., 2008 WL 3307085 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2008
Reported Case: Brooks v. Bank of New York Trust Co., 2008 WL 2639240 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 2008)
Reported Case: City of Argyle v. Pierce, 258 SW3rd 674 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 2008)
Reported Case: Harris County Flood Control Dist. v. Roberts, 252 SW3rd 667 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th District] 2008)
Reported Case: Schriver v. Texas Dept. of Transp., 2009 WL 2357001 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth, July 30, 2009)
Reported Case: Potter v. Clear Channel Outdoor, Inc., 2009 WL 1886168 (Tex. App.—Houston [1 Dist.], July 02, 2009)
Reported Case: The State of Texas v. Central Expressway Sign Associates, 302 S. W. 3rd 866 (Tex. 2009)
Reported Case: Texas Department of Transportation v Sefzik, 355 S.W. 3rd 618 (Texas Supreme Court, 2011)