Early Life & Education

Curtis Clinesmith was born in West Texas and raised in the town of Post. Growing up in a small town instilled within Curtis the values of community and compassion. The Lyndon Johnson quote, “They know when you’re sick and care when you die,” exemplifies the type of upbringing Curtis experienced growing up.

After high school, Curtis moved to the Dallas–Fort Worth Metroplex to attend The University of North Texas. He has lived in that area all of his adult life, graduating in 1988 with his B.S. in Education and later finishing his M.S. in history. While attending graduate school, Curtis taught history in public schools for five years.

Curtis decided to attend law school after his father died as a result of medical malpractice. His family was fortunate to receive superior legal representation and, consequently, Curtis decided his practice would center around helping those who have suffered misfortune at the hands of others.

Legal Training

Curtis attended St. Mary’s University School of Law. While in law school, he excelled in advocacy competitions and served as a director on the school's Board of Advocates. Curtis also clerked for a prominent law firm during his last two years of law school and was able to enhance his legal education with superior hands-on experience.

Career at Smith Clinesmith

Curtis began his career in 1998 when he opened his practice as a solo practitioner. The firm has since grown into one of the largest nursing home abuse practices in the country, representing thousands of clients in many states.

Curtis is a nationally-recognized nursing home abuse attorney. He has received recognition as one of the Top 10 nursing home attorneys in the country and has been named by several organizations and publications as a top attorney in his field.

In addition to managing the day-to-day legal activities of the firm, Curtis also acts as the Chief Executive Officer. Curtis believes that added value can be given to his clients by not only providing the best legal representation possible but also treating the practice of law as a business. The firm has an executive leadership team that meets regularly to plan and implement both legal and business strategies that will enhance the value of each client’s case.