Personal Injury Experience

Points of Distinction

• Over 25 Years of Courtroom Experience
• Obtained Some of the Highest Verdicts
  in Howard County Personal Injury Cases
• Successfully Handled Wide Variety of
  Personal Injury Cases
• Highest Rating for Legal Ability and
  Professional Ethics

Top-Rated Attorney

Jonathan Scott Smith is an "AV-Rated" trial lawyer by the Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory. The Directory publishes ratings for lawyers by soliciting confidential opinions from judges and lawyers. The highest ratings are "A" (indicating a very high to preeminent legal ability) and "V" (very high recommendation regarding adherence to professional standards of conduct and ethics). Mr. Smith has always received the highest "AV" rating since he was first rated.

Private Law Practice

Jonathan Scott Smith has been in private law practice since 1984. Since that time, he has handled successfully a wide variety of personal injury cases in Maryland district courts and circuit courts. He has tried personal injury cases to verdict, including numerous civil jury trials. Mr. Smith has handled a full range of personal injury cases, including an extensive number of car accidents; medical malpractice; nursing home injuries; slip and falls; electrical explosions; defective products; and intentional wrongdoing such as physical assaults, sexual assaults, defamation, etc.

Former Criminal Prosecutor

Jonathan Scott Smith was employed as a prosecutor (Assistant State's Attorney for Baltimore County) from 1980 to 1984. He prepared and prosecuted thousands of felony and misdemeanor criminal cases. This included an extensive number of jury and non-jury trials in Maryland district courts and circuit courts.

As a prosecutor in the circuit court, Mr. Smith prepared and tried a wide range of criminal cases. He was responsible for handling all aspects of criminal cases. Mr. Smith personally handled an extensive number of criminal jury trials. The charges included murder (including death penalty), rapes and other sexual offenses, armed robberies, burglaries, kidnappings, extortion, embezzlement, thefts, assaults, and drug offenses. He tried numerous non-jury trials as well. Mr. Smith prosecuted cases involving mandatory sentences and death penalty proceedings, and handled felony charge screenings; grand jury proceedings; and preliminary hearings.

As a prosecutor in the district court, Mr. Smith handled all aspects of thousands of cases until their conclusion, including an extensive number of non-jury trials. The cases included drunk driving and other serious traffic cases, thefts, assaults, drug possession, handgun charges, violation of probation hearings, and bail hearings.

Education

University of Baltimore School of Law
J.D., With High Honors, 1979

University of Baltimore
B.A., With High Honors, 1977

Bar Admissions

Court of Appeals of Maryland
United States District Court for the District of Maryland
United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
United States Supreme Court

Lectures/Presentations

Speaker, "Surviving the Court of Appeals: Certificates of Merit and Reports Post Walzer and Carroll," "The Maryland Med Mal Case: Learn from the Experts," Medical Negligence Section, Maryland Trial Lawyers Association, Baltimore, Maryland (2008).

Moderator, "Hot Topics in Long-Term Care Litigation," Nursing Home Section, Maryland Trial Lawyers Association, Columbia, Maryland (2008).

Speaker, "Using Administrative Regulations, Professional Codes, and Health Care Provider Policies and Procedures to Prove Violations of the Standards of Care," "Hot Topics in Long-Term Care Litigation," Nursing Home Section, Maryland Trial Lawyers Association, Columbia, Maryland (2008).

Panel Member, "Surviving After Walzer & The Continuing Battle Over Ex Parte Communications," TeleSeminar, Medical Negligence Section, Maryland Trial Lawyers Association (2007).

Presenter, "Proving Violation of the Standard of Care" and "Damages: Wrongful Death and Survival Actions," Evaluating, Investigating and Preparing a Nursing Home Negligence Case, Maryland Institute for Continuing Professional Education of Lawyers, Columbia, Maryland (2004).

"Case Preparation and Use of the Trial Notebook," Hon. James Macgill American Inn of Court, Columbia, Maryland (1992).

Program Chairman, "Have You Considered Arbitration?" Maryland Trial Lawyers Association, Towson, Maryland (1992).

Presenter, Demonstration on Medical Expert Testimony (Direct and Cross-Examination of Orthopedic Surgeon), Hon. James Macgill American Inn of Court, Columbia, Maryland (1992).

Litigation Groups

  Chair, Nursing Home Section (2009-10; 2008-09; 2007-08)

  Vice-Chair, Nursing Home Section (2006-07)

  Member, Medical Negligence Section

  Member, Nursing Home Section

Professional Organizations

Hon. James Macgill American Inn of Court (President: 1996-97)
Maryland Association for Justice (formerly Maryland Trial Lawyers Association)
Maryland State Bar Association
Howard County Bar Association

Listings

Who's Who in American Law
Who's Who in Practicing Attorneys
Who's Who of Emerging Leaders in America
Who's Who Among Rising Young Americans
2,000 Notable American Men
Men of Achievement