Free Initial Consultation

(Main Office)

Adkins, Potts & Smethurst, L.L.P., maintains an active general practice throughout eastern Maryland, with a concentration in business, real estate and regulatory law that includes a civil trial practice in both state and federal courts. We represent a broad range of local, regional and national clients in personal, corporate, transactional and regulatory matters throughout the region. The firm has litigated complex, controversial and precedent-setting matters. We emphasize strong client relationships and responsive, effective service, having represented some of our clients for over 40 years.

Firm members are and have been active in local, state and national bar associations, one past member having served as president of the Maryland State Bar Association. Three other former members of the firm now serve as administrative, trial or appellate judges.

The firm also has a tradition of community involvement through public-interest legal work and active participation in non-profit organizations, civic groups and political campaigns which fosters further awareness and appreciation of prevailing issues and circumstances in the region.

REPRESENTATIVE CASES: Neifert v. Dept. & Environment, 395 Md. 486 (2006) (regulatory taking-wetlands); Deaton v. United States, 332 F. 3d 698 (4th Cir. 2003) (clean water act-wetlands); Lewis v. Dept. Natural Resources, 377 Md. 382 (2003) (Critical Areas-buffer variance); Goldstein v. 91st Street Joint Venture, 131 Md. App. 546 (2000) (enforcement of arbitration award; partnership dissolution); Perdue Farms Inc. v. Hadder, 209 Md. App. 582 (1996) (zoning, State preemption); Faw, Casson & Co. v. Everngam, 94 Md. App. 129 (1992) (noncompete agreement); Brittingham v. Jenkins, 968 F.2d 1211 (Table), 24 U.S.P.Q.2d 1201 (4th Cir. 1992) (trademark infringement-attorney fees); Shanty Town Associates Ltd. Partnership v. Dept. of Environment, 92 Md. App. 103 (1992) (access to sewer system); Mayor & City Council of Ocean City v. Purnell-Jarvis, Ltd., 86 Md. App. 390 (1991) (validity of regulatory fees); Greater Potater Harborplace, Inc. v. Jenkins, 935 F.2d 267 (Table), 19 Fed.R.Serv.3d 1379 (4th Cir. 1991) (corporate successor liability); Holloway v. Faw, Casson & Co., 319 Md. 324 (1990) (noncompete agreement); Springlake Corp. v. Symmarron Ltd. Partnership, 81 Md. App. 694 (1990) (illegal contract); Brittingham v. Jenkins, 914 F.2d 447, 116 A.L.R. Fed. 863, 16 U.S.P.Q.2d 1121 (4th Cir. 1990) (trademark infringement); Dept. of Environment v. Showell, 316 Md. 259 (1989) (access to sewer system); Shanty Town Associates Ltd. Partnership v. E.P.A., 843 F.2d 782, 27 ERC 1540, 18 Envtl. L. Rep. 21, 227 (4th Cir. 1988) (Clean Water Act); Dominion Nat'l. Bank v. Sundowner Joint Venture, 50 Md. App. 145 (1981) (partnership liability); Klein v. Weiss, 284 Md. 36 (1978) (Uniform Limited Partnership Act); Mervin L. Blades & Son, Inc. v. Lighthouse Sound Marina and Country Club, 37 Md. App. 265 (1977) (mechanic's lien); Caine v. Cantrell, 279 Md. 392 (1977) (riparian rights, easement); Dept. of Natural Resources v. Cropper, 274 Md. 25 (1975) (prescriptive easement, riparian rights); Hearst Corp. v. State Dept. of Assessments and Taxation, 269 Md. 625 (1973) (manufacturing tax); Williams v. Skyline Development Corp., 265 Md. 130, 4 ERC 1282 (1972) (riparian rights); Cannon v. Southland Life Ins. Co., 263 Md.463 (1971) (life insurance); Board of Public Works v. Larmar Corp., 262 Md. 24, 2 ERC 1544, 1 Envtl. L. Rep. 20,230 (1971) (riparian rights); U.S. v. 222.0 Acres of Land, 324 F.Supp. 1170 (D.Md. 1971) (condemnation valuation); U.S. v. 222.0 Acres of Land, 306 F.Supp. 138 (D.Md. 1969) (condemnation of reclaimed land); Stevens v. City of Salisbury, 240 Md. 556, 775 (1965) (regulatory taking); State Dept. of Health v. Walker, 238 Md. 512 (1965) (mandamus for septic systems).

Statement of Practice

General Practice. Trials in State and Federal Courts. Administrative Hearings. Appellate Practice. Banking, Business, Condominium, Construction, Consumer Protection, Corporation, Employment, Environmental, Insurance, Labor Relations, Land Use, Municipal, Probate, Real Estate and Zoning Law.

Representative Clients:

Campbell Soup Company
Cellco Partnership
Charter Communications, Inc.
Commonwealth Land Title Insurance Co.
Developers Diversified Realty Corp.
Dukes Lumber Co.
Giant Food, Inc.
Home Depot USA, Inc.
Lawyers' Title Insurance Corp.
Macerich Company
Nanticoke Seafood, Inc.
National Association of Homebuilders, Inc.
PNC Bank
Peninsula Roofing Company
Perdue Farms, Inc.
Rogers Refrigeration Co.
Salisbury Mall Associates LLC
Shopco Group
Shore Sheet Metal, Inc.
Target Corporation
Trout, Segal & Doyle Development Company, LLC
Verizon Wireless
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
WBOC-TV
Worcester County Liquor Control Board.

Rate Information

Fixed Hourly Rates
Fixed Fees Available
Free Initial Consultation

Address

Suite 600, 100 E. Main Street, One Plaza East P.O. Box 4247
Salisbury, MD 21803-4247, (Wicomico Co.)

Phone

Phone: 410-749-0161
Fax: 410-749-5021
URL: http://www.lawyers.com/adkinspotts

Website

http://www.adkinspotts.com

Office Hours

Monday: 09:00 AM - 05:00 PM
Tuesday: 09:00 AM - 05:00 PM
Wednesday: 09:00 AM - 05:00 PM
Thursday: 09:00 AM - 05:00 PM
Friday: 09:00 AM - 05:00 PM
Saturday: By Appointment Only

MEMBERS OF FIRM

E. Dale Adkins, Jr. (1915-1982).

Charles J. Potts (1910-1994).

Raymond Stevens Smethurst, Jr. (Member) born Washington, D.C., November 21, 1935; admitted to bar, 1961, Maryland; 1967, District of Columbia. Education: Cornell University (B. Met.E., 1958); Cornell University; George Washington University (J.D., with honors, 1961). Order of the Coif, Phi Delta Phi. Associate Editor, The George Washington Law Review, 1960-1961. Labor Relations Advisor, National Capital Transportation Agency, 1962-1963. Member, Wicomico County Housing Authority, 1965-1967. Special Assistant, Maryland State Board of Law Examiners, 1966-1968. City Attorney of Pocomoke City, 1967-1980. Member, 1975-1980, 1988-1992, Vice-Chairman, 1979-1980, 1991-1992, Attorney Grievance Commission of Maryland. Member, Character Committee of the Court of Appeals of Maryland, 1995—. Member, Appellate Judicial Nominating Commission, 2003-2007. Member: Wicomico County (President, 1979), Maryland State (Member, Section Council, Litigation, 1979-1985), Federal and American Bar Associations; Maryland Trial Lawyers Association; Association of Trial Lawyers of America. Fellow: American College of Trial Lawyers; American Bar Foundation; Maryland Bar Foundation. Practice Areas: Litigation; Appellate Practice; Administrative Hearings; Environmental Law; Land Use Development Law; Consumer Law.Email: Raymond Stevens Smethurst, Jr.

Robert B. Taylor (Member) born Baltimore, Maryland, June 14, 1941; admitted to bar, 1970, Maryland. Education: Pennsylvania State University (B.S., 1963); Washington & Lee University (J.D., cum laude, 1970). Burks Scholar. Law Clerk to Judge Roszel C. Thomsen, U.S. District Court, District of Maryland, 1970-1971. Author, "Successor Corporate Liability Comes to Maryland," Maryland Bar Journal, July/August 1990. Member: Wicomico County, Maryland State (Member, Section Council, Real Property, Planning and Zoning Section, 1986-1989, 1992—) and American Bar Associations. [Lt. U.S. Navy, 1963-1965]. Practice Areas: Real Estate; Commercial Law; Business Law; Land Use Development Law; Zoning and Subdivision Law.Email: Robert B. Taylor

ASSOCIATES

Matthew T. Mills (Associate) born Frederick, Maryland, July 29, 1978; admitted to bar, 2003, Maryland. Education: Washington and Lee University (B.A., summa cum laude, 2000; J.D., cum laude, 2003). Phi Beta Kappa; Phi Delta Phi. Law Clerk to the Hon. Donald C. Davis, Circuit Court Wicomico County, 2003-2005. Member, Maryland State Board of Bar Examiners, 2009—. Member: Wicomico County (President, 2008), Maryland State and American Bar Associations. Languages: German. Practice Areas: Litigation; Appellate Practice; Administrative Hearings; Environmental Law; Land Use Development Law.Email: Matthew T. Mills

Erin Michael McCormack (Associate) born Placerville, California, September 25, 1976; admitted to bar, 2005, Maryland. Education: Towson University (B.S., 1999); University of Baltimore (J.D., 2005). Law Clerk to Hon. Theodore R. Eschenburg and Hon. Thomas C. Groton, III, Circuit Court for Worcester County, 2005-2007. Member: Worcester County, Wicomico County, Maryland State and American Bar Associations. Practice Areas: Civil Litigation; Appellate Practice.Email: Erin Michael McCormack