Jonathan Scott Smith

Top-Rated Personal Injury Attorney Columbia MD Howard County MD

Points of Distinction

• Over 40 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 Ratings for Legal Ability and Professional Ethics

Top-Rated Attorney

Mr. Smith’s extensive trial experience — and track record of successful Past Results — has earned him the recognition of his peers and clients:

• Maryland Super Lawyer.
• Top 100 Lawyers in Maryland by Super Lawyers (2014)
• “10.0 Superb” as a litigation attorney by AVVO.
• “Client’s Choice Award” by AVVO, based on average client reviews of 5 stars — the highest client review possible.
• Client Distinction Award (Client Review Rating of 4.5 or higher on 5.0 scale – less than 4% of 900,000+ attorneys listed by Martindale-Hubbell).
• Baltimore’s Top-Rated Lawyers of 2015 by American Lawyer Media and Martindale-Hubbell (2015).
• “10 Best Attorneys in the State of Maryland in Client Satisfaction,” American Institute of Personal Injury Attorneys.
• The National Trial Lawyers: Top 100 Trial Lawyers (by invitation only and limited to the Top 100 Trial Lawyers from each state).
• Washington DC and Baltimore’s Top-Rated Lawyers (Legal Leaders Magazine)(2014).
• Top Attorneys in Maryland (American Registry)(2013).
• Top-Rated Lawyer by The American Lawyer Magazine and Martindale-Hubbell (2013, 2012).
• Top-Rated Lawyer in Personal Injury Law by The American Lawyer Magazine and Martindale-Hubbell (2013).
• “AV-Preeminent™*” Highest Peer Rating by Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory (Every year since 1988).
• The Million Dollar Advocates Forum (Awarded to fewer than 1% of U.S. Attorneys who have Obtained Multi-Million Dollar Verdicts, Awards and Settlements).

These include the highest ratings possible for legal skill, ethical practice, a lawyer’s years in practice, disciplinary history, professional achievements and industry recognition.

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; 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.

A Successful, Experienced Problem Solver

Attorney Jonathan Scott Smith represents clients in wrongful death cases and personal injury cases involving bodily injuries in auto accidents, truck wrecks, and motorcycle wrecks on the Baltimore Beltway, Washington Beltway, MD 295, Baltimore Washington Parkway, B-W Parkway, I-695, I-495, Interstate 95 in Maryland, I-70, Maryland Route 32, U.S. Route 29, Baltimore National Pike, Route 40, I-83 and serious injury accidents throughout Maryland.

Lawyer Smith also provides experienced legal representation for clients in Baltimore, Columbia, MD, Clarksville, Sykesville, Fulton, Elkridge, Frederick, Mt. Airy, Ellicott City, Laurel, Westminster, Baltimore County, Anne Arundel County, Carroll County, Prince Georges (Prince George) County, Howard County and Montgomery County, MD.

Education

• University of Baltimore School of Law
  • J.D., With High Honors, 1979
• University of Baltimore
  • B.A., With High Honors, 1977

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

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

Litigation Groups

• Maryland Association for Justice
  Chair, Nursing Home Section (2009-10; 2008-09; 2007-08)
• Maryland Association for Justice
  Vice-Chair, Nursing Home Section (2006-07)
• Maryland Association for Justice
  Member, Medical Negligence Section
• Maryland Association for Justice
  Member, Nursing Home Section

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

Lectures / Presentations

• Moderator, “Long-Term Care Litigation Seminar,” Nursing Home Section, Maryland Association for Justice, Inc., Columbia, Maryland (2010).
• 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).