Biography
Debbie is well known for her $26 million dollar verdict against Ford Motor Company. Debbie’s vast experience with Motor Vehicle Accidents, Truck Accidents, Wrongful Deaths, Nursing Home Negligence and Slips and Falls has led to notable honors and awards. She was honored to make the Top 10 Maryland Super Lawyers list in 2021 and 2022 and has been included in The Daily Record’s “Maryland’s Top 100 Women” two times. She was inducted as a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, one of the premier legal associations in North America, in 2018.
After graduating with honors from the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law in 1990, Debbie became actively involved in a variety of organizations throughout the state, including the Anne Arundel Bar Association where she served as the youngest President in the organization’s history. Debbie has also served as the first female President of the University of Maryland Terrapin Club, the Executive Committee of the Maryland State Bar Association, on the Board of Trustees of the University of Maryland College Park, on the Maryland Association for Justice Board of Directors, the MYLAW Board, the CASA Board, and the Prince George’s County Bar Association Board. She served on the Maryland Supreme Court’s Rules Committee for eight years. Debbie is currently the Panel Chair of the Peer Review Committee of the Attorney Grievance Commission.
Due to her involvement at the University of Maryland, Debbie is an avid Terps fan. She has three children who are “adulting,” and helps with her husband’s business, Compass Stone & Tile Studio.
Debbie and her partners take personal injury to heart, so when clients are injured or suffer a loss due to a car crash, medical mistake, neglect, or personal injury, Potter Law’s pride will be there with the legal experience, leadership, and proven track record to represent them and their family.
Quote by Debbie
“Reach out and inspire your fellow colleagues, encouraging engagement and involvement to really make a difference. Let your pride, protect theirs.”
Bar Admissions
Maryland
Washington, D.C.
Education
University of Maryland School of Law Baltimore, Maryland, Juris Doctor with Honors – May 1990
University of Maryland College Park, Maryland, B.A. in Economics – May 1987
Involvement
- Chair, Attorney Grievance Peer Review Panel (2018-present)
- American College of Trial Lawyers (2018-present)
- American College of Trial Lawyers Judiciary Committee (2019-present)
- Maryland State Bar Association, Budget & Finance (2015-2019)
- Maryland State Bar Association Board of Governors (2000-2001) (2013-2015) (2017-2019)
- Maryland State Bar Association, Executive Committee (2014-2015) (2017-2019)
- Maryland State Bar Association Judicial Appointments (2019-2022)
- Prince Georges Bar Association, Director (2017-2018)
- CLREP Board Member (2015-2017)
- University of Maryland Board of Trustees (2007-2017)
- University of Maryland, Board of Trustees, Exec Comm. (2012-2014)
- Cal Ripken Foundation, Uncorked Committee (2015-present)
- Court of Appeals Rules Committee (2000-2012)
- Court of Appeals Professionalism Committee (2003-2007)
- University of Maryland Law School Alumni Board (2007-2010)
- President, University of Maryland Law School Alumni Board (2009)
- Maryland Association for Justice, Board of Governors (2012-present)
- Athletic Campaign Council (2006-2008)
- President, Anne Arundel Bar Association (1999-2000)
- Anne Arundel Bar Association Trustee (1993-2002) (2010-2014) (2017-2019)
- Anne Arundel Judicial Nominating Commission (1998-2002)
- President, Anne Arundel County Bar Foundation (1998-1999)
- Leadership Academy, Maryland State Bar Association (1997-1998)
- President, University of Maryland Terrapin Club (2003-2004)
- Co-Chair, Barristers Ball (2000-2006)
- University of Maryland Terrapin Club Board Member (1999-2005)
- CASA of Anne Arundel County Board Member (1997-2002), (2011-2014)
- University of Maryland Alumni Association Board Member (2004-2006)
- Co-Chair, Legal Aid Campaign Anne Arundel County (2002-2005)
- University of Maryland Hall of Fame Selection Committee (2001-2002)
- Mock Trial Coach, Northeast High School (1999-2001)
- Board Member, Summit School (1998-2001)
- Board Member, Ballet Theatre Annapolis (1991-1996)
- CASA, Founding Board Member
Honors and Awards
- Maryland Bar Foundation Award for Legal Excellence in the Advancement of Professional Competence (2022)
- American College of Trial Lawyers (2018-present)
- Super Lawyers, Top 10 Maryland Super Lawyers (2021-present)
- Super Lawyers, Top 50 Women in Law (2018-present)
- Super Lawyers, Top 100 Super Lawyers (2018-present)
- Daily Record Leadership in the Law Award (2017)
- Trial Lawyer of the Year (2017), MAJ
- Prince George’s County Bar Association President’s Award (2016)
- CASA, Generous Heart Award (2016)
- The Daily Record, Top 100 Women (2010 & 2015)
- Anne Arundel Bar Association Trustees Award (2013)
- Women Leaders in the Law, American Lawyer Magazine (2012 & 2013)
- The Daily Record Top 100 Women (2010)
- Justice For All Award (2007)
- Anne Arundel Bar Association Trustees Award (2003)
- Ed Shea Professionalism Award of the Maryland State Bar Association (2002)
Presentations and Publications
- Speaker, Judicial Center for District Court of Maryland (2023)
- Speaker, Maryland Association for Justice – on Personal Injury (2022)
- Speaker, Maryland Association Justice Convention (2019)
- Seminar Speaker, Non-Economic Damages (2017, 2018)
- Maryland Association for Justice – Case Debrief (2017)
- Keenan Trial Institute – MIST Seminar – Atlanta, GA (2017)
- Prince George’s Bar Association – Jury Selection (2016)
- Maryland Association for Justice – Mock Civil Trial (2016)
- Maryland Association for Justice – Opening Statements (2016)
- Maryland Association for Justice – Auto Neg Day (2015)
- Maryland Association for Justice – Keenan Seminar (2014)
- Anne Arundel Bar Association – A Civil Trial (2013)
Associations
- American College of Trial Lawyers
- American Board of Trial Advocates
- Maryland Association of Justice
- Maryland State Bar Association
- Anne Arundel Bar Association
- Prince George’s County Bar Association
- Montgomery County Bar Association