Franklin & Prokopik, P.C.

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Appellate Advocacy

Appellate advocacy refers to the legal representation by our attorneys before any state or federal court of intermediate or final appeal.

Areas of Service

  • Defending and prosecuting appeals and related writs:
    • Appellate courts of Maryland, the District of Columbia, Virginia, Delaware, and West Virginia
  • Handling appeals and related writs:
    • Fourth and the D.C. Circuit Courts of Appeal
    • Supreme Court of the United States

Firm Qualifications

The attorneys in Franklin & Prokopik’s Appellate Advocacy practice are all experienced trial counsel and often asked to assist trial counsel in review of appellate issues before, during and after the trial. They are often able to make the record “speak” to the issues and concerns of the particular appellate tribunal, which are frequently based on matters of public policy and are often quite distinct and different from those important to a trial judge and jury.

Due to the Firm’s extensive experience and expertise litigating at the appellate level, the Firm reports the following appellate successes:

  • The United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit (Cowan Systems, Inc. v. Harleysville Ins. Co.).
  • Maryland Appellate Courts (Reger v. Washington County Bd. of Ed., Perry v. Asphalt & Concrete Services, Inc.,  Anderson v. General Casualty Insurance Co. f/k/a Southern Guaranty Insurance Co. and Nova Research, Inc. v. Penske Truck Leasing Co., LP in the Court of Appeals of Maryland and Service Transport, Inc. v. Hurricane Express, Inc., and Sysco v. Harrell, in the Court of Special Appeals of Maryland).
  • In Virginia — King v. Atrium and Lahmers v. Koons.
  • Argument before Maryland’s highest court, the Court of Appeals: http://courts.state.md.us/coappeals/media/2016/coa20170303caseno68.mp4 (if you experience difficulty viewing this video, right click and “save as” to download the file to your computer). Franklin & Prokopik principal David A. Skomba’s argument beginning at the 17 minute, 50 second mark, and concluding at the 40 minute, 20 second mark.
  • Argument before Maryland’s highest court, the Court of Appeals: http://www.courts.state.md.us/coappeals/media/2015/coa20151106caseno27.mp4 (if you experience difficulty viewing this video, right click and “save as” to download the file to your computer). Franklin & Prokopik principal Imoh Akpan’s argument beginning at the 20 minute mark, and concluding at the 52 minute, 11 second mark.
  • Argument before Maryland’s highest court, the Court of Appeals: http://www.courts.state.md.us/coappeals/media/2007/coa010708_case68.wmv. (if you experience difficulty viewing this video, right click and “save as” to download the file to your computer). Franklin & Prokopik principal David A. Skomba’s argument beginning at the 25 minute, 20 second mark, and concluding at the 43 minute, 25 second mark.