Donna E. McBride | Personal Injury & Insurance Litigation Attorne

Overview

Donna McBride is a seasoned trial lawyer having litigated to verdict hundreds of cases, many of which were jury trials. Her litigation practice is diverse. In addition to having an active personal injury practice, Donna has successfully helped both businesses and individuals involved in disputes arising out of contracts, insurance, employment and estate and trust matters.

Donna is a Shareholder at Miller, Miller & Canby where she has practiced in the litigation department since 2004. She is a native and lifelong resident of Montgomery County. Both before and after joining MM&C, she played leading roles in several multi-million dollar disputes, trying many of those cases to verdict. In early 2019, Donna was invited to be a fellow in the American College of Trial Lawyers. Fellowship in the “College” is by invitation only to those experienced trial lawyers who have mastered the art of advocacy and whose professional careers have been marked by the highest standards. Membership cannot exceed one percent of the total lawyer population of any state or province.

In addition to her background as a trial lawyer, Donna is very active in the legal community. In 2023, she was appointed by Governor Moore to her 3^rd four-year term on the Judicial Nominating Commission which selects and nominates to the Governor lawyers seeking judicial vacancies. Also in 2023, the Maryland Supreme Court appointed Donna to the Attorney Grievance Commission which oversees the conduct of both Maryland attorneys and nonmembers of the Maryland Bar who engage in the practice of law. She is also a member of, and former co-chair of, the Maryland State Bar Association’s Judicial Selections Committee and continues to be active in the Montgomery County Bar Association where she previously served several terms on the Executive Committee as well as the Treasurer for the 2018-2019 term. She is a former President, and current member (sitting on the Board), of the Montgomery County Inn of Court.

In 2023, Donna was recognized as Litigator of the Year by the Litigation Section of the Maryland State Bar Association. The Litigator of the Year Award “recognizes distinguished litigators for recent standout accomplishments or career dedication and achievement in litigation.” Donna is AV rated by Martindale-Hubbell and is recognized annually both as a Best Lawyer and Super Lawyer. In 2025, she was selected as the Best Lawyers, “Lawyer of the Year” in Insurance Litigation for the state of Maryland.

Testimonials

Donna McBride was referred to me after I was involved in an automobile accident which left me with partial hearing loss and chronic back pain. I was immediately impressed by her attention to detail, patience and guidance. I completely trusted her judgement and she did an outstanding job negotiating a settlement on my behalf. The entire experience with Miller, Miller & Canby really exceeded my expectations.

Lori Perkins

Evelyn, at 93 years of age, was run over by a car in a parking lot while walking to her doctor's appointment. As a personal injury attorney we could not have been more pleased with Donna McBride. She was attentive to our needs, walked us through the process and, in the end, helped us getting the best possible settlement for our case. I would highly recommend Donna for her knowledge and expertise in her field and her sincere compassion for her clients.

Evelyn Perlmutter and Diane Reynolds

Donna and Diane defended Catalina Pool Builders in a construction arbitration. In the face of a large damages claim, they succinctly and thoughtfully made legal arguments and cross-examined the claimants’ witnesses. As a result of their work, the arbitrator denied the claimant any award. Needless to say, we are very happy with their work and the results achieved.

Scott Seyfferth, Catalina Pool Builders, LLC

Donna McBride successfully litigated a recent case for me. Her expertise, diligence, and intuition are all truly remarkable. Moreover, she is ethical and compassionate. Bravo to Donna, her firm, and all their outstanding work!

Steven M. Shimoura, M.D.

I / we would definitely want to be Donna’s client and not her opposition! Donna commands the courtroom; she is sharp, thinks on her feet. We had great success!

Bijan & Lynn, Kazerouni Bijan Enterprises, LLC

I highly recommend attorney Donna McBride with Miller, Miller, and Canby. Donna represented me and my company in a very complex civil litigation matter. From my initial meeting with her through to the end of the case, Donna completely understood the intricacies and nuances of the case and the issues involved. She was also someone who thought “outside the box” and was innovative in her thinking. She was extremely knowledgeable, efficient, always well-prepared, and a very strong advocate. I have full and complete trust in her legal advice and anyone who hires Donna to represent them will be in the best of hands.

Shelly D. McKeon, Esquire, The McKeon Law Firm

Donna and Diane, taking a moment to reflect upon the many things for which I have to be thankful, I wanted to let you know that you both are amongst them. I am so grateful for the work and the time that you put into my case(s) this summer and beyond. I appreciate your professionalism and candor. You are both so very good at what you do; watching you was inspiring. Please accept my sincere thanks.

Karen Friend

We received outstanding service from the firm and our personal thanks go to Donna McBride for her persistent efforts, professionalism, compassion, and her ability to explain complicated legal issues so that we could easily understand our rights. My husband and I were quite pleased with the resolution of our case.

Deborah Vere

I want to thank Donna McBride and the team at Miller, Miller and Canby for doing an amazing job handling our daughter's case. Donna truly cared about our daughter and treated her with empathy and kindness while fighting hard to ensure she received fair compensation for her claim. The final outcome was better than we expected, and I highly recommend Donna and her team if you are in need of legal counsel.

Jamie B.

Diane Feuerherd and Donna McBride of the esteemed law firm of Miller, Miller & Canby represented me in a contentious, protracted civil litigation over a challenge to my mother’s estate planning and decisions. My respect and gratitude grew as they navigated the complexities of an estate challenge. From the beginning they strategically anticipated and acted to facilitate the final decision in my favor. Diane and Donna are individually accomplished with extensive knowledge about the intricacies of estate litigation. Their individual strengths complement each other as they become a formidable team; they are gracious, direct, and purposeful in all interactions. Diane took the lead at a four-day trial masterfully setting the stage in her opening, providing key evidence and testimony during the trial, and culminating in a brilliant closing to expose the subterfuge attempted to discredit me and my actions. Donna partnered with Diane throughout with her extensive expertise and knowledge. Diane and Donna are supported by staff members who provided assistance to me whenever needed; Catherine Schombert, Kate Martino, and TaNika Newman went above and beyond with kindness and exemplary service. They each ensured my needs were accommodated while navigating these proceedings. Miller, Miller & Canby, Diane Feuerherd, and Donna McBride are recognized nationally and locally. I will be eternally grateful for their counsel on my behalf.

Sandra Rosell

Donna McBride and her firm Miller, Miller and Canby are truly outstanding. Donna is a seasoned, astute, resourceful litigator and her team is fantastic. They took a difficult case late in the game and turned it around, yielding the best possible outcome. Donna is also candid - she will tell you the honest truth about your case and your chances to succeed. She will also be mindful of your costs and never build unrealistic expectations. If you need a top litigator who knows how to win - Donna McBride is the one to go to!

Emanuele Ottolenghi

Practice Areas

Bar Admissions

Maryland
District of Columbia
U.S. District Court, District of Maryland
U.S. District Court, District of Columbia

Professional Affiliations

Bar Association of Montgomery County
Maryland State Bar Association
Maryland Defense Counsel
Montgomery County Inn of Court
Judge – High School Mock Trial Competition
Montgomery County District Court Mediator

Education

American University, J.D., 1990
Georgetown University, B.S, B.A., 1986

Honors and Awards

2023 Litigator of the Year, Maryland State Bar Association Litigation Section
Fellow, American College of Trial Lawyers
Selected as Super Lawyer for Maryland and District of Columbia (2014 – present)
Montgomery County Bar Association, Executive Committee (2012-2014)
Montgomery County Bar Foundation, Bar Leader
Elected to Serve as Treasurer, Montgomery County Bar Association (2018-2019 term)
Member, Maryland State Bar Association Judicial Selections Committee (former Co-Chair)
Character Committee, Seventh Circuit, Member (2010-2013)
Standing Committee on Rules of Practice and Procedure, Court of Appeals of Maryland (2013-present)
Trial Courts Judicial Nominating Commission for District 11 (2015-present)
Best Lawyers, 2022-2025
Best Lawyers, “Lawyer of the Year,” Insurance Litigation, 2025
Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent Peer Rating

Representative Cases

Shimoura v. Gazmen

Donna represented a physician who was the victim of embezzlement over several decades by his trusted office manager. The manager denied the theft and after a 6-day jury trial, the office manager was found liable for compensatory and punitive damages. The compensatory award was in excess of $900,000.

Prywes, et al. v. Van Dusen

Donna represented two individuals who were the victims of a “spying landlord.” The property owner, Dennis Van Dusen, rented rooms in his residence to young attractive females, and then spied on them by using video cameras disguised as smoke detectors mounted in various bedrooms throughout the house. After a 5-day jury trial, Mr. Van Dusen was found liable for both compensatory and punitive damages in an amount in excess of $1,000,000.

Khafra v. Beckwitt

Donna represented the family of a young man, Askia Khafra, burned to death in a home in Bethesda. The young man was hired by Daniel Beckwitt to dig a secret bunker underneath the home. After a fire broke out in the home, Askia, who was in the tunnels at the time, was unable to escape and perished in the fire. The case settled for a confidential sum at mediation.

Perlmutter v. Kalita

Donna represented Evelyn Perlmutter who was walking in a parking lot when she was struck by a car that was backing out of a parking space. Ms. Perlmutter sustained serious injuries. The case settled at mediation for $300,000.

Kazerouni v. Kazerouni

This case involved a dispute between father and son over the transfer of real property. Donna represented the son, to whom the father had deeded his home. After a dispute, the father tried to undo the transaction. After a bench trial, the Court found in favor of the son.

McKeon v. Rowe

Donna represented a law firm that was the victim of employee theft. The employee denied taking any money improperly. After discovery was completed, Donna filed a motion for summary judgment, which motion was granted, and judgment was entered in favor of the law firm for all damages sought.

more representative cases

DISCLAIMER: THE CASES AND RESULTS DESCRIBED HEREIN ARE REPRESENTATIVE OF PAST RESULTS OBTAINED BY MILLER, MILLER & CANBY, AND ITS ATTORNEYS. PAST CASE RESULTS DO NOT GUARANTEE FUTURE RESULTS. ALL CASES ARE DISTINCT AND HAVE UNIQUE FACTS, CIRCUMSTANCES AND LEGAL QUESTIONS THAT MUST BE CONSIDERED AND EVALUATED ON THEIR OWN MERIT.