Hope Mills, NC

Andrew Ralph Dempster

(Andy) grew up in Fayetteville, NC where he graduated from Pine Forest High School. He received his undergraduate degree from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington. He graduated from Campbell University School of Law in 1986. Immediately upon graduation from law school, Andy was sworn in as an assistant district attorney in the 12th Judicial District where he prosecuted in the Superior, District and Juvenile Courts. While in the DA’s office he successfully prosecuted a range of criminal matters including homicide, traffic and misdemeanor cases. In 1990, Andy was elected District Court Judge for the 12th Judicial District and reelected in 1994. He presided over thousands of cases in the civil, domestic, criminal and juvenile courts. He was one of the first District Court Judges in North Carolina to receive a special certification as a Juvenile District Court Judge from the Institute of Government at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He was very active on the Cumberland County Youth Services Advisory Board and was instrumental in bringing Teen Court to Cumberland County. Andy went to law school because of a strong belief that with a law degree he could help people who weren’t in a position to help themselves. In 1996, Andy left the bench to become a partner in the firm of Smith, Dickey, Smith, Hasty and Dempster. He is uniquely qualified having been a prosecutor and a judge. Andy’s major strength lies in his trial ability. He represents seriously injured clients and their children. He feels that best recovery for his clients is only brought about through aggressive representation and many times requires filing a lawsuit. He successfully represents his clients from the settlement stage to a jury verdict. The result has been recovery of millions of dollars for his injured clients and a multi-million dollar recovery in a catastrophic case against a corporate defendant.

Allen David Smith

Allen Smith is third generation Fayetteville, North Carolina. His grandfather was the manager of Sears in downtown Fayetteville for 35 years. His Dad Ritchie Smith is the founding Partner of Smith Dempster. Allen was born at Cape Fear Valley Hospital (now medical center) in 1961. He attended public schools in Fayetteville and graduated from Terry Sanford Senior High School. He received his undergraduate degree in 1984 from the University of North Carolina. He then graduated from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Law School in 1987, where he joined his fathers law practice in Fayetteville. For over 28 years, he has focused on helping those injured by the negligence of others and in workplace injuries. He has also served as state counsel for the National Home School Legal Defense Association. Allen’s long-time ties to the community give him a great advantage in understanding the local issues that pop up in litigation, including local knowledge and expertise in knowing local juries in a way that is most effectively done by local attorneys with close ties and long-time experience in the local community and the local legal community. Allen and Andy Dempster are the senior Partners in the law firm and have been practicing together for over 25 years; and their skill sets complement each other to give our clients a full breadth of legal and local experience and expertise. Throughout his legal career, Allen has handled complex and complicated tort litigation, leading to multiple recoveries on behalf of clients in excess of one million dollars. He also handles small cases and treats them with just as much enthusiasm and energy as his bigger cases. He has vast experience litigating serious brain injury cases, and back, neck, and other debilitating injuries. Allen has handled serious injury cases involving the largest employers in Cumberland County and outside the County, including The City of Fayetteville, Cumberland County (including the school system), Goodyear Tire & Rubber, Walmart, Purolator, Black & Decker, the multiple poultry plants in the area, and Cape Fear Valley Medical Center. Allen also covers SSD and SSDI. Moreover, the firm has handled hundreds of Social Security Disability (SSD) cases for over 35 years in southeastern North Carolina appearing before Administrative Law Judges from hearing offices throughout North and South Carolina. Allen regularly attends state and national conventions to keep our knowledge of SSD laws current. Disability claims are decided in a very complex system of regulations and time frames and are frustrating for the claimants who must deal with the delays and technical rules. Allen’s long background in medical litigation is of great benefit to him in assisting disabled persons recover the social security benefits they are entitled to. This area of law touches the lives of people who really need help, and Allen takes the extra care and time needed to maximize his client’s chances of success and recovery. Allen Smith is the right attorney to guide you through the SSD maze. Allen believes in honest, aggressive, straightforward advocacy for his clients. Call him for a free consultation today.

Mark M. Harris

Mark is a native of Randleman, North Carolina. He spent four years in the United States Air Force before receiving his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1999. Mark received his law degree from Regent University School of Law in Virginia Beach, Virginia in 2003. Mark joined the firm in 2003. He lives in the Eastover area with his wife and four kids. While attending law school, Mark interned with Chesapeake Juvenile Court in Chesapeake, Virginia and clerked with a small law firm in Virginia Beach, Virginia specializing in Bankruptcy. As a partner, Mark’s practice consists of representing individuals and couples in Cumberland, Robeson, Sampson, Harnett, and Hoke counties, who need assistance filing Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 Bankruptcy. To learn more about bankruptcy please go to Smith, Dickey Bankruptcy. In addition to Bankruptcy, Mark represents individuals who have been injured through the negligence of others in truck accidents, automobile accidents, wrongful death, and premises liability.

Drew Ralph Dempster Jr.

Drew is a second-generation attorney. Drew was born and raised here in Fayetteville, NC, and graduated from Pine Forest High School. Drew graduated from Methodist University in 2008 with a B.S. in political science and graduated from North Carolina Central University School of Law in 2012. After passing the State Bar, Drew worked as an assistant district attorney in Cumberland County prosecuting misdemeanors and felonies. Drew joined the law firm where he used his experience as a prosecutor to zealously represent clients ranging in charges from the simple seatbelt ticket to those clients charged with the most serious felony offenses. Along with his father Andy, Drew handles Automobile accidents and works hard to get his clients the most for their case. Drew is married to his high school sweetheart Lauren and they have two children Tripp and Ellie. When not at the office or courthouse, you can find Drew coaching his kids on the sideline all season long.

As a former prosecutor, Mike understands and has been on both sides of our adversarial legal system. Defending clients with this experience makes for the best representation. Before arriving in Fayetteville, NC, Mike‘s family traveled all over the world during his fathers military service. His father retired while stationed here at Fort Bragg. Mike attended both Pine Forest Middle and High Schools in Cumberland County. After graduating from The University of North Carolina at Wilmington, Mike attended Law School at North Carolina Central University in Durham, NC. After graduation from Law School and completing the Bar Exam, Mike returned to Fayetteville to practice. Mike’s family and friends all live here in Fayetteville, and he is proud to call it his home. Mike enjoys the work that he does and understand the needs of his clients. He understands that the legal system is complex and can be difficult to traverse. It can be a very intimidating and tasking process. Each day, Mike pursues his clients interests to aid folks in getting through tough situations and achieving the results that they want out of a case. Every case, no matter the subject matter, is as important to him as it is to his clients. It is important to understand the law as well the local legal landscape that you are involved in. Equipped with these attributes, Mike will go at it to get the results that his clients want! Mike has tried cases in both District and Superior Court spanning from simple misdemeanor charges to felony cases. He is an experienced DWI Attorney and has tried many cases as both a prosecutor and defense attorney. He is very familiar with the local rule and procedures, and will advocate your positions while providing you counsel. Firm, tough, knowledgeable, pragmatic, confident, and effective legal representation.