Another nightmare performance at home means Leicester City have yet to score or win at the Walkers Stadium this season.
The result means Leicester have won just once at the Walkers Stadium in the last nine months - their only victory was over Portsmouth last May when they were already relegated from the Premiership.
And to add salt to Adams' wounds it was one of his former prodigies who plundered Brighton's vital goal.
Adams gave Adam Virgo his debut as a 17-year-old when he was in charge at Brighton.
The Seagulls might have only had one effort on goal but their performance was praiseworthy because of their discipline and sheer hard work in defence.
Brighton made a promising start but a misunderstanding between Michael Cooper and Kerry Mayo threatened to undo all their good work when neither took responsibility for a Danny Tiatto cross which only just eluded James Scowcroft at the far post.
Brighton played with Virgo as a lone striker meaning their chances were at a premium.
But they came within a whisker of stealing the lead on 22 minutes when Dean Hammond was inches away from Darren Currie's free-kick.
David Connolly, still seeking his first goal for Leicester, had two chances before the break.
His first on 25 minutes came from a Dion Dublin knockdown, but his 18-yard shot lacked any venom.
Then Dublin dummied a Jordan Stewart cross for Connolly to flash a shot just wide from 12 yards.
But it was the Seagulls who stole a shock lead on 40 minutes when Danny Cullip hoisted a long ball forward and with Matt Heath slow to react, Virgo had time to control the ball before crashing a 16-yard shot beyond Ian Walker.
There was a touch of controversy about the goal with City claiming Leon Knight was offside but the referee ruled he wasn't interfering with play.
After the break, City continued to dominate but rarely showed any sign of breaking down Brighton.
Substitute Keith Gillespie sent Dublin through, but the former Villa star slipped at the crucial moment allowing the keeper to make a comfortable save.
Then Dublin's speculative long-range effort drifted wide and moments later the same player should have done better when he failed to get a shot on target from 15 yards out.
On 73 minutes Heath went close for Leicester when he headed Stewart's near-post corner narrowly wide and with ten minutes to go, Lilian Nalis was off target for the home side when his 18-yard volley flew wide.
In time added on, there were appeals for a penalty when Adam El-Abd appeared to handle inside the Leicester box, but the referee waved the appeals aside and then with seconds left Scowcroft wasted Leicester's final chance when he headed Stewart's free-kick over the bar leaving Adams side to troop from the field to a chorus of boos.