THE ADVOCATE Newsletter of The Baltimore County Bar Association VOLUME XXV, NO. 11
May 2017
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE by Robert J. Thompson It is early April 2017 as I write these words with the hope that you will be reading them on (or about) May 1 -Law Day. In 1958, President Eisenhower proclaimed May 1 as Law Day in the United States, and Congress has renewed Law Day, and a host of other remembrance days, every year since. This year, the theme of Law Day, as designated by the American Bar Association, is “The 14th Amendment: Transforming American Democracy.” I will leave it to scholars, two of whom we are honored to have as Law Day speakers, to give you the low down on the 14th Amendment. What fascinates me in these weeks leading up to Law Day is an obscure collateral issue, namely, what President Eisenhower’s motivation might have been to proclaim Law Day in the first place, and why he might have chosen May 1, and not some other more obvious date, such as July 4. So, I did a little digging: I am an admitted law nerd and that’s just the kind of thing we nerds do.
You may know that May 1 is also observed in what is left of the communist world as May Day and elsewhere in the world as International Workers’ Day. The date was chosen for May Day/ International Workers' Day by the Second International, a pan-national organization of socialist and communist political parties, to commemorate the Haymarket affair in Chicago in May, 1886. The International Workers’ movement called on "all Social Democratic Party organizations and trade unions of all countries to demonstrate energetically on the First of May for the legal establishment of the 8-hour day, for the class demands of the proletariat, and for universal peace." When President Eisenhower made the Law Day Proclamation in 1958, the U.S. was roughly 10 years deep into a cold war with the Soviet Union, and few were confident the war would remain cold much longer. In fact, the president had taken office during the Korean conflict, and by 1958, in Vietnam, the Viet Minh and the French colonial forces had already been at war for more than a decade. Let’s just say that things hadn’t been going all that well for the French and,
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Inside This Edition Calendar of Events Committee News County Council Update Court Notices Criminal Law Update FL: A Retrospective FL: Recent AGC Cases Family Law Div. Mtg. Golf Registration Flyer Lawyers Assistance Member Ads Professional Lawyer SAVE THE DATE Solos: Rainmaker CLE YL Bull & Oyster Roast
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Stated Meeting, June 22, 4:30 p.m. Ceremonial Courtroom No. 5 Reception @ Towson Tavern
W e y r i c h , C r o n i n & S o r r a , Signature Sponsor THE ADVOCATE
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April 2017
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE Continued from page 1 in 1954, Ho Chi Minh had become Prime Minister of North Vietnam and was running it as a socialist state. Against this backdrop, the research shows that the president wanted to beat communism on the battlefield of public relations rather than on an actual battlefield. He had been the Supreme Allied Commander in World War II and, as noted, had taken office as president only months before the end of the Korean War. Americans, and their president, were understandably war weary. Yet still there was an important PR battle to be won at home while the Cold War boiled in hot spots elsewhere. The preamble to President Eisenhower’s Law Day Proclamation is telling: Whereas a free people can assure the blessings of liberty for themselves only if they recognize the necessity that the rule of law shall be supreme, and that all men shall be equal before the law; and
drudgery of the citizen working for the state. A contrast, if you will, between two radically different views of humanity and the role and power of government. Law Day is all about honoring the rule of law, it is all about honoring individual liberty, constrained and limited only by the rule of law, and not constrained at the whim of bureaucrats, commissars or government officials, or by the economic demands of the State. It is my conclusion that President Eisenhower chose the contrast of May 1 as Law Day to remind the world that the American experiment in self-government had shown the world a way, albeit an imperfect one, to achieve peace, liberty, and economic prosperity that merely demonstrating, protesting, and demanding could never achieve. From our perspective in 2017, we can look back on President Eisenhower’s Law Day Proclamation and get stuck on the imperfections of its time. It is easy to fastforward over the president sending federal troops to Little Rock to integrate a public school. It’s easy to overlook the fact that he had proposed a Civil Rights Act in 1957 that (shamefully) would not be adopted by Congress until 1964. And it’s easy to overlook the fact that the 14th Amendment, which had been ratified 90 years earlier, would not begin to be fully implemented by the courts for another decade. But to get hung up on the imperfections of the time would be to miss the heroic strides, the great patriotism and the mighty faith in our system and in our people that led President Eisenhower to inaugurate our tradition of celebrating Law Day. Happy May Day. Happy Law Day. Happy May!
Whereas this Nation was conceived by our forefathers as a nation of free men enjoying ordered liberty under law, and the supremacy of the law is essential to the existence of the Nation; and Whereas appreciation of the importance of law in the daily lives of our citizens is a source of national strength which contributes to public understanding of the necessity for the rule of law and the protection of the rights of the individual citizen; and Whereas by directing the attention of the world to the liberty under law which we enjoy and the accomplishments of our system of free enterprise, we emphasize the contrast between our freedom and the tyranny which enslaves the people of one-third of the world today; and
Rob Thompson, President 2016-2017
Whereas in paying tribute to the rule of law between men, we contribute to the elevation of the rule of law and its application to the solution of controversies between nations: Eisenhower contrasts the supremacy of the LAW, before which all citizens are (theoretically) equal -- a system in which the power to govern is granted by the people -- with those systems that emphasize the supremacy of the GOVERNMENT or the STATE itself. It’s a contrast between bottom-up authority and top-down authority; the beauty of the state working for the citizen rather than the
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C ALENDAR
2016-17 Officers President Pres-Elect Secretary Treasurer
Robert J. Thompson Adam T. Sampson Rebecca A. Fleming
Executive Council
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Hon. Keith R. Truffer Jay D. Miller Stanford G. Gann Jr. John G. Turnbull III Lisa Y. Settles Sondra M. Douglas
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The Advocate Thomas S. Basham Committee Chair
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Law Day: The 14th Amendment: Transforming American Democracy, 7:30 a.m. Breakfast at DLA Piper, Keynote Speaker: Judge Paul W. Grimm Law Day Noon Ceremonies, Ceremonial Courtroom No. 5, Towson Keynote Speaker: Prof. Garrett Epps BCBA Executive Council Meeting, 8 a.m., Judicial Conference Room 412 Lawyer in the Lobby, 4:30-6:30 p.m., Bar Office Running Club, 5:30 p.m., meet in Patriot Plaza at Courthouse Fountain Bench/Bar Committee Meeting, 8 a.m., Judicial Conference Room 412 NIWC: Medical Malpractice, 5 p.m., Grand Jury Room Criminal Law: Administrative Law Hearings, 5 p.m., Grand Jury Room Solo & Small Firm: Financial Literacy for the Small Firm/Solo Practitioner, 12:30 p.m. Family Law: Annual Forum, Case & Legislative Updates, 4:30 p.m. BCBA Past Presidents’ Dinner, 6 p.m. E&T: Annual Dinner, 5:30 p.m., Country Club of Maryland COURTS & BAR OFFICE CLOSED, in observance of Memorial Day
Annamaria M. Walsh Committee Vice -Chair
Contributing Writers C. Theresa Beck Thomas H. Bostwick Catherine A. Dickinson Sondra M. Douglas Bruce E. Friedman Robert C. Lidston Gary Miles Margaret M. McKee Cecilia B. Paizs Jeffrey R. Scholnick Lisa Y. Settles Alexander C. Steeves Laurie Wasserman Catherine F. Woods Matthew I. Wyman The Advocate is a monthly publication of the Baltimore County Bar Association informing its members about current events relating to law. Articles do not necessarily reflect the official position of the BCBA and publication does not constitute an endorsement of views expressed. The contents of advertisements are the responsibility of the advertisers and are not recommendations or endorsements by The Advocate. Publication deadline: 10th of the month preceding publication.
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E VENTS
May 2017
Michael W. Siri
Hon. Vicki Ballou-Watts, Immediate Past President Alaina L. Storie, YL Chair
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BCBA Annual Golf Tournament, Noon, Rocky Point Golf Course Beginners’ Clinic begins at 2 p.m. Both include lunch, dinner & awards 6 Judicial Portraits Unveiled: Judges Brannan, Jenifer and Jacobson, 4 p.m., Courtroom 12, Circuit Court for Baltimore County, Towson 8 Bench/Bar Committee Meeting, 8 a.m., Judicial Conference Room 412 12 Maryland Judicial Conference - NO JUDGES AVAILABLE 13 BCBA Executive Council Meeting, 8 a.m., Judicial Conference Room 412 13 Lawyer in the Lobby, 4:30-6:30 p.m., Bar Office 14-17 MSBA Annual Conference & Meeting, Ocean City, MD 21 Running Club, 5:30 p.m., meet in Patriot Plaza at Courthouse Fountain 22 Baltimore County Bar Foundation Meeting, 3:30 p.m., Ceremonial Ctrm. 5 22 BCBA Annual Stated Meeting & Reception, 4:30 p.m., Ceremonial Ctrm. 5 Reception immediately following meeting at Towson Tavern, York Road All Members invited - FREE event!
Please stop by the BCBA Hospitality Suite during the MSBA Annual Conference in Ocean City Clarion Resort, Fontainebleau Hotel, 10100 Coastal Highway June 14-16, 2017 - Open nightly 7 p.m.—midnight Cabana 202, near the indoor pool/deck Generously sponsored this year by ICS-Insurance Chesapeake Valuation Advisors HealthQuest Chiropractic & Physical Therapy Zest Social Media Solutions
*If you are interested in volunteering for the monthly Lawyer in the Lobby, please contact Rachel Ruocco, 410-337-9103 x102
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MARYLAND JUDICIARY Maryland Judiciary Launches Comprehensive Attorney Information Database The Maryland Judiciary is launching the Attorney Information System (AIS), a new comprehensive database that brings together information about Maryland attorneys maintained by the court-related agencies that support the Court of Appeals in its role regulating the legal profession in Maryland. AIS also will provide a single portal for lawyers to update personal information, obtain disciplinary history and status, and file mandatory reports annually. Initially, attorneys will use AIS to update their information maintained with the Court of Appeals, the Client Protection Fund, and the Administrative Office of the Courts. Attorneys are required to identify a primary address and may designate any address as confidential. Further, attorneys may obtain information about their status, including past
administrative and disciplinary actions, whether those actions have been cured, relevant court orders, and whether they have been restored to good standing. The capacity to file required reports will be added in the next implementation phase expected later this year. In the future, attorneys will be able to use AIS to pay their annual Client Protection Fund assessments online. “The Attorney Information System represents a significant investment by the Judiciary to improve the internal management of attorney records and to facilitate for attorneys both the reporting of required information and access to their status history,” said Mary Ellen Barbera, Chief Judge of the Court of Appeals. “From concept to reality, AIS required intensive collaboration within the Judiciary. I congratulate my colleagues on their vision and good work on this project.” In April 2017, each Maryland attorney will receive a letter from the Maryland Judiciary by regular mail with information about the AIS and how to activate an account. Attorneys will need an email address to activate their accounts and update information online.
Paul E. Alpert, Retired Judge Available for Mediation and Arbitration Former Judge of District Court, Circuit Court and Court of Special Appeals
410-484-2088
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April 2017
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April 2017
COUNTY COUNCIL UPDATE by Thomas H. Bostwick Greetings! The members of the Baltimore County Council are grateful for the opportunity to update the County Bar on the activities of our County’s legislative body. Your seven member County Council serves as the independent Legislative Branch of County government. The Council meets yearround, generally in bi-monthly Legislative Sessions (held at night) and bi-monthly Work Sessions (held during the day). All proceedings are open to the public, and the Legislative Session is broadcast on BCTV (Comcast & Verizon channel 25). The Council’s Website at www.baltimorecountycouncil.org provides helpful information as well. Baltimore County Budget – on April 13, 2017, Baltimore County Executive Kevin Kamenetz presented the administration’s Budget Message, and offered his $3.2 billion Total Operating Budget for Fiscal Year 2018. Highlights of the budget include forward funding for public education, public safety, and creating economic opportunities, while also holding the line on the property tax rate for the 29th year in a row, and the income tax rate for the 25th year in a row. The County Council now undertakes its own review of the FY18 budget. This includes a budget analysis of individual County agencies and departments by the County Auditor, and budget hearings with County agencies. This will culminate in the County Council’s Budget Message and FY18 Budget Adoption on May 25, 2017 in the Council Chamber.
in Caetano v. Massachusetts, 577 U.S. ___ (2016) that possession of “stun guns” was protected by the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution. Although Bill 12-17 repealed the County statute, Tasers are still regulated in Section 4 -109 of the Criminal Law Article of the Annotated Code, particularly as to age and previous criminal history. Appointments – also on April 3, 2017, the Council confirmed the re-appointment of Jason S. Garber from the Sixth Councilmanic District to a three-year term on the County Board of Appeals. Mr. Garber is an attorney with the firm of Moore & Jackson in Towson. The Council offers its sincere congratulations to Mr. Garber and appreciates his continued service.
Bill 12-17 – Electronic Control Device Law – Repeal – at its April 3, 2017 Legislative Session, the County Council passed Bill 12-17. This Bill repeals section 17-2-104 of the County Code. This section prohibits a person from possessing an “electronic control device” also known as a Taser. The County Council first passed a law against possessing a “stun gun” or similar device in 1985. The Council amended the law in Bill 59-09, changing “stun gun” to “electronic control device.” On March 21, 2016, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a per curiam decision
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April 2017
THE PROFESSIONAL LAWYER Help Yourself and Make a Difference at the Same Time by Margaret M. McKee
David Maister, formerly a professor at Harvard Business School, has written a lot about the management of professional service firms and what leads to their success. His ideas are fairly simple and usually eloquently expressed. He has frequently spoken and written on the topic of professionalism and what qualities are embraced by a professional. He says, “What you do with your billable time determines your current income, but what you do with your nonbillable time determines your future.” This quote speaks to the necessity of all of us to cultivate relationships which will ultimately help us in the days to come. As lawyers we should not only focus on our personal law practices, but should also expend energy on the betterment of the practice of law. I would reframe Dr. Maister’s statement and ask, “What are you doing with your non-billable time which is contributing to the future practice of law in our community?” If you are having some difficulty coming up with an answer to this question, I have a suggestion for you: If you are a new lawyer, get a mentor. If you are a seasoned practitioner, sign up for a mentee. The Professionalism Committee of the BCBA recently implemented a mentoring program. This program was undertaken in recognition of the increased number of new lawyers who are unemployed or underemployed, and who lack the guidance and direction which those of us who started practicing long ago were fortunate enough to obtain. The big firms, where some of us cut our teeth, are no longer hiring a significant number of associates in any given year. The mid-size firms have also reduced their number of new hires. The result is that many new lawyers are hanging out their own shingle with little or no experience, or they are working in smaller firms where everyone is so busy that there is little time for guidance. In addition to the changing economics of practice, the make-up of the legal community has changed as well. In the past when we would go to court, we would know most of the practitioners in the courthouse, but now, with so many of us practicing, it is not unusual to walk the halls without seeing a single familiar face. If we seasoned lawyers find this fact somewhat disconcerting, think how difficult it must be for a new
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lawyer. This wandering in the wilderness for young lawyers is unnecessary and easily avoidable. All that is asked of you as a mentor or mentee is to connect face-to-face a few times a year. Have lunch or coffee together. Take a few minutes to speak on the phone on a monthly basis. Talk about the obstacles, trade war stories, ask questions, impart knowledge, give guidance, and articulate/assuage fears. Take the time to bring your mentee to bar association events. Introduce your mentee to others practicing in their area of interest. Invite your mentee to court with you for a hearing. Opportunities abound and it will not take much of your unbillable time to make a significant difference in the life of your mentee. For the new lawyers, recognize the value of experience, and take advantage of the opportunity to learn from those who walked where you now find yourselves walking. Let someone who has made the mistakes help you to avoid them. Realize there is much you do not know and do not think for a moment that asking for help is a sign of weakness or incompetence. It isn’t. We can all make a difference. Mentoring is one of the easiest ways to do so, and from experience I can say it is also extremely rewarding. Again, in the words of David Maister, “Professional is not a label you give yourself - it’s a description you hope others will apply to you.” Be a professional by imparting the knowledge you have or acquiring the knowledge you need. Doing so will improve the legal community in which we all practice. If you are interested in being a mentor, please feel free to contact me at mmckee@proctorlaw.com, Jill Green, Chair of the Professionalism Committee, at dgreen@ubalt.edu or Craig Ward, Vice-Chair at cward@rmmr.com. If you are a new admittee or young lawyer looking for a mentor, the Bar’s website has an electronic application you can submit. The application is found at https://www.bcba.org/ professionalism-committee/ .
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FAMILY LAW DIVISION MEETING by William R. Levasseur, Jr.
Dear Bar Colleagues: Judge Jakubowski asked us to disseminate the following points/issues to the Family Law Bar which came up during the Baltimore County Circuit Court's Family Division Meeting for April, 2017: 1. Clerk’s Office Phone System The Clerk’s Office has converted to a new phone system which is still undergoing some growing pains. One issue is that when all of the phone lines are in use by Clerk's Office personnel, instead of getting a busy signal, the phone will ring indefinitely. Under the old system, if the four incoming lines to the clerk's office were in use, a busy signal would sound. The Clerk's Office is working on the issue — please be patient. 2. Mediation of Marital Property Issues Wendy Sawyer reported that additional staff has been trained to handle the mediation of simple Marital Property issues within the Office of Family Mediation — this is in addition to the traditional child custody and child access mediation performed by that office. The preferred time to request the inclusion of Marital Property issues in the mediation of a particular case is at the Settlement/Scheduling Conference. Let the Magistrate know that both lawyers are in agreement that the mediation should include Marital Property issues and the mediator can cover those issues with the parties. The office will accommodate requests later in the process as long as the attorneys agree to it. The mediators will not cover complex Marital Property issues, like retirement and pension assets, but if there are just some bank accounts, credit cards, cars and even a house, etc. Wendy reports the mediators are trained and prepared to handle those issues. The office can mediate Marital Property issues even in cases where children are not involved.
victims of domestic violence (i.e. Petitioners – male or female) with legal assistance in the event that the victim cannot engage the services of an attorney. We have attached a flyer that would be a good resource for family law practitioners to have on hand when a phone or office consultation concludes without our being able to assist the victim at the final Order Hearing stage of the preceding. Ms. Mercer’s e-mail address is jmercer@wclmd.org. Please feel free to call or e-mail either of us with any questions or issues that you think require the attention of the Family Law Division of the Circuit Court. Best regards to all. Very truly yours, William R. Levasseur, Jr. 410-321-0400; wrlevasseurjr@levlawmd.com Annamarie M. Walsh 410-494-4921; awalsh@awalshlegal.com
3. Free Legal Assistance in DV Cases Jennifer A. Mercer, Esquire, an attorney with the Women's Law Center of Maryland was present at the meeting and discussed a representation project initiated by the Women's Law Center providing THE ADVOCATE
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April 2017
SOLOS “BECOME A RAINMAKER FOR YOUR PRACTICE” by Kimberly K. P. Rothwell
On March 23, 2017, the Solo & Small Firm Committee hosted another session in its bi-monthly lunch and learn series. The session featured David Kelly, CEO of The Growth Coach of Greater Baltimore. The event was well attended with lunch provided by The Growth Coach. Mr. Kelly started by dispelling some myths. He said that it does not take substantial amounts of advertising to grow a practice. The best and simplest way to grow a legal practice is through referrals from other attorneys. Getting referrals from peers and colleagues does take a bit of socializing. Mr. Kelly suggested that attorneys set up breakfast, lunch and dinner dates with colleagues every day. He said that having these meetings will build relationships with attorneys who will refer cases. Mr. Kelly reminded the group of the importance of maintaining relationships with satisfied clients. Mr. Kelly spoke about various ways to convert prospects into clients through content marketing. His discussion of the impact of social media on advertising included the observation that it is important that the attorney controls the message. This was an informative presentation. The attendees were engaged and appeared eager to act on the advice.
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April 2017
YOUNG LAWYERS 2017 ANNUAL BULL & OYSTER ROAST
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SILENT AUCTION
by Alaina L. Storie
April 2, 2017 was a beautiful spring day for the Young Lawyers’ Annual Bull & Oyster Roast and
We changed things up a bit and launched an online bidding site ahead of April 2nd so the silent auction items could be advertised and bid on early, with bidding continuing live at the event. It was a great way to kick off the Bull Roast and build excitement and momentum for the auction items. This year we had three generously donated raffle items and 35 amazing auction items, which ranged from Orioles tickets, to baskets full of bourbon, beauty supplies, movie treats, power tools, spa days, and a tea set, to concert tickets, jewelry, happy hours, wine tastings, a Deep Creek vacation and so much more. Several attorneys, law firms, and organizations created and donated baskets to be auctioned, other law firms made monetary donations from which baskets were created, and many other organizations were gracious enough to donate their goods and services to benefit this year’s charity.
Silent Auction. The Bull Roast was held at the American Legion in Towson, attended by 120 adults and many, many children, and included great food and an ice cream bar, and such fun and games as a DJ, stuffed animal wheel, money wheel, face painter, raffles, and of course, the silent auction. This family friendly event offers an afternoon of fun and socializing, and was once again, a great success. This year’s charity and recipient of funds raised at the Bull Roast was The Women’s Law Center, a wonderful non-profit organization advocating for the protection and expansion of women's rights through legal assistance to individuals and strategic initiatives to achieve systemic change. THE ADVOCATE
The Bull & Oyster Roast and Silent Auction is the Young Lawyers Committee’s biggest fundraising effort of the year, and we are proud to announce that over $6,200 was raised and will be donated to The Women’s Law Center! Thank you, thank you to all who came out and placed their bids, and took their chances on raffles and games to support the well-deserving Women’s Law Center. The Young Lawyers Committee also wants to thank all those who attended the Bull Roast – members of the Bench, members of the Bar, and their
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YOUNG LAWYERS 2017 ANNUAL BULL & OYSTER ROAST
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Professionalism Committee B&O Railroad Museum Baltimore Streetcar Museum Bosom Buddy Bags Coppermine Fieldhouse The Greene Turtle of Towson iFly Indoor Skydiving Mary DeMarco Mouth Party Caramels Outback Steakhouse of Perry Hall Real Flexi Reisterstown Lumber Company Radebaugh’s Florist DJ Gene Huppmann, a.k.a. “The After Dinner Spinner” Michelle from Christine Cots Face Painting – services donated by Schlachman, Belsky & Weiner, P.A.
We would like to acknowledge those who made in kind or monetary donations for the silent auction, and who donated their services (in no particular order): Blades & Rosenfeld, P.A. Bodie, Dolina, Smith, Hobbs & Grenzer, P.C. Bowie & Jensen, LLC Frank F. Daily, P.A. Fedder and Garten, P.A. Law Offices of Sally B. Gold Heisler, Williams & Lazzaro, LLC Kaufman, Ries & Elgin P.A. Law Offices of Julie Ellen Landau Levin & Gann, P.A. Mudd, Harrison & Burch, LLP Proctor & McKee, P.A. Pessin Katz Law, P.A. Royston Mueller McLean & Reid, LLP Salsbury Sullivan, LLC Saul Ewing LLP Turnbull, Nicholson & Sanders, P.A. Roland Walker and Marc L. Zayon, P.A. Warnken, LLC Mary Roby Sanders, Esquire Angela Silverstein, Esquire Michelle Valenti, Esquire Laurie Wasserman, Esquire Robert J. Thompson, Esquire, BCBA President Baltimore County Bar Association Executive Council Baltimore County Bar Association THE ADVOCATE
Thank you again and we look forward to seeing you at next year’s Bull & Oyster Roast and Silent Auction!
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CRIMINAL LAW UPDATE by Robert C. Lidston
The April 2017 Amicus Curiarum features two Court of Appeals decisions and one Court of Special Appeals decision which may be of interest. Hartman v. State, No. 15, September Term 2016, filed March 27, 2017. Opinion by Hotten, J. Observed stealing several items from a Walmart, Hartman was arrested and charged with theft under $100 in the District Court. He agreed to plead guilty in exchange for the State’s recommending a suspended sentence. This, the State did at the plea hearing. The judge, however, found Hartman guilty and sentenced her to thirty days in jail. Pursuant to Courts and Judicial Proceedings Article 12-401, Hartman filed a de novo appeal to the Circuit Court. In the Circuit Court, Hartman entered a plea of not guilty and requested a trial date. Later, the State offered her a plea agreement where in exchange for her guilty plea, the State would recommend thirty dates of incarceration. Hartman filed a motion in the Circuit Court trying to enforce the terms of the District Court plea agreement. At a hearing, the Circuit Court held that the terms of the District Court plea agreement were no longer enforceable because on a de novo appeal, the Circuit Court considers the case anew. She filed an interlocutory appeal to the Court of Special Appeals. The Court of Appeals, sua sponte, took the case for consideration. It affirmed what the trial court had done. The Court has repeatedly held that plea agreements are like contracts. A reviewing court considers only the record established at the plea hearing, including what was presented to the trial court, in the defendant’s presence, and what the defendant reasonably understood to be the sentence that was negotiated. From the Hartman District Court record, the Court of Appeals concluded that a reasonable person would not have expected the plea agreement to extend beyond the District Court proceeding. Even though the District Court judgment remained intact until the conclusion of the Circuit Court proceeding, the factual and procedural underpinnings that led to the judgment in the District Court did not. THE ADVOCATE
The Court held that Hartman had properly preserved her due process claim regarding the enforcement of the plea agreement, but had not preserved such claim with regard to possible prosecutorial vindictiveness. Still, it considered this claim. Due process concerns for fairness and the adequacy of procedural safeguards guide any interpretation of a court approved plea agreement. The Court held that it was not required to determine what the terms of a plea agreement were and whether they had been violated. Instead, the central issue before the Court was whether a plea agreement existed between the parties in the Circuit Court. Since Hartman had not detrimentally relied on the existence of an alleged plea agreement in the Circuit Court and the State’s conduct did not violate her constitutional rights, the due process concerns of fairness and the adequacy of procedural safeguards were not implicated. Because the District Court plea was not enforceable after Hartman noted a de novo appeal, the State’s recommendation of thirty days incarceration in exchange for a guilty plea was a plea offer that Hartman was free to accept or reject. Since Hartman was free to accept or reject the plea offer, there was no "realistic fear of vindictiveness" that violated the due process clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. In re Cody H., No. 27, September Term 2016, filed March 24, 2017. Opinion by Greene, J. Cody was found delinquent for punching a fellow teenager and breaking his jaw. The State sought a restitution award of $1,492.61 for medical expenses and $6,400.00 for loss of earnings. The victim and his father testified at the restitution hearing that the victim planned to participate in a work-study program at Roseda Farm for the duration of the 20142015 school year. The State introduced a letter from Roseda Farm that the victim would have worked for approximately 20 hours a week for approximately 40
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weeks and would have earned $6,400.00. The magistrate recommended restitution for medicals of $1,489.61 but did not recommend any restitution for lost earnings. The State filed exceptions and the juvenile court judge ordered loss of earnings restitution in the amount of $5,000.00. Cody appealed this order arguing that the court abused its discretion because the Maryland restitution statute does not permit awards for "future loss of earnings" and that restitution was not supported by competent evidence. The Court of Special Appeals affirmed the restitution order. Cody petitioned the Court of Appeals. The Court affirmed. The restitution in this case was not an award for "future" loss of earnings because the award represented loss of earnings accounting from the date of the injury to the date of the restitution hearing. However, the General Assembly did not create an express limitation on restitution for future loss of earnings and an award for future loss of earnings could have been proper in this case - as long as it was not speculative and did not cover losses not reasonably certain to occur. Restitution for loss of earnings is proper so long as it meets the express statutory requirements that the loss or expense must be a direct result of the crime or delinquent act and the claim for restitution must be shown by competent evidence. In order for restitution to be proper, the claim for restitution cannot be speculative and the restitution cannot cover things that are not reasonably certain to occur. The victim’s claim for loss of earnings was not speculative because the employment was for a definite period of time and there was evidence to support the number of hours he would have worked and the amount of wages he would earn. The restitution awarded in the case was for wages lost during the period of time between the assault and the restitution hearing. The Court also held that the restitution claim was supported by competent evidence. The victim and his father had testified that the victim was scheduled to work in the program at Roseda Farm for the school year and that he would work 20 hours per week for $8 an hour. The Roseda Farm manager had supplied a letter showing that he would work for 20 THE ADVOCATE
hours per week for approximately 40 weeks. The information contained in the letter was consistent with the testimony of the victim and his father. It served to corroborate and enhance the reliability of the testimonial evidence. Cruz v. State, No. 18, September Term 2016, filed March 3, 2017. Opinion by Graeff, J. The victim testified that she was abducted by Cruz and driven to a field where she was pulled out of the vehicle and raped at gunpoint. On cross-examination, defense counsel asked whether she, an admitted heroin addict, had used heroin on the day of the trial. She responded that she had used $40 worth of heroin early that morning. Counsel moved to strike her testimony on the ground that she was not "competent to testify due to the fact that she had been using heroin." The motion was denied. The Court of Special Appeals affirmed. The use of drugs, without more, does not render a witness incompetent to testify. A witness who is a drug addict or who testifies while under the influence of drugs is not incompetent per se. To be considered incompetent to testify, there must be a showing that the witness’s mental capacity is impaired to such an extent that the witness lacked "sufficient capacity to observe, recollect and recount pertinent facts" or does not understand the duty to tell the truth. The trial judge, who had ample opportunity to observe the victim on the stand, decided that her answers to questions had been very responsive, that she had "handled herself very well," and that she did not appear to be "in any way under the influence" during her testimony. There was nothing in the record to suggest the victim did not understand the duty to tell the truth. Thus, the Circuit Court did not abuse its discretion.
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Committee News FLYERS for all programs can be viewed and printed from the BCBA website calendar (www.bcba.org). You can also elect to make a voluntary donation during any registration process to this year’s designated Charity - The Women’s Law Center. In advance, thank you for your generosity.
CRIMINAL LAW COMMITTEE May 17, 2017, 5 p.m., Administrative Hearings, presented by Neil I. Jacobs, Esquire, Seth R. Okin, Esquire and Leonard H. Shapiro, Esquire.
MEMORIAL & RECOGNITION COMMITTEE
ESTATES & TRUSTS COMMITTEE
Please notify Doris Barnes at the Bar Office of the passing of any BCBA member. If this information is received in a timely manner, it will be emailed to the members. Thank you.
May 24, 2017, 5 p.m., Annual E&T Dinner and Legislative Update with Register of Wills Grace Connolly
Those members who will be honored at next year’s service on November 16, 2017, at 3:30 p.m., include:
FAMILY LAW COMMITTEE
Judge Christian M. Kahl Constance K. Putzel Judge A. Gordon Boone, Jr.
May 18, 2017, 4:30 p.m., Annual Family Law Forum, with Magistrate Richard J. Gilbert and Richard B. Jacobs, Esquire
Negligence, Insurance & WC Committee
LAWYER SERVICE
May 16, 2017, 5 p.m., Medical Malpractice Cases/Opening Arguments
REFERRAL
&
INFORMATION
Please note that the 2016-2017 Lawyer Referral & Information Service (LRIS) renewal information is now available. Click here to open and print out the application. If you are a current member, you must renew each year. If you are not a member of LRIS and wish to join, now is a great time! Contact Rachel Ruocco at 410-337-9100 or rachel@bcba.org if you have any questions about LRIS.
PROFESSIONALISM COMMITTEE This committee will meet on the following dates: May 16, 2017, 5 p.m., location TBD
PUBLIC AWARENESS COMMITTEE
&
SPEAKERS
If interested in teaching opportunities next year (2017-18), please email Doris Barnes (doris@bcba.org) and ask to be advised when dates are selected. Prepared presentations are provided for each class.
COMMITTEE REPORTS All Committee Reports, Chair and ViceChair contact information, upcoming programs and handouts from those programs already held this year can be found on the website at www.bcba.org.
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Committee News SOLO & SMALL FIRM COMMITTEE May 18, 2017, 12:30 p.m., Financial Literacy for the Small Firm/Solo Practitioner
YOUNG LAWYERS COMMITTEE Running Club. We are aiming to have monthly runs the second Wednesday of each month, for anyone who is interested. For the upcoming cold months, meet in the lobby of 401 Washington Avenue (rather than at the courthouse fountain in Patriot Plaza). We recommend that runners bring reflective gear, headlamps, etc. May 10, 2017, 5:30 p.m., Running Club, Patriot Plaza. Drinks to follow at Towson Nacho Mama’s. June 21, 2017, 5:30 p.m., Running Club, Patriot Plaza. Drinks to follow at Towson Nacho Mama’s. Note change of week due to MSBA Annual Conference in Ocean City. Summer Dates for Running Club will continue on the second Wednesday of each month.
Committee Planning Meetings will be scheduled during June and July. Dates will be listed here, and you will receive them by email. Please feel free to attend any planning meeting with ideas for programs speakers, and/ or venues.
Please email Maxine Morrow if you would like to be added to any Committee list, to receive emails specific to that Committee. You will remain on your selected Committee(s) until you ask to be removed, with the exception of Bench/Bar and Lawyers Assistance, which are by appointment of the President. If you are interested in being considered for Bench/Bar and/or Lawyers Assistance Committee(s) for 20172018, please email Doris Barnes.
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THE HISTORY OF FAMILY LAW IN MARYLAND: A RETROSPECTIVE AND A LOOK FORWARD by Angela J. Silverstein Joint BABC and BCBA Family Law Committee Dinner Meeting, April 6, 2017 The Family Law Committee held a dinner on April 6, 2017 at the Hunt Valley Inn in Timonium. The guest speakers were Retired Howard County Circuit Court Judge Diane O. Leasure, Baltimore City District Court Judge Mark F. Scurti and attorney Benjamin Schenker. Judge Leasure was the first to present. She discussed women in the law from a historical perspective, specifically the Finding Justice Book Project of the Maryland Women’s Bar Association Foundation. The project began in 2006 as a goal of Judge Lynne A. Battaglia, who retired from Court of Appeals last year. Her intent was the publication of a literary work on the history of women in the law in Maryland between 1642 and 1974. Judge Battaglia’s dream was realized in 2015 with the publication of Finding Justice. Surprisingly, women in 17th Century Maryland (at least single women) were quite involved in legal matters. Single women at that time appeared regularly in court representing their own and other’s interests. They could own property and speak for themselves and others in court. Judge Leasure discussed Margaret Brent, who was appointed attorney to Lord Baltimore and administratrix to the deceased Governor Leonard Calvert in 1647. Unfortunately the rights afforded single women attorneys were denied to married women who, at the time, were seen as mere extensions of their husbands. A married woman could not own property, sue or be sued and could not appear in court for any purpose other than as a representative of her husband. Judge Leasure discussed Etta Maddox, another prominent woman in Maryland Law. She went to Baltimore Law School when she was 40 years old, and graduated in 1901, the first woman to do so. Though Etta Maddox had graduated from law school she was denied admission to the bar as the privilege was only accorded to men. She petitioned the Court of Appeals for permission to take the Maryland Bar Exam but was turned down. Being tenacious, she THE ADVOCATE
presented her case to the Legislature and the bill to permit women to be admitted to the Maryland Bar passed the Senate and the House of Delegates in 1902: Governor John W. Smith signed it into law on April 8, 1902. Etta Maddox took and passed the bar exam the same year, becoming the first woman admitted to practice law in the State of Maryland. Judge Leasure’s presentation concluded with a discussion on mentoring programs for women lawyers after World War II and through to 1974. These programs were the advent of the Woman’s Bar Association of Maryland as the Maryland State Bar would not admit women until 1946 Judge Scurti started his presentation about how far we have come in relation to same sex marriage by asking “What’s in a name?” and reminding the audience that he had presented at a dinner in February, 2012 on the same topic when things were very different. In the 2012 dinner attendees had different states on straws to hold up – representing states that didn’t recognize same sex marriage, states that did and states that were on their way. Now we can hold the entire United States of America up as recognizing marriage equality. In discussing the importance of marriage equality, Judge Scurti discussed some of the names by which same sex relationships had been referred. In 1888 Oscar Wilde referred to is as “the love that we dare not speak”. Other names were “registered or unregistered co-habitant”, “domestic partnership”, “reciprocal beneficial relationship” and in the early 2000’s, “civil unions.” Finally, in 2015, as a result of the Supreme Court’s decision in Obergefell v. Hodges, marriage equality became the law of the land. Judge Scurti noted that the sun did still rise the next morning and heterosexual couples still married.
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THE HISTORY OF FAMILY LAW IN MARYLAND: A RETROSPECTIVE AND A LOOK FORWARD Continued from page 18 Judge Scurti asked, “Why did it matter?” The answer is simply because homosexual couples wanted the same benefits, rights, responsibilities and protections afforded heterosexual couples in Federal and State Laws. The road to achieving marriage equality was difficult with many setbacks along the way. Interestingly certain religions recognized same sex marriage first and certain municipalities began to afford benefits to same sex couples. Ultimately the door opened when homosexuality was removed from the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) as a mental illness in 1973. Marriage equality suffered a set back in 1996 with the enactment of the Defense of Marriage Act.
to marry today, specifically inter-racial couples, were barred from marrying at the time that marriage laws were conceived. As noted by the other speakers, at one time married women essentially had no individual rights to speak for themselves and same sex marriage was barred. Marriage was a narrowly defined right and divorce was very difficult to obtain.
States slowly began to recognize same sex marriage with Massachusetts being the first to allow marriage equality in 2004. The Netherlands was the first country to allow same sex marriage in 2001. Canada followed suit and Spain did too, after the king publicly advocated in favor of same sex marriage.
Mr. Schenker ended by asking where may be going in the future of family law in Maryland. Given the advent of the mutual consent divorce, might divorce become less difficult for couples with children as well? How will the courts interpret the inevitable cases following Conover v. Conover? How might the courts deal with polyamorous relationships and any children that may be involved as a result of those relationships?
Judge Scurti reminded us that it is not all good news for marriage equality around the world. There are 76 countries in which homosexuality is considered illegal and in some countries it is punishable by death. Further, in recent years there were 195 initiatives in 31 states attempting to curtail marriage equality. While it may be the law of the land, marriage equality still has some ways to go to achieve full acceptance. Benjamin Schenker, a brand new lawyer, rounded out the evening, presenting on his article from last November’s Maryland Bar Journal called History of Divorce in Maryland. Mr. Schenker discussed the difficulties in obtaining a divorce in Maryland until the recent development of the “mutual consent” divorce in 2015.
Mr. Schenker drew attention to some harsh, archaic laws surrounding 17th Century marriage in Maryland If a white woman sought to marry a black slave, she and their children could be enslaved, while a thirty year old man was free to marry an eight year old girl (that marriage was only voidable, not absolutely void).
The evening’s program provided an opportunity to take a good hard look at where we used to be in family law in Maryland and where we may be going. How will we protect the family unit, how will it be defined and how will we also protect the individual? At times discussing the odd laws of yester-year provided amusement but the reality is we should consider how we may be judged by future generations in our actions of today.
Mr. Schenker pointed out that we cannot celebrate how far family law in Maryland has come without looking back at from where we came. For example, Mr. Schenker pointed out that individuals permitted THE ADVOCATE
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FAMILY LAW: A REVIEW OF RECENT AGC CASES by Angela J. Silverstein
The Family Law Committee held a dinner on April 12, 2017 at Christopher Daniels in Timonium. The guest speaker was Lydia E. Lawless, Esquire, Senior Assistant Bar Counsel. Most evenings spent with Bar Counsel can make attorneys nervous however, on April 12, 2017 Lydia Lawless, Esquire put everyone in attendance at Alex McGee and Angela Silverstein ease almost immediately. Ms. Lawless started her presentation with good news, which is always appreciated. She explained that over the last year, of the 39,000 attorneys admitted to the bar in Maryland, there was an all-time low in complaints to the Attorney Grievance Commission. The bad news was that there were 1,835 complaints filed, 330 docketed for further investigation, and 51 of those docketed stemmed from family law cases. There were 29 disbarments last year. Going back to good news, Ms. Lawless pointed out that Baltimore County did better than most counties with a low rate of complaints; Montgomery County
is in the lead in the rate of complaints. The largest areas of complaint are ranked as follows: incompetent representation, lack of diligence, lack of Lydia Lawless and Leon Berg
communication, unreasonable fees, failure to keep appropriate records and finally, conduct that brings the profession into disrepute. Ms. Lawless discussed four specific cases, the first being one relating to attorney Jerome Johnson. Mr. Johnson had taken a fee and appeared before the magistrate on behalf of his client. Mr. Johnson had not entered his appearance but told the magistrate that he would. The magistrate ruled on the child support case and Mr. Johnson failed to timely file exceptions that he assured his client he would file. Finally, Mr. Johnson filed exceptions but did not enter his appearance or pay the required fee – the exceptions were returned. Mr. Johnson did nothing to rectify the problem and, making matters worse, did not return the several massages left him by his client. The client subsequently learned through judiciary case search that his exceptions had been returned and nothing had been done to fix the problem. Of course the client filed a complaint against Mr. Johnson. Mr. Johnson received a 1 year suspension. Ms. Lawless then discussed the case of Jeffrey Marcalus. Mr. Marcalus’
Rob Erdman, Beverly Wallace, Rob Thompson and Lydia Lawless
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FAMILY LAW: A REVIEW OF RECENT AGC CASES by Angela J. Silverstein
case serves as a cautionary tale to attorneys engaged in relationships with clients, opposing parties and “sexting”. The details of Mr. Marcalus’ case are probably too salacious for this article but Ms. Lawless assures us that The Honorable Shirly M. Watts provided definitions to certain terms not ordinarily used in a courtroom setting. Mr. Marcalus was ultimately disbarred for violating Maryland Lawyer’s Rule of Professional Conduct 8.4(d) – conduct prejudicial to the administration of justice, as a result of his texting sexually explicit messages to a
pro se opposing party. Of note was the fact that this was Mr. Marcalus’ third strike. The next case discussed was that involving Rhonda Framm. Ms. Lawless pointed out one of the rules that Ms. Framm was found to have violated was Maryland Lawyers’ Rules of Professional Conduct 1.5 which requires a reasonable fee. She further pointed out that the AGC never contended that her hourly rate of $425 was unreasonable but rather that the overall total fee in the case and the final result for the client was unreasonable. As a result of Ms. Framm’s actions, or lack thereof, the client had been barred from presenting any evidence or testimony at the time of the trial of his case. Ultimately Ms. Lawless pointed out that attorneys should review their fees at the beginning of the case and then again at the end to ensure compliance with Rule 1.5. While most of us are probably not going to venture into the realm of Mr. Marcalus, there are lessons to be learned relating to the of Ms. Framm. In the end, attorneys need to be very careful when they think a client may not be fully competent to sign retainer agreements and assist in his or her case, but we also need to be vigilant when it comes to the reasonableness of our fees, not just the hourly rate but the fees in total. Our thanks to Ms. Lawless for
New Hire? Office Relocation? Place your ad in The Advocate. Reasonable rates. Design assistance available. Contact Doris Barnes 410-337-9103 x101 doris@bcba.org
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CIRCUIT COURT LAW LIBRARY NEWS New Titles CELL PHONE DISTRACTION, HUMAN FACTORS, AND LITIGATION / Smith, T. Scott. – Lawyers & Judges Publishing Company, Inc., 2016. KF 2780 .S65. DRONES ACROSS AMERICA: unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) regulation and state laws / Nilsson, Dr. Sarah. – ABA, 2017. KF 2406 .N55. New Micpels MARYLAND CONSTRUCTION LAW DESKBOOK / Kovars, Joseph; Schollaert, Michael. – MSBA, 20122017. KFM 1352 .K68 2017. WILL DRAFTING IN MARYLAND / Cruttenden, Danielle; Donnelly, Michael; Franke, Frederick; Hubbard, Christine; Mace, Matthew. – MSBA, 1988-2017. KFM 1342 .W68 2017. . New CDs (See Librarian for check out policy) MARYLAND LIMITED LIABILTY COMPANY FORMS 2017 WILL DRAFTING IN MARYLAND 2017 New DVD (See Librarian for check out policy) ACCESS TO JUSTICE 2016 New Westlaw Features The Law Library’s WestLaw subscription now allows access to: All West Treatises Select Maryland Trial Court Documents PDF version of Maryland appellate cases in the Atlantic Reporter As always, there is no charge for searching Westlaw (or any of our online databases). You will only be charged for printing material. Newsletter Check out the latest Law Library newsletter Pro Libris at http://www.baltimorecountymd.gov/Agencies/ circuit/library/publications.html or stop by the Law Library to pick up a copy.
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M
ark your calendars.
The BCBA Stated Meeting will be held at 4:30 p.m. in Ceremonial Courtroom No. 5 on Thursday, June 22, 2017. The Annual Reception will be held immediately following the June meeting at Towson Tavern on York Road at the Circle.
What are your photos worth? What if you woke up tomorrow and they were ALL gone? Take a few minutes to check out this service. Here is a link to an introduction video (90 sec): https://www.youtube.com/watch? v=izLiqnX5h2o.
Protect your personal and organization’s photographs forever. Guarantee they will be in a retrievable format 10, 20, 50+ years from today. The “free” services are a gamble not worth taking, since they own your photographs, and can remove them at any time. What would you do if you logged on, only to find them all gone?! Email forever100plus@gmail.com for more information on how to protect your legacy.
And one (3.5 min) to explain the permanent storage concept: https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=K7k-pqJZ92w.
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Don’t let this happen to your career. Reach out for help before it becomes a train wreck. Don’t wait for Bar Counsel to pay you a visit. Confidential help is available for any attorney, paralegal or support staff for drug, alcohol and/or mental health issues, among others.
ARE ALCOHOL AND DRUGS CAUSING PROBLEMS IN YOUR LIFE? There is a way up and a way out — for ABSOLUTELY CONFIDENTIAL help, call us today ... BALTIMORE COUNTY LAWYER ASSISTANCE PROGRAM A CONFIDENTIAL resource for Baltimore County attorneys, assistants and judges. Our services include help for a broad range of problems and personal concerns, such as: Depression Marital and Family Relationships Alcohol and Drug Abuse Stress and Burnout Prescription Drug Concerns Career Concerns
Gambling Internet Addiction Sexual Addiction Compulsive Spending Eating Disorders Balancing Work and Family
WE DO NOT KEEP RECORDS. Our sole purpose is to provide help. We can assist with providing access to treatment facilities and provide emergency practice management, as well as referrals to professional counselors. GARY MILES, Chair RICHARD LYNAS, Vice-Chair STUART AXILBUND JIM BEACH MARY CHALAWSKY MARISSA JOELSON JAY MILLER JOSE MOLINA SAM MOXLEY JOE MURTHA JIM QUINN BILL SALTYSIAK MARK VAN BAVEL
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443-632-1760 410-288-1099 410-832-7579 410-241-8538 410-649-2000 917-226-6472 410-951-7165 443-851-7353 410-733-3306 410-583-6969 443-703-3041 410-583-8883 410-337-5291
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Signature Sponsors
LAWYER IN THE LOBBY CLINIC The attorneys listed below have volunteered to staff the LAWYER IN THE LOBBY CLINIC, which is held the second Wednesday of each month, 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. This is an opportunity for citizens of Baltimore County to meet, free of charge, with an attorney for advice and/or referral or both (including self-referral) in the areas of collections, bankruptcy, landlord/tenant matters, contract, warranties and other consumer matters, wills, probate, advance directives, or small claims actions. If you are interested in staffing the Clinic, please call Rachel M. Ruocco at 410-337-9100 or email rachel@bcba.org. Jerry Blake Julius Blattner Jessica Corace Keith Franz Bruce Friedman Bambi Glenn Valerie Ibe Michael Jeffers Fu-Mei Jiang Richard Lebovitz Craig Little Brady Locher
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Lisa Magil Mala Malhotro-Ortiz Paul Mayhew James Nolan Lynne Peace Larry Polen E. David Silverberg Brian Tillman Rob Tully Michelle Valenti Jordan Watts
The Baltimore County Bar Association continues its Signature Sponsor program, which enhances the opportunities for our sponsors, as well as our members. This single-tier program provides more engagement between our sponsors and our members. Each Signature Sponsor can host an event during the year, thereby reducing the cost of the event for members while providing added benefits. Sponsorships help the Bar Association maintain its current dues level despite the increasing costs of providing topshelf legal education programs, social events, networking opportunities and Bar Office services available in the County Courts Building. If you know of a business that would be interested in one of these limited sponsorship opportunities, please contact Doris Barnes (doris@bcba.org or 410-337-9103).
Please join us in welcoming these sponsors and consider their services when you need them. Their ads are throughout each issue of The Advocate, distinguished by the gold ribbon that accompanies the ad. Please let them know you appreciate their support. Thank you.
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The Baltimore County Bar Association 100 County Courts Building 401 Bosley Avenue Towson, MD 21204-4491 410-337-9103-Telephone 410-823-3418-Facsimile www.bcba.org
Don’t miss items included in this issue: Pg. 5 - Golf Registration Flyer Pg. 10 - Save the Date Flyer
MEMBER ADVERTISEMENTS TOWSON. Office sublease available at 401 Washington Ave. Professional setting with private and secure access. Total of 5 offices (3 fully-furnished) approx. 1,089 SF. Wired for phone/Internet; Access to conference rooms during business hours Mon-Fri. Term thru Dec 2018. Parking available at Balt. County lot across the street. Contact Jess Gordon at (410) 292-7862 or jgordon@jlmpartners.net. Conference Table, 15’x5’, dark wood; needs to be moved by June 1st. Call Gene Miles, 410-828-1050. Seeking part-time legal work. Semi-retired criminal defense attorney seeking part-time work. Flexible hours and days. Willing to do office work, but can do much more if needed. Reasonable hourly rate. Towson to Hunt Valley area. Please call Carol at 443-694-1287. Towson. Furnished, interior office available for sublet.
Includes use of conference room, reception area, kitchenette, and internet. Possibility of referral/subcontractor work. Walk to both Towson courthouses. Contact Meredith Martin: 410-970-6495 or mm@meredithmartinlaw.com. Towson Office Space. Offices for rent in the heart of downtown Towson, overlooking the Old Courthouse. Receptionist, copy machine, conference facilities, nice people and other amenities. If interested, please contact Matthew Ortega at 443-921-8161 x407, for details. Maryland Reports, Volumes #1 to #345. Walnut looking book case included. Currently located in Pikesville area. $350 or best offer. Gerald Zimlin, zimlinlaw@comcast.net , 410-686-1911. Towson. Office space available in First-Class Suite directly across from the Towson District Court. Parking, use of conference rooms, library, receptionist, etc. included. Contact Keith at 410-821-6800. Middle River. Professional space, share office. Use of conference and waiting rooms, copy and fax machine, and internet. Free parking. Available immediately. Contact Jerry at zimlinlaw@comcast.net or call 410-686-1911.
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