THE ADVOCATE Newsletter of The Baltimore County Bar Association VOLUME XXIX, NO. 5
December 2019
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE by Hon. Michael W. Siri Happy Holidays! Each year, I know that Thanksgiving will be the fourth Thursday of each month and when winter holidays start, but for some reason, it always catches me by surprise. Between work and preparing meals and buying presents to spending time with family, it seems as if we spend more time preparing for the holidays than enjoying the holidays. Additionally, there is little time to reflect about the past year and plan for the New Year. Thus, I decided to take a deep breath and think about 2019. The BCBA planned and participated in a lot of good events this past year. We crowned the Circuit Court Law Clerks trivia champions beating out numerous other teams at the fall trivia event at 7West. They came from behind by correctly answering the final question (btw – 21 Pixar movies have been made). The Wines and Whiskey Charity Event brought members to Maryvale to enjoy a night of food and drink, with the proceeds going to this year’s
charity, Y in Central Maryland. Additionally, the BCBA formed a running team to participate in the Y’s Turkey Trot. We gave back to the community by hosting a Civics and Law Academy program, recognized our members for their support of pro bono at the annual Pro Bono Awards reception, and hosted numerous CLEs on various topics. We adopted over 40 families for the holidays, providing food and presents to families in need. All of this from July through the end of the calendar year. As we look forward to 2020, we look to finalize our strategic plan for the organization’s future, create a Diversity & Inclusion Committee, and increase services to our members. January includes the BCBA’s Black Tie event, bringing hundreds of attorneys and jurists to the Valley Mansion by Martin’s in January. Continued on page 2
Inside This Edition Annual Charity Bench/Bar Update Calendar of Events Civil Law Update Committee News Court Notices District Ct Assignments Law Library News Member Ads Member News Porcarelli Investiture Professionalism Save the Date Souder Portrait Unveiling Supreme Court Wine & Whiskey Wright Retirement
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December 2019
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE by Hon. Michael W. Siri
The Law Clerks will need to defend their title during our second trivia night of the year on February 27, 2020 and the Young Lawyers Committee’s annual Bull Roast will be held on April 5, 2020 at the Towson American Legion. Our Law Day ceremony will be held on May 1, 2020 and the BCBA’s golf tournament is scheduled for May 27, 2020 at Eagle’s Nest Country Club. While events are planned, we will need your support and participation to make them successful. Don’t simply be a member of the BCBA, but be a part of the BCBA. At this time of reflection, I am thankful for this organization and for all of the members that make up the organization. From the BCBA, best wishes to you and yours during this holiday season and for a prosperous New Year. Hon. Michael W. Siri BCBA President, 2019-2020
E XECUTIVE C OUNCIL V ACANCY DEADLINE for submitting Letter of Interest is January 2, 2020
The Baltimore County Bar Association Nominations Committee is now accepting letters of interest for the Executive Council At-Large vacancy. A letter of interest should be addressed to the Nominations Committee, c/o Baltimore County Bar Association, 100 County Courts Building, 401 Bosley Avenue, Towson, Maryland 21204. Letters of interest should include a professional resume, a list of bar association activities, committee involvement and leadership positions and any additional information the applicant would like the Nominations Committee to consider. Deadline for submissions is January 2, 2020, 4:30 p.m. Letters can also be submitted via email to rruocco@bcba.org.
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December 2019
C ALENDAR
2019-20 Officers President Pres-Elect Secretary Treasurer
OF
E VENTS
Hon. Michael W. Siri Jay D. Miller Stanford G. Gann, Jr. John G. Turnbull III
Executive Council Lisa Y. Settles Sondra M. Douglas Richard Grason VI Robert K. Erdman, Jr. Tyler J. Nowicki Michelle D. Siri Rebecca A. Fleming, Immediate Past President Whitney E. Wilder, Young Lawyers’ Chair
The Advocate Adam E. Konstas Committee Chair
December 2019 Judicial Portrait Unveiling for Hon. Thomas J. Bollinger, Sr., 4pm, Courtroom TBD 3. Family Law Committee, Mental Health Providers, 12pm, Grand Jury Room 4. Young Lawyers ’ Holiday Lunch and Toy Drive, 12pm, Ground Floor Lobby, Circuit Court 5. Annual Holiday Party, 5pm, Towson Tavern, 516 York Rd., Towson 6. Civics & Law Academy, 8:30am, CCBC Owings Mills 23—Jan 1. Bar Office Closed 2.
Michael S. Barranco Committee Vice-Chair
Contributing Writers Michael Barranco Sarah Belardi Suzanne Farace Ari Kodeck Adam Konstas Sam Moxley Ceecee Paizs Raphael Santini Paul Schwab Laurie Wasserman
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.
January 2020 8. Lawyer in the Lobby Clinic, 4:30 -6:30pm 15. Family Law & Estates & Trusts, Guardianship vs. Custody, 12pm, Pessin Katz Law, 901 Dulaney Valley Rd., Towson 17. Judicial Portrait Unveiling for Hon. Lawrence R. Daniels 23.Family Law Brown Bag Lunch, Our Family Wizard, 12pm, Grand Jury Room
30. 98th Annual Black Tie Banquet, 6:30pm, Martin’s Valley Mansion, 594 Cranbrook Rd., Cockeysville
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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December 2019
COURT NOTICES
TOWSON DISTRICT COURTHOUSE MOVE The Towson District Courthouse will temporarily move its staff and operations to the new Catonsville District Courthouse, located at 1 Rolling Crossroad in Catonsville, as of January 6, 2020. Signage has been placed in the current Towson District Courthouse, located at 120 E. Chesapeake Avenue in Towson, to alert individuals that have business with the courts of the upcoming location change. During the temporary move, all services provided at the Towson District Courthouse, including the commissioner’s office, will temporarily move to the new Catonsville District Courthouse for a
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period of up to six months. Towson phone numbers and overall docket structure will not change as a result of the move; however, on January 6, 2020, dockets will be limited to the domestic violence protective order/peace order docket and bail review docket. For more information, including a Press Release, FAQ’s and contact information, please visit the website at https://www.courts.state.md.us/ district/about/move
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Honorable Dorothy J. Wilson Administrative Judge
December 2019
MDEC QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS The first Technology Committee workshop of the year was held October 16. We enlisted Court Clerk Julie Ensor and her most MDEC-savvy employees to answer specific questions our members have about filing procedures under MDEC. The heavy rain didn’t keep registrants from attending, and they asked many great questions. Summaries of those questions and responses follow. Q. As the remaining jurisdictions go live, will that affect Baltimore County filings?
A. There may be some minor changes, but overall there should be no change. For example, it is possible some new categories will be added to File & Serve from those jurisdictions. Q. Do letters to the judges require a certificate of service? A. If a document is not docketed, it does not need a certificate of service. Letters to the judge are typically not docketed. Q. Does discovery material filed with the court need a certificate of service?
A. It does not. However, the Notice of Discovery, which is required by Rule to be filed with the court does need a certificate of service. Q. Why does Baltimore County Circuit Court have slightly different procedures than other Circuit Courts live with MDEC? A. While MDEC helps bring all systems together and helps make the courts more efficient, there is still some leeway for circuit courts to operate in a manner most efficient to that jurisdiction.
A. That should not happen. If it does, please bring it to the attention of a supervisor. A. Q. Full QDRO plan numbers don’t appear on orders. Why? The order isn’t accepted by the clerk if the full number is on it, and the order won’t be accepted by the employer without the full number. A. This is something the Clerk’s office is aware of and working to resolve in conjunction with the Rules Committee. Q. Can I expedite a Consent order?
A. Yes. However, you will need to contact a supervisor if this will be filed ex parte. Q. Why doesn’t the Petition for Guardianship have a certificate of service? A. Petitions for Guardianship need no certificate of service. The Clerk will mail out a copy of the petition and notice of filing of the petition. Q. Are omnibus motions allowed? A. No. Everything must be filed as a separate document. Motions falling under Rule 4-252 may be an exception. If in doubt, ask the Clerk’s office. Q. Why didn’t I receive a summons in the mail? A. Summons are no longer being sent via postal service. They are available through MDEC. Other important advice from Ms. Ensor was: •
Do NOT use the field labelled “Do Not Use”.
•
Clerks use the Comments field. Read the comments!
•
Waiver accounts are selected when filing documents. However, they must be setup ahead of time with the assistance of JIS.
•
Each exhibit is a separate upload. However, they should be in the same envelope if possible.
•
Do NOT use the field labelled “Do Not Use”. Really. Apparently this can’t be reiterated enough.
Q. What happens to deficient filings? A. Submissions returned as deficient are “accepted” conditionally. However, if they are not corrected, they will be stricken. Q. Why aren’t approved orders served electronically? A. It’s literally faster to serve paper orders via the Post Office than via MDEC. While the MDEC is not used for service, the approved orders are viewable through Portal and/or Kiosk. Q. Why was a consent order, signed by all attorneys in a case, marked deficient for lack of service?
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The Clerk’s Office welcomes questions about MDEC and filing procedures in Baltimore County. Also, the Circuit Court Law Library offers workstations and scanners that may be used to file and view documents in MDEC.
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December 2019
FAMILY DIVISION MESSAGE TO THE BAR By William R. Levasseur, Jr. & Martha K. White
Here are some very important highlights from this questions to help the flow of the assignments being month's Baltimore County Circuit Court Family posted for the day in question. Division meeting: Another thing that seems to be uniquely attributable Procedural/Changes–Independent Adoptions: Judge to Family Law cases is a persistent problem with Jakubowski has asked us to disseminate the new underestimating the time trials are going to take. Circuit Court Policy and Procedure for Independent Judge Jakubowski cautions us that the bench does it’s best to complete trials when there has been a Adoptions, attached for your review and reference. significant underestimation of time, but most likely, 2019 Holiday Visitation Disputes: Judge if the extra time needed spills into an extra day, the Jakubowski has asked us to publish the 2019 Holiday trial will be suspended and resumed at a later date, Access Schedule Dispute Policy, attached to this eusually months down the road. Inaccurate time mail. estimates may also result in the case being placed on End of Year Divorces: As of the date of this e-mail, the stand-by docket. there is still time to have your Uncontested Divorce Proofs of Service filed by Private Process Hearings scheduled before a Magistrate prior to the Servers: One of the more recent MDEC deficiencies end of the year. However, available time for that is recurring with greater frequency is the direct Magistrate Hearings is quickly dwindling and as such, filing of Affidavits of Service by Process Servers all pleadings (including Complaint and Answer) through MDEC. If you are using a service (usually asserting and affirming grounds for an uncontested one of the larger ones) that performs your process divorce need to be filed as soon as possible. In order service functions, it is still the attorney’s for these end of year Uncontested Divorces to be responsibility to review the Affidavit of Return even processed quickly through the system, we are required if you are not doing the filing. Judge Cox reports to file our Submission and Blue/White Forms through that more and more deficiencies are being sent out to MDEC; however, DO NOT file any proposed the Process Servers, if they are doing the filing. So, Judgment of Absolute Divorce in advance of the that can result in an attorney responsible for service Hearing through MDEC (see our previous e-mail of not even knowing that a defective Affidavit or July 12, 2019). Rather, bring your proposed Return (proof of service), has been filed with the Judgments to the Hearing and if the Judge or Court or rejected by the Court for deficiencies. Magistrate signs the Judgment at the conclusion of the Hearing, they will scan the Judgment into Odyssey More MDEC Filing Issues: The Family Division from their portal. Also, remember there is a lag time implores the Family Bar to stop submitting Orders between the signing of the Judgment and the with the old-style introduction including the words, docketing of the Judgment, so you must allow a "It is this ______ day of ____________, 20__ …” Simple signature and date lines for the Judge should cushion for that. be included at the end of the Order — one line for Time Estimates for Trials: Patti Lucchesi, Director “Date” and the other line for “Judge.” If you believe of Central Assignment, reported that there are many the date should be included in the body of the Order, attorneys who do not return calls to the Central then please follow the instructions set forth on the Assignment Office when contacted for time estimates attached MDEC formatting standard previously and other statistical data (e.g., number of witnesses, published by Judge Cox in The out-of-state witnesses, etc.) in advance of a scheduled Advocate. Continuing the out-of-date formatting trial. Please be advised, these are not just friendly actually causes a lot of extra work for the Judges. check-in calls, but the Central Assignment Office depends on receiving accurate information to their
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December 2019
LAWYERS IN THE 21ST CENTURY: PROFESSIONALISM ON LISTSERVS By Paul J. Schwab
Part of our responsibility as attorneys is to stay current on changes in the law. Owing to their convenience and accessibility, online platforms are increasingly popular and useful tools to the legal profession. Lawyers, however, must ensure that their postings comply with the rules of ethics and professional responsibility.
While client confidentiality is crucial when participating in listserv or on social media, lawyers must also keep in mind that it is imperative to always be respectful, courteous, and professional to fellow practitioners. An attorney should demonstrate respect for the legal system and those who serve it. MLRPC 19300.1(5).
A peer-to-peer listserv is an application that distributes messages to subscribers on an electronic mailing list. Their purpose is to facilitate communication between members. The Maryland State Bar Association (“MSBA”) and other organizations provide these email discussion platforms as a resource for their members. Subscribing listserv attorneys have the benefit of receiving and commenting on emails discussing updates in specific areas of practice, asking for and giving advice on various client scenarios and locating professionals in a specific field of law or geographic area.
The respect includes being polite, respectful and complying with the forum’s rules. MSBA posts current and proposed “Email Discussion List Rules” Both sets of Rules encourage attorneys to stay on topic and use the listserv for its intended use. Listservs are not intended to discuss non-legal related matters, including but not limited to social commentary, entertainment or content intended as humor. Listservs are public and meant for constructive exchanges.
A number of provisions of the Maryland Lawyers’ Rules of Professional Conduct (“MLRPC”) apply to usage of listserv. In a 2015 opinion released by the Committee on Ethics, the MSBA clarified the implication of certain rules which may arise during the use of listservs. Specifically, the Committee focused on MLRPC 1.6. Confidentiality of Information.
As with new technologies and the social media, the professional lawyer takes care to maintain the privacy and confidentiality of client information, demonstrate respect for clients and peers and uphold the trust in attorneys and in the legal profession.
When seeking advice using a listserv, “A lawyer shall not reveal information relating to representation of a client unless the client gives informed consent [or] the disclosure is impliedly authorized in order to carry out the representation…” MLRPC 1.6. Thus a hypothetical question that does not reveal identifying information may be acceptable. It is important to remember, however, that even an abstract question can make a client easily identifiable and that a description of specific facts or hypotheticals that are easily attributable to a client likely violates MLRPC 1.6 in most contexts. MSBA, Ethics Docket No. 2015-03. Lawyers should not reveal information on a listserv that they would not want their opponents (or their clients) to see.
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December 2019
RETIREMENT CELEBRATION FOR HON. ALEXANDER WRIGHT, JR. By Michael S. Barranco
93rd President of the Association in 2010-2011, Judge Wright became the first African-American to lead the Association. Judge Siri recalled many years ago when they worked together on a Habitat for Humanity project and Judge Wright’s devotion to community. Judge Siri also noted Judge Wright helped to provide the opportunity and inspiration for him to become the first Asian American President of the Association.
Court of Appeals Chief Judge Mary Ellen Barbera next observed that she had “never met a more honorable man than Alex Wright.” She recognized Judge Wright’s service on the District Court, the Circuit Court and the Court of Special Appeals. She also announced that Judge Wright has already been approved to sit as a senior judge. Court of Special Appeals Chief Judge Matthew Fader observed that Judge Wright has been “a rock of our Court and the judiciary as a whole.” Chief Judge Fader noted that Judge Wright had been appointed to judicial positions by three different Governors, and authored dozens of reported decisions and hundreds of unreported decisions. Judge Wright has also taught a class over the years to law clerks about the subject of standard of review and was past Chair of the Commission on Judicial Disabilities. Judge Fader recalled that he learned that one of Judge Wright’s reasons for wanting to become a judge was because he believed it important for people to see someone like them so they would have faith in the system. On October 30, 2019 the career of the Honorable Alexander Wright, Jr. was celebrated by an overflow crowd at the Gramercy Mansion on the occasion of his retirement from the Maryland Court of Special Appeals.
Retired Chief Judge Robert Bell spoke of Judge Wright’s “seriousness of purpose” and recalled that Judge Wright always accepted challenges, contributed as a team player and achieved the judicial career he sought and now has earned his retirement.
After welcome remarks by Master of Ceremony Doni Glover and Invocation by David Wright, remarks were offered by colleagues, friends and family. Baltimore County Bar Association President, Judge Michael Siri noted that Judge Wright was a trailblazer of the Association when serving as the
Retired Circuit Judges John Fader and Barbara Kerr Howe together honored Judge Wright. Judge Howe observed that Judge Wright had the qualities of a good listener and observer and Judge Fader observed that he was always well prepared. They wished him well with “love and respect.”
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December 2019
RETIREMENT CELEBRATION FOR HON. ALEXANDER WRIGHT, JR. By Michael S. Barranco
Attorney Steven Cullen of Miles & Stockbridge noted that Judge Wright had spearheaded pro bono projects during his time at Mile & Stockbridge which included the firm taking on and winning a large defamation case. In honor of Judge Wright Mr. Cullen read the Scottish poem “A Man's A Man For A' That by Robert Burns. Attorney Roxanne Smalkin next spoke on behalf of the many law clerks and interns who have worked for Judge Wright over the years and presented Judge Wright with a gift of appreciation. She noted that Judge Wright was a great mentor and that he always understood the importance of family. Judge Wright’s sons, Alexander Wright III and Ian Wright spoke about how their father is a good role model, father and human being. They recalled affectionately how Judge Wright was always there to provide love, support and patient guidance and remember many fun filled days. They noted as a judge their father “altered lives, saved lives and was fair, patient and just.” In response, Judge Wright spoke about how he initially approached retirement with some trepidation and “pre-grieving.” However, he reflected that his career and celebration was about “you and not me” meaning that he was thankful to those who have helped to “propel him up the road.” Judge Wright recalled that Judge Timothy Meredith once told him that the job of being a judge fit him well. Judge Wright is looking forward to continue hearing cases as a senior judge. He gave thanks to his sons, and wife, whom he first met at City College in 1967 and his mother, who attended the celebration. Judge Wright also reflected on the positive influence of his father, who passed away in 2001. The evening concluded with the presentation of resolutions honoring Judge Wright from Governor Hogan, Baltimore County Executive John Olszewski, Jr., Maryland State Senator Delores Kelley and Speaker of the House of Delegates Adrienne A. Jones.
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December 2019
BENCH BAR UPDATE By Raphael Santini
The October meeting of the Bench Bar Committee was called to order by Vice Chairperson Raphael J. Santini on October 10, 2019. The Honorable Stacy A. Mayer gave the District Court Report. Towson District Court will move to the new Catonsville District Court located at 1 Rolling Cross Road, Catonsville MD 21228 effective January 6, 2020. All Towson court services, including the Commissioners, will relocate to the new Catonsville courthouse. We anticipate being displaced for 4 - 6 months while the HVAC system in Towson is repaired. The Old Catonsville courthouse at 900 Walker Avenue will continue to operate without any changes. Signs to inform the public about the move have been posted throughout the Towson District Court building, the Annex building and the Towson Library parking garage. An email regarding the move was sent Judiciary wide. The clerks counter in Essex, Towson and Old Catonsville court locations have FAQs and MTA bus information to provide to the public. Meetings regarding the move are still ongoing so we anticipate another press release will be issued at the end of October. Judge Wilson will continue to send updated information to the Bar Association for publication in the Advocate. In the meantime, the Maryland Judiciary homepage (www.mdcourts.gov) has a link to information about the move. Also a general email box (towsontempmove@mdcourts.gov) has been established for the public to submit questions. PLEASE PAY ATTENTION TO THE COURT NOTICES!
Maria Fields gave the District Court Administration Report. Please note civil practitioners - Civil Court dates will be scheduled quickly compared to the past. The reason is that the new Catonsville Court will have more Courtrooms. The current District Court telephone numbers will continue to be used until further notice. Please continue to monitor the Baltimore County web site for more information about the new Catonsville District Court.
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Timothy Sheridan gave the Circuit Court Report. In November, 2019 a new CINA docket is going to start. Please see the Baltimore County Bar Association web site. Julie Ensor gave the Circuit Court Clerk’s Report. Tyler Technology is working on the slowness problem with MDEC. The backlog of filing will be resolved soon. On October 16, 2019 at 5:00 p.m. in the Grand Jury room there was an “All MDEC” presentation. Michael W. Siri gave the Executive Council Report. The Bar Wars was well attended and 16 teams participated. The Law Clerk team was the winner. Pro Bono Day was October 19, 2019 and the Pro Bono Award was given out on October 22, 2019. The Bar Association will have their big fundraiser Wine and Whiskey on November 14, 2019. Gregory E. Gaskins gave the Office of Law Report. The new County Attorney, James R. Benjamin, Jr., has been appointed by County Executive Johnny Olzewski, Jr. James R. Benjamin, Jr. is awaiting confirmation by the County Council. The Honorable William Somerville gave the Office of Administrative Hearings Report. ALJ Anthony F. Vittoria has been appointed to the Circuit Court for Baltimore City. Thomas Dewberry , the Chief Administrative Law Judge will be retiring December 1, 2019. Magistrate Wendy Zerweitz Schenker gave the Magistrates Report. The requests for a full day Pendente Lite Magistrate‟s Hearing, must be made during the initial Scheduling Conference. The Scheduler will then tell the attorneys that their Pendente Lite Hearing will be set in for ½ day in the morning, but they cannot set in a full day hearing; they will have to request that in writing within 10 days of the Scheduling Conference, setting forth the reasons for the request. The afternoon session of that same date will only be held in reserve for 10 days following the Scheduling Conference. If a written request for a full day hearing is not received by the Court within that time, then
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December 2019
BENCH BAR UPDATE By Raphael Santini
the Scheduler will release the afternoon time on reserve and begin scheduling other matters for that afternoon. Thereafter, attorneys will have to either condense their one day trial into a half-day trial or to try to reschedule for a later date that can accommodate one full day. Also, big problem is occurring when attorneys fail to properly code an Answer as an “Answer” and they call it an “Entry of Appearance” instead. An Answer should be uploaded as a separate PDF and coded as an Answer, while the Entry of Appearance should be uploaded as a separate document and classified as an Entry of Appearance (which is the only way to generate the remittance of the $20.00 appearance fee). Both of those documents should be filed within the same envelope. The problem is: if an Answer is coded as an “Entry of Appearance,” the case will not be queued for assignment, and the matter will not be scheduled. Scott D. Shellenberger gave the State’s Attorney’s Office report. He will be speaking to the Baltimore County Jail representatives about attorney access to their clients at the jail. He visited the new Catonsville Court house and the court house is progressing. Donald Zaremba gave the Public Defender‟s Office Report. There was very good news. The Public Defender‟s office was able to obtain a Federal Grant for funding with the opioid problem. The Grant is a substantial amount of money. Preliminarily the thought is that a Director will be appointed and three Social Workers for the Juvenile Court will be hired. Mr. Zaremba wanted to thank Judge Cox, Judge Bailey and Mr. Shellenberger with their assistance in obtaining the Grant.
diversity. There will be a push to include the LGBTQ community. The Family Law Committee will hold an LGBTQ safe spaces workshop in February or March of 2020. The Committee will hold a function on November 12, 2019. Please check the Baltimore County Bar Association web site for details. Whitney E. Wilder gave the Young Lawyers‟ Report. There will be a Happy Hour at the Point. A Chamber chat occurred on November 4, 2019. The Young Lawyers will have a Holiday Party on December 4. Please go to the Baltimore County Bar Association web site for more information. Leonard H. Shapiro gave the Criminal Defense Bar Report. Mr. Shapiro will be looking into the matter of more attorney access to their clients at the Baltimore County Jail. On October 28, 2019 Judge Susan Souder‟s portrait was unveiled. The Ceremony was very well attended. Judge Kaul‟s portrait will be unveiled in November. Judge Alexander Wright, Jr.’s retirement party was October 30, 3019 at Grammercy Mansion located at 1400 Greenspring Valley Road. The retirement party guest list included Judges and attorneys from all over the State of Maryland. The accolades for Judge Wright were numerous and very well deserved.
Harry Chase gave the Baltimore City Report. There will be BIG procedural changes in Baltimore City Circuit Court next year. Judge Audrey J.S. Carrion is the Administrative Judge for Baltimore City Circuit Court. Alaina L. Storie gave the Family Law Report. The focus of the Family Law Committee will be
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December 2019
JUDGE SUSAN SOUDER JUDICIAL PORTRAIT UNVEILING By S.G. Samuel Moxley
Judge Souder, in memoriam. The Honorable Arthur M. Frank extended welcoming remarks on behalf of Judge Souder and her family. He spoke of her extensive legal carrier both in private practice and with the U.S. Department of Justice and her practicing before the Federal Bench and various state Courts around this great nation. Judge Sounder took great pride in her commitment to always be on time.. At one point, when Governor Glendening called to inform Judge Souder of her appointment to the Circuit Court, she was on the way to continuing a trial and she asked the Governor if she could call him back, so as to not be late for the trial! Judge Frank spoke of her commitment to the law and doing what was correct.
On a brisk autumn Monday, October 28, 2019, Baltimore County Circuit Courtroom #2 was overflowing, with standing room only, for the unveiling of the judicial portrait of the Honorable Susan Souder. Colleagues, friends, and family members made the event so special. As the call to rise was heard, the bench was filled with many of the same Circuit Court judges that Judge had served. Honorable Kathleen G. Cox, Administrative Judge, Circuit Court for Baltimore County called the galley to order, welcomed everyone and recognized the Bench. Harry L. Chase, Chair of the Baltimore County Bar Foundation Judicial Portrait Committee welcomed all and thank the many individuals who made today’s portrait unveiling possible, especially the Honorable Steven D. Wyman and Arthur Frank. Mr. Chase also expressed gratitude to the Jacqueline Dawson Portrait Fund. Judge Sounder and Magistrate Dawson were close friends and how fitting for Magistrate Dawson to assist her friend,
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Judge Wyman provided remarks on Judge Souder’s personal life and her friendship with his dear departed wife, Magistrate Dawson. Judge Wyman told the story of Judge Souder having to trial in Alaska just before Christmas. Not being a shopper, Judge Souder asked Magistrate Dawson to pick up some holiday gifts for her son and some nephews; stating she usually gave them pajamas, socks or underwear. She left her credit card with Magistrate Dawson before taking off for trial. A few short days later it was noted that the credit card had been “maxed out” with Magistrate Dawson’s purchase of golf clubs for her husband, a nice watch for the Judge herself, computer games, bikes and toys for boys and of course the pajamas and underwear!!! Judge Wyman spoke of the strong bond between the ladies and the caring attitude and assistance during difficult times. Many laughs were had as Judge Wyman regaled stories of times together. It was time for the unveiling and the portrait sat on a tripod, with Magistrate Dawson’s portrait in the foreground. Such a fitting setting. Judge Sounder was assisted by her son, Kyle Koziol, as the black drape was lifted from the tripod and a beautifully handcrafted portrait was displayed for all to see. Honorable Michael J. Finifter presented the response
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December 2019
JUDGE SUSAN SOUDER JUDICIAL PORTRAIT UNVEILING By S. G. Samuel Moxley
from the Bench, noting that he and Judge Souder were suite mates, bench mates and most importantly, friends. Judge Finifter spoke of Judge Souder’s drive to do what was right, and provide a detailed decision outlining her reasoning. She was her own person! He provided fun stories of times spent outside the courtroom developing a close bond with each other. Judge Souder retired in July, 2018 and has escalated her involvement is the Catonsville community. She has chaired the Spring Grove Arboretum, Inc, a nonprofit organization establishing an arboretum at Spring Grove Hospital. The Arboretum planned on planting its’ 1,000 tree the following weekend. She is active in her church and the Catonsville Rotary Club. Judge Souder has enjoyed traveling since retirement and has joked that you should never say “let’s go to…” because she will be on line booking flights immediately. A graduate of the university of Maryland and Georgetown University Law Center, she received both degrees with Honors. She enjoying the ability to spend time with her family and friends and in her spare time (ha ha) she enjoys gardening and reading.
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December 2019
A NIGHT AT THE MOVIES By Suzanne K. Farace
The Alternative Dispute Resolution and the Estates and Trust Committees held a joint program on October 23, 2018 in Courtroom 18, entitled "Movie Night at the BCBA". The presentation included the showing of the video "ADR in a Box (A Guide to Alternative Dispute Resolution Processes)" which was introduced by James Motsay, Esquire, Chair of the Bar Association of Baltimore City ADR Committee and MSBA ADR Section Council Member. "ADR in a Box" was a joint project of the MSBA ADR Section Council and Anne Arundel Community College and was developed over the course of three years. It is meant for use by courts, attorneys, mediators, and members of the public as an introduction to and a reminder of the availability of the various mediation processes. Particularly given Section 5 of Appendix 19-B to the Maryland Attorneys' Rules of Professional Conduct ("The Ideals of Professionalism"), which provides that attorneys have an obligation to "to make the law, the legal system, and other dispute resolution processes available to all," this is a useful tool for practicing attorneys. The video is available for free on-line and anyone can link to the video on their website. It includes sections about Mediation, Settlement Conferences, Collaborative Practice, and Community Conferences. It is currently in use by Anne Arundel Community College's mediation program, the Prince George's County Orphan's Court, the University of Maryland's mediation programs, and the Anne Arundel Conflict Resolution Center (a community-based mediation program). It won the MSBA Section Council Award of the Year.
The full video can be found here: vimeo.com/276072547.
https://
Following the video, speakers Michael Gordon, Esquire of Wright, Constable & Skeen, LLP and Annamaria Walsh, Esquire, the Director of the Office of Family Mediation for the Circuit Court for Baltimore County, gave some remarks, both from their perspective as mediators and with respect to preparing clients for mediation in a variety of areas of the law. Michael Gordon is a long-time mediator handling both court and private mediations as well as a practicing attorney in Estate and Trusts and other civil litigation matters. Particularly as regards the Estates and Trusts matters, he stressed that understanding the family dynamic and the hidden underlying issues between the family members (even if not directly related to the matter being mediated) is critical. The goal is to keep the family relationship intact. Annamaria Walsh, who was a mediator and collaborative family law lawyer for many years prior to taking her current position with the Court, stressed the value of involving experts in other subject areas, such as therapists and financial experts, in collaborative resolutions. She indicated that she strives to get the participants to focus not on what is "fair" (which is highly subjective), but what is an "acceptable" resolution. Just as with Estates and Trust matters, it is important in Family Law matters to try to preserve some sort of civil and productive ongoing family relationship. The Alternative Dispute Resolution and Estates and Trust Committees thank Jim Motsay and the ADR Section Council and Annamaria Walsh and Michael Gordon for their excellent presentations.
2020 BCBA Member Dues Invoices were mailed the first week in November. Included with your invoice were the ticket and table order forms for the 98th Annual Black Tie Banquet on Thursday, January 30, 2020. This is an attorney only event and 2020 dues must be paid in order to purchase a ticket at member price. Contact Rachel Fuller at rfuller@bcba.org if you do NOT receive your invoice. THE ADVOCATE
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December 2019
ALL ABOUT APPEALS CLE By Laurie M. Wasserman
All About Appeals—CLE Committee Program with Judge Dan Friedman On October 29, 2019, Judge Dan Friedman of the Court of Special Appeals presented to the CLE Committee. Judge Friedman highlighted important appellate cases decided in the last two years, shared his personal “best practice” tips, and answered audience questions.
Some of the important cases he noted were: Rosales v. State, 463 Md. 552—(Appeals). This “blockbuster case,” concerned the timing of filing for appeals. The Court found that failure to file your appeal within 30-day window does not mean that the case is automatically dismissed. The 30-day rule is a claim-processing rule, not jurisdictional. Hackney v. State, 459 Md. 108—(Appeals). This case clarified the “prison mailbox rule,” which is the date that a pro se incarcerated party gives a filing to the prison official, it is the date of filing. Blackstone v. Sharma, 461 Md. 87—(Legislative Interpretation). The Court found that even if a statute is unambiguous, you still need to scrutinize the legislative history to determine the intent. Previously, if a statute was unambiguous, you would stop and look no further. Small v. State, 464 Md. 68—(Police Identification Procedures). The Court clarified their use of the “5 factor” test for determining if police identification procedure was unduly suggestive. Judge Friedman noted that while this case did not change the law in Maryland, a change could be on the horizon considering that the dissent suggested that the Courts should have not adopted this test because it was not founded in modern social sciences. State v. Jones, 2019 WL 5558809 —(Accomplice Corroboration Rule). The question was whether the Courts should retain the “common law accomplice testimony” rule. The Court of Appeals determined that corroboration of the accomplice’s testimony is not necessary, and the common law rule should be
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abrogated. Stracke v. Estate of Butler, 465 Md. 407—(Torts). This case clarified that gross negligence is not just “big negligence,” rather, it had to do with the mental state of the person, not just a person’s actions. Romero v. Perez, 463 Md. 182—(Immigration). Held that in SIJ cases, the terms “abuse,” “abandonment,” and “neglect” should be interpreted broadly by Courts, and the Courts are to apply the Maryland standard for these terms, and not the standard of the minor child’s home country. Furthermore, the appropriate burden of proof is the preponderance of the evidence standard. Maryland Department of the Environment v. County Commissioners of Carroll County, 465 Md. 169—(Environmental law). Discussed appropriate standards of deference to administrative agencies. Judge Friedman then shared his practice tips for anyone handling Appeals. They included: Remembering that the 13-point font rule also applies to footnotes. Understanding that the record extract is just for important documents needed to decide the case. Spending more time on the table of contents and questions in the brief because it is the roadmap of the case. Tell the Court what the case is about in your TOC. Know your case and make sure to educate the Court. You can be simple when it comes to what the issue is and what the Court needs to decide the case. Thanks to Judge Friedman for his time and insight into Appellate Practice. The CLE Committee looks forward to its next program on Tuesday, March 31, 2020. The topic is Attorney Grievances: Best Practices to Avoid Them & How to Respond If You Receive One.
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December 2019
PROFESSIONALISM COMMITTEE PROGRAM ON THE PITFALLS OF INTERNET MARKETING AND SOCIAL MEDIA By Suzanne K. Farace
The Professionalism Committee held a program on November 18, 2019 at the offices of Zest Social Media Solutions in Towson, entitled "Dos and Don'ts for Internet Marketing & Social Media.� The program description mentioned that the Internet and Social Media platforms are fraught with significant perils for practitioners. Program Chairs were Bill Alcarese, Chair of the Professionalism Committee, and Committee members Mike Barranco and Ray Hein. Bill Alcarese gave everyone a warm welcome and thanked Zest Social Media Solutions for hosting the event. Bill Alcarese introduced Tim Bojanowski, Zest Social Media Solutions, and then Ray Hein introduced Erin Risch, Esquire, Deputy Bar Counsel, and Al Frederick, Esquire, Eccleston & Wolf, P.C. There was a very good turnout for the event. The issues discussed by the Panel included: 1. What you say online, even in your personal capacity, matters. It can come back to haunt you upon application to Bar, in a disciplinary matter, and in a legal malpractice matter. 2. You cannot simply avoid Social Media. Maryland Rule of Professional Conduct 19-301.1 (Competence) includes that attorneys stay abreast of technology, and that includes understanding and knowing about Social Media. There are many important reasons for staying abreast of Social Media, including: a. There could be something that your client, or the opposing party, or a witness has said on Social Media that is harmful to their case. You should talk with your client about what is out there at your first meeting. Have them take it down, but also preserve a copy of it. Not only are you ethically obligated to do so, but you do not want to give the other side the opportunity to argue spoliation. b. There could be something that your client, or the opposing party, or a witness has said on Social Media, where that statement was available
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to the public, that could have made a critical difference in your case, and had you searched for it, you would have found it. You could be held to a duty to have found it. c. Clients, clients' friends and family members, and witnesses have a tendency to include your communications on their Social Media, especially in family law cases. Once your client discloses your communication, it is no longer privileged and can be used against you and against your client in the case and otherwise. You need to warn them not to do that at the first meeting, ideally including that warning in your Retainer Agreement and having them initial that provision. d. Particular care needs to be given when there are confidentiality agreements. 3. Social Media can be considered advertising by you even if you did not intend it to be. a. Any professional profile you have online is a form of advertising. That includes not just your website and Facebook, but your profiles on things like LinkedIn, AVVO.com, etc. Your law firm automatically has a business page on Google. Client and potential clients can communicate on these pages, and you need to pay attention to them and know about what is represented on the page and what comments are being received on the page. It is not just what you know about but also what you can control for which you have a responsibility. b. The applicable rules pertaining to marketing are Maryland Rules of Professional Conduct 19-307.1 through 19-307.5. The fundamental rule is that it cannot be misleading. Whatever you say should be true. That is why statements like "John Doe is the most aggressive lawyer in Baltimore" are problematic. Another common problem is claiming an area of expertise in practice when the lawyer has handled few cases of that sort. A disclaimer such as "past results are no indicator of future success" can be helpful. You need to keep copies of what your website and all your
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PROFESSIONALISM COMMITTEE PROGRAM ON THE PITFALLS OF INTERNET MARKETING AND SOCIAL MEDIA By Suzanne K. Farace
social media sites say every time they are changed. Anytime you change something, preserve it. Tim Bojanowski of Zest Social Media Solutions referenced a website such as "Wayback Machine" that maintains records of past websites, yet this is not always reliable. c. Private messaging, just like other communications, can potentially create an attorneyclient relationship. So be careful with those. 4. Defending yourself online - the "smear campaign". The consensus is – don’t engage directly. Engagement lends credibility and validity to the statement. Instead, deal with it through an intermediary. And determine how to get it taken down. Consult your IT person or consider hiring consultants such as Zest Social Media Solutions. Keep screen shots of the post, including the date and time, in case they appear online again. And if the person is your client, do not disclose confidential information in your defense. 5. List serves. You are entitled to seek the advice of other lawyers, but in so doing lawyers have to be careful about what information they disclose and who will see it. Do not disclose confidential information. Is your opposing counsel likely to see what you post? 6. Email and the "Reply All" function. Make sure you pay attention to this, or the results can be disastrous. The best practice is not to copy your client on any emails, especially not to opposing counsel, at least not on the "cc" line but rather on the "bcc" line. You are inviting the other side to communicate with your client, and even worse, your client may reply directly to your opposing counsel. Better to forward the communication to your client by a separate email. Bill Alcarese on behalf of the Professionalism Committee thanked the speakers for their time and for sharing their insights on these important issues.
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December 2019
INVESTITURE CEREMONY FOR THE HONORABLE GUIDO PORCARELLI By Michael Barranco
On October 15, 2019 the Investiture Ceremony for Judge Guido Porcarelli, District Court of Maryland for Baltimore County was held in Ceremonial Courtroom Five of the Old Courthouse. Judge Porcarelli began serving on August 2, 2019 after being appointed by Governor Hogan on July 10, 2019. District Administrative Judge Dorothy J. Wilson welcomed the assembled crowd and congratulated Judge Porcarelli on his appointment. Judge Wilson noted that with the recent appointments, the District Bench in Baltimore County is now up to its full strength of fifteen judges. District Court Chief Judge John P. Morrisey observed that investiture ceremonies are happy occasions and commended Governor Hogan on the recent appointments. Judge Morrisey noted the large volume and many types of cases Judge Porcarelli will hear in the District Court. Judge Morrisey discussed some of the judiciary’s priorities, including continuing the implementation of MDEC, expanding access to justice and self-help centers, training and mentorship programs and work of the Judicial College. Christopher Mincher, Deputy Legal Counsel to Governor Hogan read from some of the letters sent to Governor Hogan in support of Judge Porcarelli’s appointment touching on Judge Porcarelli’s patience, judicial temperament, courteousness and integrity, even under difficult circumstances.
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Attorney Frank F. Daily next moved for the investiture of Judge Porcarelli. Mr. Daily first recognized Judge Porcarelli’s 94-year-old father, who travelled across the county to attend the ceremony. Mr. Daily, who had practiced with Judge Porcarelli for many years observed that Judge Porcarelli is a superbly talented trial lawyer who is always thoroughly prepared, sometimes “taking notes of his notes.” Mr. Daily also spoke of how Judge Porcarelli is always generous with his time, and he is person with impeccable character and integrity. Mr. Daily noted that Judge Porcarelli has been a mentor to the Park School mock trial team for many years, and was always a positive influence on young lawyers at the firm. Mr. Daily concluded by speaking of Judge Porcarelli’s devotion and dedication to his family. The Motion was seconded by Judge Philip N. Tirabassi who spoke of the “family” of judges on the bench. Judge Tirabassi noted that other judges on the bench would be there to help and provide advice, but stated that new judges should never lose their independence and should always question. Judge Tirabassi commended Socrates’ four virtues needed for justice to thrive: Courage, Moderation, Justice and Wisdom. He concluded his remarks with an Italian blessing which translated means “god bless you my friend.” District Judge Kimberly M. Thomas responded on behalf of the bench and began by reading the poem The Road Not Taken by Robert Frost. Judge Thomas spoke of the journey from being a practicing attorney to that of being a judge and remarked about how she met Judge Porcarelli at the J. Dudley Digges American Inn of Court and could tell then that he is a person who listens to others. Baltimore County Bar Association President, Judge Michael Siri spoke on behalf of the Association. He noted that although he and Judge Porcarelli went through the judicial selection process together, they were not well acquainted until their appointment. Judge Siri stated that beyond being a “nice guy” he
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INVESTITURE CEREMONY FOR THE HONORABLE GUIDO PORCARELLI By Michael Barranco
has observed that Judge Porcarelli is someone who “wants to get the answer right.” Judge Siri then presented Judge Porcarelli with his first robe presented in the traditional Nordstrom box. Judge Porcarelli signed the lid of the box, just below that of Judge Siri, who was also recently appointed to the District Court. Christopher Mincher then read the Governor’s Commission and Judge Porcarelli was sworn in by Clerk of the Court, Julie Ensor, as Judge Porcarelli’s wife and children held the family bible. Judge Porcarelli was robed by his son and daughter, joking that “usually Judges Siri and Friedman normally do this for me.” Judge Porcarelli was then escorted to the bench by his wife, Patti. Judge Porcarelli then addressed the assemblage. He described how his first day in court on the bench felt like the jolt astronauts would experience during the launch of a Saturn V rocket. He thanked the many people who helped “get [him] in the capsule,” including his family, friends, and supporters, and acknowledged the many qualified applicants who had applied for the position. Judge Porcarelli spoke of the importance of family, the journey his father made to the United States from Italy; living in Italy with his parents; and his parents’ decision to return with him to the United States so he and his brother could have a better future. He thanked his wife, Patti, and his inlaws for making him a part of their family and spoke of the love of his children. He spoke of the advice and supportive critique provided by his brother. Judge Porcarelli also acknowledged and thanked the many lawyers and the support staff who helped him along the way as a practitioner. Judge Porcarelli thanked the District Court judges for their gentle guidance since his appointment. Judge Porcarelli stated that he would aspire always to “judge facts and not the person,” apply common sense, and to remember that people are immediately, and dramatically, affected by the decisions made in court. Judge Porcarelli concluded the ceremony by adjourning the Court.
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December 2019
WINE & WHISKEY TASTING FUNDRAISER By Ari J. Kodeck
On November 14, 2019, with the perfect chill to the fall air, BCBA members, sponsors, friends and family gathered at Maryvale Preparatory School to enjoy the Baltimore County Bar Association’s Annual Wine and Whiskey Tasting fundraiser. Attendees were treated to a variety of wines and whiskeys donated by Bradley’s Wine & Spirits and enough food choices covering the wide palate of the crowd, provided by Simply Elegant Catering. As a bonus, Bradley’s Wine & Spirits offered the wines and whiskeys available to patrons for purchase at a discount during the event. Kirchmayr Chocolatier donated and served gourmet chocolates for dessert. All proceeds benefited this year’s chosen charity, the Y in Central Maryland. Remarks were made by the President Hon. Michael Siri and Ryan Gadow with The Y in Central Maryland thanking everyone for their continued support of the Y’s many community service initiatives. Raffle tickets were them drawn for the 50/50 and basket items. Thank you to everyone for their attendance and support and a special thanks to the Bar Association staff for hard work in planning the event. This fundraiser would not be possible without the generosity of our many sponsors.
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December 2019
WINE & WHISKEY TASTING FUNDRAISER By Ari J. Kodeck
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December 2019
CIVIL LAW UPDATE By Ceecee Paizs
precedence over the Mosers’ rights to a determination in the civil trial. The Mosers’ petitioned for certiorari and it was granted.
Review of the Amicus Curiarum for September 2019 revealed the following civil case of interest:
THE COURT OF APPEALS: Ronald F. Moser, et al. v. Kristi Heffington, et. al., No. 62, September Term 2018, filed August 16, 2019. Opinion by Raker, Irma, Judge Kristi Heffington was an employee of Ronald F. Moser, D.D.F., P.A. and was fired in 2015 by Dr. Moser for stealing money from the practice. Kristi and her husband alleged in a civil suit against Dr. Moser, his practice and his wife that they had been defamed with statements that Kristi committed identity theft and stole from the dental practice. In November 2016, Kristi gave a deposition in which she testified at length to the acts at issue. After the deposition, a grand jury indicted Kristi for the crimes at issue in her civil suit. In June 2017, the court postponed her criminal trial upon the request of the State, which scheduled the criminal trial after the civil trial on the merits. One week before the civil trial date, the Heffingtons filed a motion to stay the civil proceedings pending the outcome of the criminal charges, arguing that she would have to invoke her Fifth Amendment rights at the civil trial to protect her rights for the criminal trial. The court denied the motion and, as a result of the Heffingtons’ decision not to present evidence at the civil trial, granted the Mosers’ motion for judgment. Upon appeal, the Court of Special Appeals vacated the judgment below reasoning that the criminal indictment created new ground for apprehension that did not exist at the time Kristi testified at her deposition, and that the trial court erred in denying their motion for a stay. The reasoning was that Kristi’s constitutional rights should have taken
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The Court of Appeal held that for the purpose of the Fifth Amendment privilege against selfincrimination, a deposition and the trial for which it is given are part of the same “proceeding.” Therefore, Kristi waived her Fifth Amendment privilege by testifying at the deposition for purposes of both the deposition and the subsequent trial. The fact that she was subsequently indicted did not “revive” the privilege. Further, the circuit court did not abuse it discretion by denying the Heffingtons’ motion to stay. The Court held that a court must balance the rights and interests of the parties that are at stake. In this case, the criminal trial might have taken years to resolve and judicial economy was served by denying the stay and holding the civil trial. Finally, in addressing the motion for judgment, the Court held that because the Heffingtons presented no evidence at trial, there was not sufficient evidence to support their claims and it was appropriate to grant the Mosers’ motion for judgment. D.L. v. Sheppard Pratt Health System Inc., et. al, No 38, September Term 2018, filed August 13, 2019. Opinion by Getty, Judge Petitioner, a fourteen-year-old girl, was involuntarily committed to a facility operated by Sheppard Pratt after a police officer observed fresh superficial cuts on her arms. An Administrative Law Judge (“ALJ”) order her to be involuntarily committed. D.L. was released from the facility soon after and filed a petition for judicial review of the ALJ’ decision. Sheppard Pratt moved to dismiss the case as moot in light of the fact that D.L. was released. The circuit court dismissed the petition as moot without holding a hearing. D.L. appealed and later the parties filed a join motion to remand the case to the circuit court to conduct a hearing. The motion was granted and the circuit court held a hearing and again concluded that the motion to dismiss as moot should be granted.
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CIVIL LAW UPDATE By Ceecee Paizs
The Court of Special Appeals affirmed. D.L. petitioned for certiorari, claiming that the primary issues in dispute was whether collateral consequences stemming from her involuntary commitment precluded dismissal as moot. The Court of Appeals reversed, The Court determined that the commitment generated several collateral consequences in multiple spheres, including restrictions on her driving privileges, future employment, future child custody of child in need of assistance proceedings, as well as other matters. Sheppard Pratt argued that there was mitigation based on D.L.’s prior stay at a residential treatment center. The Court held that there was insufficient evidence in the record to indicate that her prior stay was an involuntary commitment that would already implicate these collateral consequences. THE COURT OF SPECIAL APPEALS: David A., et al. v Karen S., No. 2481, September Term 2018, filed July 31, 2019. Opinion by Fader, C.J. When the Child was five years old, Father filed a complaint against Mother and Maternal Grandmother (Karen S. hereinafter referred to as “MGM”). Father’s parents (David A. et al hereinafter referred to as “PGP”) intervened, alleging that Father is a fit parent but that custody should be awarded to them if the court determines that Father is unfit. Following a trial, the circuit court found Mother and Father were both unfit to have custody of the Child, that exceptional circumstances existed to award custody to a non-parent and that MGM was the Child’s de facto parent. MGM was awarded sole legal custody and primary physical custody of the Child with limited visitation to PGP. After reviewing the statutory factors under §12-103 of the Family Law Article, the court awarded attorney’s fees to MGM to be paid by PGP. The court found that the biological parents did not have the ability to pay fees; PGP held substantial assets and MGM was in financial need due to the costs of defending the case that MGM had substantial justification for defending the action and the PGP did
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not have substantial justification for intervening in the case. The Court of Special Appeals affirmed, holding that the PGP contention that fees under §12-103(a) may be awarded to a biological parent and a de facto and adoptive parent, as the key consideration is the best interest of the Child. Further, after consideration of the legislative history, the term “child of the parties” was intended to allow an award of fees against a non-parent intervenor on the same basis as parents. Further, the Court found that PGP did not have a substantial justification for intervening in the case because PGP contended that Father was a fit and proper person to have custody of the Child, which would eliminate the need for them to intervene. Finally the Court held that under §12-103(b), the circuit court properly assessed the relevant factors in the amount of the award and denying PGP’s request for a credit for their past expenses for caring for the Child.
In Re: R.S., No 3205, September Term 2018, filed August 28, 2019. Opinion by Friedman, Judge When R.S. was 2 years old, she was removed from the care of her mother and placed in shelter care. The DSS filed a child in need of assistance (CINA) due to mother’s neglect. Mother then identified T.S., as resident of Delaware, as the biological father. T.S. appeared at the adjudicatory hearing, indicating he would consent to a paternity test. The court sustained the findings again mother and at a subsequent hearing found T.S. to be R.S.’s biological father. At a subsequent hearing, counsel for R.S. asked to be placed in the care of her father under Md. Code, Cts. & Jud. Proc. (CJ) §3-819(e) because the petition allegations had only been sustained as to the mother and not as to the father. Over counsel for R.S.’s objection and at DSS’s urging, the court concluded that the Inter Compact on the Placement of Children (ICPC) applied. A social worker in Delaware concluded that father was not an appropriate placement option. Subsequently the juvenile court granted father and paternal
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CIVIL LAW UPDATE By Ceecee Paizs
grandparents joint legal and physical custody of R.S. over counsel for the child’s objection stating that as a fit parent father was entitled to sole legal and physical custody. The Court of Special Appeals vacated the lower court’s determination and remanded for further proceedings, holding that the ICPC does not apply to the placement of a child with an out-of-state biological parent. By its plain language, the ICPC only applies when a state sends a child to another state for “placement in foster care or as preliminary to a possible adoption.” A child’s placement with a biological parent does not fall within this provision and the ICPC does not apply. The Court further held invalid a regulation promulgated by the Association of Administrators of the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children purporting to expand the application of the ICPC to placements with biological parents and concluded that its interpretation of the ICPC was reinforced by Maryland’s consistent recognition of “a parent’s interest in raising a child is a fundamental right” under federal and state law. Finally, the Court concluded that the need to investigate out-of-state parents or to address the lack of relationship between the child and an out-of-state parent were not compelling reasons to depart from the ICPC’s plain language. Jonathan Blood, et al. v. Stoneridge at Fountain Green Homeowners Association, Inc. No. 476, September Term 2018, filed August 29, 2019. Opinion by Nazarian, Judge The Bloods purchased a home in the Stoneridge at Fountain Green in April 2015. The Bloods do not dispute that they were subject to the Declaration of Covenants, Conditions, and Restrictions (the “Declaration”) imposed by the Stoneridge at Fountain Green Homeowners Association, Inc. (the “Association”). In violation of the Declaration, the Bloods failed to obtain the approval of the Association before installing a solar collection system on their roof. The Bloods filed a tardy
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application with the Association in August 2015 after the installation was complete. The Association denied their application. In May 2016, the Association notified the Bloods that they lacked the requisite approval for their solar panels and directed the Bloods to remove the solar panels on the front roof of their home because solar panels on the front of the home were prohibited by the covenants. After being denied their appeal to the Association Board of Directors, the Bloods chose not to remove the solar panels. On December 14, 2016, the Association filed a two-count complaint in the circuit court seeking an injunction and a declaratory judgment. At trial the Bloods argued that even though they did not apply for approval before beginning constructions, requiring them to remove fifteen solar panels would be an “unreasonable limitation” under §2-119(b)(2) of the Real Property Act, as in addition to the costs to remove the panels, the remaining panels would cost significantly more and significantly decrease the efficiency of the solar collector system. The trial court ruled in favor of the Association. The Court of Special Appeals affirmed, finding that it would not be an “unreasonable limitation” on the Bloods to remove the solar panels on their front roof while leaving the solar panels on their back roof in light of their failure to obtain approval for the installation of the system for both their front and back roof, and the Association only required removal of the front roof panels and allowed solar panels on the back roof to remain in place. Review of the Amicus Curiarum for November, 2019 revealed the following civil case of interest: THE COURT OF SPECIAL APPEALS: Dominique Guillaume v. Chantal Guillaume, No. 2928, September Term 2018, filed October 20, 2019. Opinion by Beachley, Donald, Judge The parties, the parents of 3 children, and on May 10, 2017, executed a Memorandum of Agreement related to the legal and physical custody child support,
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CIVIL LAW UPDATE
FAMILY LAW—UPDATES ON PARENTING PLANS & EXTRAORDINARY MEDICAL EXPENSES
By Ceecee Paizs
alimony and some property issues, which was incorporated into a consent order entered two days later. By October 2017, both parents filed petitions for contempt. Following a two-day hearing, the circuit court found Mother in contempt and dismissed Mother’s contempt petition against Father. In addition, the court ordered Mother to pay Father $35,000 in attorney’s fees. Mother timely filed a Notice of In Banc review. Father filed a motion to dismiss Mother’s appeal, claiming that the in banc panel lacked jurisdiction to review Mother’s appeal because Mother’s Notice for In Banc review listed no points or questions to be reviewed and gave no reasons why the Contempt Order was incorrect. The in banc panel denied Father’s motion to dismiss the appeal and ultimately vacated the contempt order as well s the circuit court’s award of attorney’s fees, determining that the circuit court’s contempt order improperly blurred the lines between a custody modification order and a contempt order. The Court of Special Appeals affirmed, holding that Maryland Rule 2-551, which governs the procedures for seeking in banc review, does not require an in banc appellant to include issues for review in the notice of appeal in order to properly “reserve” them, only that a party reserve issues in a manner set forth in the Rules. Also, the in banc panel did not err in vacating the attorney’s fees award, as to the extent the trial court awarded attorney’s fees under FL §12103 (b) there was insufficient evidence in the record concerning the parties’ financial circumstances and needs.
Join us on Thursday, February 27th, 2020 at Greene Turtle in Towson for the next Bar Wars Trivia Competition. Look for familiar faces behind the bar….
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By Sarah P. Belardi
On November 12, 2019, the Family Law Committee enjoyed dinner at the Woodholme Country Club and presentations by the Hon. Cynthia Callahan and Hon. Kathleen M. Dumais. Judge Callahan is an Associate Judge for the Circuit Court for Montgomery County and was the Chair of the Maryland General Assembly Commission on Child Custody Decision-Making (the “Commission”). She gave an insightful presentation regarding proposed Md. Rule 9-204.2, which sets forth Parenting Plans that parties will be required to fill out and submit to the court. The Court of Appeals adopted the proposed new rule on November 19, 2019 and it will take effect on January 1, 2020. Judge Callahan also gave a brief review of the goals and recommendations of the Commission with respect to the proposed 15 factors for the Court to consider in making legal and physical custody determinations. The proposed factors would be in place of the Sanders and Taylor factors. Delegate Dumais represents the 15th District of the House of Delegates and is Senior Counsel at Ethridge, Wuinn, Kem, McAuliffe, Rowan & Hartinger. She discussed the changes made to the definition of “Extraordinary Medical Expenses” in Md. Code Ann., Fam. Law, § 12-201(g) and the upcoming 2020 legislative session. Delegate Dumais expects there to be fine tuning of the definition of “Extraordinary Medical Expenses” in the future sessions, and asks that attorneys submit any feedback to her (kathleen.dumais@house.state.md.us). She also indicated that there would be leadership changes in the next session and that child support was going to be a topic of great concern, including a possible revision of child support guidelines.
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December 2019
CIVICS & LAW ACADEMY By Adam E. Konstas
The BCBA Public Speakers and Awareness Committee held its first Civics and Law Academy of the season on November 1, 2019 at CCBC Dundalk, hosting from several High Schools in the eastern Baltimore County region. Dr. Sandra Kurtinitis, President of the Community College of Baltimore County greeted the students and welcomed them to the CCBC Dundalk campus. BCBA President Jay Miller, Esq. also greeted the students and provided an overview of the Civics and Law Academy program and stressed the importance of civic education. The students were also treated to presentation by Grace Chaisson and Ryan Novo from the Y in Central Maryland, who spoke to the students about the work of the Y’s Youth & Government and Leaders’ Club. Students then participated in a total of three educational sessions in the following topics: Law in the Cyber Age, Power and Empowerment, Rights and Responsibilities, Free
Speech, and Law and Justice. After the students rotated through their choice of civics lessons, a representative from CCBC spoke to the students about the many opportunities CCBC provides, including the option to earn college credits during high school as well as the many programs offered after graduation. This incredible program reaches hundreds of students each year and engages them in vitally important discussions and debates about core democratic values, rights, and responsibilities as citizens. The Civics and Law Academy also exposes high school freshman to CCBC as an option for students to continue their educational career. The Public Speakers and Awareness Committee thanks the many volunteers who took time to teach and engage with students and thanks both CCBC and BCPS for their partnership.
GOLF TOURNAMENT May 27, 2020 Eagle’s Nest Country Club Phoenix, MD
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December 2019
THE Y IN CENTRAL MARYLAND— THE Y’S GIVING TREE PROJECT BCBA December 2019 Article – The Y’s Giving Tree Project Each year, the Y in Central Maryland hosts the Y Giving Tree Project. Taking place during December, the project focuses on community, goodwill and taking care of others. A collaborative effort among Y members, volunteers, partners and associates, the Y Giving Tree Project collects holiday gifts for children whose families can’t afford to buy them. It also offers people the opportunity to make donations to the Y for people who can’t otherwise afford to participate in Y membership and programs. Together in 2018, the Y Giving Tree Project achieved: Youth impact: 630 kids were surprised with toys and clothes for the holidays; in addition 150 youth from Y school partnership programs received school supply kits to carry them into the second half of the year.
Thank You to all of the individuals, law firms and judges who donated!
Giving Tree gifts included: puzzles, Legos, winter coats, shoes, dolls, bikes, sports balls and more! Youth impacted were from: Y Head Start (in Anne Arundel County, Baltimore County and Baltimore City), Y Before and After School Enrichment Programs, Y Preschool, Y Community Schools in Baltimore City and Big Brothers Big Sisters at the Y. Total number of gifts: More than 1,750 gifts with an in-kind value of almost $40,000 were received in addition to dozens of gift cards. Companies adopting children: JCPenny White Marsh, Horseshoe Casino, Revere Bank, Bowie & Jensen, LLC, Remco, Inc., Aetna Health, Sylvan Learning. $72,500 was donated to help people who can’t otherwise afford to participate in Y membership and programs. Thank you to the Baltimore County Bar Association for adopting 43 families this year. Want to volunteer or deepen your involvement? Please contact Eric Somerville, ericsomerville@ymaryland.org.
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BALTIMORE COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT LAW LIBRARY NEWS MDEC Hint for the Court of Special Appeals Section 7 of the Civil Appeal Information Report (form CSA 1) requires Circuit Court Docket Entries. Traditionally, the Baltimore County Circuit Court Clerk printed those entries for attorneys. The Clerk no longer does this now that Baltimore County has gone live with MDEC. The Court of Special Appeals accepts a printout of the Kiosk or Portal case summary.
New Titles The law library staff added the following titles to the collection: ISSUES IN HIGH VALUE FAMILY LAW CASES / Rodier, Samantha; Milko, James – Maryland State Bar Association, 2018. KFM 1297 .I87 2018 THE LAW AND LIABILITY OF SMALL AIRCRAFT / Kuhne, Cecil – ABA, 2018. KF 8926 .K8 LAWYERS WITHOUT RIGHTS: the fate of Jewish lawyers in Berlin after 1933 / Ladwig-Winters, Simone – German Federal Bar, 2018. KF 297 .B74 LEGAL GUIDE TO THE BUSINESS OF MARIJUANA / O’Reilly, James T. - PLI, 2018. KF 3891 .M2 .L44 LGBTQ EMPLOYMENT LAW PRACTICE GUIDE / David, Donald; Litchfield, John – Matthew Bender & Company, 2017. KF 3467 .A9 .D3
HeinOnline We have access to the following journals through HeinOnline on our computers in the library: ADMINISTRATIVE LAW REVIEW ACCORD (Vols. 1-4 article 5) – Meant to increase public access to and publish scholarly discussion about administrative law topics. COMPARATIVE LAW REVIEW (Vols. 1-9#1) – Peer-reviewed journal that presents an exploration of legal systems with law and culture. ENVIRONMENTAL LAW AND PRACTICE REVIEW (VOLS 1-6, (2011-2018)) – Published by NALSAR University of Law is a student-edited journal that contains articles and essays proposing solutions to environmental problems relevant to India and elsewhere. HARVARD BUSINESS LAW REVIEW ONLINE (Vols. 1-9 article 4) – Articles presented about recent developments in business law. JOURNAL FOR SPORTS LAW, POLICY AND GOVERNANCE (Vol.1 (2019)) is an student-edited peer-reviewed journal which is the first and only journal in India to encourage the study of sports law in the light of policy. UNIVERSITY OF PUERTO RICO BUSINESS LAW JOURNAL (Vols. 1-9) – A student edited journal for practitioners, students and academics who share a common link to improve a standard of living.
LITTLE BOOK ON ORAL ARGUMENT, 2ND ED / Dworsky, Alan – William S. Hein & Company, 2018. KF 8870 .D89 MARBURY V. MADISON The origins and legacy of judicial review, 2nd ed. / Nelson, William E. – University Press of Kansas, 2018. KF 4575 .N45 MASTERING FIRST AMENDMENT LAW / Knechtle – Carolina Academic Press, 2018. KF 4770 .K66
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Lawyer in the Lobby Clinic Wednesday, December 11, 2019 4:30—6:30 p.m. County Courts Building, 1st Floor, 401 Bosley Ave, Towson Lawyer in the Lobby is held the 2nd Wednesday of every month. Walk-ins are assisted in General Civil and Family Law matters. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Rae Wyatt at rwyatt@bcba.org or 410-337-9100. Thank you to our volunteers for November:
Richard Lebovitz James Nolan, Jr. E. David Silverberg Bryan Tillman
The 2019-2020 Lawyer Referral & Information Service Panel Application is now available. Contact Rae Wyatt at rwyatt@bcba.org if you are interested in participating in Lawyer Referral. All current panel members will receive the new application via email. CLICK HERE for panel application, rules, and minimum qualifications. Do you practice the following areas of law? Would you like more clients? If so— Lawyer Referral needs you! Civil Rights (includes Abuse of Power, Americans with Disabilities Act, False Imprisonment, HIPPA violations, Other Human Rights/discrimination) Consumer Law (includes Class Action, Credit Problems, Identity Theft, Lemon Law, Repossessions, Warranties) Intellectual Property Patent, Trademark)
(includes
Copyyright,
Immigration Tax Law
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Committee News Please visit www.bcba.org to register for any events listed Watch your inbox as emails regarding committee planning meetings will be sent soon. We welcome all ideas for programs and events! Adr Committee February 3, Committee Meeting, 4:30pm, Grand Jury Room February 19, Joint Dinner Program with Family Law Committee, 6pm March 5, 2-Hour Mediation Training, 4:30pm, Grand Jury Room March 25, Joint Program with Family Law Committee on Mediation, 6pm, Country Club of MD Advocate Committee Please submit any ideas for articles to Rachel Ruocco at rruocco@bcba.org or Adam Konstas at akonstas@pklaw.com Bench/Bar Committee This committee (appointed by the BCBA Presidents) meets the second Thursday of each month, 8 a.m., in Judicial Conference Room 412. If there are issues to be brought to the attention of this committee please contact Chairperson Chris Nicholson, 410-339-4100 or cnicholson@tnsfamilylaw.com.
Estates & Trusts Committee January 15, Custody vs. Guardianship Joint Program with Family Law Committee, 12pm, Pessin Katz Law February 13, Ethical Considerations, 5pm, Grand Jury Room April 21, Panel on Elective Share, 5pm, Grand Jury Room May 20, Annual Dinner, 5:15pm, Country Club of Maryland
Family Law Committee December 3, Mental Health Providers; the Various & Sundry Complications, 12pm, Grand Jury Room January 15, Joint Program with Estates & Trusts Committee, 12pm, PK Law January 23, Our Family Wizard, 12pm, Grand Jury Room February 19, SOLDIER-Working with Emotional Clients, 6pm, Vito’s March 25, Joint Program with ADR Committee on Mediation, 6pm, Country Club of MD April, Multi-Jurisdictional Dinner, 6pm, Woodholme Country Club May 14, Case Law & Legislative Update & Happy Hour, 4:30pm Historical Committee If you are interested in taking part in the planning of our 100th Anniversary Celebration, please contact Matt Nelson at mnelson@tydingslaw.com.
Criminal Law Committee
Did you know???
Stay tuned for more programming information
CLE Committee March 31, Bar Complaints –How to avoid them and What to Do When You Receive One, 5pm, Grand Jury Room Entertainment Committee December 5, Holiday Party, 5pm, Towson Tavern May 27, Golf Tournament, Eagle’s Nest Country Club
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The Baltimore County Bar Association held their first meeting on May 21, 1920. The Baltimore County Bar Association was founded on May 4, 1921.
December 2019
Committee News be acknowledged on the printed program. Law Day Committee Law Day theme for 2020 is Your Vote, Your Voice, Our Democracy: The 19th Amendment at 100. May 1, Law Day Breakfast, 7:30am, Martin’s Valley Mansion May 1, Law Day Noon Ceremony, 12pm, Ceremonial Courtroom #5
Negligence, Insurance & Workers’ Comp Committee Stay tuned for more programming information. Pro Bono Committee April 4, Pro Bono Clinic, 9am-12pm, Woodlawn Public Library Professionalism Committee January 9, Committee Meeting, 6pm, Grand Jury Room
LRIS Committee The 2019-2020 LRIS Panel Registration and Renewal Packet can be found HERE. Contact Rae Wyatt at rwyatt@bcba.org if you would like it emailed to you.
Public Awareness & Speakers Committee aka Civics & Law Academy
Membership Committee Online Membership Application can be found here
Real Property Committee
Memorial Committee Please notify Rachel Ruocco 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 all members. Thank you. BCBA members who will be honored at next year’s service on November 19, 2020 at 3:30 p.m. Hon. Patrick Cavanaugh Martin I. Moylan
December 6, Civics & Law Academy, 8:30am, Owings Mills Community College
Stay tuned for more programming information Solo & Small Firm Committee Stay tuned for more programming information. State & Local Laws (SLLZ) Committee February, Meet & Greet with the County Council April, Joint Dinner with Real Property Techonolgy Committee
The reception for family, friends and BCBA members to honor and remember loved ones will be held immediately following the service.
Stay tuned for more programming information.
Monetary contributions are greatly appreciated to support the Memorial Reception, and can be made payable to the BCBA, 100 County Courts Building, 401 Bosley Avenue, Towson, MD 21204. Donors will
December 4, Holiday Party Toy Drive, 12pm, Circuit Court Gound Floor Lobby April 5, Bull & Oyster Roast & Silent Auction, 2-
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MEMBER NEWS MEMBERS ON THE MOVE
WELCOME NEW MEMBERS! Law Students: Nicole Dianne Fisher Alexis Holiday Ali Kazemipour Katherine Smith 1st Year Attorneys
Christopher DeCarlo Jordan Dunham 2-Plus Years in Practice Daniel L. Cox Neil Dubovsky Stephanie Hurley Call for Members! Are you a history buff or imagine yourself as an amateur sleuth? If so, the Historical Committee needs you! The Historical Committee is seeking all interested members to assist with cataloguing our archives and drafting a history of our association that will be unveiled during the 100th year celebration in 2021. As this is a large and important endeavor, we welcome the assistance of all BCBA members. If you are interested, please email Matt Nelson at mnelson@tydingslaw.com for more information!
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Richard “Ricky” Adams has joined O’Byrne Law, LLC as an associate attorney. His practice is focused in the areas of estate planning, elder law, Medicaid planning, estate, probate & trust administration, adult guardianship, and special needs planning. Ricky is a Board Member for the Baltimore County Provider Council and the Maryland LGBT Chamber of Commerce. He is also a member of numerous organizations, including the Maryland State Bar Association, the Bar Association of Baltimore City, the Baltimore County Bar Association, the National LGBT Bar Association, the LGBTQ Bar Association of Maryland, and the Baltimore Estate Planning Council. Ricky received the Volunteer of the Year Award in 2018 from the Baltimore City Senior Legal Services, was named a Generation J.D. Leadership in Law winner by The Daily Record in 2019, and was named a Super Lawyers Rising Star in Estate Planning and Probate in 2019. He is licensed to practice in Maryland.
30 Padonia Centre 30 E. Padonia Road, Suite 306 Timonium, MD 21093 Phone: 410-321-5800 Fax: 410-296-1290 richard@obyrnelawoffice.com
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HIRING
Hiring experienced individual to assist attorney with typing from dictation. Average of 15-20 hours per week. Send resume to Carolyn Thaler cthaleresq@gmail.com
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Paul E. Alpert, Retired Judge
Do you have ideas for better Bar Programming? We want your input! Contact Rachel Ruocco at rruocco@bcba.org or 410-337-9100 with your creative, engaging ideas.
Available for Mediation and Arbitration Former Judge of District Court, Circuit Court and Court of Special Appeals
410-484-2088
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. RICHARD LYNAS, Chair STUART AXILBUND JIM BEACH MARY CHALAWSKY MARISSA JOELSON JAY MILLER JOSE MOLINA SAM MOXLEY JOE MURTHA JIM QUINN BILL SALTYSIAK
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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
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Office Available in the Heart of Towson Opportunity to own your office in Towson Core at 606 Baltimore Ave. 1,302 SF. Prime location for law firms and CPA offices. On site reserved parking and public parking available. Newly renovated common area hallways, main lobby and elevators. Walking distance to Baltimore County Courts, shopping and restaurants. Close proximity to Towson University, Goucher College, GBMC, and UM St. Joseph Medical Center. Condo suite 404 available. Price: $195,300. Will consider lease.
Contact Chris Smith at 410-472-3510 or csmith@trialliance.com.
Signature Sponsors The Baltimore County Bar Association continues its Signature Sponsor program, which enhances the opportunities for our sponsors, as well as our members. This singletier 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 top-shelf 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 Rachel Ruocco (410) 337-9100 or rruocco@bcba,org).
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YOUR AD COULD BE HERE! Contact Rachel Ruocco at rruocco@bcba.org or 410-337-9100 for advertising rates and to place your ad.
December 2019
LAW PRACTICE FOR SALE Sole practitioner based in Columbia, active for 42 years. Focus on Estate Planning, Probate and Elder Law, some traffic/dui. Have extensive client list and many wills on file. Contact for details: lawpracticesale@aol.com
Divorce, or probating an estate. Your client has options when it comes to the real estate. Hawk Mortgage Group can help you and your client sort out the options and strategies they have at hand, to help at this time ‌ and down the road. Jeffrey T. Hawk, President 443-619-7900 - Office 410-241-7071 - Cell Jeff@hawkmortgagegroup.com
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Baltimore County Bar Association
Presort Standard U.S. Postage PAID Permit No. 1262 Baltimore, MD
100 County Courts Building 401 Bosley Avenue Towson, MD 21204-4491 410-337-9103-Telephone 410-823-3418-Facsimile www.bcba.org
Member Advertisements TOWSON. Second floor office for rent with space available for admin/secretary. On site parking with shared conference room. Email nfick@neurolaw.com or call 410-321-5000 if interested.
TOWSON. Small firm in Towson looking for an experienced part-time legal assistant/secretary two to three days a week. Any experienced candidates should contact Robert Jacobson at 410-583-8883. TOWSON. 303 W. Pennsylvania Avenue, Towson across Bosley Avenue from the Circuit Court Building, three offices with bathroom on the second floor, 3rd floor four offices available, conference room, bathroom and kitchen on first floor, free parking space available, rent negotiable $50 to $100 less than comparable spaces. $400-$500 per office, great satellite office with possibility of overflow work. Contact Joe Glass at 410-823-4214 or 410-790-1980. CATONSVILLE. Office Space for Rent. Catonsville, 1002 Frederick Road, 2nd floor office. Private entrance, semi private restroom, use of conference room and kitchen on first floor. Free parking. Would be a great satellite office. Please contact Lou Weinkam, Jr. at 410-744-3256 ext. 103. TOWSON. 309 Allegheny Avenue. 2nd floor offices with private restroom, 3 regular offices, partially furnished, 1 executive office (can be made into five offices) fully furnished. Private restroom. Tenant will have available to them a conference room, print/scan/fax center and kitchenette on 1st floor. Additionally, 2nd floor has 2 private entrances, 5 free parking spaces, and approximately 800 sq. ft. of combined dry/secure storage on 3rd floor and basement.
TOWSON. Sublease available one block from courthouse. Space in excellent condition. Spacious conference rooms, 34 offices, reception area, copy/supply room, and kitchen. Sublease until August, then take on new lease. Rent negotiable. Contact towsonfirm@gmail.com to schedule a tour or get more information. TOWSON. Office for Rent: $990/month for one office with reception area right off the elevator. Located in Towson within walking distance to courthouse. Newly renovated and furnished. $1,200 to add an additional office connected to entire suite. Includes electric, internet and one parking space. For more information email doug@dbmcommunications.com or call 410-825-7400. TOWSON. Three Office Spaces Available: Rent one office, four offices with reception area, or whole floor. Two blocks from circuit courthouse. Free parking. Rent and utilities are negotiable. More info at nicole@whitakerlegal.com or 410-207- 9272. TOWSON. Office sharing available. One block from Courthouse. Use of phone system, copier, fax and secretarial available. Please call Beverly at 410-296-6820.
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