Source: https://www.baldwinbriscoe.com/civil-litigation/
Timestamp: 2019-04-22 09:57:11+00:00

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Civil Litigation - Baldwin, Briscoe & Steinmetz, P.C.
Landlord and tenant disputes, both residential and commercial, frequently must be settled in courts after parties are unable to reach an agreement privately. Litigation is a key component of achieving a fair resolution of your specific dispute. At The Law Offices of Baldwin, Briscoe & Steinmetz, P.C. we can represent you when you find yourself in need of legal assistance.
Maryland law prohibits a landlord from charging a tenant or a prospective tenant a security deposit that exceeds two month’s rent. Moreover, it provides harsh penalties if a landlord does charge a security deposit in excess of that allowed by law. The statute allows the tenant to sue the landlord and recover threefold the amount charged that exceeds the permissible amount, plus attorney’s fees.
Written leases may not include a provision whereby the tenant agrees to the entry of a confessed judgment for monies owed. A confessed judgment is a procedural tool that allows the plaintiff to obtain a money judgment against a defendant without a trial. They are typically used in promissory notes.
A written lease may not allow the landlord to take possession of the rented property, or the tenant’s belongings, without going through the legal eviction process, unless the tenant has abandoned the property.
At the termination of a lease, the landlord is obligated to return the tenant’s security deposit, plus interest, but may withhold from that deposit money to pay for damages to the premises. The landlord may not, however, withhold money to pay for damages that constitute “ordinary wear and tear”.
When a complaint is filed, the sheriff will deliver a summons to the tenant to appear in court at a hearing to show cause why restitution should not be made to the landlord. At the hearing, the judge will determine whether there is a valid lease, if so, when it expires, and whether the landlord gave proper written notice to end the tenancy. If the court determines that those requirements are met, it will enter a judgment in favor of the landlord for possession of the property.
How do I collect money owed to me?
If you are owed fees, dues, or debts but find your borrowers or clients refusing to pay you, there is no need to write off the money that is rightfully yours. Our attorneys have handled collections for a variety of individuals, agencies, and associations over the years, collecting debts for homeowners’ associations, funeral homes, and many other community organizations.
Help – the Debt Collectors are at My Door!
Have you ever gotten a call from a debt collection company? Remember that last month’s cable bill that you and your roommates disputed in college – ten years ago? You know that it never got paid and it keeps cropping back up again in a generally unpleasant manner. Perhaps you’ve lost a job or had an illness and just got behind on your bills. Whatever the reason, life happens! When life happens, sometimes it leaves unpaid bills along the way and this can result in an unpleasant interaction with debt collectors.
Fortunately, the law provides some protection to keep consumers from being abused by aggressive creditors. In order to take advantage of these protections, however, you need to know what your rights are. The collection of debts is regulated by the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA). Because this is a federal law, the law is the same anywhere in the United States. Whether a debt collector is pursuing you here in Maryland, or elsewhere, there are certain protections to which you are entitled.
The FDCPA applies to both debt collectors who are collecting on others accounts as well as creditors who use any type of alias when collecting on their own accounts. It does not apply to creditors who are collecting on their own accounts under their own names.
The FDCPA limits the information that a debt collector can provide to any third person about the collection of a debt. First, the debt collector may only identify his employer if expressly requested by the person he has called. Second, the collector may not disclose to a third party that a debt is owed. Third, the collector may, under most circumstances, only contact a third party about the debt one time. Fourth, the debt collector may not communicate by post card. Fifth, the debt collector may not use any indication on the outside envelope that the communication is in connection with a debt collection. Finally, if the debt collector knows that the person is represented by an attorney, the debt collector may not communicate with any third person other than the attorney, unless the attorney fails to respond within a reasonable period of time to the debt collector.
The FDCPA states that a debt collector may only communicate with the debtor/consumer in certain ways and at certain times. The debtor is the individual who owes or is alleged to owe the debt. A collector cannot communicate with a consumer at an unusual time or place, or in a manner which the collector knows or should know to be inconvenient to the consumer. Unless the collector has knowledge to the contrary, the collector may not call before 8 a.m. or after 9 p.m. The collector may not communication with a consumer directly when the collectors knows that the consumer is represented by an attorney, unless the attorney gives consent to direct contact, or if the attorney fails to respond within a reasonable period of time. Finally, the collector cannot contact a consumer while the consumer is at work, if the collector knows that the employer prohibits that type of communication.
A collector may not communicate with third parties about a debt. Exceptions exist which cover the debtor’s attorney, credit reporting agencies and the creditor’s own attorney. A debtor can make the collector stop communication by requesting in writing that the creditor do so. If the debtor stops communication, the creditor may contact the consumer thereafter only to notify the consumer that it is stopping collection activity, that it may or will invoke a specific remedy.
A debt collector may not harass a consumer. The collector may not threaten violence or any other action that would be a criminal offense against the consumer. The collector may not use obscene or profane language when communicating with the consumer. It may not publish the identity of consumers who refuse to pay except to a consumer reporting agency. It may not advertise the sale of the debt in an effort to enforce payment. It may not cause the telephone of the debtor to ring repeatedly in order to annoy, abuse or harass anyone at that number.
A debt collector is prohibited from providing false or misleading information in connection with the collection of a debt. A collector may not falsely state or imply that they are an agent of the state or federal government. They may not misrepresent the character, legal status or amount of any debt. They may not misstate the compensation they are entitled to receive for collecting the debt. A debt collector may not impersonate an attorney. They cannot threaten that the debtor will be arrested, imprisoned, or that property will be seized, garnished, attached, or that a person’s wages will be garnished unless such action is lawful and the debt collector intends to take that action.
A debt collector may not threaten any action that cannot be taken, or is not intended to be taken. They may not state or imply that the sale or transfer of debt will cause the consumer to lose a claim or defense in connection with the debt or that the consumer will be subject to an action which is prohibited under the law.
They debt collector may not falsely state or imply that the consumer has committed a crime or other conduct to disgrace the consumer. The collector may not communicate or threaten to communicate information about the debt that is false, including failure to communicate that the debt is disputed.
The debt collector may not use written communication that is designed to falsely imply that it comes from any court, state, or federal agency. They cannot use any false or deceptive means to contact a consumer.
The debt collector must identify itself a debt collector in the initial communication and must inform the consumer that any information collected will be used for the collection of the debt.
The debt collector cannot collect a fee from the consumer as part of the collection, unless the consumer has previously agreed to pay such a fee. The debt collector is limited in how and under what circumstances that post-dated checks may be accepted from the consumer.
Within five days after its initial communication, the debt collector is required to provide the consumer with certain information about the debt. This information includes the amount of the debt; the name of the creditor to whom it is owed; a statement that unless the consumer, within thirty days, disputes the validity of the debt, or any portion of the debt, that the collector will assume the debt is valid; a statement that if the consumer notifies the debt collector in writing, within the thirty-day period, that the debt, or any portion thereof, is disputed, the debt collector will obtain verification of the debt, or a copy of a judgment against the consumer, and a copy of such verification or judgment will be mailed to the consumer by the debt collector; and a statement that upon the consumer’s written request, within the thirty-day period, the debt collector will provide the consumer with the name and address of the original creditor, if different from the current creditor.
If the consumer notifies the debt collector that the debt is disputed, following the initial communication, the debt collector may not engage in further collection activity on the debt until it receives and provides the consumer with verification of the debt from the original creditor.
If a consumer owes multiple debts, a collector may not apply any payment on an undisputed debt to one that is in dispute, and where applicable, must following the directions of the consumer in applying the payment.
If a debt collection brings a legal action, i.e., sues, a consumer, to enforce a security interest in real property, the action must be brought in the jurisdiction where that property is located. Otherwise, the debt collector may only sue the consumer where the consumer signed the contract being sued upon or where the consumer resides.
Under most circumstances, a debt-collector cannot garnish your wages, garnish you bank account, put a lien on your home, or otherwise seize any asset without first obtaining a court judgment. There are some exceptions. The most common are where the creditor has a security interest in the property by way of a lien or a contract. In addition, if you owe tax debt, you may be subject to an attachment without a judgment.
The attorneys at Baldwin & Briscoe have the experience to get the debt collectors off of your back. Whether or not the debt is disputed, we can assist you in resolving a debt-collection matter. You don’t have to wait until you are sued to retain an attorney. Often, retaining an attorney will allow you to work out a solution that can avoid a lawsuit altogether.
If you are sued, the debt collector, under most circumstances, must obtain a judgment before it can take any property. Depending on the amount of the suit, and the court in which it is brought, this can take anywhere from approximately two-months to a year. You can negotiate a resolution of the debt while the suit is pending that may be able to avoid a judgment being entered against you.
If you are facing a debt-collection situation, contact the attorneys at Baldwin, Briscoe & Steinmetz to understand your rights and responsibilities and discuss a plan for resolving the situation.
The information contained on this page is provided as general information and does not constitute legal advice. The experienced attorneys at Baldwin, Briscoe & Steinmetz, P.C. can assist you if you are facing a debt collector. Call today to schedule a consultation.
I Won My Case and got a Judgment, but the Defendant Didn’t Pay - now what?
Bob loans Larry $1,500. Larry promises to pay him back in three months. After six months goes by without payment, Bob sues Larry and gets a judgment. Now, another six months have gone by and Bob has his judgment, but not his money. What can Bob do to get paid?
It is rather pointless to go through the trouble of suing someone and getting a judgment against them if you are not going to get the money you are suing for. The truth is that many judgments which are entered by courts around the country every day will never get paid in full, and many will never even be partially paid. According to some estimates, 79 percent of judgments are never collected.
Judgment collection is an area of law that many attorneys avoid. It is technical, but once you have an understanding of the rules, it is relatively straightforward and not difficult. At Baldwin, Briscoe & Steinmetz, P.C., we’d be happy to meet with you and develop a strategy for collecting on your judgment. If you wish to hire us to handle the collection, you can sit back and relax while we do the heavy lifting. In some case, we’ll handle judgment collection on a contingent basis, while other times judgments are handled on an hourly basis. The specific circumstances surrounding your judgment will dictate which fee structure applies to your case.
There are several tools that are available to plaintiffs who seek to enforce a judgment in the state of Maryland. Knowing how to use these tools effectively will provide you with the best chance of getting paid.
The first thing you should know is that you have to wait at least ten days before you can take steps to enforce your judgment. This is called an “automatic stay of enforcement.” A court may order that a judgment be “stayed” beyond the ten days in some circumstances. When an appeal is taken, there are specific steps that the appealing party may take to stay a judgment. In some cases, the appellant may be required to file a bond or other security with the clerk of the court to protect the other party against loss that results from the delay in enforcement. Many times, the court will condition a stay beyond the ten days provided for by law upon the filing of a bond or other security.
After obtaining a judgment, the plaintiff often will want to conduct discovery in aid of enforcement. This allows the plaintiff or “judgment creditor” to find out information concerning the defendant’s (“judgment debtor”) financial income and assets which can be used to satisfy the judgment. In the District Court, there are two methods by which the judgment creditor can conduct discovery. The first is by use of Interrogatories in aid of Execution. The judgment creditor can send the defendant written questions that the defendant is required to answer. These questions generally include requests for information about the employment, assets, and banking of the defendant. The second, and more effective means of discovery is by way of an oral examination.
An oral examination takes place in court, similar to a trial. In most cases, however, the judge will swear the defendant in and then allow the plaintiff to ask questions of the defendant outside of the courtroom. This is to protect the privacy of the defendant’s financial information. In addition to the defendant, the plaintiff can request an oral examination of a third party if it is probable that the defendant is indebted to that person, or that they are holding property belonging to the defendant. An oral examination is requested by the plaintiff by filling out a court form and filing it with the clerk. There is a small fee associated with this. Once the plaintiff requests an oral examination, the clerk will generate an order and the plaintiff must personally serve the defendant with the order by the deadline set out in the order. Only if the plaintiff obtains service on the defendant will the plaintiff be able to conduct the oral examination.
If the defendant fails to answer Interrogatories in aid of Execution, or fails to show up for an oral exam, the plaintiff may request authorization to file a request for a Show Cause Order. There is a court form to request a Show Cause Order. Once the court generates the Show Cause order, the plaintiff must then serve the defendant with the order. The Show Cause order will have a court date. The defendant will have to show up on that court date and tell the judge why he or she didn’t comply with the Oral Examination or answer the Interrogatories in aid of Execution. If the judge signs the Show Cause Order, and the plaintiff properly serves it, and the defendant fails to appear, the plaintiff can then request that the court issue a body attachment, authorizing the sheriff to take the defendant into custody and bring him before the court.
Once he has the information concerning the defendant’s assets and employment, the judgment creditor can take steps to enforce the judgment. Depending on what type of assets are owned by the judgment debtor, the judgment creditor has various tools at his disposal. Let’s see how we can get Bob paid!
A writ of execution is an order directing the sheriff to levy upon specific property of the judgment debtor. The plaintiff can seek a writ of execution on either real property, or personal property that is owned by the defendant. If a writ is sought with respect to real property, the plaintiff must first record the judgment as a lien in the Circuit Court.
A writ of garnishment is an order used to obtain property of the debtor that is in the hands of a third party. This means that if the debtor has money in a bank account, or a lawn mower that has been lent to his neighbor, you can seek to obtain that property in order to satisfy the judgment.
A writ of wage garnishment is used to attach wages that are earned by the defendant. When a writ of wage garnishment is issued, the defendant’s employer will send a check to the judgment creditor on a weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly basis. This payment is then credited against whatever is owed on the judgment.
It is the plaintiff or judgment creditor’s job to keep track of what payments are made on the judgment. Judgments are generally subject to 10% interest per annum. Judgments based on rent for a residential premises are subject to 6% interest per annum. The judgment creditor is required to complete and mail to the garnishee and the judgment debtor a statement disclosing the payments made and the manner in which they were credited within 15 days after each month in which any payment is received on the judgment.
If the judgment-debtor has an interest in a partnership, the judgment creditor may ask the court for a charging order, charging the partnership interest of the judgment debtor with the payment of all amounts due on the judgment. The court may order further relief, including the appointment of a receiver for the judgment debtor’s share of the partnership profits and any other money that is or becomes due to the judgment debtor by reason of their partnership interest.
Knowing about these tools and how to use them can mean the difference between having a piece of paper showing that you are owed money and getting paid. If you are owed money on a judgment, come talk with us. We’ll be happy to help you.
The information contained on this page is provided as general information and does not constitute legal advice. The experienced attorneys at Baldwin, Briscoe & Steinmetz, P.C. can assist you if you are trying to collect on a judgment. Call today to schedule a consultation.
A confessed judgment is an enforcement tool that is used to provide added security for a promissory note or loan. Under normal circumstances, if a borrower defaults on a loan, the lender has to go to court and sue the borrower. After the suit is filed, a trial date is set and after the trial, a court will enter a judgment in favor of the lender, provided that the evidence supports its claims. At trial, the burden is on the lender to prove the existence of the loan, the legal liability of the borrower, and the amount that is due.
A confessed judgment note is an agreement between the lender and the borrower that, in the event that the borrower defaults on his obligation, allows the lender to go to court and get a judgment against the borrower without having a trial. Unlike a normal case in which a judgment is entered only after a hearing before a judge, in a confessed judgment case, the rules allow for the judgment to be entered by the Clerk of the Court provided that plaintiff supplies the right documents when filing. In order to get a confessed judgment, the plaintiff must file a complaint; an original or photocopy of the written instrument which authorizes the confession of judgment; and an affidavit stating the amount that is due and the address of the defendant.
Upon filing of an action for confessed judgment, the court, if it is satisfied with the pleadings, will issue a notice informing the defendant of the entry of the judgment and of the latest time for filing a motion to open, modify, or vacate the judgment. The plaintiff must serve the defendant with the notice and copies of the original pleadings in the same manner as one is ordinarily required to serve a lawsuit.
A confessed judgment has all of the attributes of any other kind of judgment and functions as a lien against any real property belonging to the defendant in whichever counties it is recorded. A confessed judgment, after it is entered may be opened, modified, or vacated by the defendant upon a showing that the defendant has a meritorious defense. To do this, this defendant must file a motion and state in the motion the legal and factual basis for his defense. If the defendant requests a hearing on his motion, he is entitled to one by law. The defendant must file this motion within the time limits that are ordinarily provided for filing an answer. This may be thirty to ninety days depending on where the defendant resides.
If the court finds that there is a substantial and sufficient basis for an actual controversy as to the merits of the action, the court will order the judgment by confession opened, modified, or vacated and permit the defendant to file a responsive pleading. Normally a plaintiff may not takes enforcement action such as selling the defendants property and an employment may not remit wages under a wage garnishment prior to the time period for filing the motion to vacate has expired and any motion filed by the defendant has been ruled on by the court.
A confessed judgment may be entered prior to the maturity date provided for in a loan, if the loan allows for early entry. A note that allows for confession of judgment any time after maturity will not allow for entry until the note is due.
If you are seeking to enforce or defend an action involving a confessed judgment, consider contacting the Law Offices of Baldwin & Briscoe, P.C. Our attorneys are experienced in collection matters and have litigated both sides of Confessed Judgment cases. We’d be happy to review and discuss the specifics of your situation with you, without any obligation on your part.
The information contained on this page is provided as general information and does not constitute legal advice. The experienced attorneys at Baldwin & Briscoe, P.C. can assist you if you are involved in a confessed judgment matter or any civil litigation or collections situation. We’d be happy to sit down with you and review your situation and provide appropriate advice. Call today for your no-obligation consultation.
Small claims cases are cases that involve a value of $5,000 or less. Maryland law allows you to have an attorney represent you. A lawyer’s experience and knowledge of the court system can be invaluable in a small claims course, where many rules exist to determine what evidence can be brought to court and how it may be entered.
Let’s face it, hiring an attorney costs money. As seasoned litigators, we are sensitive to the financial aspects of our client’s cases. “How much will this cost me?” is always a consideration in evaluating whether or not to hire an attorney to represent you in court. The truth is that in some matters, you can effectively present your case to the court without an attorney. In these situations, it may be in your best interest to consult with an attorney for advice prior to filing your claim, or to get some help along the way to make sure that you are ready for court. This page provides some general guidelines to help you represent yourself in small claims court. It is not legal advice, but will give you some basic information on the mechanics of court that can assist you with whatever situation brings you to small claim court.
In Maryland, as with most jurisdictions, a court case begins when the plaintiff files a complaint. The complaint is a form or paper prepared by the plaintiff that specifies (1) what court the case is being filed in ; (2) who are the parties, i.e. the plaintiff and the defendant; (3) the nature of the lawsuit, i.e., the facts giving rise to the complaint; and (4) the remedy that is being sought by the plaintiff in the case. The plaintiff is the person who is suing, or filing the complaint and requesting that the court provide some type of remedy. The defendant is the person who is being sued.
The Maryland Judiciary provides a form, which any plaintiff can fill out and file with the court. Here is a link which you can click to open up the form. You can fill out the form online and print it yourself for filing with the court.
You can file your complaint at the clerk’s office of the district court which has venue over your case. Venue exists where the defendant resides, works, carries on a regular business, or habitually engages in a vocation. There are rules which provide for additional venue as well that are beyond the scope of this page. In a negligence action, you can sue where the cause of action arose. Usually, the appropriate venue will be obvious based on the facts of your case. It currently costs $34.00 to file a small claims action, which must be paid when you file your complaint.
Once you file your complaint, the court will generate a summons. A summons is the document which notifies the defendant that he or she has been sued. In a District Court case it provides the court date, courtroom assignment and the time of the trial. In District Court cases, the summons has a Notice of Intent to Defend for the defendant in the case to complete and send back to the court to let the court and the plaintiff know that the case will be contested.
The plaintiff must serve the defendant with the complaint and summons for the case to go forward. Service simply means that the summons and a copy of the complaint are delivered to the defendant, or an adult at their residence. The plaintiff, as a party to the case, cannot serve the defendant, but must instead have another adult provide the summons and complaint to the defendant. Once the defendant is served, the person who served it should complaint an affidavit of service and the plaintiff must file this with the court to let the court know that the case will proceed. If you don’t file a return of service with the court, the court will not know to put your case on the court docket to be heard by the judge.
If you have a case in which you are requesting money damages, you can ask the court to enter judgment by affidavit. You must make this request on the complaint-form which you file with the court. An affidavit must be made on personal knowledge. It has to set forth facts which would be admissible in evidence and show that the affiant is competent to testify to the matters stated in the affidavit. The affidavit must include or be accompanied by any supporting documents or statements containing sufficient detail to show liability and damages in the precise amount of the claim. If your claim involves interest, you must complete and submit an interest worksheet as part of your complaint. If your claim is based on a note, or other document, you must include a copy of that document as an attachment to your complaint.
When you file a complaint under affidavit, you only have to appear if the defendant files a notice of intent to defend, or if the court issues a notice to appear because your affidavit is insufficient for the court to enter a judgment. In all other circumstances, you must appear on the date stated for trial on the summons. The court will notify you by mail if a notice of intent to defend is filed in your case. Usually, the defendant will also send you a copy of the notice of intent to defend. If the defendant is represented by an attorney, they are required to send you a copy.
If the defendant does not file a notice of intent to defend, and your case is filed under affidavit, the court will rule on your complaint on the day of trial. If the defendant shows up in court, or the court finds that your complaint is deficient in any way, the case will be postponed and you will receive a notice from the court of the new date.
On the day that your case is scheduled for trial, you must show up with all of the evidence that you intend to present to the court. Generally evidence is presented in two forms. Evidence is presented through the testimony of witnesses and by the introduction of exhibits. Each person who is called on to offer information about your case is considered a witness. Depending on the nature of your case, you may be the only witness, or you may have multiple witnesses.
If you are the plaintiff in the case, you will present your side of the case first. When the case is called, you should be prepared to know who your witnesses are and what questions you are going to ask. As a party to the case, it is your responsibility to ensure that the witnesses needed to present your case are present in court on the day of the trial. You can request subpoenas from the clerk’s office to ensure their attendance. Subpoenas must be properly completed and served in the same manner as your complaint.
If you intend to introduce exhibits, such as photographs, contracts, letters, or other documents, you should make several copies before you go to court. Generally, you should provide a copy of each document to each other party in the case as well as the court. You’ll want to maintain a copy of each document you present for your own file as well.
You would present your case by calling each witness who is there to testify about the events giving rise to your claim. When you call the witness, the clerk will swear in the witness, and then you can proceed with your questioning. Court testimony is presented in a series of questions and answers. You ask the witness a question related to the case and they answer. The judge will consider all of the testimony of all of the witnesses before rendering an opinion.
Q: Can you identify what has been marked as Plaintiff’s Exhibit 1?
A: Yes, this is a copy of the contract between Mr. Jones and Mr. Black.
In a small claims case, the parties are often the same persons who will present testimony. When this occurs, you can simply tell the story of what happened. You must still ask to admit whatever documents you want the court to consider as exhibit.
After both the plaintiff and the defendant have presented their case, and any rebuttal evidence is presented, the judge will usually give the parties an opportunity for summation or closing argument. During your summation, you have the opportunity to summarize any evidence that was presented during the case and tell the judge why you believe that he or she should rule in your favor. It is important that you stick to the evidence that was presented in your argument. Summation is not the time to introduce new facts into evidence.
After both parties have presented their summation, the judge will usually render an opinion. In District Court, the judge will usually give the opinion to the parties right at the end of the case. The judge will indicate who wins and will explain how he came to the conclusion that he did. The clerk will mail a written copy of the judgment to the parties a few days after the trial has concluded.
The plaintiff in the case has the burden of proof. This means that the plaintiff has to convince the judge of the facts necessary to establish his claim. If the judge is undecided after the evidence is presented, then the law requires him to rule for the defendant. In most civil cases, the plaintiff’s burden of proof is by a preponderance of the evidence. This means that the plaintiff must present evidence to show that it is “more likely than not” that the things that are alleged in the complaint happened. In cases alleging fraud, the standard is “clear and convincing evidence.” The criminal standard is “proof beyond a reasonable doubt.” As you can see, there is a much lower bar in a civil case then in a criminal case.
The information contained on this page is provided as general information and does not constitute legal advice. The experienced attorneys at Baldwin & Briscoe, P.C. can assist you with your case, even a small claims case. Call today to schedule a consultation with one of our attorneys who can provide information and advice specific to your situation. Even if you don’t intend to retain an attorney to represent you in court, having a consultation can help you better organize and present your case in court which will increase your odds of success.
A tort is a civil wrong for which the law provides a remedy.
In addition to being a criminal offense, an assault is also a civil tort. An assault is simply a legal term used when a person is intentionally threatened by another person. In order for the assault claim to be actionable, the person making the threat must at least appear to have the ability to carry out the threat. The defendant’s actions must raise in the plaintiff’s mind the apprehension of imminent bodily harm. Unlike a battery, however, actual physical contact is not necessarily in order for there to be an assault.
It is not necessary that the defendant actually had the ability to carry out the threat, only that the plaintiff had that belief. An assault is judged subjectively from the plaintiff’s perspective. This means that even if a reasonable person would not have been placed in fear, an assault can still occur when the plaintiff is placed in fear.
It doesn’t even have to be the plaintiff that the defendant is intending to harm. If the defendant directs their actions to a third person, but nevertheless places the plaintiff in fear of imminent bodily harm, an action for assault can be made.
In an assault claim, the plaintiff may recover for economic damages such as medical bills, other out-of-pocket expenses and lost wages, as well as non-economic damages for humiliation, disgrace, or loss of dignity. A plaintiff may also recover nominal damages, even without sustaining an injury.
An assault claim can also provide the basis for punitive damages.
The tort of negligent entrustment places personal liability on a property owner who negligently entrusts the property to another party. For liability to attach, the owner of the property must have knowledge about the propensities or lack of ability of the person to whom the property is entrusted. The risk presented must be foreseeable.
That the defendant supplied some personal property to a third person.
That the defendant knew, or should have known, that the persons at risk of harm would be the entrustee, or other persons whom the defendant should expect to share in or be endangered as a result of the use of such personal property.
While this sounds complicated in the abstract, let’s take a simple example: Tom and Jerry are drinking at a bar. Tom can see that Jerry is clearly intoxicated. Nevertheless, Tom gives Jerry his keys and tells him to take it for a spin. Jerry proceeds to crash the vehicle, causing serious injury to Tweety. Tweety now has a claim for negligent entrustment against Tom.
A defendant can be charged with knowledge when the defendant should inquire into the circumstances further but fails to do so. There is no specific test or hard rule concerning exactly what knowledge is required, rather it is evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
Negligent entrustment cases are sometimes brought against parents of children, employers and lessors of property.
Even a gift can be the basis of negligent entrustment. In one case, the Maryland Court of Appeals has held that a third party could not recover against the parents of the driver of the vehicle which caused them injury, even where the parents were aware at the time that they gave the driver a car that his conduct was reckless, because the parents did not have the present ability to control the behavior of their driver, and also lacked authority over the automobile.
In Maryland, it is unlawful to operate a motor vehicle on a public highway without appropriate insurance coverage. Each motorist is required to carry an insurance policy providing for at least $30,000.00 per person in benefits and $60,000.00 per accident as well as $15,000.00 in property damage. Driving a vehicle in violation of these requirements is a misdemeanor criminal offense that carries hefty fines and a potential jail time.
Although the law requires that motorists carry insurance coverage, not everyone follows the law. Fortunately for the law-abiding folks among us, all insurance policies, by law, provide some degree of coverage for the policy holder in the event that they are involved in an accident with an uninsured motorist. When a claim is made against an uninsured motorist policy, the plaintiff can file against their own insurance company to provide benefits based on the injury caused by an uninsured third-party.
A plaintiff can recover on an uninsured motorist policy to the extent that the coverage limits on that policy exceed the limits of the at-fault party’s insurance coverage. So, for example, if Bob negligently runs his car into the back of Jody’s truck, causing injuries, and Bob’s insurance policy limits, through El Cheapo Indemnity Co. are $30,000 per person, Jody can sue both Bob and the NoStates Casualty Company, Jody’s own insurer. Assuming that Jody’s policy limits are $100,000 per person and Jody obtains a judgment against Bob for $80,000 at trial, then El Cheapo, Bob’s insurer, will pay Jody the first $30,000 of that judgment, with the remaining $50,000 being paid by NoStates.
On the other hand, if Jody’s policy limits with NoStates are only $30,000, even though his judgment exceeds Bob’s policy limits of $30,000, Jody will not be able to recover any additional money, regardless of how big his judgment is.
Maryland law prohibits adding or stacking insurance coverage under more than one policy of insurance for damages arising out of the same occurrence. Further, if a plaintiff recovers under a worker’s compensation claim, the amount recovered from any related uninsured motorist claim must be reduced by the amount of workers compensation proceeds actually received by the injured party.
The tort of intentional infliction of emotional distress exists to provide a remedy to an individual who is the victim of another’s extreme and outrageous conduct. There are four elements that a plaintiff must prove when asserting a claim for intentional infliction of emotional distress.
In order for the court to find conduct as intentional or reckless, it must determine that the defendant intended to cause the plaintiff distress and was certain or substantially certain that such distress would result from his conduct.
Conduct is considered extreme and outrageous when it goes beyond the bounds of decency. The court has described the necessary conduct as going “beyond all possible bounds of decency and…be regarded as atrocious, and utterly intolerable in a civilized community.” Valid claims for intentional infliction of emotional distress occur infrequently due to the high standard of proof that is required. Although each case must be evaluated on a case-by-case basis, conduct such as threatening legal action, using insulting language and mere name calling have at times been rejected as insufficient to be a basis for liability under this tort.
Severe emotional distress is the kind of distress that inhibits the plaintiff’s ability to function day-to-day. It has been described by the Maryland Court of Appeals as more than “a reasonable man could be expected to endure.” Such distress may result in severe depression, anxiety, sleeplessness, headaches and illness.
In a successful claim for intentional infliction, the plaintiff can recover both compensatory and punitive damages.
It is important to note that there is no claim in Maryland for negligent infliction of emotional distress.
A trespass occurs when a person physically enters onto another person’s property in an unlawful manner without the owner’s consent. It does not matter whether the entry upon the land was intentional or accidental. It does not require that the owner of the land suffered any injury or damage as a result of the entry. A property owner can recover nominal damages, such as one dollar, where a trespass occurs and no damages are sustained. A trespass action can be asserted by a non-owner who has a possessory interest, such as a tenant.
The measure of actual damages for a trespass is fact-specific. Where the trespass is committed by the defendant occupying real property, damages can be assessed based on the fair market rental value of the property occupied. Where a structure or other improvement is destroyed, the damages can be measured by the value of the improvement, or by the cost to rebuild or repair the improvement.
Trespass actions commonly occur in relation to misplaced fences, gardens, sheds and other items of personal property on or near a boundary line. A trespass action is a typical way to resolve an issue involving a boundary dispute.
A plaintiff can recover punitive damages against a trespasser if the trespass is committed with actual malice.
There is no claim for trespass, nuisance, or even negligence, based on a neighbor’s encroaching trees. A neighbor may however rely on self-help and cut the tree or growth back to the property line.
When a person files a negligence claim in court, they are alleging that the defendant has failed to abide by some standard of conduct and that the defendant has breached a duty of care that has injured the plaintiff in some way. The most typical form of a negligence claim arises when there is an automobile accident. Negligence claims can arise from many different factual scenarios.
That the defendant owed a duty of care to the plaintiff.
That the defendant took some action, or failed to take some action resulting in a breach of that duty of care.
That the loss or injury that the plaintiff has incurred is proximately caused by the action or inaction of the defendant.
In evaluating a potential negligence action, the first thing that the plaintiff must consider is what duty is owed to him by the defendant. The duty that is owed to the plaintiff depends on the relationship, if any, between the parties. Generally, there are two things to consider when evaluating whether a duty exists: (1) the nature of the harm that is likely to result from a failure to exercise due care; and (2) the relationship that exists between the parties.
For a duty to arise, there must be some close or direct effect between the defendant’s behavior and the injured party. A person is required to take reasonable care to avoid acts which would injure others. The existence of a duty depends on whether the harm that might result is foreseeable as well as what is in the public interest. A duty exists where a person knows or should know that certain conduct imposes an unreasonable risk of harm to another.
Generally, a person does not owe any duty to render aid to a person in distress or to intervene to protect another person from a criminal act. Whether a duty is owed can also depend on the nature of the relationship between the parties.
If there is a duty, then the next consideration is defining that duty. For adults, the standard of care is ordinary and reasonable care. For children, the duty is that care ordinarily exercised by children of the same age, capacity, discretion and experience under similar circumstances.
There are various circumstances in which a standard of care higher than ordinary and reasonable care applies. An public bus driver, for instance, owes his passengers the highest degree of care to provide safe means and methods for transportation.
Negligence often arises in the context of premises liability. This may occur for instance where here is a slip and fall on a wet floor, or a displaced floor tile. The owner of real property generally owes some duty to those coming on his property. The extent of that duty, however, depends on the nature of the relationship.
Licensee. A licensee is an individual who is a social guest. The owner owes a licensee a duty to exercise reasonable care to warn the licensee of any dangerous conditions that are known to the owner, but not readily discoverable.
Bare Licensee. A bare licensee is a person that is on the property, but for his or her own purposes. For a bare licensee, the duty on the landowner is only to refrain from willfully and wantonly injuring the bare licensee and refrain from creating new, undisclosed sources of danger without warning the licensee.
Trespasser. A trespasser is a person on the property without permission. A landowner owes no duty, except to refrain from willfully or wantonly injuring him.
The owner of a business is not automatically legally liable because someone gets hurt on the premises. In fact, there is not even a presumption of negligence. The duty is on the injured party to show that a breach of duty occurred. Where, however, the owner, or an agent of the owner, such as an employee, has knowledge of a danger, that employee has a duty to take action to protect the invitees against the danger.
Maryland law does not recognize “dram shop liability.” A “dram shop” claim allows an individual injured as a result of someone’s consumption of excessive alcohol to recover against the establishment that served the alcohol. Dram shop laws would provide an additional source of relief from the victim of a drunk driving accident, for instance.
There are various defenses to a negligence claim under Maryland law.
Assumption of Risk. A plaintiff cannot recover if the plaintiff has assumed the risk of the injury. A person assumes the risk of an injury if that person knows and understands, or must have known and understood, the risk of an existing danger, and voluntarily chooses to encounter the risk. When a person engages in an activity such as a sport, they assume the normal risks incident to the activity, but not any enhanced risk, unless they have specific knowledge of the enhanced risk.
Contributory Negligence. A plaintiff cannot recover if the plaintiff’s negligence is a cause of the injury. The defendant has the burden of proving by a preponderance of the evidence that the plaintiff’s negligence was a cause of the plaintiff’s injury. It does not matter, under Maryland law, how much the plaintiff’s negligence contributed to the loss. If the plaintiff’s negligence contributed, even a little bit, Maryland law completely bars recovery by the plaintiff. Contributory negligence can be avoided in some circumstances where the defendant had an opportunity to avoid the injury after the plaintiff’s negligence occurred and fails to do so.
Proximate Cause. Proximate cause means that the injury sustained is the natural and logical result of the defendant’s negligent action. There must be a nexus between the defendant’s action and the plaintiff’s injury. In the absence of a causal link, the defendant, even though negligent, is not legally liable for the plaintiff’s injury. An important question here is whether the injury was a naturally foreseeable result of the defendant’s negligence.
Generally, the plaintiff in a negligence action does not recover punitive damages. However, there is a possibility of recovery of punitive damages where the defendant’s conduct is characterized by evil motive, intent to injury, ill will, or fraud.
One type of defamation case exists where an individual publishes a false statement not about a person, but about the person’s business or property. If Jay’s Jewlers ran an advertisement in the newspaper falsely claiming that Rock Bottom Diamonds were selling cubic zirconium rings and passing them off as real diamonds, this would be an example of an injurious falsehood.
An injurious falsehood is the publication of a matter derogatory to the plaintiff’s title to his property, or its quality, or to his business in general, or even to his personal affairs, in a manner that is calculated to prevent others from dealing with the plaintiff or to otherwise interfere with his dealings with others.
An important component of the claim is that the plaintiff must establish that the defendant acted with malice, i.e., intentionally or with reckless disregard for the truth, and that the statement was published to a third party. The plaintiff must also prove that the falsehood played a material and substantial part in inducing one or more third party not to deal with the plaintiff.
The plaintiff may not recover for emotional distress or bodily harm under this tort, but punitive damages are sometimes allowable.
The tort of invasion of privacy is designed to protect individuals from unreasonable intrusions upon their private lives by other people. There are several different factual scenarios under which this tort can apply.
For an invasion of privacy claim based on intrusion upon seclusion, the plaintiff must prove three things: (1) that there was an intentional intrusion; (2) into a private place, or affairs of another; and (3) such intrusion would be highly offensive to a reasonable person. An intrusion may or may not involve a trespass onto another’s private property.
Appropriation of Name or Likeness. A claim may be brought where the defendant uses the name or picture of the plaintiff without the plaintiff’s consent. For example, if a company used a name or photo of you for advertising purposes, without getting your permission, you may have a legal claim. To succeed on a claim involving an appropriation of name or likeness, the plaintiff would have to prove that the defendant intentionally took, appropriated or used the plaintiff’s name or image and that the defendant benefited or intended to benefit from the name or image.
The incidental use of a name or likeness will not give rise to a claim. The fact that you are caught in a photograph that is published in the newspaper does not mean you have been wronged. The use of the name or image must be for the purpose of taking advantage of the subject’s reputation or prestige.
Unreasonable Publicity to Private Life. An invasion of privacy claim may be proven by showing that the defendant has given publicity to facts about an individual which are not a valid concern to the public and which would be highly offensive to a reasonable person. It is important that the facts which are given publicity are private and not public. In addition, this tort is designed to address information that is broadly shared. Disclosing information to a single person may be insufficient to create an action.
Placing a Person in a False Light. An invasion of privacy claim may be proven by showing that the defendant knowingly or with reckless disregard for the truth causes another to be publicly placed in a false light. This occurs when the defendant gives publicity to something about the plaintiff that is wrong of misleading, that the information provided by the defendant would be highly offensive to a reasonable person and the defendant acts knowingly or recklessly. Publication of true, but confidential information will not give rise to a claim for placing a person in a false light.
Unfortunately, sometimes a person is killed as a result of another’s negligent actions. If you are the family member of an individual who has been killed by another’s negligence, there are remedies available to provide you with compensation. Of course no amount of compensation is going to bring back your loved one, or provide a substitute for having them in your life. The loss of a loved one often presents not only emotional hurdles, but financial ones as well. The law is designed to at least provide some economic relief when an individual is negligent in causing the death of another person.
A wrongful death claim differs from a survival action based on who can bring the claim and its purpose. A wrongful death claim is designed to provide a remedy for persons who have lost a loved one as a result of another’s negligence. A survival action may be brought on behalf of the estate of a decedent for any action which they could have pursued, but for their death, typically for conscious pain and suffering that preceded death. In cases involving accidental death, such as a car accident, these two claims may co-exist. The survivor may pursue a wrongful death claim while the estate may bring a survival action.
Generally a party has three years from the death of the person to file suit; however in some cases additional time may be permitted.
A wrongful death claim may be brought by the spouse, parent, or child of the deceased person. If there is no person who qualifies in these roles, another person who was related to or substantially dependent on the deceased person may make a claim.
A wrongful death claim is brought for the benefit of the decedent’s survivors. A survival action is brought by the personal representative of the decedent’s estate, to recover on behalf of the decedent, and for the estate, damages, such as pain and suffering, sustained by the decedent prior to his or her death. The beneficiaries of a claim for wrongful death may or may not be the same as the beneficiaries of a survival action. It depends on whether the decedent had a will and if so who the beneficiaries were.
Wrongful death claims may compensate the plaintiff for financial loss, but may also cover things such as loss of consortium, mental anguish, emotional pain and suffering, loss of society, companionship, comfort, protection, marital care, parental care, filial care, attention, advice, counsel, training, guidance and education.
Generally, an action for wrongful death must be brought within three years of the death of in the injured person. Where the death is caused by exposure to toxic substances in the workplace, the action may be brought within ten years of the death or three years after the cause of death is discovered, whichever is shorter.
As mentioned above, a survival action is designed to provide recovery for the deceased victim of another’s negligence. In other words, it is brought, on behalf of someone who has died, for pain and suffering that occurred following a negligent act, but before the death. In order to successfully prove a survival claim, the plaintiff must show: (a) that the defendant’s negligence was the direct and proximate cause of the decedent’s injuries; (b) that the decedent lived following the injuries; and (c) that between the time of injury and the time of death, the decedent experienced conscious pain.
Even a short period of time can be enough for the decedent to experience conscious pain. Compensation can also be attained for pre-impact fright suffered by the deceased.
The legal system is designed to protect those who are wronged and to prevent persons who did not do wrong from suffering adverse consequences as a result of wrongful accusations. Sometimes, however, individuals are charged with committing a crime when in fact they are innocent. The state has a high burden of proof in criminal cases. It must prove that the defendant is guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. In some cases, defendants are charged with crimes not because of something that they did, but because the “victim” attempts to use the criminal justice system to make the defendant suffer. When a person is wrongfully charged with a crime, they may seek to recover against the person who instituted the criminal proceedings.
That the defendant instituted or continued criminal proceedings against the plaintiff.
That the defendant instituted the criminal proceedings with malice, or a purpose other than bringing the plaintiff to justice.
Criminal proceedings are filed by the state, not by individuals. It is sufficient for this tort if the defendant directs or requests a prosecution based on information that they know to be false, or if the person withholds information which a reasonable person would realize might affect the decision to prosecute. Liability also arises where the person gives inaccurate information to a police or prosecutor. In addition, a person can be liable for malicious prosecution if that person learns of information that destroys the probable cause for the prosecution after proceedings have been commenced, but fails to come forward and give that information to the prosecutor.
Termination of proceedings in favor of the accused may be the result of the dismissal of the charges at a preliminary hearing, the entry of a nolle prosequi by the state’s attorney or a not guilty verdict from a judge or jury.
The absence of probable cause means that the defendant in a malicious prosecution case acted without any reasonable grounds to believe that the plaintiff was guilty. A plaintiff can prove malice by showing that the defendant filed charges with a purpose other than bringing the accused to justice. Just because the state enters a nolle prosequi, however, does not mean that probable cause is lacking. The question of whether probable cause existed for the filing of the criminal charges is one that must be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
Malice is shown when the defendant had a wrongful or improper motive for instituting criminal proceedings against the plaintiff. It may be, but is not necessarily based on spite, hatred, personal enmity or a desire for revenge. In a claim for malicious prosecution, the plaintiff must prove something more than mere negligence on the part of the defendant. A lack of probable cause by itself may be sufficient to show malice.
In a malicious prosecution case, the plaintiff can recover both compensatory and punitive damages. If you have been the victim of malicious prosecution, we’d be happy to discuss the specifics of your case with you.
While similar to Abuse of Process and Malicious Prosecution, the tort of Malicious Use of Process is a remedy when a person wrongfully uses civil process without a proper basis.
A prior civil proceeding was instituted by the defendant.
The proceeding was instituted without probable cause.
The proceeding was instituted with malice.
Damages were inflicted upon the plaintiff by arrest or imprisonment, seizure of property, or other special injury, which would not necessarily result in all suits prosecuted to recover for like causes of action.
The plaintiff must prove that the defendant acted with malice; that is with an improper motive. Proof does not require evidence of spite, hatred, personal enmity, or the desire for revenge .
The plaintiff must show prove damages. Damages occur when the plaintiff is arrested, his property is seized, or some other type of injury is incurred.
In a lawsuit for Malicious Use of Process, a plaintiff can recover both compensatory and punitive damages.
A claim for tortious interference with economic relations is comprised of two different types of claims. In one type of claim, the plaintiff brings an action for the defendant’s intentional and improper inducement of a breach of an existing contract. In a different type of claim, the plaintiff sues for the intentional and improper interference with economic relationship in absence of a breach of contract or for interference with business expectations.
That as a result, the plaintiff suffered damages.
Only a person who is not a party to the agreement can be liable for interference with a contract. Where the offending party is a party to the contract, the plaintiff must look to some other means to recover. The Court of Appeals has not allowed a party to transfer a breach of contract claim into an intentional tort.
The conduct giving rise to the tort need not be extreme, but it does need to be purposeful. If the conduct persuades another to breach or fail to perform, there must be liability. The courts will consider a number of factors to determine whether the defendant’s conduct is intentionally interfering with a contract. These factors include the nature of the actor’s conduct, the actor’s motive, the interests of the other with which the actor’s conduct interferes, the inters sought to be advanced by the actor, the social interests in protecting the freedom of action of the actor and the contractual interests of the other, the proximity or remoteness of the actor’s conduct to the interference; and the relation between the parties.
The interference with contract may be in the form of violence or intimidation, deflation, crimes, threats of groundless civil lawsuits or criminal prosecutions in bad faith. It is important to distinguish between the actor’s motives. A person can act knowingly and willfully, but if the person has a legitimate motive other than interfering with another’s contract, that person’s actions may not give rise to a tort claim.
Tortious interference with contract cannot be used to chill legitimate business competition. For example a competitor who pursues an employee of another’s business who is employed at-will, does not improperly interfere with the existing employment contract, unless the competitor uses improper means.
In this tort, the court can award compensatory damages. Damages are measured according to what would reasonably flow from the tortious act. These may include the loss of benefits under the contract, plus consequential damages, emotional distress and damages for harm to one’s reputation.
A plaintiff may also recover punitive damages for tortious interference where the plaintiff can show that the defendant’s conduct was motivated by actual malice, i.e., evil motive, intent to injure, ill will or fraud.
Sometimes a claim for Tortious interference with Contract will overlap with other claims, such as defamation or tortious interference with economic relations.
The tort of Tortious Interference with Prospective Advantage exists to address situations where a person improperly interferes with another’s business relationship. Liability for Interference with Prospective Advantage can arise in various ways. Two of the most common methods are where the defendant intentionally and improperly induces the breach of an existing contract and where the defendant intentionally and improperly interferes with an existing economic relationship or in a competitor’s business expectations.
Tortious interference with business relationship is distinguished from a breach of contract claim because it requires a relationship among three parties: the two parties to a contract and the party that interferes. A tortious interference with business relationship claim cannot succeed where both plaintiff and defendant are parties to the contract. In that type of situation, the plaintiff may recover for breach of contract or fraud.
Nevertheless, a plaintiff may recover on a claim for tortious interference with prospective advantage against a defendant with whom the plaintiff has contracted if the plaintiff can show that the defendant breached the contract in an effort to interference with the plaintiff’s business relationship with one or more third parties.
It is not enough to prove that the defendant did something that caused the plaintiff to suffer a business loss. The plaintiff must also show that the defendants conducted themselves in some improper manner. Examples of an “improper manner” would include things such as violence or intimidation, defamation, injurious falsehood, fraud, violation of criminal law and making groundless threats of lawsuits or criminal prosecutions.
That the acts were committed with the unlawful or improper purpose to cause such damage without justification and actual damages resulted.
A person who improperly causes another to discontinue business relationship with the plaintiff may be liable for tortious interference with prospective advantage. This occurs when the defendant causes the plaintiff to lose a contract or causes a third party to stop performing under an existing contract when the refusal to perform does not constitute a breach, such as refusal to exercise an option.
To prove a claim for intentional interference, it is necessary that the plaintiff establish that defendant not only acted intentionally and willfully to interfere with the defendant’s contract or prospective advantage, but also that the defendant’s conduct was specifically directed at the plaintiff’s business relationship with others.
The Law Offices of Baldwin, Briscoe & Steinmetz, P.C. can assist you in any disputes over the rightful boundaries between properties. Every resource that can help determine the true boundaries of a property will be examined, and we will look for any historical records or physical indicators that exist.
Cases of defamation arise when someone falsely accuses another of an act or wrongdoing, thereby damaging their reputation. In many cases, victims can seek financial compensation from those who slander them, with cases being decided in civil courts.
The Law Offices of Baldwin and Briscoe have always believed in protecting a person’s character. We have fought and continue to fight for our clients’ best interests.
A defamatory statement is a false statement about another person that exposes that person to public scorn, hatred, contempt, or ridicule, thereby discouraging others in the community from having a good opinion of, or from associating or dealing with, that person. The statement must be substantially false. A statement that is generally true, but contains a minor error, generally will not be sufficient to support a claim for defamation.
Defamation may result from a statement communicated to a third person either orally or in writing.
Defamation claims fall into two general categories: defamation per se and defamation per quod. Which category the case falls into affects the plaintiff’s burden of proof at trial. In a case of defamation per se, establishing that the speaker made the defamatory statement is sufficient for the plaintiff to establish its burden. However, cases involving defamation per quod require that the plaintiff introduce additional evidence in order to establish that the defamation occurred. The nature of the statement itself will determine whether the case is per se or per quod. The important distinction here is whether or not additional information is necessary to give context to the speaker’s statement so that the trier of fact can understand the nature of the statement and the potential harm incurred.
There are three types of defenses when it comes to defamation: absolute privilege, qualified privilege, and consent. Under absolute privilege, the plaintiff is not allowed to recover damages if the defamation occurs in judicial proceedings, legislative proceedings, executive publications, publications consented to, publications between spouses, and publications required by law. Qualified privileges are privileges for reporters. Qualified privileges occur between reporters reporting about proceedings and employer and employee relationships. However, the reports must be fair. Consent requires the person to give actual consent to the defamation. Consent is different from opinion, because consent is the persons actual words agreeing to the defamation and is a complete defense to defamation.
There are a variety of easements that can exist or be placed on a parcel of land that determine how it may be used, from easements that grant right-of-way to vehicles or power companies to historical-value easements placed by the State of Maryland. Our attorneys handle cases in which parties are seeking to obtain or prevent an easement pertaining to their property.
The attorneys at Baldwin & Briscoe, P.C. have handled many easement cases over the years. Easements are important because they affect how an owner may access or use their property. They also create a burden on the property over which they cross. It is easy to see how one person’s right to use another’s property may be the source of contention between the parties.
An easement is a non-possessory right in the property of another. Often the term easement is synonymous with the term right-of-way. An easement allows a person to legally cross over or otherwise use or burden the property of another person without asking for permission. An easement however, does not allow the easement owner to occupy the property or exclude others from the property. Those rights are reserved to the owner of the property, sometimes referred to the as the fee owner, the fee-simple owner or the servient owner.
The servient parcel is the property across which an easement crosses. The dominant parcel is the property which the easement benefits. An easement which benefits a particular parcel is said to be appurtenant to that land. An easement which is specific to a person, and not tiled to a dominant parcel is called an easement in gross. An easement appurtenant will pass with the title of the dominant parcel. This allows the buyer to use the easement in the same manner as the seller did. An easement in gross is generally unaffected by who holds title to the property. Utility easements are a typical example of an easement in appurtenant.
There are numerous types of easement that are recognized under Maryland law. These include right of way easements, utility easements, drainage easements, conservation easements, solar easements, sewer easements and driveway easements.
Easements can be created in various ways. An express easement is one that is created by grant, which is a deed, from one person allowing another an easement in their property. Easements can also be created by reservation. This generally occurs when a property owner subdivides a parcel into two or more smaller parcels by selling one, but retaining a right to cross it to access the others.
In addition to an express grant or reservation, an easement can be created through litigation. Easements created through litigation generally fall into three categories: necessity, prescription and implication.
Easement by Necessity. An easement by necessity arises when a parcel of property is subdivided in a way that one of the newly created portions does not have access to a public road or right-of-way. The court will grant an easement by necessity if it is reasonably necessary for the fair use and enjoyment of the property that does not have access to the public road.
Easement by Prescription. An easement by prescription arises when an individual makes adverse, continuous and hostile use of a right-of-way over the property of another for a period of twenty years. The element of hostility does not necessarily imply enmity or ill will; it simply means that the person using the right-of-way has not obtained permission from the owner.
Easement by Implication. An easement by implication arises when a property is subdivided. An Easement by Necessity (described above) is actually a type of Easement by Implication. An Easement by Implication is created when surrounding circumstances indicate that the grantor must have intended that he would be allowed to continue to cross over the property conveyed even after of the property.
In addition to litigation concerning whether an easement exists, sometimes parties litigate issues concerning the scope and rules surrounding an existing easement. It is not always clear what a party who has an easement is permitted to do within the easement. The party using the easement may create a burden on the underlying property. Sometimes issues concerning whether the party using the easement has created an undue burden. For example, if an easement is granted for access to a parcel of property used as a residence, but then the owner wants to develop the property for a commercial purpose, the new use might create an undue burden.
The courts can provide remedies pertaining to the use of an easement including injunctions and declaratory relief in which the court sets the rules for the use of the easement. The court can also award monetary damages where the use of an easement exceeds the scope of the easement or where the owner of the servient property interferes with the use of the easement.
Easements can be affirmative or negative. Most easements are affirmative easements, meaning that they permit someone to do something on another’s property. A negative easement is a restriction on one’s property. A scenic easement which prevents a party from creating a structure that blocks another’s view is a type of negative easement. Negative easements can also protect a property owner right to sunlight, thus prohibiting a neighboring owner from constructing a structure which blocks the light.
If you have questions concerning an existing easement or find yourself in a dispute with a neighboring property owner, the attorneys at Baldwin & Briscoe will be happy to meet with you and discuss your options and develop a strategy to meet your objectives.
The information contained on this page is provided as general information and does not constitute legal advice. The experienced attorneys at Baldwin & Briscoe, P.C. can assist you with many types of property litigation, including easement issues. We’d be happy to sit down with you and review your situation and provide appropriate advice. Call today for a no-obligation consultation. A consultation fee may apply.
HoA disputes are often complicated to resolve and taxing on the parties involved; don’t do it alone. The Law Offices of Baldwin, Briscoe & Steinmetz, P.C. has represented both homeowners’ associations and homeowners in past disputes.
Times change, and in a shifting economy a mortgage may become financially difficult to pay off. The Law Offices of Baldwin, Briscoe & Steinmetz, P.C. will work with you and your creditor to try to renegotiate the terms of your mortgage in a manner that reflects your and the bank’s changing circumstances.
For any other property disputes or real estate issues you may have, The Law Offices of Baldwin, Briscoe & Steinmetz, P.C. will represent you following an initial consultation.
Real estate is a part of our lives. Most people will at some point buy a house or land. There are a lot of issues that can arises during these transactions, one of them is negotiations falling apart. If a buyer offers a new amount, does this open a new contract negotiation and make a previous contract null and void? If a settlement does not take place by the time stated in the contract of sale, does this open a new contract and make the previous contract null and void?
– Dennis v. Fire & Police Employees Ret. Sys., 390 Md. 639, 656-57, 890 A.2d 737, 747 (2006) (quoting General Motors Acceptance v. Daniels, 303 Md. 254, 261, 492 A.2d 1306, 1310 (1985).
In other words, a court will look at the exact wording of the contract and if the wording is clear and unambiguous, the court will assume that the parties that are under the contract intended to be bound by it. If the language in the contract is not clear and unambiguous, then a court will look to how a reasonable person would act if they were in the same position as the parties in the contract.
Maryland precedent establishes that a contract can only be re-negotiated when the contract has a re-negotiations clause written into the contract. See Cushman v. Anne Arundel County, 246 Md. 525, 532, 228 A.2d 825 (1967), Wolfe v. Wolfe, 12 Md.App. 581, 584, 280 A.2d 1(1971), Balt. City. v. AECOM Srvcs. Inc., 200 Md. App. 380, 400, 28 A.3d 11 (2011) Fraternal Order of Police, Montgomery City., Lodge 35 v. Montgomery City., 437 Md. 618, 630, 89 A.3d 1093 (2014). These cases establish, along with Maryland’s view of reading the contract solely based off of its plain language, that a contract can only be considered to be null and void based on the terms set in the contract.
Therefore, when entering into a contract, it is crucial to read over the entire document carefully. Many contracts dealing with a sale of land will contain a date by which the settlement must be completed. Many contracts also typically contain a time essence provision that grants the party that does not default (in other words, the party that doesn’t fail to complete an action that they were supposed to by a certain date) the power to declare the contract null and void. However, although these types of clauses are common, each contract is different. If you have a question about a contract, please contact Baldwin & Briscoe, P.C. for a consolation.
The information contained on this page is provided as general information and does not constitute legal advice. The experienced attorneys at Baldwin & Briscoe, P.C. can assist you if you are involved in a contract dispute. Contact our office to schedule a no-obligation consultation to review your rights. A consultation fee may apply.
Through Maryland’s appeals process you can challenge the findings of any civil case and ask to have it re-heard by a higher court. The higher court has the authority to change or modify any part of the ruling made by the lower court. It is important to have competent, experienced representation during the appeals process.
If you would like assistance preparing or drafting a contract we would be glad to assist you. We can look for any details in your contract that may cause future troubles, or draft a contract from scratch and write it to your specifications.
When the provisions and terms of a contract aren’t met, sometimes the best results can only come from a court. The Law Offices of Baldwin, Briscoe & Steinmetz, P.C. will represent you when a contract you signed with another is broken and work towards attaining a fair and quick resolution of your matter within the courts.
The attorneys at Baldwin, Briscoe & Steinmetz, P.C. have years of experience litigating breach of contract matters. A contract is simply a promise or set of promises, which if breached, the law will provide a remedy. Under Maryland law, the court will generally try to give effect to the parties’ intentions.
A breach of contract occurs when someone fails to do what they’ve agreed to do. Some common examples of breaches include failing to pay a debt when it becomes due, or failing to perform on a promise. This might, for example, occur where someone agrees to sell a piece of real estate, but then refuses to go to settlement.
2) A material breach of that obligation by the defendant.
A complaint is a paper that is filled out by the plaintiff or their attorney, and filed with the court, that sets out the facts giving rise to the dispute between the plaintiff and the defendant. The complaint must also contain a request for the relief requested, that is what the plaintiff is asking the court to do. The plaintiff can ask for various forms of relief, including money damages, an injunction, specific performance or declaratory relief.
Maryland law recognizes the existence of both oral and written contracts and a plaintiff can generally sue to enforce either. In the case of oral contracts, the plaintiff must sometimes prove the existence of the contractual obligation through circumstantial evidence. Another important fact to keep in mind is that a written contract can be orally modified.
In a breach of contract claim, the plaintiff bears the burden of proof. This means that the plaintiff both establish a prima facie case and demonstrate a preponderance of the evidence in its favor. In order to establish a prima facie case, the plaintiff must provide some evidence as to each element. That means that the plaintiff must provide testimony, documents, or other evidence that establishes both the existence of a contractual obligation and that the defendant breached that obligation. Assuming that the plaintiff is able to meet its initial burden, the defendant will have the opportunity to present evidence in the case that refutes that of the plaintiff. At the end of the case, the judge or jury must decide whether it is more likely than not that both there was a contractual obligation owed by the defendant to the plaintiff and that the defendant did not meet that obligation, and if so, what remedy is appropriate.
Breach of contract cases sometimes arise because the parties have a disagreement over what the contract requires them to do. This may be based on either some ambiguity in the contract, or a dispute over what a term means. The law requires courts to give effect to what the parties stated in the contract, if possible, regardless of their subjective intentions. Courts generally interpret contracts by using a reasonable person standard. That is they seek to determine what a reasonable person in the position of the contracting parties would think that the term means. When a court is able to determine the meaning of the contract based on the document itself, it will not look to outside sources for assistance. Where a contract is truly ambiguous, however, the court will consider evidence outside of the contract itself to help reach a determination as to what the parties intended. A contract is ambiguous when it is susceptible to more than one interpretation by a reasonable person.
In order to form a valid contract, there must be an offer, acceptance and consideration. An offer is simply a communication from one party to another of a desire to enter into an agreement. The offer must be sufficiently detailed and clear that it can be accepted by the other party. The offer must contain the necessary terms in order to be binding if accepted. For instance, “I’ll sell you my car if you have the money” is not an offer. “I’ll sell you my car for $5,000 if you can pay me in cash by Friday, and I’ll deliver it at that time in its present condition” is an offer.
An offer can require a written or formal acceptance, but otherwise the offer can be accepted informally or by action. If you make an offer to purchase a home, for instance, you would fill out a written contract, sign it and present it to the seller or their real estate agent. In order to accept the offer, the seller must sign the contract and return the signed contract to you, or your agent. This is a formal acceptance. On the other hand, a store or vendor may have something for sale. You go to the register and hand over your money and the contract is completed, no documentation needed. The real estate contract example is sometimes referred to as a bilateral contract, whereas a contract that is completed by performance is sometimes referred to as a unilateral contract or implied contract.
Some contracts, by law, must be in writing to be enforced. For example, a contract to sell real property is not enforceable unless it is in writing. This is referred to as the Maryland statute of frauds. In these cases, however, “a writing” does not necessarily mean a formally prepared contract as a business might ordinarily create. An exchange of letters or emails between the parties, if it shows the existence of the contract, will ordinarily be sufficient to constitute a writing. This may be true even if the writing is inaccurate or incomplete. Often litigation arises because the parties have a disagreement over whether a contract was formed, or what its terms are, when there has been an informal exchange of correspondence, including email.
Written contracts may contain implied terms in addition to the express terms that are set forth on the paper. Under Maryland law, every contract, with the exception of at-will employment contracts, contains an implied term of good faith and fair dealing. Many times, this will come up in partnership agreements or other contracts where some fiduciary duty is present. Sometimes there are other implied terms based on the circumstances under which the contract was formed.
One area which has resulted in much litigation is that of letters of intent. Letters of intent generally come about during the course of negotiation but are generally not a final agreement between the parties. Depending on the language within the letter of intent, however, the party making the offer, i.e., sending the letter, may express an intention to be bound by its terms. Whether or not the letter of intent can be accepted as an offer is a question that is decided by the court on a case-by-case basis.
Some contracts are made for the benefit of a person not a party to the contract. These contracts can be enforced by the party that is the intended beneficiary. These are enforceable by the intended beneficiary, even though they are not a party. The intent to create a third-party beneficiary must be evident from the contract itself. A life insurance policy is typical example of a third-party beneficiary contract. The person receiving the proceeds of the insurance payout is someone other than the party who made the contract. Even though that person was not a party to the contract, that person has the legal right to enforce the contract, including by filing a lawsuit if necessary.
In a dispute that involves a bilateral contract, the plaintiff must prove that it performed its duties or obligations under the contract. Plaintiff must also prove that the defendant’s breach of contract was material. This means that it was important or significant. If a plaintiff agrees to purchase a product and the contract requires delivery in thirty days, delivery by the defendant on the thirty-first day does not necessarily constitute a material breach of contract. It might not be important that the product was delivered exactly on the date agreed. If, however, the parties state in the contract that delivery on the agreed date is a material part of the agreement, then failure to do so would be a material breach. Parties often create materiality by using a “time is of the essence” clause in their contract. This means that when a date is specified for someone to take action or perform, they must do so by that date, not near or shortly after the date stated.
Money Damages. This is the most common remedy sought in breach-of-contract actions. Money damages may be awarded for losses that were proximately caused by the defendant’s breach, that were reasonably foreseeable, and that are proven with reasonable certainty. Reasonable foreseeable means that the damages are those that would arise naturally out of the breach of contract. Moreover, a plaintiff can recover damages that are reasonably supposed to have been in the mind of both parties at the time that the contract was formed.
The question of foreseeability often comes up concerning the issue of a claim for lost profits. In these cases, the plaintiff must prove that the defendant could have reasonably foreseen that the lost profits would probably result from the breach and the lost profits can be proved with reasonable certainty. So, for example, if the breach of contract is for failure to deliver a truckload of hot dogs on time, a hot dog stand with a proven sales record will be more likely to recover damages for lost profits than would a brand-new business. The new business, however, may still be able to recover the cost of obtaining alternative product including any price premium that had to be paid, and the added transportation and labor costs involved.
One form of money damages are liquidated damages. Liquidated damages are damages that are agreed to in the contract prior to any breach. The parties can, by agreement, set the amount of damages that will result in the event of a breach. Courts will enforce these clauses if they meet three conditions: (1) a liquidated damages clause must be clear and unambiguous on its terms; (2) the damages provided for must reasonably compensate the damaged party for the breach; and (3) the clause is written in a way that it is binding and not subject to alteration after the breach has occurred.
Usually, a non-breaching party has a duty to mitigate, or take reasonable steps to avoid unnecessary damages resulting from the breach. Where a contract has a liquidated damages clause, however, there is no duty to mitigate. Unlike some other areas of law, Maryland does not permit punitive damages in a breach of contract case. Nevertheless, if there is a tort remedy that gives the plaintiff the right to recover punitive damages, such damages may be recovered despite the fact that there is a valid claim for breach of contract as well.
Specific Performance. Specific performance is a remedy where the court orders a part to a contract to do what they contracted to do. An example of this is where a party has contracted to sell a piece of property to another party, but then refuse to go to settlement. In these cases, the court can issue an order requiring the breaching party to complete what it agreed to do in the contract. Alternatively, the court may appoint a trustee to convey the property that was contracted for on behalf of the breaching party.
Injunctive Relief. Sometimes a plaintiff in a breach of contract case will seek injunctive relief. An injunction is an order from the court requiring the defendant to do something, or to refrain from taking some behavior. A specific performance case, discussed above, is one form of injunctive relief. The court may pass other forms of injunctions, as well, such as prohibiting a party from disposing of certain property until certain conditions have been met.
Declaratory Relief. In some cases, the plaintiff is seeking declaratory relief. Declaratory relief is different from an injunction or money damages in that it seeks an interpretation of the contract. Sometimes a declaratory relief can be used when a party is uncertain of its rights or obligations under a contract. A person who is entitled to a sales commission, for example, may file a complaint for declaratory relief prior to the completion of the sale but after some action taken by the principal which gives them cause to believe they will not be paid. In that case, the court can issue an order stating that if the sale occurs, the person is or is not entitled to a commission. Declaratory relief can be used defensively as well. If a person wishes to terminate the relationship, but fears that some cost may be incurred in the future, they can seek declaratory relief from the court setting out the future obligations.
The attorneys at Baldwin, Briscoe & Steinmetz, P.C. have years of experience in litigating breach of contract cases. A consultation with one of our experienced breach of contract attorneys can provide you appropriate advice as to your rights and obligations concerning any particular contract. Contracts are often complex instruments and an attorney can only give you advice after learning about the particular facts of your situation.
The information contained on this page is provided as general information and does not constitute legal advice. The experienced attorneys at Baldwin, Briscoe & Steinmetz, P.C. can assist you if you are involved in a contract dispute. We’d be happy to sit down with you and review your situation and provide appropriate advice. Call today for your no-obligation consultation.
A bailment is a simple transaction in which one party, the bailor, transfers the possession of a good or goods to another party, the bailee. You enter into a bailment arrangement whenever a valet parks your car or you take your clothes to the dry-cleaner or tailor. In these situations, you turn over possession of something that you own to another person or company without surrendering your ownership interest in the property you’ve turned over.
In the event that the bailee fails to return the goods at the end of the bailment, the bailor can sue for breach of the bailment agreement. When a bailment agreement exists, the bailee assumes the duty of exercising reasonable care and protecting the bailed property. The bailee has a duty to use reasonable care to protect the property. That means they must use the degree of care that a reasonable person would exercise towards similar property.
If the bailee has a justified excuse for failing to return the property at the end of the bailment, the bailor must establish that bailee failed to use reasonable care to protect the property. The bailee for instance may not be liable if someone broke into their home or business and stole the property. On the other hand, if the property was mislaid in a public place by the bailee, liability would likely attach.
If a bailment is gratuitous, meaning that the bailee is not paid a fee, the bailee is liable only for its wrongful conduct. This might occur, for instance if you lose a piece of jewlery in a store, an employee or customer turns it in and the store holds onto it until it is claimed. In this situation, the store owner or bailee must use ordinary care to return it to the owner.
If the bailment is for the mutual benefit of the parties, then the plaintiff can establish a prima facie case by showing merely that the bailed property was not returned. An example of a mutual benefit bailment would be a car rental. The rental company (bailor) benefits in that they receive a fee. The customer (bailee) benefits in that they have use and possession of the rental car.
If the bailee has a justified excuse for not returning the property (it was stolen!), the bailor must show that the bailee failed to exercise reasonable care in protecting the property.
A bailment is created in a parking garage where the vehicle owner surrenders their keys at the garage. No bailment is created where the owner parks his own car and retains the keys. In the absence of a bailment agreement, other forms of liability may be present.
The information contained on this page is provided as general information and does not constitute legal advice. The experienced attorneys at Baldwin, Briscoe & Steinmetz, P.C. can assist you if you are involved in a bailment dispute or any civil litigation matter. We’d be happy to sit down with you and review your situation and provide appropriate advice. Call today for your no-obligation consultation.
Under Maryland law, as is common around the country, if a person breaches a contract, the other party to the contract may file a lawsuit and if successful, the court will award the plaintiff money damages, and in some cases, specific performance or other injunctive relief. A breach of contract occurs when one party to the contract, without legal justification, fails to perform any promise that forms part or all of the contract. A plaintiff, in a breach of contract case, must prove that he or she performed his part of the contract.
In an anticipatory breach of contract case, the breach occurs before the time that performance is required. An anticipatory breach occurs when one party definitely and specifically refuses to perform the contract in a manner that is positive and unconditional. An anticipatory breach is more than a delay and must amount to a repudiation or rejection of the contract. An expression of doubt over one’s ability to perform is not sufficient to create an anticipatory breach.
A party who anticipatorily breaches or repudiates a contract may retract the repudiation and perform so long as they notify the other party to the contract before the other party materially changes their position based on the anticipatory breach or notifies the repudiating party that they consider the repudiation to be final.
If a party repudiates a contract, the non-breaching party may choose how to proceed. If is advantageous of them to do so, they may treat the contract as abandoned and sue the breaching party for anticipatory breach of contract. On the other hand, they may wait and bring an action for breach of contract after the time for performance has passed.
The information contained on this page is provided as general information and does not constitute legal advice. The experienced attorneys at Baldwin, Briscoe & Steinmetz, P.C. can assist you if you have questions concerning a contract, including the breach or anticipatory breach of a contract. We’d be happy to sit down with you and review your situation and provide appropriate advice.
When a contract is rescinded, it is voided and the parties are returned to the positions that they were in prior to entering the contract.
That the plaintiff entered into a contract because of fraud, negligent misrepresentation, undue influence or duress, or that there was a material breach of the contract by the defendant, or that there was a mutual or unilateral mistake in contracting.
That the plaintiff returned the consideration or was unconditionally willing to return the consideration to the defendant, along with any benefits that the plaintiff received based on the contract.
That the plaintiff notified the defendant of the intention to rescind.
In some cases, there may be no consideration for the plaintiff to return, or the plaintiff may have some other claim that offsets the consideration. In these cases, the court may permit the plaintiff to obtain a rescission of the contract without returning the consideration.
The importance of acting promptly to rescind the contract cannot be overstated. A plaintiff’s duty to act arises when the plaintiff first becomes aware of the facts that give rise to the right to rescind. The plaintiff must give notice of intention to rescind within a reasonable period of time. The specific amount of time that is reasonable will vary depending on the underlying facts. The court will decide what’s reasonable on a case-by-case basis.
If a plaintiff continues to treat the contract as ongoing, such as by continuing to receive and accept benefits under the contract, the court is likely to find that the right to rescind has been waived. A plaintiff can also affirmatively waive their right to rescind by indicating to the defendant that they will continue to be bound by the contract. A party who has chosen not to rescind may still seek damages through other remedies, such as for breach of contract or fraud.
The experienced attorneys at Baldwin & Briscoe can assist you if you are a party to a contract which should be rescinded. If you have questions about the rescission of a contract, you may wish to contact Baldwin & Briscoe.
The information contained on this page is provided as general information and does not constitute legal advice. We’d be happy to sit down with you and review your situation and provide appropriate advice. Call today for your no-obligation consultation.
For disputes involving the specific details of a given contract we will gladly represent you after an initial consultation.
If you are misled as a consumer into purchasing a faulty or dangerous product, or purchase a product that was falsely advertised, we can help you achieve satisfying compensation from the company you made your purchase from.
Warranties are a part of our daily lives. When we purchase a product, there oftentimes will be a warranty attached to it that guarantees to the buyer that the product that the seller is selling works as advertised, promised or claimed.
A Breach of Warranty refers to the failure of a seller to fulfill the terms of a promise, claim, or representation made concerning the quality or type of the product. The law assumes that a seller gives certain warranties concerning goods that are sold and that he or she must stand behind these assertions.
There are two forms of warranty breaches, Breach of Express Warranty and Breach of Implied Warranty.
What the UCC is basically saying is that if a seller makes any kind of fact or promise to the buyer about the goods about to be sold, then an express warranty has been created. The seller does not need to use any specific words such as “I guarantee” or “I promise”, so long as the words conveyed from seller to buyer create an impression that is part of the overall sale, then an express warranty has been created. However, if a seller merely states the overall value of the goods or the statement made by the seller is clearly one of the seller’s opinion, then an express warranty has not been created.
What is important to know about the UCC is that it is not binding law for all 50 states. States can pick and chose what sections (if any) of the UCC that they wish to govern in their particular jurisdiction.
Any affirmation of fact or promise made by the seller to the buyer which relates to the goods and becomes part of the basis of the bargain creates an express warranty that the goods shall conform to the affirmation or promise.” McCarty v. E.J. Korvette, Inc., 28 Md.App. 421, 437, 347 A.2d 253 (1975).
This falls in line with the UCC’s definition of Express Warranty. This means that when making a purchase, if the seller creates to you (the buyer) an impression that becomes a part of the overall sale, an express warranty is created.
There are various concepts that fit under an implied warranty. For simplicity’s sake, in this article we will only focus on two, Implied Warranty of Merchantability and Implied Warranty of Fitness.
Just about every consumer product purchase comes with an implied warranty of merchantability, which means it is guaranteed to work if used for its intended purpose. For example, if you buy a washer, you expect to function in a particular manner, you expect it to be able to wash your clothes. This also applies to used items, with the extra disclaimer that it will work as intended, given its condition at the time of resale. The standards for merchantability are relatively low, basically guaranteeing that goods sold will do what they are supposed to do; have nothing significantly wrong with them; and are fit to be sold.
Some purchases come with what is called an implied warranty of fitness. This means that a product is guaranteed for a specific purpose, so this is a higher standard than merchantability. So if you asked a salesperson to recommend a camera that can take pictures at night, but the one that’s recommended turns out to not to be able to take night pictures, then you may return the item under its implied warranty of fitness. There is a divide between states regarding the usage of the words “sold as is” or “with all faults.” Retailers will sometimes mark items with these words in an effort to disclaim an implied warranty, but this is not allowed in all states. Maryland is one of those states. This means that a retailer cannot mark products with these words and even if they did, it would not waive an implied warranty of fitness.
The information contained on this page is provided as general information and does not constitute legal advice. The experienced attorneys at Baldwin, Briscoe & Steinmetz, P.C. can assist you if you are involved in a warranty claim. Contact our office to schedule a no-obligation consultation to review your rights.
The Law Offices of Baldwin, Briscoe & Steinmetz, P.C. represents clients in matters involving the breach of a confidential relationship, including where clients seek to establish a constructive trust or a resulting trust through litigation.
A constructive trust is an equitable remedy that a court can impose to correct an inequitable transfer of property. A constructive trust may be an option when an agent misuses a durable power of attorney, such as by executing a deed that was not consistent with the principal’s estate plan. A constructive trust, created by the court, treats the recipient of the property as if he or she were an express trustee holding the property for the rightful recipient from the date of the first unlawful holding.
There are generally two type of scenarios under which Maryland courts have imposed constructive trusts, first when the property has been acquired by fraud, misrepresentation, or another improper method and secondly, when the property has been acquired in breach of a confidential relationship. In either scenario, the purpose of imposing a constructive trust is to prevent the person who has acquired title from being unjustly enriched.
That under the circumstances it would be inequitable for the defendant to retain the beneficial interest in the property.
That there is a confidential relationship which has been breached by the dominant party.
A confidential relationship exists where one party is under the dominion of another, or where under the circumstances, such party is justified in assuming the other will not act in a manner that is inconsistent with his or her welfare. If the plaintiff can establish the existence of a confidential relationship, there arises a presumption that confidence was placed in the dominant party and that the transaction complained of resulted from fraud or undue influence. This presumption then shifts the burden of proof to the defendant to show the transaction was fair and reasonable. The defendant must present clear, satisfactory, and convincing evidence to overcome the presumption.
Confidential relationships may exist in a variety of circumstances, such as between a parent and child, between spouses, between attorneys and their clients, or between a principal and their agent under a durable power of attorney. Generally, a confidential relationship exists where one party acts as a fiduciary for another party.
A constructive trust may also be imposed where the plaintiff has a higher equitable call on property than the defendant and it would be inequitable for the defendant to retain the property. Under this method of obtaining a constructive trust, it is not necessary that the plaintiff prove any particular wrongdoing on the part of the defendant. An example of this would be where a husband changes the beneficiary of this life insurance policy to his second wife in violation of a separation agreement with his first wife requiring him to maintain the first wife as the policy beneficiary. In this case, the first wife would not have to prove wrongdoing in order to obtain the benefit of a constructive trust.
The information contained on this page is provided as general information and does not constitute legal advice. The experienced attorneys at Baldwin & Briscoe, P.C. can assist you with many types of property litigation, including constructive trusts and breaches of fiduciary duties. We’d be happy to sit down with you and review your situation and provide appropriate advice. Call today for a no-obligation consultation. A consultation fee may apply.
The Law Offices of Baldwin, Briscoe & Stienmetz, P.C. has represented specific disputes between companies involving all different varieties of issues for years. We will gladly represent you and your business in its dispute with a commercial partner or neighbor.
A court is not the only place to settle a dispute. Mediation and arbitration are alternative dispute resolution methods where parties meet informally outside the court. There they try to come to a mutually agreeable resolution without incurring the high costs of a court action. The Law Offices of Baldwin, Briscoe & Steinmetz, P.C. gladly offers these services to anyone involved in a civil case who feels their legal issues could best be resolved this way.

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