THE ONLY REAL LAWYERS ARE TRIAL LAWYERS, AND TRIAL LAWYERS TRY CASES TO JURIES.
— Clarence Darrow
Philosophy
First and foremost, I am a trial lawyer. Law is one of the traditional learned professions, along with medicine and ministry. The very word profession comes from the Latin word “to profess” or “to take a vow” and for many years the law was seen as a kind of sacred trust. However, there has been an erosion of trust and public confidence in lawyers and the very legal system that we serve.
But that skewed perception opinion should neither define nor deter lawyers from fulfilling their sacred oath as officers of the court - to serve their clients honestly and zealously - in a civil manner. It is a duty and privilege that I take very seriously.
My law firm, established 15 years ago, was founded on the premise that each client is unique and deserves personal attention. Larger law firms, by their very nature, not to mention their high overhead, simply cannot, and do not, offer a hands-on approach. My caseload is purposely kept to a level that allows for quality service for each and every client. Period. Each client’s unique problems and needs are addressed personally and promptly. When my clients call, they talk to me.
My practice has developed over the years without substantial advertising, relying entirely upon word of mouth references from clients. Simply put, they are the building blocks of my business. However, with the coming of the electronic age, it is important that current and potential clients are provided more information about the firm, in a form which is becoming more and more acceptable, if not expected.
Additionally, this blog provides relevant information on the areas of law for which I offer legal services. So in March of 2009, this website and blog went live. It is a work in progress. Check back often for substantive content on your legal needs, with a fair dose of legal humor, unabashed hero worship and an appropriate amount of healthy criticism. Prone to a wee bit of drama, videos will also be posted regarding the law and lawyers, hopefully worthy of your time, if not your smile.
Attorney Profile
Trial Advocacy
Second generation Maryland trial attorney who routinely appears as a first chair trial advocate before Maryland District and Circuit Courts, as well as many administrative agencies. I have successfully handled hundreds of cases, whether by settlement or by litigation.
Appellate Advocacy
Appellate advocate in a similarly wide range of appeals before the Maryland Court of Special Appeals, the Maryland Court of Appeals, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit.
Illustrative cases of my appellate career include:
In my first appellate case, my client and I took on Bell Atlantic Telephone Company (now AT&T). He was a disabled Vietnam veteran who was attempting to establish a browser in the early days of the internet in Intercom Systems Corporation v. Bell Atlantic of Maryland, Inc., 135 Md. App. 624 (2000). To the utter dismay of the utility company and their lawyers (Hogan & Hartson), we soundly prevailed. A comprehensive appellate brief and persuasive argument led to a decision by Maryland’s highest court that made a major change in the law, every lawyer’s dream. It is a published decision in the Maryland Court of Special Appeals that, for the first time in Maryland, established the right to a trial for an individual to seek monetary damages against a public utility company, following the exhaustion of all administrative remedies. The decision was upheld in the Court of Appeals. This appellate success was but one example of those argued in the appellate courts.
News Coverage
The following media outlets are but a few where my cases have been featured in news accounts:
- ABC 2 News TV
- ABC 7 News TV
- NBC 4 News TV
- NBC 25 News TV
- WBAL 11 News TV
- WJZ 13 News TV
- WJLA News TV
- Entertainment Tonight
- Associated Press
- WJEJ Radio
- WTOP Radio
- Sirius Radio
- The Capital (Annapolis) Newspaper
- The Carroll County Times Newspaper
- The Maryland Daily Record
- The Baltimore Sun
- The Washington Post
- The Star Democrat Newspaper (Easton)
- The (Washington) Herald-Mail Newspaper
- The Frederick News Post Newspaper
- The Maryland Gazette Newspaper
- The Prince George’s County Journal
- The Bowie Blade News
- The Prince George’s Post
- Stars and Stripes Newspaper
- MSNBC.com
- HometownAnnapolis.com
- Your4State.com
- PolitickerMD.com
- BNET.com
Associations
Maryland Trial Lawyers Association, Association of Trial Lawyers of America, Prince George County Bar Association, Maryland State Bar Association, American Bar Association, Prince George County Women’s Bar Association (Treasurer, 2000-2001); and Francis J. Bourne American Inn of Court (Co-Chairman).
Areas of Practice
- 55% Family Law
- 35% Criminal Law
- 10% Appellate Law
Litigation Percentage
- 95% of Practice Devoted to Litigation
Bar Admissions
- State of Maryland (1997)
- U.S. District Court, Fourth Circuit (1999)
- U.S District Court for the District of Columbia (2000)
Education
Howard University School of Law, Washington, D.C.
Juris Doctorate Degree (May 1994)
Honors
Captain and Member, National Moot Court Team/Lead Counsel for National Trial Competition
Dean’s Recognition Award Winner in Contemporary Problems Developing in Law (Fall, 1993)
Institute on International and Comparative Law, Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland
Honors: summa cum laude
The Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C.
Congressional Studies Master Program (1987‑1989)
