Blog
- What are the penalties for violating the governor’s orders on public gatherings during the COVID-19 crisis?
Mar 24, 2020
Maryland’s state and local law enforcement agencies say they are willing to arrest those who disobey Gov. Larry Hogan’s executive orders restricting public gatherings to no more than 10 people and temporarily closing businesses. The moves are aimed at stopping the spread of the Coronavirus in the state. Hogan issued an executive order on March 19 after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Maryland Department of Health recommended limiting gatherings...Read More - What are the penalties for a DWI charge in Maryland?
Mar 16, 2020
Maryland’s politicians are serious about cracking down on impaired driving. Each year they propose changes in the laws aimed at increasing the penalties for drunk and drugged driving. In 2019, Maryland lawmakers increased the penalties for those with Baltimore, Ocean City and Maryland repeat DUI and DWI convictions. In 2016, they made There are two basic drunk driving charges in Maryland – DUI and DWI. “DUI” stands for driving under the influence...Read More - What are the penalties for a DUI charge in Maryland?
Mar 9, 2020
If you’ve been charged with impaired driving in Maryland, whether it be from alcohol or drugs, then you’re probably wondering what kind of penalties you could be facing. Drinking and driving is a public safety issue. Vehicle accidents in Maryland in 2017 involving impaired drivers caused 188 fatalities and more than 3,200 persons were injured. But people are human, and, on more than one occasion, someone has a couple of drinks and then hits...Read More - Court: Police officer didn’t use excessive force in breaking up Maryland bar fight
Feb 24, 2020
A Maryland man was unsuccessful recently in his attempt to hold a state trooper responsible for the alleged use of excessive force in handling allegedly disorderly conduct at a Cecil County bar. The Court of Special Appeals ruled that the trooper did not use excessive force when he executed a “takedown maneuver” to break up the disorderly behavior. At the saloon The court’s ruling started with an altercation at a Cecil County restaurant/bar,...Read More - Roadside noise, two officers speaking at same time, didn’t interfere with advising of Maryland DWI driver’s rights
Feb 17, 2020
Despite being distracted by one officer reading his rights and another officer asking questions, a Maryland motorist who was stopped for suspicion of driving while under the influence of alcohol (DWI) and who refused a blood alcohol concentration test was fully advised of his rights, Maryland’s top court has ruled. Maryland traffic stop In April 2018, a Maryland police officer observed Brian Barrett “commit multiple traffic violations, including driving above the posted speed...Read More - Court of Appeals rejects man’s argument that he was “sheltering” in vehicle and not DUI or DWI
Feb 10, 2020
Although a Maryland man’s argument that he was “sheltering” in his vehicle and not driving or attempting to drive it while parked near his ex-girlfriend’s house was successful before an administrative law judge and a circuit court, the state’s top court disagreed and found that a Caroline County police officer, upon smelling alcohol, had reasonable grounds to detain the man. The Court of Appeals held that the trooper who discovered John W. Pollard while...Read More - Officer who did not see women driving truck had reasonable grounds to believe she was driving, court rules
Feb 3, 2020
An administrative law judge and a Carroll County circuit court made a mistake when they ruled that a law enforcement officer did not have reasonable grounds to believe that a vehicle’s occupant was driving while impaired (DWI) or attempting to drive under the influence (DUI) when she was sitting in the driver’s seat, smelled of alcohol and failed to stop at a stop sign, Maryland’s top court recently ruled. After two officers from the...Read More - Baltimore Medical Malpractice: Diagnostic Errors
Jan 6, 2020
The Washington Post recently reported the story of a woman who was suffering from heart failure; but, the doctors missed the real problem – that her heart was not pumping enough blood – and instead diagnosed her lungs as the cause of her medical difficulties because she experienced symptoms such as frequent coughing and several bouts of pneumonia. Eventually, she got the right diagnosis, but the woman told the newspaper that the misdiagnosis almost cost...Read More - Johns Hopkins Health System sued over allegations that it refused to provide medical records
Dec 30, 2019
Medical records are an important part of a Baltimore medical malpractice lawsuit. But, what happens when a medical provider doesn’t seem to be cooperating with a request to provide medical documents? The Johns Hopkins Health System Corporation recently found itself facing a lawsuit over its response. Diana Miller, a patient at Johns Hopkins, grew dissatisfied with her medical treatment and asked for a copy of her records from Hopkins’ medical records department through her...Read More - Traffic citations expunged after trip to appeals court
Dec 23, 2019
A Maryland woman’s request to have charges for driving on a suspended license, possessing a suspended license and displaying a suspended license expunged was successful recently; but, it took a trip to Maryland’s appeals court for her request to be granted. The plaintiff received four traffic citations – exceeding the maximum posted speed in violation of Maryland law, driving on a suspended license, possessing a suspended license and displaying a suspended license. She pleaded...Read More