Author Archives: Jay Butchko
Ten Injured After Driver Crashes into Upper Marlboro Restaurant
Ten people sustained injuries after a car accident at an Upper Marlboro, Maryland, restaurant, according to an article by NBC4. Patrons were enjoying a quiet lunch service in Upper Marlboro on October 24th. Without any warning whatsoever, one of the restaurant walls explodes inward. A cloud of dust expands quickly throughout the small space,… Read More »
How Does Section 1983 Help Protect Civil Rights?
Today we will discuss an important concept in federal civil rights litigation – a statute commonly referred to as “Section 1983.” Officially codified as 42 U.S.C. 1983, this statute provides a mechanism through which victims can bring private lawsuits for certain civil rights violations, including, among other things, police misconduct cases (including claims of… Read More »
How Visitor Classification Impacts Premises Liability
Today we will explore an important component of personal injury law – how different kinds of visitors impacts premises liability. As a reminder, premises liability is a legal doctrine that governs how property owners deal with people who visit the property. As the Court of Appeals of Maryland outlined in the landmark case Baltimore… Read More »
Maryland Justice Reinvestment Act Allows Sentence Reduction for Drug Crimes
The Maryland Justice Reinvestment Act (JRA) is opening the door for incarcerated criminals to ask for sentence reductions concerning drug crimes, according to an article by The Baltimore Sun. The JRA passed through both houses of the Maryland state legislature in April 2016. About one month later, Governor Larry Hogan signed the bill into… Read More »
Crime Victim’s Family Awarded $850,000 in Wrongful Death Lawsuit
After deliberating on the evidence in a wrongful death lawsuit, a Baltimore city jury awarded the family of a crime victim $850,000, as reported by The Baltimore Sun. The crime victim died as a result of fatal gunshot wounds from her husband, a Baltimore police officer. The crime in question occurred on May 7,… Read More »
Maryland Man Receives Workers’ Compensation While Training for New Job
A Maryland man received workers’ compensation benefits from the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) while training for another job, according to an article by The Washington Post. The man in question allegedly suffered an incapacitating back injury while performing work duties for the USPS. After receiving medical treatment, the man received an order not to… Read More »
Maryland Man Causes Power Outage While Driving Under the Influence
A Maryland man faces charges for driving under the influence (DUI), driving on a revoked license and driving without a license, after nearly colliding with police and then crashing into a utility pole, according to an article by WBOC. The 45-year-old man in question blasted through a stop sign and almost collided with a… Read More »
Medical Malpractice Leads to $1 Million Award for Maryland Cancer Patient
After her doctor neglected to disclose potential tumors, a late-stage cancer patient from Maryland received a $1 million award in her medical malpractice case, as reported by Outpatient Surgery Magazine. During a 2011 exam, a gynecologist discovered tumors in the patient’s uterus. The gynecologist sent samples along to a pathologist for review. After examining… Read More »
DOJ Declines to Press Criminal Civil Rights Charges in Freddie Gray Case
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) declined to press criminal civil rights charges against the six Baltimore police officers involved in Freddie Gray’s death, according to the DOJ’s official press release. In that press release, the DOJ outlined their investigatory findings and conclusions concerning the allegations of police misconduct. In terms of background, Baltimore… Read More »
How Does Maryland Deal With Wrongful Death?
Today we will explore an important topic in Maryland personal injury law – wrongful death. Specifically, we will explore the legal conditions under which surviving family members can recover for losses related to the death of their loved one. What does Wrongful Death Mean in Maryland? Code of Maryland Section 3–904 outlines the state-specific… Read More »
