Author Archives: Jay Butchko
Maryland Man Guilty of Grossly Negligent Manslaughter After Head-On Crash
A Maryland man faces sentencing for grossly negligent manslaughter after causing a deadly head-on car accident, according to an article by Fox Baltimore. The accident in question occurred in April 2016. At that time, police officers attempted to stop the man for speeding. But the man decided to take off instead, with the police… Read More »
The Statute of Limitations for Medical Malpractice Claims in Maryland
When a doctor or other health professional commits an error that results in harm, the victimized patient may be able to seek compensation by filing a medical malpractice claim. As medical malpractice is basically a claim of negligence, it is not a one-size-fits-all process. The individual characteristics of each victim’s case make a big… Read More »
Criminal Charges Piling Up Against Former Baltimore Police Officer
New details emerged in the ongoing legal probe of Wayne Earl Jenkins, a former Baltimore cop with a checkered history of police misconduct, as reported by CBS News. The latest indictment adds several criminal charges, alleging that Jenkins planted drugs and tricked a fellow officer into locating the contraband. The drug planting incident occurred… Read More »
Man Faces DUI Charges in Caroline County for Hitting Police Car
A Delaware man faces charges for driving under the influence (DUI) in Caroline County, Maryland, after hitting a state police patrol car, as reported by WBOC. This traffic accident occurred near Route 3:13 and Bridgetown Road at approximately 2 a.m. on October 28, 2017. At that time, a state trooper was outside of his… Read More »
Maryland Firefighters Fighting Cancer and Workers Compensation
Maryland firefighters are having trouble fighting cancer after their claims for workers’ compensation benefits were rejected, according to an article by NBC. Over the weekend of October 8 and 9, people gathered in Maryland for the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend. Attendees honored deceased firefighters and their sacrifice for the greater good. In the… Read More »
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 »
