Pro Bono News

Raymond L. Marshall, Esquire was awarded the “James F. Rosner Award for Advocacy” by the ARC of Baltimore at their Annual Meeting and Awards Ceremony on May 7, 2008.  This award recognizes a law student, social work student or attorney who has demonstrated remarkable commitment and pro bono services on behalf of persons with developmental disabilities.  For the fourth consecutive year, Ray also received a Pro Bono Service Appreciation Award from ARC of Baltimore. 

James F. Rosner, Esquire was also awarded a Pro Bono Service Appreciation Award from the ARC of Baltimore at their Annual Meeting and Awards Ceremony on May 7, 2008.  The award is presented to attorneys who give their time and expertise on behalf of ARC-supported individuals with developmental disabilities.  This is the 15th consecutive year that Jim has received this award. 

Erika Alsid Short, Esquire recently argued before the highest court in Maryland, the Court of Appeals, on behalf of a death row inmate, Jody Lee Miles, regarding a constitutional challenge to the sentencing portion of the Maryland death penalty statute.  Erika, who was appointed by the United States District Court for the District of Maryland to work on the case, along with lead counsel, Robert Biddle, argued that, under the 2007 Supreme Court opinion, Cunningham v. California, the weighing of aggravating and mitigating factors should be conducted by a jury based on a "beyond a reasonable doubt" standard, and not under the current standard of merely "a preponderance of the evidence". 

Legal Victories

James R. Chason, Esquire and Erika Alsid Short, Esquire recently obtained summary judgment on behalf of their client, a local hospital, in the Circuit Court for Baltimore City.  The plaintiff claimed that, while she was a patient in the hospital, construction was ongoing in the room directly above her and debris and water dripped near her.  She claimed emotional distress and other physical injuries.  The Motion for Summary Judgment was based upon several factors, including that plaintiff’s emotional injuries were likely caused by personal issues rather than any negligence by the hospital. 

Francis “Skip” Leary, Esquire and Dena M. Terra, Esquire recently completed a 3 ½ week jury trial before the Honorable Carol E. Smith in the Circuit Court for Baltimore City on behalf of a local hepatobiliary surgeon.  The plaintiff, who underwent surgery for pancreatic cancer, suffered postoperative complications which he claimed were due to negligence by the surgeon.  After 3 weeks of testimony and 5 days of deliberation, the jury could not reach a unanimous decision as to the physician’s liability and a mistrial was entered.

James F. Rosner, Esquire recently obtained a verdict in favor of a young woman who had been sexually abused by her father for years. The Judge entered an award in favor of our client in the amount of $11,000,000.