A major topic of potential change in Maryland law before the current session of the legislature involves addressing the recent spate of tragic motor vehicle accidents which have taken the lives of young people. Many of these cases involve alcohol or drugs. Maryland law provides not only for fines and potential imprisonment of persons who drive while under the influence …

Drug manufacturers frequently face lawsuits seeking damages for injuries allegedly caused by insufficient warnings on the labels of the medicines. Just how far the duties of a drug manufacturer go was recently addressed by Maryland’s highest court in the case of Gourdine v. Crews. The Court of Appeals’ opinion indicates that Ms. Crews was a Type 1 diabetic. She took …

The Supreme Court’s recent decision in Melendez-Diaz v. Massachusetts, holding that the “confrontation clause” of the U.S. Constitution requires that the accused have the right to confront the technician who certified that a seized substance was cocaine, is being widely predicted as potentially wrecking havoc with criminal prosecutions across the country. Whether this precedent will apply to cases such as …

Many of us have had the experience of riding on an elevator that jolts, or maybe even does not appear entirely level when the doors open. Unfortunately this can lead to injuries, and inevitably claims and lawsuits. Maryland’s highest court this week reviewed again the law on the duties of an elevator owner/operator in the case of The Johns Hopkins …