FEDERAL JURY AWARDS $367,000 FOLLOWING FOUR DAY JURY TRIAL

On June 6, 2008, Bud obtained a verdict in excess of $367,000 for his client, a pedestrian who was permanently injured when struck while crossing Dixon Street near Bonifant Avenue in Silver Spring, Maryland. The pedestrian was hit by a Ride-On bus, yet the Defendant claimed she was contributorily negligent, and further challenged the causal connection and extent of her injuries, including her need to move to a more sedentary job position within the company she helped to build.

The United States District Court jury found in Bud's client's favor, holding the bus driver solely responsible for the accident and awarding $250,000 for pain and suffering and $90,000 for future loss of earnings (i.e. compensation for the change in position until retirement age, due to the injuries). Defendants only offered Bud's client $75,000 prior to trial. United States Magistrate Judge Jillyn Schultze presided over the four day trial, which was conducted in the Southern Division in Greenbelt, Maryland.

BUD ELECTED TO PRESIDENT-ELECT OF THE MARYLAND DEFENSE COUNSEL

On June 4, 2008, Bud was honored by his peers on the Maryland Defense Counsel, the state wide bar organization which promotes the interests of Maryland’s civil defense litigators, by being elected to the post of President-Elect. Bud had previously served as Treasurer and Secretary, and will now serve as the President-Elect throughout the one year term of newly elected President Kathleen Bustraan, Esq.

In addition to serving as President-Elect, Bud will continue to serve as Co-Chair of the MDC’s Task Force on the Absence of Good Faith Laws. The Task Force's goals include tracking and monitoring the decisions, discovery rulings, and penalties related to the new legislation concerning first party insurance claims in Maryland.

“ABSENCE OF GOOD” FAITH SEMINAR PRESENTED TO THE MARYLAND STATE BAR LITIGATION/YLS SECTIONS

On March 20, 2008, pursuant to the invitation of the MSBA Litigation and Young Lawyer Sections, Bud gave a presentation on the new Absence of Good Faith Laws. The seminar was conducted in a point/counterpoint mode, with Bud voicing the insurer’s point of view on the issues which have arisen and/or are expected to be litigated before the Maryland Insurance Administration and the Courts.

The presentation was hosted by Gore Brothers Court Reporting, and a copy of the webcast can be viewed by clicking here.