Important Posts

February 6, 2022
Published by Michael Berman at February 6, 2022
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Court of Appeals Follows My Proposal on Voluntary Dismissal Rule

The Maryland Court of Appeals recently considered a proposed amendment of the voluntary dismissal rule. In rejecting the proposal, the State’s highest Court quoted my opposition to it and also quoted my suggested language for any needed clarification.  The Court’s discussion begins at 1:55:29 of the video recording. Rule 2-506(a) currently permits […]
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February 4, 2022
Published by Michael Berman at February 4, 2022
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Harford County Redistricting Challenge Dismissed

With the excellent attorneys and staff of Rifkin Weiner Livingston LLC, I was lead counsel in the defense of a redistricting lawsuit in Harford County, MD.  The firm press release states: “RWL was pleased to represent the Harford County Council and its members in the above matter. The statement below was just […]
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August 17, 2021
Published by Michael Berman at August 17, 2021
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What is a “Document?”

Back in the days of paper-based litigation, it was rare to argue over the definition of a “document.”[1]  Usually, it was clear where a letter, memo, or contract began and ended.  But, ESI is much different than paper and recent cases bring that issue to the forefront. In Sandoz v. Un. Therapeutics […]
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December 26, 2020
Published by Michael Berman at December 26, 2020
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When Should a Spoliation Motion Be Filed and Decided?

Several recent decisions from the District of Maryland address the question of when a spoliation motion should be filed and decided.  Eller v. Prince George’s Co. Public Schools, et al., 2020 WL 7336730 (D. Md. Dec. 14, 2020); Shackelford v. Vivint Solar Developer, LLC, 2020 WL 5203340 (D. Md. September 1, 2020); […]
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May 12, 2020
Published by Michael Berman at May 12, 2020
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Publication of M. Berman, et al., eds., ELECTRONICALLY STORED INFORMATION IN THE MARYLAND COURTS (2020)

I am pleased to announce the publication by the Maryland State Bar Association of M. Berman, et al., eds.,  ELECTRONICALLY STORED INFORMATION IN THE MARYLAND COURTS (2020). This book is intended as a practitioner’s handbook addressing primarily – but not exclusively – how ESI is addressed in Maryland State courts, comparing and […]
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May 12, 2020
Published by Michael Berman at May 12, 2020
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“Unfriending” Evidence – Maryland Follows “Reasonable Juror” Standard in Authentication of Social Media

In State v Sample, __ Md. __, 2020 WL 2316709 at *3 (May 11, 2020), the Court of Appeals of Maryland concluded that “that the standard of proof for authenticating social media evidence is the preponderance of evidence standard, i.e., there must be sufficient circumstantial evidence for a reasonable juror to find […]
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