Summary Judgment

April 26, 2023

Authentication of ESI on Motion Compelling Arbitration Despite Factual Dispute

Authentication is a central issue when it comes to use of ESI in motions or at trial.[1] In Mason v. Domino’s Pizza, LLC, 2021 WL 4820520, at *5 (D. Md. Oct. 15, 2021)(Boardman, J.), the Court addressed authentication of ESI on a summary judgment motion.  Here, defense counsel dotted all of the […]
March 23, 2023

Defendant Can’t Insist on an “I Go First” Deposition

A order granting summary judgment was reversed because the plaintiff was unable to take depositions of relevant witnesses: Several claims by a former Newark, N.J., municipal court judge’s alleging disability bias and other abuses fueled her discharge were wrongly dismissed because she didn’t get a chance to collect potentially helpful evidence, a […]
January 22, 2023

Unaswered Requests for Admission Deemed Admitted – Not a Discovery Sanction

In Park v. Axelson, Williamowsky, Bender & Fishman, P.C., No. 1486 (Dec. 29, 2022)(unreported), the Appellate Court of Maryland held that a pro se litigant’s failure to timely respond to requests for admission on critical facts was an admission by operation of law. Park involved a torturous procedural history that will not […]
July 16, 2022

Denial of Discovery to Oppose Motion for Summary Judgment

In Markel Ins. Co. v. Sumpter, 2022 WL 2703832 (D. Md. July 11, 2022)(Hazel, J.), the Court denied a request for discovery to oppose a motion for summary judgment. Markel Insurance defended an alleged auto tort under a reservation of rights.  It then filed this action against both drivers for a declaration […]
March 24, 2022

Maryland v. Federal Summary Judgment Rule

After the December 2015 amendments to the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, I co-authored two publications noting some of the differences between the new Federal Rules and the Maryland Rules. M. Berman & A. Shelton,  “Commentary: With ESI, difference between federal, state rules,” The Daily Record (June 17, 2016); M. Berman, et al., […]
August 28, 2021

The Rule 12(d) Standard for Conversion of Rule 12(b)(6) Motion to Rule 56 Motion

In Vorleamesi v. Esper, 2021 WL 3681163 (D. Md. Aug. 19, 2021) (Grimm, J.), the Court explained and applied the rules governing conversion of a Rule 12(b)(6) motion to dismiss into a Rule 56 motion for summary judgment when the movant has filed a motion to dismiss or, in the alternative, for […]