Trial Lawyers Association Maryland


1999-2000 Officers President


William T. Wood Rockville


President-Elect


Philip O. Foard Towson


Vice President


Bruce M. Plaxen Columbia


Secretary


Robert K. Jenner Silver Spring


Matthew Zimmerman Baltimore


Treasurer Parliamentarian


J. Mitchell Lambros Cockeysville


Immediate Past President


Andrew E. Bederman Silver Spring


Board of Governors


David F. Albright, Jr. Baltimore


Randall J. Craig, Jr. Landover


P. Matthew Darby Baltimore


Harold P. Dwin Baltimore


Elizabeth Jesukiewicz Frey Washington, D.C.


Henry I. Greenberg Baltimore


Mitchell A. Greenberg Baltimore


Mark E. Herman Baltimore


Richard L. Jaklitsch Upper Marlboro


Howard A. Janet Baltimore


Thomas L. Kemp Elkton


Alison D. Kohler Baltimore


Walter E. Laake, Jr. Greenbelt


Stephen A. Markey, III Baltimore


Kathleen Howard Meredith Baltimore


Dennis F. O’Brien Baltimore


Nicole L. Schultheis Baltimore


Augustus F. Brown Bel Air


ATLA Governors


Leonard A. Orman Baltimore


ATLA State Delegates


Robert K. Jenner Rockville


Nicole L. Schultheis Baltimore


ATLA Minority Caucus Delegate


Randall J. Craig, Jr. Landover


Executive Director Jennifer G. Soldati


2 MTLA Past Presidents


Andrew E. Bederman ......................... 1998 Vicki L. Dexter .................................. 1997 William O’Brien Finch, Jr. ................. 1996 Hon. Gary I. Strausberg ..................... 1995 Daniel M. Clements .......................... 1994 Augustus F. Brown ............................. 1993 A. Harold DuBois .............................. 1992 Martin H. Freeman............................ 1991 Jonathan Schochor ............................. 1990 William J. Blondell, Jr. ....................... 1989 George W. White, Jr. ......................... 1988 John J. Sellinger ................................. 1987 Paul D. Bekman ................................ 1986 Stuart M. Salsbury ............................. 1985 Leonard A. Orman ............................ 1984 Jerome J. Seidenman .......................... 1983 Robert R. Michael ............................. 1982 Joel J. Shugarman .............................. 1981 Clarence M. Thomas ......................... 1980 Joseph A. Miklasz .............................. 1979 George W. Shadoan ........................... 1978 Leo A. Hughes, Jr. ............................. 1977 Richard R. Beauchemin ..................... 1976


Robert C. Verderaime ........................ 1975 James G. Perry ................................... 1974 Thomas L. Hennessey ........................ 1973 Archibald Eccleston, III ..................... 1972 Raymond E. Callegary ....................... 1971 Lloyd S. Mailman .............................. 1970 Wallace Dann .................................... 1969 Johnson Bowie ................................... 1968 Jesse Spector ...................................... 1967 Leroy W. Preston ............................... 1966 Calvert R. Bregel ................................ 1965 Jacob Matz ......................................... 1964 Calvin E. Cohn.................................. 1963 Irwin M. Sussman.............................. 1962 John B. Wright .................................. 1961 Claude L. Callegary ........................... 1960 Hon. Joseph I. Pines .......................... 1959 Hyman A. Pressman .......................... 1958 John J. O’Connor .............................. 1957 Albert J. Goodman ............................ 1956 Bernard M. Goldstein ........................ 1955 Max R. Israelson ................................ 1954


Trial Reporter Committee Editor-in-Chief, Dennis F. O’Brien Alex M. Allman, Richard N. Bloom, John J. Condliffe, P. Matthew Darby, Vincent A. Eng, Pamela S. Foresman, Mitchell A. Greenberg, Mark E. Herman, Louise A. Lock, Jennifer S. Lubinski, J. Mitchell Lambros, Leslie Nettleford, Norris C. Ramsey, Shanta Ramson, David J. Wildberger, Wayne M. Willoughby, Michael C. Worsham


Publisher/Editor, Jennifer G. Soldati, MTLA, Baltimore


Trial Reporter is a quarterly publication of the Maryland Trial Lawyers Association. As a forum for the bar, bench and others concerned with the administration of justice, we encourage your views and opinions. Letters, articles, and proposals may be submitted to the publisher.


Statements and opinions expressed in editorials, articles and commentaries are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the Maryland Trial Lawyers Association. Publication of any advertiser’s claim or of any author’s statement, opinion or commentary, should not be construed as an endorsement by MTLA. Trial Reporter will not be liable for loss or damage incurred in any advertisement published.


Trial Reporter is the property of the Maryland Trial Lawyers Association and its contents may not be reproduced or reprinted without permission from the publisher at MTLA, 120 W. Fayette St., Suite 711, Baltimore, Maryland 21201. Phone: (410) 539-4336. E-mail: mtla@erols.com


ON THE COVER 


MTLA’s new lobbying team, from left to right: Michael E. Arrington, Mindy K. Binderman and Daniel T. Doherty, Jr. PHOTOGRAPH


Studio Z Ltd. Photography, Stuart Zolotorow Trial Reporter Winter 2000


In this issue…


President’s Message: Keeping Families Safe ................................................... 3 Legislative Report ........................................................................................ 5 Maryland’s Damages Cap Challenged .......................................................... 8 Responding To The Assault On The People’s Civil Justice System .............. 10 The Challenge of Daubert: Practical Tips for the Trial Lawyer ................... 14 Special Needs Trusts Can Preserve Medical Assistance for the Disabled Plaintiff ....................................................................... 16


Welcome New Members ............................................................................ 19 From the Listerv ........................................................................................ 21 President’s Club ......................................................................................... 22 Recommending A Settlement? Consider This – ......................................... 25 Workers’ Compensation............................................................................. 31 Appellate Watch ......................................................................................... 34 Recent Verdicts & Settlements ................................................................... 38 Appellate Decisions .................................................................................... 43


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