Maryland Trial Lawyers Association 2005-2006 Officers


President Alison D. Kohler President-elect


Beth Jesukiewicz Frey


Vice President David F. Albright, Jr. Secretary


Dennis F. O’Brien Treasurer


Wayne M. Willoughby


Parliamentarian Kevin I. Goldberg


Immediate Past President Walter E. Laake, Jr.


Board of Governors Dwayne A. Brown Thomas C. Cardaro John J. Condliffe


Marnell A. Cooper Lois Fenner-McBride Rodney M. Gaston


Lawrence S. Greenberg David A. Harak Richard L. Jaklitsch Andrew H. Kahn


David M. Kopstein Albert Lechner Louise A. Lock


Stephen A. Markey, III Kevin McCarthy Leslie H. Russo Eric N. Schloss Harry B. Siegel Kerry D. Staton


George S. Tolley, III Simon K. Walton


Roger S. Weinberg Robert J. Zarbin Laura G. Zois


ATLA Governors


Robert K. Jenner Baltimore


Leonard A. Orman Batimore


Bruce M. Plaxen Columbia


ATLA State Delegates


David A. Harak Baltimore


Dennis F. O’Brien Towson


ATLA Minority Caucus Delegate Craig A. Thompson Baltimore


Executive Director David B. Walls, CAE, CMP MTLA Past Presidents


• Walter E. Laake ............................. 2004 • J. Mitchell Lambros ....................... 2003 • Robert K. Jenner ........................... 2002 • Bruce M. Plaxen ............................ 2001 • Philip O. Foard ............................ 2000 • William T. Wood .......................... 1999 • Andrew E. Bederman.................... 1998 • Vicki L. Dexter ............................. 1997 William O’Brien Finch ................. 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 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 S 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


§ denotes deceased. • denotes voting member of Board of Governors


Trial Reporter Committee Editor-in-Chief, Louise A. Lock; Assistant Editor, Leslie Hayes Russo Elliot Andalman, Denis C. Mitchell, Dennis F. O’Brien, James L. Otway, Eric N. Stravitz, David J. Wildberger, Michael C. Worsham


Publisher/Editor, David B. Walls, CAE, CMP


Trial Reporter is a quarterly publication of the Maryland Trial Lawyers Association. As a forum for the bar, bench and others concerned with the civil trial practice and 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 from 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@mdtriallawyers.com


MTLA Diversity Policy Statement


The Maryland Trial Lawyers Association strives continually to ensure that our membership, board, officers, staff, activities, committees and sections reflect and serve the diverse population of our state. We have an awareness of groups who have historically been discriminated against in our society. We seek to include those persons in all activities of the Association, thereby augmenting the diversity of the organization as a whole. In doing so, we will enhance our collective wisdom, strength and effectiveness.


Fall 2005 Trial Reporter 3


In this issue…


President’s Message ...................................................................................... 4 Executive Director’s Message ........................................................................ 6 Don’t Let Your Jury Be Your First Focus Group............................................ 8 President’s Club ......................................................................................... 13 Fire Safety Month – Smoke Detector Project ............................................. 17


Juror Bias, What Can You Do About It In A State Without Meaningful Voir Dire? ............................................ 18


Ten Key Principles For Winning Money Damages Commensurate With Your Client’s Injury ............................................. 28


A Dozen Thoughts On Presenting Damages To Juries ................................ 32 Appellate Watch ......................................................................................... 38


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