inside this issue


4 Why Health Courts are the Wrong Prescription for Maryland


Maryland Trial Lawyers Association 120 W Fayette St., Ste. 711 Baltimore, MD 21201 P: 410-539-4336


mtla@mdtriallawyers.com


2007/2008 Officers President


David F. Albright, Jr. President-elect


Wayne M. Willoughby Vice President


Kevin I. Goldberg Secretary


Robert J. Zarbin Treasurer


Louise A. Lock Parlimentarian


George S. Tolley, III


Immediate Past President Beth Jesukiewicz Frey


Trial Reporter Editorial Board


Co-Editor-in-Chief Richard Neuworth


Co-Editor-in-Chief Elliott Andalman


David V. Diggs Stuart Lipshutz


Denis C. Mitchell James L. Otway


Jeanne M. Ripley John B. Stolarz Eric Stravitz


David J. Wildberger Michael Worsham


Publishers


David B. Walls, CAE, CMP Judith LaVoie, MA


Trial Reporter Deadlines Spring 2008


Trial Advocacy & Practice Skills January 25, 2008


Summer 2008


Auto Negligence March 28, 2008


Trial Reporter is a quarterly publication of the Maryland Trial Lawyers Assocation (MTLA). It is 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 publishers.


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


Trial Reporter is the property of MTLA and its contents may not be reproduced or reprinted without permission from MTLA publishers.


Diversity Policy MTLA 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 MTLA activities, therby augmenting the diversity of the association. In doing so, we will enhance our collective wisdom, strength and effectiveness.


Fall 2007 Trial Reporter 3 David F. Albright, Jr.


6 MTLA Offers Members a More Powerful Website David B. Walls, CAE, CMP


12 Comparative Negligence James MacAlister


20 Compliance with the Court of Appeals’ Edicts on Certificates of Merit and Reports in Walzer v. Osborne and Carroll v. Konits David J. Wildberger


34 Book Review David V. Diggs


36 Cutting Edge Issues Involving the Use of Mandatory Arbitration Clauses in Consumer Contracts


F. Paul Bland, Jr.


46 LegalTECH: Metadata Pitfalls and Prevention John Cord


48 War of Attrition Michael Bennett


52 Appellate Watch Cary J. Hansel


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