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Appellate Watch by Cary J. Hansel


The Appellate Watch alerts our Amicus Committee about cases important to MTLA and advises members of issues pending before the Court of Special Appeals.


Case Name/Case #


Appellant C ounsel/ Area of Law


Howard J. Wittbecker Victor D. Sobotka, Esq. v. Baltimore


410-684-2022


County, Maryland Workers Compensation 524-21


Judge/ Jurisdiction


Patrick Cavanaugh Baltimore County


Issues


The appellant is a police officer suffering from coronary artery disease. At issue is whether, in an occupational disease case related to employment as a police officer, the employer may produce experts to testify that stress is not a factor in the causation of heart disease despite a statutory presumption to the contrary. Also on appeal is the question of whether the Circuit Court erred in failing to exclude appellee’s ex- pert witness, denying appellant’s motion for judgment and excluding the appellant’s expert witness.


Hemingway’s, Inc. v. The North Atlantic


J. Donald Braden, Esq. 410-643-4000


Marine Group LLC Contract Law/ 525-819


Commercial Leasing/ Civil Procedure


Thomas G. Masog v. Michael G. Leahy, Esq. Anne Arundel


410-266-9500


County Maryland 526-308


Local Government


Liability/Local Government Tort Claims Act


Joseph P. Manck Anne Arundel County


Thomas G. Ross Queen Anne’s County


This case involves the interpretation of certain commercial lease provisions but the primary issue presented on appeal is procedural. The court is asked to determine whether, in a declaratory judgment action, after denying summary judgment to one party the Court may issue a declaratory judgment to the other party absent a motion for summary judgment, a court trial or a jury trial.


The plaintiffs allege that the County had been ordered to re- move an underground storage tank located on the property of the plaintiffs and had failed to do so in a workman like manner. The case was dismissed, however, as a result of the plaintiff’s alleged failure to comply with the Local Govern- ment Tort Claims Act. The plaintiff argues that although the notice sent under the Act was sent to the wrong party, the plaintiff nevertheless substantially complied with the statute. The trial court held that the letter which the plaintiff claimed evidenced substantial compliance was insufficient because it did not state explicitly that the plaintiff intended to sue. The issue on appeal is whether this purported defect precludes application of the doctrine of substantial compli- ance under the circumstances.


Fall 2008


Trial Reporter


61


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