Firm Wins at Court of Special Appeals

On December 15, the Court of Special Appeals issued a reported opinion in favor of the Firm’s client, Joe Balsamo, affirming the decision of an in banc panel of the Circuit Court for Baltimore County that had vacated dismissal of Mr. Balsamo’s complaint. The appeal largely turned on the meaning of the word “trial” in that provision of the Maryland Constitution authorizing in banc review only after a trial had occurred. The Court of Special Appeals accepted in full Mr. Balsamo’s argument that the word “trial” included a decision on a motion to dismiss, and therefore, the in banc panel had jurisdiction to hear Mr. Balsamo’s appeal of the trial court’s decision granting the defendants’ motion to dismiss his complaint. A copy of the opinion can be found here.