STSW Client Lakeview Title Again Vindicated on Appeal

Over the past eight-plus years, litigation has been pending against co-defendants Long & Foster/Creig Northrop and STSW client Lakeview Title in Maryland’s state and federal courts for supposed kickbacks paid by Lakeview to Long & Foster. The state court action, styled Larocca v. Creig Northrop Team, P.C., et al., resulted in the trial court striking an amended complaint against Lakeview and its owner, Lin Eagan, a decision upheld by the Court of Special Appeals. 217 Md. App. 536 (2014).

The federal matter, styled Baehr v. the Creig Northrop Team, P.C., traveled a longer and more circuitous route, with retired Judge Quarles certifying a class early in the matter only to have Judge Bennett dismiss the matter at summary judgment. In a unanimous, published opinion dated March 13, 2020, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit affirmed that decision, finding the plaintiffs lacked standing to sue and thus dismissal of the case was warranted. Baehr v. The Creig Northrop Team, P.C., et al., — F.3d – (4^th Cir. Mar. 13, 2020).

STSW attorneys Andy White and Bill Sinclair litigated both matters on behalf of Lakeview Title.