Clark & Steinhorn, LLC Blog http://www.maryland-law.com/blog/ Clark & Steinhorn, LLC Blog en-us 2012 Clark & Steinhorn, LLC, All Rights Reserved, Reproduced with Permission http://www.maryland-law.com/blog/ Fri, 18 May 2012 04:46:00 GMT Clark & Steinhorn, LLC Blog http://www.maryland-law.com/images/logoprint.gif http://www.maryland-law.com/blog/ <![CDATA[SUV Crashes Into Four Vehicles in Prince George's County-D.C. Police Chase!]]> The demolition derby started when Metropolitan Police officers observed the black Chevrolet Suburban which they thought might have been involved with impersonating a police vehicle on two prior occasions. The D.C. officers followed the suspects to the Prince George's County line at Sheriff Road and Eastern Avenue.
There the Prince George's County Police took over the pursuit onto Route 202 where a crash took place. The pusuit continued into the District of Columbia where yet another vehicle crash occurred and two suspects were apprehended.
]]> http://www.maryland-law.com/blog/suv%2Dcrashes%2Dinto%2Dfour%2Dvehicles%2Din%2Dprince%2Dgeorge%2Ds%2Dcounty%2Dd%2Dc%2Dpolice%2Dchase%2Ecfm www.maryland-law.com-81916 Thu, 17 May 2012 08:00:00 GMT <![CDATA[Prince George's County Crash Between Tractor Trailer and Motorcycle Proves Deadly]]> Mr. Tharps was pronounced dead at the scene. His crash was one of two fatal motorcycle crashes in the Washington, D.C. area this weekend.
]]> http://www.maryland-law.com/blog/prince%2Dgeorge%2Ds%2Dcounty%2Dcrash%2Dbetween%2Dtractor%2Dtrailer%2Dand%2Dmotorcycle%2Dproves%2Ddeadly%2Ecfm www.maryland-law.com-81499 Mon, 14 May 2012 08:00:00 GMT <![CDATA[Another deadly Prince George's county Hit and Run Takes Hyattsville Man's life.]]> Samuel Diaz was hit in the 2400 Block of University Boulevard by a silver SUV of unknown make around 9:oopm on Saturday May 5, 2012. The vehicle's operator left the scene and Mr. Diaz was taken to an area hospital where he was pronounced dead.
Individuals with any information on the culprit can contact the Prince George's County Police at (301)352-1200.
]]> http://www.maryland-law.com/blog/another%2Ddeadly%2Dprince%2Dgeorge%2Ds%2Dcounty%2Dhit%2Dand%2Drun%2Dtakes%2Dhyattsville%2Dman%2Ds%2Dlife%2Ecfm www.maryland-law.com-81500 Mon, 14 May 2012 08:00:00 GMT <![CDATA[D.C. Crash Injures Six As Car Flees Traffic Stop]]> A car fleeing a Prince George's police officer who was making a routine traffic stop caused a serious crash in Southeast Washington, D.C. that injured six persons, one critically.  Three of the injured victims were children.  

The car had been stopped by police at Southern Avenue and Pennsylvania Avenue just at the D.C. line when it took off, fleeing the officers.  Three other vehicles were involved in the crash, including a Metro Bus.  

A second accident occurred when a police officer responding to the crash scene made a U-turn and was struck by another driver.  The officer was taken to the hospital for what appeared to be minor injuries.  One critically injured person is in the hospital with life threatening injuries.  The intersection where the crash occurred was closed for hours.

When serious accidents occur, victims rights lawyers can be helpful, if not instrumental, in helping victims obtain compensation for medical bills, lost wages and pain and suffering, in additon to helping with rental cars and vehicle repairs.  Please do not hesitate to call the lawyers at Clark and Steinhorn should you ever have questions about an accident; we offer free consultations.  Or request a copy of our book, free from our website, to help understand your rights if you are ever injured in a serious truck or car crash. 
]]> http://www.maryland-law.com/blog/d%2Dc%2Dcrash%2Dinjures%2Dsix%2Das%2Dcar%2Dflees%2Dtraffic%2Dstop%2Ecfm www.maryland-law.com-76546 Mon, 05 Mar 2012 08:00:00 GMT <![CDATA[Montgomery County School Bus Crash Miraculously Injures None]]>
The operator of the passenger vehicle was taken to an area hospital for a look over. 
]]> http://www.maryland-law.com/blog/montgomery%2Dcounty%2Dschool%2Dbus%2Dcrash%2Dmiraculously%2Dinjures%2Dnone%2Ecfm www.maryland-law.com-76345 Wed, 29 Feb 2012 08:00:00 GMT <![CDATA[Laurel Truck Hit and Run Severely Injures Pedestrian]]>
If you have any information on this hit and run collision please contact the Laurel Police at (301)498-0092. 
]]> http://www.maryland-law.com/blog/laurel%2Dtruck%2Dhit%2Dand%2Drun%2Dseverely%2Dinjures%2Dpedestrian%2Ecfm www.maryland-law.com-76347 Wed, 29 Feb 2012 08:00:00 GMT <![CDATA[Deadly Crofton Tractor Trailer Crash on Route 3]]>
The Crain Highway crash injured one of the Explorer's passnegers who was taken to the University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center for personal injuries.  http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/breaking/bs-md-ar-fatal-crash-20120216,0,5277424.story

 
]]> http://www.maryland-law.com/blog/deadly%2Dcrofton%2Dtractor%2Dtrailer%2Dcrash%2Don%2Droute%2D3%2Ecfm www.maryland-law.com-75423 Thu, 16 Feb 2012 08:00:00 GMT <![CDATA[The Fila Academy and Owner Larry Fila Declare Bankruptcy After Jury and Court Award $540,000.00 in Damages To Three Students and Their Attorneys]]> In a surprising reversal of fortunes, The Fila Academy of Glen Burnie, Maryland, and its owner Larry Fila, Jr., declared bankruptcy on December 20, 2011, in the United States Bankruptcy Court.  The filing for bankruptcy places the $540,000.00 judgment entered by an Anne Arundel County Jury and Judge last February, in the case of Barfield, et. al. vs. The Fila Academy, Inc. and Larry Fila, Jr., in the hands of the bankruptcy trustee.  A trustee will be appointed by the Bankrptcy Court to collect all the assets of the Fila Academy and Larry Fila, Jr.  The trustee will then seek to satisfy the students' judgment and the claims of other creditors in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court.

The bankruptcty filing also brings to an abrupt halt the January 3, 2012 trial of 39 more students who also alleged they had been defrauded, deceived and victimized by the Fila Academy and Larry Fila, Jr.  That case, entitled Schweitzer, et. al vs. the Fila Academy, et. al., involved some students who were originally part of the original Barfield lawsuit, but whose claims were subsequently filed separately, and combined with a third lawsuit that had been filed against the school and its owner, bringing the total number of students who claimed they were deceived and defrauded by the Fila Academy and Larry Fila, Jr. to 42 students.

As previously reported in the Annapolis newspapers, the first of two trials against the Fila Academy and Larry Fila, Jr. involved three students who proved to a jury that they had been victimized by deceptive trade practices at the school, as well as other wrongful conduct committed by both the school and its owner.  As reported on this web site and in the newspapers, after eleven days of trial, the jury found that the school had wrongfully misrepresented to the students that the school was a "Paul Mitchell Partner School" when it was not. The jury also found the school and its owner committed other deceptive trade practices, such as misrepresenting to the students that "they could make as much as doctors or lawyers" even after the State of Maryland instructed the school to stop making such deceptive claims.  

The jury also found that the owner of the school had intentionally inflicted emotional distress on all three students.  The Court thereafter reversed the jury's finding that the owner intentionally inflicted emotional distress on the three students, finding that the proof offered at trial was legally insufficient under Maryland's stringent legal standards so support a finding in favor of the students for committing this violation.  The Court did affirm the jury's findings that the Fila Academy and Larry Fila committed deceptive or unfair trade practices, that The Fila Academy breached the contracts with the students, and that the Defendants were unjustly enriched as a result of their wrongdoing.  The Court enrollled the remainder of the judgment, and the $140,000.00 judgment in favor of the three students is now final.  The Court also awarded the students lawyers $398,643.51 in attorneys fees and costs for their multi-year prosecution of this case.

Both Defendants initially appealed the jury's verdict on both the three student's $140,000.00 award, and the Court's award of $398,643.00 in attorneys fees and costs; the appeal of the students' $140,000.00 judgment was later dismissed.  A second appeal filed by the school and Larry Fila, Jr., involving the award of attorneys fees and costs, came to a screeching halt on the day of the appellate hearing, when Fila's attorneys informed the appellate judges in the afternoon before the scheduled oral argument, that the Defendants had just declared bankruptcy, thus staying all legal procededings pursuant to federal bankruptcy laws.  The bankruptcy filing, just hours before the appellate judges were to hear oral argument, led to the appellate hearing being cancelled on the day of the hearing, despite the preparation of all three appellate judges (and the students' attorneys) to rule on the pending appeal.  

It is unclear how the bankruptcy will affect the operation of the school.  The Fila Academy has two locations; the first is in Glen Burnie, Maryland (where all 42 students attended the school), and the second location is in High Point, North Carolina. It further remains to be seen what will happen to any other potential lawsuits or investigations of the school in light of the bankruptcy filing.  The Fila Academy's assets, and those of its owner, will now be subject to the bankruptcy court's jurisdiction, as the victimized students, both those with judgments and those awaiting trial, seek justice in the United States Bankruptcy Court.

The first trial began on February 1, 2011, and ended on February 15, 2011.  The second trial, now halted, was to begin on January 3, 2012.  Anyone who has a claim against the Fila Academy, Inc., or its owner, Larry Fila, Jr., must timely present claims in the United States Bankruptcy Court.

The students' lawyers in both trials are Allan W. Steinhorn, of Clark & Steinhorn, LLC, and George Hermina and John Hermina of the Hermina Law Group.  Both law firms are located in Laurel, Maryland.  







]]> http://www.maryland-law.com/blog/the%2Dfila%2Dacademy%2Dand%2Downer%2Dlarry%2Dfila%2Ddeclare%2Dbankruptcy%2Dafter%2Djury%2Dand%2Dcourt%2Daward%2D540%2D000%2D00%2Ecfm www.maryland-law.com-72294 Fri, 30 Dec 2011 08:00:00 GMT <![CDATA[Maryland Boating Deaths Hit Twenty Year High]]> http://www.maryland-law.com/blog/crash-deaths-reach-sixty-year-low.cfm

2011 was a particularly deadly year with 25 boating deaths, alll but one victim a male.

This represents the most Maryland boating deaths in 20 years and efforts to identify why this was the case in 2011 have proven difficult.

Some of the increase may have been attributable to early warm temperatures, which lured boaters out on cold water. The one common denominator was that all but one of the victims wasn't wearing a life jacket.  

The absence of life jackets in Maryland fatal boating accidents is a phenomenon similar to the absence of safety belt use in Maryland auto and truck crash deaths. The lesson, whether driving a boat or a vehicle use safety precautions. http://www.maryland-law.com/blog/on-the-lookout-for-hit-and-run-boats-in-maryland-waters.cfm
]]> http://www.maryland-law.com/blog/maryland%2Dboating%2Ddeaths%2Dhit%2Dtwenty%2Dyear%2Dhigh%2Ecfm www.maryland-law.com-72301 Fri, 30 Dec 2011 08:00:00 GMT <![CDATA[Another Tragic Pedestrian Crash Fatality in Wheaton]]>
Another pedestrian crash death took place in Montgomery County on Saturday December 17, 2011. The collision took place around 10:30 pm near the Randoplh Crossing Shopping Center on Viers Mill Road. The victim has not yet been identified although he is described as a middle-aged man of hispanic origin.

The recurrent theme for such crashes involves night time crossing of roads without using a crosswalk while wearing dark clothing. Viers Mill Road in Wheaton has been the situs of several fatal pedestrian crashes this year including one involving a husband and wife in May of this year. http://www.maryland-law.com/blog/wheaton-hit-and-run-crash-kills-pedestrian.cfm

For those who follow this blog, Montgomery County Police recently came out with a checklist that details mechanisms to reduce hit and run and pedestrian accidents. For more go to : http://www.maryland-law.com/blog/montgomery-county-police-checklist-for-reducing-hit-and-run-and-pedestrian-crashes.cfm

]]> http://www.maryland-law.com/blog/another%2Dtragic%2Dpedestrian%2Dcrash%2Dfatality%2Din%2Dwheaton%2Ecfm www.maryland-law.com-71542 Sun, 18 Dec 2011 08:00:00 GMT <![CDATA[Montgomery County Police Checklist for Reducing Hit and Run and Pedestrian Crashes]]>
The Montgomery County Police Department has obviously paid heed and given thought to this tragic phenomenon and has come up with a checklist for future avoidance of pedestrian crashes.

Rather than summarize we offer their list verbatim with many thanks to the Montgomery County Police Department.

Motorists:

  • Slow down and watch for pedestrians. 
  • Be aware that pedestrians can be virtually invisible at night or in bad weather.
  • Obey traffic signals and devices.
  • Yield to pedestrians in marked crosswalks.
  • Realize that in any collision between a car and a pedestrian, it is the pedestrian who will bear the brunt of the impact regardless of who is at fault. 

 

Pedestrians:

  • Remain alert and do not assume drivers can see you.
  • Do not expect drivers to see you and react in time. 
  • Use crosswalks where available and avoid walking in the streets.
  • Before stepping off the curb, look left and right. 
  • Wear bright or reflective clothing and outerwear at dusk and at night. 
  • Wear clothing that does not restrict or impair your vision.
  • Refrain from cell phone use while walking and crossing streets. 

 It all makes a lot of sense doesn't it ?

]]> http://www.maryland-law.com/blog/montgomery%2Dcounty%2Dpolice%2Dchecklist%2Dfor%2Dreducing%2Dhit%2Dand%2Drun%2Dand%2Dpedestrian%2Dcrashes%2Ecfm www.maryland-law.com-71107 Tue, 13 Dec 2011 08:00:00 GMT <![CDATA[Beltway truck Crash Damages Overpass]]>
The flatbed truck operated by Six M Co. Inc. was carrying an excavator under the overpass for I-95 without a permit required for carrying a load more than 13 feet 6 inches high and boom a collision took place with the overpass. Estimates of the cost of damage repair will be quite substantial.

Authorities suggest that the bridge over the beltway is safe but will close the shoulder of the roadway. It seems that no one sustained personal injuries in the crash. ]]> http://www.maryland-law.com/blog/beltway%2Dtruck%2Dcrash%2Ddamages%2Doverpass%2Ecfm www.maryland-law.com-71130 Tue, 13 Dec 2011 08:00:00 GMT <![CDATA[Seat Pleasant Car Crash Kills One Injures Five Others]]>
The car crash took place around 7 pm and reportedly occurred when a Chevrolet Malibu driven by Reggie Eugene Crawford  crossed the double yellow lines on Seat Pleasant Road and struck a westbound Dodge Magnum.

Sadly, Mr. Crawford of Hillcrest Heights was ejected from his vehicle and was pronounced dead at the scene of the collision.



]]> http://www.maryland-law.com/blog/seat%2Dpleasant%2Dcar%2Dcrash%2Dkills%2Done%2Dinjures%2Dfive%2Dothers%2Ecfm www.maryland-law.com-70959 Sun, 11 Dec 2011 08:00:00 GMT <![CDATA[Rockville Ride-On Bus Crash Injures Pedestrian Badly]]>
The collision took place in Rockville at the intersection of Rockville Pike and Halpine Road. The incident took place after dark when the victim, Jila Hamidieh was crossing the intersection as a pedestrian and was hit by the turning Ride On bus.

Ms. Hamidieh was taken to Suburban Hospital with serious life-threatening injuries. Montgoemry County Police are attempting to ascertain how the crash took place.

Ride On buses have been involved in a number of significant crashes of late including one last year when a Ride On bus struck a Kentucky Fried Chicken Restaurant. http://www.maryland-law.com/blog/rideon-bus-involved-in-glenmont-crash-with-kentucky-fried-chicken.cfm

]]> http://www.maryland-law.com/blog/rockville%2Drideon%2Dbus%2Dcrash%2Dinjures%2Dpedestrian%2Dbadly%2Ecfm www.maryland-law.com-70728 Thu, 08 Dec 2011 08:00:00 GMT <![CDATA[Another Tanker Truck Crash Sends Two to Shock Trauma in Carroll County]]>
Richard Donald Eckard of Taneytown, Maryland was the truck operator whose rig contained more than 8,000 gallons of diesel fuel. Carl Frock, Jr. of Westminster drove the Buick. Maryland State Police are contnuing to investigate the cause of the crash, which closed Route 140.

This is the second area tanker truck crash in 48 hours in Maryland and exposes the potential hazards of large quantities of potentially flammable materials being involved in collisions. http://www.maryland-law.com/blog/prince-georges-county-tanker-truck-crash-causes-route-3-chaos-in-bowie.cfm

 ]]> http://www.maryland-law.com/blog/another%2Dtanker%2Dtruck%2Dcrash%2Dsends%2Dtwo%2Dto%2Dshock%2Dtrauma%2Din%2Dcarroll%2Dcounty%2Ecfm www.maryland-law.com-70742 Thu, 08 Dec 2011 08:00:00 GMT <![CDATA[Prince George's County Tanker Truck Crash causes Route 3 Chaos in Bowie]]>
The collision involved the tanker truck a car and a box truck. The tanker truck was carrying 9,000 gallons of gasoline which created a perilous situation. Fortunately, fire personnel were largely able to contain spillage.

The Prince George's County incident took place between routes 450 and 50 and shut down the Northbound lanes of Route 3 for 10 hours. Given the pictures of the crash, it is amazing both that no one was more seriously injured and also that environmental damage was not more extensive.]]> http://www.maryland-law.com/blog/prince%2Dgeorges%2Dcounty%2Dtanker%2Dtruck%2Dcrash%2Dcauses%2Droute%2D3%2Dchaos%2Din%2Dbowie%2Ecfm www.maryland-law.com-70550 Tue, 06 Dec 2011 08:00:00 GMT <![CDATA[Hyattsville Thanksgiving Crash Fatal to One; Injurious to Six]]>
The victims were standing on an island in the parking area when they were struck. The car continued to move after the crash and came to a stop when it hit a brick wall.

Hyattsville Police report that the driver suffered a medical emergency which caused his black out. He was also taken to an area hospital.

 ]]> http://www.maryland-law.com/blog/hyattsville%2Dthanksgiving%2Dcrash%2Dfatal%2Dto%2Done%2Dinjurious%2Dto%2Dsix%2Ecfm www.maryland-law.com-69703 Fri, 25 Nov 2011 08:00:00 GMT <![CDATA[Heroic Samaritans Save Crash Victim from Flames in Prince Georges County]]>
Two good Samaritan drivers, one from Prince Georges County and one from Anne Arundel County  happened upon the crash scene and worked to extract the driver of the burning car and move her to safety.

Andre Matlock of Upper Marlboro and Johnnie Wichard of Lothian were driving near the scene and saw a car catch fire and they heroically intervened. The burning car's driver and another vehicle operator were taken to an area trauma hospital for care.

 ]]> http://www.maryland-law.com/blog/heroic%2Dsamaritans%2Dsave%2Dcrash%2Dvictim%2Dfrom%2Dflames%2Din%2Dprince%2Dgeorges%2Dcounty%2Ecfm www.maryland-law.com-69704 Fri, 25 Nov 2011 08:00:00 GMT <![CDATA[Federal Authorities Shut Down Another Maryland Trucking Company]]>
The verdict for a brain damaged victim of an I-495 crash was ultimately discharged in bankruptcy although the company founder was jailed for 30 months thereafter. http://www.maryland-law.com/blog/fmcsa-shuts-down-maryland-commercial-trucking-firm-as-public-hazard.cfm

The FMCSA issued a previous order for Gunthers Transport which was applicable to efforts to circumvent it by creating related companies. The allegation is that Clock operated out of the same location as Gunthers Transport. http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/bs-md-clock-transport-shut-20111125,0,7411455.story ]]> http://www.maryland-law.com/blog/federal%2Dauthorities%2Dshut%2Ddown%2Danother%2Dmaryland%2Dtrucking%2Dcompany%2Ecfm www.maryland-law.com-69719 Fri, 25 Nov 2011 08:00:00 GMT <![CDATA[Walkersville, Maryland Crash Proves Deadly]]>
A fatal crash on Saturday November 19, 2011 took the life of a Walkersville man. Stephen Alan Wisner reportedly crossed over the double yellow lines on Route 194 and after side swiping one car, struck a Ford Explorer head on, with the impact killing hiim.

Four other vehicle drivers and passengers were injured in the crash. The collision took place on Md. 194 South of Crum Road and shut down 194 both directions. No explanation has been forthcoming from Fredrick County Police regarding how Mr. Wisner came to be over the center line.

Several of the injured parties were helicoptered to the University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center.

]]> http://www.maryland-law.com/blog/walkersville%2Dmaryland%2Dcrash%2Dproves%2Ddeadly%2Ecfm www.maryland-law.com-69300 Sun, 20 Nov 2011 08:00:00 GMT