Maryland Court Pulls Plug on Light-Pollution Lawsuit
When Can You Sue a Business for Creating a Private Nuisance? The Bengies is Maryland's last drive-in movie theater. It has survived the rise of the multiplex, DVDs and Netflix. But the theater, founded in 1956, may have lost a skirmish over a more immediate threatlight spillage from a neighboring…
Court Sees Interrelated Acts as Single Act in Director and Officer Liability Case
When Can Insurance Companies Refuse to Pay D&O Liability Insurance Claims? A recent lawsuit in a Maryland federal court over insurance coverage for litigation costs raises important director and officer liability insurance issues. Because of the court's view of the meaning of "interrelated" wrongful acts, the D&O liability insurance policy…
Forced Arbitration: The Double Edged Sword
Businesses can have many contracts and agreements with joint partners, suppliers, clients and customers. Language in those documents should determine how disputes will be resolved. If those disputes cannot be negotiated amicably, instead of potentially ending up in the court system, these documents could mandate they be resolved through an…
A Deadly Combination: Millions of Dollars, Sports, Family, and Unread Contracts
Mixing business affairs and family often has dire consequences. This is evidenced by a recent case involving a professional athlete and his family. Ryan Howard is the Philadelphia Phillies first baseman. Early in his career he was an all star slugger, part of a World Series winning team in 2008.…
How a Government Agency Can Take Your Property: Eminent Domain
Government bodies have long had the ability to take private property (with fair compensation) for a public purpose. Traditionally that might have meant for roads or schools, but government is increasingly getting into the real estate development business using their eminent domain powers. They team up with private companies and…
It’s That Time of Year Again – Update Your Estate and Tax Planning
The end of the year approaches. Extended school vacations are just around the corner and department store parking lots will soon be full. As part of your personal, financial life, you should also consider some year-end work as well. Here are some suggestions on what to think about as January…
IRS Seizes Assets of Citizens Who Have Done Nothing Wrong
Under a law designed to catch drug lords, organized crime bosses, and terrorists, the IRS has been seizing funds of ordinary citizens without even alleging that they committed a crime. Their offense has been to make bank deposits of cash under $10,000. Making such deposits to evade reporting requirements is…
Longman & Van Grack Welcomes Theodore Kiviat as Of Counsel
The Bethesda and Rockville, Maryland law firm of Longman & Van Grack, LLC is happy to announce a new addition to its commercial litigation practice. Seasoned litigator, Attorney Theodore (Ted) Kiviat, has joined the firm as an Of Counsel. Attorney Ted Kiviat is an experienced civil litigator. Attorney Kiviat began…
7-Eleven Sues Baltimore Business Named 7-Even
A Baltimore, Maryland convenience store is now facing the inconvenience of a multi-million dollar lawsuit. The owner of the nationwide chain of 7-Eleven stores has sued a store that calls itself 7-Even for using a name and logo similar to its own, infringing on its trademark. The owner of 7-Even,…
Lawsuit Filed by Owner of Defective NVR Home Dismissed Because of Warranty Deadline
Lawsuit Filed by Owner of Defective NVR Home Dismissed Because of Warranty Deadline Home buyers sometimes discover that new construction hasn't delivered on all of its promises. As one homeowner learned, however, there may not be much time to complain. In a recent case, a homeowner's claims against her builder…
Corporate Dispute Leads to New Luxury Movie Theater Chain Opening in Bethesda
In 2005, Hamid Hashemi was a leader in themovie theater industry, known for founding a company that built a chain of imaginatively themed theaters. In Maryland, for example, his Egyptian-themed 24-screen megaplex featured a statue of Anubis, the Egyptian god of the underworld. By 2006, he was forced out of…
IRS Assistance Upon Failing to Report Foreign Income
U.S. citizens and residents are required to report all of their worldwide income. In addition, taxpayers are required to report information regarding their foreign bank accounts and foreign owned assets. In recent years, the IRS has been enforcing these laws more aggressively. While the IRS has developed several programs to…
