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Appellate Practice

The firm’s appellate cases have shaped Maryland’s environmental and land use law. The firm established the precedent that authorizes a citizen to sue the State of Maryland where the State’s failure to enforce environmental laws causes a “taking” of the citizen’s property. The firm’s appellate cases have also addressed: the requirements for a citizen and an environmental organization to have standing in the federal and state courts; the federal Clean Water Act; the test for special exceptions in Maryland; the need to comply with a county master plan; industrial nuisances; thermal pollution of trout streams in Maryland; the application of special laws under the Maryland constitution; and articulation requirements of administrative agency decisions.

APPELLATE PRACTICE REPORTED OPINIONS
 
Reported Opinions by the Supreme Court of Maryland


  1. Crawford v. Cnty. Council of Prince George's Cnty., 482 Md. 680 (2023)

  2. Dzurec v. Bd. of Cnty. Comm'rs of Calvert Cnty., 482 Md. 544 (2023)

  3. Grant v. Cnty. Council of Prince George’s Cnty., 465 Md. 496 (2019)

  4. Attar v. DMS Tollgate, LLC, 451 Md. 272 (2017)

  5. Litz v. Md. Dep’t of Env’t, 446 Md. 254 (2016)

  6. Anne Arundel Cnty. v. Bell, 442 Md. 539 (2015) 

  7. Litz v. Md. Dep’t of Env’t, 434 Md. 623 (2013)

  8. Ray v. Mayor and City Council of Balt., 430 Md. 74 (2013)

  9. Patuxent Riverkeeper v. Md. Dep’t of the Env’t, 422 Md. 294 (2011)

  10. Smith v. Cnty. Commissioners of Kent Cnty., 418 Md. 692 (2011)

  11. Md.-Nat’l Capital Park & Planning Comm’n v. Greater Baden-Aquasco Citizens Ass’n, 412 Md. 73 (2009)

  12. Garner v. Archers Glen Partners, Inc., 405 Md. 43 (2008)

  13. People’s Counsel for Balt. Cnty. and CALM v. Loyola College in Md., 406 Md. 54 (2008)

  14. Appleton Reg’l Community Alliance v. Cnty. Comm’rs of Cecil Cnty., 404 Md. 92 (2008)

  15. Brewster v. Woodhaven Bldg. & Dev., Inc., 360 Md. 602 (2000)

  16. Rosenblatt v. Exxon, 335 Md. 58 (1994)

  17. Med. Waste Assos., Inc. v. Md. Waste Coal., Inc., 327 Md. 596 (1992)

  18. Cnty. Comm’rs of Frederick Cnty. v. Schrodel, 320 Md. 202, (1990)

  19. Young v. Hartford Accident & Indem. Co., 303 Md. 182 (1985)

Reported Opinions by the Appellate Court of Maryland

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  1. Elbert v. Charles Cnty. Planning Comm'n, 259 Md. App. 499 (2023)

  2. Matter of Homick, 256 Md. App. 297 (2022)

  3. Howard Cnty. v. McClain, 254 Md. App. 190 (2022)

  4. Piney Orchard Community Association v. Md. Dep’t of the Env’t, 231 Md. App. 80 (2016)

  5. Dugan v. Prince George’s County, 216 Md. App. 650, 88 A.3d 896, 904 cert. denied 439 Md. 329 (2014)

  6. Bell v. Anne Arundel County, 215 Md. App. 161 (2013)

  7. Pringle v. Montgomery Cnty. Planning Bd. M-NCPPC, 212 Md. App. 478, cert. denied, 435 Md. 269 (2013)

  8. Para v. 1691 Ltd. P’ship, 211 Md. App. 335, cert. denied, 434 Md. 314 (2013)

  9. Ray v. Mayor & City Council of Balt., 203 Md. App. 15, 36 A.3d. 521 (2011), cert. granted, 426 Md. 427 (2012)

  10. Naylor v. Prince George’s County Planning Bd., 200 Md. App. 309 (2011)

  11. Singley v. Cnty. Comm’rs of Frederick Cnty., 178 Md. App. 658 (2008)

  12. Archers Glen Partners, Inc. v. Garner, 176 Md. App. 292 (2007)

  13. 1000 Friends of Maryland v. Ehrlich, 170 Md. App. 538 (2006)

  14. Colao v. Md.-Nat’l Capital Park & Planning Comm’n, 167 Md. App. 194 (2006)

  15. Lucas v. People’s Counsel for Balt. Cnty., 147 Md. App. 209 (2002)

  16. Hoffman v. United Iron & Metal Co., Inc., 108 Md. App. 117 (1996)

  17. Md. Waste Coal., Inc. v. Md. Dep’t of the Env’t, 84 Md. App. 544 (1990)

  18. Mech v. Hearst Corp., 64 Md. App. 422 (1984)

Unreported Opinions by the Appellate Court of Maryland
 

  1. Empirian Village of Md., LLC v. GB Mall Ltd. P'ship, No. 2239, Sept. Term, 2022 (Md. Ct. Spec. App. Nov. 16, 2023) (Wells, C.J.)

  2. Grant v. Cnty. Council of Prince George's Cnty., No. 1757, Sept. Term, 2021 (Md. Ct. Spec. App. Feb. 16, 2023) (Friedman, J.)

  3. 6525 Belcrest Rd., LLC v. Dewey L.C., No. 1632, Sept. Term, 2021 (Md. Ct. Spec. App. Oct. 25, 2022) (Berger, J.)

  4. 6525 Belcrest Rd., LLC v. Dewey L.C., No. 1393, Sept. Term, 2021 (Md. Ct. Spec. App. Oct. 25, 2022) (Berger, J.)

  5. Matter of Homick, No. 262, Sept. Term, 2021 (Md. Ct. Spec. App. June 14, 2022) (Shaw, J.)

  6. Bradley Kline, et al. v. Howard Cnty. Bd. of Appeals, et al., No. 605, Sept. Term, 2021 (Md. Ct. Spec. App. Mar. 23, 2022) (Nazarian, J.)

  7. Stewart v. Prince George’s Cnty. Planning Bd., No. 38, Sept. Term, 2021 (Md. Ct. Spec. App. Mar. 31, 2022) (Kehoe, J.)

  8. Dzurec v. Bd. of Cnty. Comm’rs of Calvert Cnty., No. 29, Sept. Term, 2021 (Md. Ct. Spec. App. Dec. 27, 2021) (Shaw Geter, J.)

  9. Thomas Terry, et al. v. Calvert Cnty., No. 2756, Sept. Term 2015 (Md. Ct. Spec. App. July 31, 2019) (Kehoe, J.)

  10. Calvert Coalition for Smart Growth, Inc., et al. v. Calvert Cnty., No. 635, Sept. Term 2018 (Md. Ct. Spec. App. June 17, 2019) (Shaw Geter, J.)

  11. Davona Grant, et al., v. Cnty. Council of Prince George’s Cnty., Sitting as the District Council, et al., No. 809, Sept. Term, 2017 (Md. Ct. Spec. App. October 11, 2018) (Friedman, J.)

  12. Erika Garrett. et al., v. Cunningham Excavating, Inc., et al., No. 13, Sept. Term, 2017 (Md. Ct. Spec. App. October 11, 2018) (Kehoe, J.)

  13. Bernard Brooks v. Prince George’s Cnty. Planning Bd., et al., No. 2295, Sept. Term, 2016 (Md. Ct. Spec. App. July 20, 2018) (Zarnoch, J.)

  14. Cnty. Council of Prince George’s Cnty., Sitting as the District Council v. Walmart Real Estate Business Trust, No. 1199, Sept. Term, 2016 (Md. Ct. Spec. App. August 24, 2017) (Wright, J.)

  15. Sara Shoemaker v. Bd. of Appeals for Anne Arundel Cnty., No. 722, Sept. Term, 2015 (Md. Ct. Spec. App. February 22, 2017) (Kenney, J.)

  16. Piney Orchard Community Ass’n, Inc. v. Tolson and Assocs., L.L.C., No. 1824, Sept. Term, 2016 (Md. Ct. Spec. App. December 1, 2016) (Berger, J.)

  17. Niebler, et al. v. Cnty. Council for Montgomery Cnty., Sitting as the District Council, et al., No. 0590, Sept. Term, 2014 (Md. Ct. Spec. App. April 10, 2015) (Hotten, J.)

  18. Craig Kehoe, et ux. v. Lisa Arthur, No. 1448, Sept. Term, 2013 (Md. Ct. Spec. App. February 11, 2015) (Nazarian, J.)

  19. Gail Litz v. Md. Dep’t of Env’t, No. 397, Sept. Term, 2011 (Md. Ct. Spec. App. June 18, 2014) (Zamoch, J.)

  20. Smith v. Constellation Power Source Generation, Inc., No. 0788, Sept. Term 2011 (Md. Ct. Spec. App. May 8, 2014) (Meredith, J.)

  21. Smith v. Md. Dep’t of Env’t, No. 1655, Sept. Term 2010 (Md. Ct. Spec. App. December 11, 2013) (Meredith, J.)

  22. Pringle v. Montgomery Cnty. Council, No. 2405, Sept. Term 2010 (Md. Ct. Spec. App. Md. Ct. Spec. App. July 24, 2013) (Meredith, J.)

  23. Taylor v. Bd. of Appeals for Cecil Cnty., No. 0093, Sept. Term 2012 (Md. Ct. Spec. App. May 9, 2013 (Watts, J.)

  24. Gail Litz v. Md. Dep’t of Env’t, No. 397, Sept. Term, 2011 (Md. Ct. Spec. App. June 20, 2012) (Zarnoch, J.)

  25. Benn Ray, et al. v. Balt. City Planning Comm’n, et al., No. 0699, Sept. Term, 2011 (Md. Ct. Spec. App. February 1, 2012) (Moylan, J.)

  26. Freeland Legacy Alliance, et al. v. Shelley Middleton Road Holdings, LLC, et al., No. 0047, Sept. Term, 2010 (Md. Ct. Spec. App. June 7, 2011) (Zarnoch, J.)

  27. Sherwood Manor Civic Assoc., et al. v. Prince George’s Cnty., et al., No. 1867, Sept. Term, 2007 (Md. Ct. Spec. App. June 24, 2009) (Salmon, J.)

  28. Richard A. Stevens, Jr. et al. v. Carroll Cnty. Bd. of Zoning Appeals, No. 2375, Sept. Term, 2007 (Md. Ct. Spec. App. December 15, 2008) (Graeff, J.)

  29. Harper v. Thompson, No. 1604, Sept. Term, 2007 (Md. Ct. Spec. App. December 15, 2008) (Hollander, J.)

  30. Md.-Nat’l Capital Park & Planning Comm’n v. Greater Baden-Aquasco Citizens Ass’n, No. 2489, Sept. Term 2007 (Md. Ct. Spec. App. November 24, 2008) (Davis, J.)

  31. Brandywine Sand and Gravel Company v. Cnty. Council of Prince George’s Cnty., Sitting as the District Council, et al., No. 2105, Sept. Term 2007 (Md. Ct. Spec. App. November 14, 2008) (Davis, J.)

  32. Charles T. Coon, Sr., et al. v. Richard A. Stevens, Jr., et al., No. 01846, Sept. Term, 2007 (Md. Ct. Spec. App. September 29, 2008) (Meredith, J.)

  33. Loyola College in Md. v. People’s Counsel for Balt., et al., No. 558, Sept. Term, 2006 (Md. Ct. Spec. App. December 5, 2007) (Meredith, J.)

  34. November 27, 2007, The Maryland Court of Special Appeals denied apartment owner’s request to stay circuit court order to close. Thompson v. Prince George’s Cnty.

  35. Appleton v. Cecil Cnty., No. 1299, Sept. Term, 2006 (Md. Ct. Spec. App. August 28, 2007) (Murphy, C.J.)

  36. Reaching Hearts Int’l Church v. Prince George’s Cnty. Planning Bd. of the Md.-Nat. Capital Park and Planning Comm’n, et al., No. 673, Sept. Term, 2006 (Md. Ct. Spec. App. February 15, 2007) (Eyler, Deborah S., J.)

  37. Monica S. Davis v. Cnty. Council of Prince George’s Cnty., Maryland sitting as the District Council, et al., No. 2681, Sept. Term, 2005 (Md. Ct. Spec. App. February 12, 2007) (Meredith, J.)

  38. L. Scott Armiger, T/A Orchard Dev. Corp. v. Cnty. Council for Prince George’s Cnty., Sitting as the District Council, et al., No. 1770, Sept. Term, 2005 (Md. Ct. Spec. App. October 17, 2006) (Adkins, J.)

  39. Trustees of Christ United Methodist Church, et al. v. Brandywine Sand and Gravel Company, No. 0466, Sept. Term, 2005 (Md. Ct. Spec. App. May 23, 2006) (Rodowsky, J.)

  40. Rankin v. Univ. of Md. Medical System Corp., No. 1828, Sept. Term, 2003 (Md. Ct. Spec. App. March 28, 2006) (Murphy, C.J.)

  41. Cnty. Comm’rs of Carroll Cnty. v. Dorothy Rowland, et al., No. 2338, Sept. Term, 2004 (Md. Ct. Spec. App. January 17, 2006) (Eyler, Deborah S., J.)

  42. Betty Garner, et al. v. Prince George’s Cnty. Planning Bd. of the Md.-Nat. Capital Park and Planning Comm’n, et al., No. 2715, Sept. Term, 2003 (Md. Ct. Spec. App. January 18, 2005) (Davis, J.)

  43. Anderson v. Cnty. Council of Prince George’s Cnty., No. 0649, Sept. Term, 2003 (Md. Ct. Spec. App. January 20, 2004) (Davis, J.)

  44. Kelly’s Tree and Landscape Nursery, Inc. v. John M. Carrier, et al., No. 1899, Sept. Term, 2001 (Md. Ct. Spec. App. August 14, 2002) (Murphy, C.J.)

  45. Andrew W. Brewster, et al. v. Md. Dep’t of Env’t, et al., No. 2193, Sept. Term, 1999 (Md. Ct. Spec. App. April 30, 2001) (Salmon, J.)

  46. Jerry W. Cecil, Sr., et al. v. Md. Dep’t of Env’t, No. 6923, Sept. Term, 1998 (Md. Ct. Spec. App. April 12, 2000) (Murphy, C.J.)

  47. Tebo v. Joseph Co., No. 1103, Sept. Term 1998 (Md. Ct. Spec. App. June 4, 1999)

  48. C. Victoria Woodward, et al. v. Md. Dep’t of Env’t, No. 1660, Sept. Term 1997 (Md. Ct. Spec. App. August 17, 1998) (Salmon, J.)

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Reported Opinions by the Fourth Circuit


  1. Piney Run Preservation Ass’n v. Cnty. Comm’rs of Carroll Cnty., 523 F.3d 453 (4th Cir. 2008)

  2. Piney Run Preservation Ass’n v. Cnty. Comm’rs of Carroll Cnty., 268 F.3d 255 (4th Cir. 2001)

  3. Aldridge v. Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co., Inc., 223 F.3d 263 (4th Cir. 2000)

  4. Sierra Club v. Simkins Indus., Inc., 847 F.2d 1109 (4th Cir. 1988)

Unreported Opinions by the District of Columbia Court of Appeals
 

  1. Avery v. District of Columbia Board of Zoning Adjustment, No. 13-AA-335 (June 16, 2014)

  2. Jones v. District of Columbia Board of Zoning Adjustment, No. 13-AA-1369 (August 15, 2014)

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