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Judge's Gavel on Books

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; and thermal pollution of trout streams in Maryland.

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



  1. Susan Dzurec, et al. v. Bd. of Cnty. Comm’rs of Calvert Cnty., et al., No. 1, Sept. Term, 2022

  2. Grant v. County Council of Prince George’s County, 465 Md. 496, 214 A.3d 1098 (2019)

  3. Attar v. DMS Tollgate, LLC, 451 Md. 272, 152 A.3d 765 (2017)

  4. Litz v. Md. Dep’t of Env’t, 446 Md. 254, 131 A.3d 923 (2016)

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

  6. Litz v. Md. Dep’t of Env’t, 434 Md. 623, 76 A.3d 1076 (2013)

  7. Ray v. Mayor and City Council of Baltimore, 430 Md. 74, 59 A.3d 545 (2013)

  8. Patuxent Riverkeeper v. Md. Dep’t of the Env’t, 422 Md. 294, 29 A.3d 584 (2011)

  9. Smith v. County Commissioners of Kent County, 418 Md. 692, 18 A.3d 16 (2011)

  10. Md.-Nat’l Capital Park & Planning Comm’n v. Greater Baden-Aquasco Citizens Ass’n, 412 Md. 73, 985 A.2d 1160 (2009)

  11. Garner v. Archers Glen Partners, Inc., 405 Md. 43, 949 A.2d 639 (2008)

  12. People’s Counsel for Baltimore County and CALM v. Loyola College in Maryland, 406 Md. 54, 956 A.2d 166 (2008)

  13. Appleton Reg’l Community Alliance v. Cnty. Comm’rs of Cecil Cnty., 404 Md. 92, 945 A.2d 648 (2008)

  14. Brewster v. Woodhaven Bldg. & Dev., Inc., 360 Md. 602, 759 A.2d 738 (2000)

  15. Rosenblatt v. Exxon, 335 Md. 58, 642 A.2d 180 (1994)

  16. Med. Waste Assos., Inc. v. Md. Waste Coal., Inc., 327 Md. 596, 612 A.2d 241 (1992)

  17. Cnty. Comm’rs of Frederick Cnty. v. Schrodel, 320 Md. 202, 577 A.2d 39 (1990)

  18. Young v. Hartford Accident & Indem. Co., 303 Md. 182, 492 A.2d 1270 (1985)

Reported Opinions by the Maryland Appellate Court

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  1. Matter of Homick, No. 33, Sept. Term, 2022, 2022 WL 17347897 (Md. Ct. Spec. App. Dec. 1, 2022)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  12. 1000 Friends of Maryland v. Ehrlich, 170 Md. App. 538 (2006)

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

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

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

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

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

Unreported Opinions by the by the Maryland Appellate Court

 

  1. 6525 Belcrest Rd., LLC v. Dewey L.C., No. 1393, Sept. Term, 2021 (Md. Ct. Spec. App. Oct. 25, 2022) (Berger, J.)

  2. 6525 Belcrest Rd., LLC v. Dewey L.C., No. 1632, Sept. Term, 2021 (Md. Ct. Spec. App. Oct. 25, 2022) (Berger, J.)

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

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

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

  6. Dzurec v. Board of County Commissioners of Calvert County, No. 29, Sept. Term, 2021 (Md. Ct. Spec. App. Dec. 27, 2021) (Shaw Geter, J.)

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

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

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

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

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

  12. County Council of Prince George’s County, Maryland 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.)

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

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

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

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

  17. Gail Litz v. Maryland Department of the Environment, No. 397, Sept. Term, 2011 (Md. Ct. Spec. App. June 18, 2014) (Zamoch, J.)

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

  19. Smith v. Maryland Department of the Environment, No. 1655, Sept. Term 2010 (Md. Ct. Spec. App. December 11, 2013) (Meredith, J.)

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

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

  22. Gail Litz v. Maryland Department of the Environment, No. 397, Sept. Term, 2011 (Md. Ct. Spec. App. June 20, 2012) (Zarnoch, J.)

  23. Benn Ray, et al. v. Baltimore City Planning Commission, et al., No. 0699, Sept. Term, 2011 (Md. Ct. Spec. App. February 1, 2012) (Moylan, J.)

  24. 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.)

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

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

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

  28. 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.)

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

  30. 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.)

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

  32. 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 County.

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

  34. Reaching Hearts International Church v. Prince George’s County Planning Board of the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, et al., No. 673, Sept. Term, 2006 (Md. Ct. Spec. App. February 15, 2007) (Eyler, Deborah S., J.)

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

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

  37. 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.)

  38. Rankin v. University of Maryland Medical System Corporation, No. 1828, Sept. Term, 2003 (Md. Ct. Spec. App. March 28, 2006) (Murphy, C.J.)

  39. County Commissioners of Carroll County v. Dorothy Rowland, et al., No. 2338, Sept. Term, 2004 (Md. Ct. Spec. App. January 17, 2006) (Eyler, Deborah S., J.)

  40. Betty Garner, et al. v. Prince George’s County Planning Board of the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, et al., No. 2715, Sept. Term, 2003 (Md. Ct. Spec. App. January 18, 2005) (Davis, J.)

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

  42. 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.)

  43. Andrew W. Brewster, et al. v. Maryland Department of the Environment, et al., No. 2193, Sept. Term, 1999 (Md. Ct. Spec. App. April 30, 2001) (Salmon, J.)

  44. Jerry W. Cecil, Sr., et al. v. Maryland Department of the Environment, No. 6923, Sept. Term, 1998 (Md. Ct. Spec. App. April 12, 2000) (Murphy, C.J.)

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

  46. August 17, 1998, C. Victoria Woodward, et al. v. Maryland Department of Environment, 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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