Tuesday, September 18, 2012

How to Get Medical Records and Bills Into Evidence in Maryland

In a Maryland personal injury case there is a difference between getting your medical records and bills into evidence in the District Court versus the procedure for getting your medical records into evidence in the Circuit Court.

You will need to review Maryland rule 5–902(a)(11) and 5–803 (b)(6)are the rules on point. As well it is advisable to review the case of the State of Maryland versus Bryant 743 Ad 2nd 814(2000). You have two ways to get your records into evidence in the Circuit Court one is by live testimony in which event the records custodian would offer evidence regarding the four requirements of Maryland rule 5–803 (b)(6) wherein the records custodian (*) certifies under oath

(A) the record was made at or near the time of the occurrence of the matters set forth and was generated by a person with personal knowledge of those matters,

B) the record is made and kept in the course of the regularly conducted business activity, and

(C) the record was made and kept by the regularly conducted business activities as a regular practice.

You can also seek to have the records admitted into evidence under 5–902(a)(11). This rule is designed to promote judicial economy by eliminating the need for foundational witnesses regarding evidence that is likely to be authentic by extrinsic evidence. Under this method records are produced at trial containing a certificate from the records custodian attesting under oath to the three requirements above A, B, C. Is important that the custodian certificate be a written declaration under oath subject to the penalty of perjury. I did not see any regulation requiring that the custodian certification be an original signature or that it be notarized.

If you have questions regarding any matter of litigation involving a personal injury case in Maryland please feel free to call me as I'm happy to answer your questions over the phone at no cost to you. 1-888-760-7339

Saturday, May 12, 2012

Plaintiff bankruptcy affecting counsel fees

In the event your client, plainitff, should file bankruptcy during the respresentation you will have to contact the trustee to move the case forward with their imput. There is an ethic's opinion on point. See ATTORNEY GRIEVANCE COMMISSION v. NICHOLS ATTORNEY GRIEVANCE COMMISSION of Maryland v. Ernest S. NICHOLS. Misc. Docket AG No. 25, Sept. Term, 2007. -- June 17, 2008 which determined an ethical violation for failure to secure trustee approval of the distribution when the plaintiff had filed a bankruptcy. If you have questions regarding your personal injury case please feel free to call me I am more then happy to assist . 1-888-760-7339

Monday, February 27, 2012

Maryland Injury Lawyer settlement involving minors

In a Maryland personal injury case the minor child's next friend, typically a parent, has the authority to settle a case on behalf of the minor child. The authority for this power is found in

Md. COURTS AND JUDICIAL PROCEEDINGS Code Ann. § 6-405 (2011)
§ 6-405. Settlement of suit by infant

a) In general. -- Any action, including one in the name of the State, brought by a next friend for the benefit of a minor may be settled by the next friend.

(b) Limitation. -- If the next friend is not a parent or person in loco parentis of the child, the settlement is not effective unless approved by the parent or other person responsible for the child.

(c) Where no parent or other person responsible. -- If both parents are dead, and there is no person responsible for the care and custody of the child, the settlement is not effective unless approved by the court in which the suit was brought. Approval may be granted only on the written application by the next friend, under oath, stating the facts of the case, and why the settlement is in the best interest of the child.

If you have questions regarding injury to a minor child or any other matter involving the need for a Maryland injury lawyer please feel free to call my office at 1-888-760-7339 we will discuss your case over the phone at no cost to you.

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Maryland Injury Lawyer

Future Loss Income for Disabled minor child:

The scenario is a minor child's brain injury and the claim for lost future earnings as a result of that disability. Evidence produced at trial first identified the injuries sustained. Subsequently an expert offered testimony of the probability that the child's future accomplishments would be limited by his disability resulting in a high school education and as a result limited earning capability. As compared to the probable accomplishments the child would have reached based upon his mother's educational background and the income he would have realized as a college graduate had he not encountered the disabilities. The expert testifyed that deficits will limit his ability to work in jobs suitable to the education he likely will be able to attain, thus resulting in his being a disabled worker.

In such instances the expert would be called upon to offer expert testimony about average earnings and a comparison of the amount of future earnings that minor child will not enjoy due to his disabilities.

If you or someone you know has the need for a Maryland injury lawyer please feel free to call my office at 1-888-760-7339. We will discuss your case over the phone at no cost to you.

Thursday, January 19, 2012

Statute of Limitations Maryland Malpractice

The statute of limitations in medical malpractice cases in Maryland is five years from the time the injury was committed or three years from the date the injury was discovered, whichever is earlier.

Any medical malpractice action must be filed either within five years from the date when the injury was committed or three years from the date when the injury was discovered, whichever is earlier. Md. Code Ann., Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 5-109 (1995). Against a minor, the statute does not begin to run until a claimant has reached the age of eleven, and if the action involves a foreign object or injury to the reproductive system, the statute does not begin to run until the claimant is sixteen. Maryland's highest court has held that the five-year part of the statute is not measured from the date treatment ends and does not violate the state constitution. Hill v. Fitzgerald, 304 Md. 689, 501 A.2d 27 (1985). If you have questions regarding a medical malpractice claim in Maryland please feel free to call my office I am happy to answer your questions over the phone at no cost to you 1-888-760-7339

Tuesday, September 13, 2011

Personal Injury Lawyer in Baltimore

Unless it is inherently unfair a court will require a party seeking discovery from an opposing party's expert to pay the expert a reasonable fee for the time spent in responding to the discovery provided the discovery is for the purpose of finding the expert's opinions. As far as determining the reasonableness of expert fees the court has applied a six-point test to resolve the question of the reasonableness. Specifically, the court focuses on the following factors: the witness's area of expertise; the education and training that is required to provide the expert insights; the prevailing rates; the nature, quality and complexity of the discovery responses; the cost of living in a particular geographical error area; and any other factor likely to help the court. See Goldwater v Postmaster General of the United States 130 6 F.R.D. 337. Maryland courts look at Maryland rule 2–402 (e)(3), to recognize the court's authority to require the discovery party to pay the expert's preparation time when circumstances so require. The awards for preparation time typically are granted only upon extraordinary circumstances. If you have questions regarding personal injury in Maryland please feel free to give me a call at 1-888-760-7339.

Sunday, August 28, 2011

Good Faith In Discovery Maryland Personal Injury

Before a party can file a motion to compel discovery the attorney seeking the discovery must first exercise good faith to resolve any disputes with his counterpart. The exercise of good faith requires more than simply sending correspondence and may very well require direct verbal communication between the attorneys in an attempt to resolve the dispute. The good-faith requirement is found in Maryland Rule 2-431. Maryland law does require direct contact between opposing parties in an attempt to resolve a discovery disputes amicably prior to seeking sanctions. See Sculley v Tauber, 138 Md App 423, 771 A 2d 550 (Md App. 2001). If you have questions regarding discovery and a Maryland personal injury case or you need a personal injury attorney in Maryland please feel free to call my office we are the personal injury lawyer in Baltimore. 1-888-760-7339.