Thursday, April 18, 2013

WASHINGTON, D.C. LEAD PAINT DEFENSE

www.CharlesJeromeWare.com

Topic of Seminar: "Lead Paint Defense 101".

Date of Seminar: Friday, April 12th, 2013.

Location of Seminar: Boca Raton Resort & Club
501 East Camino Real
Boca Raton, Florida 33432
Featured Speaker: Charles Jerome Ware
Attorney and Author
Baltimore, Maryland and Washington, D.C.


The national law firm of Charles Jerome Ware, P.A., Attorneys and Counsellors, is one of Maryland's and Washington, D.C.'s premier lead paint defense firms.

Along with its expertise in lead paint defense work, the firm is very highly regarded in the areas of criminal defense and civil litigation, medical malpractice and wrongful death, personal injury and transactional legal matters.

Attorney Charles Jerome Ware is renowned and consistently ranked among the best attorneys and legal counsellors in the United States. [GQ Magazine, The Washington Post, The Baltimore Sun, The Columbia Flier, USA TODAY, The Howard County Sun, The Anniston Star, The New York Times, et al.]

The national law firm of Charles Jerome Ware, P.A., Attorneys and Counsellors is: "Still working. Still committed. Still here to make a difference."

Lead paint lawsuits by tenants against landlords have increased during the past few years as the public has become more aware of the dangers created by lead paint.

Lawyers who represent injured children or residential landlords should investigate the facts to determine the identity of potentially liable defendants, the cause or causes of the injury, the potential defenses to the claim, which experts to utilize, and the different types of damages available in the case.

How Much in Damages Can Be Expected?

Damages recoverable in lead paint suits are similar to those recoverable in other types of personal injury litigations: loss of earning capacity, medical expenses, and pain and suffering. Parents may have a claim for loss of consortium in some jurisdictions. Also, some jurisdictions allow for the recovery of punitive damages if the facts of the case establish the elements for the award.

The largest dollar claim for damages generally falls under the category of vocational limitations.

In most cases, plaintiffs allege that the exposed child will be restricted in vocational options as an adult due to irreversible injuries caused by the exposure to lead that permanently disable the affected child. As a result, the child's earning capacity as an adult will be diminished.

In an attempt to mitigate loss of earning capacity damages, defendants may present evidence that the parents possess modest or below-average intelligence, together with expert testimony that children usually exhibit a level of intelligence that mirrors their parents.

The assessment by the defendant on vocational damages may focus on the child's home environment and the parents' child-rearing practices. These factors may strongly affect a child's cognitive behavior and development.

Defense counsel may argue that it is better to assess a child's future earning capacity on familial elements rather than on lead exposure.

AUTHOR AND ATTORNEY CHARLES WARE JOINS DELRAY BEACH, FLORIDA IN CELEBRATING 100 YEARS OF HISTORY

When: Thursday, April 11th, 2013, at 6:30 PM. www.DELRAYLIBRARY.org

Among attorney and author Charles Jerome Ware's best-selling books are:

(1) The Secret Science of Winning Lotteries, Sweepstakes and Contests;
http://amzn.com/1432793888
(2) Understanding the Law: A Primer;
http://amzn.com/1440111456
(3) The Immigration Paradox: 15 Tips for Winning Immigration Cases;
http://amzn.com/1440171920
(4) Legal Consumer Tips and Secrets: Avoiding Debtors' Prison in the United States; and
http://amzn.com/1462051847
(5) Quince (15) Consejos Para Ganar Casos Del Inmigracion.
http://amzn.com/1462068952

Ware's blogs and twitter include, inter alia:

http://open.salon.com/blog/charlesjware

www.CharlesJeromeWare.com

[See, Amazon.com, iUniverse.com, Outskirts Press, BooksAMillion.com, Barnesandnoble.com, www.Kobobooks.com, bookstore.iuniverse.com, books.google.com, www.buscalibre.com, www.diesel-ebooks.com, www.allbookstores.com, www.ebookmail.com, www.ebay.com, www.scribd.com, www.deepdiscount.com, www.betterworldbooks.com, www.landmarkonthenet.com, www.shopping.com, www.lawbooks-online.com, newmexicoveterinaryboard.us, www.booktopia.com.au, The Immigration Paradox-NY-Times.com, the Immigration Paradox: 15 Tips for Winning Immigration Cases, www.2shared.com, www.textbooksrus.com, www.valorebooks.com, www.waterstones.com, www.getcited.org, www.fishpond.co.nz, www.bookfinder4u.com, ebookstore.sony.com, www.bookdepository.co.uk, www.nytimes.com/2009/03/15, C-SPAN2/Book TV, BookTV.org, Miami Book Fair, International Summit on Books, American Library Association (ALA) Book Fair, National Book Festival, Baltimore Book Festival, inter al]

2013 ANNAPOLIS BOOK FESTIVAL: Author & Attorney Charles Jerome Ware

PLACE: The Key School
Annapolis, Maryland

Among attorney and author Charles Jerome Ware's best-selling books are:

(1) The Secret Science of Winning Lotteries, Sweepstakes and Contests;
http://amzn.com/1432793888
(2) Understanding the Law: A Primer;
http://amzn.com/1440111456
(3) The Immigration Paradox: 15 Tips for Winning Immigration Cases;
http://amzn.com/1440171920
(4) Legal Consumer Tips and Secrets: Avoiding Debtors' Prison in the United States; and
http://amzn.com/1462051847
(5) Quince (15) Consejos Para Ganar Casos Del Inmigracion.
http://amzn.com/1462068952

Ware's blogs and twitter include, inter alia:

http://open.salon.com/blog/charlesjware

www.CharlesJeromeWare.com

[See, Amazon.com, iUniverse.com, Outskirts Press, BooksAMillion.com, Barnesandnoble.com, www.Kobobooks.com, bookstore.iuniverse.com, books.google.com, www.buscalibre.com, www.diesel-ebooks.com, www.allbookstores.com, www.ebookmail.com, www.ebay.com, www.scribd.com, www.deepdiscount.com, www.betterworldbooks.com, www.landmarkonthenet.com, www.shopping.com, www.lawbooks-online.com, newmexicoveterinaryboard.us, www.booktopia.com.au, The Immigration Paradox-NY-Times.com, the Immigration Paradox: 15 Tips for Winning Immigration Cases, www.2shared.com, www.textbooksrus.com, www.valorebooks.com, www.waterstones.com, www.getcited.org, www.fishpond.co.nz, www.bookfinder4u.com, ebookstore.sony.com, www.bookdepository.co.uk, www.nytimes.com/2009/03/15, C-SPAN2/Book TV, BookTV.org, Miami Book Fair, International Summit on Books, American Library Association (ALA) Book Fair, National Book Festival, Baltimore Book Festival, inter al]

WWW.NYTIMES.COM/NONFICTIONBESTSELLERS/CHARLESJEROMEWARE.COM: And see Best Sellers by Author and Attorney Charles Jerome Ware

Among attorney and author Charles Jerome Ware's best-selling books are:

(1) The Secret Science of Winning Lotteries, Sweepstakes and Contests;
http://amzn.com/1432793888
(2) Understanding the Law: A Primer;
http://amzn.com/1440111456
(3) The Immigration Paradox: 15 Tips for Winning Immigration Cases;
http://amzn.com/1440171920
(4) Legal Consumer Tips and Secrets: Avoiding Debtors' Prison in the United States; and
http://amzn.com/1462051847
(5) Quince (15) Consejos Para Ganar Casos Del Inmigracion.
http://amzn.com/1462068952

Ware's blogs and twitter include, inter alia:

http://open.salon.com/blog/charlesjware

www.CharlesJeromeWare.com

[See, Amazon.com, iUniverse.com, Outskirts Press, BooksAMillion.com, Barnesandnoble.com, www.Kobobooks.com, bookstore.iuniverse.com, books.google.com, www.buscalibre.com, www.diesel-ebooks.com, www.allbookstores.com, www.ebookmail.com, www.ebay.com, www.scribd.com, www.deepdiscount.com, www.betterworldbooks.com, www.landmarkonthenet.com, www.shopping.com, www.lawbooks-online.com, newmexicoveterinaryboard.us, www.booktopia.com.au, The Immigration Paradox-NY-Times.com, the Immigration Paradox: 15 Tips for Winning Immigration Cases, www.2shared.com, www.textbooksrus.com, www.valorebooks.com, www.waterstones.com, www.getcited.org, www.fishpond.co.nz, www.bookfinder4u.com, ebookstore.sony.com, www.bookdepository.co.uk, www.nytimes.com/2009/03/15, C-SPAN2/Book TV, BookTV.org, Miami Book Fair, International Summit on Books, American Library Association (ALA) Book Fair, National Book Festival, Baltimore Book Festival, inter al]

"The simple solution for your complex divorce": CHARLES JEROME WARE, P.A., Attorneys and Counsellors

www.CharlesJeromeWare.com
A national law firm headquartered in Maryland.
(410) 720-6129
(410) 730-5016
"Here to make a difference."
Visit us on the Web.

Tuesday, April 16, 2013

BEST-SELLING BOOKS: Author and Attorney Charles Jerome Ware

www.CharlesJeromeWare.com
C-SPAN 2, BOOKTV, booktv.org

Among attorney and author Charles Jerome Ware's best-selling books are:

(1) The Secret Science of Winning Lotteries, Sweepstakes and Contests;
http://amzn.com/1432793888
(2) Understanding the Law: A Primer;
http://amzn.com/1440111456
(3) The Immigration Paradox: 15 Tips for Winning Immigration Cases;
http://amzn.com/1440171920
(4) Legal Consumer Tips and Secrets: Avoiding Debtors' Prison in the United States; and
http://amzn.com/1462051847
(5) Quince (15) Consejos Para Ganar Casos Del Inmigracion.
http://amzn.com/1462068952

Ware's blogs and twitter include, inter alia:

http://open.salon.com/blog/charlesjware

www.CharlesJeromeWare.com

[See, Amazon.com, iUniverse.com, Outskirts Press, BooksAMillion.com, Barnesandnoble.com, www.Kobobooks.com, bookstore.iuniverse.com, books.google.com, www.buscalibre.com, www.diesel-ebooks.com, www.allbookstores.com, www.ebookmail.com, www.ebay.com, www.scribd.com, www.deepdiscount.com, www.betterworldbooks.com, www.landmarkonthenet.com, www.shopping.com, www.lawbooks-online.com, newmexicoveterinaryboard.us, www.booktopia.com.au, The Immigration Paradox-NY-Times.com, the Immigration Paradox: 15 Tips for Winning Immigration Cases, www.2shared.com, www.textbooksrus.com, www.valorebooks.com, www.waterstones.com, www.getcited.org, www.fishpond.co.nz, www.bookfinder4u.com, ebookstore.sony.com, www.bookdepository.co.uk, www.nytimes.com/2009/03/15, C-SPAN2/Book TV, BookTV.org, Miami Book Fair, International Summit on Books, American Library Association (ALA) Book Fair, National Book Festival, Baltimore Book Festival, inter al]

Thursday, April 11, 2013

CHARLES WARE'S "ENCEPHALITIS" UPDATE: TICK VICTIM AWARDED $41.5 MILLION, www.CharlesJeromeWare.com

A Connecticut female preparatory boarding student at the prestigious Hotchkiss School in Lakeville, Connecticut has been awarded $41.7 million in compensatory damages for suffering brain damage after being bitten by a tick during a 2007 school trip to China.

Cara Munn was 15 years old when she was left severely disabled following the school trip abroad. Her father claimed the school failed to take precautions against ticks and didn't get his daughter the correct medical attention.

A federal jury in Bridgeport ruled in favor of Cara Munn, who is now 20.

A Conneticut student left brain damaged and unable to speak after being bitten by a tick on a class trip to China was awarded $41.7 million in compensation.

Cara Munn was 15 when, in the summer of 2007, she traveled to the Asian country with classmates from the posh Connecticut boarding school Hotchkiss.

As they journeyed through a rural area of the country, she was was bitten by an insect - which led to her developing tick-borne encephalitis.

Her father, Orson Munn III who heads advertising agency Munn Rabot, claimed the school failed to take precautions against ticks and didn't get his daughter the correct medical attention.

A federal jury in Bridgeport ruled in favor of the student, who is now 20, on Wednesday after an eight-day hearing. The college prep school said it would appeal the award.
www.CharlesJeromeWare.com

The national criminal defense, wrongful death and serious injury law firm of Charles Jerome Ware P.A., Attorneys and Counsellors, is regarded as a leader in the areas of criminal defense, automobile death, personal injury, survivorship, and wrongful death actions in the mid-Atlantic region --- including Maryland, Washington, D.C., Pennsylvania, Delaware, New Jersey and Virginia.

Attorney Charles Jerome Ware is renowned and consistently ranked among the best attorneys and legal counsellors in the United States. [GQ Magazine, The Washington Post, The Baltimore Sun, The Columbia Flier, USA TODAY, The Howard County Sun, The Anniston Star, The New York Times, et al.]

The national law firm of Charles Jerome Ware, P.A., Attorneys and Counsellors, is a premier Civil litigation and Criminal Defense firm headquartered in Maryland and Washington, D.C. We are: "Still working. Still committed. Still here to make a difference."

CHARLES WARE'S MARYLAND CRIM. LAW UPDATE: Jaron Tyree Grade versus State of Maryland (4-3-2013)

www.CharlesJeromeWare.com

In an opinion written by Chief Judge Robert M. Bell, the Maryland Court of Appeals (MCOA) --- Maryland's highest court --- on Wednesday, April 3rd, 2013 overturned a man's double-murder conviction as well as his life sentence.

The high court granted the convicted murderer, Jaron Tyree Grade, a new trial because his defense was not told of a communication between a judge's aide and a juror prior to jury deliberations.

The case cite is:

JARON TYREE GRADE v. STATE OF MARYLAND,
No. 16, September Term, 2007. Opinion by Chief Judge Robert M. Bell.

The Court's Holding:

"The issue in this case is whether the trial court’s substitution of a juror with an alternate, without having first notified counsel of the juror communication that prompted that action and sought counsel’s response or input, violated Maryland Rule 4-326 (d). Because Rule 4-326 (d) vindicates the well-established right of a defendant to be present throughout the trial, including during jury deliberations, we shall hold that, under the facts of this case, it did."


CRIMINAL LAW – PROCEDURE – JURY COMMUNICATION

The defendant has a right to be present at all stages of trial. Maryland Rule 4-326 further provides that any communication between a juror and the court must be disclosed to the defendant in a timely manner, so that the defendant can provide input on the communication before the court takes action on the information received.
www.CharlesJeromeWare.com

The national criminal defense, wrongful death and serious injury law firm of Charles Jerome Ware P.A., Attorneys and Counsellors, is regarded as a leader in the areas of criminal defense, automobile death, personal injury, survivorship, and wrongful death actions in the mid-Atlantic region --- including Maryland, Washington, D.C., Pennsylvania, Delaware, New Jersey and Virginia.

Attorney Charles Jerome Ware is renowned and consistently ranked among the best attorneys and legal counsellors in the United States. [GQ Magazine, The Washington Post, The Baltimore Sun, The Columbia Flier, USA TODAY, The Howard County Sun, The Anniston Star, The New York Times, et al.]

The national law firm of Charles Jerome Ware, P.A., Attorneys and Counsellors, is a premier Civil litigation and Criminal Defense firm headquartered in Maryland and Washington, D.C. We are: "Still working. Still committed. Still here to make a difference."

MCOA (Md. Ct. of Appeals) Update by Attorney and Author Charles Jerome Ware

www.CharlesJeromeWare.com

In an opinion written by Chief Judge Robert M. Bell, the Maryland Court of Appeals (MCOA) --- Maryland's highest court --- on Wednesday, April 3rd, 2013 overturned a man's double-murder conviction as well as his life sentence.

The high court granted the convicted murderer, Jaron Tyree Grade, a new trial because his defense was not told of a communication between a judge's aide and a juror prior to jury deliberations.

The case cite is:

JARON TYREE GRADE v. STATE OF MARYLAND,
No. 16, September Term, 2007. Opinion by Chief Judge Robert M. Bell.

CRIMINAL LAW – PROCEDURE – JURY COMMUNICATION

The defendant has a right to be present at all stages of trial. Maryland Rule 4-326 further provides that any communication between a juror and the court must be disclosed to the defendant in a timely manner, so that the defendant can provide input on the communication before the court takes action on the information received.
www.CharlesJeromeWare.com

The national criminal defense, wrongful death and serious injury law firm of Charles Jerome Ware P.A., Attorneys and Counsellors, is regarded as a leader in the areas of criminal defense, automobile death, personal injury, survivorship, and wrongful death actions in the mid-Atlantic region --- including Maryland, Washington, D.C., Pennsylvania, Delaware, New Jersey and Virginia.

Attorney Charles Jerome Ware is renowned and consistently ranked among the best attorneys and legal counsellors in the United States. [GQ Magazine, The Washington Post, The Baltimore Sun, The Columbia Flier, USA TODAY, The Howard County Sun, The Anniston Star, The New York Times, et al.]

The national law firm of Charles Jerome Ware, P.A., Attorneys and Counsellors, is a premier Civil litigation and Criminal Defense firm headquartered in Maryland and Washington, D.C. We are: "Still working. Still committed. Still here to make a difference."

Wednesday, April 10, 2013

BALTIMORE LEAD PAINT BOCA RATON SEMINAR: FEATURING DEFENSE ATTORNEY EXPERT CHARLES JEROME WARE, www.CharlesJeromeWare.com

Topic of Seminar: "Lead Paint Defense 101".

Date of Seminar: Friday, April 12th, 2013.

Location of Seminar: Boca Raton Resort & Club
501 East Camino Real
Boca Raton, Florida 33432
Featured Speaker: Charles Jerome Ware
Attorney and Author
Baltimore, Maryland


The national law firm of Charles Jerome Ware, P.A., Attorneys and Counsellors, is one of Maryland's premier lead paint defense firms.

Along with its expertise in lead paint defense work, the firm is very highly regarded in the areas of criminal defense and civil litigation, medical malpractice and wrongful death, personal injury and transactional legal matters.

Attorney Charles Jerome Ware is renowned and consistently ranked among the best attorneys and legal counsellors in the United States. [GQ Magazine, The Washington Post, The Baltimore Sun, The Columbia Flier, USA TODAY, The Howard County Sun, The Anniston Star, The New York Times, et al.]

The national law firm of Charles Jerome Ware, P.A., Attorneys and Counsellors is: "Still working. Still committed. Still here to make a difference."

Lead paint lawsuits by tenants against landlords have increased during the past few years as the public has become more aware of the dangers created by lead paint.

Lawyers who represent injured children or residential landlords should investigate the facts to determine the identity of potentially liable defendants, the cause or causes of the injury, the potential defenses to the claim, which experts to utilize, and the different types of damages available in the case.

How Much in Damages Can Be Expected?

Damages recoverable in lead paint suits are similar to those recoverable in other types of personal injury litigations: loss of earning capacity, medical expenses, and pain and suffering. Parents may have a claim for loss of consortium in some jurisdictions. Also, some jurisdictions allow for the recovery of punitive damages if the facts of the case establish the elements for the award.

The largest dollar claim for damages generally falls under the category of vocational limitations.

In most cases, plaintiffs allege that the exposed child will be restricted in vocational options as an adult due to irreversible injuries caused by the exposure to lead that permanently disable the affected child. As a result, the child's earning capacity as an adult will be diminished.

In an attempt to mitigate loss of earning capacity damages, defendants may present evidence that the parents possess modest or below-average intelligence, together with expert testimony that children usually exhibit a level of intelligence that mirrors their parents.

The assessment by the defendant on vocational damages may focus on the child's home environment and the parents' child-rearing practices. These factors may strongly affect a child's cognitive behavior and development.

Defense counsel may argue that it is better to assess a child's future earning capacity on familial elements rather than on lead exposure.

Maryland Lead Law
Maryland Environmental Article 6-8 - "The Lead Poisoning Prevention Program" Statute

Maryland Environmental Article 6-8, also referred to as Maryland Housing Bill 760, "The Lead Poisoning Prevention Program" statute, was signed into law in May 1994 and became fully effective on February 24, 1996.

The law is intended to make all privately owned pre-1950 rental housing units safer for children, while also helping rental property owners and managers to avoid costly lead poisoning litigation by complying with specific lead hazard reduction measures or a dust testing procedure set forth in the statute. This statutory provision applies to all such housing units and, at an owner's option, to rental units built after 1949.

In essence, the law sharply limits the rights of children and their representatives to traditional tort damages for lead poisoning, provided that: (1) the property owner has satisfied certain housing unit registration requirements; and (2) the unit has either passed lead dust tests or undergone a set of "risk reduction measures" which must be verified by an independent, certified third party who performs a visual inspection When the unit meets this standard, the owner is entitled to a limited tort immunity.

However, if a child living in the unit develops an elevated blood lead level which exceeds 20 micrograms of lead per deciliter of blood, the owner has the option of making a "qualified offer" to the child and his or her legal representative.

A qualified offer is, in effect, a settlement of that child's potential lead poisoning claim and provides remedial compensation.

Under the provisions established in House Bill 760 for the qualified offer, the owner and his or her insurance company would: (1) offer to relocate the child's family to a housing unit that has been certified as "lead-safe," including payment of a rent differential if the "lead-safe" unit rents at a higher monthly rate; and (2) pay for any necessary medical treatment to mitigate the effects of lead poisoning when the treatment is not covered by a health insurance plan or public medical assistance.

Relocation expenses are payable until the poisoned child reaches age six, subject to a $9,500 cap. Out-of-pocket medical expenses are payable until the poisoned child reaches the age of 18, subject to a $7,500 cap.

Since a major reason for enacting House Bill 760 was the widespread and routine application of lead liability exclusions in general liability policies covering rental housing units, the statute adds provisions to the Maryland Insurance Code which limit the circumstances under which these exclusions would be effective. Therefore, access to insurance and limited liability are the primary incentives or benefits to owners of pre-1950 units who meet the statutory risk reduction standards. Additionally, the systematic reduction of lead-based paint hazards in these older units is meant to be the primary means for preventing lead poisoning in the state.

In summary, Maryland House Bill 760 takes on some of the most difficult public health, housing and liability issues posed by childhood lead poisoning to provide a measure of safety for children and a relief from the threat of litigation for rental property owners.
Jackson, et al. v. The Dackman Company, et al.
No. 131, September Term 2008 (Md. Oct. 24, 2011)
On October 24, 2011, the Maryland Court of Appeals in Jackson v. Dackman, struck down as invalid a statutory provision in Maryland’s Reduction of Lead Risk in Housing Act (“Act”) that provided immunity from liability to landlords if: (1) they achieved full compliance with certain requirements under the Act including registration and timely renewal of rental properties constructed prior to 1950; compliance with applicable risk reduction and response standards; and compliance with notice requirements to tenants; and (2) they had opportunity to make a qualified offer of up to $17,000 for reasonable relocation and medical expenses.

In light of the Dackman decision, landlords have found themselves facing a great deal of uncertainty and many are concerned that they may now be potentially exposed to huge liability claims, even if they previously had been fully compliant with the Act’s provisions.

Charles Jerome Ware, P.A., Attorneys and Counsellors can provide winning defense representation for:
  1. Defense of Lead Paint Cases
  2. Asset Protection

    and can assist lead paint insurance carriers and claims representatives with:
  3. Defense of Lead Paint Cases
  4. Presentations on Maryland’s Evolving Lead Paint Laws

Comparing State and Federal Laws

Federal and state laws address lead poisoning issues in slightly different ways. A shared feature is that each law requires that specific information be given to current and new tenants. Both Federal and Maryland law require landlords to give to each tenant the pamphlet “Protect Your Family from Lead in Your Home”. Maryland law also requires distribution by landlords of an additional pamphlet entitled “Lead Poisoning Prevention - Notice of Tenants’ Rights”.

For detailed information about the federal law and how to obtain copies of the federally mandated pamphlet, call the National Lead Clearinghouse at 1-800-424-LEAD (5323) or the Coalition to End Childhood Lead Poisoning at 410-534-6447.

Additionally, for detailed information about the Maryland law and how to obtain copies of the state-mandated “Notice of Tenants’ Rights” call the Maryland Lead Poisoning Hotline at 1-800-776-2706, or TDD (410) 631-3009, or the Coalition to End Childhood Lead Poisoning at 800-370-LEAD.

Maryland Lead Poisoning Prevention Program

In 1994 the General Assembly established the Lead Poisoning Prevention Program for the purpose of reducing the incidence of childhood lead poisoning while maintaining the stock of affordable rental housing. This program requires owners of older residential rental properties to meet certain risk reduction standards. It also provides more affordable insurance and the protection of limited liability for owners who comply. It is administered by the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE). For more information call the Lead Poisoning Hotline at 1-800-776-2706, or TDD (410) 631-3009. Read the Law: MD Code, Environment § 6-801- 6-852; Article 48A, Secs. 734-737; Real Prop. § 8-208.2

Following is a summary of the law:

The owners of all rental dwelling units built before 1950 must comply with this law. Owners of units built between 1950 and 1978 may choose to comply and thus benefit from limited liability.

The law exempts rental units owned or operated by federal, state, or local government or by a public, quasi-public, or municipal corporation, provided the property is subject to standards that are at least as strict as the standards established by this law.

[www.nchh.org/Policy/MarylandLeadLaw; www.pklaw.com/lead paint defense; www.peoples-law.org/Lead Paint in Maryland; articles.baltimoresun.com/2010-12-02/health/bs-md-rockind-appeal; www.mde.state.md.us/programs/ Lead Poisoning Prevention/Pages/Programs/Land Program/Lead Coordination/index.aspx; www.americanbar.org/newsletter (Spring 1997)]

Monday, April 8, 2013

AFTER WORDS: Charles Jerome Ware, Author and Attorney

www.CharlesJeromeWare.com
C-SPAN 2, BOOKTV, booktv.org

Among attorney and author Charles Jerome Ware's best-selling books are:

(1) The Secret Science of Winning Lotteries, Sweepstakes and Contests;
http://amzn.com/1432793888
(2) Understanding the Law: A Primer;
http://amzn.com/1440111456
(3) The Immigration Paradox: 15 Tips for Winning Immigration Cases;
http://amzn.com/1440171920
(4) Legal Consumer Tips and Secrets: Avoiding Debtors' Prison in the United States; and
http://amzn.com/1462051847
(5) Quince (15) Consejos Para Ganar Casos Del Inmigracion.
http://amzn.com/1462068952

Ware's blogs and twitter include, inter alia:

http://open.salon.com/blog/charlesjware

www.CharlesJeromeWare.com

[See, Amazon.com, iUniverse.com, Outskirts Press, BooksAMillion.com, Barnesandnoble.com, www.Kobobooks.com, bookstore.iuniverse.com, books.google.com, www.buscalibre.com, www.diesel-ebooks.com, www.allbookstores.com, www.ebookmail.com, www.ebay.com, www.scribd.com, www.deepdiscount.com, www.betterworldbooks.com, www.landmarkonthenet.com, www.shopping.com, www.lawbooks-online.com, newmexicoveterinaryboard.us, www.booktopia.com.au, The Immigration Paradox-NY-Times.com, the Immigration Paradox: 15 Tips for Winning Immigration Cases, www.2shared.com, www.textbooksrus.com, www.valorebooks.com, www.waterstones.com, www.getcited.org, www.fishpond.co.nz, www.bookfinder4u.com, ebookstore.sony.com, www.bookdepository.co.uk, www.nytimes.com/2009/03/15, C-SPAN2/Book TV, BookTV.org, Miami Book Fair, International Summit on Books, American Library Association (ALA) Book Fair, National Book Festival, Baltimore Book Festival, inter al]

FACEBOOK "SERVICE OF PROCESS": Report by Attorney and Author Charles Jerome Ware, www.CharlesJeromeWare.com

Attorney Charles Jerome Ware is renowned and consistently ranked among the best attorneys and legal counsellors in the United States. [GQ Magazine, The Washington Post, The Baltimore Sun, The Columbia Flier, USA TODAY, The Howard County Sun, The Anniston Star, The New York Times, et al.]

From the Intellectual Property Law Department of the firm:

Last month (March 15, 2013), U.S. District Judge Paul Engelmay of the Southern District of New York ordered "service of process" of civil complaints on several international defendants in a computer consumerism case through the new and novel means of FACEBOOK.

The case, FTC v. PCCare247, Inc., involves a group of individuals based in India who allegedly “tricked American consumers into spending money to fix non-existent problems with their computers.” After problems with more conventional methods of international service, the court exercised its authority under the federal rules to fashion its own means of service.

As Judge Engelmayer’s order explains, Fed. R. Civ. P. 4(f)(3) allows a judge to order a means of service of process so long as it is “(1) not prohibited by international agreement; and (2) comports with constitutional notions of due process.”

In this case, service by Facebook was not specifically prohibited by relevant international agreement, including the Hague Service Convention, to which India and the United States are signatories. Further, the circumstances in which the Facebook accounts would be served ensured service was constitutionally proper.

In particular, the order ensured due process by using a two pronged approach: email as the primary method of service and service through a Facebook message (similar to email but within Facebook) only as a secondary method. The order took care to point out that service on a known email address has been held to, and would here, satisfy constitutional norms of due process. Email therefore served as a constitutional “backstop” should service by Facebook fail.

Additionally, Judge Engelmayer’s order explained, several circumstances about these particular Facebook accounts ensured service was “reasonably calculated” to afford the defendants notice. For instance, the emails under which the Facebook accounts were registered had been previously identified as addresses allegedly involved with the scam. Other relevant facts? The defendants were all friends with each other on Facebook, and two of the defendants had actually listed in their Facebook profiles job titles at the defendant companies.

While the order may at first seem unusual, Facebook messaging worked here in large part due to its strong similarity to email. Furthermore, several circumstances made these Facebook accounts particularly likely to belong to the correct defendants. On the one hand, service via Facebook may be a reflection of the law catching-up with how people communicate.

On the other hand, it perhaps opens the door to the argument that other social networks should be utilized for service on hard to reach defendants. It is an interesting thought to ponder, though we may not see sepia-toned service on Instagram or service in 140 characters on Twitter anytime soon.

Attorney and author Charles Jerome Ware, inter alia, is former legal and microeconomic counsel to the Chairman of the U.S. Federal Trade Commission, Washington, D.C.

[Federal Trade Commission (FTC) v. PCCase247, Inc., Case No. 12 CIV7189, FTC File No. 1223243 (10-3-2012); New York Law Journal, March 15, 2013/ "Federal Trade Commision's Service of India-Based Defendants by Email, Facebook Approved", www.newyorklawjournal.com/PubArticle/03-15-2013].

BALTIMORE LEAD PAINT SEMINAR: FEATURING DEFENSE ATTORNEY EXPERT CHARLES JEROME WARE, www.CharlesJeromeWare.com

Topic of Seminar: "Lead Paint Defense 101".

Date of Seminar: Friday, April 12th, 2013.

Location of Seminar: Boca Raton Resort & Club
501 East Camino Real
Boca Raton, Florida 33432
Featured Speaker: Charles Jerome Ware
Attorney and Author
Baltimore, Maryland


The national law firm of Charles Jerome Ware, P.A., Attorneys and Counsellors, is one of Maryland's premier lead paint defense firms.

Along with its expertise in lead paint defense work, the firm is very highly regarded in the areas of criminal defense and civil litigation, medical malpractice and wrongful death, personal injury and transactional legal matters.

Attorney Charles Jerome Ware is renowned and consistently ranked among the best attorneys and legal counsellors in the United States. [GQ Magazine, The Washington Post, The Baltimore Sun, The Columbia Flier, USA TODAY, The Howard County Sun, The Anniston Star, The New York Times, et al.]

The national law firm of Charles Jerome Ware, P.A., Attorneys and Counsellors is: "Still working. Still committed. Still here to make a difference."

Lead paint lawsuits by tenants against landlords have increased during the past few years as the public has become more aware of the dangers created by lead paint.

Lawyers who represent injured children or residential landlords should investigate the facts to determine the identity of potentially liable defendants, the cause or causes of the injury, the potential defenses to the claim, which experts to utilize, and the different types of damages available in the case.

How Much in Damages Can Be Expected?

Damages recoverable in lead paint suits are similar to those recoverable in other types of personal injury litigations: loss of earning capacity, medical expenses, and pain and suffering. Parents may have a claim for loss of consortium in some jurisdictions. Also, some jurisdictions allow for the recovery of punitive damages if the facts of the case establish the elements for the award.

The largest dollar claim for damages generally falls under the category of vocational limitations.

In most cases, plaintiffs allege that the exposed child will be restricted in vocational options as an adult due to irreversible injuries caused by the exposure to lead that permanently disable the affected child. As a result, the child's earning capacity as an adult will be diminished.

In an attempt to mitigate loss of earning capacity damages, defendants may present evidence that the parents possess modest or below-average intelligence, together with expert testimony that children usually exhibit a level of intelligence that mirrors their parents.

The assessment by the defendant on vocational damages may focus on the child's home environment and the parents' child-rearing practices. These factors may strongly affect a child's cognitive behavior and development.

Defense counsel may argue that it is better to assess a child's future earning capacity on familial elements rather than on lead exposure.

Maryland Lead Law
Maryland Environmental Article 6-8 - "The Lead Poisoning Prevention Program" Statute

Maryland Environmental Article 6-8, also referred to as Maryland Housing Bill 760, "The Lead Poisoning Prevention Program" statute, was signed into law in May 1994 and became fully effective on February 24, 1996.

The law is intended to make all privately owned pre-1950 rental housing units safer for children, while also helping rental property owners and managers to avoid costly lead poisoning litigation by complying with specific lead hazard reduction measures or a dust testing procedure set forth in the statute. This statutory provision applies to all such housing units and, at an owner's option, to rental units built after 1949.

In essence, the law sharply limits the rights of children and their representatives to traditional tort damages for lead poisoning, provided that: (1) the property owner has satisfied certain housing unit registration requirements; and (2) the unit has either passed lead dust tests or undergone a set of "risk reduction measures" which must be verified by an independent, certified third party who performs a visual inspection When the unit meets this standard, the owner is entitled to a limited tort immunity.

However, if a child living in the unit develops an elevated blood lead level which exceeds 20 micrograms of lead per deciliter of blood, the owner has the option of making a "qualified offer" to the child and his or her legal representative.

A qualified offer is, in effect, a settlement of that child's potential lead poisoning claim and provides remedial compensation.

Under the provisions established in House Bill 760 for the qualified offer, the owner and his or her insurance company would: (1) offer to relocate the child's family to a housing unit that has been certified as "lead-safe," including payment of a rent differential if the "lead-safe" unit rents at a higher monthly rate; and (2) pay for any necessary medical treatment to mitigate the effects of lead poisoning when the treatment is not covered by a health insurance plan or public medical assistance.

Relocation expenses are payable until the poisoned child reaches age six, subject to a $9,500 cap. Out-of-pocket medical expenses are payable until the poisoned child reaches the age of 18, subject to a $7,500 cap.

Since a major reason for enacting House Bill 760 was the widespread and routine application of lead liability exclusions in general liability policies covering rental housing units, the statute adds provisions to the Maryland Insurance Code which limit the circumstances under which these exclusions would be effective. Therefore, access to insurance and limited liability are the primary incentives or benefits to owners of pre-1950 units who meet the statutory risk reduction standards. Additionally, the systematic reduction of lead-based paint hazards in these older units is meant to be the primary means for preventing lead poisoning in the state.

In summary, Maryland House Bill 760 takes on some of the most difficult public health, housing and liability issues posed by childhood lead poisoning to provide a measure of safety for children and a relief from the threat of litigation for rental property owners.
Jackson, et al. v. The Dackman Company, et al.
No. 131, September Term 2008 (Md. Oct. 24, 2011)
On October 24, 2011, the Maryland Court of Appeals in Jackson v. Dackman, struck down as invalid a statutory provision in Maryland’s Reduction of Lead Risk in Housing Act (“Act”) that provided immunity from liability to landlords if: (1) they achieved full compliance with certain requirements under the Act including registration and timely renewal of rental properties constructed prior to 1950; compliance with applicable risk reduction and response standards; and compliance with notice requirements to tenants; and (2) they had opportunity to make a qualified offer of up to $17,000 for reasonable relocation and medical expenses.

In light of the Dackman decision, landlords have found themselves facing a great deal of uncertainty and many are concerned that they may now be potentially exposed to huge liability claims, even if they previously had been fully compliant with the Act’s provisions.

Charles Jerome Ware, P.A., Attorneys and Counsellors can provide winning defense representation for:
  1. Defense of Lead Paint Cases
  2. Asset Protection

    and can assist lead paint insurance carriers and claims representatives with:
  3. Defense of Lead Paint Cases
  4. Presentations on Maryland’s Evolving Lead Paint Laws

Comparing State and Federal Laws

Federal and state laws address lead poisoning issues in slightly different ways. A shared feature is that each law requires that specific information be given to current and new tenants. Both Federal and Maryland law require landlords to give to each tenant the pamphlet “Protect Your Family from Lead in Your Home”. Maryland law also requires distribution by landlords of an additional pamphlet entitled “Lead Poisoning Prevention - Notice of Tenants’ Rights”.

For detailed information about the federal law and how to obtain copies of the federally mandated pamphlet, call the National Lead Clearinghouse at 1-800-424-LEAD (5323) or the Coalition to End Childhood Lead Poisoning at 410-534-6447.

Additionally, for detailed information about the Maryland law and how to obtain copies of the state-mandated “Notice of Tenants’ Rights” call the Maryland Lead Poisoning Hotline at 1-800-776-2706, or TDD (410) 631-3009, or the Coalition to End Childhood Lead Poisoning at 800-370-LEAD.

Maryland Lead Poisoning Prevention Program

In 1994 the General Assembly established the Lead Poisoning Prevention Program for the purpose of reducing the incidence of childhood lead poisoning while maintaining the stock of affordable rental housing. This program requires owners of older residential rental properties to meet certain risk reduction standards. It also provides more affordable insurance and the protection of limited liability for owners who comply. It is administered by the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE). For more information call the Lead Poisoning Hotline at 1-800-776-2706, or TDD (410) 631-3009. Read the Law: MD Code, Environment § 6-801- 6-852; Article 48A, Secs. 734-737; Real Prop. § 8-208.2

Following is a summary of the law:

The owners of all rental dwelling units built before 1950 must comply with this law. Owners of units built between 1950 and 1978 may choose to comply and thus benefit from limited liability.

The law exempts rental units owned or operated by federal, state, or local government or by a public, quasi-public, or municipal corporation, provided the property is subject to standards that are at least as strict as the standards established by this law.

[www.nchh.org/Policy/MarylandLeadLaw; www.pklaw.com/lead paint defense; www.peoples-law.org/Lead Paint in Maryland; articles.baltimoresun.com/2010-12-02/health/bs-md-rockind-appeal; www.mde.state.md.us/programs/ Lead Poisoning Prevention/Pages/Programs/Land Program/Lead Coordination/index.aspx; www.americanbar.org/newsletter (Spring 1997)]

Friday, April 5, 2013

Charles Jerome Ware's Quote of the Day

"Hope is necessary in every condition."
- Samuel Johnson

THE 9 DEAD "SCOTTSBORO BOYS" MAY GET ALABAMA PARDON

www.CharlesJeromeWare.com ("We fight. You win.")

Too little, too late?

Alabama lawmakers on Thursday, April 4th, 2013 voted to issue posthumous pardons to the 9 black teenage boys who were wrongly convicted by all-white juries of allegedly raping two white women more than 80 years ago in racist and segregated Alabama.

Not only were the juries stacked with racist whites, all of the prosecution witnesses committed perjury against the nine Black teenagers who eventually became known as the "Scottsboro Boys" because they were arrested and railroaded in the Scottsboro, Alabama area.

The bill setting up a procedure to pardon the group, known as the "Scottsboro Boys", must be signed by Gov. Robert Bentley to become law. He plans to study the legislation but has said he favors the pardons.

All but the youngest of the group, whose ages ranged from 13 to 19, were sent to death row after their convictions by all-white juries, though all were eventually freed.

The case became synonymous with racial injustice and set important legal precedents, including Supreme Court rulings guaranteeing the right to effective counsel and barring the practice of keeping blacks off juror rolls.

The last of the men died in 1989.

[topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/Friday, April 5, 2013; Associated Press (AP)/4-5-2013/"Alabama: Bill Pardoning Scottsboro Boys Passes"]

BALTIMORE LEAD DEFENSE ATTORNEY FEATURED: Charles Jerome Ware, www.CharlesJeromeWare.com

Topic of Seminar: "Lead Paint Defense 101".

Date of Seminar: Friday, April 12th, 2013.

Location of Seminar: Boca Raton Resort & Club
501 East Camino Real
Boca Raton, Florida 33432
Featured Speaker: Charles Jerome Ware
Attorney and Author
Baltimore, Maryland


The national law firm of Charles Jerome Ware, P.A., Attorneys and Counsellors, is one of Maryland's premier lead paint defense firms.

Along with its expertise in lead paint defense work, the firm is very highly regarded in the areas of criminal defense and civil litigation, medical malpractice and wrongful death, personal injury and transactional legal matters.

Attorney Charles Jerome Ware is renowned and consistently ranked among the best attorneys and legal counsellors in the United States. [GQ Magazine, The Washington Post, The Baltimore Sun, The Columbia Flier, USA TODAY, The Howard County Sun, The Anniston Star, The New York Times, et al.]

The national law firm of Charles Jerome Ware, P.A., Attorneys and Counsellors is: "Still working. Still committed. Still here to make a difference."

Lead paint lawsuits by tenants against landlords have increased during the past few years as the public has become more aware of the dangers created by lead paint.

Lawyers who represent injured children or residential landlords should investigate the facts to determine the identity of potentially liable defendants, the cause or causes of the injury, the potential defenses to the claim, which experts to utilize, and the different types of damages available in the case.

How Much in Damages Can Be Expected?

Damages recoverable in lead paint suits are similar to those recoverable in other types of personal injury litigations: loss of earning capacity, medical expenses, and pain and suffering. Parents may have a claim for loss of consortium in some jurisdictions. Also, some jurisdictions allow for the recovery of punitive damages if the facts of the case establish the elements for the award.

The largest dollar claim for damages generally falls under the category of vocational limitations.

In most cases, plaintiffs allege that the exposed child will be restricted in vocational options as an adult due to irreversible injuries caused by the exposure to lead that permanently disable the affected child. As a result, the child's earning capacity as an adult will be diminished.

In an attempt to mitigate loss of earning capacity damages, defendants may present evidence that the parents possess modest or below-average intelligence, together with expert testimony that children usually exhibit a level of intelligence that mirrors their parents.

The assessment by the defendant on vocational damages may focus on the child's home environment and the parents' child-rearing practices. These factors may strongly affect a child's cognitive behavior and development.

Defense counsel may argue that it is better to assess a child's future earning capacity on familial elements rather than on lead exposure.

Maryland Lead Law
Maryland Environmental Article 6-8 - "The Lead Poisoning Prevention Program" Statute

Maryland Environmental Article 6-8, also referred to as Maryland Housing Bill 760, "The Lead Poisoning Prevention Program" statute, was signed into law in May 1994 and became fully effective on February 24, 1996.

The law is intended to make all privately owned pre-1950 rental housing units safer for children, while also helping rental property owners and managers to avoid costly lead poisoning litigation by complying with specific lead hazard reduction measures or a dust testing procedure set forth in the statute. This statutory provision applies to all such housing units and, at an owner's option, to rental units built after 1949.

In essence, the law sharply limits the rights of children and their representatives to traditional tort damages for lead poisoning, provided that: (1) the property owner has satisfied certain housing unit registration requirements; and (2) the unit has either passed lead dust tests or undergone a set of "risk reduction measures" which must be verified by an independent, certified third party who performs a visual inspection When the unit meets this standard, the owner is entitled to a limited tort immunity.

However, if a child living in the unit develops an elevated blood lead level which exceeds 20 micrograms of lead per deciliter of blood, the owner has the option of making a "qualified offer" to the child and his or her legal representative.

A qualified offer is, in effect, a settlement of that child's potential lead poisoning claim and provides remedial compensation.

Under the provisions established in House Bill 760 for the qualified offer, the owner and his or her insurance company would: (1) offer to relocate the child's family to a housing unit that has been certified as "lead-safe," including payment of a rent differential if the "lead-safe" unit rents at a higher monthly rate; and (2) pay for any necessary medical treatment to mitigate the effects of lead poisoning when the treatment is not covered by a health insurance plan or public medical assistance.

Relocation expenses are payable until the poisoned child reaches age six, subject to a $9,500 cap. Out-of-pocket medical expenses are payable until the poisoned child reaches the age of 18, subject to a $7,500 cap.

Since a major reason for enacting House Bill 760 was the widespread and routine application of lead liability exclusions in general liability policies covering rental housing units, the statute adds provisions to the Maryland Insurance Code which limit the circumstances under which these exclusions would be effective. Therefore, access to insurance and limited liability are the primary incentives or benefits to owners of pre-1950 units who meet the statutory risk reduction standards. Additionally, the systematic reduction of lead-based paint hazards in these older units is meant to be the primary means for preventing lead poisoning in the state.

In summary, Maryland House Bill 760 takes on some of the most difficult public health, housing and liability issues posed by childhood lead poisoning to provide a measure of safety for children and a relief from the threat of litigation for rental property owners.
Jackson, et al. v. The Dackman Company, et al.
No. 131, September Term 2008 (Md. Oct. 24, 2011)
On October 24, 2011, the Maryland Court of Appeals in Jackson v. Dackman, struck down as invalid a statutory provision in Maryland’s Reduction of Lead Risk in Housing Act (“Act”) that provided immunity from liability to landlords if: (1) they achieved full compliance with certain requirements under the Act including registration and timely renewal of rental properties constructed prior to 1950; compliance with applicable risk reduction and response standards; and compliance with notice requirements to tenants; and (2) they had opportunity to make a qualified offer of up to $17,000 for reasonable relocation and medical expenses.

In light of the Dackman decision, landlords have found themselves facing a great deal of uncertainty and many are concerned that they may now be potentially exposed to huge liability claims, even if they previously had been fully compliant with the Act’s provisions.

Charles Jerome Ware, P.A., Attorneys and Counsellors can provide winning defense representation for:
  1. Defense of Lead Paint Cases
  2. Asset Protection

    and can assist lead paint insurance carriers and claims representatives with:
  3. Defense of Lead Paint Cases
  4. Presentations on Maryland’s Evolving Lead Paint Laws

Comparing State and Federal Laws

Federal and state laws address lead poisoning issues in slightly different ways. A shared feature is that each law requires that specific information be given to current and new tenants. Both Federal and Maryland law require landlords to give to each tenant the pamphlet “Protect Your Family from Lead in Your Home”. Maryland law also requires distribution by landlords of an additional pamphlet entitled “Lead Poisoning Prevention - Notice of Tenants’ Rights”.

For detailed information about the federal law and how to obtain copies of the federally mandated pamphlet, call the National Lead Clearinghouse at 1-800-424-LEAD (5323) or the Coalition to End Childhood Lead Poisoning at 410-534-6447.

Additionally, for detailed information about the Maryland law and how to obtain copies of the state-mandated “Notice of Tenants’ Rights” call the Maryland Lead Poisoning Hotline at 1-800-776-2706, or TDD (410) 631-3009, or the Coalition to End Childhood Lead Poisoning at 800-370-LEAD.

Maryland Lead Poisoning Prevention Program

In 1994 the General Assembly established the Lead Poisoning Prevention Program for the purpose of reducing the incidence of childhood lead poisoning while maintaining the stock of affordable rental housing. This program requires owners of older residential rental properties to meet certain risk reduction standards. It also provides more affordable insurance and the protection of limited liability for owners who comply. It is administered by the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE). For more information call the Lead Poisoning Hotline at 1-800-776-2706, or TDD (410) 631-3009. Read the Law: MD Code, Environment § 6-801- 6-852; Article 48A, Secs. 734-737; Real Prop. § 8-208.2

Following is a summary of the law:

The owners of all rental dwelling units built before 1950 must comply with this law. Owners of units built between 1950 and 1978 may choose to comply and thus benefit from limited liability.

The law exempts rental units owned or operated by federal, state, or local government or by a public, quasi-public, or municipal corporation, provided the property is subject to standards that are at least as strict as the standards established by this law.

[www.nchh.org/Policy/MarylandLeadLaw; www.pklaw.com/lead paint defense; www.peoples-law.org/Lead Paint in Maryland; articles.baltimoresun.com/2010-12-02/health/bs-md-rockind-appeal; www.mde.state.md.us/programs/ Lead Poisoning Prevention/Pages/Programs/Land Program/Lead Coordination/index.aspx; www.americanbar.org/newsletter (Spring 1997)]

Thursday, April 4, 2013

LEAD PAINT CASE NATIONAL SEMINAR: FEATURING BALTIMORE ATTORNEY EXPERT CHARLES JEROME WARE, www.CharlesJeromeWare.com

Topic of Seminar: "Lead Paint Defense 101".

Date of Seminar: Friday, April 12th, 2013.

Location of Seminar: Boca Raton Resort & Club
501 East Camino Real
Boca Raton, Florida 33432
Featured Speaker: Charles Jerome Ware
Attorney and Author
Baltimore, Maryland


The national law firm of Charles Jerome Ware, P.A., Attorneys and Counsellors, is one of Maryland's premier lead paint defense firms.

Along with its expertise in lead paint defense work, the firm is very highly regarded in the areas of criminal defense and civil litigation, medical malpractice and wrongful death, personal injury and transactional legal matters.

Attorney Charles Jerome Ware is renowned and consistently ranked among the best attorneys and legal counsellors in the United States. [GQ Magazine, The Washington Post, The Baltimore Sun, The Columbia Flier, USA TODAY, The Howard County Sun, The Anniston Star, The New York Times, et al.]

The national law firm of Charles Jerome Ware, P.A., Attorneys and Counsellors is: "Still working. Still committed. Still here to make a difference."

Lead paint lawsuits by tenants against landlords have increased during the past few years as the public has become more aware of the dangers created by lead paint.

Lawyers who represent injured children or residential landlords should investigate the facts to determine the identity of potentially liable defendants, the cause or causes of the injury, the potential defenses to the claim, which experts to utilize, and the different types of damages available in the case.

How Much in Damages Can Be Expected?

Damages recoverable in lead paint suits are similar to those recoverable in other types of personal injury litigations: loss of earning capacity, medical expenses, and pain and suffering. Parents may have a claim for loss of consortium in some jurisdictions. Also, some jurisdictions allow for the recovery of punitive damages if the facts of the case establish the elements for the award.

The largest dollar claim for damages generally falls under the category of vocational limitations.

In most cases, plaintiffs allege that the exposed child will be restricted in vocational options as an adult due to irreversible injuries caused by the exposure to lead that permanently disable the affected child. As a result, the child's earning capacity as an adult will be diminished.

In an attempt to mitigate loss of earning capacity damages, defendants may present evidence that the parents possess modest or below-average intelligence, together with expert testimony that children usually exhibit a level of intelligence that mirrors their parents.

The assessment by the defendant on vocational damages may focus on the child's home environment and the parents' child-rearing practices. These factors may strongly affect a child's cognitive behavior and development.

Defense counsel may argue that it is better to assess a child's future earning capacity on familial elements rather than on lead exposure.

Maryland Lead Law
Maryland Environmental Article 6-8 - "The Lead Poisoning Prevention Program" Statute

Maryland Environmental Article 6-8, also referred to as Maryland Housing Bill 760, "The Lead Poisoning Prevention Program" statute, was signed into law in May 1994 and became fully effective on February 24, 1996.

The law is intended to make all privately owned pre-1950 rental housing units safer for children, while also helping rental property owners and managers to avoid costly lead poisoning litigation by complying with specific lead hazard reduction measures or a dust testing procedure set forth in the statute. This statutory provision applies to all such housing units and, at an owner's option, to rental units built after 1949.

In essence, the law sharply limits the rights of children and their representatives to traditional tort damages for lead poisoning, provided that: (1) the property owner has satisfied certain housing unit registration requirements; and (2) the unit has either passed lead dust tests or undergone a set of "risk reduction measures" which must be verified by an independent, certified third party who performs a visual inspection When the unit meets this standard, the owner is entitled to a limited tort immunity.

However, if a child living in the unit develops an elevated blood lead level which exceeds 20 micrograms of lead per deciliter of blood, the owner has the option of making a "qualified offer" to the child and his or her legal representative.

A qualified offer is, in effect, a settlement of that child's potential lead poisoning claim and provides remedial compensation.

Under the provisions established in House Bill 760 for the qualified offer, the owner and his or her insurance company would: (1) offer to relocate the child's family to a housing unit that has been certified as "lead-safe," including payment of a rent differential if the "lead-safe" unit rents at a higher monthly rate; and (2) pay for any necessary medical treatment to mitigate the effects of lead poisoning when the treatment is not covered by a health insurance plan or public medical assistance.

Relocation expenses are payable until the poisoned child reaches age six, subject to a $9,500 cap. Out-of-pocket medical expenses are payable until the poisoned child reaches the age of 18, subject to a $7,500 cap.

Since a major reason for enacting House Bill 760 was the widespread and routine application of lead liability exclusions in general liability policies covering rental housing units, the statute adds provisions to the Maryland Insurance Code which limit the circumstances under which these exclusions would be effective. Therefore, access to insurance and limited liability are the primary incentives or benefits to owners of pre-1950 units who meet the statutory risk reduction standards. Additionally, the systematic reduction of lead-based paint hazards in these older units is meant to be the primary means for preventing lead poisoning in the state.

In summary, Maryland House Bill 760 takes on some of the most difficult public health, housing and liability issues posed by childhood lead poisoning to provide a measure of safety for children and a relief from the threat of litigation for rental property owners.
Jackson, et al. v. The Dackman Company, et al.
No. 131, September Term 2008 (Md. Oct. 24, 2011)
On October 24, 2011, the Maryland Court of Appeals in Jackson v. Dackman, struck down as invalid a statutory provision in Maryland’s Reduction of Lead Risk in Housing Act (“Act”) that provided immunity from liability to landlords if: (1) they achieved full compliance with certain requirements under the Act including registration and timely renewal of rental properties constructed prior to 1950; compliance with applicable risk reduction and response standards; and compliance with notice requirements to tenants; and (2) they had opportunity to make a qualified offer of up to $17,000 for reasonable relocation and medical expenses.

In light of the Dackman decision, landlords have found themselves facing a great deal of uncertainty and many are concerned that they may now be potentially exposed to huge liability claims, even if they previously had been fully compliant with the Act’s provisions.

Charles Jerome Ware, P.A., Attorneys and Counsellors can provide winning defense representation for:
  1. Defense of Lead Paint Cases
  2. Asset Protection

    and can assist lead paint insurance carriers and claims representatives with:
  3. Defense of Lead Paint Cases
  4. Presentations on Maryland’s Evolving Lead Paint Laws

Comparing State and Federal Laws

Federal and state laws address lead poisoning issues in slightly different ways. A shared feature is that each law requires that specific information be given to current and new tenants. Both Federal and Maryland law require landlords to give to each tenant the pamphlet “Protect Your Family from Lead in Your Home”. Maryland law also requires distribution by landlords of an additional pamphlet entitled “Lead Poisoning Prevention - Notice of Tenants’ Rights”.

For detailed information about the federal law and how to obtain copies of the federally mandated pamphlet, call the National Lead Clearinghouse at 1-800-424-LEAD (5323) or the Coalition to End Childhood Lead Poisoning at 410-534-6447.

Additionally, for detailed information about the Maryland law and how to obtain copies of the state-mandated “Notice of Tenants’ Rights” call the Maryland Lead Poisoning Hotline at 1-800-776-2706, or TDD (410) 631-3009, or the Coalition to End Childhood Lead Poisoning at 800-370-LEAD.

Maryland Lead Poisoning Prevention Program

In 1994 the General Assembly established the Lead Poisoning Prevention Program for the purpose of reducing the incidence of childhood lead poisoning while maintaining the stock of affordable rental housing. This program requires owners of older residential rental properties to meet certain risk reduction standards. It also provides more affordable insurance and the protection of limited liability for owners who comply. It is administered by the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE). For more information call the Lead Poisoning Hotline at 1-800-776-2706, or TDD (410) 631-3009. Read the Law: MD Code, Environment § 6-801- 6-852; Article 48A, Secs. 734-737; Real Prop. § 8-208.2

Following is a summary of the law:

The owners of all rental dwelling units built before 1950 must comply with this law. Owners of units built between 1950 and 1978 may choose to comply and thus benefit from limited liability.

The law exempts rental units owned or operated by federal, state, or local government or by a public, quasi-public, or municipal corporation, provided the property is subject to standards that are at least as strict as the standards established by this law.

[www.nchh.org/Policy/MarylandLeadLaw; www.pklaw.com/lead paint defense; www.peoples-law.org/Lead Paint in Maryland; articles.baltimoresun.com/2010-12-02/health/bs-md-rockind-appeal; www.mde.state.md.us/programs/ Lead Poisoning Prevention/Pages/Programs/Land Program/Lead Coordination/index.aspx; www.americanbar.org/newsletter (Spring 1997)]

EXONERATED RAPE CONVICT JOINS NFL: Congratulations and Best Wishes to Brian Banks!

Brian Bank, the 27-year old former high school football star who served five years in the California prison system for a rape he did not commit, has signed an NFL contact to play for the Atlanta Falcons professional football franchise team.

Ten months after a California judge tossed out his conviction, the 27-year-old former high school football standout signed a deal Wednesday to play for the NFL team.

"Aside from getting my life back and my freedom back, this is the biggest accomplishment of my life," he told reporters during a conference call.

As he signed the contract, he wore a sweatshirt that showed a California license plate that said "XONR8."

Banks, who is 6-foot-2 and 250 pounds, is a linebacker.

A year ago, he was out of prison on parole, wearing an ankle monitor as a registered sex offender. The contrast with this week's events is "surreal," Banks said.

While serving time in prison, Banks said he was forced to abandon his hopes of playing in the NFL someday.

"I had to watch my class go on and receive scholarships and play collegiate football on a high level," he said. "For me I had to let those dreams go for me to focus on what was ahead of me, and that was five years in prison. That was a completely different life of violence and being away from your family. ... Football was the last thing on my mind, and it wasn't until a few months before I was actually being released from prison that I thought about possibly trying to play football again."

At age 17, fearing a potentially long sentence, the college football prospect followed the advice of his attorney and pleaded no contest to assaulting a Long Beach, California, high school classmate in 2002.

"Banks was faced with an impossible decision at the time -- either fight the charges and risk spending 41 years to life in prison, or take a plea deal and spend a little over five years of actual prison confinement," the California Innocence Project says on its website. "Although it would mean destroying his chance to go to college and play football, a lengthy probationary period, and a lifetime of registration as a sex offender, Banks chose the lesser of two evils when he pleaded no contest to the charges."

Such situations are not uncommon, the group's director, Justin Brooks, told CNN last year.
"Plea bargains have become the 95% solution," he said.

Banks maintained his innocence throughout his imprisonment, subsequent probation and registration as a sex offender.

His fortunes began to change in 2011, when the woman who once accused him of rape sent him a Facebook friend request.

According to the California Innocence Project, the woman later admitted that Banks had not kidnapped or raped her during a consensual encounter at Long Beach Polytechnic High School, where Banks was a middle linebacker with a scholarship offer from the University of Southern California.

"We do not believe Mr. Banks did the crime he pled guilty to," Deputy District Attorney Brentford Ferreira said. "Justice has been served."

Since his exoneration, Banks has spent months in intensive training, attending San Francisco 49ers and Seattle Seahawks minicamps last year.

"It's been a long road. It's been a lot of hard work. It is 10 years missing in my football career," he said, "but there has been a lot of work put in to making up for it."

After signing his contract with the Falcons on Wednesday, Banks thanked the team's players and personnel from his Twitter account, @BrianBanksFREE.

Our congratulations and best wishes to Brian Banks!

[www.cnn.com/04-03-2013/US/ "Exonerated Brian Banks Signs With Atlanta Falcons"]

LEAD PAINT DEFENSE NATIONAL SEMINAR: FEATURING BALTIMORE ATTORNEY EXPERT CHARLES JEROME WARE, www.CharlesJeromeWare.com

Topic of Seminar: "Lead Paint Defense 101".

Date of Seminar: Friday, April 12th, 2013.

Location of Seminar: Boca Raton Resort & Club
501 East Camino Real
Boca Raton, Florida 33432
Featured Speaker: Charles Jerome Ware
Attorney and Author
Baltimore, Maryland


The national law firm of Charles Jerome Ware, P.A., Attorneys and Counsellors, is one of Maryland's premier lead paint defense firms.

Along with its expertise in lead paint defense work, the firm is very highly regarded in the areas of criminal defense and civil litigation, medical malpractice and wrongful death, personal injury and transactional legal matters.

Attorney Charles Jerome Ware is renowned and consistently ranked among the best attorneys and legal counsellors in the United States. [GQ Magazine, The Washington Post, The Baltimore Sun, The Columbia Flier, USA TODAY, The Howard County Sun, The Anniston Star, The New York Times, et al.]

The national law firm of Charles Jerome Ware, P.A., Attorneys and Counsellors is: "Still working. Still committed. Still here to make a difference."

Lead paint lawsuits by tenants against landlords have increased during the past few years as the public has become more aware of the dangers created by lead paint.

Lawyers who represent injured children or residential landlords should investigate the facts to determine the identity of potentially liable defendants, the cause or causes of the injury, the potential defenses to the claim, which experts to utilize, and the different types of damages available in the case.

How Much in Damages Can Be Expected?

Damages recoverable in lead paint suits are similar to those recoverable in other types of personal injury litigations: loss of earning capacity, medical expenses, and pain and suffering. Parents may have a claim for loss of consortium in some jurisdictions. Also, some jurisdictions allow for the recovery of punitive damages if the facts of the case establish the elements for the award.

The largest dollar claim for damages generally falls under the category of vocational limitations.

In most cases, plaintiffs allege that the exposed child will be restricted in vocational options as an adult due to irreversible injuries caused by the exposure to lead that permanently disable the affected child. As a result, the child's earning capacity as an adult will be diminished.

In an attempt to mitigate loss of earning capacity damages, defendants may present evidence that the parents possess modest or below-average intelligence, together with expert testimony that children usually exhibit a level of intelligence that mirrors their parents.

The assessment by the defendant on vocational damages may focus on the child's home environment and the parents' child-rearing practices. These factors may strongly affect a child's cognitive behavior and development.

Defense counsel may argue that it is better to assess a child's future earning capacity on familial elements rather than on lead exposure.

Maryland Lead Law
Maryland Environmental Article 6-8 - "The Lead Poisoning Prevention Program" Statute

Maryland Environmental Article 6-8, also referred to as Maryland Housing Bill 760, "The Lead Poisoning Prevention Program" statute, was signed into law in May 1994 and became fully effective on February 24, 1996.

The law is intended to make all privately owned pre-1950 rental housing units safer for children, while also helping rental property owners and managers to avoid costly lead poisoning litigation by complying with specific lead hazard reduction measures or a dust testing procedure set forth in the statute. This statutory provision applies to all such housing units and, at an owner's option, to rental units built after 1949.

In essence, the law sharply limits the rights of children and their representatives to traditional tort damages for lead poisoning, provided that: (1) the property owner has satisfied certain housing unit registration requirements; and (2) the unit has either passed lead dust tests or undergone a set of "risk reduction measures" which must be verified by an independent, certified third party who performs a visual inspection When the unit meets this standard, the owner is entitled to a limited tort immunity.

However, if a child living in the unit develops an elevated blood lead level which exceeds 20 micrograms of lead per deciliter of blood, the owner has the option of making a "qualified offer" to the child and his or her legal representative.

A qualified offer is, in effect, a settlement of that child's potential lead poisoning claim and provides remedial compensation.

Under the provisions established in House Bill 760 for the qualified offer, the owner and his or her insurance company would: (1) offer to relocate the child's family to a housing unit that has been certified as "lead-safe," including payment of a rent differential if the "lead-safe" unit rents at a higher monthly rate; and (2) pay for any necessary medical treatment to mitigate the effects of lead poisoning when the treatment is not covered by a health insurance plan or public medical assistance.

Relocation expenses are payable until the poisoned child reaches age six, subject to a $9,500 cap. Out-of-pocket medical expenses are payable until the poisoned child reaches the age of 18, subject to a $7,500 cap.

Since a major reason for enacting House Bill 760 was the widespread and routine application of lead liability exclusions in general liability policies covering rental housing units, the statute adds provisions to the Maryland Insurance Code which limit the circumstances under which these exclusions would be effective. Therefore, access to insurance and limited liability are the primary incentives or benefits to owners of pre-1950 units who meet the statutory risk reduction standards. Additionally, the systematic reduction of lead-based paint hazards in these older units is meant to be the primary means for preventing lead poisoning in the state.

In summary, Maryland House Bill 760 takes on some of the most difficult public health, housing and liability issues posed by childhood lead poisoning to provide a measure of safety for children and a relief from the threat of litigation for rental property owners.
Jackson, et al. v. The Dackman Company, et al.
No. 131, September Term 2008 (Md. Oct. 24, 2011)
On October 24, 2011, the Maryland Court of Appeals in Jackson v. Dackman, struck down as invalid a statutory provision in Maryland’s Reduction of Lead Risk in Housing Act (“Act”) that provided immunity from liability to landlords if: (1) they achieved full compliance with certain requirements under the Act including registration and timely renewal of rental properties constructed prior to 1950; compliance with applicable risk reduction and response standards; and compliance with notice requirements to tenants; and (2) they had opportunity to make a qualified offer of up to $17,000 for reasonable relocation and medical expenses.

In light of the Dackman decision, landlords have found themselves facing a great deal of uncertainty and many are concerned that they may now be potentially exposed to huge liability claims, even if they previously had been fully compliant with the Act’s provisions.

Charles Jerome Ware, P.A., Attorneys and Counsellors can provide winning defense representation for:
  1. Defense of Lead Paint Cases
  2. Asset Protection

    and can assist lead paint insurance carriers and claims representatives with:
  3. Defense of Lead Paint Cases
  4. Presentations on Maryland’s Evolving Lead Paint Laws

Comparing State and Federal Laws

Federal and state laws address lead poisoning issues in slightly different ways. A shared feature is that each law requires that specific information be given to current and new tenants. Both Federal and Maryland law require landlords to give to each tenant the pamphlet “Protect Your Family from Lead in Your Home”. Maryland law also requires distribution by landlords of an additional pamphlet entitled “Lead Poisoning Prevention - Notice of Tenants’ Rights”.

For detailed information about the federal law and how to obtain copies of the federally mandated pamphlet, call the National Lead Clearinghouse at 1-800-424-LEAD (5323) or the Coalition to End Childhood Lead Poisoning at 410-534-6447.

Additionally, for detailed information about the Maryland law and how to obtain copies of the state-mandated “Notice of Tenants’ Rights” call the Maryland Lead Poisoning Hotline at 1-800-776-2706, or TDD (410) 631-3009, or the Coalition to End Childhood Lead Poisoning at 800-370-LEAD.

Maryland Lead Poisoning Prevention Program

In 1994 the General Assembly established the Lead Poisoning Prevention Program for the purpose of reducing the incidence of childhood lead poisoning while maintaining the stock of affordable rental housing. This program requires owners of older residential rental properties to meet certain risk reduction standards. It also provides more affordable insurance and the protection of limited liability for owners who comply. It is administered by the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE). For more information call the Lead Poisoning Hotline at 1-800-776-2706, or TDD (410) 631-3009. Read the Law: MD Code, Environment § 6-801- 6-852; Article 48A, Secs. 734-737; Real Prop. § 8-208.2

Following is a summary of the law:

The owners of all rental dwelling units built before 1950 must comply with this law. Owners of units built between 1950 and 1978 may choose to comply and thus benefit from limited liability.

The law exempts rental units owned or operated by federal, state, or local government or by a public, quasi-public, or municipal corporation, provided the property is subject to standards that are at least as strict as the standards established by this law.

[www.nchh.org/Policy/MarylandLeadLaw; www.pklaw.com/lead paint defense; www.peoples-law.org/Lead Paint in Maryland; articles.baltimoresun.com/2010-12-02/health/bs-md-rockind-appeal; www.mde.state.md.us/programs/ Lead Poisoning Prevention/Pages/Programs/Land Program/Lead Coordination/index.aspx; www.americanbar.org/newsletter (Spring 1997)]

Tuesday, April 2, 2013

LEAD Paint Defense Attorneys in Baltimore: Charles Jerome Ware, P.A.

The national law firm of Charles Jerome Ware, P.A., Attorneys and Counsellors, is one of Maryland's premier lead paint defense firms.

Along with its expertise in lead paint defense work, the firm is very highly regarded in the areas of criminal defense and civil litigation, medical malpractice and wrongful death, personal injury and transactional legal matters.

Attorney Charles Jerome Ware is renowned and consistently ranked among the best attorneys and legal counsellors in the United States. [GQ Magazine, The Washington Post, The Baltimore Sun, The Columbia Flier, USA TODAY, The Howard County Sun, The Anniston Star, The New York Times, et al.]

The national law firm of Charles Jerome Ware, P.A., Attorneys and Counsellors is: "Still working. Still committed. Still here to make a difference."

Lead paint lawsuits by tenants against landlords have increased during the past few years as the public has become more aware of the dangers created by lead paint.

Lawyers who represent injured children or residential landlords should investigate the facts to determine the identity of potentially liable defendants, the cause or causes of the injury, the potential defenses to the claim, which experts to utilize, and the different types of damages available in the case.

How Much in Damages Can Be Expected?

Damages recoverable in lead paint suits are similar to those recoverable in other types of personal injury litigations: loss of earning capacity, medical expenses, and pain and suffering. Parents may have a claim for loss of consortium in some jurisdictions. Also, some jurisdictions allow for the recovery of punitive damages if the facts of the case establish the elements for the award.

The largest dollar claim for damages generally falls under the category of vocational limitations.

In most cases, plaintiffs allege that the exposed child will be restricted in vocational options as an adult due to irreversible injuries caused by the exposure to lead that permanently disable the affected child. As a result, the child's earning capacity as an adult will be diminished.

In an attempt to mitigate loss of earning capacity damages, defendants may present evidence that the parents possess modest or below-average intelligence, together with expert testimony that children usually exhibit a level of intelligence that mirrors their parents.

The assessment by the defendant on vocational damages may focus on the child's home environment and the parents' child-rearing practices. These factors may strongly affect a child's cognitive behavior and development.

Defense counsel may argue that it is better to assess a child's future earning capacity on familial elements rather than on lead exposure.

Maryland Lead Law
Maryland Environmental Article 6-8 - "The Lead Poisoning Prevention Program" Statute

Maryland Environmental Article 6-8, also referred to as Maryland Housing Bill 760, "The Lead Poisoning Prevention Program" statute, was signed into law in May 1994 and became fully effective on February 24, 1996.

The law is intended to make all privately owned pre-1950 rental housing units safer for children, while also helping rental property owners and managers to avoid costly lead poisoning litigation by complying with specific lead hazard reduction measures or a dust testing procedure set forth in the statute. This statutory provision applies to all such housing units and, at an owner's option, to rental units built after 1949.

In essence, the law sharply limits the rights of children and their representatives to traditional tort damages for lead poisoning, provided that: (1) the property owner has satisfied certain housing unit registration requirements; and (2) the unit has either passed lead dust tests or undergone a set of "risk reduction measures" which must be verified by an independent, certified third party who performs a visual inspection When the unit meets this standard, the owner is entitled to a limited tort immunity.

However, if a child living in the unit develops an elevated blood lead level which exceeds 20 micrograms of lead per deciliter of blood, the owner has the option of making a "qualified offer" to the child and his or her legal representative.

A qualified offer is, in effect, a settlement of that child's potential lead poisoning claim and provides remedial compensation.

Under the provisions established in House Bill 760 for the qualified offer, the owner and his or her insurance company would: (1) offer to relocate the child's family to a housing unit that has been certified as "lead-safe," including payment of a rent differential if the "lead-safe" unit rents at a higher monthly rate; and (2) pay for any necessary medical treatment to mitigate the effects of lead poisoning when the treatment is not covered by a health insurance plan or public medical assistance.

Relocation expenses are payable until the poisoned child reaches age six, subject to a $9,500 cap. Out-of-pocket medical expenses are payable until the poisoned child reaches the age of 18, subject to a $7,500 cap.

Since a major reason for enacting House Bill 760 was the widespread and routine application of lead liability exclusions in general liability policies covering rental housing units, the statute adds provisions to the Maryland Insurance Code which limit the circumstances under which these exclusions would be effective. Therefore, access to insurance and limited liability are the primary incentives or benefits to owners of pre-1950 units who meet the statutory risk reduction standards. Additionally, the systematic reduction of lead-based paint hazards in these older units is meant to be the primary means for preventing lead poisoning in the state.

In summary, Maryland House Bill 760 takes on some of the most difficult public health, housing and liability issues posed by childhood lead poisoning to provide a measure of safety for children and a relief from the threat of litigation for rental property owners.
Jackson, et al. v. The Dackman Company, et al.
No. 131, September Term 2008 (Md. Oct. 24, 2011)
On October 24, 2011, the Maryland Court of Appeals in Jackson v. Dackman, struck down as invalid a statutory provision in Maryland’s Reduction of Lead Risk in Housing Act (“Act”) that provided immunity from liability to landlords if: (1) they achieved full compliance with certain requirements under the Act including registration and timely renewal of rental properties constructed prior to 1950; compliance with applicable risk reduction and response standards; and compliance with notice requirements to tenants; and (2) they had opportunity to make a qualified offer of up to $17,000 for reasonable relocation and medical expenses.

In light of the Dackman decision, landlords have found themselves facing a great deal of uncertainty and many are concerned that they may now be potentially exposed to huge liability claims, even if they previously had been fully compliant with the Act’s provisions.

Charles Jerome Ware, P.A., Attorneys and Counsellors can provide winning defense representation for:
  1. Defense of Lead Paint Cases
  2. Asset Protection

    and can assist lead paint insurance carriers and claims representatives with:
  3. Defense of Lead Paint Cases
  4. Presentations on Maryland’s Evolving Lead Paint Laws

Comparing State and Federal Laws

Federal and state laws address lead poisoning issues in slightly different ways. A shared feature is that each law requires that specific information be given to current and new tenants. Both Federal and Maryland law require landlords to give to each tenant the pamphlet “Protect Your Family from Lead in Your Home”. Maryland law also requires distribution by landlords of an additional pamphlet entitled “Lead Poisoning Prevention - Notice of Tenants’ Rights”.

For detailed information about the federal law and how to obtain copies of the federally mandated pamphlet, call the National Lead Clearinghouse at 1-800-424-LEAD (5323) or the Coalition to End Childhood Lead Poisoning at 410-534-6447.

Additionally, for detailed information about the Maryland law and how to obtain copies of the state-mandated “Notice of Tenants’ Rights” call the Maryland Lead Poisoning Hotline at 1-800-776-2706, or TDD (410) 631-3009, or the Coalition to End Childhood Lead Poisoning at 800-370-LEAD.

Maryland Lead Poisoning Prevention Program

In 1994 the General Assembly established the Lead Poisoning Prevention Program for the purpose of reducing the incidence of childhood lead poisoning while maintaining the stock of affordable rental housing. This program requires owners of older residential rental properties to meet certain risk reduction standards. It also provides more affordable insurance and the protection of limited liability for owners who comply. It is administered by the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE). For more information call the Lead Poisoning Hotline at 1-800-776-2706, or TDD (410) 631-3009. Read the Law: MD Code, Environment § 6-801- 6-852; Article 48A, Secs. 734-737; Real Prop. § 8-208.2

Following is a summary of the law:

The owners of all rental dwelling units built before 1950 must comply with this law. Owners of units built between 1950 and 1978 may choose to comply and thus benefit from limited liability.

The law exempts rental units owned or operated by federal, state, or local government or by a public, quasi-public, or municipal corporation, provided the property is subject to standards that are at least as strict as the standards established by this law.

[www.nchh.org/Policy/MarylandLeadLaw; www.pklaw.com/lead paint defense; www.peoples-law.org/Lead Paint in Maryland; articles.baltimoresun.com/2010-12-02/health/bs-md-rockind-appeal; www.mde.state.md.us/programs/ Lead Poisoning Prevention/Pages/Programs/Land Program/Lead Coordination/index.aspx; www.americanbar.org/newsletter (Spring 1997)]