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Recent Blog Posts
60 Days Suspended, 3 Years Supervised Probation – DUI
Attorney: Eric Bacaj
Howard County District Court
August 26-30
Probation Before Judgement, 3 Years Supervised Probation – Second-Degree Assault and DUI
Attorney: Patrick Seidel
Glen Bernie District Court
August 19-23
5 Years Suspended all but 1 Year, 2 Years Supervised Probation – Handgun on Person
Attorney: Creston Smith
Baltimore City Circuit Court
August 19-23
Supreme Court of Maryland Reiterates Important Clarification to Rules of Contract Interpretation
If you’ve litigated a contract dispute in Maryland, you’ve likely referred to the “four corners” rule, which means the reviewing court interprets a contract based on the language within the document itself. If that language is unambiguous, the terms of the agreement control regardless of the parties’ subjective intent. A court considers “parol” or extrinsic evidence (evidence outside the contract itself) only if the terms of the contract are ambiguous. This foundational rule of contract interpretation appears in many cases, so a litigator could hardly be faulted for describing it this way. See, e.g., Walton v. Mariner Health of Maryland, Inc., 391 Md. 643, 660 (2006). But, as two recent Maryland Supreme Court opinions make clear, it’s not exactly right.
In Lithko Contracting, LLC v. XL Insurance America, Inc., 2024 WL 3407452 (Md. July 15, 2024), the Court clarified that review of a contract’s language does not occur “in a vacuum,” and may include consideration of the “contract’s character, purpose, and the facts and circumstances of the parties at the time of execution.” Indeed, consideration of this “relevant context may necessarily require consultation of evidence beyond the ‘four corners.’” (Emphasis added.) What a reviewing court can’t do, absent ambiguity in the contract, is consider parol or extrinsic evidence “of the parties subjective intent.” (Emphasis added.)
Silverman Thompson Secures Four-Year Sentence Despite Maximum Sentence of Over 100 Years
Silverman Thompson attorneys Brian Thompson, Riane White, and Patrick Seidel recently scored a major victory for a married couple facing a 30-count indictment for serious felonies, including armed robbery, extortion, and use of a firearm in the commission of a crime of violence. They faced maximum sentences of over 100 years if convicted on all counts. To make matters worse, the entire incident was caught on surveillance video. Silverman Thompson represented the husband and coordinated closely with the wife’s defense team.
The facts of this case were unusual. Our client and his wife were defrauded out of over $500,000 by someone they considered a friend. The money was supposed to be used for a business investment. Instead of investing the money, their former friend used the funds for expensive vacations and luxury purchases including nine cars, two of which were valued at almost $200,000 each.
5 Years Suspended all but 18 Months to Be Served on Home Detention, 5 Years Supervised Probation – Possession of Child Pornography
Attorney: Andrew C. White
Baltimore County Circuit Court
August 12-16
Case Dismissed – Possession with the Intent to Distribute
Attorney: Creston Smith
Wabash District Court
August 12-16
10 Years all Suspended by 18 Months, 3 Years Suspended Probation – Robbery
Attorney: Creston Smith
Baltimore County Circuit Court
August 12-16
Probation Before Judgement – DUI
Attorney: Brian Thompson
Harford County District Court
August 12-16
8 Years with All Suspended but 4 Years, 3 Years Supervised Probation – Armed Robbery/Extortion
Attorney: Brian Thompson
Harford County Circuit Court
August 12-16
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Results listed are not a guarantee or indication of future case results.