Posted on August 01, 2026 in Administrative Law/Defense of Professionals

Recent Maryland news reports have shared stories of private contractors who try to evict squatters and/or unauthorized occupants of residential property through what they describe as "street justice." Tactics include removing doors or windows, towing vehicles, and otherwise trying to pressure the occupants into leaving.

For property owners, landlords and/or residential property management companies, these methods create serious legal and safety risks. Even when occupants have no legal right to be in a home or apartment, there is major risk when a property manager contracts a third party to force people out without using the legal system.

When police refuse to remove someone from a property because the person falsely claims residency or shows police a fabricated lease, the best response is usually a wrongful detainer action. A Baltimore landlord-tenant dispute attorney can help landlords and management companies decide which legal avenues are best to get back possession of your property.

Continue Reading ››

 Posted on July 21, 2026 in Estates, Trusts, Probate & Fiduciary Litigation

Edward P. Parent, Partner at Silverman Thompson, Fiduciary Litigation Practice

A sudden or unexpected change to a loved one’s will raises serious questions. Perhaps one family member received nearly everything after becoming deeply involved in the deceased person’s care. Maybe the new will was signed while the deceased person was sick, isolated, or vulnerable.

These situations do not automatically prove someone did anything wrong. However, they may support a claim that a will was created through undue influence.

Undue influence occurs when someone uses pressure or control to overcome another person’s free choice when writing a will. The final will then reflects what the influencer wanted, rather than the true wishes of the person who died.

If you are facing a case involving allegations of undue influence on a will or other part of an estate plan in 2026, speak with a Baltimore probate litigation lawyer at Silverman Thompson right away.

Continue Reading ››

 Posted on July 16, 2026 in Medical Malpractice

Hospitals don’t need to keep every patient until every symptom gets better. Still, they need to take care before sending a patient home. A hospital should review the patient’s condition, test results, and vital signs. There should be a careful assessment of the patient’s likely ability to recover safely outside the hospital.

If hospital or emergency room staff send a patient home before it’s safe and the patient is seriously hurt or dies as a result, it could be hospital malpractice. These cases are difficult, though, because a bad outcome alone doesn’t prove malpractice occurred.

Several critical questions need to be answered: Did the hospital provide the level of care that they should have? Were there clear signs that the patient needed further critical care? Did hospital staff adequately communicate with each other when discharging the patient? 

Continue Reading ››

 Posted on July 11, 2026 in Business Counseling, Litigation & Transactions

A default judgment can put a property or business at serious risk. When a defendant fails to respond to a lawsuit or appear in court on time, the court may decide the case without hearing that party’s side of the case. Depending on the dispute, the judgment could impose substantial financial liability, allow a creditor to seize assets, or even place commercial property at risk of foreclosure.

Fortunately, a default judgment is not always the end of a case. A property owner may be able to ask the court to vacate the judgment, but Virginia’s deadlines are exceptionally strict.

Silverman Thompson’s Virginia practice recently obtained an order vacating a default judgment on a mechanic’s lien action that threatened a valuable 15-story office building. Attorney Pierce Murphy was retained late in the afternoon on the twentieth day after the judgment had been entered. He quickly prepared and filed the motion the next morning, arguing that Virginia Code §43-20 does not allow a court to place a mechanic’s lien against a property owner if the owner’s tenant was the party who ordered the work giving rise to the lien, and that the resulting judgment was void.

Continue Reading ››

 Posted on July 07, 2026 in Family Law

For many parents of young children, it can feel like summer has only just begun when suddenly it’s time to start thinking about going back to school. When divorced parents share custody, back-to-school season can bring tricky questions about school supplies, extracurricular activities, parent-teacher conferences, holidays, and who is responsible for paying different expenses. Even simple issues can feel like a landmine of potential conflict.

The best way to prevent unnecessary fighting is to deal with these issues as much as you can before the school year gets going. Even with careful planning, however, disagreements about sensitive family circumstances cannot always be resolved privately.

Here are some things to consider doing before the 26-27 school year starts. Our Annapolis family law attorneys can help you understand your rights and, if necessary, provide guidance and support in potential legal options such as petitioning for a child custody modification, filing for contempt or enforcement, complying with mediation provisions, or seeking a parent coordinator.

Continue Reading ››

 Posted on July 03, 2026 in Criminal Defense

If you were arrested for assault and the other person involved has already said they do not want to move forward with pressing charges, you may wonder if it’s possible for the whole thing to just go away. Unfortunately, that is not how the law works in Maryland.

The short answer is that you can still be charged and prosecuted for assault even if the alleged victim does not want to press charges. That might feel unfair or confusing, but understanding why this happens can help you plan what to do next with clear expectations. Our criminal defense attorneys are here to help.

Who Actually Decides to Bring Assault Charges in Maryland?

In Maryland, the decision to charge someone with a crime does not belong to the alleged victim. It belongs to the State. Once police get involved, whether through a 911 call, a report at the scene, or an officer witnessing an incident, the case becomes the State's case. It’s not just a private dispute between two people anymore. The local State's Attorney's Office decides whether to file charges, even if the alleged victim doesn’t want them to.

Continue Reading ››

 Posted on June 04, 2026 in Administrative Law/Defense of Professionals

Two pieces of Maryland legislation affecting licensed professionals took effect on June 1, 2026. One significantly expands the criminal background check requirements across healthcare professions; the other preserves a different set of occupational licensing boards from sunset for another seven years. For licensed Maryland professionals across both groups, the practical consequences are immediate.

What HB1420 Does — Criminal History Records Checks for Health Occupations

HB1420 establishes and alters criminal history records check (CHRC) requirements for a broad range of health occupations boards. The bill unanimously passed the Maryland House and Senate, and took effect on June 1, 2026. The full text is available on the Maryland General Assembly’s bill detail page and the chapter text is linked here.

Continue Reading ››

 Posted on June 02, 2026 in Family Law

In the fall of 2025, Maryland passed a bill that changed how "adjusted actual income" is defined for calculating child support. This significant update affects thousands of families, making it especially important to work with a Maryland family law attorney who fully understands the new rules and can advocate for you.

All parents are responsible for supporting their children. Child support cannot be waived by either parent because the support belongs to the child—not the adults. When calculating child support, several factors are considered, including, among other things, which parent pays for health insurance, the number of overnights with each parent, work-related childcare costs, and each parent’s income.

"Actual income" includes earnings from any source—such as wages, commissions, bonuses, dividends, Social Security benefits, trust income, or disability insurance—but does not include benefits received from means‑tested public assistance programs like food stamps or temporary cash assistance. Traditionally, child support was based on each parent’s actual income minus any existing child support payments or alimony, resulting in what’s called "Adjusted Actual Income."

Continue Reading ››

 Posted on March 24, 2026 in Personal Injury

A serious aviation incident at New York’s LaGuardia Airport has left dozens of passengers injured, with many experiencing significant trauma.

According to a report by The New York Times, an Air Canada regional jet arriving from Montreal collided with a fire truck on an active runway while landing. The crash killed both pilots and injured dozens of passengers and crew members, with more than 40 individuals transported to hospitals. Some victims suffered serious injuries in the violent impact.

The aircraft, carrying over 70 passengers, struck the emergency vehicle after it had entered the runway, reportedly due to a breakdown in communication with air traffic control. Investigators are now examining whether human error, staffing shortages, or procedural failures contributed to the crash. The force of the collision caused severe damage to the front of the aircraft, and many individuals were thrown from their seats or injured during evacuation. Emergency responders transported dozens to nearby hospitals.

Continue Reading ››

 Posted on February 09, 2026 in Criminal Defense

Last month, Silverman Thompson criminal defense attorney Kurt Nachtman had a significant "Not Guilty" verdict for a client facing serious charges involving the possession of a firearm with a missing serial number. This victory serves as a vital reminder of the importance of your defense attorney’s ability to scrutinize the underlying law and associated case law in which you’ve been charged.

The Background — Firearm Possession in Maryland

In Maryland, the statutes governing firearm possession are dense and highly technical. Our client was facing a period of incarceration based on a specific provision regarding the identification marks on a handgun — or lack thereof.

This case wasn’t just about whether there was an obliterated or missing serial number; it was about the principle of legality and verbiage of laws.

Attorney Kurt Nachtman broke the statute down into its component parts and examined precisely what the State was required to prove.  Many lawyers fail to take this simple step in pretrial preparation.

Continue Reading ››