Posted on September 24, 2026 in Appeals - State & Federal

In June 2026, the Appellate Court of Maryland reversed the denial of a motion to suppress evidence obtained during a warrantless search of our client in a recent criminal matter. The decision represents an important development in Maryland search-and-seizure law, clarifying the intersection between the Second Amendment right to carry a handgun and the Fourth Amendment protections against unreasonable searches and seizures.

Creston Smith of Silverman Thompson represented our client in the Circuit Court for Baltimore City and challenged the legality of the police search. His work on the motion to suppress set the stage for the appeal that followed.

The case began in July 2023, when a Baltimore City Police detective observed the outline of a handgun through our client’s shirt. Silverman Thompson's client repeatedly informed the officers at the scene that he was legally permitted to carry a concealed weapon and offered to provide his license as proof. Despite this, the detective proceeded to conduct a Terry stop and frisk, ultimately reaching into our client's bag and pockets. The search resulted in the discovery of additional evidence that was later used against him.

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 Posted on September 21, 2026 in Criminal Defense

By Kurt Nachtman

A few months ago, I got a serious felony case dismissed by asking the State a simple set of questions: "What exactly did my client do?"

There was no suppression hearing, no three-day motions battle, no expert witnesses. Only a piece of paper that most Maryland criminal defense lawyers have forgotten about.

It's called a bill of particulars. Here is why it matters and why you need a lawyer who can strategically deploy them.

Maryland criminal defense attorneys have many tools in their legal toolbox they can use to fight criminal charges. Deciding which tool to use and when to use it takes experience, careful analysis of a case, and strategic planning.

Everyone accused of a crime wants their case dismissed, but very few have heard of this tactic. When used wisely, asking the prosecution for a bill of particulars can force the prosecution to look more carefully at a case and even convince the prosecutor that bringing a case isn’t worth it.

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 Posted on September 15, 2026 in Personal Injury

When someone we love dies, there are certain things that must be done. Planning a funeral, caring for next of kin, and handling a loved one’s belongings are sensitive matters that are handled carefully by the family.

However, there are other practical and legal matters that can feel quite grim but which must nevertheless also be dealt with. What happens to the body? When is an autopsy required? Who makes these decisions, and when do they need to be made? These questions are particularly important when we lose someone we love to a wrongful death because of someone else’s negligence.

Many Marylanders, and even experienced personal injury lawyers, are unclear of the law and policies regarding autopsies in Maryland. At Silverman Thompson, our Maryland personal injury attorneys help families answer difficult logistical questions that follow an accidental death, including questions about autopsies.

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 Posted on September 05, 2026 in Sports, Entertainment & Gaming Law

By Ira Rainess, Sports, Entertainment, and Gaming Law Attorney

If you are a student athlete getting ready to go to college, you have probably heard the term "NIL" a lot lately. NIL stands for Name, Image, and Likeness. It is a legal concept that gives athletes the right to profit from their personal brand, identity, social media presence, and even their autograph.

Although student athletes can now benefit from their NIL and negotiate contracts with the NCAA, there are many risks. Students are often taken advantage of because they simply don’t understand the contracts they’re signing. Months or years later, this can expose them to real legal risk. 

Even students who begin their college athletic career with solid legal advice find things changing rapidly over the course of their college years. Our Maryland NIL sports law attorneys work with students and their families to watch out for the students’ best interests over the years. 

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 Posted on August 30, 2026 in Real Estate

Anne Arundel County Council Bill 101-25 took effect on July 1, 2026. This new law changes both the amount of notice a tenant is required to receive before an eviction takes place, and what happens to a tenant’s belongings after the eviction occurs.

For residential landlords and property management companies in Anne Arundel County, these changes require immediate updates to prior eviction procedures. Even small mistakes in the eviction process can expose landlords to expensive legal risks. 

At Silverman Thompson, our Maryland residential real estate attorneys work closely with residential landlords to review new legislation and ensure legal compliance with state and local laws. 

How Much Notice Do Anne Arundel County Landlords Now Need to Give a Tenant Before an Eviction?

Maryland Real Property § 8-407 requires a landlord to give a residential tenant written notice at least six (6) days before the scheduled repossession date. However, state law allows local jurisdictions to adjust the notice period. Under Anne Arundel County Council Bill 101-25, all housing providers in the county, with the exception of those located in the City of Annapolis, must now give tenants written notice of a scheduled eviction at least fourteen (14) days before the eviction date. 

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 Posted on August 24, 2026 in Criminal Defense

By Marshall T. Henslee, Criminal Defense Attorney 

This June, Partner Marshall T. Henslee and Silverman Thompson’s criminal defense team secured a dismissal of all charges in Baltimore County Circuit Court against our client facing decades of jail time.

Our client was charged in the first case with the armed robbery of a business in Catonsville and was charged in the second case with armed home invasion and robbery of a hotel room in Catonsville four days later. Both crimes took place in January 2024.

Between the two cases, our client faced a mandatory minimum of 20 years and a possible maximum sentence of 279 years. He went from the potential of life in prison to facing no charges.

After a careful review of the evidence, Attorney Henslee had reason to believe our client was innocent. Once he met with witnesses and collected evidence, he met directly with the prosecutor and disclosed what he had found, persuading the prosecutor to make an honest evaluation of our client’s case. After that evaluation, the prosecutor decided to drop all charges against our client.

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 Posted on August 18, 2026 in Medical Malpractice

Pregnancy, and labor and delivery, can involve serious complications, even when doctors and nurses give both mother and baby diligent care. A difficult pregnancy or birth, or even a tragic outcome, does not necessarily mean a provider did anything wrong. 

Yet, medical malpractice does happen during pregnancy and in labor and delivery wards, and the consequences can be devastating. If you or your child suffered a serious birth injury in 2026, Silverman Thompson’s team of experienced Howard County, MD personal injury attorneys can help you understand who may be legally responsible. We provide compassionate legal service to families during sensitive times and are relentlessly focused on holding careless providers responsible. 

Can You Sue the Doctor for a Birth Injury?

An obstetrician is the doctor responsible for the pregnancy and for delivering babies. Obstetricians make important decisions, including when and how to intervene when things aren’t going right. A birth injury claim might involve a doctor who:

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 Posted on August 13, 2026 in Divorce

So many of us use social media every day that we don’t think twice about what we’re sharing. It’s a natural place to update friends and family about important life events or share photos from trips and social events.

Although social media can feel casual, during a divorce and really in most types of litigation, posts and photos can be used as evidence. A picture from a vacation, a post about a new car, or location tags at expensive restaurants may tell a different financial story from the one someone is presenting in court, even if it is not completely accurate.

Exercising caution about social media is important – both during the divorce itself and even in the aftermath - especially when parties disagree about income, alimony, or child support. And your social media posts can potentially remain just as relevant months or years later if one spouse or co-parent asks the court to change an existing order.

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 Posted on August 06, 2026 in Appeals - State & Federal

In July 2026, Bill Sinclair, Todd Hesel and Christopher Mincher persuaded the Supreme Court of Maryland to grant certiorari review on behalf of our client, Henry Porter, in a dispute over his ouster from an LLC he co-founded and co-owned.

Certiorari review is the mechanism through which the Maryland Supreme Court grants discretionary review of decisions by the Maryland intermediate appellate court.  Although certiorari review is relatively rare — roughly four out of every five petitions are denied — our client’s case marks the third consecutive year in which Silverman Thompson will argue before the Maryland Supreme Court.

This case began in 2018 when Mr. Porter’s fellow board members and co-owners voted him out of their LLC, which operated a medical marijuana dispensary.  A dispute over the legitimacy of that ouster led Mr. Porter’s co-founders to sue him, and to a countersuit by Mr. Porter. The lawsuits culminated in a 17-day bench trial over the summer of 2021 and a declaratory judgment affirming our client’s dissociation from the LLC.

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 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.

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