Md. Legal Briefs: February 27, 2004

Bail set for cop

Baltimore City Circuit Judge John M. Glynn set a $250,000 bail yesterday for Baltimore Police Officer Keith A. Jennings, 37, charged with first, second, third and fourth degree sex offenses, first and second degree assault, sodomy, perverted practice, kidnapping, false imprisonment and misconduct in office for the alleged rape of an 18- year-old West Baltimore woman while he was on duty last month.

Hold the phone

U.S. District Judge J. Frederick Motz granted summary judgment to the Federal Trade Commission, sued by the National Federation of the Blind and Special Olympics Maryland Inc. in Baltimore's federal court for allegedly violating their First and Fifth Amendment rights in the restrictions that its amendments to its telemarketing sales rule place on professional telemarketers who solicit charitable contributions on behalf of non-profit organizations.

Hopkins settles

Johns Hopkins University and Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center will pay the U.S. more than $2.6 million to settle a False Claims Act lawsuit filed in May 1999 by qui tam relator Faye Grau, a Bayview employee, relating to claims connected with federally sponsored research grants, U.S. Attorney Thomas M. DiBiagio announced yesterday.

Barrier to progress?

The Maryland Commission on Human Relations has asked the Court of Special Appeals to review Baltimore City Circuit Visiting Judge Robert I. H. Hammerman's ruling invalidating a settlement agreement to make Baltimore's Cylburn Arboretum wheelchair accessible and vacating summary judgment in the commission's favor in its enforcement action, said commission lawyer Patricia A. Wood.

Backhoe fade

Samuel B. Smith, 56, of Baltimore took $225,000 to settle the $5 million negligence action that followed his being knocked down by a backhoe bucket as he emerged from a Liberty Road Meineke store men's room, according to his lawyer Matthew P. Darby. He sued backhoe operator Earnest H. Glotfeley of Baltimore and owner TPH Technology Inc. of Annapolis in Baltimore City Circuit Court in January 2003.

Parents to appeal

Richard and Helena Friner of Pikesville will appeal Baltimore City Circuit Judge Kaye A. Allison's summary judgment to defendant Sinai Hospital of Baltimore Inc. in their $1 million negligence action, according to their lawyer David F. Albright Jr. The Friners, whose twins died in premature childbirth, filed the action against Sinai after learning that what they had buried as the babies' remains were surgical blankets.

Hit me heavy

Hits on Baltimore circuit court's Daily Juror Call In page increased from 174 to 1,764 last month since it started posting juror information last June - along with a corresponding drop in the number of telephone calls to the jury office, said Marilyn L. Tokarski, Baltimore's jury commissioner. One accesses the page by clicking Jury Duty on the court's homepage: http://www.baltocts.state.md.us

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