Our client, Ms. Wilson-Bey was allegedly one of the eight young females that went to confront another young female for assaulting our client’s younger sister. Allegedly, some of the eight females stabbed the decedent during an altercation, which led to the stabbed young female’s death. After a 6 week trial, she was convicted by a jury and she appealed based on errors by the trial judge in giving an aiding and abetting instruction that eliminated the elements of first degree premeditated murder over defense objection. The D.C. Court of Appeals vacated the divisions affirmance and granted an En Banc Rehearing and oral arguments were held at U.D.C David A. Clarke School of Law marking first time that the court sat outside the .H. Carl Moultrie Courthouse.
Washington Post: Nov. 8, 2000; Legal Times: March 20, 2006

Criminal/Aggravated Identity Theft, Document Fraud, etc

Our client, Mr. Ageh was charged in an 8 count indictment with the new aggravated Identity theft statute, document fraud, including possession of implements for the purposes of producing fraudulent document. This arose from an undercover operation with the use of a confidential information at our clients business known as St. Gabriel Copy Center, that allegedly resulted in the purchase of 2 fraudulent Employment authorization cards, and 1 social security card, in addition to various templates, seals, etc that were seized pursuant to a search warrant executed at the business. After a two week trial, the jury was deadlocked and the court declared a mistrial.

Criminal/Possession with intent to Distribute, etc

Our client, Ms. Dyson’s home that she occupied with her friend, Daron Evans, was raided pursuant to a search warrant, the FBI agents found drugs, gun, etc and charged Ms. Dyson in a five (5) count felony indictment. Ms. Dyson filed a motion to suppress for violation of §3106, the knock and Announce Rule and after an evidentiary hearing, Judge Friedman granted our motion to suppressed all the evidence seized. The United States motion for reconsideration was also denied and the United States has filed an appeal to the D.C. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. The United States on February 1, 2006 filed a motion with the Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit to dismiss their appeal, which was granted on February 7, 2006.

Criminal/Kingpin, Possession with intent to distribute, etc

Our client, was charged as kingpin, possession with intent to distribute approximately 110 pounds of marijuana with an estimated street value of $953,000.00 by the joint interdiction task force involving the DEA and local police Departments. At the motions hearing, after highlighting the legal issues
undermining the States case, the state agreed for Mr. Ramsey to plead guilty to a misdemeanor conspiracy charge and would not oppose Mr. Ramsey being placed on probation and the court accepted the plea and put Mr. Ramsey on one year unsupervised probation and our motion for probation before judgment is still pending before the court.
P.G County Journal: February, 2005

Civil/Special Education, IDEA, etc

Our client, a fourteen year old minor disabled child eligible for services under IDEA, sued the District of Columbia and Superintendent of the D.C. Public Schools alleging violations of the Individual with Disabilities Education (IDEA); as well as due process rights, by denying R.S.; Free Appropriate Public Education Act(FAPE) as required by IDEA, inadequately evaluating R.S.’s educational needs and providing inadequate occupational or physical therapy services, thereby denying R.S. a compensatory education.
The District of Columbia moved to dismiss, arguing that R.S. did not file their appeal from the adverse administrative hearing decision before the school agency within thirty days after the agency’s decision. Our client, R.S. argued that the thirty day period was tolled because R.S. filed a motion for reconsideration on July 18, 2003 following the June 24, 2003 HOD, which motion was denied by the hearing officer on August 1, 2003, twenty days later, on August 28, 2003, when we filed R’S’s complaint in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.
The court, Judge Ellen Segal Huvelle presiding held that this appears to be a question of first impression under the Individual with Disabilities Act and that the court must take the states tolling rules with the underlying limitations period to the extent they are consistent with federal law and the court concluded Rule 15(b) should be applied and R.S’s complaint will not be rejected as time barred, that is, it was timely filed within 30 days and the case was properly before the court.

Criminal/CCE (drug kingpin), Conspiracy, etc

According to the United States, this was the Second biggest cocaine case in the District of Columbia and the Second longest trial in the District of Columbia. This is a case that our client, Mr. Taylor who resides in Los Angeles, CA, was charged with running a Continuing Criminal Enterprise, i.e. Drug Kingpin, and conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 5kg or more of cocaine. The first trial in 2003 which lasted for 6months resulted in a hung jury on all counts.
The re-trial in 2004 that lasted 7months resulted in not guilty verdicts on 3 counts and the Jury was hung on the remaining 4 counts. The United States dismissed the case on September 3, 2004 instead of re-trying it for the third time.
Washington Post: April 12, 2001

Civil/Divorce, child custody, child support, etc

Our client, Mr. Thomas was involved in a bitter divorce with his wife and everything was contested including child custody, child support, and division of marital property. The court ordered without a hearing that Mr. Thomas undergo mental health counseling as required by the court appointed psychologist before he can visit his minor son and we appealed. The Maryland court of Special Appeals agreed with Mr. Thomas and remanded the case to the Circuit Court for findings consistent with the Court of Special Appeals opinion.

Civil/Assault, Civil Rights violation, etc

Our Client, Reuben Minor, a minor, was among some school children who were taken to D.C. jail for a school tour and they were strip searched by the prison guards without authorization from their parents. We sued the D.C. Government which is responsible for D.C. jail for the prison guards’ assault and violation of our clients civil rights. The case was settled by the D.C. Government before trial.
Washington Post: December,2000

Civil/Assault, Civil Rights violation, etc

Our Client, Reuben Minor, a minor, was among some school children who were taken to D.C. jail for a school tour and they were strip searched by the prison guards without authorization from their parents. We sued the D.C. Government which is responsible for D.C. jail for the prison guards’ assault and violation of our clients civil rights. The case was settled by the D.C. Government before trial.
Washington Post: December,2000

Probate/guardianship, etc

Our client, Adline Uwazih was a patient at Washington Hospital Center following an accident in Prince Williams County, VA. When Washington Hospital Center wanted to move her out of the hospital. We filed for a guardian to be appointed to assist in her decision-making process and the hospital opposed it. After a hearing the trial court held in the hospitals favor and we appealed. The D.C Court of Appeals agreed with our client, Ms. Uwazih and reversed the trial court reiterating our arguments in the lower court that a D.C. court had jurisdiction over Ms. Uwazih.
Atlantic 2nd Reporter

Criminal/Immigration fraud, false statement, etc.

Our client, Mr. Lawal was charged in the wake of airport sweeps following the 9/11 terrorist attack. Our client an airport employee was charged with numerous offenses including immigration fraud, false statement etc. The first trial in 2002 resulted in a hung jury, but he was convicted at the second trial in 2003, however he did not receive any jail time and was put on probation by the Judge.

Civil/Breach of Contract, etc.

Our clients, Fred and Roz Boddie, contracted Rockport Homes to build their new home in Silver Spring, Montgomery County, MD. The defendants, Rockport Homes, RBS Network and their President, James Stachura did not complete work on our clients property as scheduled despite the fact that they were collecting their regular draws from our clients bank. Our clients contracted another builder to finish the work and thereafter sued Rockport Homes, et al. The court awarded judgment jointly and severally against the defendants in favor of our clients Fred & Roz Boddie in the amount of $106,330.00.

Criminal/Conspiracy, possession with intent to distribute, etc.

Our client, Mr. Reed was charged with Conspiracy to Possess with intent to distribute 5kg or more of cocaine, etc. After almost 2 months of trial involving three other co-defendants, he was convicted of minor offenses but acquitted of the greater charge of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 5kg or more of cocaine, possession with intent to distribute, etc.
Washington Post: August 9, 2000

Civil/Malicious Prosecution, Assault, etc.

Our client, Mr. Paige was about to walk his dog out of his home in Fort Washington, MD, and Prince Georges County police officers that had responded to another house call told him to restrain his dog from coming out of his yard. The officers without warning shot at his dog and house and then arrested him for a violation of the Maryland dangerous dog statute. He was acquitted by a District Court judge of the charges in the criminal case and we subsequently filed a civil lawsuit. The jury awarded plaintiff compensatory and punitive damages for the police officers wrongful conduct.
Metro Verdicts monthly: October 4, 2002

Civil/Sexual Harassment, wrongful discharge, etc.

Our clients, Ms. Peele and Ms. Butler worked for the D.C. Superior Court. Ms. Peele was sexually harassed by her superior and Ms. Butler had witnessed some of the incidents. After many lawyers rejected the case, we accepted it and sued D.C. Government which is responsible for D.C. Superior Court for Ms. Peele’s sexual harassment by her superior and Ms. Butler’s wrongful termination arising from Ms. Peele’s case. The case was settled by D.C. Government before trial.

Criminal/Homicide, extradition, fugitive, etc

Our client, Mr. Adjei Prempeh was alleged to have murdered a former girlfriend in New York and had left finger prints and DNA deposits on soda bottle, in addition to eyewitnesses. The District Attorneys Office in New York issued an arrest warrant and our client was arrested in Prince Georges County, MD.
We challenged the extradition warrant based on identity and alibi, including an appeal to Maryland Court of Special Appeals. Subsequently while awaiting the appeal, we requested a DNA test, which came back negative and defendant was ordered released forthwith.
New York Post: September, 2000

Civil/violation of Maryland Condominium Statute, etc.

This was a case of first impression before the Maryland Courts of Appeal. The case got to the Court of Appeals through a Writ of Certiorari. Our client, Ms. Swinson appealed an adverse District Court decision to the Circuit Court, which affirmed the District courts decision arising from the failure of Lords Landing Village Condominium to disclose defects that were uncovered during the inspection of the condominium by the county prior to her purchase of the property. The Court of Appeals although affirmed the lower court but reasoned that Lords Landing Village Condominium was liable under the statute for undisclosed defects that were cited by the county under the county safety code not housing code prior to Ms. Swinsons purchase of her condominium. This case has now interpreted the application of duty imposed on Condominium
Association by the Maryland Condominium regimen statute.
Atlantic 2nd Reporter

Criminal/Kingpin, Conspiracy, PWID Marijuana, etc

Our client Franz Paul Jules was charged as a kingpin for possession with intent to distribute over 118 pounds of marijuana using a produce delivery truck, conspiracy etc. The first trial resulted in the court granting our motion for judgment of acquittal as to the four(4) conspiracy counts and a finding of guilt as to the lesser included offense of possession and the jury was hung on the remaining three (3) counts. Over defendants objection based on double jeopardy, Mr. Jules was re-tried the second time, and convicted of possession with intent to distribute but acquittal for the greater offense of PWID within 1000 feet of a school zone. We appealed the case to the Maryland Court of Special Appeals and subsequently we filed a writ of certiorari to the Maryland Court of Appeals and a writ of certiorari to the United States Supreme Court.

Civil/Assault, Battery, false imprisonment, etc.

Our client, Ms. Thomas had gone into Shoppers Food Warehouse in New Carrolton, MD to purchase items on Thanksgiving eve. Upon being advised while in the store that the store was closing, she tried to hurry but was not allowed to and then shoved out of the store by the security guard who was an off-duty Prince Georges county police officer. As she tried to tell the guard, an off-duty police officer that what they were doing to her was illegal, she was then illegally detained and assaulted by the guard. We sued Shoppers Food Warehouse, et al. and the case was settled before trial.
P.G County Journal: November, 1997

Criminal/Armed Robbery, AWIK, ADW, PFCCV, etc.
Our client, Tecquane Golson was in a thirteen (13) count indictment charged with a co-defendant with several armed robbery, assault with intent to kill, assault with a dangerous weapon, possession of firearm during a commission of a crime of violence, etc in the Mount Pleasant neighborhood. After the jury was sworn and trial started, under blistering cross examination of the Governments first eye witness, with many impeachments, the United States on the second day of trial moved to dismiss the case and because double jeopardy had attached, the case was dismissed with prejudice by the court and the jury was discharged.
Washington Post: January, 1999

Criminal/Theft over $500, etc

Our client who was an employee at COMPUSA was charged with theft over $500 in a scheme that alleged involved non-employees and the states case was based on Mr. Cessay’s alleged confession. After a one day bench trial the judge found Mr. Cessay not guilty.

Civil/Civil Rights violation, assault, etc

Our client, Amy Hartman and the friend, Mark Drnec were assaulted by the police at a nightclub. Following the incident, the police officers filed criminal charges of assault on a police officer against Ms. Hartman but the charges were dismissed on the trial date for want of prosecution and we filed a civil suit against the police officers and D.C. Government. The case was settled by D.C. Government before trial.

Criminal/Drug Smuggling, failure to appear, etc.

Our client, Ms. Little was mistaken with her twin sister, who was convicted in a 1991 case for smuggling marijuana through Baltimore/Washington airport. The twin sister did not show up for sentencing and a warrant was issued for her arrest and defendant was picked up instead of her twin sister. After we advanced the argument of mistaken identity, the judge ordered a fingerprint test, which was done in open court and she was ordered released after being in jail for several weeks.
The Capital: April 24, 1999

Criminal/Stalking, Assault, Violation of CPO, etc

Our client, Cpl. Headman of the U.S. Marine Corps was charged with stalking, assault, violation by CPO of his estranged wife, a Capitol Hill Police officer. After a four day Jury trial, Cpl. Headman was acquitted by the jury of stalking and were hung on the violation of CPO and second degree assault charge 10/2 for acquittal of Cpl. Headman. The state decided not to re-try the case and the assault charge and CPO were dismissed.

Civil/invasion of privacy, Right of publicity, etc

Our client, Cletis Cave, a model had taken some photo shots years earlier and he had marketed it without success. However, without his authorization, Regis Hairstylists, started using his photographs for a national advertisement in magazines and Newspapers. We therefore sued Regis Corp. and the agency that provided them with the unauthorized right to use these photos, and the case was settled before trial.

Criminal/Rape, Assault, etc.

Our client, Mr. Ukaegbu, a D.C. Department of Corrections officer was charged with rape, assault, etc of a P.G County female. Allegedly, Mr. Ukaegbu went to the females house while the husband was not home albeit their two children was home and forcibly raped her against her will and an eyewitness allegedly saw him hurrying out of the apartment after the incident with his zipper down. After a three day Jury trial, Mr. Ukaegbu was acquitted by the Jury of all charges.

Civil/discrimination, constructive termination, etc.

Our client(s), Ms. Clayborne, Ms. Daniels and Ms. Cole and two other co-workers were employed in the IT and accounting office of Georgetown University. Being the individuals of a protected class and not receiving the usual raise, promotions, etc like other similarly situated whites, we filed suit against the university. The parties subsequently settled the lawsuit with an additional/requirement for constant review by the EEOC officer of personnel actions in conformity with the anti-discrimination statute.

Criminal/Carrying a Pistol Without a license, etc

Our client, James Earle was charged with carrying a pistol without a license outside of a home or business, possession of marijuana. Because the defendant allegedly confessed to the gun as his, albeit it was not found on his person as the marijuana, he plead guilty to the misdemeanor marijuana possession and was put on probation and we went to trial on the gun case before a jury. Mr. Earle was acquitted after a three day jury trial of the gun charge.

Civil/Breach of contract/Insurance Bad faith, etc

Our client Mr. Oleru filed a third party lawsuit against Maryland Automobile Insurance Fund(MAIF)for breach of contract and Insurance bad faith joining a lawsuit against him by Ms. Bertrand for personal injuries arising from an automobile accident that Mr. Oleru was liable. Mr. Oleru claimed that MAIF failed to defend and indemnify him for the automobile accident and on the eve of the trial date, MAIF settled the case against Mr. Oleru by Ms. Bertrand. On the trial date MAIF settled Mr. Oleru’s case against MAIF including payment of his attorney fees.