Attorney Christopher J. Smith's Legal Cases

Car accident

Smith v. Hossain

Feb 26, 2020

OUTCOME: Verdict in favor of Client - Plaintiff's Verdict ($11,514.13 to Plaintiff)

Ms. Smith was traveling on MD-355 near her home. She had entered the intersection to make a left turn, but had to pause due to the heavy traffic. Out of an abundance of caution after the light turned y ... ellow, Ms. Smith decided to wait until the traffic had turned red before she left the intersection, assuming the other vehicles would obey the signal. The light turned red and she began to proceed... only for another vehicle to recklessly run the red light while driving in excess of the speed limit, violently striking her in the process. Despite its own insured pleading guilty at the traffic hearing of this matter, GEICO and its attorney refused to settle the case for a reasonable amount. Thus, Ms. Smith was forced to try her case. In the process, we repeatedly raised the Defendant's own admission of his fault, not to mention the physically impossibility of his version of the events. The Defendant finally admitted, after walking back his admission at least once, that the accident could not have happened as he contended. The District Court of Maryland for Montgomery County subsequently and without delay found in favor of the Plaintiff.

Contracts and agreements

Modern Renovations v. Liebman

Feb 19, 2020

OUTCOME: Verdict in Favor of Client - Plaintiff/Counter-Defendant's Verdict ($2,994.00 to Plaintiff, $0.00 to Counter-Plaintiff)

Ms. Liebman had refused to pay my the bills of Modern Renovations, LLC after it had successfully completed the renovations on her roof. Despite diligent collection efforts, Ms. Liebman still refused to ... pay - at one point she even voided a check after promising payment, only to refuse to talk to Modern Renovations thereafter. Thus, we filed suit. Ms. Liebman in turn filed a counterclaim for, among other things, fraud and breach of contract. These issues were litigated before Judge Reed of the District Court of Maryland for Montgomery County for the majority of the day. Representing Ms. Liebman was Mark Rosenberg, a lawyer with over forty (40) years of experience. However, preparation and facts won the day - through the use of effective cross-examination and weather reports, we were able to show that Ms. Liebman's complaints, that her home had started to leak months after the work had been completed, were unrelated to the work completed by my client. In fact, there had been numerous storms that had taken place after the work was done but before Ms. Liebman allegedly began to see leaks. We were also successful in clearly demonstrating and garnering admissions regarding the amount owed and the accommodations Modern Renovation had already made in an effort to resolve the dispute. In the end, Judge Reed entered a verdict fully in favor on behalf of Modern Renovations.

Contracts and agreements

Bryan v. Verna

Jan 15, 2020

OUTCOME: Verdict in Favor of Client - Defendant's Verdict ($0.00 to Plaintiff)

Mr. Mark Verna had suit filed against him by an unhappy former client. He had originally been contracted to complete painting in her home, which he did. He had even offered to provide additional touch- ... ups as time passed, as work was still ongoing in her home. However, instead of making use of Mr. Verna's offer, Ms. Bryan allegedly hired a separate painter to redo the work, which the new painter alleged had been deficient, and was seeking damages for the cost of the second painter she supposedly hired. Ms. Bryan even went so far as to cause criminal charges to be pressed against Mr. Verna for completing home improvement services without a license. At the civil trial of this matter, Ms. Bryan put on evidence of the supposed defective work. However, unbeknownst to her, she had improperly pleaded the case from the very start - a technical deficiency I noted. Additionally, Ms. Bryan failed to provide evidence of Mr. Verna's alleged deficient work or even proof of her damages. Instead, she merely claimed that she was owed the amount of $4,500.00 without substantiating evidence. Mr. Verna's case consisted solely of simple, but effective, cross-examination - I did not see the need to call him as a witness to dispute Mrs. Bryan's account given her lackluster case. At the close of Plaintiff's Case-in-Chief, I moved for judgment, arguing not only had Ms. Bryan failed to prove her damages, she had improperly pleaded the entire case from the start. After considering the Motion and Ms. Bryan's Opposition thereto, the Court granted the Motion and dismissed Ms. Bryan's case with prejudice.

Criminal defense

State v. Verna

Jan 08, 2020

OUTCOME: Guilty Plea - PBJ (No Jail Time, No Fine)

Mr. Mark Verna was facing charges for completing home improvement without a license, due in part to actions and complaints made by the woman who had originally hired to complete said work, Ms. Bryan. A ... t the original trial date for the matter, I was able to push the Assistant State's Attorney ("ASA") for a continuance, allowing us to avoid a trial in front of a very stringent Judge, much to the chagrin of Ms. Bryan. At the second hearing date, I was able to successfully secure a plea bargain on behalf of my client in which he would received Probation Before Judgment, avoiding any jail time or excessive fines outside of basic court costs. Furthermore, with regard to the issue of restitution, I was able to convince the Court to defer to the pending civil trial, brought my Ms. Bryan, as the proper venue to decide this particular issue. This was particularly important as Ms. Bryan was deigning to represent herself in this matter, whereas had the matter of restitution been brought before the criminal trial, she would have had the assistance of the ASA. As the civil matter was later resolved in favor of Mr. Verna, this matter was a complete success for my client.

Christopher J. Smith's Legal Cases (4)

Smith v. Hossain

Modern Renovations v. Liebman

Bryan v. Verna

State v. Verna