District Court, D. Maryland — appointed by Jimmy Carter
Kirby v. Chrysler Corp.
District Court, D. Maryland · 1982-12-20 · cited 25×
The case involved a former Chrysler-Plymouth and Dodge dealer suing the manufacturer under diversity jurisdiction for alleged breaches of direct dealer agreements, specifically claiming in Count I that Chrysler shipped and billed for dozens of unordered new vehicles during 1976-1978 and in Count II that it failed to repurchase remaining inventory within 90 days of the dealership's 1978 termination; Chrysler counterclaimed for the value of one vehicle it had repurchased but never received. After a bench trial, the district court issued findings of fact and conclusions of law detailing the parties' long-term relationship, the plaintiff's minimum sales responsibilities, financing through Chrysler Credit, and evidence that unordered vehicles arrived amid a model-year build-out period and financial difficulties at the dealership. The court reasoned that while some vehicles were indeed shipped without orders, the plaintiff's substantial claimed losses were not caused solely by those shipments but by independent factors such as ineffective sales efforts and market conditions, thereby limiting the damages recoverable on the claims.
business & regulatory
Davis by Lane v. Schweiker
District Court, D. Maryland · 1982-12-02 · cited 4×
This case involves a minor child's claim for Social Security surviving child's insurance benefits under 42 U.S.C. § 402(d) based on his deceased father's earnings record. The Secretary of Health and Human Services denied the benefits, finding that the child did not qualify as a "child" under the Act because he would not inherit under South Carolina intestacy law, the domicile of the deceased wage earner. The court reviewed the administrative decision and determined that Maryland law, the child's current domicile, should apply instead, under which the child would be considered legitimate. Consequently, the court held that the plaintiff was entitled to benefits and reversed the Secretary's decision.
federal powerfamily law
Bradley v. Davis
District Court, D. Maryland · 1982-11-22 · cited 66×
In Bradley v. Davis, the petitioner, convicted in Maryland state court of assault with intent to murder, assault with intent to maim, assault and battery, and use of a handgun, sought federal habeas corpus relief after his state post-conviction petition was denied. The petitioner had not sought leave to appeal that denial to the Maryland Court of Special Appeals despite being advised of the required steps. Although the court determined that state remedies were exhausted because the time to appeal had passed and no further state relief was available, it concluded that the failure to appeal amounted to a deliberate bypass of state procedures, given the petitioner's education level and demonstrated familiarity with legal research. The court therefore denied the petition for a writ of habeas corpus on grounds of procedural default.
criminal lawprocedure
Johnson v. Armco Inc.
District Court, D. Maryland · 1982-10-01 · cited 2×
This Title VII case involved plaintiff Thomas J. Johnson, a Black employee at Armco Inc., who alleged racial discrimination in the denial of a promotion to crane operator. The position was posted and awarded to a less senior white employee, Gerald Pakula, who was the only applicant. Johnson did not sign the posting during the application period and only expressed interest after returning from medical leave, at which point the job had already been filled. The court found that Johnson failed to establish a prima facie case because he did not properly apply for the position and that, even assuming he had, Armco's actions were based on legitimate, nondiscriminatory reasons such as the company's posting and seniority rules plus medical restrictions that would have disqualified him. Judgment was entered for the defendant.
labor & employmentcivil rights
Polk v. MONTGOMERY COUNTY, MD.
District Court, D. Maryland · 1982-09-30 · cited 4×
In Polk v. Montgomery County, MD, plaintiff Mary Bracken Polk sued ten defendants, including Sheriff James A. Young, under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 and state law, claiming her arrest under a bench warrant and subsequent imprisonment in a county detention center violated her rights. The court considered Sheriff Young's motion to dismiss or for summary judgment, noting that the complaint contained no specific factual allegations of his personal involvement and only broad, conclusory claims of conspiracy. The sheriff's uncontroverted affidavit and deposition established that he had no direction or control over the police department or detention center involved and did not participate in the events. Under Maryland law, the sheriff's responsibility for prisoners had been transferred to the director of the Department of Correction and Rehabilitation by county code, so no duty existed that could support liability. The court granted the motion to dismiss as to Sheriff Young but denied his request for costs and attorneys' fees.
civil rightsprocedurecriminal law
George's Radio & Television Co. v. Insurance Co. of North America
District Court, D. Maryland · 1982-09-28 · cited 4×
This case involved a maritime insurance dispute in which plaintiff's vessel sank and the parties disagreed over the amount of repair damages owed under the policy. After an initial ruling on damages, the plaintiff moved to amend the findings, arguing that it had met its burden of proof on certain disputed mechanical repair items through a stipulation on causation, actual repair costs, and expert testimony on reasonableness, without needing separate expert evidence on the scope of repairs. The court reconsidered and held that in admiralty cases a plaintiff establishes a prima facie case for damages by showing causation and the actual costs of repairs needed to restore the property, with necessity of specific repairs included in that burden but supportable by non-expert testimony in some instances. It therefore allowed recovery on additional items totaling $26,280.57 and amended the judgment accordingly.
propertyproceduretorts & liability