What is an Easement? An easement is the legal or equitable right of someone to use the land of another for a specific or special purpose, often to travel over the land in question to reach another area of land. An easement is a legal right if it was created by a legal instrument, like a deed. A...
INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR OR EMPLOYEE? Are you an independent contractor or an employee? How do you find out and why does it matter anyway? "Independent contractor" and "employee" are not just insignificant names or labels in Maryland. This distinction is legally important and just cal...
Franchise law is complicated. According to the Maryland Attorney General, Maryland is one of about 15 states that requires "registration" of franchise offerings. What is a franchise? Maryland Annotated Business Regulation Code, Section 14-201 defines it as follows: ...
If you are "self employed" you must pay "self employment taxes." According to the IRS, you are self employed if you are a sole proprietor, independent contractor, member of a partnership, or are otherwise in business for yourself, including part-time businesses. The term "self...
The contract might seem incredibly simple. You found a great form online, you've gone over the details several times and it looks like you might be able to come to a final agreement. Good intentions have been expressed on both sides. However, as the saying goes, “business is business.”You might b...
From the Baltimore Sun: Merriweather Post Pavilion adjusts request for noise limits
Our practice areas include zoning law and liquor license applications. Interestingly, Baltimore City is undergoing an update of its zoning code and a proposal has been made to eliminate liquor stores which had previously been allowed to operate as a nonconforming use in areas where the zoning pro...
From the Baltimore Sun: Proposed legislation would make residents members of CA
Zoning or rezoning in Howard County is primarily conducted in two ways. Approximately every ten years, the County Council undergoes a legislative process called comprehensive zoningduring which county officials review the entire county zoning map, hold hearings, and, ultimately, making ...
From the Tampa Bay Times: New Tampa homeowner wins judgment against homeowners association
Howard County's Department of Planning and Zoning announced today that it will launch the countywide rezoning process and will be accepting proposals for zoning map and regulation amendments between October 15 and December 14, 2012. For more information, see the announcement sent out by the count...
This past April, Maryland passed a law approving corkage. Corkage is the practice of bringing your own wine to a restaurant that already has a wine menu. Corkage allows patrons to enjoy a wine that is not already stocked by the restaurant. This differs from some Baltimore restaurants BYOB practic...
From explorehoward.com: Proposed residential development in North Laurel gets mixed reviews
From Explore Howard: 185 homes planned where Route 29 ends in Ellicott City
From the Baltimore Sun: CA weighs putting Symphony Woods Project on Hold
From the Baltimore Sun - Howard Hughes Corp. buys former Ryland Group headquarters in Columbia
Columbia/Ellicott City drops to No. 8 in 'Best Places to Live' rankings. http://t.co/yuYW0jMQ via @explorehoward -- The Baltimore Sun (@baltimoresun)
From the Baltimore Sun: Glenwood church gets zoning exception from Board of Appeals
On April 26, 2012, the Maryland Court of Appeals held in Tracey v. Solesky that anyone with the ability to limit the presence on their property of a pit bull or mixed-breed pit bull is subject to strict liability in the event that the dog bites a human. This is a drastic departure from the previo...
From the Baltimore Sun: Groceries seeking ways around wine sales ban
From the Baltimore Sun: Wegman's Liquor License Hearing
From the Baltimore Sun: Bridge to unite Columbia villages seen as crucial for town
From Gizmodo: http://gizmodo.com/5900609/maryland-bans-employers-from-requesting-social-media-passwords-good-job-maryland
On December 5, 2011, Howard County's Council passed a bill protecting individuals from discrimination based on gender identity. Similar legislation was passed in Baltimore County, as well as Baltimore City and Montgomery County. Baltimore Outloud reported that: "The four council members who vote...
In 2005, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Kelo v. City of New London that local government could take over private property of several homeowners for the purpose of converting the property commercial use. The case was unique in that eminent domain had traditionally been used for public works proje...
