Daily Record (Baltimore, MD) articles from August 2004

Daily Record (Baltimore, MD) archives from August 2004

Commentary: Financial Advice - Financial planning: more than investing in the stock market.
August 2, 2004... Byline: Ben Proctor The financial planning process reaches far beyond the buying and selling of stocks and mutual funds. In fact, investment management represents only one of the many steps required to reach short- and long-term financial...

Md. Court of Appeals upholds one man's three separate convictions for contempt of court.
August 2, 2004... Byline: Lawrence Hurley A Wicomico County man who repeatedly interrupted a judge with four-letter-word tirades during a hearing was justifiably found in contempt of court on three different occasions, the Court of Appeals has held. ...

Md. Court of Appeals affirms law firm's win in bond case.
August 2, 2004... Byline: Alisa Bralove A legal malpractice suit brought against Piper & Marbury, now Piper Rudnick, alleging that its lawyers failed to file a financing statement in Washington, D.C., was properly dismissed as time-barred, the state's top...

Md. Legal Briefs: August 2, 2004.
August 2, 2004... Byline: Staff and Wire Reports Deputy sheriff in trouble A Kent County judge has denied a request to dismiss some of the rape and sex offense charges against a Cecil County sheriff's deputy. David Walter, 32, of Perryville, is accused...

Md. legislators resume talks on public slots referendum and veto overrides.
August 2, 2004... Byline: Debra Siedt When the 2004 General Assembly session ended almost four months ago, some called it a legislative victory for Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr.; others said partisan bickering between the Legislature and Ehrlich resulted in...

Developer MIE Properties to move headquarters within Baltimore County.
August 2, 2004... Byline: Chet Dembeck After 16 years of being headquartered in Catonsville, the commercial real estate company MIE Properties Inc. is moving. But not far. MIE will start construction on a 71,315-square-foot, two-story building in...

Md. Court of Appeals restores child abuse finding in corporal punishment case.
August 2, 2004... Byline: Ann Parks An administrative law judge reasonably concluded that a Charles County father was responsible for child abuse for injuring his son with a belt during corporal punishment, the Court of Appeals held last week. The top...

Fells Point townhouse development alarms Baltimore preservationists.
August 2, 2004... Byline: Ezra Fieser A lost battle to preserve a 1920s-era Art Deco warehouse in Fells Point appears to be galvanizing Baltimore preservationists who fear developers will eye more historic properties, in an area where vacant waterfront...

Wal-Mart fights size limit in Calvert County.
August 2, 2004... Byline: Sofia Kosmetatos In a move that would effectively block the proposed expansion of a Wal-Mart store, the Calvert County Planning Commission is expected to recommend this week that the Board of County Commissioners cap the size of...

Md. Court of Appeals rules state's stringent ethics law cannot be applied retroactively.
August 2, 2004... Byline: Lawrence Hurley State legislators who drafted a stringent ethics law with the intent of targeting high-profile lobbyist Gerard E. Evans were left with egg on their faces Friday when the Court of Appeals held it had been unlawfully...

Taking Stock - As some techs take a plunge, everyone gets wet.
August 2, 2004... Byline: Kathleen Johnston Jarboe One cannonball dive into the community pool might not get anyone wet. But if you get enough people to plunge into the chlorinated waters at the same time, some of those patrons sunning themselves in the...

Landover-based Metro-Plex I & II under new ownership.
August 2, 2004... Byline: Staff and Wire Reports A joint venture between Scarsdale, N.Y.-based Meritage Properties LLC and Buchanan Partners LLC, of Gaithersburg, purchased Metro-Plex I & II in Landover from MGP Real Estate LLC, of Bethesda. The price for...

Baltimore-based Constellation Energy Group reports second-quarter income.
August 2, 2004... Byline: Staff and Wire Reports Constellation Energy Group, of Baltimore, an energy supply and services company, reported second-quarter net income of $128.2 million, or 76 cents per diluted share, on revenue of $2.8 billion, compared to...

Baltimore-based Patapsco Bancorp's earnings rise.
August 2, 2004... Byline: Staff and Wire Reports Patapsco Bancorp Inc., of Baltimore, parent company of The Patapsco Bank, reported that for the fiscal year ended June 30, net income was $1.5 million, or 77 cents per diluted share, versus $1.3 million, or 72...

Rockville-based Human Genome Sciences reports second-quarter loss.
August 2, 2004... Byline: Staff and Wire Reports Human Genome Sciences Inc., of Rockville, which develops new drugs through genetic research, reported a second-quarter net loss of $58.5 million, or 45 cents per diluted share, on revenue of $644,000, compared...

Hanover-based CompuDyne reports decreased second-quarter income.
August 2, 2004... Byline: Staff and Wire Reports CompuDyne Corp., of Hanover, a provider of products and technology for the public security market, reported second-quarter net income of $90,000, or 1 cent per diluted share, on revenue of $37.8 million ,...

Annapolis-based TeleCommunications System reports second-quarter income.
August 2, 2004... Byline: Staff and Wire Reports TeleCommunications Systems Inc., of Annapolis, a developer of wireless messaging software and data systems, reported second-quarter net income of $863,000, or 2 cents per diluted share, on revenue of $20.1...

4th Circuit puts burden on parents under Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.
August 3, 2004... Byline: Alisa Bralove A disabled child's parents, not the school system, have the burden of proof in due process hearings under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has held. Reversing...

Hunt Valley Inn owner seeks larger markets.
August 3, 2004... Byline: Chet Dembeck Hunt Valley is an active office and manufacturing center, but it didn't have the population density that the owner of the Hunt Valley Inn was seeking. So, New York-based Boykin Lodging Co. said yesterday that it...

Terrorism threat bolsters P.G. Co. decontamination firm.
August 3, 2004... Byline: Robyn Lamb More than a decade after emerging from bankruptcy, TVI Corp. which has sold hundreds of its decontamination systems to state governments has reached its first contract in the lucrative federal defense market. The...

MD Legal Briefs August 3, 2004.
August 3, 2004... Byline: Staff and Wire Reports Drug dealer sentenced Lawrence Chambers, 27, of Baltimore, was sentenced yesterday to 20 years in prison, the first five without the possibility of parole, after pleading guilty in Baltimore City Circuit...

Debt experts urge inclusion of for-profits.
August 3, 2004... Byline: Kara Kridler A potential nationwide ban on for-profit debt counseling services will have no effect on the more than 30,000 Marylanders enrolled in debt management programs, under existing state law. Industry officials are...

Baltimore City Community College names interim president.
August 3, 2004... Byline: Debra Kahn Veteran college president Richard M. Turner III returned to his administrative roots yesterday as Baltimore City Community College named him interim president. Turner replaces Sylvester McKay who resigned in May. ...

Sons of Confederate Veterans member loses First Amendment lawsuit.
August 3, 2004... Byline: Lawrence Hurley A member of the Sons of Confederate Veterans has failed to convince the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals that the Department of Veterans Affairs violated his First Amendment rights when it banned partisan comments...

Man sues Baltimore police for $100M.
August 3, 2004... Byline: Peter Geier A Pimlico man filed a $100 million excessive force/malicious prosecution case yesterday against the Baltimore police officer who shot him, then charged him with attempted murder last August. Deon S. Bates, 25, says...

Telkonet Inc. to install high-speed Internet access for Interstate Hotels & Resorts.
August 3, 2004... Byline: Staff and Wire Reports Telkonet Inc., of Germantown, which develops products for high-speed Internet access over electrical power lines, was selected by Interstate Hotels & Resorts, the nation's largest independent hotel management...

Gaines McHale Antiques opens Savage Mill showroom.
August 3, 2004... Byline: Staff and Wire Reports Gaines McHale Antiques, of Baltimore, a retailer of European antique furniture, opened a showroom in Historic Savage Mill in Howard County. Gaines McHale, which operates a 32,000-square-foot venue in...

Home heating oil contaminating Chesapeake Bay cleaned up.
August 3, 2004... Byline: Staff and Wire Reports Home heating oil that contaminated 170 properties along the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries in the wake of Tropical Storm Isabel has been cleaned up under a state-federal partnership, Gov. Robert L....

Winners of Baltimore Development Corp. program announced.
August 3, 2004... Byline: Staff and Wire Reports The Hamilton, Belair-Edison and the 200 block of West Saratoga Street business districts were selected as winners of the Baltimore Development Corp.'s $igns for $uccess program. The program offers up to...

New report done on shortage of health care workers.
August 3, 2004... Byline: Staff and Wire Reports By the year 2010, Maryland's colleges, universities and private career schools will need to produce close to 15,000 registered nurses, 6,000 physicians and surgeons, 3,000 respiratory therapists, and 2,000...

Credit Manager's Index shows continuing growth.
August 3, 2004... Byline: Staff and Wire Reports The National Association of Credit Management, of Columbia, released its Credit Manager's Index for July, showing that growth continues in the economy, although minor slippage in economic growth occurred in...

Gov. Ehrlich names new Poet Laureate.
August 3, 2004... Byline: Staff and Wire Reports Michael S. Glaser, of St. Mary's City, was named Maryland's new Poet Laureate by Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. The post, which was formally established by the Maryland General Assembly in 1959, provides public...

Constellation Energy Group donates $200K.
August 3, 2004... Byline: Staff and Wire Reports Constellation Energy Group announced it is donating more than $200,000 to six organizations that focus on improving education and encouraging high school students in the Baltimore region to continue their...

U.S. Postal Service hosting Political Mail Piece Seminar.
August 3, 2004... Byline: Staff and Wire Reports With the political campaign season in full swing, the U.S. Postal Service is holding a Political Mail Piece Seminar on Aug. 10, from 7:30 to 11:30 a.m., at the Columbia Post Office, 6801 Oak Hill Lane....

W.R. Grace & Co. subsidiary acquires Alltech International Holding.
August 3, 2004... Byline: Staff and Wire Reports The Separations Group, a subsidiary of W.R. Grace & Co., of Columbia, a specialty chemical company, acquired Deerfield, Ill.-based Alltech International Holdings Inc., a global manufacturer and supplier of...

Online advertising growth outpacing TV, print marketing.
August 4, 2004... Byline: Kara Kridler In a clear sign that marketers are again interested in reaching Web surfers, companies are expected to spend $8.4 billion on online advertising this year, 27 percent more than last year, according to a survey released...

State falling behind in health professions gap.
August 4, 2004... Byline: Robyn Lamb Maryland's colleges and universities are ill-equipped to supply the state with an adequate number of healthcare workers, according to a new report. The gap between the number of graduates and the number of openings...

Maryland companies behind Chicago-area conference center complex.
August 4, 2004... Byline: Chet Dembeck Two Maryland companies are making it possible for a suburban town 23 miles outside of Chicago to finance, build and manage a new multi-million-dollar conference center and hotel. Baltimore-based Legg Mason Wood...

Johns Hopkins development plan scheduled for vote today.
August 4, 2004... Byline: Ezra Fieser The developer of the "college town" project near Johns Hopkins University is in line for a $9.9 million public incentive package. Struever Bros. Eccles & Rouse Inc., a Baltimore-based development company, will go...

Commentary: Mortgage options abound for buyers.
August 4, 2004... Byline: Gary S. Williams The U.S. housing market is soaring with continued increases in applications for new mortgages and refinancing, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association. As a result, there are now many innovative mortgage...

Closed factory to reopen as office space.
August 4, 2004... Byline: Sofia Kosmetatos Banking on government contractor interest, a Pennsylvania real estate developer plans to gut a former laminate plant in Odenton to build Class A office space. Preferred Real Estate Investment Inc.'s...

Egyptian grandmother's convictions upheld under old and amended law.
August 4, 2004... Byline: Ann Parks A three-year jail term imposed on a grandmother for her role in illegally taking her grandson out of the country in August 2001 and keeping him in Egypt will stand, the Court of Appeals concluded yesterday. The top...

Court of Appeals affirms $12M tax bill for coal blending facility.
August 4, 2004... Byline: Alisa Bralove A coal blending facility used mostly for storage and shipping cannot benefit from the manufacturer's exemption from personal property taxation, the Court of Appeals said yesterday. Reversing the decision of the...

Testimony heard in two decade-old special education litigation.
August 4, 2004... Byline: Peter Geier A state and a federal judge, a special master and interested parties filled a large federal courtroom in Baltimore yesterday to hear testimony intended to help wrap up two decades' worth of special education litigation....

MD Historical Trust to distribute $1.1M in grants.
August 4, 2004... Byline: Staff and Wire Reports Forty-two museums, non-profit groups and local governments in Maryland will receive a combined $1.1 million through three Maryland Historical Trust grants, according to the office of Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich...

Large retirement plan sponsors work to control market timing.
August 4, 2004... Byline: Staff and Wire Reports More than two-thirds 69 percent of large retirement plan sponsors have taken action to control market timing in their 401(k) plans, and another 14 percent plan to institute rules or procedures to address...

Manugistics Group, Rainmaker Group to provide mgmt. system for Caesars' casino resorts.
August 4, 2004... Byline: Staff and Wire Reports Manugistics Group Inc., of Rockville, which makes software to help companies manage their buying and inventory systems, in concert with the Rainmaker Group, a company that specializes in revenue management,...

Municipal Mortgage & Equity reports net income of $11.2M.
August 4, 2004... Byline: Staff and Wire Reports Municipal Mortgage & Equity LLC, of Baltimore, also known as MuniMae, which originates, invests in and services tax-exempt housing bonds, reported second-quarter net income of $11.2 million, or 32 cents per...

Dentisoft Technologies forms relationship with Integrated Credit Solutions.
August 4, 2004... Byline: Staff and Wire Reports Dentisoft Technologies Inc., of Bethesda, which provides products and services to help dental practices increase their revenue and productivity, formed a relationship with Integrated Credit Solutions, of...

General Physics Corp. to provide services to Centre County, Pa.
August 4, 2004... Byline: Staff and Wire Reports General Physics Corp., of Elkridge, a provider of training, e-learning, management consulting and engineering services, was selected to provide Centre County, Pa., with a multimedia functional exercise to...

Lockheed Martin awarded $879M defense contract.
August 4, 2004... Byline: Staff and Wire Reports A team headed by Lockheed Martin Corp., of Bethesda, was awarded an $879 million defense contract by the U.S. Army to develop the Aerial Common Sensor, a next-generation airborne intelligence, surveillance,...

United Therapeutics reports net income of $18.3M.
August 4, 2004... Byline: Staff and Wire Reports United Therapeutics Corp., of Silver Spring, which develops pharmaceuticals to treat vascular diseases and selected chronic conditions, reported second-quarter net income of $4.1 million, or 18 cents per...

EntreMed Inc. reports net loss of $4.2M.
August 4, 2004... Byline: Staff and Wire Reports EntreMed Inc., of Rockville, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing therapeutics primarily for the treatment of cancer, reported a second-quarter net loss of $4.2 million, or 12 cents per...

Evidence insufficient to put bystander in 'kill zone'.
August 5, 2004... Byline: Barbara Grzincic A man who opened fire on a Baltimore basketball court was improperly convicted of attempted second-degree murder of an unintended victim who took a bullet to the neck, the Court of Appeals held yesterday. Due...

Commentary: Why the tough guys of the NFL help kids whose scars may never heal.
August 5, 2004... Byline: Robert S. Coplan, M.D., M.P.H. Every year child welfare agencies in the United States receive more than 3 million allegations of child abuse and neglect. Sufficient evidence is collected to substantiate more than 1 million cases...

A look inside medical imaging field finds gap.
August 5, 2004... Byline: Robyn Lamb Radiology technicians at Northwest Hospital Center in Baltimore County rarely get to take the day off they are entitled to before and after they work every third Saturday of the month. The department is already so...

City will test zero-emission vehicles around Inner Harbor.
August 5, 2004... Byline: Ezra Fieser Zero-emission, low-speed vehicles will be used by two Baltimore City agencies along the Inner Harbor promenade in coming months. But don't expect to see them in many other locations, as Maryland remains one of just...

Harford County deputy settles discrimination suit.
August 5, 2004... Byline: Staff and Wire Reports Longtime Harford County Sheriff's Deputy Jeanette Gamble of Bel Air quietly settled a multimillion-dollar sex discrimination action against her employer in U.S. District Court in Baltimore. Gamble claimed...

Ciena Corp. stock punished as sales fall $20M short of forecast.
August 5, 2004... Byline: Chet Dembeck The price of Linthicum-based Ciena Corp.'s stock lost one-quarter of its value yesterday on news the fiber optic equipment maker's third-quarter sales would be $20 million shy of analysts' estimates. Nineteen...

Baltimore sole practitioner disbarred; cashed client checks.
August 5, 2004... Byline: Alisa Bralove A Baltimore sole practitioner who forged his clients' endorsements on checks and failed to maintain an escrow account has been disbarred by the state's top court. Barry K. Watson, who was admitted to the bar in...

Nov. sweeps programming brings handoff for Ravens broadcast.
August 5, 2004... Byline: Sofia Kosmetatos Baltimore CBS affiliate WJZ-TV 13 will again broadcast most of the Baltimore Ravens' NFL games this season, though it will hand off to a competitor for a Sunday night game in November. WJZ will air two of four...

Health care less available to city's poor, survey finds.
August 5, 2004... Byline: Debra Kahn While fewer poor Baltimoreans lack health insurance now than in years past, more are having trouble getting medical treatment, according to a new report. The percentage of city residents surveyed who are without...

Federal court can hear Verizon suit against PSC.
August 5, 2004... Byline: Ann Parks The federal courts have jurisdiction over a claim that Maryland regulators misapplied state law in interpreting a contract between Verizon Maryland Inc. and competing carriers over compensation for calls to Internet...

Perdue Farms buys Penn.-based grain and feed ingredient merchandiser.
August 5, 2004... Byline: Staff and Wire Reports Perdue Farms Inc., of Salisbury, said it bought a Pennsylvania-based grain and feed ingredient merchandiser. Pennsylvania Commodities Marketing Association Inc., which will operate under a subsidiary of...

Williams Scotsman acquires interest in Wiron Prefabricados Modulares.
August 5, 2004... Byline: Staff and Wire Reports Williams Scotsman Inc., of White Marsh, which leases mobile office and storage units in the United States and Canada, through a European subsidiary acquired a minority interest in Wiron Prefabricados Modulares...

Provo International to acquire Humana Trans Services.
August 5, 2004... Byline: Staff and Wire Reports Provo International, Inc., of Pearl River, N.Y., a provider of Internet access, Web hosting and e-commerce services, has agreed to acquire Humana Trans Services Holding Corp., of Hanover, a provider of human...

NeighborCare reports net loss of $6.8M.
August 5, 2004... Byline: Staff and Wire Reports NeighborCare Inc., of Baltimore, which provides pharmacy and medical supply services for the long-term care market, reported a net loss for its fiscal third quarter ended June 30 of $6.8 million, or 16 cents...

USEC Inc. boosts profit.
August 5, 2004... Byline: Staff and Wire Reports USEC Inc., of Bethesda, which supplies enriched uranium fuel for commercial nuclear power plants, reported second-quarter net income of $11.7 million, or 14 cents per diluted share, on revenue of $318.6...

Jury awards $195K in sexual harassment suit.
August 5, 2004... Byline: Staff and Wire Reports A Montgomery County jury found against the parent company of Herb Gordon Autoworld and Tischer Autopark and awarded Gail Sterling, 39, of Charles Town, W.Va., $195,000, finding that a male supervisor's...

Allegheny Energy contracts for 90% of projected coal requirements for 2004.
August 5, 2004... Byline: Staff and Wire Reports Allegheny Energy Inc., of Greensburg, Pa., formerly of Hagerstown, said it has contracted for 90 percent of its projected coal requirements for 2005 and for 50 percent of its anticipated coal requirements for...

Steadfast farmers seek niche markets with bigger bucks.
August 6, 2004... Byline: Sofia Kosmetatos James Miller doesn't want to give up his Kent County farm to developers, so he has altered some of his crop choices to include nongenetically modified soybeans for the Japanese market that bring in an extra 95...

Commentary: Maryland must focus on global economy.
August 6, 2004... Byline: Christine Nielsen International business activity plays a vital role in Maryland's economy. From global giants to entrepreneurial exporters, the international context of the state's commercial base is palpable. Statistics help...

Independent pizzeria plans grand re-opening.
August 6, 2004... Byline: Nancy Kercheval The supersized mixer sits idle after making 1,000 pounds of pizza dough earlier in the day. Nearby, a machine spits out perfectly rolled dough ready for the roll-out into the pizza pan. And in the next room, a...

Commentary: How do we know Baltimore City is improving?
August 6, 2004... Byline: Odette T. Ramos How do we know we are making real, long-term change in conditions in Baltimore City? We can look at all kinds of data, walk through our neighborhoods, ask people but nothing really will tell us about how the...

Commentary: Credentialed bloggers hit the Democratic National Convention floor.
August 6, 2004... Byline: Larry Fiorino For the first time ever, the Democratic National Convention credentialed bloggers to report from the convention floor. Bloggers are the people who write and publish Web logs, or blogs. A blog is a relatively new...

Commentary: On Capitol Hill - Addressing traffic, gay marriage and war on terrorism.
August 6, 2004... Byline: Mark Cheshire Editor's note: This is a biweekly review of what Maryland's 10 congressional members are doing and saying. Due to space limitations, the following list is not comprehensive. Complete and additional statements are...

Commentary: Raising the Bar - The inventive argument.
August 6, 2004... Byline: Paul Mark Sandler Many factors influence whether an argument will succeed or fail. For most arguments in which you are involved, what ultimately will matter most will be the evidence, the law and other substantive content that you...

Commentary: On Health Care - Hospitals on legal hook for independent docs.
August 6, 2004... Byline: Barry F. Rosen and Jacy D'Aiutolo Two recent cases, one in Florida and the other in New York, allowed patients to pursue claims against hospitals for the alleged medical malpractice of independent physicians who provided services at...

St. John's College offers students an unconventional education.
August 6, 2004... Byline: Debra Siedt Among all the college brochures touting everything imaginable, from a rock climbing wall to free, unlimited Internet access, one stands out: no tests, no professors, no lectures, no textbooks. Sounds good, huh?...

Interview with Downtown Partnership of Baltimore's new president.
August 6, 2004... Byline: Ezra Fieser J. Kirby Fowler Jr. recently took over as president of the Downtown Partnership of Baltimore, the nonprofit group working to make center city a better place to work and live. A private-sector lawyer who has worked on...

Commentary: A fallen lobbyist returns.
August 6, 2004... Byline: Mark Cheshire Did Maryland lawmakers unwittingly fail us? Did they intentionally try to have it both ways? Or is there a less insidious explanation for why lobbyist Gerard E. Evans is now free to ply his trade in Annapolis...

Commentary: Charitable Giving - Women begin to realize full potential as philanthropists.
August 6, 2004... Byline: Betsy Nelson What do women want, philanthropically speaking? As leaders in every other area of society, women are beginning to understand their full potential as philanthropists, as shapers of society. Women have come to...

Commentary: Legal ADvice - Beware what you plead.
August 6, 2004... Byline: James B. Astrachan When I was growing up in a New York suburb, an ice cream parlor sold a $50 sundae aptly named the "Kitchen Sink." Ice cream did not come to the table in a sink; instead, every conceivable ingredient was added. It...

Of Service - Public Justice Center's Appellate Project takes stock.
August 6, 2004... Byline: Joe Surkiewicz Created by the Public Justice Center in 2000, the Appellate Project set some ambitious goals: find appellate cases that can help shape public-interest law, co-partner with sister organizations and private firms on...