Daily Record (Baltimore, MD) articles from July 2005

Daily Record (Baltimore, MD) archives from July 2005

Commentary: Mediation can turn problems into opportunities.
July 1, 2005... Byline: Louise Phipps Senft In every conflict, there is a main issue, maybe more than one. When the parties take their conflict to court or arbitration, the main issues gets decided for one party or the other. But there are often many...

Baltimore County company making green by helping others staying green.
July 1, 2005... Byline: James Mosher A green company that saves businesses greenbacks. What could be better than that? Nothing, say executives at Columbia Technologies LLC. "We have broad appeal," said Ned Tillman, president and co-founder....

Commentary: Maryland foundations turning to teen-agers for leadership.
July 1, 2005... Byline: Betsy Nelson Americans like to give, and the overwhelming majority of us would like our kids to give, too. But despite our penchant for generosity, many of us find that our potentially philanthropic offspring are not involved in...

Commentary: Supreme Court says file-sharing firms are on hook for songs, movies.
July 1, 2005... Byline: Larry Fiorino The U.S. Supreme Court has determined that online file-sharing services can be held responsible if their sites encourage the swapping of copyrighted materials. The unanimous decision stated that file-sharing sites...

Maryland economy suffers largest setback in nearly two years.
July 1, 2005... Byline: John Hopkins The RESI Maryland Leading Index declined 0.6 percent in April, the largest drop since July 2003. During the past 12 months, however, the index has increased 2.3 percent. Components of the index that contributed to...

Maryland-led team to study composition of comets.
July 1, 2005... Byline: Joe Bacchus On Monday, a mission that began on a launch pad at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla. and before that, in the minds of curious scientists will finally end when a small space probe collides with a very...

Chairman of the MD Republican Party: The hardest job in the state.
July 1, 2005... Byline: Dori Berman For the next 16 months, John Kane will arguably have the most difficult job in Maryland. The Kane Co., which Kane purchased from his father in 1997, employs about 1,300 people and operates in four states....

MD attorney John C. Murphy spends career 'defending the little guy'.
July 1, 2005... Byline: Jen DeGregorio Driving a church van on Saturdays is one way 65-year-old attorney John C. Murphy escapes the stress of life as a land-use and condemnation lawyer in Baltimore. He likes the long drive around the winding roads of...

Commentary: How 'summer' and 'learning' can go together.
July 1, 2005... Byline: June Streckfus Just because the structure and demands of the school year end doesn't mean that learning should stop. Summer can be one of the best and most fun times for children to learn. Keep your child engaged in...

Commentary: Let's get ready to rumble: Separation of church and state is hot issue.
July 1, 2005... Byline: Mark Cheshire Keanu Reeves the actor who dazzled us all with his nuanced portrayal of a surfing undercover cop opposite Patrick Swayze in "Point Break" doesn't deserve this. Tina Turner the ageless wonder behind some of the...

Will banks collapse if home values finally retreat?
July 1, 2005... Byline: Kathleen Johnston Jarboe When Mike Romanoff wanted to buy a one-bedroom condominium in Bethesda last summer, the prices chilled him. Entry-level homes were going for no less than $200,000. "It would have made it almost...

Lawyers create income for legal aid where there was none before.
July 1, 2005... Byline: Robert J. Rhudy & Joe Surkiewicz Here's a short quiz for lawyers: What bar-supported program "creates income where there was none before?" If you answered IOLTA Interest on Lawyers Trust Accounts you're right. IOLTA produces...

Commentary: Grokster provides no bright line rule: Welcome to copyright law.
July 1, 2005... Byline: Jonathan M. Holda On Monday the Supreme Court unanimously held that peer-to-peer file sharing services can be held liable for the copyright infringement of their customers. The court ruled that the determining factor in setting...

Commentary: Requirements of protecting trade secrets.
July 1, 2005... Byline: Jim Astrachan A few years ago we were in Florida defending a trade secret case. The alleged trade secret was a boat design. Through discovery we learned that the plaintiff had shopped his design to boat yards around the world in an...

Montgomery County working on new dispute resolution process to deal with homeowner assn. issues.
July 1, 2005... Byline: Ann Parks Summer is here, and a homeowner's fancy turns to thoughts of privacy. It's not that Joe Homeowner dislikes his neighbors, exactly. But he'd like to be able to sit outside on those balmy summer evenings, sipping a...

MD-based McCormick & Co. lowers earnings view for second half.
July 1, 2005... Byline: James Mosher Good thing that McCormick & Co. hired Hall of Fame quarterback Joe Montana to be its spokesman, because the spice giant might need some second-half heroics. The Sparks-based company yesterday lowered its earnings...

Spirent to cut 180 employees from Rockville-based division.
July 1, 2005... Byline: Joe Bacchus The Rockville office of Spirent plc could get hit hard in an announced plan to cut the company's work force, a company official said. Spirent spokesman Parag Sheth said the company will lay off 180 workers in its...

MD governor announces plans to close Hickey School, implement reforms.
July 1, 2005... Byline: Daniel Ostrovsky Seeking to fulfill a campaign promise of reforming Maryland's system of juvenile justice, Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. announced plans yesterday to close the Charles H. Hickey Jr. School, one of the major juvenile...

Brightview Senior Living names director of Community Relations at Westminster Ridge.
July 1, 2005... Byline: Staff Reports Brightview Senior Living, a regional senior living company, recently named Renee Sherman as the director of Community Relations at Westminster Ridge. Sherman has more than 10 years of senior living community...

CB Richard Ellis announces staffing changes.
July 1, 2005... Byline: Staff Reports CB Richard Ellis announced Ned Brady joined the firm's Industrial Practice as vice president. He was formerly director of Asset Services in the Baltimore office. In his new role, Brady will tap into his extensive...

Baltimore chapter of Mass. Institute of Technology Enterprise Forum names new chair.
July 1, 2005... Byline: Staff Reports The Baltimore chapter of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Enterprise Forum (MITEF) named Todd Crandell as new chair. The forum's change in leadership resulted when Mickey Wohlmuth, Crandell's predecessor,...

Frank Strategic Marketing adds three to staff.
July 1, 2005... Byline: Staff Reports Frank Strategic Marketing added three creative and account service staff to support the agency's new and existing business. David Cooper and Sean Flanagan joined the company as art directors and Kristen Hansen as an...

MD law firms announce staffing changes: July 1, 2005.
July 1, 2005... Byline: Staff Reports Steven Paul Anderson was appointed the new director for the State Law Library. He succeeds Michael S. Miller, who retired June 30 after serving as the library's director for 28 years. Anderson comes to the State...

MD medical facilities announce staffing changes: July 1, 2005.
July 1, 2005... Byline: Staff Reports Greater Baltimore Medical Center has named Mary Whittaker, RN, CPHQ, as director of Quality Assurance and Performance Improvement. Whittaker joins GBMC with a strong background both in bedside patient care as well as...

MD economic development agencies announce staffing changes: July 1, 2005.
July 1, 2005... Byline: Staff Reports Baltimore Development Corp. President M.J. "Jay" Brodie announced the appointment of Kathy A.L. Robertson as BDC's Westside Initiative team leader. Reporting directly to Brodie, Robertson will lead the BDC team...

Air Force announces promotion to brigadier general.
July 1, 2005... Byline: Staff Reports Col. Christopher Inglis was promoted to the rank of brigadier general in the U.S. Air Force with assignment to the Maryland Air National Guard. Gen. Inglis, who most recently held the position of Chief of Stag...

MD-based Aon Consulting announces staffing changes.
July 1, 2005... Byline: Staff Reports Aon Consulting hired Melissa Bruns Burke as a vice president in the Baltimore communication practice and David Johnson as a vice president in the Baltimore employee benefits consulting practice. Burke will be...

MD-based Heery International hires East Region recruiter.
July 1, 2005... Byline: Staff Reports Heery International hired Beth Young. The seasoned recruiter will be the full-service design and construction management firm's East Region recruiter. Heery's hiring of an in-house recruiter is indicative of the...

National Aquarium in Baltimore has new chairman of the board.
July 1, 2005... Byline: Staff Reports The National Aquarium in Baltimore's Board of Directors elected Timothy C. Scheve chair of the board. He is president and CEO of Legg Mason Wood Walker Inc. and senior executive vice president of Legg Mason Inc., and...

MD banks announce staffing changes: July 1, 2005.
July 1, 2005... Byline: Staff Reports Dominic Tringali was named assistant vice president, Consumer Lending for The Columbia Bank. He formerly worked as an account executive for Paytime Inc. In his new position, Tringali will work with individuals...

Commentary: SquareFeet- Look beyond price and go with your gut.
July 1, 2005... Byline: Bill Rauser We have all heard horror stories about the contractor who doesn't show, makes excuses for long delays in a project and then comes in over budget. The first inclination may be to think: Better that family than mine,...

Commentary: Condo craze-Developers convert apartments to for-sale units to keep up with demand.
July 1, 2005... Byline: Mary E. Medland Gen Xers and baby boomers are being brought together by a trend heating up in residential real estate. Many would-be first-time homebuyers are finding themselves priced out of the single-family and townhouse...

Commentary: Multiple domains-Second-home market booms in Maryland, especially on the shore.
July 1, 2005... Byline: Alan Dessoff Baby boomers are proving that you don't have to be retired to have a "retirement house." Still in their prime earning years, boomers have the wherewithal to own two homes, maybe more one for a primary residence...

Commentary: Market revival-Office market shows signs of heating up in first quarter.
July 1, 2005... Byline: Mark R. Smith The continued revival of the office market was the story in the Baltimore area's commercial real estate market during the first quarter of 2005, with leasing and condo sales proving to be significant chapters. ...

Commentary: Retail reformation-Maryland malls are redesigning themselves to keep up with shoppers.
July 1, 2005... Byline: Liz Skinner Malls as shoppers know them are changing across America, and Maryland's retail centers are keeping pace with current innovations. Traditionally, department stores were the anchor of malls, helping to attract a...

Commentary: Backup funds-Reverse mortgages allow seniors some financial flexibility.
July 1, 2005... Byline: Mary E. Medland Although reverse mortgages have been around for years, they're now getting more attention, largely because the average life span continues to grow longer. Put simply, reverse mortgages allow homeowners who are...

Commentary: The Internet Lawyer- E-Discovery Mistakes Haunt Morgan Stanley.
July 1, 2005... Byline: Paul D. Boynton If corporate America hasn't heard the alarm bells ring by now, the recent $1.45 billion fraud verdict against Morgan Stanley should surely do the trick. The Wall Street giant was slammed with the whopping...

Commentary: The Internet Lawyer- Touring D.C. Sites.
July 1, 2005... Byline: Patty Brick I have just moved to Washington, D.C., and for this month's column, I'll review legal websites in the D.C. area. I will also be exploring a place I haven't been in five years dial-up service! I'm using a dial-up...

Commentary: The Internet Lawyer- Tech Roundup: Registered e-mail, preventing theft and more.
July 1, 2005... Byline: Correy E. Stephenson The Internet Lawyer has pulled together a list of new and useful products, services and websites that may be of interest to attorneys, including registered e-mail, options for preventing e-theft, website...

Commentary: Spyware: Is your computer looking back at you?
July 1, 2005... Byline: Sharon D. Nelson and John W. Simek Most computer users have no idea how rampant spyware has become, or how invasive it can be. Would you be surprised, even terrified, to hear that we find spyware on the majority of law firm...

Commentary: The Internet Lawyer- Backup Is Boring - But Essential!
July 1, 2005... Byline: Bruce L. Dorner Let's be honest, backup is as boring as it gets in the technology world until you have a crisis. I have no expectation of covering this topic in depth, as you'd likely fall asleep. But I'll try to hit the high...

Commentary: The Internet Lawyer- Law firm blogs - hip or hype?
July 1, 2005... Byline: Dale Tincher Blogs, or blawgs, are being hailed by some as the key to web success in 2005 and beyond. According to two surveys conducted by the Pew Internet & American Life Project in November 2004, 8 million Americans reported...

Commentary: The Internet Lawyer- Massachusetts Supreme Court launches 'Webcast' of oral arguments.
July 1, 2005... Byline: Tony Wright The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court recently launched a "webcast" of its oral arguments and lawyers are lauding the service as a vital resource in preparing for their own cases before the court. The...

Cancer survivors, families, friends and staff participate in Mercy's Cancer Survivors Day.
July 2, 2005... Byline: Daily Record Staff Mercy Medical Center held its ninth annual National Cancer Survivors Day on June 5 with activities that included an interfaith service and luncheon. Mercy's observance of this national event began when breast...

Commentary: Finding a fix for fairway bunkers.
July 2, 2005... Byline: Joe Rahnis The hardest shot in golf can be an approach shot out of a fairway bunker. Sand shots are tough enough from greenside bunkers, but when you have not only to get the ball airborne out of the bunker, but also advance it 150...

Gov. Ehrlich inviting MD volunteers to free day at MD State Fair.
July 2, 2005... Byline: Staff and Wire Reports Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. is inviting all volunteers in Maryland to enjoy a free day at the Maryland State Fair in Timonium on Sunday, Aug. 28. The Governor's Day at the State Fair is a partnership between...

Ocean City getting state funds to revamp historic buildings.
July 2, 2005... Byline: Staff and Wire Reports Ocean City is getting thousands of dollars to spruce up some historic buildings and keep the downtown area visitor-friendly. On Tuesday, the resort received a $200,000 state grant. Some of the money will help...

MD PR agency partnering with Philadelphia firm to provide services to nonprofits.
July 2, 2005... Byline: Staff and Wire Reports Octo Design Group, a Philadelphia-based graphic design company, said it is partnering with Purple Cat, a Kent Island public relations agency, to provide free creative services to a select number of nonprofit...

The Today Show to highlight day trips from Baltimore.
July 2, 2005... Byline: Staff and Wire Reports The Today Show, NBC's morning show, will highlight day trips from Baltimore, displaying footage of Annapolis, between 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. on July 7, according to the Annapolis and Anne Arundel County...

Johns Hopkins scientists report findings on cervical cancer research.
July 5, 2005... Byline: Staff and Wire Reports New research sheds light on why cervical precancers disappear in some women and not in others. Scientists at the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center reported in the July 1 issue of Clinical Cancer Research...

Cloverlead Biz Park building in Anne Arundel County sold for $3.9M.
July 5, 2005... Byline: Staff and Wire Reports Providence Center Inc., of Arnold, a nonprofit organization that assists individuals with developmental disabilities, purchased a single-story, 31,000-square-foot building at 8223 Cloverleaf Drive, in the...

Bethesda-based Lockheed Martin hiring 100.
July 5, 2005... Byline: Staff and Wire Reports Lockheed Martin Corp. said it intends to hire 100 information technology workers as it expands services to federal government social programs, including Medicare and Social Security. The Bethesda-based...

Kohl's Dept. Stores to hire 150 Baltimore-area residents for new store.
July 5, 2005... Byline: Staff and Wire Reports Kohl's Department Stores, a Wisconsin-based department store chain, said it will hire approximately 150 area residents for a new store slated to open in Timonium in August, its 11th location in Maryland. To...

EEOC to vote on downgrading Baltimore District Office.
July 5, 2005... Byline: Jess Blumberg On Friday, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission will vote on a plan that would cut costs and downgrade Baltimore's District Office, causing concern for Maryland employment lawyers on both sides of the table....

MD Legal Briefs: July 5, 2005l.
July 5, 2005... Byline: Staff and Wire Reports Bartlett backs God' bill U.S. Rep. Roscoe Bartlett, R-Md., has joined a group of more than 100 congressional representatives who are co-sponsoring a constitutional amendment that backers say would protect...

Commentary: Why the Simplified Employee Pension IRA is good alternative.
July 5, 2005... Byline: Ben Proctor The SEP, or Simplified Employee Pension plan, is an uncomplicated alternative to traditional pension plans. The SEP plan allows business owners, their employees, and the self-employed to accumulate assets for...

MD legislature likely to see horse park plan next year.
July 5, 2005... Byline: James Mosher A proposal to build an 800- to 1,200-acre horse park is likely to be put before the next session of the General Assembly that begins in January, a state official said last week. Parties in 12 counties have...

Two Md. residents charged in 2000 IPO scandal.
July 5, 2005... Byline: Kathleen Johnston Jarboe The Securities and Exchange Commission has filed charges against two Maryland residents in connection to their actions in the June 2000 initial public offering of Busybox.com Inc. The civil action was...

CAFTA might bind Maryland to trade terms.
July 5, 2005... Byline: Joe Bacchus Maryland might not have any choice but to be a part of the pending Central America Free Trade Agreement, according to a recent letter sent from Deputy U.S. Trade Representative Peter F. Allgeier to Rep. Ben L. Cardin,...

Old Baltimore cop shop brings $550,000, future as a home.
July 5, 2005... Byline: Jen DeGregorio An abandoned police station in Baltimore's Canton neighborhood will soon get a makeover, changing from a vacant 1925 brick structure to one or two new homes, Baltimore developer Craig Shotwell said. Shotwell,...

Audit finds MD Transit Administration overpaid for MARC service.
July 5, 2005... Byline: Dori Berman The Maryland Transit Administration overpaid at least one of the two companies under contract to operate the MARC commuter trains, according to a recent audit report. A report released last month by the state Office...

Md. Legal Briefs: July 6, 2005.
July 6, 2005... Byline: Daily Record Staff Charged over charges A grand jury in Baltimore indicted Monique Barnette Green, formerly assistant chief of telecommunications for the state Department of Juvenile Justice, on one charge of felony theft and...

Grants meant to promote Baltimore County shipyard's revival.
July 6, 2005... Byline: James Mosher Another attempted resurrection of the Sparrows Point shipyard was expected to receive a tail wind last night with a vote by the Baltimore County Council to approve a $15,000 grant for the business. SPS Limited...

Marriott International Inc.'s gift to the newlyweds.
July 6, 2005... Byline: Kara Kridler Newlyweds who hold their wedding reception at a Marriott hotel may have their honeymoon tab paid in full. Marriott International Inc. said yesterday that couples who sign a contract for a wedding reception at one...

North Arundel Hospital's new name reflects regional focus.
July 6, 2005... Byline: Karen Buckelew North Arundel Hospital is no more. The 278-bed Glen Burnie facility yesterday morning announced that, after 40 years, it would change its name to Baltimore Washington Medical Center in an effort to create a...

Tax evasion arrests in Maryland climb under Schaefer directive.
July 6, 2005... Byline: Dori Berman Comptroller William Donald Schaefer said a crackdown by his enforcement division resulted in increases in arrests for fuel tax evasion and alcohol tax violations in the fiscal year that closed last week. The...

Baltimore-based NeighborCare considering Omnicare's buyout offer.
July 6, 2005... Byline: Kathleen Johnston Jarboe Omnicare Inc. has resumed talks with NeighborCare Inc. to buy the smaller Baltimore pharmacy company for $34.75 per share roughly one year after Omnicare launched a hostile takeover attempt. In a joint...

Md Court of Special Appeals affirms man's conviction for hanging his wife.
July 6, 2005... Byline: Caryn Tamber Testimony supporting a woman's allegation that her husband hanged her in their basement until she passed out will not be disturbed on appeal because the trial court never agreed to treat the defense attorney's...

Utah self-storage company sets sights on Baltimore.
July 6, 2005... Byline: Jen DeGregorio A Utah real estate investment trust plans to build 80,000 square feet of self-storage space on 6.5 acres of forested land in Northeast Baltimore and further expand its presence in Maryland. Extra Space Storage...

Strict waiver standard rejected in CINA case by Md Court of Special Appeals.
July 6, 2005... Byline: Ann Parks A mother waived her right to a contested hearing on a petition to declare her child in need of assistance where her lawyer, in the mother's presence, represented to a judge that she had agreed to the facts alleged in the...

Administrative judge rejects auto theft court for Prince George County.
July 6, 2005... Byline: Daniel Ostrovsky Administrative Judge William D. Missouri struck a blow to Prince George's County Executive Jack B. Johnson and State's Attorney Glenn F. Ivey, praising their motives but rejecting their plan to create a specialized...

Bethesda-based MobilePro to acquire Tiger Communications in Chicago.
July 6, 2005... Byline: Staff and Wire Reports MobilePro Corp., the Bethesda-based wireless technology and broadband firm, announced yesterday that it has signed a letter of intent to acquire Tiger Communications Inc., an Internet and telecommunications...

Human Genome Sciences announces results of clinical trial for lung cancer treatment.
July 6, 2005... Byline: Staff and Wire Reports Human Genome Sciences yesterday announced that the results of a phase two clinical trial demonstrate that HGS-ETR1 (mapatumumab) is well tolerated and can be administered safely in patients with advanced...

BioElectronics Corp. announces that DataMedix will coordinate clinical trials for its lead product.
July 6, 2005... Byline: Staff and Wire Reports BioElectronics Corp., the Frederick developer and marketer of drug-free, anti-inflammatory patches, said yesterday that it has reached an agreement with DataMedix Corp. of Newtown Square, Pa. DataMedix will...

Calvert of Bethesda announces launch of Calvert Aggressive Allocation Fund.
July 6, 2005... Byline: Staff and Wire Reports Calvert of Bethesda yesterday announced the launch of the Calvert Aggressive Allocation Fund, which joins the Calvert Conservative Allocation Fund and the Calvert Moderate Allocation Fund. This asset...

Baltimore-based Profiles merges with Centerpiece Events & Promotion LLC.
July 6, 2005... Byline: Staff and Wire Reports Profiles Inc., the Baltimore marketing and PR agency, has merged with Centerpiece Events & Promotion LLC, the event management firm, to offer clients a broader array of services. Profile will offer all of...

University of Maryland Biotechnology Institute to host 'Entrepreneur Day' for biotech.
July 6, 2005... Byline: Staff and Wire Reports The University of Maryland Biotechnology Institute will host "Entrepreneur Day: Biotechnology discoveries and commercial opportunities," a day-long event, on July 21 on its Shady Grove campus. Christopher...

Annapolis-based CompuDyne is now in full compliance witih Nasdaq market rules.
July 6, 2005... Byline: Staff and Wire Reports CompuDyne Corp., the Annapolis-based technology and security products company, had the character "E" removed from its stock symbol yesterday by Nasdaq, indicating that CompuDyne has remedied it filing...

CSA: Regs at time of crime govern prison-time credits.
July 7, 2005... Byline: Barbara Grzincic A regulation that reduced eligibility for certain credits against prison time is unconstitutional as applied to inmates whose crimes were committed before its effective date, the Court of Special Appeals has held....

Strong quarter lifts MD-based Medifast Inc.'s stock.
July 7, 2005... Byline: Kara Kridler Medifast Inc. said yesterday it anticipates a 42 percent increase in sales for the second quarter, news that sent stock of the Owings Mills-based diet-food maker soaring. Medifast expects revenue to hit $10.5...

Baltimore City Council's convention hotel vote pushed back.
July 7, 2005... Byline: Jen DeGregorio Skeptical Baltimore City Council members, including Council President Sheila Dixon, have apparently delayed an expected July 11 vote on a publicly financed Convention Center hotel until late summer or early fall. ...

Md. delegation 'unified' as base realignment hearing approaches.
July 7, 2005... Byline: Joe Bacchus Maryland has heard positive news at every step of the federal Base Realignment and Closure process, and tomorrow state leaders will have the opportunity to ensure the good news keeps coming. At a morning hearing at...

Groundbreaking ceremony held for the $220M Metro Center project at Owings Mills.
July 7, 2005... Byline: Staff and Wire Reports A groundbreaking ceremony for the $220 million Metro Center at Owings Mills project will be held today, with dignitaries including Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr., state Transportation Secretary Robert L. Flanagan...

Sallie Mae, of Reston, Va., to offer customers T. Rowe Price education savings account.
July 7, 2005... Byline: Staff and Wire Reports Sallie Mae, of Reston, Va., which aids students by providing federally guaranteed loans, said yesterday it has formed a relationship with Baltimore-based investment management firm T. Rowe Price Inc. to help...