11.07.2015 Views

Memorandum Opinion - the Circuit Court for Baltimore City

Memorandum Opinion - the Circuit Court for Baltimore City

Memorandum Opinion - the Circuit Court for Baltimore City

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.

(1958)] suggests that <strong>the</strong> activities of <strong>the</strong> defendant in <strong>the</strong> <strong>for</strong>um state must have beencontemporaneous with or prior to <strong>the</strong> act or omission which created <strong>the</strong> cause of action.”).Because Rothstein and RRA entered <strong>the</strong>ir appearance on behalf of WIN and Whitneyafter <strong>the</strong> alleged wrongdoing occurred, <strong>the</strong>ir representation of WIN and Whitney is not arelevant <strong>for</strong>um contact. But even if Rothstein and RAA’s representation of WIN andWhitney in this case is considered along with <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r evidence on which plaintiffs rely, <strong>the</strong>evidence is not sufficient to show “continuous and systematic” activities in Maryland. Itdoes not establish that <strong>the</strong>y regularly do or solicit business in Maryland or that <strong>the</strong>y engagein a “persistent course of conduct” in M aryland.Plaintiffs rely primarily on Baker & Kerr, Inc. v. Brennan, 26 F. Supp. 2d 767 (D. Md.2008) and Capital Source Finance, LLC v. Delco Oil, Inc., 520 F. Supp. 2d 684, 690 (D. Md.2007). Nei<strong>the</strong>r case advances <strong>the</strong>ir position. In Baker & Kerr, B & K, a Marylandcorporation, sued Michael P. Brennan, a certified public accountant licensed in <strong>the</strong>Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, <strong>for</strong> malpractice, breach of contract, and civil conspiracy.26 F. Supp. 2d at 768-69. Brennan had been retained by B & K to per<strong>for</strong>m Maryland stateand federal income tax returns from 1992 until 1995. Id. at 768. Over <strong>the</strong> course of thosethree years, Brennan frequently communicated with principals of B & K by phone,correspondence, and fax. Brennan also traveled to Maryland at least six times. Id. at 768-69.The <strong>Court</strong> denied Brennan’s motion to dismiss <strong>for</strong> lack of personal jurisdiction reasoning that“Brennan purposefully directed his activities to B & K in Maryland” and as such he was notbeing “haled into a . . . [Maryland] . . . court as <strong>the</strong> result of any random, <strong>for</strong>tuitous, orattenuated contacts, or because of any unilateral activity.” Id at 770 (citation omitted).15

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!