A Baltimore City Circuit Court judge recently denied a defendant’s request to push back a medical malpractice trial after a Maryland State Senator joined the defense team two-weeks before the scheduled start date. The defense sought a 60-day delay to accommodate the Maryland lawmaker, also an attorney, but the plaintiff’s lawyer cried foul and called the move a delay tactic.
The lawmaker in question ultimately withdrew from the case, claiming he did not want to become a distraction to the proceedings. The trial began February 6 as planned and the two sides ultimately resolved the Maryland malpractice lawsuit in a confidential, out of court settlement.
In Maryland, the legislature does not work year-round and lawmakers generally have their own careers, including practicing law. To accommodate attorneys who are also part of the state legislature, the law allows these attorney-legislators to use “legislative privilege” to delay legal proceedings that conflict with assembly sessions.
Medical malpractice clients have many questions and concerns about their case, including what is the timeline for a medical malpractice lawsuits in Maryland. Because each case is unique, the answer to that question is rarely a simple one.
Often times, defense attorneys engage in frivolous delay tactics to deny medical malpractice victims their day in court, as the defense seemingly did in this case. While The Cochran Firm, D.C. did not represent either side of the aforementioned lawsuit, our experienced Maryland medical malpractice attorneys are well aware of the ploys wrongdoers utilize.
No matter how clear the negligence, defendants rarely accept full responsibility for their actions nor do they compensate victims accordingly. That is why The Cochran Firm, D.C. goes to great lengths to advocate for our clients, maximize compensation, and send a message to others that our society will not tolerate indifference to public safety.
Patients believing they were the victim of medical malpractice should contact a medical malpractice lawyer in Maryland as soon as possible to discuss their case. The law imposes strict time deadlines for filing medical malpractice lawsuits and plaintiffs who miss the statute of limitation may be barred from recovery.
Because The Cochran Firm, D.C. understands the hardships come medical malpractice victims and family members may go through, out office provides free, confidential legal consultations to help plaintiffs understand their options. Furthermore, our dedicated lawyers represent clients on a contingency basis, meaning we do not charge any upfront costs or collect any legal fees until we win the case.
