Top 5: ‘I was asked to resign’

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Within a few hours of the news that Phillip J. Closius was resigning as the dean of the University of Baltimore’s School of Law, the story had already climbed to the top spot of this week’s legal affairs stories on our website. That story and more in the top 5.

1. Closius resigns as UB Law dean – by Danny Jacobs

Phillip J. Closius has resigned as dean of the University of Baltimore School of Law, citing differences with University President Robert L. Bogomolny over the amount of law school revenue the university keeps for itself.

Bogomolny asked for Closius’ resignation Thursday afternoon, according to an email Closius sent to the law school community Friday morning.

2. Lawyer sought $1.3M from D.C. suburb in speed camera suit – by Steve Lash

A non-practicing Gaithersburg lawyer has drawn scorn — and potentially sanctions — from a federal judge who questioned the attorney’s competence in suing the Village of Chevy Chase for more than $1.3 million after being caught by a speed camera and, months later, being stopped by a police officer.

In his complaint — the first one he has ever filed— Kenneth A. Quittman alleged the village, through its officer’s actions, intentionally and negligently inflicted emotional distress upon him and invaded his privacy. Quittman, whose full-time job is home-schooling his elementary school-age daughter, also claimed the village’s use of speed cameras has resulted in its unjust enrichment and created an “improper impediment to free travel by motorists.”

3. Shoppers Food Warehouse must share documents with Currie – by Steve Lash

State Sen. Ulysses S. Currie will have access to nearly 3 million documents now held by Shoppers Food Warehouse & Pharmacy as he mounts his defense against charges that he accepted a bribe of more than $245,0000 in return for using his legislative office to benefit the retailer.

U.S. District Judge Richard D. Bennett ordered the access Monday morning over objections from Shoppers’ lawyer that such a “fishing expedition” by the defense would cost the company hundreds of thousands of dollars.

4. Court of Appeals revives fight over breach of condo contract – by Barbara Grzincic

The Court of Appeals has given K. Hovnanian Homes another chance to defend itself against claims that one of its units breached a contract at the Annapolis Towne Centre at Parole.

The project’s developer, a limited liability entity created by Greenberg Gibbons Commercial Corp., filed a declaratory judgment action against Hovnanian in 2008 after the homebuilder said it would not go forward with its plans to put condominiums on the Riva Road side of the project.

5. National Bar Association to meet in Baltimore – by Steve Lash

The nation’s largest association of black judges and lawyers will meet in Baltimore next week to discuss legal trends and to honor several luminaries of the bench and bar.

About 1,500 people are expected to attend the National Bar Association’s 86th Annual Convention & Exhibits, which starts Sunday at the Hilton Baltimore and will feature seminars ranging from the state of civil rights laws to updates on personal injury, intellectual property and other areas of law.