Ongoing Investigation in Somerset County Plane Crash
Maryland State police are investigating a small plane crash that injured the pilot and killed his pet dog. Officials say the pilot, Dennis Edward Shaw, was able to escape after he crashed his plane near the Crisfield Regional Airport. Mr. Shaw told Police that he crashed about 600 yards off the runway around 4:00 AM on the morning of June 15. The pilot told investigators that mechanical problems were the…
Read MoreElective Share Reform: What You Need to Know about Recent Legislation
This spring, the Maryland General Assembly passed nine bills affecting estate and tax planning, probate, and trust administration. The most impactful and important of these laws was House Bill 99 (Senate Bill 192): Elective Share of Surviving Spouse. After years of effort, the new law aims to better protect surviving spouses from attempted disinheritance by their partner. For hundreds of years England and most states in the United States have…
Read MoreProfessional Handling of Referrals
By: Paul J. Schwab This article was originally published in the June 2019 edition of the Baltimore County Bar Association Newsletter, “The Advocate.” Maryland attorneys are required to “provide competent representation to a client.” Md. Rule 19-301.1. The Maryland Rules of Professional Conduct state that competency “requires the legal knowledge, skill thoroughness and preparation reasonably necessary for representation.” Id. With this requirement in mind, most attorneys limit their practices to…
Read MoreMaryland Comptroller’s Unclaimed Property Report Released
The Maryland Comptroller’s Office holds unclaimed property records from hundreds of thousands of accounts, amounting to hundreds of millions of dollars. The Comptroller’s Office attempts to locate owners through newspaper ads, media campaigns, mass mailings and outreach programs. Many do not realize there is money owed to them from unclaimed property. Current or former residents can search their names on the Comptroller of Maryland’s website to find out if the…
Read MoreLocal Pediatrician Indicted for Sex Offenses
Dr. Ernesto Torres was indicted on Monday, May 20, 2019, on an additional 65 charges, including sex abuse of a minor and sexual assault. These indictments followed an arrest on May 3, 2019, for the rape of an 18-year-old patient. Since his initial arrest, more than 10 more victims have come forward, including an 11-year-old girl. The 68-year-old doctor has been a licensed physician since 1979, specializing in pediatrics. He…
Read MoreTwo Lives Lost in Edgewood Group Home Fire
The attorneys at Azrael Franz are dedicated to protecting the rights of victims injured in disastrous fires. On Thursday, May 9, 2019, Ernest Milton Lee, 57, and Kimberly Ann Shupe, 47, lost their lives when the group home they lived in caught fire in Edgewood, Maryland. A third victim’s identification is still pending. The lone survivor was a man who jumped from a top floor window to safety. The fire…
Read More9 Questions You Should Ask Your Auto Insurance Company
Choosing auto insurance coverage can be overwhelming. Whether purchasing a new insurance plan or revisiting a current one, it is best not to go into the process blind. Auto insurance is meant to provide protection and peace-of-mind, but this is only possible if drivers know the facts behind the insurance they possess. Here are some questions to ask the agent about coverage, policies, premiums, and personal injury protection. After carefully…
Read MoreKeith Franz Interviewed by CBS Concerning Growing Calls to Ground Boeing Max Aircrafts
After two fatal plane crashes occurred within a five-month span, there was a growing call for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to ground Boeing 737 Max-series aircrafts for public safety reasons but the FAA remained hesitant. On Sunday, March 10th, 157 people were killed in an Ethiopian Airlines plane crash, which comes on the heels of the Indonesian Lion Air jet crash into the ocean five months earlier, killing 189…
Read MoreFatal House Fire in Cumberland
On Monday 4, February, emergency officials responded to a late afternoon house fire that occurred at 614 W. Industrial Blvd in Cumberland, where a one-alarm fire took place. During their efforts, responders managed to rescue one individual from the fire, while another occupant remained trapped in the house fire. The owner of the property is Laura Parkinson. A comprehensive investigation is currently underway. A 911 call was received at approximately…
Read MoreFatal House Fire in Salisbury
On Friday 1, February, emergency officials responded to an early morning house fire that occurred at 201 Louise Avenue in Salisbury, where a one-alarm fire took place. Upon further investigation, responders discovered the body of a male individual and a dog at the scene. Police are yet to identify the victim. A comprehensive investigation is currently underway. A 911 call was received at approximately 4:22 a.m. from a neighbor who…
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