Your Partner in Local Government Law

Karpinski, Cornbrooks & Karp specializes in the defense of local governments throughout Maryland. We provide legal advice, counsel and litigation defense to municipalities, counties, sheriffs, and local government employees and officials in a wide array of claims and cases brought against them. Our attorneys offer legal advice intended to avoid future litigation, as well as litigation expertise in defending the interests of our local government clients.

Our Diverse Local Government Law Service Include:


Governmental Immunity

Public Official Immunity

Federal Constitutional Law


Maryland Declaration of Rights Law 

Federal Anti-Discrimination Statutes

Police Liability


Local Government Form and Structure

The Local Government Tort Claims Act

Wrongful Death


Public Information Acts (FIOA and MPIA)

Contracts

Legislative Powers

Efficiency and Expertise in Local Government Law:


The firm has litigated an array of cases involving free speech under the First Amendment to the United States Constitution, search and seizure and use of excessive force claims under the Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution, and due process claims under the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution. Many of those cases have resulted in reported opinions in the United States District Court for the District of Maryland. A representative list is set forth below.

Reported Opinions:

Sammons v. McCarthy, 606 F. Supp. 3d 165 (D. Md. 2022)

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, Inc. v. Shore Transit, 580 F. Supp. 3d 183 (D. Md. 2022)

Willowbrook Apartment Associates, LLC v. Mayor & City Council of Baltimore, 563 F. Supp. 3d 428 (D. Md. 2021)

Saltz v. City of Frederick, 538 F. Supp. 3d 510 (D. Md. 2021)

White v. City of Annapolis by and through City Council, 439 F. Supp. 3d 522 (D. Md. 2020)

Dorsey v. Sokoloff, 381 F. Supp. 3d 521 (D. Md. 2019)

Santos v. Frederick County Board of Commissioners, 346 F. Supp. 3d 785 (D. Md. 2018)

Redemption Community Church v. City of Laurel, 333 F. Supp. 3d 521 (D. Md. 2018)

Thana v. Board of License Commissioners for Charles County, 104 F. Supp. 3d 711 (D. Md. 2015), rev’d and remanded, 827 F.3d 314 (4th Cir. 2016)

Applegate, LP v. City of Frederick, 179 F. Supp. 3d 522 (D. Md. 2016)

Strothers v. City of Laurel, 118 F.3d 856 (D. Md. 2015)

Snider Intern. Corp. v. Town of Forest Heights, 906 F. Supp. 2d 413 (D. Md. 2012), aff’d, 739 F.3d 140 (4th Cir. 2014)

Estate of Saylor v. Regal Cinemas, Inc., 54 F. Supp. 3d 409 (D. Md. 2014)

Gott v. Town of Chesapeake Beach, 44 F. Supp. 3d 610 (D. Md. 2014)

CC Recovery, Inc. v. Cecil County, 26 F. Supp. 3d 487 (D. Md. 2014) 

Gray v. Fenton, 245 Md. App. 207, 226 A.3d 395 (2020)

Ihnken v. Gardner, 927 F. Supp. 2d 227 (D. Md. 2013)

Kane v. Lewis, 989 F. Supp. 2d 468 (D. Md. 2013)

Santos v. Frederick County Board of Commissioners, 884 F. Supp. 2d 420 (2012), aff’d in part, vacated in part, 725 F.3d 451 (4th Cir. 2013)

Morales v. Richardson, 841 F. Supp. 2d 908 (2012)

Paulone v. City of Frederick, 787 F. Supp. 2d 360 (D. Md. 2011)

Windsor v. Spinner Industry Co., Ltd., 825 F. Supp. 2d 640 (D. Md. 2011)

Moxley v. Town of Walkersville, 601 F. Supp. 2d 648 (D. Md. 2009) 

Gray v. Fenton, 245 Md. App. 207, 226 A.3d 395 (2020)

Habash v. City of Salisbury, 618 F. Supp. 2d 434 (D. Md. 2009)

Mowbray v. Zumot, 536 F. Supp. 2d 617 (D. Md. 2008)

Sampson v. City of Cambridge, 251 F.R.D. 172 (D. Md. 2008)

Richter v. Maryland, 590 F. Supp. 2d 730 (D. Md. 2008)

Steiner v. County Commissioners of Caroline County, 490 F. Supp. 2d 617 (D. Md. 2007), aff’d, 341 F. App’x 918 (4th Cir. 2009)

Mora v. City of Gaithersburg, 462 F. Supp. 2d 675 (D. Md. 2006), aff’d, 519 F.3d 216 (4th Cir. 2008)

Germain v. Norris, 536 F. Supp. 2d 585 (D. Md. 2008)

Orgain v. City of Salisbury, 521 F. Supp. 2d 465 (D. Md. 2007)

Nero v. Baltimore County, 512 F. Supp. 2d 407 (D. Md. 2007)

Grimes v. Miller, 448 F. Supp. 2d 664 (D. Md. 2006)

Albero v. City of Salisbury, 422 F. Supp. 2d 549 (D. Md. 2006)

University Gardens Apts. Jt. Venture v. Jack Johnson, 419 F. Supp. 2d 733 (D. Md. 2006)

Elder v. Town of Emmitsburg, 437 F. Supp. 2d 404 (D. Md. 2006)

Renn v. Board of Commissioners for Charles County, 352 F. Supp. 2d 599 (D. Md. 2005)

Antosh v. City of College Park, 341 F. Supp. 2d 565 (D. Md. 2004)

Nazelrod v. Garrett County Sanitary District, Inc., 241 F. Supp. 2d 532 (D. Md. 2003)

Simms v. Hardesty, 303 F. Supp. 2d 656 (D. Md. 2003)

Spears v. Nationwide, 254 F. Supp. 2d 144 (D. D.C. 2003)

Fairclough v. Board of County Commissioners of St. Mary’s County, 244 F. Supp. 2d 581 (D. Md. 2003)

Reeves v. St. Mary’s County Commissioners, 268 F. Supp. 2d 576 (D. Md. 2003)

Rossignol v. Voorhaar, 199 F. Supp. 2d 270 (D. Md. 2002), rev’d, 316 F.3d 516 (4th Cir. 2003), cert. denied, 540 U.S. 822 (2003)

Goulart v. Meadows, 220 F. Supp. 2d 494 (D. Md. 2002), aff’d, 345 F.3d 239 (4th Cir. 2003)

Gonzalez v. Cecil County, 221 F. Supp. 2d 611 (D. Md. 2002)

Briddell v. Chester, 206 F. Supp. 2d 733 (D. Md. 2002)

Moore v. Winer, 190 F. Supp. 2d 804 (D. Md. 2002)

Newman v. Green, 198 F. Supp. 2d 664 (D. Md. 2002)

Morrow v. Farrell, 187 F. Supp. 2d 548 (D. Md. 2002)

Chamberlain v. Denny’s, Inc., 166 F. Supp. 2d 1064 (D. Md. 2001)

Walker v. City of Salisbury, 170 F. Supp. 2d 541 (D. Md. 2001)

Gray v. State of Maryland, 228 F. Supp. 2d 628 (D. Md. 2001)

Lanford v. Prince George’s County, 175 F. Supp. 2d 797 (D. Md. 2001) and 199 F. Supp. 2d 297 (D. Md. 2002)

Talley v. Farrell, 156 F. Supp. 2d 534 (D. Md. 2001)

Pathways Psychosocial Support Ctr. v. Town of Leonardtown, 133 F. Supp. 2d 772 (D. Md. 2001)

Ngo v. Standard Tools & Equipment, Co., Inc., 197 F.R.D. 263 (D. Md. 2000)

Huntington Mortgage Co. v. Mortgage Power Fin. Servs., Inc., 90 F. Supp. 2d 670 (D. Md. 2000)

Peiffer v. King Pontiac, 105 F. Supp. 2d 470 (D. Md. 2000)

Carroll v. City of Westminster, 52 F. Supp. 2d 546 (D. Md. 1999)

Cain v. Rock, 67 F. Supp. 2d 544 (D. Md. 1999)

Horn v. City of Seat Pleasant, 57 F. Supp. 2d 219 (D. Md. 1999)

Naylor v. City of Bowie, 78 F. Supp. 2d 469 (D. Md. 1999)

Harford Ins. Co. v. Am. Automatic Sprinkler Sys., Inc., 23 F. Supp. 2d 623 (D. Md. 1998), aff’d, 201 F.3d 538 (4th Cir. 2000)

Pupkar v. Tastaca, 999 F. Supp. 644 (D. Md. 1998)

Bowers v. Town of Smithsburg, 990 F. Supp. 396 (D. Md. 1997)

S.P. v. City of Takoma Park, 950 F. Supp. 705 (D. Md. 1997), aff’d, 134 F.3d 260 (4th Cir. 1998)

Burton v. Youth Servs. Int’l, 176 F.R.D. 517 (D. Md. 1997)

Musselman v. Phillips, 176 F.R.D. 194 (D. Md. 1997)

Pittman v. Nelms, 87 F.3d 116 (4th Cir. 1996)

United Prison Equip. Co., Inc. v. Board of County Commissioners of Caroline County, 907 F. Supp. 908 (D. Md. 1995)

2BD Ltd. P’ship v. County Commissioners for Queen Anne’s County, 896 F. Supp. 518 (D. Md. 1995)

Roberts v. Cecil County Commissioners, 906 F. Supp. 304 (D. Md. 1995)

Gnatt v. Maryland Division of Correction, 894 F. Supp. 226 (D. Md. 1005)

Free State Recycling v. Frederick County, 885 F. Supp. 798 (D. Md. 1994)

Blackwell v. Delmar, 841 F. Supp. 151 (D. Md. 1993)

Marryshow v. Bladensburg, 139 F.R.D. 318 (D. Md. 1991)

Contact us today to learn how our expertise can benefit your local government and protect the rights and interests of your community.

410-727-5000
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