News & Resources

Friedlander Misler advised Cornerstone Montgomery, an independent, nonprofit 501(c)3 mental and behavioral health services provider, in a merger with Southern Maryland Community Network, Inc. Effective April 1, 2023, the merged organization will operate under the name Cornerstone Montgomery, however, Southern Maryland Community Network will do business as Cornerstone Southern Maryland. The union allows both groups to better serve and more comprehensively meet the mental and behavioral health of residents across Maryland. The Friedlander Misler team was led by partner Jennifer Jette and principal Rebecca Urland Monzi, who both also serve in board roles for Cornerstone Montgomery—Jennifer as a current member of the Cornerstone Montgomery Board of Directors and Rebecca as a former member of the Board of Directors and current member of the HUD Board of Directors. “It was an honor to represent Cornerstone Montgomery in this deal,” Jennifer said. “The services both organizations provide are crucial to many Maryland […]

Friedlander Misler advised a regional bank on loans for two apartment complexes. The firm represented the bank on a $24,000,000 loan for the acquisition and renovation of an apartment complex in Newport News, Virginia. The firm also represented the same bank with respect to a $70,500,000 loan for new-build construction of luxury apartments in suburban Maryland. The bank participated in that loan for $25,000,000. The Friedlander team was led by principal attorney Rebecca Urland Monzi and associate Li Ann Butterfield Watson.

The U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia granted the defendant’s, a construction contractor, motion for summary judgment in a negligence action. The case involves a serious injury that occurred during the construction of a hotel near the Washington Nationals’ ballpark in Washington, D.C. The Court found the plaintiff had failed to adduce any evidence that would allow a reasonable jury to conclude that the defendant had breached any duty or standard of care owed to the plaintiff. Regarding the verdict, Joe Santini stated “although obtaining summary judgment on behalf of a defendant in a negligence action is rare, the facts and evidence in this case suggested that such a motion needed to be filed, and we are pleased that the Court agreed with our analysis.” This case was vigorously litigated, and settlement was not a reasonable option given the size of the workers’ compensation lien on the file.

Jonathan M. Marlin, a member of the firm’s workers’ compensation group representing employers and insurers in both Maryland and the District of Columbia, won a jury verdict in the Circuit Court for Prince George’s County, Maryland, on behalf of an employer in the corporate retail space. The matter involved an employee’s workers’ compensation claim against the employer, whereby the employee-claimant received a decision from the Maryland Workers’ Compensation Commission (Commission) issuing a permanent partial disability finding of 15% industrial loss of use of the body due to a back injury, 6% causally related and 9% pre-existing. An appeal of the aforementioned decision was filed by the employee-claimant. A two-day jury trial was held on June 29-30, 2022. Following deliberations, the jury affirmed the Commission’s finding making no changes to the Commission’s written decision. Correspondingly, Judge Gladys M. Weatherspoon issued an Order affirming the Commission’s Award. 

Congratulations to Rebecca Urland Monzi, on being named to the National Law Journal’s list of Real Estate/Construction Law Trailblazers. Rebecca was selected in part for her role as a member of the Board of Directors of Cornerstone Montgomery, the largest and most comprehensive provider of behavioral health services in Montgomery County, Maryland, whose services include providing housing through its residential rehabilitation program. When asked what was the genesis of the path that made her trailblazer, Rebecca answered, “I was drawn to Cornerstone Montgomery because I had personal experience with a loved one who struggled with mental health issues. When I saw how Cornerstone approaches these issues holistically and treats clients as human beings, I knew it was a perfect way to use my experience in real estate law to make a difference in someone’s life.” The National Law Journal received a very competitive list of nominations cast in favor of […]