In an article published in Law360 on August 25, 2025, Michal Shinnar discusses the Second Circuit’s ruling that the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission may continue investigating a worker’s charge even if the employee has filed a separate lawsuit.
The precedential decision, which reflects a growing consensus among federal appeals courts on the breadth of the agency’s powers, affirms that EEOC does not yield its ability to process a worker’s charge simply because the employee behind the filing has gone to court. Although the Supreme Court has not addressed the issue directly, high court rulings dating back to 1977 have laid the foundation that EEOC investigations operate independently of private litigation as the agency’s mission is to advance the public interest, not merely to remedy individual grievances.
Michal said the Second Circuit’s decision is the proper interpretation of the commission’s authority because the EEOC can secure forms of justice that may be out of reach for an individual employee. The commission has the power to ask a court for broad, injunctive relief, like mandated antidiscrimination training or recurring compliance reporting. The agency can also bring a class action claim without going through the certification process that individuals bringing class-wide claims must hurdle. “These are rights given to the EEOC, and they can’t be taken away because of what a private party does. The EEOC has its own interest,” she said.
Drew LaFramboise has been named to The Daily Record’s 2025 Medical Malpractice & Personal Injury Law Power List.
Selected by the publication’s editorial team, with input from knowledgeable members of the community, the attorneys on the list are among the most influential and respected medical malpractice and personal injury practitioners in Maryland.
A principal at JGL, Drew is a seasoned trial attorney and strategic problem solver who has spent his career representing individuals and businesses in complex, high-stakes legal matters, securing millions of dollars in compensation for clients. His experience spans the full spectrum of litigation, from initial case investigation to trial. While Drew thrives in the courtroom, he is equally skilled in alternative dispute resolution and has achieved favorable outcomes through negotiation, mediation and arbitration. He approaches each case with a tailored, results-oriented mindset, developing creative, client-focused strategies and solutions.
The start of a new school year brings equal parts excitement and stress for families. For parents who are recently separated or adjusting to a new custody order, the transition to a new school year can be even more complicated. These complications range from figuring out school drop-offs to parent-teacher conferences – everyday routines that now involve coordination across two households.
As a Maryland family law attorney, I’ve seen how back-to-school season can become a flashpoint for conflict. The good news is that with preparation and clear communication, families can reduce stress and keep the focus where it belongs, the best interests of the child.
The Legal Foundation: Custody and Parenting Plans in Maryland
Legal Custody: which is the decision-making authority concerning the child over big issues like school enrollment, IEPs, and extracurriculars.
Physical Custody: which is where the child lives.
The legal custody and physical custody of a child are often set forth in a custody agreement or a custody order. In these instances, it is critical to follow your agreement or custody order exactly as written. A parent who makes unilateral decisions, like changing schools or signing forms without authority, risks legal consequences relative to their agreement or custody order. However, for parents without a custody agreement or custody order, a legal foundation that differs from the default status as parents has not yet been established, which means that both parents are generally entitled to be involved. It is important to understand where your situation falls on the spectrum of legal foundations to navigate this back-to-school season.
Practical Challenges at the Start of the School Year
Separated parents face unique logistical and communication hurdles when school begins. Some common issues include:
School Communication – Such as communicating with the school administration or the child’s teacher. Ensuring both parents are listed as emergency contacts, have access to online portals, and receive notices about conferences and events.
Logistics – Such as coordinating transportation, clarifying who can pick up the child (grandparents, caregivers, or new partners), and managing after-school activities.
Ensuring Consistency for the Child – Such as establishing routines for homework, bedtime, and activities and attempting to apply those routines across households. This also includes ensuring that the child has appropriate access to supplies, clothes, and devices, which should be available in both homes to avoid conflict.
Common Disputes and How to Avoid Them
Two of the most common disputes at this time of year are:
Decision-Making Conflicts – Such as school choice disputes, including where one parent prefers public school and the other prefers private school.
Scheduling Conflicts – Such as scheduling extracurricular activities, which have a tendency to overlap with custodial time.
While there is no cure-all to resolving these types of disputes, a common-sense approach is generally the preferred path. In most instances, a resolution to disputes starts with communication. Communicating a concern to the other parent where the issue is delineated and a resolution is proposed is often the best first course of action. Similarly, responding to a communication that outlines a dispute and doing so in a timely fashion is essential. Too often, disputes develop out of procrastination. When disputes arise in cases, keeping in mind the following tips can help you defuse a situation quickly and effectively:
Use co-parenting apps to manage scheduling and communication.
Keep all discussions focused on the child.
Support the child’s needs. Transitions can be stressful for kids and no time is that more apparent than back-to-school. This is heightened during the time of separation. Understanding these stressors while relying on support systems in place.
Keep records. Document schedules, communications, and expenses. Clear records can prevent disputes and protect you if issues arise.
If conflicts escalate, consider contacting an appropriate professional for advice prior to making your next move. Oftentimes, your agreement or custody order may require the involvement of a parent coordinator or may require that you submit your dispute to a qualified mediator before escalating the issue to court. Understanding these requirements is critical.
When Legal Help Is Needed
Unfortunately, some disputes can’t be resolved without legal action. You may need to turn to the court for assistance when:
The custody order no longer works with the child’s school schedule, whether that is due to the exchange times, commute needs, extracurricular requirements, or otherwise.
A parent makes unilateral decisions related to the child, such as enrolling the child in a different school.
Co-parenting devolves to an ineffective point whereby the child is disadvantaged.
Often, allowing circumstances that are disadvantaging your child to continue is not the best course of action. When you believe you have reached this point, you should consider speaking with an experienced Maryland family law attorney who can help with establishing a custody agreement, or help you with the enforcement, modification, or clarification of an existing custody agreement or custody order.
Final Thoughts
Back-to-school season is always a transition, but for separated families, it requires extra care. By following your custody order, communicating effectively, and prioritizing your child’s needs, you can reduce conflict and provide stability during this important time. If you’re facing challenges related to custody and school issues, I invite you to reach out for a consultation. Together, we can work toward solutions that keep your child’s well-being front and center.
Do You Know What to Do if Your Car is Submerged in Water?
Every year, 350-400 people die in submersed vehicles in North America, with these deaths accounting for up to 10% of all drownings. Vehicle submersion has the highest fatality rate of any type of single-vehicle accident. Most of these incidents are survivable, as vehicles usually hit the water in an upright position, causing, at most, non-disabling injuries; in these cases, death results from either ineffective or no self-rescue actions by the victim(s). Perhaps more commonly, flash floods can catch drivers by surprise, trapping them in their cars as floodwaters rush past.
If you find yourself in a sinking car, the natural reaction may be to panic. This is the worst thing you can do. From the moment your car begins to submerge into the water, you need to quickly make important decisions.
Stay Calm and Act Quickly
Take a deep breath and focus
Unbuckle your Seatbelt
Release the seatbelt immediately
Open or Break a Window
If electric windows fail, break a window. You can use your headrest.
Escape Through the Window
Exit through the window
Swim to Safety
Once out, swim to the surface and away from the vehicle
Vehicle occupants should not call 911, wait for the car to fill up with water, or do anything else that would delay them from getting to safety as quickly as they can, experts say.
What Is Turn Around Don’t Drown™ (TADD)?
Turn Around Don’t Drown™ (TADD) is a National Weather Service campaign to warn people of the hazards of walking or driving a vehicle through flood waters.
Each year, more deaths occur due to flooding than from any other severe weather-related hazard. The Centers for Disease Control report that over half of all flood-related drownings occur when a vehicle is driven into hazardous flood water. The next highest percentage of flood-related deaths is due to walking into or near flood waters. Why? The main reason is that people underestimate the force and power of water. Many of the deaths occur in automobiles as they are swept downstream. Of these drownings, many are preventable, but too many people continue to drive around the barriers that warn that the road is flooded.
What Happens When Your Car Hits the Water?
If a car leaves the roadway and lands in deep water, most passenger vehicles will float on the surface for 30 seconds to several minutes. However, if the water is deeper than the body of the car, it will sink!
A vehicle with open windows and/or doors will sink faster than the same one with windows and/or doors closed. If a vehicle has all of its windows and doors closed, it will initially descend slowly, but as the car loses buoyancy, the speed of descent will increase.
Whether driving or walking, any time you come to a flooded area, Turn Around Don’t Drown®.
Don’t underestimate the power of water. Six inches of fast-moving water can knock over and carry away an adult. Twelve inches of fast-moving water can carry away a small car. Eighteen to twenty-four inches of water can carry away most large SUVs, vans, and trucks.
Think clearly and act quickly. A typical car floats for 30 to 120 seconds before completely submerging. Your actions in the first two minutes will help you escape your vehicle.
Tip 2: Roll Down All the Windows
When your car hits the water, roll down the windows. This is your exit route. Do this before the waterline rises above the height of the windows. The pressure of the water may prevent windows from rolling down, even if you have automatic windows. Do not try to break the windshield. The windshield is the thickest glass in the car and will be extremely difficult to break from inside the vehicle.
Tip 3: Take Off Your Seatbelt
Take your seatbelt off quickly, so you are able to move freely inside the car. Cut your seatbelt if you need to.
Tip 4: Assist Other Passengers
Check on passengers, especially children. Unlatch restraints on the car seat and help older children unbuckle their seatbelts. Instruct them to exit through the car window closest to them or bring them to the front seat to exit with you.
Tip 5: Climb Through the Window and Swim to Safety
Climbing out the window is easiest when the waterline is still below the car window. If water is past the window, you will still be able to climb out. Hold your breath, come to the surface, and swim away from the vehicle. If you have a small child with you in the front seat, put them through the window first and follow after them to assist them to the surface.
What to Avoid Doing When Your Car is Sinking
Do not open the doors. It may be your first survival instinct when your car hits the water to try to open the car door to get out of the vehicle, but this will only cause the vehicle to sink more rapidly. It is extremely difficult to open a car door with water in front of it.
Do not wait for the car to fill with water. When the car starts sinking under the water, the water pressure outside the car will make opening the car door virtually impossible, no matter how strong you are. You may have been advised to wait until the car fully fills up with water for the pressure on the inside and outside of the car to equalize. The idea here is that when the pressure equalizes, the car door can be opened with ease for escape. While this may be true, the inside and outside pressure will not equalize immediately after the car is submerged. You may be forced to hold your breath and hope you can open the door and escape before you run out of time.
When to Take Caution
The National Weather Service advises people to watch for warnings of potential hazards.
“Take Action!” When These Products Are Issued
Warnings or advisories for the events below are issued when confidence is greater than 80% that an event will occur. Depending on the type of event, these may be issued anywhere from hours before an event to days in advance of an event.
Flash Flood Warning
Flood Warning
Flood Advisory
Coastal/Lakeshore Hazardous Message
Special Weather Statement
“Be Prepared” When These Products Are Issued
Watch products associated with flooding are typically issued within a day or more of the event. The types of events are listed below. The confidence level for an event to occur when a watch is issued is 50-80%. When a watch is issued, you should begin to gather more information about the situation and determine what actions you will need to take should a warning be issued.
Flash Flood Watch
Flood Watch
What To Do Next
If the accident was caused by another driver, a car accident lawyer can help you determine who is truly liable for the accident. Insurance companies will do all they can to get you to say something that gives them an excuse to pay you less money. If an insurance agent calls, you can say “talk to my lawyer.”
Anyone can become a victim. Whether you are a driver or a passenger, there are important steps to take to remove yourself from a sinking car to safety. Remember to stay calm, keep the doors closed, and lower the windows to climb through. Try to assist any passengers in the car if you are able and if they need help. Following these steps will significantly increase your chances of escaping a sinking car and reaching safety.
The start of a new school year can be stressful for any family, and even more so for separated or divorced parents. In this episode of JGL LAW FOR YOU, attorney Christopher Castellano joins Lindsay Parvis to share practical strategies for navigating back-to-school transitions when custody orders, parenting plans, and communication challenges come into play. From handling morning drop-offs and online school portals to managing emergency contacts, extracurriculars, and legal considerations, Chris offers insights to reduce stress and prioritize kids’ best interests. Whether you have an existing custody order or are newly separated, this conversation provides helpful tools for creating consistency, improving co-parent communication, and starting the school year with confidence and stability.
JGL lawyers have once again been recognized as leading lawyers in their fields by Best Lawyers, a prestigious honor based entirely on peer review. Sixteen JGL attorneys were named to The Best Lawyers in America list, and two attorneys were honored in the Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch category, which celebrates outstanding early-career lawyers who have been in private practice for less than 10 years.
As the oldest and most respected peer-review publication in the legal profession, Best Lawyers is widely regarded as a benchmark for excellence. Its rigorous and transparent methodology is based on confidential evaluations from leading lawyers within the same geographical and practice areas.
The JGL attorneys recognized on the lists include:
The Best Lawyers in America
David Bulitt
Collaborative Law: Family Law
Family Law
Family Law Mediation
Jeffrey N. Greenblatt
Family Law
Andrew E. Greenwald
Medical Malpractice Law – Plaintiffs
Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs
Jeffrey Hannon
Family Law
Jay P. Holland
Appellate Practice
Qui Tam Law
Civil Rights Law
Employment Law – Individuals
Drew LaFramboise
Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions
Timothy F. Maloney
Appellate Practice
Employment Law – Individuals
Employment Law – Management
Jerry D. Miller
Corporate Law
Real Estate Law
Veronica Nannis
Commercial Litigation
Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Plaintiffs
Roy Niedermayer
Litigation – Trusts and Estates
Timothy P. O’Brien
Trusts and Estates
Lindsay Parvis
Collaborative Law: Family Law
Family Law
Family Law Arbitration
Family Law Mediation
Steven M. Pavsner
Medical Malpractice Law – Plaintiffs
Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs
Paul F. Riekhof
Litigation – Trusts and Estates
Michal Shinnar
Civil Rights Law
Employment Law – Individuals
Litigation – Labor and Employment
Erika Jacobsen White
Employment Law – Individuals
Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch
Bridget Cardinale
Civil Rights Law
Commercial Litigation
Kevin Redden
Appellate Practice
Commercial Litigation
As the new school year kicks off in Maryland, DC and Virginia, streets throughout our area are getting busier.
Children walking or bicycling to class
School buses making frequent stops
Newly licensed teen drivers
The Problem
Data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) shows that 104 people died in school-transportation-related crashes in 2022 in the United States. From 2013 to 2022 more than 1,000 people died in school-transportation-related crashes, and 198 of those were children aged 18 and younger.
Of those children killed:
40% were occupants of other vehicles
38% were pedestrians
18% were occupants of school transportation vehicles
3% were bicyclists
1% were using personal devices such as skateboards, scooters and wheelchairs
Some of the highly publicized accidents involved school buses. In 2023, school bus-related crashes killed 128 people nationwide, up 23% compared to the 104 deaths in 2022, according to National Safety Council (NSC) tabulations of data from the NHTSA.
Of the people injured in school bus-related crashes from 2014 to 2023, approximately 34% were school bus passengers, 9% were school bus drivers, and 52% were occupants of other vehicles. The remainder were pedestrians, pedalcyclists, and other or unknown.
According to the 2024 Virginia Crash Facts report, crashes involving school buses reveal vital safety trends. Out of 584 reported school bus crashes last year:
173 resulted in injuries—though thankfully, there were zero fatalities
157 were school bus passengers, with children aged 10-14 being the most affected group (64 injuries)
Vision Zero Program
Fortunately, Maryland, DC and Virginia have all implemented their own versions of the international program known as Vision Zero.
Begun in the 1990’s, this transportation safety strategy is aimed at eliminating traffic fatalities and severe injuries. The approach is proactive, viewing traffic deaths as preventable, rather than inevitable. The goal is to prioritize the safety of all road users by designing transportation systems that account for human error and vulnerability, to ensure that if mistakes do happen, the result is not death or serious injury.
This approach is a new vision for safety.
Traditional Approach
vs.
Vision Zero
Traffic deaths are inevitable
vs.
Traffic deaths are preventable
Perfect human behavior
vs.
Integrate human failing in approach
Prevent collisions
vs.
Prevent fatal and severe crashes
Individual responsibility
vs.
Systems approach
Saving lives is expensive
vs.
Saving lives is not expensive
Vision Zero utilizes a Safe System Approach, which designs a road system to account for human mistakes and minimize the impact of crashes. Achieving the desired results means implementing comprehensive strategies across the five “E’s:”
Engineering – Infrastructure design and roadway improvements to reduce speed, increase visibility, and separate different modes of transportation. Examples include curb extensions, pedestrian islands, bike lanes, and roundabouts.
Enforcement – Targeted police enforcement and automated speed cameras in high crash locations aimed to deter dangerous behaviors like speeding, distraction, and impairment.
Education – Safety campaigns and training to promote safe walking, biking, driving, and public transit use. Education raises awareness of key issues and risky behaviors.
Engagement – Partnering with community groups and stakeholders can promote Vision Zero and gather input on priorities and solutions. Engagement ensures community ownership.
Evaluation – Continuous data analysis and assessment of existing conditions, progress on actions, and impact of improvements enable an evidence-based approach.
Vision Zero focuses on three main areas:
Safe speed limits
Safe street design
Safe speed technology
Safe Speed Limits
Managing speeds is the number one priority. Higher speed increases kinetic energy, which leads to more severe crash impacts, resulting in more injuries and fatalities. The human body can only tolerate so much force in a crash. Higher speeds are greater risks for people with lower physical tolerance, such as the young and elderly.
Impact of Car Crash on Human Body
The likelihood of death for people walking if hit at these speeds:
Previously, the focus of the U.S. transportation system was to maximize speedy movement of vehicles rather than safe movement of people. This disproportionately affects low-income neighborhoods and communities of color, which are overburdened with high traffic roads and limited sidewalks and other safety features. The focus has been moving vehicles efficiently to minimize congestion. Vision Zero focuses on moving people safely. Small design changes near schools can make a big difference, for example:
Narrowing travel lanes, which encourages slower driving speeds
Reducing the number of travel lanes, possibly replaced by dedicated left-turn pockets and/or bike lanes
Buffered or protected bike lanes, which are physically separated from travel lanes with posts, planters, etc.
Green-painted “crossbikes” (essentially crosswalks for bicyclists)
Adding high-visibility painted crosswalks
Lowering posted speed limits (from 30/25 to 20 mph)
Example: Installing left-turn calming speed bumps at an intersection can reduce drivers’ speeds when making a turn, as well as improving their visibility of pedestrians crossing the street. Adding the middle bump to the crosswalk can lower the speed of left turning vehicles by changing the trajectory of turn.
Intelligent Speed Assistance (ISA) is a safety technology that alerts drivers when they exceed specific speeds. Already in use and proven to improve safety in other nations, ISA is a prime example of a Safe System Approach that manages speeds at a fundamental level, reducing the likelihood and severity of speed-related crashes, injuries and deaths. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) recommends ISA in all vehicles, as is required in the European Union.
Speed Safety Cameras – when well designed, operated and monitored – can deter high speeds, reduce crashes and lessen the severity of injuries when crashes do occur. They are widely used internationally and in more than 240 U.S. communities, resulting in reductions of roadway injuries and fatalities ranging from 20% to 37%.
Coordinate Signal Timing, optimize safer speeds– use of retimed signals on a major commercial corridor to improve traffic flow and enhance safety, particularly for the many walking and biking trips. Traffic signals were timed at a steady speed of 13 mph, reducing stop-and-go movements for people biking and improving safety for all street users, while also improving overall travel times during peak hours.
Increase Speed Limit Signage – increase the density of speed limit signs from a frequency of every 1 to 1.5 miles in each direction to a new standard of every quarter mile in each direction. These low-cost, low-effort changes resulted in reductions in crashes and in high-end speeding.
Speed Feedback Signs – dynamic display speeds of approaching vehicles and/or display messages such as “Reduce Speed” when a driver exceeds a certain speed. Analysis shows small but valuable decreases in speeds.
Vision Zero Maryland
MCDOT’s Safe Routes to School (SRTS) program works to encourage and enable children to walk and bike to school safely through education, outreach and building safe infrastructure around schools. The program offers activities and events that focus on pedestrian and bicycle safety. The program offers free resources to get schools, parents and community groups started. SRTS programs are federally funded to support efforts by community members and governments to enable and encourage children to safely walk, roll, or bicycle to school. Federal funds allocated to this program are reimbursable and available for infrastructure and non-infrastructure projects that benefit elementary and middle school children.
The main purpose of the Vision Zero Maryland program is:
To enable and encourage children, including those with disabilities, to walk, roll, and bicycle to school
To make bicycling, walking, and rolling to school a safer more appealing transportation alternative, thereby encouraging an active lifestyle
To facilitate the planning, development, and implementation of projects that will improve school safety and reduce traffic, fuel consumption, and pollution in the vicinity of school
The program is administered by the Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration (MDOT SHA). Eligible sponsors may apply for funding to support infrastructure and non-infrastructure activities that encourage children to safely walk, bicycle or roll to school. Federal funds allocated to this program must benefit elementary and middle school children in grades K-8 and must have a 20% cash match contribution.
For example, in 2024, Montgomery County used small-scale interventions and expanded its efforts across high-injury network (HIN) corridors by launching 127 safety projects including 29 new bikeways and nearly seven miles of new sidewalks. These features were installed at targeted intersections:
Traffic signals
Pedestrian hybrid beacons
New bikeways
New sidewalks
Together, these targeted improvements contributed to a 28% reduction in serious and fatal crashes on HIN corridors—roads that make up just 3% of the county’s network but account for 41% of severe crashes—compared to pre-COVID years. This success proves that scaling up focused, data-driven safety interventions can lead to sustained improvements, saving lives and reducing crashes over time. Montgomery County’s Vision Zero initiative exemplifies how a strategic, proactive approach can have a significant, long-term impact on road safety.
Vision Zero Virginia is a program focused on eliminating traffic fatalities and serious injuries by adopting a proactive, system-level approach to traffic safety. It recognizes that traffic deaths and severe injuries are preventable and aims to create a safe transportation system for all, regardless of how people make mistakes.
Every school day, nearly one million Virginia students are transported to and from school, field trips, athletic events and other school-related activities on the more than 15,000 school buses operated by the Commonwealth’s school divisions. The safety of these students is a responsibility shared by school bus drivers, school divisions, parents, the Virginia Department of Education, and the Virginia Department of Transportation. Most counties in Virginia have a low or below-average fatality concentration level. However, areas surrounding Richmond, Virginia Beach, Charlottesville, and Northern Virginia have above average and high fatality concentration levels.
Example – Arlington, VA
After a public hearing, the Arlington County Board adopted its first five-year Vision Zero Action Plan in May 2021. This decision set a roadmap for the effort to eliminate traffic fatalities and serious injuries in the county by 2030. Arlington installed quick, tactical on-street safety improvements such as centerline hardening using flexible posts and mini speed humps.
As a result, the rate of vehicles crossing the centerline dropped from 38% to 5% and the percentage of drivers turning at less than 10 mph rose from 10% to 26%.
In the first year of the Vision Zero initiative, Arlington had four fatal and 61 severe crashes. The overall number of collisions was lower than in previous years. However, the county attributes the overall crash reduction to reduced traffic levels during the pandemic. The county tracks progress by analyzing factors involved in severe crashes, such as speed, alcohol impairment, and collisions involving pedestrians and bicyclists.
Some accomplishments from the first year include:
Completing 36 small-scale safety projects
Analyzing 69 high-crash locations
Facilitating 55 transportation safety classes and events
Coordinating with VDOT to identify more than 20 safety fixes
Approving speed cameras in school and work zones
In the second year, the number of collisions in Arlington decreased from 65 to 54. While the number of fatalities remained the same, the number of severe crashes went down to 49.
The District of Columbia and Mayor Muriel Bowser launched Vision Zero in 2014 to inspire and transform DC’s roadway safety efforts and set sights on a goal of zero fatalities or serious injuries on DC streets. Since then, the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) has shifted to designing streets that are safe for everyone, working closely with community members to identify problems and build solutions.
Launched in 2005, the Safe Routes to School (SRTS) program receives federal and local funds to encourage and facilitate active transportation for school children. In 2022, the Council of the District of Columbia passed the Safe Streets for Students Amendment Act with the goal to improve transportation safety infrastructure around schools, giving the SRTS team additional funding and direction towards improving school areas in DC.
This year, as part of the Annual Safety Program (ASAP), DDOT will rapidly deploy multi-modal safety improvements at multiple locations across DC. They include pedestrian safety improvements, Highway Safety Improvement Program locations, pedestrian flashers, and driver feedback signs.
DC allows residents to submit a Traffic Safety Input request (TSI) via 311. These requests will be prioritized based on objective factors such as roadway characteristics, crash patterns, equity, proximity to Vision Zero High Injury Network corridors, and locations utilized by vulnerable road users such as schools, Metrorail stations, and bus stops.
The TSI 311 service can be used to report issues such as:
Traffic safety issues around schools
Safety concerns for pedestrians, people biking, or taking transit
Unmarked or marked crosswalks that appear unsafe (maintenance for existing markings should be put in under the 311 request, Roadway Striping / Markings)
Concerns about speeding drivers or speed limits in general (Note: DDOT’s policy on speed limits is 20 MPH for local roads and may vary for arterial and collector roadways)
As one of the leading agencies, the DDOT has rapidly deployed multi-modal safety improvements at multiple locations across DC. Installed safety projects and devices include:
Leading pedestrian intervals
Left-turn traffic calming
Curb extension
HAWK signals
No turn on red
Bus priority projects
Dual turn lane mitigation
Automated traffic enforcement
Bike lanes and trails
Visit Vision Zero DC to learn more about these safety interventions.
Conclusion
Whether your child walks, rides, rolls, or takes the bus to school, safely moving children to and from school is a number one parental concern.
School zones are high-risk, high-responsibility environments. According to the National Safety Council, children are among the most vulnerable pedestrians — and most at risk during pick-up/drop-off times. Meanwhile, data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration shows that most school-age pedestrian fatalities occur between 6 to 8 a.m. and 3 to 4 p.m. — right when school traffic peaks. Vision Zero brings schools a new lens: instead of just enforcing rules, design systems where the consequences of mistakes are less severe.
If your child gets hurt while traveling to or from school or is involved in a school bus accident, we can help. We have been representing families like yours for more than 50 years. Please contact us for a free case evaluation.
Get the facts. Get educated.
In an article published by The Daily Record on August 11, 2025, Drew LaFramboise discusses a class action lawsuit filed by JGL, alleging a predatory lending scheme in which a realty company provides modest loans to homeowners who agree to hire the company in the future — without disclosing high future costs, lost home equity, and clouded titles.
The lawsuit, filed in Maryland federal court, details how Florida-based MV Realty misled homeowners into signing long-term “homeowner benefit agreements” that effectively functioned as 40-year liens on their properties and which the homeowners could only cancel by paying about three percent of their home’s value.
Notably, MV Realty is not named as a defendant in the lawsuit, although the company has been barred from operating in several states over the past year due to violations of state consumer protection laws. Instead, suit was filed against Monroe Capital Corporation, a private equity firm that allegedly provided a loan allowing MV Realty to scale nationwide. Monroe has not been subject to litigation for its role in the scheme until now.
“It’s a classic predatory scheme. It’s preying on people who need money fast, hiding the onerous terms in the agreement,” said Drew, who represents the plaintiffs in the case along with JGL Senior Counsel Lacey McMullan.
The complaint brings claims under the federal Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO), the Sherman Antitrust Act, and state consumer protection laws. The plaintiffs aim to represent a class of more than 38,000 homeowners whose properties were encumbered by homeowner benefit agreements or who paid penalties to cancel them.
“Monroe was not just a passive investor,” Drew said. “They didn’t just throw money at this and take their hands off the wheel.”
In an article published on August 6, 2025, by WJLA ABC News 7, Timothy Maloney discussed the likelihood of a federal takeover of Washington, D.C., following an attack on a man identified as a former Department of Government Oversight and Enforcement (DOGE) employee.
While a full federal intervention in D.C. may seem unlikely, Tim explained that there are still legal avenues available to the President.
“I think it’s a lot of chest-beating on the part of the President, but the fact is that there are things the president can do to put pressure on the local government, such as taking over the police department or pressuring Congress to nullify some laws,” Tim said. “For instance, Congress nullified the DC criminal revisions, criminal code revision, a few years ago. So the federal government is not without power, and the reason is that the District of Columbia is a federally created district. It’s been that way since 1789.”
Timothy Maloney was interviewed by WJLA ABC News 7 on August 6, 2025, about President Trump’s threats to take over Washington, D.C. President Trump has floated the idea of a federal takeover of D.C. several times since taking office, most recently in response to an alleged assault incident involving a Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) employee on Monday,
During the interview Tim explained what the president has the power to do and what he can’t do: “He can federalize the national guard; he can take over the Metropolitan Police Department in an emergency situation. He already controls federal prosecutions through the United States Attorney’s Office, but to do more he would have to have Congress Act.” Tim also discussed whether the President is blustering or if there is an actual pathway for him to take control of the District.
Watch the full interview to learn more:
In an article published in Healthcare Risk Management’s August edition, Veronica Nannis discussed the current landscape of FCA enforcement, including a rise in opioid-related fraud litigation, a steady stream of Covid-relief cases, and what’s next after a recent executive order.
Pandemic-related fraud remains a top government priority, Veronica explained, with more than $250 million recovered in 2024 alone in Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and related fraud. She also noted a growing number of fraud cases involving Anti-Kickback Statute violations.
“We are seeing several eye-popping settlements in the opioid litigation front as well as in PPP cases and Anti-Kickback cases,” she said. “Opioid litigation appears to be a nearly bipartisan enforcement priority that has now spanned numerous administrations, given the opioid epidemic’s tragic consequences on the population.”
Meanwhile, a recent executive order threatens to “turn the FCA on its head” from pursuing fraud on the government to policing diversity, equity, and inclusion programs used by private companies who contract with the government, Veronica said. “It is too early to tell if there will be any FCA cases filed under this EO, let alone any successful cases, based on this new priority.”
Both plaintiff and defense attorneys have raised concerns about the vague language in the EO and its potential to upend decades of civil rights protections. “If any of these FCA cases are filed, they should face significant and meritorious defenses,” she explained.
The internet is abuzz with the recent “Kiss Cam” controversy involving the former CEO of the data company Astronomer at a Coldplay concert. A seemingly innocent moment turned into a viral sensation, leading to widespread speculation about an alleged affair and ultimately, the CEO’s resignation.
While the public fascination with celebrity and scandal is nothing new, this incident offers a potent reminder for our Maryland family law clients about how quickly private lives can become public, and the significant impact such exposure can have on divorce, custody, and support cases.
The Anatomy of a Public Scandal
The Astronomer CEO, reportedly married, was captured on a kiss cam at a Coldplay concert with a colleague. The video quickly went viral, fueling rumors of infidelity and drawing intense public scrutiny. Within days, the CEO was placed on leave and subsequently resigned. This dramatic fallout highlights several key takeaways that resonate deeply within the realm of Maryland family law.
Adultery in Maryland: More Than Just a “Kiss”
In Maryland, adultery is no longer a ground for divorce, and while proving adultery is now largely behind us, the concept of “adultery,” including demonstrating both “disposition” (the inclination or desire for an extramarital relationship) and “opportunity” (the chance to engage in such a relationship), remains relevant. For this reason, public displays of affection, like the kiss cam incident, can be powerful evidence of “disposition.” While a single kiss on a jumbotron might not be enough on its own to prove adultery, when combined with other factors – such as a pattern of secretive behavior, shared travel, or communications – it can paint a compelling picture for the court as to the cause of the downfall of a marriage.
What Does the Kiss-Cam Mean for You?
Social Media and Public Behavior Matter: What you do and say in public, including what is captured on social media, can absolutely be used as evidence in a family law case. Even if you believe something is private, in today’s digital age, it often isn’t.
Proof Is Key: If you are alleging adultery as a reason for the downfall of your marriage and therefore a reason for favorable monetary award, you will need to present compelling evidence. This doesn’t necessarily mean hiring a private investigator to catch someone in the act, but gathering circumstantial evidence demonstrating both disposition and opportunity can be key. This can include texts, emails, travel records, and, yes, even viral videos.
Child Custody: The “Best Interests of the Child” Reigns Supreme
While adultery itself does not automatically impact child custody in Maryland, the broader conduct surrounding an affair or public scandal can certainly be relevant. Maryland courts always prioritize the “best interests of the child” when making custody decisions.
Here’s how a public scandal could factor in:
Parental Judgment and Stability: The court may consider a parent’s judgment and stability. If a public scandal creates significant instability in a parent’s life, impacts their mental health, or exposes children to undue public scrutiny or emotional distress, it could influence custody arrangements.
Exposure to Inappropriate Behavior: While not a direct link to the “kiss cam,” if the alleged affair involved exposing the children to the affair partner or an unstable environment, it could be a concern for the court.
Financial Impact: As seen in the Astronomer case, public scandals can lead to job loss or significant financial repercussions. This could directly impact a parent’s ability to provide for their children, which is a factor in child support and potentially custody.
It’s crucial to understand that simply being involved in a public controversy doesn’t automatically disqualify a parent from custody. However, the court will evaluate how such events impact the child’s overall well-being and stability in conjunction with the totality of circumstances in your specific case.
The Emotional Toll and Protecting Yourself
Beyond the legal implications, the Astronomer CEO controversy underscores the immense emotional distress that can arise when private matters become public spectacles. For individuals navigating a divorce or custody dispute, the added pressure of public scrutiny can be overwhelming.
The Takeaway for Maryland Families
The Astronomer CEO’s Coldplay Kiss Cam controversy serves as a stark reminder: in our interconnected world, private indiscretions can quickly spiral into public crises with profound personal and legal consequences. For anyone in Maryland facing family law matters, especially those involving allegations of infidelity or other sensitive issues, it’s more important than ever to do the following:
Be Mindful of Your Digital Footprint: Assume anything you post, say, or are captured doing in public could become evidence.
Seek Experienced Legal Counsel Early: If you believe your spouse has been unfaithful, or if you are concerned about how your own actions might impact your family law case, consult with a Maryland family law attorney immediately. I can help you understand your rights, gather appropriate evidence, and develop a strategy to protect your interests.
Prioritize Your Child(ren)’s Well-being: In any family law matter, the focus should remain on the child(ren). Work with your attorney to minimize their exposure to conflict and ensure their stability.
While the “Kiss Cam” incident might be fodder for internet memes, for those involved in Maryland family law, it’s a serious lesson in the intersection of personal conduct, public perception, and legal repercussions. Understanding this is key, so call to discuss in more depth.
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