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Maryland Business Law Questions & Answers
1 Answer | Asked in Business Formation, Business Law and Real Estate Law for Maryland on
Q: I am a new real estate agent serving Maryland. Is the use of the word “Realty” prohibited in my business name?

I am a new real estate agent. Got my license back in March 2022 but am just now actively pursuing real estate. Currently a solo agent at Samson Properties serving Maryland only but would like to get licensed in DC and VA as well.

As advised I’ve created an LLC (Carla Clemente Realty)... Read more »

Thomas C. Valkenet
Thomas C. Valkenet
answered on May 26, 2023

Welcome to the Club! I am also a licensed Maryland Broker, and our Law Firm owns a separate brokerage.

You may use the word "Realty" in your entity name. Review the ethics rules of your local, State and National associations for how you may portray yourself. For instance, you mut...
Read more »

1 Answer | Asked in Business Law and Construction Law for Maryland on
Q: how much should a contractor ask for a down payment on a roof replacement

This is only a small roof

Mark Oakley
Mark Oakley
answered on Apr 25, 2023

Assuming this is for a residence, this is a home improvement project. By Maryland law, a contractor on a home improvement contract must hold a license from the Maryland Home Improvement Commission (MHIC). The contract must comply with multiple legal requirements, among which is that a down... Read more »

1 Answer | Asked in Business Formation, Business Law and Tax Law for Maryland on
Q: Can someone abandon their LLC business and debt to then open a fresh new LLC offering and providing the same services

What is it called when someone abandons their LLC business, which is deeply in debt and owes back taxes, to then have someone else open a new LLC for them and that new LLC offer the very same services? Is it legal? It is essentially a one person business and without that person the new business... Read more »

Mark Oakley
Mark Oakley
answered on Mar 23, 2023

More facts would be needed, but it is possible to pierce the corporate veil of the new company and go after the owner personally, or unwind the transfers of assets to the new company, under the theory of fraudulent conveyance, as well as violation of the Limited Liability Company Act that requires... Read more »

2 Answers | Asked in Business Law and Probate for Maryland on
Q: if someone owned a small business and you are co-president of the company and he dies with a non signed witness will,

and you are running the business do I have any rights?

Mark Oakley
Mark Oakley
answered on Jan 31, 2023

Your use of pronouns "someone", "you", "he" and "I" is beyond confusing. It is unclear who these pronouns are referring to, other than the "I."

I'll take a stab: the owner of the company died without a will, and you are...
Read more »

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1 Answer | Asked in Business Formation, Business Law, Contracts and Gov & Administrative Law for Maryland on
Q: Can I be paid to fix a reverse osmosis filter without a plumbing license? Would fixing the filter be considered plumbing

The task/job was assigned to me through an app called task rabbit.

Mark Oakley
Mark Oakley
answered on Jan 19, 2023

Maryland Business Occupations and Professions Code, Section 12-101, defines the term plumbing, and the need for a license, as follows:

(n) Provide plumbing services

(1) “Provide plumbing services” means to install, maintain, extend, alter, or remove piping, a plumbing fixture, a...
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1 Answer | Asked in Business Law, Copyright, Intellectual Property and Trademark for Maryland on
Q: I own a collection of action figures (superheroes, Godzilla, ect.) Can I use photos of them to make t-shirts or posters?
Mark Oakley
Mark Oakley
answered on Jan 16, 2023

Use of trademarked and copywrited products and characters in other products for sale is not permitted and will subject you to possible lawsuits and damages which will include forfeiture of all profits from such sales, payment of attorney's fees and court costs, plus possible punitive or... Read more »

1 Answer | Asked in Business Law and Employment Law for Maryland on
Q: can I sue the business I work for as a contractor?

I have been a contractor for business A for a year and a half. I have single highhandedly successfully expanded their business all while, here are some details:

-been paid sporadically, almost never on time. This has affected my personal financial issues

-been owed up to $6,000 but... Read more »

Mark Oakley
Mark Oakley
answered on Jan 16, 2023

You have not described any circumstances supporting a viable legal claim. You are a contract employee, but you do not descibe any written contract terms. If you have a contract, your rights are contained in that agreement. If you do not have a contract, or it's verbal, or you no longer wish... Read more »

1 Answer | Asked in Business Law and Landlord - Tenant for Maryland on
Q: my store is month to month lease. I have deliqunce cus Pendemic. I am on payment plan but they start charging penaly

landloard start to charge penalty after I complaint about smoking from next new store. They did not any action for this. Now send me termination notice.

Mark Oakley
Mark Oakley
answered on Jan 3, 2023

Commercial leases are seldom forgiving in their terms, and are generally largely in favor of the landlord. In a situation where you are in clear and admitted breach of the single most important and basic term --the timely payment of rent-- you have little to no leverage; worse, you're... Read more »

1 Answer | Asked in Business Law and Contracts for Maryland on
Q: Would a plumbing contractor be required to itemize their receipt to show the cost of equipment and labor

In other words, can a plumber just give one flat fee to install a well pump and pressure tank and all associated valves and guages or does the law state they must disclose the cost of the equipment they purchased if the customer requests that they disclose it...the job is already completed.

Mark Oakley
Mark Oakley
answered on Dec 14, 2022

No, if the contract was entered into on a flat fee basis. If the contract was on a time and materials basis, which would be stated, then yes. You are perhaps entitled to all manuafacturer warranties on the installed equipment.

1 Answer | Asked in Business Law and Contracts for Maryland on
Q: I own a small electrical company and I am having issues collecting payment from a pretty large management company.

Contract agreement in net30 but payment is over 60 days past due. I threated to place a lien on the property and then the company had their attorney threaten me with lawsuit if I move forward with the lien. Am I able to put Lien on property? what are my options?

Mark Oakley
Mark Oakley
answered on Dec 7, 2022

Take your contract, your unpaid invoices, and correspondence regarding payment to a lawyer to review. Whether you pursue a mechanic's lien or file suit for breach of contract, or both, depends on the facts, what is owed, who you have a contract with, etc. Management companies do not typically... Read more »

1 Answer | Asked in Business Law for Maryland on
Q: Clarifcation requested -Rhode Island Law of Agency. A Dual/Joint Agency relationship Contract IS a Power of Attorney?!
Mark Oakley
Mark Oakley
answered on Nov 21, 2022

First, you are asking about Rhode Island law, and this is a Maryland legal forum you have selected. You need to repost your question and select Rhode Island as the geographic legal area in order to obtain legal advice from lawyers licensed and knowledgeable about Rhode Island law specifically.... Read more »

1 Answer | Asked in Business Law for Maryland on
Q: Is it legal for a state to require a business to follow a set of regulations but then make the company pay for the regs

Recently the Maryland COMAR went behind a paywall. My company is required to follow the regulations in the COMAR but there is no public access to the information. The "free search" function provided only the section numbers and does not show the regulations. Is this even legal?

Mark Oakley
Mark Oakley
answered on Nov 11, 2022

It remains free:

www.dsd.state.md.us

(1) Click "Search COMAR Now" on the left-hand side of the page

(2) On the next page, scroll down the left-hand list of titles and click on the appropriate title for your area of industry. For example, if you are a home...
Read more »

1 Answer | Asked in Business Law and Contracts for Maryland on
Q: Can a vendor unilaterally add a 3% cc fee if it was not contained in the original contract. Emailed change eff 1 Jan.

I signed a contract in state of MD):

If Organization wishes to pay any portion of its obligation by credit card, they may do so and request additional payments using the iVvy link provided to them when they received this contract up until 30 days prior to the event date. Once it is within... Read more »

Scott Scherr
Scott Scherr
answered on Nov 10, 2022

An attorney would need to review the entire contract to render an opinion. However, a business can change the terms of its contract periodically. For example, Comcast changes the terms of its contract with its customers regularly. The rates and service charges increase and the fine print changes.... Read more »

1 Answer | Asked in Business Law for Maryland on
Q: Do i need to have lawyer for the $20,000 corporation lawsuit in Maryland
Mark Oakley
Mark Oakley
answered on Nov 7, 2022

If you own the corporation and the corporation is being sued or wants to file suit for more than $5,000, then the corporation can only appear in court to defend or pursue a lawsuit through a lawyer. For claims under $5,000 an owner, officer or authorized agent of the corporation can appear in court... Read more »

1 Answer | Asked in Consumer Law and Business Law for Maryland on
Q: Can a bar in Maryland legally display declined tabs on the wall for customers to see?
Mark Oakley
Mark Oakley
answered on Nov 2, 2022

If by "declined tabs" you mean, unpaid tabs or declined credit cards that left the tab unpaid, then yes. Truth is a complete defense to a defamation (libel) claim, if the named party on the tab is feeling humiliated by being called out in this manner. A "Wall of Shame" has... Read more »

1 Answer | Asked in Contracts and Business Law for Maryland on
Q: Can I insinuate or "threaten" to break a solar contract that's already been installed?

I recently had solar panels installed in MD. It was verbally stated and explained how it would be installed: inverter inside in the basement, shutdown switch outside in the front, and conduit running on the side of my home hugging the downspout. The installers didn't do this and performed the... Read more »

Mark Oakley
Mark Oakley
answered on Sep 20, 2022

You have a breach of contract action that is unlikely to be material enough to allow you to rescind the contract, give back all the solar panel equipment, and get a full refund. You will be stuck with your contract. Your damages will be measured by the cost to correct and repair any faulty... Read more »

2 Answers | Asked in Bankruptcy, Business Law and Collections for Maryland on
Q: Small C-corp is bankrupt. Owes <$25k in credit card debt. What are the options for settling the debt?

What happens if the business shutters without notifying the credit card company to whom the money is owed? Does an officer of the company have to appear in bankruptcy court?

W. J. Winterstein Jr.
PREMIUM
W. J. Winterstein Jr.
answered on Jul 11, 2022

(follow up) You should note that a corporation is not eligible for the grant of a Discharge in bankruptcy. Usually, it is advisable to file articles of dissolution with the state of incorporation (or of domestication) following a bankruptcy filing.

If any individual principals of the...
Read more »

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2 Answers | Asked in Bankruptcy, Business Law and Collections for Maryland on
Q: Small C-corp is bankrupt. Owes <$25k in credit card debt. What are the options for settling the debt?

What happens if the business shutters without notifying the credit card company to whom the money is owed? Does an officer of the company have to appear in bankruptcy court?

W. J. Winterstein Jr.
PREMIUM
W. J. Winterstein Jr.
answered on Jul 11, 2022

A corporate entity's authority to file a voluntary bankruptcy case may be tested, e.g., the recent NRA filing. Normally, it suffices to file a duly executed corporate resolution showing action by the board of directors, and yes, a corporate officer must appear for at least the 341 meeting... Read more »

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1 Answer | Asked in Contracts and Business Law for Maryland on
Q: Does a president of a condo association have the right to hire and fire employees without board approval?
Matthew Morris
Matthew Morris
answered on Jun 4, 2022

Like almost any good legal question, the answer is "it depends." Generally, an individual person can be given the ability to hire and fire employees without calling for a board vote. But a more specific answer is that you should look at your association's bylaws. Under Maryland law,... Read more »

1 Answer | Asked in Business Law for Maryland on
Q: I am separating from a business partnership and want to know if I am liable for business debt.
Mark Oakley
Mark Oakley
answered on May 5, 2022

If it is a general partnership, and not a limited liability company or corporation, then all partners are equally and personally liable for the debts of the partnership, subject to any partnership agreement or withdrawal agreement between the partners as to indemnification or contribution toward... Read more »

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