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Overview

Overview

Arnold M. Weiner is an experienced and highly regarded trial attorney and civil litigator, as well as chair of the firm’s White Collar Criminal Defense practice and co-chair of the firm’s Complex Civil and Commercial litigation practice. He previously served as an Assistant United States Attorney and Assistant Attorney General for the state of Maryland, and as Principal at multiple prestigious Baltimore area law firms, including the Law Offices of Arnold M. Weiner, Weiner & Weltchek, and Weiner, Astrachan, Gunst, Hillman & Allen, P.C.

Arnold has been both an Assistant United States Attorney and Assistant Attorney General for the State of Maryland. He was lead defense attorney in the high profile prosecutions of Maryland Governor Marvin Mandel, Congressman Edward Garmatz, and Baltimore Mayor Sheila A. Dixon, as well as many other notable criminal trials. He has participated in lengthy civil trials both as plaintiff’s attorney and as defendant’s attorney, in federal and state courts throughout the U.S.

Arnold has also taught courses in civil procedure, criminal procedure and trial practice and procedure at the University of Maryland School of Law. He served on the Editorial Board of the Review of Law and served on the Homeless Persons Representation Project Board of Directors.

Notable Representations

  • In Re: A. Scott Bolden – U.S. District Court for District of Maryland.  Defense of criminal contempt citation issued to prominent white collar defense attorney.  Case dismissed after defense motion and hearing.  Opinion appears at 2023 WL 2140695 (2023).
  • Antwerpen, et al. v. Atlantic MD AG, LLC, et al. – Represented automotive group in cross-actions for alleged breach of contract for sale of eleven automobile dealerships; confidential settlement.  (2018 – 2022).
  • TCR Sports Broadcasting Holding LLP [MASN], et al. v. WN Partner LLC, et al. – Supreme Court of the State of New York/First Appellate Division; represented Baltimore Orioles as managing partner of MASN in petition to vacate award by MLB committee concerning telecast rights fees MASN was to pay Washington Nationals. Award vacated, appeal pending (2014-2018)
  • Guttman v. Saul Ewing LLP – Maryland Circuit Court for Baltimore City malpractice lawsuit brought by Trustee in Bankruptcy on behalf of bankruptcy estate; court-approved settlement (2016)
  • EngagePoint, Inc. v. Noridian Health Administrative Services, LLC – American Arbitration Association; dispute between contractor and subcontractor concerning alleged failures of Maryland Health Care Exchange on-line website; confidential settlement (2015)
  • Fuller v. Ford Motor Company – Maryland Circuit Court for Baltimore County; product liability litigation arising from fatal truck fire, killing father of two; confidential settlement (2014)
  • Deborah H. Devan, Chapter 7 Trustee for Merry-Go-Round Enterprises v. Ernst & Young LLP – Action by bankrupt national retailer against financial advisor for failed Chapter 11 reorganization; case settled for $185 million.
  • Gray & Associates LLC v. McDermott, Will & Emery LLP, and Gray & Associates LLC v. Speltz & Weiss LLC – United States District Court for the Southern District of New York and Supreme Court of New York (2009, 2010); actions by litigation trust created in bankruptcy of St. Vincent Catholic Medical Center in New York against management company, financial advisors and bankruptcy counsel for negligence, breach of fiduciary duty and conflict of interest; confidential Settlements
  • Ernst & Young LLP v. Swidler & Berlin, Chartered – Action by auditing and consulting firm for failed Chapter 11 reorganization against law firm for debtor; confidential resolution.
  • Comcast Sportsnet Mid-Atlantic, L.P., v. Baltimore Orioles, L.P., et al. – Defense of Baltimore Orioles baseball organization and sports network created by Baltimore Orioles; case settled after victory in trial court
  • B. Lewis Productions, Inc. v. Maya Angelou – Defense of author and poet in action by alleged former agent; summary judgment entered for client; opinions dismissing some claims and granting summary judgment on others appear at 2007 WL 2295971 (S.D.N.Y.) and 2008 WL 1826486 (S.D.N.Y.)
  • Joseph C. Schultz v. Christopher Braga, et al. – Action by innocent citizen shot in face by FBI agent during arrest based on mistaken identity; opinions of District Court and Court of Appeals, denying governmental immunity, reported at 290 F.Supp. 2d 637 (D. Md. 2003) and 455 F.3d 470 (4th Cir. 2006); confidential settlement
  • William Lowe, et al. v. Continental Insurance Co., et al. – Action by approximately 8,000 asbestos claimants who alleged that they were defrauded in settlement with insurers based on false statements as to extent of coverage; case pending
  • Prosys Inc. v. Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center, Inc., et al. – Action by software developer against Johns Hopkins Health System for misappropriation of software secrets; confidential settlement
  • DDJ Management, LLC, et al. v. Rhone Group LLC, et al. – Action by lenders against borrower’s management companies and directors for alleged fraud; opinions of New York Court of Appeals and Appellate Division of Supreme Court of New York, denying dismissal, reported at 15 N.Y. 3d 147, 931 N.E. 2d 87 (2010) and 78 A.D. 3d 442, 911 N.Y.S. 2d (2010); confidential settlement after New York’s highest court upheld lenders’ right to sue
  • Madeline Wenz, as Personal Representative of the Estate of James F. Wenz, Sr., M.D., et al. v. AM General, LLC f/k/a AM General, Inc., et al. – Products liability case against manufacturer of Hummer automobile on behalf of estate of physician killed in collision between Hummer and tractor-trailer; confidential settlement.
  • Ottenheimer Publishers, Inc. v. Publishers Clearing House – Action by publishing company against Publishers Clearing House; confidential settlement
  • Charles A. Stanziale, Jr., in his capacity as Litigation Trustee and as Assignee of Claims v. Ernst & Young LLP – Action on behalf of creditors of bankrupt airline against airline’s former accounting firm; confidential settlement
  • Lerner v. Lerner Corporation – Shareholder derivative litigation, for accounting and liquidation, in connection with largest real estate development operation in Baltimore-Washington area; enjoined attempt by majority shareholder to squeeze out minority by means of reverse stock split; injunction affirmed on appeal; opinion of Maryland Court of Appeals, affirming injunction, reported at 306 Md. 771, 511 A.2d 501
  • Klupt v. Krongard, et al. – Defense of action based on alleged license agreement; case dismissed for plaintiff’s destruction of evidence; opinion affirming dismissal reported at 728 A.2d 727
  • Potomac Electric Power Co. v. California Ins. Co. – Action by public utility against insurers for failure to acknowledge coverage for pollution losses; rulings reported at 136 F.R.D. 1 (D.D.C.), 777 F.Supp. 968 (D.D.C. 1991), 777 F.Supp. 980 (D.D.C.); confidential settlement
  • Rosenberg v. Rosenberg – Divorce action involving heir to oil and gas fortune; case involved unusual applications of state’s newly adopted statutes providing for equitable distribution of marital property and reform of alimony laws; opinion of Maryland Court of Special Appeals reported at 64 Md.App. 487, 497 A.2d 485
  • Mayor and City Council of Baltimore v. Smulyan – Eminent domain case, involving condemnation by City of land for federal courthouse; case established the Maryland rule for admissibility of so-called re-use appraisals; opinion of Maryland Court of Special Appeals, affirming award in favor of property owner, reported at 41 Md. App. 202, 397 A.2d 198

Notable Criminal Representations

  • State of Maryland v. Sheila A. Dixon – Chief Counsel for Mayor of Baltimore accused of perjury and theft; case resolved without criminal conviction (2009)
  • United States v. Marvin Mandel – Chief trial counsel for Maryland Governor prosecuted for mail fraud and racketeering; case tried twice, in 1976 and 1977, with conviction after second trial; conviction reversed in 1979 by a divided appellate panel, but conviction reinstated by 3 to 3 and 4 to 4 votes of Court of Appeals on hearing en banc and on reconsideration; conviction vacated in 1987 upon issuance of writ of error Coram Nobis; opinions in case reported at 408 F. Supp. 673 (D. Md. 1975); 408 F. Supp. 679 (D. Md. 1976); 415 F.Supp. 997 (D. Md. 1976); 415 F.Supp. 1033 (D. Md. 1976); 415 F. Supp. 1079 (4th Cir. 1976); 415 F. Supp. 1025 (4th Cir. 1976); 431 F.Supp. 90 (D. Md. 1977); 437 F. Supp. 258 (4th Cir. 1977); 437 F.Supp. 262 (D. Md. 1977); 537 F.2d 1196 (4th Cir. 1976); 550 F.2d 1001 (4th Cir. 1977); 591 F.2d 1347 (4th Cir. 1979); 602 F.2d 653 (4th Cir. 1979); 609 F.2d 1076 (4th Cir. 1979); 445 U.S. 959 (1980)
  • United States v. Edward Garmatz – Chief Counsel for Maryland Congressman, who was Chairman of House Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee, accused of accepting bribes from shipping industry executives; case dismissed on opening of trial when investigation by defense revealed that prosecution case was based on forged documentary evidence
  • United States v. Campbell– Counsel for president of construction company accused of bribing a sitting Judge of the Superior Court for the District of Columbia; after acquittal by jury on all but one count, trial judge entered judgment of acquittal on remaining count; Court of Appeals affirmed en banc, setting standard for review of Government appeals from judgments of acquittal entered after jury verdicts; opinion of Court of Appeals reported at 702 F.2d 262 (D.C. Cir. 1983)

Achievements

  • Has been listed in the Best Lawyers in America since 1983
  • Has been a fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers for 30 years
  • Top Ten Maryland Super Lawyers®
  • Maryland Super Lawyers since 2007
  • Simon E. Sobeloff Award (2022
  • University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law Distinguished Graduate Award (2019)
  • Daily Record Icon Success and Leadership Award (2017)
  • Daily Record Leadership in Law Award (2011)
  • Baltimore Business Journal Power Twenty Award (2010)
  • Featured in the cover story of Super Lawyers® Magazine (2007)

Publications & Presentations

  • Presenter on “The Defense of the Dixon Case – Special Issues Presented by High Profile Prosecutions of Public Officials.” for the U.S. State Department Program for Visiting African Diplomats
  • Presented on “Prosecution of Prince Hamlet for the Murder of Polonius – Was Hamlet Criminally Insane?” for the Inns of Court in Baltimore, Maryland
  • Delivered the speech “On Suing for $4 Billion or More” for the Howard County Bar Association in Columbia, Maryland
  • Speaker and Panelist on the topic “Sponsorship Theory – A New Approach to Litigation” for the Georgetown University Law Center in Washington, D.C.
  • Speaker on “Tax Aspects of Certain Litigation” for the Chesapeake Tax Conference in Baltimore, Maryland
  • Presenter on “Cross-examination of Principal Witness for Opposition” before the Inns of Court in Annapolis, Maryland
  • Faculty member and demonstrator on “Civil RICO” at the Maryland Institute for the Continuing Professional Education for Lawyers Trial Advocacy Program in Baltimore, Maryland
  • Presenter on “Jury Selection and Final Argument” for the American College of Trial Lawyers in Williamsburg, Virginia
  • Faculty member for the Practicing Law Institute’s Deposition Skills Training Program in Washington, D.C.
  • Presented on “Examination of Technical Experts in Environmental Litigation” for the State of Maryland Attorney General’s Office Trial Advocacy Training Program in Baltimore, Maryland
  • Delivered the Anne Arundel County Bar Association’s Law Day Speech, “Law and Justice in Colonial Maryland,” in Annapolis, Maryland
  • Judge for the American Bar Association’s Negotiation Competition National Finals in Baltimore, Maryland
  • Speaker on “Tax Aspects of Divorce – A Bird’s Eye View” for the Chesapeake Tax Conference in Baltimore, Maryland
  • Speaker on“High Tech Crime” before the Maryland State Bar Association in Ocean City, Maryland
  • Chairman for the Maryland Institute for the Continuing Professional Education for Lawyers’ Program on The Comprehensive Crime Control Act of 1984 in Baltimore, Maryland
  • Speaker and Panelist for the The Jury: Techniques for the Trial Lawyer for the Practicing Law Institute in Washington, D.C. on the topic of “Judge Conducted Voir Dire”
  • Lecturer on “Taking and Defending Depositions” before the Maryland State Bar Association in Towson, Maryland
  • Speaker before the International Association for Financial Planning in Baltimore, Maryland, on the topic of “Divorce and Ante-Nuptial Planning”
  • Speaker and Panelist on “The New Maryland Criminal Rules” at the Maryland Judicial Conference in Hunt Valley, Maryland
  • Speaker and Panelist on “Negotiations with the Prosecutor” for the Georgetown University Law Center’s Continuing Legal Education Division on Economic Crime: Defending Businessmen, Corporations and Their Officers in Washington, D.C.
  • Presenter on “The Criminal Justice System Responds” before the Baltimore County Government in Towson, Maryland

Attorney Disciplinary Proceedings

  • Attorney Grievance Commission of Maryland v. William Leigh Siskind, AG 22 – Court of Appeals in Maryland
Testimonials

What Clients and Others Say About Arnold...

Arnold Weiner is “… one of the most sought-after criminal defense lawyers in Maryland, a legendary lawyer …”

– Rachel Maddow, Bag Man

Arnold Weiner is “one of the best criminal lawyers in the country”

– Bradford Jacobs, Thimbleriggers, quoting U.S. District Judge Robert L. Taylor

“Arnold M. Weiner [and his firm] provided outstanding legal services …imaginatively conceived, skillfully staged, thoroughly prepared, aggressively pursued, and timely and successfully resolved …”

– Judge E. Stephen Derby, U.S. Bankruptcy Judge In re: Merry-Go-Round Enterprises, Inc., 244 B.R. 327 (2000)

“[Arnold Weiner] brings legal talent, great writing abilities, name recognition, and respect among the judiciary. He is a lawyer’s lawyer.” 

– Prominent Maryland Litigator, The Daily Record, May 15, 2013