Houlon Berman In the News

• Client Acquitted of Armed Carjacking and Related Counts
  Circuit Court for Prince George’s County, Maryland

  Houlon Berman’s client, charged with armed carjacking, first degree assault, robbery with a deadly weapon, use of a handgun in the commission of a crime of violence and conspiracy to commit armed carjacking, was found not guilty of all charges on July 22, 2010 after a jury trial lasting three days. Approximately eight weeks after the victim was carjacked, the defendant was arrested based on a photo identification. At trial, the victim testified that she was 110% positive that the Houlon Berman client was the same guy that had carjacked her. In cross-examination, inconsistencies were demonstrated in her prior descriptions. During closing, counsel argued that proof beyond a reasonable doubt required proof of an accurate identification rather than a certain one. In the end, the verdict fully exonerated Houlon Berman’s client. Representation by Houlon Berman Managing Partner - Richard A. Finci

• Client Acquitted of Assault on a Police Officer, Disorderly Conduct, Threat to do Bodily Harm and Failure to Obey a Traffic Order
  Superior Court for the District of Columbia

  Houlon Berman’s client, charged with assault on a police officer, disorderly conduct, threat to do bodily harm and failure to obey a traffic order, was found not guilty on December 6, 2010 after a Court trial lasting two days in the Superior Court for the District of Columbia. A police officer confronted the client suspecting that he was driving under the influence. The defendant was not under the influence when stopped and the officers were shown to have known that immediately. Nevertheless, the officers continued the traffic stop. Defense testimony further demonstrated that the charging officer had been involved in a series of harassing prior contacts with the defendant which led to a series of meritless traffic citations. In the end, the Judge found that the two main officers who testified in the case lacked credibility and believed the defendant and his witnesses. The resulting verdict of not guilty was very well received by Houlon Berman’s client. Representation by Houlon Berman Managing Partner - Richard A. Finci

• Charges of Possession with Intent to Distribute Crack Cocaine entered Nolle Prosequi just prior to Jury Selection
  Circuit Court for Prince George’s County, Maryland

  Houlon Berman’s client was charged on October 2010 with possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine found in an apartment at which he was visiting. Earlier that date, narcotic officers interdicted a package thought to contain a large volume of marijuana. Instead, the package contained marijuana residue and a large quantity of broken styrofoam. Officers went to the address and claimed to smell an odor of marijuana in the apartment. Police obtained a search warrant resulting in the recovery of drugs and a firearm. It was these drugs and the firearm with which the defendant was charged. Just prior to trial, the charges against the Houlon Berman client was finally entered Nolle Prosequi. Representation by Houlon Berman Managing Partner - Richard A. Finci

• June 2010 Houlon Berman Managing Partner, Richard A. Finci, appointed to Sentencing Guidelines Subcommittee of Maryland State Commission on Criminal Sentencing Policy

  Houlon Berman’s managing partner, Richard A. Finci, a member of the Maryland State Commission on Criminal Sentencing Policy since 2003 has been appointed by the Commission to its influential Sentencing Guidelines Subcommittee. The Subcommittee is charged with reviewing the classification of new offenses under Maryland’s sentencing guidelines, review of sentencing procedures in Maryland State Courts and addresses policy considerations concerning Maryland’s sentencing guidelines prior to review by the entire Commission. Richard will serve as the State-wide defense bar representative on the Guidelines Subcommittee.

• DUI charges against two Houlon Berman clients Dismissed
  Superior Court for the District of Columbia

  In November 2010, Houlon Berman’s managing partner, Richard A. Finci, noticed that two separate clients had retained the firm with District of Columbia DUI cases involving very high breath testing results. Neither client demonstrated extreme levels of intoxication and so an investigation of the breath testing utilized in the cases were started. Upon obtaining documentation from the breath testing equipment involved, it was readily apparent that the breath testing results generated by these machines were erroneous. At the same time, other members of the bar were discovering the same things and the District of Columbia breath testing program was shut down. All breath testing results were excluded from evidence. Ultimately, the charges against both Houlon Berman clients were entered Nolle Prosequi. To this day, Houlon Berman attorneys are at the forefront of the challenges against the District of Columbia breath and urine testing programs. Most recently, Houlon Berman has retained a forensic toxicologist to explain why a urine test obtained by Metropolitan Police Department officers is inaccurate and overstates the blood alcohol content of the Houlon Berman client. Representation by Houlon Berman Managing Partner - Richard A. Finci

• Hung Jury on Felony Theft Charges
  Circuit Court for Montgomery County, Maryland

  Houlon Berman’s client was charged on October 2010 with felony theft for his involvement in a scheme to obtain diesel fuel for his tractor trailer. The State alleged that the Houlon Berman client would pay cash to an employee of a company with a fuel account. Using the fuel card provided by the employer, the employee would fill the Houlon Berman client’s tank for a substantially reduced cash price. The case proceeded to three-day jury trial in the Circuit Court for Montgomery County. After lengthy deliberations, the jury was unable to reach a verdict. They later reported an 11-1 final vote for acquittal. Rather than repeat the trial, the case was resolved without exposure to incarceration and a criminal record. Representation by Houlon Berman Managing Partner - Richard A. Finci

• Houlon Berman’s Client Acquitted of Possession of Marijuana
  Superior Court for the District of Columbia

  Houlon Berman’s client was charged on December 2010 with possession of marijuana after being searched by a Metropolitan police officer. The officers were called to the scene of a verbal dispute. The Houlon Berman client was involved in this dispute and officers stopped him insisting that he submit to a search. The Houlon Berman client submitted to this show of authority and approximately a half ounce of marijuana was found on his person. Houlon Berman filed a Motion to Suppress this evidence alleging Fourth Amendment violations. A hearing was held on that Motion as a result of which the Court granted the Motion and suppressed the marijuana. Without any further evidence, the Government had no choice but to dismiss the charges against the Houlon Berman client. Representation by Houlon Berman Managing Partner - Richard A. Finci

• Charges of Possession with Intent to Distribute PCP, Crack Cocaine and Destruction of Evidence Dismissed against Houlon Berman’s Client
  Superior Court for the District of Columbia

  Houlon Berman’s client was charged on July 2010 with possession with intent to distribute PCP, possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine and destruction of evidence as well as lesser misdemeanor counts including simple possession of those drugs and resisting arrest. Houlon Berman’s client claimed that he was stopped by police officers for no reason. The officers claimed that they stopped Houlon Berman’s client who was then riding a bicycle because he did not have a light on his bicycle at night. They further claimed that the Houlon Berman client consented to be searched, a claim which the client vehemently denied. Houlon Berman filed a Motion to Suppress the evidence in the cases alleging that the Houlon Berman client’s Fourth Amendment rights were violated by the illegal stop and search. After a lengthy hearing, the Court granted the Motion to Suppress and ruled that none of the drugs could come into evidence in the case. This left misdemeanor charges to be tried before the Court without a jury. In the end, a plea agreement was worked out to misdemeanor charges and the defendant was sentenced to time served and happily released. Representation by Houlon Berman Managing Partner - Richard A. Finci

• Court Grants Motion to Suppress in Felony Drug Case - State’s Attorney appeals to the Maryland Court of Special Appeals
  Circuit Court for Frederick County, Maryland

  Houlon Berman’s client in this case was charged on September 2010 with possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine. The State alleged that the client drove a friend to a drug deal with a police officer at a Wawa Store in Frederick County, Maryland. The drug deal took place away from defendant’s vehicle. While defendant sat and waited, police arrived and took him into custody. A drug sniffing dog was called to the scene who alerted on defendant’s vehicle. Drugs were allegedly found on the client’s person. Houlon Berman filed a Motion to Suppress alleging that the client’s Fourth Amendment rights were violated by the stop and search of his person. After a lengthy Motion hearing, the Court agreed and ordered the suppression of all evidence. Without this evidence, the State had no case. At this time, the State’s Attorney has filed an appeal of this case to the Maryland Court of Special Appeals. Under Maryland law, if the appeal is denied, the State will be required to pay the client’s attorney’s fees. Representation by Houlon Berman Managing Partner - Richard A. Finci

• Court Grants Motion to Suppress Crack Cocaine
  Superior Court for the District of Columbia

  Houlon Berman’s client was charged on February 2011 with possession of crack cocaine. He was seen leaving a motel room by undercover officers watching the motel. The officers claimed that when they approached the client, he consented to being searched and the drugs were found. Houlon Berman’s attorney was able to prove that the officers first blocked in the defendant’s vehicle and only thereafter obtained his consent making that consent invalid under the 4th Amendment. The Court accepted the proof and argument offered by Houlon Berman’s attorney and suppressed the evidence of the drugs seized from the client and, thereafter, the United States attorney dismissed the charges. Representation by Houlon Berman Managing Partner - Richard A. Finci

• 2 Former Md. Officers Cleared in Disability Probe
  The Washington Post

  After a lengthy federal Grand Jury Investigation, no charges were filed against Houlon Berman client, a current Chief of Police and former Deputy Chief.   The client was publicly accused of fraudulent conduct related to his benefits from a serious injury sustained at work.  Asked for a comment by the Washington Post reporter, Houlon Berman Managing Partner Richard A. Finci stated “this is an affirmation that he’s done nothing wrong....” [The client] is very glad that he can now put his full focus on his duties.” Representation by Houlon Berman Managing Partner - Richard A. Finci

• Feds Close Cases of Former County Assistant Police Chiefs
  The Gazette

  When asked for a quote as to whether the Houlon Berman client was relieved that the no further Grand Jury investigation would be undertaken, Houlon Berman Managing Partner Richard A. Finci stated “relieved only because it’s always stressful to be under question, but we are certainly not surprised...We always said that [the client] had done nothing wrong. Representation by Houlon Berman Managing Partner - Richard A. Finci

• Teen Hacker Gets House Arrest
  The Capital, Annapolis, MD
  
  Houlon Berman attorney Ronald Bergman responded to a media inquiry on behalf of a client charged with computer hacking and credit card fraud, explaining how the client became implicated in the case.
• Md. AG Shuts Down Multimillion Dollar Hedge Fund Fraud Operating Out of P.G.
  Southern Maryland Online
  
  Maryland Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler requested that Houlon Berman attorneys Richard Finci and Alan Levenstein be appointed receivers in a Prince George’s County investment fraud case, charging them with the authority to control day-to-day management of the defendant’s entities.


• Sex Allegations Swirled Around Md. Man Before
  Washington Post
  
  Houlon Berman attorney Sanford Berman spoke on behalf of a client accused of sexual misconduct, emphasizing his right to be presumed innocent until proven guilty and stating that the client would not be available for interviews.
• Pr. George’s Slaying Case Unravels as Witness is Held
  Washington Post
  
  Houlon Berman attorney Richard Finci responded to a media inquiry about a case in which murder charges against a client were dismissed when it was discovered that the prosecution’s sole witness committed perjury.
• Lawyer Claims Deal in Md. Teen’s Death
  Washington Post
  
  Houlon Berman attorney Richard Finci spoke on behalf of a client charged with manslaughter, stating that the client would be testifying for the prosecution in return for having all charges against him dismissed and reiterating that the client never touched the victim.