The importance of the initial pleading in litigation cannot be overstated. A strong complaint ensures the plaintiff’s right to pursue certain claims and theories of recovery, while the courts will often dismiss inadequate or defective pleadings. That being the case, it is important for Maryland judges and lawyers to understand the essential components of a sound pleading.
Pleading Causes of Action in Maryland, Seventh Edition, one of MSBA’s top selling legal treatises, offers a comprehensive guide to drafting and analyzing pleadings, making it an indispensable resource for anyone practicing law in Maryland. The authors, Paul Mark Sandler, James K. Archibald, and Eleanor T. Chung, organized the book in a logical manner that makes it easy to navigate, with sample pleadings followed by expert commentary on claim elements and relevant issues.
The Seventh Edition includes updates on recent legal developments, two new causes of action, and references to over 2,600 cases, 380 sections of Maryland law, and 200 provisions of the Maryland Rules. It also incorporates nearly 200 court decisions issued since the previous edition, making it current up to December 31, 2021. The authors updated the sample complaints to reflect the the great diversity of the Maryland bar as well.
Pleading Causes of Action in Maryland, Seventh Edition, has garnered praise from the Maryland Judiciary. Hon. Matthew J. Fader, Chief Judge, Court of Appeals of Maryland, opined, “Mr. Sandler, Mr. Archibald, and Ms. Chung . . . ensure that no lawyer practicing in a Maryland court is left searching in darkness when considering how to identify, understand, and plead a recognized cause of action.”
Hon. Andrea M. Leahy, Court of Special Appeals of Maryland, called attention to the book’s enduring value, noting, “More than three decades after the first edition was published, Pleading Causes of Action in Maryland remains an indispensable resource. Smart lawyers will consult this book before drafting any cause of action in Maryland.” Pleading Causes of Action in Maryland, Seventh Edition, is available in hardcover and digital formats. You can obtain your copy here.