Betz v. State

WILNER, Chief Judge.

The Circuit Court for Howard County held a lawyer in direct civil contempt and summarily fined her $250 because she neglected to deliver certain information to the court and disclose it to opposing counsel within the time directed in a pre-trial settlement conference order. The issue before us is whether the court erred in imposing that sanction under the circumstances. We believe that it did, and so we shall reverse the order.

This began as a civil action by John and Joyce Savelli against State Farm Fire & Casualty Co., their automobile insurer, to collect personal injury…