Herilla v. Mayor of Baltimore

If this opinion were being penned by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (1859-1930), it probably would be titled, “The Case of the Wrong House.”

Were it not for the tragedy that has befallen the appellant, Theodore John Herilla, and his family, the facts from which the matter sub judice arose might be considered humorous, something one would find in a television situation comedy. To the Herillas, however, the extensive damage inflicted upon their property, which rendered it unfit, without extensive repairs, for human habitation, is no laughing matter.

Initially, this appeal asked whether the Mayor and City…