Seigel v. Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith, Inc.

STEADMAN, Associate Judge:

Two New Jersey casinos cashed checks totaling $143,000 drawn by plaintiff Walter Seigel, one of its patrons, on his cash management account at defendant Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner, & Smith, Inc. (“Merrill Lynch”). On returning home to Maryland, Seigel placed a stop payment order on the checks, but Merrill Lynch nonetheless paid them by mistake. Seigel then brought this suit against Merrill Lynch seeking to recover the amount of the checks. The trial court granted summary judgment for Merrill Lynch.

Among other issues, Seigel on appeal invokes a “compulsive gambler”…