St. Louis v. Beckles

GARRITY, Judge.

In this matter, we shall examine the language of a joint tort-feasor release to determine its effect upon the obligation of the remaining party when the settling defendant is found not liable.

Factual Background

On April 23, 1984, Curtis C. Beckles, a minor, was crossing Riggs Road in Hyattsville, Maryland, when he was hit by a car driven by Janet T. Dierks. At the time of this accident and pursuant to a request from Curtis’s parents, Clem and Marilyn Beckles, Curtis was in the care of a neighbor of the Beckles, Noreen St. Louis, and her son, Roger St. Louis. On January 31, 1986,…