Brooks v. Housing Authority

We decide in this case whether the Housing Authority of Baltimore City (“HABC”) enjoys governmental immunity from suits in tort if it has exhausted the limits of its commercial insurance policy in payment of prior claims. The case comes to us from the grant of summary judgment in favor of the HABC, the respondent, in a lead paint action brought by the petitioner, Devonte A. Brooks (“Brooks”). The HABC argued that, under Maryland’s “Housing Authorities” law, Md.Code (1957, 2003 Repl.Vol.), Art. 44A, 1 as construed by Jackson v. Housing Opportunities Comm’n of Montgomery County, 289 Md. 118,…