Justin A. Redd

Representative Matters

Represented a residential homebuilder in OT, LLC, et al. v. Harford County, et al., United States District Court for the District of Maryland, Case No. 1:17-cv-02812-SAG, a high-profile religious discrimination lawsuit against Harford County, Maryland, its County Executive, other County officials, and two Maryland state legislators. In the underlying transaction, the homebuilder agreed to build and sell houses to be purchased by several members of the Muslim community. The project became subject to an anti-Muslim campaign led by local citizens who were opposed to the project. Harford County stopped issuing building permits for the residential subdivision and refused to approve use and occupancy permits for houses that had been constructed. The homebuilder and an entity associated with the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community brought suit asserting federal discrimination claims and other claims for relief. After a one-week evidentiary hearing, the federal court granted a preliminary injunction in favor of Kramon & Graham's client compelling the County to issue permits for the homes that had so far been constructed. Before the matter proceeded to a jury trial, a settlement was reached resulting in a payment of $4.95 million to the plaintiffs and agreements for the resumption of the project.

Represented  shareholders of a now-defunct medical software company against certain directors and officers to recoup the shareholders' significant investments. In addition to the complaint filed on behalf of the investor group, Kramon & Graham also represented the bankruptcy trustee of the company as the plaintiff in a related case. In the parallel lawsuits in D.C. Superior Court, the Kramon & Graham team withstood a personal jurisdiction challenge and conducted national discovery, and obtained a settlement that was ultimately approved by the Bankruptcy Court.

Successfully obtained a dismissal of a putative class action lawsuit alleging, among other counts, fraud, RICO violations, and negligent misrepresentation, on behalf of a medical professional. The case was covered in the Law360 article, “Miners Can't Sue Johns Hopkins Over Black Lung Benefits,” August 29, 2017.  The United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit affirmed the decision in favor of the firm's client by published opinion. See Day v. Johns Hopkins Health Sys. Corp., 907 F.3d 766 (4th Cir. 2018).

Served as a member of the defense team that successfully represented one of six Baltimore police officers who were charged in connection with the death of Freddie Gray. The firm's client faced the most serious charges among the six officers charged. Following extensive discovery, motions, and a two-week bench trial, the defense team secured acquittals on all seven counts of the indictment, including second-degree murder, three manslaughter counts, assault, reckless endangerment, and misconduct in office. In this highly publicized trial, the defense team relied on the depth of its criminal defense experience, exceptional facility with complex medical issues, and extensive trial experience. By obtaining key pre-trial evidentiary rulings combined with the team's presentation at trial, the firm succeeded in acquiring a not-guilty verdict as to all charges. 

As a member of the special litigation counsel team to the Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Trustee, successfully argued before the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Maryland in Schlossberg, Chapter 11 Trustee v. Vincent Abell et al., Adversary Proceeding No.: 14-00417-TJC, that spoliation by the defendants was so egregious that terminating sanctions were justified. The Court entered a judgment that effectively required the turnover of scores of properties and bank accounts to the firm's client. The case is significant both for its use of the continuing concealment doctrine in the recovery of assets and for the Court's opinion on spoliation, which provides the latest, most comprehensive judicial discussion of sanctions for the destruction of ESI.

Member of the defense team that secured an acquittal on all counts in a three-day bench trial before the Circuit Court for Prince George's County. Charges against the firm's client alleged different types of theft arising out of electronic banking and other financial transactions. 

Represented an insurance company in a subrogation case against an HVAC service company that worked on a residential heating system just before a fire severely damaged the covered home. The case involved complicated fire cause-and-origin issues. Kramon & Graham's subrogation team defeated numerous defense motions seeking dismissal, striking of experts, and summary judgment, and ultimately obtained a favorable settlement before trial.