Principal attorney with a general civil trial and appellate practice in the State of Maryland, the District of Columbia, and Federal Court, concentrating in civil litigation, insurance defense, insurance coverage, product liability, wrongful death, general tort liability, toxic and environmental torts, lead paint claims, personal injury, defamation, contract disputes, premises liability, false imprisonment, assault and battery, construction litigation, and class actions.  Mr. Hoffman has been an attorney with Saunders & Schmieler, P.C. for more than eleven years, and achieved Principal Attorney status within the first six years. 

PRACTICE NOTES:                                                                                                                                                                                                 Successfully affirmed on appeal to the Maryland Court of Special Appeals the dismissal of a circuit court class action lawsuit by ticketholders against an NFL franchise team and stadium with claims in excess of two billion dollars relating to claims for alleged antitrust violations, violations of the Maryland Consumer Protection Act, interference with economic relations, purpresture, trespass to public right or easement, nuisance, breach of implied contract, breach of implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing, and breach of contract.

Successfully affirmed on appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit the dismissal of a U.S. District Court case against a major commercial office building, its management company and parking garage contractor relating to the detonation of a bomb inside the building—the second bombing in the history of Washington, D.C.

Successfully extricated management company for the World Trade Center in Baltimore’s Inner Harbor in complex litigation by tenants relating to flooding and shutdown of building in the wake of Hurricane Isabel.

Successfully procured dismissal of electrical component manufacturer in relation to complex consolidated federal litigation consisting of twenty-five lawsuits arising from the June, 22 2009 Metrorail crash -- the largest public transportation disaster in the history of Washington, D.C.

Successfully represented an NFL franchise team and stadium in roughly three dozen lawsuits pending in Maryland Circuit Court, U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland, Maryland Court of Special Appeals, U.S. District Court for the Fourth Circuit, and Superior Court of the District of Columbia for claims including assault and battery, negligence, defamation, false imprisonment, products liability, construction defects, premises liability and breach of contract.

Represented NFL franchise team and stadium in hundreds of contract disputes in Maryland Circuit and District Courts relating to leasing and licensing of stadium suites, boxes, and club seating.

Extensive experience in representing residential landlords in roughly a dozen lead paint cases brought by tenants, neighbors, guests, and contractors in Maryland Circuit Court for Baltimore City.

Extensive experience in representing owners, managers, tenants, contractors, and employees of large sports and theater venues including FedEx Field, RFK Stadium, Verizon Center, First Mariner Arena, and the Hippodrome in litigation relating to construction defects, sporting events and theater presentations, game-day preparations, personal injuries, assault and battery, negligence, defamation, and false imprisonment.