Allen E. HonickFounding Partner

Allen E. Honick

Allen is a founding partner and manages a diverse litigation practice representing plaintiffs in civil rights, medical malpractice, and general negligence matters. Allen is a true trial lawyer and not just a “litigator”—feeling most at home inside the courtroom—having tried hundreds of cases to verdict before judges and juries. Allen also has significant appellate experience in both State and Federal courts, and one of Allen’s civil rights cases recently made it to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Allen loves the law and knows how to use it to ensure that his clients are treated fairly, equally, and with dignity. Allen has established a reputation as a tested trial lawyer who is not afraid to take on the most intimidating entities in pursuit of justice. Allen’s recent successes include a $10 mil.+ medical malpractice settlement, a $2.7 million jury verdict against the State of Maryland for civil rights violations, a $700,000 jury verdict for excessive force and constitutional violations, a $500,000 jury verdict in a premises liability case against Baltimore City, a $500,000 jury verdict in a slip and fall claim against a commercial cleaning company, a $402,500 jury verdict for personal injuries caused in a Lyft car crash, a $350,000 jury verdict against Chili’s for injuries caused by a screw buried in food, and a $365,000 settlement for ADA and constitutional violations in Maryland prisons.

Allen often represents clients in complex matters that require the highest degrees of sensitivity and discretion. These include civil rights cases against powerful municipal or corporate entities, police misconduct claims, and wrongful death actions. Allen is selective about the cases he pursues and treats every case as if it will go to trial from day one, which allows him to take the time to get to know his clients, understand their problems, and develop a strategy for achieving their goals.

Clients come to Allen primarily by word of mouth—frequently, as referrals from other clients and other lawyers. One of the highest compliments that Allen receives is referrals from other lawyers and parties who were Allen’s opponents in previous cases. Allen is also frequently asked to serve as outside general counsel on a wide range of issues, including cannabis law, regulatory compliance matters, and real estate acquisition and management.

Before practicing law, Allen spent ten years in the real estate industry. Allen graduated from the University of Baltimore School of Law magna cum laude and practiced at one of the largest regional law firms for the first eight years of his legal career. In his spare time, Allen enjoys squash and golf, and he is warming up to pickleball. Most of all, Allen loves traveling and spending time with his wife and children.

Business Litigation

• Obtained multimillion-dollar judgment for a national commercial builder in breach of contract and tort action.
• Managed a portfolio of several thousand state tax liens for a national servicing company.
• Obtained judgment for a solar and renewable energy business in a breach of contract matter.
• Obtained a six-figure judgment for a non-profit business in a contract dispute with a vendor.
• Represent creditors in a variety of collection matters.
• Obtained judgment for a private equity consulting group in breach of contract claim involving proprietary trade secrets and unpaid retainer fees.

Personal Injury Litigation

• Successfully negotiated thousands of personal injury and medical malpractice actions ranging from five-figure matters to nine-figure claims.
• Tried dozens of personal injury jury trials.
• Ongoing representation of plaintiffs in general negligence, motor vehicle, premises liability, and medical malpractice claims.

Recent notable verdicts:

• $500,000 jury verdict in premises liability case against Baltimore City (24-C-21-002622, Cir. Ct. Balt. City 2022).
• $500,000 jury verdict in premises liability case against commercial cleaning company (C-02-CV-20-001132, Cir. Ct. Anne Arundel Co. 2023).
• $200,000 jury verdict for client injured in car crash where his van went into a building (24-C-22-002786, Cir. Ct. Balt. City 2023).
• $250,000 jury verdict for head-on collision causing permanent injuries (C-02-CV-20-002132, Cir. Ct. Anne Arundel Co. 2022).
• $221,100 jury verdict for client who sustained permanent knee injuries as a passenger in an automobile collision (Case No. C-10-CV-19-000313, Cir. Ct. for Frederick Co.)
• $402,500 jury verdict for client, an Uber driver, who sustained a permanent neck injury in an automobile collision (Case No. 24-C-19-004226, Cir. Ct. Balt. City).
• $350,000 jury verdict in premises liability claim. Trial verdict affirmed by Maryland Court of Special Appeals, at No. 2007, Sept. Term 2019.

Civil Rights Litigation

• Continuous representation of plaintiffs in a variety of Section 1983 actions.
• Continuous representation of plaintiffs in police brutality and prison guard brutality actions.
• Ongoing representation of prisoners in conditions of confinement claims.
• Continuous representation of individuals in Eighth Amendment claims concerning inadequate medical treatment in prison.
• Continuous representation of individuals with disabilities who are denied equal access and opportunities to programs and services because of their disabilities.
• $2.7 million jury verdict in civil rights claim against State government.
• $700,000 verdict for excessive force and violations of constitutional rights.
• $365,000 settlement with the State of Maryland on behalf of current and former prisoners for violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Receivership Representation

Successfully recovered millions of dollars for a Receiver established by the Securities and Exchange Commission and the federal district court in Washington, D.C., after a fraudster stole nearly $60 million from unknowing investors in a Ponzi scheme.

Real Estate Litigation

• Successfully defended a municipality in an inverse condemnation proceeding resulting from environmental contamination.
• Successfully defended a condominium association in defending claims related to a bylaw amendment.
• Obtained significant judgment for commercial real estate trust in a dispute over the sale of business assets and real estate.

Cannabis Law

Allen’s cannabis practice focuses on facilitating responsible growth in the industry, with a specific focus on deconstructing prohibition-era policies and promulgating responsible and sustainable frameworks for continued growth in this burgeoning space.

• Serve as outside general counsel to entities in all facets of the space, including cannabis cultivation/processing/dispensing, and hemp-derived CBD, industrial hemp processing and extraction.
• Ongoing representation of ancillary businesses, like banks, insurers, and transporters.
• Provide guidance to operators on state regulatory schemes and the interplay between state and federal law
• Ongoing counsel to operators and investors in deal structure (both buy and sell-side), acquisition, transfer, and licensing
• Counseled elder age homes on regulatory compliant, but practical cannabis policies
• General corporate governance and transactional advice to startups and well-established operators

Outside General counsel

• Previously served as outside general counsel to a local non-profit organization specializing in psychiatric rehabilitation for children and adults in need.
• Serve as outside general counsel to money services business.
• Ongoing representation of various cannabis entities and consortiums.
• Counsel financial institutions, insurers, and other ancillary businesses on implementation of cannabis laws and their interplay with existing statutory schemes.
• Serve as outside general counsel to private equity consulting group.
• Serve as outside general counsel to several faith-based organizations. Serve as outside general counsel to CBD/Hemp retailer and processor.

Pro Bono

• Ongoing representation of clients from Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service. Volunteer at Jewish Community Services pro bono legal clinic.
• Serves as pro bono counsel in discrete appointments by the United States District Court for the District of Maryland.
• Successful resolution of prisoner claim for excessive force against the State of Maryland – appointed pro bono counsel by United States District Court for the District of Maryland.

Finra Securities Litigation

Successfully resolved broker misconduct claim involving unsuitability, unauthorized trading, and failure to supervise.

Commercial Law Litigation

Allen specializes in commercial law claims involving Article 3 of the Uniform Commercial Code (negotiable instruments), and routinely litigates Article 3 claims in both trial and appellate matters. Allen serves as litigation counsel for many check cashing and money services businesses in Maryland because of his commercial law expertise.

Mentorship

Ongoing mentorship activities with the University of Baltimore School of Law.