David E. Ralph
David Ralph
Baltimore
Maryland (MD)
Contact David E. RalphVisit: www.ci.baltimore.md.us/government/law/
Civil Litigation Defense
Business Litigation
Employment & Labor
Profile
David E. Ralph was engaged in civil practice as a member of regional and national corporate law firms for over a decade, where he has served as a partner concentrating in complex commercial litigation and employment law. His practice particularly focused on sophisticated high exposure litigation, including complex business disputes, financial services and constitutional issues. He also handled immigration and securities matters. Prior to that, Mr. Ralph served as a Maryland Assistant State's Attorney, where he prosecuted hundreds of misdemeanors and felonies on behalf of the public--trying numerous jury trials. Most recently, Mr. Ralph served as the Chief of the Litigation and Claims divisions for the City of Baltimore. The Litigation Division, which is the largest division of the City Law Department, represents the City in hundreds of civil cases in a wide range of areas, including constitutional and municipal law, contracts, torts, franchising, employment, environmental law, planning and redevelopment. The Litigation Division is also responsible for handling of the City's appeals. Under Mr. Ralph's leadership, the City of Baltimore has significantly increased the successful outcome of litigation matters to above 80%. At the same time the City substantially decreased the amounts paid out in connection with suits against the City even though the number of those suits increased each year. For example, from July 1, 2005 to June 30, 2006, there were 330 lawsuits filed against the City for damages totaling $312,095,299.00. The City won 268 of those cases and paid out just $415,513.00 (0.13% of the dollar amount of the asserted claims) in settlements or judgments on suits that it did not otherwise win outright. Currently, Mr. Ralph serves as the Deputy City Solicitor for the City of Baltimore. In this capacity he, along with the City Solicitor, manages the City Law Department and supervises all civil litigation and other matters pursued by or asserted against the City. In addition to managing, he personally handles civil or administrative matters involving the Mayor and any other matters having significant implications.
Selected To
Maryland Super Lawyers 2009
Maryland Super Lawyers 2008
About David Ralph
Admitted: 1992, Maryland
Bar/Professional Activity:
- Member Federal Bar Association Board of Directors
- Member of the District of Columbia Bar Association.
- Member of the Maryland State Bar Association.
- Member of the American Bar Association's Civil Litigation, Employment and Labor Law and International Law Committees
- Member of the Maryland State Board of Law Examiners
- Chairman of the Judicial Nominating Commission
Pro bono/Community Service:
- Member of Board of Directors for Baltimore Mental Health Systems, Inc.
- President of the Board of Directors for the Druid Heights Community Development Corporation
- Member of Kappa Alpha Psi, Inc.
Verdicts and Settlements:
- 120 West Fayette Street, LLLP v. Mayor & City Council of Baltimore, 413 Md. 309 (2010), among other things, the appeal presented the issue of whether a land disposition agreement that provides for the redevelopment of property and municipal oversight over the redevelopment is a public work project subject to municipal competitive bidding requirements;
- Sharp Electronics Corp. v. Deutsche Finc'l Serv's Corp., 216 F.3d 388 (4th Cir. 2000)--The appeal presented the question under Illinois law of whether a finance company may unilaterally modify the terms of a standing floorplan financing agreement before it agrees to finance a given transaction.
- Ausherman v. Bank of America Corp., 352 F.3d 896 (4th Cir. 2003)--Appeal involved whether 24 Plaintiffs were entitled to compensatory and punitive damages against Bank of America for alleged "dissemination of personal financial information; invasion of privacy; and impairment of their ability to obtain credit," in violation of the Fair Credit Reporting Act, 15 U.S.C. § 1681;
- Person v. Mayor and City Council of Baltimore, 437 F.Supp.2d 476 (D.Md.2006)--case presented question of whether the City of Baltimore's appropriation of funds in connection with a convention organized by the National Baptist Convention violated the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment to the United States Constitution;
- McNack v. State, 920 A.2d 1097, 398 Md. 378 (2007)--Appeal presented a case of first impression in Maryland as to whether the State should recognize the "State Created Danager Doctrine" and whether an alleged failure of law enforcement to adequately protect individuals could lead to a violation of federal or state procedural or substantive due process;
Representative Clients:
- City of Baltimore, General Motors Corp., Bank of America Corp., Howard University, Executive Title & Escrow, LLC, FDIC: Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Century 21 Advantage Realty.
Other Outstanding Achievements:
- Managing Member, Law Offices of David E. Ralph, LLC
Super Lawyers is a rating service of outstanding lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have attained a high-degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. The selection process is multi-phased and includes independent research, peer nominations and peer evaluations.
