Lawyers

Experience

Products Liability, Toxic Exposure & Environmental Litigation

• Advised national litigation counsel on defense strategies in complex litigation
• Counsel to major manufacturers in cases involving exposure to various elements environmentally and occupationally
• Represented various products manufacturers in personal injury litigation, ranging from medical devices to power tools and automotive components
• Represented manufacturing group in product litigation involving welding combustibles

Mass Torts and Class Actions

• Counsel for major manufacturer in products liability class action involving over 10,000 plaintiffs
• Counsel to major manufacturer in over 350 breast implant cases filed in Maryland, the District of Columbia and Northern Virginia

Professional Liability and Medical Malpractice

• Chairman of Board of Regional Health Care Organization
• Retained as expert witness in professional liability claims against attorneys
• Represented physicians and medical providers in medical negligence litigation

Appellate

• Co-counsel in cases that changed punitive damage law in Maryland
• Argued cases in Maryland Appellate Courts and the United States District Court for the Fourth Circuit

Electronically Stored Information (ESI)

• Advised clients and litigants regarding duties with regard to ESI
• Lectured to bar groups concerning ethical implications of ESI
• Participated in professional organizations focused on ESI

Lead Paint

• Represented property owners in suits concerning personal injury claims
• Advised clients on legislative issues related to lead paint and other exposure claims
• Prepared and developed expert witnesses on medical and legal issues arising in Lead Paint claims

Other Litigation

• Represented testing laboratory in an HIV misdiagnosis case
• Represented major university coach in NCAA investigation and hearing
• Handled complex litigation on behalf of various insurers and their insureds
• Represented Baltimore City Council in 2003 redistricting process
• Represented Baltimore City in civil rights lawsuit concerning redevelopment of public housing
• Represented plaintiffs in personal injury and wrongful death cases
• Advisor to small and start up businesses

General Information

Professional Affiliations:
Member: Maryland State, Baltimore City, Monumental City, District of Columbia, National, and American Bar Associations; and Fourth Circuit Judicial Conference

Related Professional Experience:

• Member: ABA Commission on Racial and Ethnic Diversity (2012-)
• Member: ABA Standing Committee on the Federal Judiciary (2007-2010)
• Member: ABA Standing Committee on Education (2004-2008)
• Member: ABA House of Delegates
• Immediate Past President: Maryland State Bar Association (2004-present)
• President: Maryland State Bar Association (2003-2004)
• President-Elect: Maryland State Bar Association (2002-2003)
• Treasurer: Maryland State Bar Assoc. (1999-2002)
• Member: Maryland State Bar Foundation Board of Directors (2003-present)
• Member: Standing Committee on Rules of Practice and Procedure, Court of Appeals of Maryland (1986-present)
• Member: Attorney Grievance Commission Review Board (1993-1996)
• Member: Inquiry Panel, Attorney Grievance Commission (1983-1993)
• Member: Eighth Judicial Circuit Character Committee (1984-present)
• General Counsel: MD NBA '95
• Member:  ABA Conference of Minority Partners in Majority Corporate Law Firms (Elected Advisory Board, 1993-1998)
• Developed "ATLAS" Mentoring Program, University of Maryland School of Law 
• MSBA: Board of Governors,  (1997-1999, 1991-1993, 1987-1989)
• Executive Committee (1998-1999, 1991-1993, 1987-1988)
• Mentor: Leadership Academy (1997-present)
• Membership Committee: Budget and Finance Committee;
• Special Committee on Continuing Legal Education (1994-1996)
• Special Committee on Governance (1993)
• Co-Chair: Special Committee on Minorities in the Legal Profession (1990-1991)
• Planning Committee (1986- 1990) (Chairman, 1988-89)
• Lawyer Dispute Resolution Committee (1989- 1992)
• Committee on Governance (1985-1986)
• Eighth Circuit Representative, YLS (1982-1985)
• YLS Special Committee on Board of Governors Guidelines (1986)
• Participant, YLS Special Olympics (1985)
• Member: Bar Association of Baltimore City, Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee (1997-2005)
• Member: Special Committee on Drug Crisis and Underfunding of the Court System in Baltimore City (1990-1992)
• Chairman: Judiciary Committee (1988-1989)
• Executive Committee:  Lawyers Committee for an Independent Judiciary (1989-1992)

 Public Service: 

• Board of Trustees: Office of the Public Defender (2011-)
• Member: U.S. Bankruptcy Court Merit Selection Panel (2004)
• Member: Appellate Courts Nominating Commission (2002-2006)
• Chairman: Baltimore County, Maryland Human Relations Commission (1998-2003)
• Member: Trial Courts Nominating Commission (1995-1999)
• Member: U.S. Magistrate Judge Review Panel (1994-1995)
• Member: Governor's Commission on the Death Penalty (1993)
• Treasurer: Committee to Retain the Sitting Judges (1991-1992)

Civic Activities:

• Chair: Board of Directors, GBMC HealthCare (2011 to present)
• Member: Board of Trustees - Greater Baltimore Medical Center (2002-present); Legislative Chair (2005-2006); Board Secretary (2006-2007); Vice-Chair (2007-2009); Chair Elect (2010-)
• Member:  Board of Trustees - Center Stage (2002-2010)
• Member: Board of Trustees - Baltimore Community Foundation (2006-present)
• Presenter: Litigation Section's Program MSBA Annual Meeting
• Faculty: MICPEL Nine Day Trial Advocacy Program (1994, 1995, 1997)
• Presenter: Maryland Trial Lawyers Association CLE Seminar (October 1993)
• Faculty: Professionalism Course for New Admittees
• Participant: "Trial by Jury" Program, Maryland State Fair
• Member: Board of Trustees  Baltimore Educational Scholarship Trust, (1993-2008)
• Member: Board of Directors, BDC Development Corporation (1991-1997)
• Member: Economic Development Council, Greater Baltimore Committee (1990-1994)
• Member: Executive Board, Baltimore Area Council, Boy Scouts of America (1990-1995) (Chairman, Districts Fundraising Campaign 1991-1992)
• Member: Board of Directors, The Chapman Funds (1989-1994)
• Member: Board of Directors, Afro American Newspapers (1989-1998)
• Member: Board of Trustees, Baltimore City Community College Foundation (former member, President and Chairman of the Board, Community College of Baltimore Foundation, 1989-1993) 

 Awards: 

• Practitioner of the Year: University of Maryland, Black Law Students Association, 2012
• AV Peer Review Rated: Martindale-Hubbell
• Charlie Dorsey Mentor Award, Bar Association of Baltimore City, 2009
• Listed as a "Local Litigation Star" in Benchmark Litigation: The Definitive Guide to America's Leading Litigation Firms and Attorneys, 2009 & 2010
• Listed in Maryland Super Lawyers, 2007 - 2011
• Listed in Best Lawyers in America, 2006-present
• Leadership in Law Honoree, The Daily Record, 2003
• Top Black Lawyers in America, Black Enterprise Magazine, 2003
• Freedom's First Award, Monumental City Bar Association, 2000
• Distinguished Alumni Award, University of Maryland School of Law Black Law Students Association, 1987
• Founder's Award, Monumental City Bar Association, 1987
• Listed in Chambers Top Lawyers

Publications:

• Johnson, Harry S. and Stone, Dwight W., "Effective Use of the Video Deposition: the Basics and Some Finer Points", The Practical Litigator, July 1999
• Johnson, Harry S. and Stone, Dwight W., "Batson Challenges:  How To Be Better Prepared Than Your Opponent", The Practical Litigator, November, 1996
• Johnson, H.S.;  Duvall. G.M., and Halstad, L.S., "Staying The Judgment and Supersedeas Bonds", Appellate Practice For The Maryland Lawyer: State and Federal 1994
• Contributor, ALI-ABA's Practice Checklist Manual on Trial Preparation, January 4, 1999

Education

• University of Maryland School of Law (J.D. 1979)
• University of Maryland (B.A. 1976)