SCOTT SHIRLEI.

IN TIIE

Plaintiff CIRCIIIT COIIRT FOR

v.
MONTGOMERY COUNTY
ERIC HECKMAN
and MARYLAND
ROCKVILLE FOOTBALL LEAGUE
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
and
CITY OF ROCI(VILLE. MARYLAND CaseNo.: 339630-V

Defendants

DEFENDANTS ERIC HECKMAN AND ROCKVILLE

FOOTBALL LEAGUE'S MOTION TO DISMISS F'OR
INSUFFICIENT SERVICE OF PROCESS

Defendants Eric Heckman and Rockville Football League, by and through their

counsel,Craig Brodsky, ShannonMaddenMarshall and Goodell, DeVries,Leech & Dann,

O
V) LLP, pursuant to Maryland Rule 2-322(a), hereby file this Motion to Dismiss for
o-, S
EU tL Insuffi6ient Serviceof Process. In support of their Motion, Defendantsstatesas follows:
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r, ir 1. Plaintiff has sued Defendants for misrepresentation,defamation, violation
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of due process and breach of contract, See Complaint. Although the allegations are
g
c{
grossly lacking in factual detail, Plaintiff apparently complains that he was aggrieved

when, after a hearing, he was removed from his youth football coaching position for

allegedmisconduct.

2. Plaintiff filed his Complaint in the Circuit Court for Montgomery County

on October20,2010. On October27,2070, a 30-day sunmons was issued. SeeExhibit

A
(docket entriesfor caseno. 339630-V). On or aboutDecember2,2010,plaintiffattempted

to perfect service on both Mr. Heckman and the Rockville Football League (..ML")
by
delivering the summonsand Complaint to a Mr. Demus at the RFL corporateaddress.
Mr.
Demus is not an officer of, nor even employed by, RFL. See Exhibit B (Affidavit of Eric

Heckman). He is not a managing or general agent, or any other agent appointed by law to

receive service on behalf of RFL. Id. Accordingly, Plaintiffhas clearly failed to properly

serveDefendant RFL under Md. Rule 2-124(d).

3. Service is likewise defective as to Eric Heckman. To date. Mr. Heckman

hasyet to be servedindividually in accordancewith Rule 2-12I. SeeExhibit B (Affidavit

of Eric Heckman).

4. Further, the 30-day summonsesissued on I0l21ll0 had apparently expired

by the time of the (defective) attempted service on these Defendants. See Exhibit A

(docketsheetreflectingreturnsof serviceon l2l2ll0, after the summonseshad expired.)

5. Plaintiff s insuffrciencyof serviceof processis groundsfor dismissalunder

Maryland Rules 2-322(a)(l) afi 2-322(a)().

6. A proposedOrder is attached.

WHEREFORE, for the above-stated reasons, Defendants Eric Heckman and

Rockville Football League respectfully move to dismiss Plaintiff s claims against them in

their entirety.

Respectfullysubmitted,
kj

UW
CraigBrodsky
ShannonMaddenMarshall t l'
Goodell,DeVries,Leech& Dann,LLP
OneSouthStreet,20s Floor
Baltimore,Maryland21202
(410)783-4000 Tel.;(4r0) 783-4040
Fax
Attorneysfo r D efendants
Eric HeckmanandRockvilleFootbull
Leagae
 ii,t.i4t

Eric HeckmanandRockvilleFootballLeaguerespectfullyrequesta
Defendants
hearing
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+- i on the aboveMotion to Dismiss.
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C j ]q ],
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(F CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
hl

I HEREBY CERTIFY that on thi&{-C day of February,2011, copies of the

sentvia
foregoing Motion to Dismiss,Memorandumof Law, and proposedorder were

first-classmail,postageprepaid,to:

Mary Ann Ryan,Esquire

319Main Street
Laurel,MD 20707

PatriciaP. Via, Esquire

Chief,Divisionof Litigation
Office of CountyAttorney- 3'oFloor
101MonroeStreet
Rockville,MD 20850

ChristineM. Collins,Esquire
AssociateCountYAttorneY .
ExecutiveOfficeBuilding,3'oFloor
101MonroeStreet
Rockville,MD 20850

ShannonMadden Marshall
 rii''

scoTT SHIRLEY, IN TIIE

Plaintiff CIRCUIT COURT FOR

v.
MONTGOMERY COTJNTY
ERIC IIECKMAN
and MARYLAND
ROCKVILLE FOOTBALL LEAGUE
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
and
CITY OF ROCI(VILLE, MARYLAND CaseNo.: 339630-V

Defendants

MEMORANDUM OF LAW IN SI]PPORT OF

DEFENDANTS ERIC HECKMAN AND ROCKVILLE
FOOTBALL LEAGUE'S MOTION TO DIS]\{ISS
FOR INSUFFICIENT SERVICE OF PROCESS

Defendants Eric Heckman and Rockville Football League, by and through their

counsel, Craig Brodsky, ShannonMadden Marshall and Goodell, DeVries, Leech & Dann,

LLP, pursuant to Maryland Ptule 2-322(a), hereby submit this Memorandum of Law in
ct
tJ") F

Cfl
la{rl
c5(-]
supportof their Motion to Dismissfor Insufficient Serviceof Process.
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Plaintiff has sued Defendants for misrepresentation,defamation, violation of due
lt:- J

J
E
process and breach of contract. See Complaint. Although the allegations are gossly
{\,
lacking in factual detail, Plaintiff apparentlycomplains that he was aggrievedwhen, after a

hearing, he was removed from his youth football coachingposition for allegedmisconduct.

Plaintiff frled his Complaint in the Circuit Court for Montgomery County on

October20,2010. On October21,2010, a summonswas issued. Exhibit A (docketentries

for caseno. 339630-V). Shortly thereafter,Plaintiff attemptedto perfect serviceon both

Mr. Heckman and the Rockville Football League ("ML"; by delivering the summonsand
 s
-a-,

Complaint to a Mr. Demus at the RFL corporateaddress. Id. Mr. Demus is not an officer

of, nor even employed by, RFL. ^SeeExhibit B (Affrdavit of Eric Heckman). He is not a

managing or general agent, or any other agent appointed by law to receive service on

behalf of RFL. Id. Accordingly, Plaintiff has clearly failed to properly serve Defendant

RFL under Md. Rule 2-124(d).

Service is likewise defective as to Eric Heckman. To date, Mr. Heckman has yet to

be served individually in accordancewith Rule 2-121. See Exhibit B (Affidavit of Erick

Heckman). Accordingly, service on Mr. Heckman was defective under Maryland Rule 2-

12I. Further, the 30-day summonsesissued on I0l2llI0 had apparentlyexpired by the

time of the (defective) attempted service on these Defendants. See Exhibit A. Without

proper service,personaljurisdiction has not been acquired, and Plaintiff s Complaint must

be dismissedas to theseDefendantspursuantto Rules 2-322(a)(l) and2-322(a)(4).

il. Sr.qloARp or Rnvtnw

A motion to dismiss lies where no justiciable controversyexists. Broadwater v.

state,303 Md. 461,467, 494 A.2d 934,937 (1985). The court shouldassumethe truth of

all well-pleaded relevant facts alleged in the complaint and all inferences that can

reasonablybe drawn from them, Rossakiv. NtlS Corp.,116 Md. App. 11, 18, 695 A.zd

203, 207 (1997), but where the ailegationsin the complaint, even if true, do not entitle the

plaintiff to relief as a matter of law, the case should be dismissed. Lubore v. MM

Associates,109Md. App. 3 12,322,674 A.2d 547, 552 (1996).

III" Lncu, Ancunmxr

Plaintiff has been unable to meet even the most basic standardsof serviceof

processunderMaryiandlaw. MarylandRule 2-121requiresthat serviceof processbe

madeon an individualby the following methods:

(1) by delivering to the person to be served a copy of the summons,

complaint, and all other papersfiled with it;

(2) if the person to be served is an individual, by leaving a copy of the

summons,complaint, and all other papersfiled with it at the individual's
dwelling house or usual place of abode with a resident of suitable age
and discretion; or

(3) bV mailing to the person to be served a copy of the summons,complaint,

and all other papers filed with it by certified mail requesting:
"RestrictedDelivery - show to whom, date,addressof delivery."

Plaintiff purported to serve Mr. Heckman by leaving a copy of the summons and

Complaint at the RFL address,not Mr. Heckman's home, with an individual who is not

Mr. Heckman, and who is not authorized to accept service on his behalf. See Exhibits A

and B. Thus, service on Mr. Heckman is clearly defective. Further, constructive

knowledge of Plaintiff s suit against it is insufficient to cure the defects in service. See

Miles v. Hamilton, 269 Md. 708, 713 (1973) (holding that "the fact that the defendant

might have had actual knowledge of the suit against him would not cure a defective

service.")

Service is likewise fatally flawed as to Defendant RFL. Maryland Rule 2-124

requires that:

(c) Service is made upon a corporation, incorporated

association, or joint stock company by serving its resident agent,
president, secretary, or treasurer. If the corporation, incorporated
association,or joint stock companyhas no residentagentor if a good
faith attempt to serve the resident agent, president, secretary, or
 treasurer has failed, services may be made by serving the manager,
any director, vice president, assistantsecretary,assistanttreasurer,or
other person expressly or impliedly authorized to receive service of
process.

As is reflected in the attachedAffidavit (Exhibit B), there is no proof of any service upon

any appropriate RFL employee with either statutory or corporate authority to accept legal

process. See Exhibits A and B. Therefore,Plaintiff has failed to establishprima facie

evidenceof valid service. SeeSheehyv. Sheehy,250Md. 181, 185 (1968) (holdingthat a

proper return is prima facie evidenceof valid service).

Without sufficient service of process, this Court does not have jurisdiction over

pp1- or Mr. Heckm a1^.SeeMiserandinov. ResortProperties,lnc.,345 Md. 43, 56 (1997)

("In Maryland, the method of service of process ordinarily required to obtain original

personaljurisdiction over a residentor nonresidentindividual is by personaldelivery,or by

certified mail with restricted delivery and return receipt stating to whom delivered and the

date and addressof delivery"), Miles v. Hamilton,269 Md. at 713 (holding that without

proper service,jurisdiction was absent and court's judgment was invalid). Therefore,

PlaintifPs Complaint must be dismissedas to theseDefendants.

IV. CoNcr.usrox

Plaintiffls insuffrciency of service of process is grounds for dismissal under

Maryland RuIe 2-322(aX1)and2-322(a)(4). Accordingly, DefendantsEric Heckman and

Rockville Football League respectfully requestthis court to dismiss Plaintiff s Complaint

and each and every claim againstthem.

 .1V-'t

Respectfu
lly submitted,

ShannonMaddenMarshall
Goodell,DeVries,Leech& Dann,LLP
OneSouthStreet,20sFloor
Baltimore,Maryland21202
(410)783-4000Tel.; (4r0) 783-4040Fax
Atto rneysfo r D efendants
Eric Heckman and Rockville Football
League
 CERTIFICATE OF SERYICE

I FIEREBY CERTIFY that on thi. 4f day of February,2011, copiesof the

foregoing Motion to Dismiss,Memorandumof Law, and proposedOrder were sentvia

first-classmail, postageprepaid,to:

Mary Ann Ryan,Esquire

319Main Street
Laurel,l{ID 20707

PatriciaP. Via, Esquire

Chiel Divisionof Litigation
Office of CountyAttomey- 3'oFloor
101MonroeStreet
Rockville,MD 20850

ChristineM. Collins,Esquire
AssociateCountyAttomey
ExecutiveOfficeBuilding 3'dFloor
101MonroeStreet
Rockville,MD 20850

ShannonMadden Marshall
CaseInformation Paee1 of5
*t

CircuitCourtof Marvland

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Case Information
CourtSystem:
Circuit Court for Montgomery County - Clvil System

. CaseNumber:339630V SubType: OTHERTORTS

Date Filed: ro/20l2oto

CaseStatus:OPEN

Plaintiff Information
(Each Alias, Address, and Attorney for the Plaintiff is displayed)
g16mg;SHIRLEY, SCOTT

Address:4703 KEMPERSTREET
ROCKVILLEMD 20853

Atbrney(s) for the Plaintiff

116ms.RYAN, MARY ANN

Address:319 MAIN STREET

LAURELMD 2O7O7

Phone:301-725-3800

Defendant Information
(Each Alias, Address, and Attomey for the Defendant is displayed)
lrlsmg; HECKMAN,ERIC

Address:C/O ROCKVILLEFOOTBALLLEAGUE
1325 SEVENLOCKSRD 219
POTOMACMD 20854

Name: ROCKVILLEFOOTBALLLEAGUEBOARD OF DIRECTORS

Address:1325 SEVENLOCKSRD 219

POTOMACMD 20854

Name: CITY OF ROCI(VILLEMARYLAND

Address:CITY COUNCIL
50 MARYLANDAVE
ROCKVILLEMD 20850

Attorney(s) for the Defendant

Name: VIA, PATRICIA

Address: CHIEF, DMSION OF LITIGATION

mhtml:file://C:\Users\msm\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\TemporaryIntemet Fi
CaseInformation Page2 of 5

OFFICEOF COUNTYATTORNEY. 3RD FL.

rol MONROESTREET
ROCKVILLEMD 20850

Phone: 240-777-6704

Name: COLLINS,CHRISTINEM

Address:ASSOCIATECOUNTYATTORNEY
EXECUTIVEOFFICEBUILDING
101 MONROESTREET3RD FL
ROCKVILLEMD 20850

Phone:240-777-6700

Court Scheduling Information

(Scheduleis subject to change)
EventDate: O3/OllzOLl EventTime: 1O:OOAM Judge: CRAVEN,THOMASL

Location:5O Maryland Avenue 8th Floor Courtroom: 6

Description:MOTION TO DISMISS(PARTIAL)

EventDate: OalO4l2OlL EventTime: 01:30 PM

Descriotion: PRE-TRIAL

EventDate: OA/O4/2Oll EventTime: O1:3OPM

Descriotion: SETTLEMENTHEARING

Issues Information
Issue: NEGLIGENCE- DEFAMATIONOF CHARACTER
Issue: MISREPRESENTATIONOF FACTS
Issue: VIOLATfON
Issue: BREACHOF CONTRACT

Document Tracking
DocketDate: 1Ol2Ol2O1O DocketNumber: 1
DocketDescriotion:BILL OF COMPLAINT
DocketType: Docket FiledBy: Plaintiff
DocketText: COMPLAINTAND DEMAND FORJURY TRIAL, FILED.

Docket Date: 1Ol2O/2OIO DocketNumber: 2

DocketDescription:INFORMATION SHEETFILED
DocketType: Docket FiledBy: Plaintiff

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CaseInformation Page3 of5

DocketText: PLAINTIFF'S INFORMATION SHEET,FILED.

DocketDate: 1Ol20 I2OLO DocketNumber: 3

Docket Description:INSTRUCTIONSFOR SERVICE

DocketType: Docket FiledBy: Plaintiff

Docketfsxl; PLAINTtrFF'SINSTRUCTIONSFOR SERVICE,FILED.

DocketDate: 1Ol21 l2OlO DocketNumber: 4

DocketDescription:ORDE& SCHEDULINGHEARINGCML TRK

DocketType: Docket FiledBy: Court

RulingJudge: DEBELIUS,JOHN W III

. NOTICEOF SCHEDULINGHEARINGAND ORDEROF COURT- TRACK3 (DEBELIUS,
uocKet rext: J.), ENTERED.(COPIESMAILED)

Docket Date: 1Ol21 l2OLO Docket Number: 5

Docket Description: NOTICE, NEW CASE NUMBER

Docket Type: Docket Filed By: Court

Docker lsal; NOTICE SENT GMNG NEW CASE NUMBER TO ALL PARTIES.

DocketDate: 1Ol21 /2OtO DockefNumber: 6

DocketDescription:SUMMONSISSUED
DocketType: Docket FiledBy: Court
THREE30 DAY SUMMONSESISSUEDFOR PERSONALSERVICEAND MAILED TO
DocKetlext:41agp1gy.

DocketDate: O1l13 /2OLL DocketNumber: 7

Docket Description:MOTION, DISMISS (PARTIAL - CASENOT CLOSED)
DocketType: Motion FiledBy: Defendant Status: Open
Rulingludge; CRAVEN'THOMASL
ReferenceDocket(s):Opposition: 15
DEFENDANTCITY OF ROCKVILLE,MARYLAND'SMOTION TO DISMISS O& IN THE
ALTERNATTVE FORSUMMARYJUDGMENT,REQUESTFOR HEARTNG,
^^_,_^!_^._,.MEMOR/ANDUM
ueLKeL OF GROUNDSAND AUTHORITIESAND ATTACHMENTS,FILED.
'c^L'
(LP)

DocketDate: O1l20/?OLL DocketNumber: 8

Docket Description:NOTICE,HEARINGDATE
DocketType: Docket FiledBy: Court
NOTICEOF HEARINGDATE,FILED AND MAILED. (HEARINGDATE:O3lOrl20ll)
DocKer-^._..
text; (LP)

DocketDate: O1121/2Ot t DocketNumber: 9

Docket Description:HEARING,SCHEDULINGHEARING,ALL PRESENT
DocketType: Docket FiledBy: Court

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IntemetFiles\... 2126120II
CaseInformation Page4 of5

RulingJudge: MASON' MICHAELD

, SCHEDULINGHEARING(MASON,I.) . ALL PARTIESPRESENTSCHEDULINGAND
rrocKetrext: ppglplAL ORDERSDISTRIBUTEDAND IN EFFECT,

A ud i oM e d i a :0 9 -0 1 2 1 f 1 Sta rt: 09:51:O9 S top: O9:55:20

DocketDate: O1l21 lz0Ll DocketNumber: 10

DocketDescription:JUDGE/MASTERREFERSCASETO ADR
DocketType: Docket FiledBy: Court

Rul i n gJ u d g e :M AS O N ,M IC H AE LD
. couRT (MASON, J.) REFERSCASEFOR ALTERNATM DISPUTE RESOLUTION.
Docketrext: 699p1 ApporNis iuoee wErNsrErN To BE THE MEDTAToRrN THrs cAsE.

DocketDate: O1l21 lz0lL DocketNumber: 11

DocketDescription:AFFIDAVIT OF SERVICE:SERVED
DocketType: Docket FiledBy: Other
AFFIDAVIT OF SERVICEON COMPLAINTAND NOTICEOF SCHEDULINGHEARTNG
Docketlsft; AND ORDEROF COURT:SERVEDAS TO CITY OF ROCKVTLLECITY COUNCIL
w/s/o TANYA ON L2/L7/2011, FTLED.(LP)

DocketDate: O1l21 l20ll DocketNumber: L2

DocketDescriotion:AFFIDAVIT OF SERVICE:SERVED
DocketType: Docket FiledBy: Other
AFFIDAVIT OF SERVICEON COMPLAINTAND NOTICEOF SCHEDULINGHEARING
Docketl6yt; AND ORDEROF COURT:SERVEDAS TO ROCKVILLEFOOTBALLLEAGUEAND ERIC
HECKMANW lslO MR. DEMUSON L2/02/2011, FTLED.(LP)

DocketDate: O1126/2011 DocketNumber: 13

DocketDescription
: ORDE& SCHEDULING
DocketType:Docket FiledBy: Court
Rul i n gJ u d g e :D E BE L IU SJ, O H N W III
Docket1sx1; SCHEDULINGORDER(DEBELIUS,J.) TRACK3 ENTERED.(COPIESMAILED)

Do c k e tD a te : O 1 l 2 6 l Z OIL D o cketN umber: L4

DocketDescription:SCHEDULINGAND PRETRIALHEARINGORDER
DocketType: Docket FiledBy: Court
Rul i n gJ u d g e :D E BE L IU SJ, OH N W III
SCHEDULINGORDERAND PRETRIALHEARINGORDER- TRACK3 (DEBELIUS,J.)
uocKet_^._..
lext: gplgpED. (COpIES HANDED)

Docket Date: Ol,/31l2OtL Docket Number: 15

Docket Descriotion: OPPOSITION TO MOTION

Docket Type: Opposition Filed By: Plaintiff

Reference Docket(s): Motion: 7

Docket 1sx1' PLAINTIFF'S OPPOSITION TO MOTION TO DISMISS, OR, IN THE ALTERNATM,

MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT, MEMORANDUM OF LAW IN SUPPORT AND

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CaseInformation Page5 of5

ATTACHMENTS,FILED.

Docket Date: OL|SU20ll DocketNumber: 16

Docket Description:LINE TO REISSUE
DocketType: Docket FiledBy: Plaintiff

DocketText: PLAINTIFF'S LINE TO RE.ISSUE, FILED.

Docket Date: O2l02/20ll DocketNumber: 17

DocketDescription:NOTICE, EXISTING SCHEDULE

DocketType: Docket FiledBy: Court
DocketText: NOTICE OF EXTSTINGSCHEDULESENT TO PATRICTAP. VrA, ESQ.,FTLED.

Docket Date: O2 l O 2 | Z OL I D o c ketN umber: 18

Docket Description:SUMMONSREISSUED
DocketType: Docket FiledBy: Court
TWO 30 DAY SUMMONS REISSUEDAS TO ERIC HECKMANAND ROCKVILLE
DocketText: FOOTBALLLEAGUEBOARD.

This is an electronic case record. Full case information cannot be made available either because of legal restrictions
on accessto case records found in Maryland rules 16-1001 through 16-1011, or because of the practical difficulties
inherent in reducing a case record into an eledronic format.

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 r:'.'.')..
02/28/20L 10:99 FAX301 36514"'9 @ooz
ALLSTATE
.s

scoTT SHTRLEY, IN THE

Plaintiff CIRCIIIT COIIRT FOR

Y.
MONTGOMERYCOUNTY
ERIC IIECKMAN, et rI.,
CaseNo,: 339630-V
Defendarrts
*********
AFFIDAVTTOr ERIC HECKMAN

I, Eric Hectrrnan,amoverthe ageof I E andam compctentto testifyto tbematterssetfofih

herein
'| I amPresidentof the Rockville FootballLeague;

2. As ofthe dateofmy signaturebelow,I havenot beenpersonallyservedwith a

SummonsandComplaintconcerningthe above-referenced
mflfier;

3. Thepurportedserviceaddressreportedlyusedby Plaintiff, 1325SevenLocla Rrl,

Potornac,Maryland20854,is not my dwelling housenor my usualplaooof abode;

4, Plaintiffs retumof serviceon the Rockville FootballLeaguereportedlyirrdicates

serviceupona "Mr. Demus";

Iv{r.Demrx is not andhssnwer been,president,secretary,

freasuer,manflger,

director,vice president,assistantsecretary,assistantheasurcr,shareholder,
employee,agentor

residentagentofthe RockvilleFootballLeague;and

IUr. Demusdoesnot have,andhasneverhad,expressor implied auttrorityto acft?t

serviceof pmcesson my behalf,nor on behalfofthe RocladlleFootballLesgue.

I SOLEMT{LY AITIRM TINDER THE PENALTIES OF PEITIURY A}TD UIION

PER,SONAL Itr{OWLEDGE TIIAT THE CONTENTS OF TIIE FOREGOING PAPER
ARE TRTTE.