PK Law Attorney, James Benjamin was recently appointed by Councilwoman Vicki Almond to serve on the Baltimore County Human Relations Commission.
The mission of the Baltimore County Human Relations Commission is to eliminate discrimination through enforcement of its anti-discrimination human rights law that prohibits discrimination in employment, housing, public accommodations, education and finance, on the bases of age, color, creed, marital status, national origin, physical or mental disability, religion, sex (including sexual harassment and pregnancy), sexual orientation, and gender identity or expression.
The Commission provides proactive education and outreach activities to enhance human relations, and forms partnerships with agencies and organizations to promote equal opportunity to the citizens and those conducting business in Baltimore County.
Mr. Benjamin is a PK Law Member and is part of the firm’s General Litigation and Insurance Groups. He has substantial bench and jury trial experience representing insurers and business entities in personal injury and premises liability matters. He represents property owners in Baltimore City in complex lead paint and toxic tort litigation at both the trial and appellate levels. He successfully argued a lead paint case before Maryland’s Court of Special Appeals on legal issues concerning definitions of an owner and operator under the Baltimore City Housing Code. He has successfully defended cases brought against property owners in lead paint cases involving claims brought under Maryland’s Consumer Protection Act.
Mr. Benjamin has significant experience representing and advising minority-owned and women-owned businesses (MBEs and WBEs) on certification and procurement matters as well as structuring and creating joint ventures and teaming arrangements. He advises businesses concerning MBE certification with MDOT and MBE/WBE certification in the Baltimore City Market Area under the Baltimore City Code. He has represented WBEs in administrative appeals involving agency decisions to decertify. He has considerable experience providing legal advice to businesses concerning 8(a) small business certification and participation in mentor-protégé programs. He also is experienced in advising businesses on requirements for certification as a qualified HUBZone small business concern.
Mr. Benjamin was a former law clerk for the Honorable Ellen M. Heller in the Circuit Court for Baltimore City. He also served as an Assistant City Solicitor with the Baltimore City Law Department. As an Assistant City Solicitor, Mr. Benjamin successfully argued a case in Maryland’s Court of Appeals in a matter involving complex legal questions of statutory interpretation concerning tenant eligibility for relocation benefits and constitutional takings law. He also successfully argued a case in Maryland’s Court of Special Appeals in a matter involving questions of contract interpretation and exhaustion of administrative remedies.
