Ryan K. Bautz, Associate
Phone: (410) 752-1630
Fax: (410) 752-9173
Direct: (443) 573-9310
7 Saint Paul Street, Suite 1600
Baltimore, Maryland 21202
Practice Areas
¥ General casualty
¥ Commercial litigation
¥ Employment and labor law
¥ Insurance coverage
¥ Professional liability
Professional Profile
Ryan Bautz represents corporate and individual clients in
trial and appellate courts in Maryland and the District of Columbia. Mr. Bautz
has served as lead counsel on appeals to the Court of Special Appeals of
Maryland and the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals. His clients have included
national and international manufacturers, retailers and insurers as well as
school boards, health care providers and professionals in the accounting and
legal fields. He has a range of experience handling general tort and contract
matters, including personal injury, premises liability, product defect,
automotive warranty, and commercial claims. He has also defended complex civil
claims involving claimed breaches of fiduciary duty, attorney and accountant
malpractice, catastrophic property damage, insurance coverage disputes,
employment relations and alleged civil rights violations.
Mr.
Bautz graduated with honor from the University of Maryland School of Law, where
he served on the Moot Court Board. Following graduation, he clerked for the
Honorable Joseph H.H. Kaplan, then Chief Judge of the Circuit Court for
Baltimore City . Mr. Bautz resides in Baltimore City and is a member of the
American Bar Association, the Maryland State Bar Association and the J. Dudley
Digges Inn of Court. He was named a Rising Star in Maryland Super
Lawyers 2011 .
Education
University of Maryland School of Law (J.D., 2003) with honor
Member, Moot Court Board
Community Scholar Prize
Virginia Tech (B.S., 2000) magna cum
laude
Al Steiss Book Award
Admissions
Maryland
District of Columbia
United States District Court for the
District of Maryland
Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals
Representative Matters
Drafted winning summary judgment
motion for electrical contractor based on Maryland's statute of repose in
lawsuit seeking in excess of $3 million for fire damage.
Successfully defended federal suit
against real estate developer sued for wrongful death of child trespasser on
construction site.
Successfully enforced forum selection clause in international sales contract under the United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods, resulting in dismissal of action.
Obtained summary judgment in wrongful death case brought against the alleged successor in interest of corporation that manufactured defective machinery involved in crushing death of employee.
Obtained dismissal with prejudice of wrongful death and survival action asserted against non-profit adoption agency.
Obtained dismissal with prejudice of lawsuit based on licensed social worker's statutory immunity when reporting suspected child abuse to authorities.
Drafted winning summary judgment motion in favor of machine maintenance company in case filed by employee that had lost hand when using a paper shredder.
Obtained summary judgment for retail store in alleged case of police brutality on the grounds that plaintiff had no evidence that store's loss prevention officer knowingly supplied false information to authorities. Plaintiff alleged that loss prevention officer's false report of crime lead to his detention, arrest and assault by police.
Defended employer in multi-million dollar disability and retirement benefits dispute under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. Case involved claimed entitlement to future disability and health benefits, alleged bad faith and breaches of fiduciary duty on the part of plan administrators, and claimed civil penalties under ERISA.
Successfully defended a local school board against the claim of a former employee who was ineligible for continued health benefits upon retirement.
Represented surplus lines insurance carrier in a first-party coverage dispute stemming from a fire loss. Case involved issues of retail agent negligence in scheduling commercial building coverage and alleged first-party bad faith.
Defended individual tenants from multi-million claim
of subrogated insurance carrier involving catastrophic mold and water damage to
a historic property. Case involved significant risk of excess exposure.
Defended warranty and consumer claims for leading automobile manufacturer and leading automobile retailer.
Represented clients in discrimination claims involving alleged violations of Title VII, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and other federal, state and local anti-discrimination statutes.