Cary J. Hansel
Firm founder, Cary Hansel, has been voted Trial Lawyer of the Year twice by the Maryland Association for Justice. Cary has extensive trial and appellate experience representing clients in civil rights, constitutional law and government liability cases. His broad practice also encompasses medical malpractice, employment law, public regulation, class actions, and administrative law.
Cary obtained, and successfully defended on appeal, a verdict the Washington Post called “the largest made by a jury in a civil case involving abuse by Prince George's County police.” The groundbreaking case established that citizens can hold municipalities liable for engaging in a “pattern and practice” of violating constitutional rights under the Maryland constitution. This sea change in the law allows victims of government misconduct to introduce evidence of past wrongdoing in each new case, thus sharply raising the penalty for civil rights violators in Maryland.
After representing over 100 vulnerable female residents of Baltimore Public Housing who were forced to trade sex for necessities like heat and electricity for themselves and their children, Cary obtained a multi-million dollar settlement the Baltimore Sun reported was “the largest in a sexual harassment case under the Fair Housing Act” in the United States. Yvonne Wenger, Tenants to Share up to $8 Million in Settlement of Sex-for-Repairs Lawsuit, Baltimore Sun, Jan. 8, 2016. Cary’s work also led to the terminations of the perpetrators and the head of the Housing Authority, the hiring of 50 new maintenance employees, the clearing of the repair backlog, better housing and improved policies to protect residents in the future.
Cary has also achieved significant settlements and awards in the area of unlawful and unconstitutional employment practices and discrimination. He has successfully represented numerous victims of illegal employment practices, including a young woman whose employer, a fast-food chain, refused to permit her to wear work-appropriate religious garb, a country-club waitress who was sexually assaulted by a club owner, and a high-level federal government lawyer who suffered severe harassment after her boss inadvertently discovered she was a lesbian.
In a whistleblower case covered in such diverse outlets as the Wall Street Journal and Rolling Stone, Cary represented a Securities and Exchange Commission investigator wrongly terminated after uncovering historic security breaches and ethical violations at the SEC. Cary’s client came to him after having been barred from SEC facilities based on false allegations. As Cary soon demonstrated, the allegations were made in an effort to discredit the SEC investigator after he exercised his duty to disclose the wrongdoing he discovered to Congress. After less than six months of aggressive representation, including the filing of a lawsuit, the SEC was forced to drop all of its allegations, publicly clear the investigator’s record, reinstate him and pay him the third largest payment ever made to a federal whistleblower as a result of retaliation.
In a First Amendment case, Cary successfully represented a long-time government employee fired for being a member of the wrong political party. Cary’s work gave rise to legislative hearings and new laws protecting government employees from termination for their private political views. He also succeeded in reversing his client’s termination and obtaining a significant award.
In another First Amendment matter, Cary obtained the dismissal of a case in which the plaintiff sought to enmesh the court in changing the religious direction of a large church under the guise of challenging the election of its board of directors.
In an animal cruelty case, Cary represented the Humane Society in obtaining the first court order ever issued in Maryland to stop the use of steel-jawed leg-hold traps. These traps, which are banned in many countries as cruel and inhumane, were being used despite the widespread availability of cost-effective and humane alternatives.
In a case in which Mr. Hansel obtained the highest verdict in the country for a dog wrongly shot by police, it was reported that the Sheriff whose Deputy shot the dog “called Hansel a ‘good salesman.’” Brian Engler, $620,000 in Damages for Dog Shooting, Frederick News Post, Apr. 3, 2012.
In 2019, Cary scored the highest civil rights verdict in Maryland history for a correctional misconduct case resulting in a $25 million award for a young man who was detained awaiting trial when guards cooperating with gang members allowed them to attack the victim, rendering him permanently mute and wheelchair bound.
Cary’s appellate career includes the successful defense of over $30 Million in awards, the creation of a new cause of action in Maryland, and the expansion of citizens’ rights to recover just compensation from governmental wrongdoers and insurance companies.
Cary has also filed amicus curiae briefs in the Maryland Court of Appeals on behalf of the Maryland Education Coalition, American Association of University Women, League of Women Voters of Maryland, Maryland Association for Justice, and former chair of Maryland’s Commission on Education Finance, Equity and Excellence (the Thornton Commission).
Cary is frequently invited to lecture on a variety of legal topics for organizations, including the National Business Institute, the Levin School of Law at the University of Florida, the Louis L. Goldstein Criminal Law Seminar, Maryland Trial Lawyers Association, and Maryland and D.C. chapters of the American Civil Liberties Union.
Cary provided invited legislative testimony to the Joint Judiciary Committee of the Maryland Senate and House of Delegates in favor of the Equal Access to Justice Act, which was proposed in response to an opinion piece he had published in the Baltimore Sun. He was also invited to testify before the Judiciary Committee of the Maryland House of Delegates during its consideration of legislation requiring the videotaping of police interrogations, which was proposed after one of his cases brought unlawful interrogation techniques to light.
Cary offered testimony to the Maryland Commission on the Death Penalty warning of the problem of false confessions and the real potential for them to lead to the execution of innocent people. The Commission quoted him in its final report, recommending abolition of the death penalty in Maryland, a recommendation adopted by the legislature shortly thereafter.
Cary obtained, and successfully defended on appeal, a verdict the Washington Post called “the largest made by a jury in a civil case involving abuse by Prince George's County police.” The groundbreaking case established that citizens can hold municipalities liable for engaging in a “pattern and practice” of violating constitutional rights under the Maryland constitution. This sea change in the law allows victims of government misconduct to introduce evidence of past wrongdoing in each new case, thus sharply raising the penalty for civil rights violators in Maryland.
After representing over 100 vulnerable female residents of Baltimore Public Housing who were forced to trade sex for necessities like heat and electricity for themselves and their children, Cary obtained a multi-million dollar settlement the Baltimore Sun reported was “the largest in a sexual harassment case under the Fair Housing Act” in the United States. Yvonne Wenger, Tenants to Share up to $8 Million in Settlement of Sex-for-Repairs Lawsuit, Baltimore Sun, Jan. 8, 2016. Cary’s work also led to the terminations of the perpetrators and the head of the Housing Authority, the hiring of 50 new maintenance employees, the clearing of the repair backlog, better housing and improved policies to protect residents in the future.
Cary has also achieved significant settlements and awards in the area of unlawful and unconstitutional employment practices and discrimination. He has successfully represented numerous victims of illegal employment practices, including a young woman whose employer, a fast-food chain, refused to permit her to wear work-appropriate religious garb, a country-club waitress who was sexually assaulted by a club owner, and a high-level federal government lawyer who suffered severe harassment after her boss inadvertently discovered she was a lesbian.
In a whistleblower case covered in such diverse outlets as the Wall Street Journal and Rolling Stone, Cary represented a Securities and Exchange Commission investigator wrongly terminated after uncovering historic security breaches and ethical violations at the SEC. Cary’s client came to him after having been barred from SEC facilities based on false allegations. As Cary soon demonstrated, the allegations were made in an effort to discredit the SEC investigator after he exercised his duty to disclose the wrongdoing he discovered to Congress. After less than six months of aggressive representation, including the filing of a lawsuit, the SEC was forced to drop all of its allegations, publicly clear the investigator’s record, reinstate him and pay him the third largest payment ever made to a federal whistleblower as a result of retaliation.
In a First Amendment case, Cary successfully represented a long-time government employee fired for being a member of the wrong political party. Cary’s work gave rise to legislative hearings and new laws protecting government employees from termination for their private political views. He also succeeded in reversing his client’s termination and obtaining a significant award.
In another First Amendment matter, Cary obtained the dismissal of a case in which the plaintiff sought to enmesh the court in changing the religious direction of a large church under the guise of challenging the election of its board of directors.
In an animal cruelty case, Cary represented the Humane Society in obtaining the first court order ever issued in Maryland to stop the use of steel-jawed leg-hold traps. These traps, which are banned in many countries as cruel and inhumane, were being used despite the widespread availability of cost-effective and humane alternatives.
In a case in which Mr. Hansel obtained the highest verdict in the country for a dog wrongly shot by police, it was reported that the Sheriff whose Deputy shot the dog “called Hansel a ‘good salesman.’” Brian Engler, $620,000 in Damages for Dog Shooting, Frederick News Post, Apr. 3, 2012.
In 2019, Cary scored the highest civil rights verdict in Maryland history for a correctional misconduct case resulting in a $25 million award for a young man who was detained awaiting trial when guards cooperating with gang members allowed them to attack the victim, rendering him permanently mute and wheelchair bound.
Cary’s appellate career includes the successful defense of over $30 Million in awards, the creation of a new cause of action in Maryland, and the expansion of citizens’ rights to recover just compensation from governmental wrongdoers and insurance companies.
Cary has also filed amicus curiae briefs in the Maryland Court of Appeals on behalf of the Maryland Education Coalition, American Association of University Women, League of Women Voters of Maryland, Maryland Association for Justice, and former chair of Maryland’s Commission on Education Finance, Equity and Excellence (the Thornton Commission).
Cary is frequently invited to lecture on a variety of legal topics for organizations, including the National Business Institute, the Levin School of Law at the University of Florida, the Louis L. Goldstein Criminal Law Seminar, Maryland Trial Lawyers Association, and Maryland and D.C. chapters of the American Civil Liberties Union.
Cary provided invited legislative testimony to the Joint Judiciary Committee of the Maryland Senate and House of Delegates in favor of the Equal Access to Justice Act, which was proposed in response to an opinion piece he had published in the Baltimore Sun. He was also invited to testify before the Judiciary Committee of the Maryland House of Delegates during its consideration of legislation requiring the videotaping of police interrogations, which was proposed after one of his cases brought unlawful interrogation techniques to light.
Cary offered testimony to the Maryland Commission on the Death Penalty warning of the problem of false confessions and the real potential for them to lead to the execution of innocent people. The Commission quoted him in its final report, recommending abolition of the death penalty in Maryland, a recommendation adopted by the legislature shortly thereafter.
Education
George Washington University Law School, JD, 1999
Washington and Lee University, BA, 1996
Bar Admissions
Maryland
District of Columbia
Court Admissions
United States Supreme Court
U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia
U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland
U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
Professional Affiliations
American Inns of Court, Marlborough Inn, Former President
American Civil Liberties Union of Maryland, Former Board of Governors
Maryland Attorney General’s Task Force on Electronic Weapons, Appointed Member
Maryland Association for Justice (MAJ), Former Board of Governors
American Bar Association
American Association for Justice
Montgomery County Bar Association
Prince George's County Bar Association
Awards & Honors
100 Most Powerful Marylanders, Daily Record 2022
Outstanding Service Award,
Maryland Association for Justice, 2021
Leadership in the Law, Daily Record 2020
Trial Lawyer of the Year,
Maryland Association for Justice 2016
Trial Lawyer of the Year,
Maryland Association for Justice 2011
President’s Award,
Maryland Trial Lawyers Association
Wall of Heroes, American Civil Liberties Union
George Washington University Law School, JD, 1999
Washington and Lee University, BA, 1996
Bar Admissions
Maryland
District of Columbia
Court Admissions
United States Supreme Court
U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia
U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland
U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
Professional Affiliations
American Inns of Court, Marlborough Inn, Former President
American Civil Liberties Union of Maryland, Former Board of Governors
Maryland Attorney General’s Task Force on Electronic Weapons, Appointed Member
Maryland Association for Justice (MAJ), Former Board of Governors
American Bar Association
American Association for Justice
Montgomery County Bar Association
Prince George's County Bar Association
Awards & Honors
100 Most Powerful Marylanders, Daily Record 2022
Outstanding Service Award,
Maryland Association for Justice, 2021
Leadership in the Law, Daily Record 2020
Trial Lawyer of the Year,
Maryland Association for Justice 2016
Trial Lawyer of the Year,
Maryland Association for Justice 2011
President’s Award,
Maryland Trial Lawyers Association
Wall of Heroes, American Civil Liberties Union
Cary J. Hansel
Hansel Law, PC
2514 N. Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21218
Telephone: 301-461-1040
Facsimile: 443-451-8606
E-mail: cary@hansellaw.com
Hansel Law, PC
2514 N. Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21218
Telephone: 301-461-1040
Facsimile: 443-451-8606
E-mail: cary@hansellaw.com
Recorded Oral Arguments
Potential clients are invited to watch one of Cary’s oral arguments online. See link below.
Press Coverage
Although some of his most successful cases are those in which he avoids media exposure, when a client hopes his or her case will help drive larger social change, Cary’s cases are frequently featured in the media. He has been quoted in more than 300 newspapers nationwide and has appeared on television numerous times. See link below.
Reported Cases
Cary’s reported cases include the following:
Cole v. State Farm Mutual Ins. Co., 359 Md. 298; 753 A.2d 533 (2000) (changing the law to make it easier to recover fair compensation from an insurance company)
Wells, et al. v. Chevy Chase Bank, et al., 363 Md. 232; 768 A.2d 620 (2001) (amicus curiae)
Compucel Corp. v. Comm. of Internal Revenue, 2002-1 U.S. Tax Cas. (CCH) P50, 284 (2002)
Moore v. Norouzi, 371 Md. 154; 807 A.2d 632 (2002) (amicus curiae on behalf of Maryland Trial Lawyers Association; the Court of Appeals held that, “We agree with the Amicus Maryland Trial Lawyers Association,” and adopted the position, which opened a new avenue of recovery for civil rights violations.)
LGB Group LLC v. John Booty, 2004 MDBT 1 (Cir. Ct. for Prince George's Co., 1/28/04) (one of the first trial court opinions reported under Maryland Rule 16-205)
Maryland State Bd. of Educ. v. Bradford, 387 Md. 353; 875 A.2d 703 (2005) (amicus curiae)
Kane v. Board of Appeals of Prince George’s County, 390 Md. 145; 887 A.2d 1060 (2005)
Public Service Com’n of Maryland v. Wilson, 389 Md. 27; 882 A.2d 849 (2005)
Prince George’s County v. Longtin, 190 Md. App. 97 (2010)
Prince George’s County v. Longtin, 419 Md. 450 (2011) (establishing a new cause of action and protecting the largest verdict against the County in a police misconduct case)
Jones v. State, 38 A.3d 333 (2012) (redefining the boundaries of the public duty doctrine to make it easier to recover fair compensation in cases of police misconduct)
Brooks, et al. v. Jenkins, et ux., 103 A.3d 899 (2014) (affirming one of the highest verdicts in history for the intentional shooting of a dog)
Rodriguez v. State, 218 Md. App. 573 (Md. Ct. Spec. App. 2014) (reinstating an award for over $18 Million at Mr. Hansel's request)
Cooper v. Rodriguez, 118 A. 3d 829 (MD Court of Appeals 2015) (affirming Mr. Hansel's arguments to reinstate a jury verdict)
Krell v. Braightmeyer, 828 Fed. Appx. 155 (4th Cir. 2020) (defeating qualified immunity)
Anne Arundel Cnty. v. Reeves, 474 Md. 46 (2021)
Murphy v. Liberty Mut. Ins. Co., 478 Md. 333 (2022) (amicus curiae)
Gambrill v. Bd. of Educ. of Dorchester Cnty., 481 Md. 274 (2022) (defeating school board immunity)
Potential clients are invited to watch one of Cary’s oral arguments online. See link below.
Press Coverage
Although some of his most successful cases are those in which he avoids media exposure, when a client hopes his or her case will help drive larger social change, Cary’s cases are frequently featured in the media. He has been quoted in more than 300 newspapers nationwide and has appeared on television numerous times. See link below.
Reported Cases
Cary’s reported cases include the following:
Cole v. State Farm Mutual Ins. Co., 359 Md. 298; 753 A.2d 533 (2000) (changing the law to make it easier to recover fair compensation from an insurance company)
Wells, et al. v. Chevy Chase Bank, et al., 363 Md. 232; 768 A.2d 620 (2001) (amicus curiae)
Compucel Corp. v. Comm. of Internal Revenue, 2002-1 U.S. Tax Cas. (CCH) P50, 284 (2002)
Moore v. Norouzi, 371 Md. 154; 807 A.2d 632 (2002) (amicus curiae on behalf of Maryland Trial Lawyers Association; the Court of Appeals held that, “We agree with the Amicus Maryland Trial Lawyers Association,” and adopted the position, which opened a new avenue of recovery for civil rights violations.)
LGB Group LLC v. John Booty, 2004 MDBT 1 (Cir. Ct. for Prince George's Co., 1/28/04) (one of the first trial court opinions reported under Maryland Rule 16-205)
Maryland State Bd. of Educ. v. Bradford, 387 Md. 353; 875 A.2d 703 (2005) (amicus curiae)
Kane v. Board of Appeals of Prince George’s County, 390 Md. 145; 887 A.2d 1060 (2005)
Public Service Com’n of Maryland v. Wilson, 389 Md. 27; 882 A.2d 849 (2005)
Prince George’s County v. Longtin, 190 Md. App. 97 (2010)
Prince George’s County v. Longtin, 419 Md. 450 (2011) (establishing a new cause of action and protecting the largest verdict against the County in a police misconduct case)
Jones v. State, 38 A.3d 333 (2012) (redefining the boundaries of the public duty doctrine to make it easier to recover fair compensation in cases of police misconduct)
Brooks, et al. v. Jenkins, et ux., 103 A.3d 899 (2014) (affirming one of the highest verdicts in history for the intentional shooting of a dog)
Rodriguez v. State, 218 Md. App. 573 (Md. Ct. Spec. App. 2014) (reinstating an award for over $18 Million at Mr. Hansel's request)
Cooper v. Rodriguez, 118 A. 3d 829 (MD Court of Appeals 2015) (affirming Mr. Hansel's arguments to reinstate a jury verdict)
Krell v. Braightmeyer, 828 Fed. Appx. 155 (4th Cir. 2020) (defeating qualified immunity)
Anne Arundel Cnty. v. Reeves, 474 Md. 46 (2021)
Murphy v. Liberty Mut. Ins. Co., 478 Md. 333 (2022) (amicus curiae)
Gambrill v. Bd. of Educ. of Dorchester Cnty., 481 Md. 274 (2022) (defeating school board immunity)