On The Record - Columbus School of Law

Thomas C. Cardaro, 1985Partner, Cardaro & Peek, LLCBaltimore, MarylandCivility in PracticeLawyers that scheme, backstab,undermine and in general makelife miserable for opposing counselare a Hollywood staple. Andthat’s where Tom Cardaro would liketo keep such misleading images ofthe profession he loves—in the imaginationsof scriptwriters and far awayfrom real courtrooms.“Reinforcement of the value ofcivility and collegiality in the practiceof law is something which shouldalways be stressed,” says Cardaro,who will become president of theMaryland State Bar Association inJune 2009. “We need to get beyondthe time when ferociousness wasseen as strength in an attorney.Rather, a great attorney can be tenacious,yet civil and collegial to his orher opponent.”Cardaro intends to make emphasison collegiality in everyday practicea hallmark of his one-year term inoffice. Incivility is not something hehas personally experienced as anurgent problem between attorneys;nonetheless, one hears stories nowand again. Cardaro is proud that theMaryland state bar has addressedthe issue head-on by sponsoring professionalprograms designed tostress the importance of mutualrespect between lawyers.“I think that collegiality is, insome measure, a progress made overthe years,” he said.A prominent trial attorney recognizedas a skilled leader in Maryland’slegal community, Cardaro is well suitedto lead by example. For starters, heis no newcomer, having stayed deeplyinvolved in state bar activities since1985. The 23 years have brought himinto contact with many fellow attorneysoutside of his area of practice,allowed him to build good relationshipswith members of judiciary, tokeep abreast of the latest developmentsin law and take advantage ofcontinuing legal education opportunities.“I am convinced that stayingactive in bar activities makes one abetter attorney,” he says.Cardaro began his career as anassociate with the law firm Smith,Somerville & Case. In 1990, hebecame a partner at Klores &Cardaro, P.C. (known as Klores &Associates prior to 1992) where heremained for nine years. In 1999, hefounded what is known now asCardaro & Peek, LLC. His law practicefocuses on medical malpracticeand catastrophic personal injury.Cardaro has belonged to variousMSBA committees over the years,served two terms on the board ofgovernors, is a member of the executivecommittee and most recentlyheld the office of secretary. He hasalso served as president of the barassociation of Baltimore City in 2004and remains active in it today. On thenational front, Cardaro is also activein the American Bar Association.Unlike his fellow alumnus inRhode Island, however, Cardaro seeshot national legal issues taking a backseat to more local concerns amongmembers of the Maryland bar.“The important thing is that thestate bars must always remember theconstituency they are serving so thattheir rank-and-file members have theirneeds met on a day-to-day basis.”Cardaro is also highly visible as alecturer. He speaks frequently at trialpractice/medical malpractice seminarson everything from trial tacticsto the evaluation of cases. He is atrustee and member of the financecommittee of the bar associationinsurance trust and a board memberof the Baltimore Courthouse & LawMuseum Foundation, in addition toother civic activities.Why would someone as busy asTom Cardaro take on yet anotherdemanding job, heading his profession’srepresentative organization fora year? The answer, he says, isn’tcomplicated.“I look at serving as president ofthe Maryland State Bar Associationas a payback for a profession thathas been very good to me.”Columbus School of Law State Bar PresidentsThomas C. Cardaro, 1985 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Maryland, 2009–10Joseph A. Condo, 1973 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Virginia, 2000–01William D. Dolan III, 1972 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Virginia, 1984–85J.R. Julian, 1970 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Delaware, 1998–99James F. Mundy, 1968 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pennsylvania, 1996–97Kathleen O'Brien, 1981 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Virginia, 1994–95Richard A. Pacia, 1978 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rhode Island, 2008–09Fall–Winter 2008 / C UALAWYER 33