Legal Question in Criminal Law in Maryland

Re: bad checks

Restitution is one consequence and criminal charges may be another. Contact an attorney for assistance.

Re: bad checks

In Maryland, "uttering" a bad check has both civil and criminal penalties. You may contact your local State's Attorney's Office and/or hire an attorney to pursue the civil matter. If your matter meets the required criteria, the State's Attorney may pursue criminal sanctions and seek "restitution" on your behalf. On the civil side, the Judge may award three times the amout of the check (treble damages) up to a maximum of $1500 in addition to the amount of the check itsels as well as other damages, costs. If the State's Attorney takes the case, my experience has been that people cough up the money pritty quickly. Be careful, not to threaten criminal penalties in order to obtain civil relief, that can get complicated and backfire if not handled correctly. Best of Luck!! AP (301)279-8773