Attorneys

Mr. Daney is an AV-rated trial attorney and focuses his practice on defending employers, insurance carriers, self-insured entities and government entities in connection with general liability, workers’ compensation, and OSHA claims and handles all phases of litigation, including administrative hearings, motions, discovery, mediations, jury trials and appeals in Maryland and the District of Columbia.

Mr. Daney is a graduate of the University of Delaware, with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and received a J.D. from the University of Kentucky School of Law. Mr. Daney is a member of the District of Columbia Bar, Maryland Bar, United States Court of Appeals for the 3rd Circuit, United States District Court of Maryland, and the Harford County Bar Association.

Mr. Daney is also a member of the Maryland Defense Counsel, Inc., Maryland Self-Insurer and Employers Compensation Association, and Baltimore Claims Association. A frequent speaker and writer on insurance and workers’ compensation issues, Mr. Daney presented seminars on Evidence in Maryland (2012) and Building Your Civil Trial Skills (2011), and multiple presentations on Workers’ Compensation.

Mr. Daney is the co-author of Applying the Rules of Evidence: What Every Attorney Needs to Know (NBI Seminar 2012), and Legal Issues in the Maryland Horse Industry (2002-2013). In 2016, Mr. Daney was named to the Maryland Workers’ Compensation Educational Association Board of Directors and is a member of the Program Committee for the Annual Conference.

Daney is an active leader and participant in a variety of community activities including the Baltimore Rotary Club (President 2005-2006, President-Elect 2004-2005, Vice President 2003-2004, Director 2000-2002); Founding Member of the Darlington Dublin Community Association (President 1998 to 1999), and the Dublin Darlington Community Council (Chairperson 2002 to 2007).

Mr. Daney served as Chairman of the Harford County Personnel Advisory Board (2011-2018) and served as the Assistant Zoning Hearing Examiner for the Harford County Council (2006-2019). Mr. Daney was recognized with the John McGrain Memorial Award (2012), Daily Record Leadership in Law Award (2006), and the Paul Harris Fellow Award (2003), as well as being an AV-rated Trial Lawyer (2004).

B.A., Bowling Green State University (2010); J.D., University of Baltimore School of Law (2014). Previously Ms. Hall worked at a family law practice and served as a judicial law clerk to the Honorable Yvette M. Bryant in the Circuit Court for Baltimore City. Ms. Hall is a member of the Maryland Bar Association (2016) and she is admitted to the bar of Maryland (2016).

B.A., Towson State University (2015); J.D., University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law (2018). Previously Ms. Meadowcroft served as a judicial law clerk to the Honorable Mickey J. Norman and Andrew M. Battista of the Circuit Court for Baltimore County and worked at the Just Advice Clinic in Baltimore City. Ms. Meadowcroft is a member of the Maryland State Bar Association, the American Bar Association, and she is admitted to the bar of Maryland (2020).

B.A., Union College (1972), J.D., University of Miami (1976). Law Clerk, Honorable W. Albert Menchine, Court of Special Appeals of Maryland, 1976-1977. Speaker, Update on Workers’ Compensation, the Bar Association of Baltimore City (1983); Residential Construction Disputes, MICPEL (1988). Member, Judicial Nominating Commission, District 3 (2003); Civil Mediator, Circuit Courts for Baltimore City and County (2001); The Bar Association of Baltimore City, Maryland State Bar Associations, American Bar Association (Member: Forum Committee on Construction Litigation; Tort and Insurance Practice Committee); Maryland Defense Counsel, Inc. (Chairman, Workers’ Compensation Committee, 1989-1991; Co-Chairman, Legislative Committee, 1992-1993; Treasurer, 1993-1994; Secretary, 1994-1995; President-Elect, 1995-1996; President, 1996-1997); Defense Research Institute (Chairman, Publications Committee; Member and Vice Chairman, 2002-2003; Chairman, 2003-2005, Worker’s Compensation Committee); Maryland Workers’ Compensation Education Association (Member, Board of Directors; First Vice President, 1997; President, 1998); Maryland Employer’s and Self-insurer’s Association (Member, Board of Directors, Legislative Committee Chairman, 2003); College of Workers’ Compensation Lawyers (Fellow, 2010); and The Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel (Member, 2016).

Practice Areas: Construction Litigation; Civil Litigation; Workers’ Compensation; Workers’ Compensation Appeals; Workers’ Compensation Defense; Workers’ Compensation Mediation.

B.A. Shippensburg University (1981), J.D. Dickinson School of Law (1984). After law school Mr. Rockwell entered the United States Navy, serving in the Judge Advocate General’s Corps (JAGC) until his release from active duty in 1988. While in the JAGC, Mr. Rockwell served as prosecutor, senior defense counsel, and claims officer. Mr. Rockwell then began employment with a Baltimore law firm in the field of insurance defense, with emphasis in workers’ compensation defense, representing employers and insurers throughout Maryland, Pennsylvania and West Virginia.

Mr. Rockwell is experienced with alternative dispute resolution at the administrative, state and federal courts, including mediation and arbitration. In 1991 Mr. Rockwell began service in the West Virginia Air National Guard, serving as Staff Judge Advocate, providing legal advice to military commanders and legal assistance to over 1,200 service members, in such matters as contracts, labor and employment, domestic relations, personal injury, landlord-tenant, and real estate. Mr. Rockwell retired from military service in 2012.

Mr. Rockwell has appeared before administrative agencies in Maryland, Pennsylvania and West Virginia, including state workers’ compensation commissions, state insurance commissions, the Department of Labor, and the Social Security Administration. Mr. Rockwell is a member of the Maryland Bar Association, the Pennsylvania Bar Association and the West Virginia Bar Association. He has also been a member of the Cumberland Valley Chapter of Society of Human Resource Managers and the Frederick County Chapter Society of Human Resource Managers. Mr. Rockwell achieved an A/V rating from Martindale Hubbell, the highest possible peer review rating for ethics and legal ability.

James D. Reed is a graduate of the University of Baltimore Law School. Jim, an AV rated attorney, specializes in the representation of Employers, Self-Insurers, and Insurance Companies in Workers’ Compensation matters before the Maryland Workers’ Compensation Commission. Jim represents numerous Employers and Insurers in workers’ compensation cases, including the Baltimore Ravens, Baltimore Orioles, and the Maryland Jockey Club. He is a member of the Maryland State Bar Association, Baltimore County Bar Association and the Bar Association of Baltimore City.

B.A. in Government & Politics, University of Maryland—College Park (2019); J.D., magna cum laude, University of Baltimore School of Law (2022). In law school, Ms. Rugh served as associate managing editor of the University of Baltimore Law Review. Prior to her position at Erlandson, Vernon & Daney, she served as judicial law clerk to the Honorable Videtta A. Brown of the Circuit Court for Baltimore City. Ms. Rugh is a member of the Maryland State Bar Association, and she is admitted to practice in Maryland.

B.A., Louisiana State University (2019); J.D., cum laude, University of Baltimore School of Law (2025). Prior to attending law school, Mr. Benedict served in the United States Army Infantry. Mr. Benedict is a member of the Maryland State Bar Association, and is admitted to practice in Maryland (2025).

Mr. Vernon concentrates his practice on representing businesses and insurers with civil litigation and workers’ compensation cases in federal and state courts and administrative agencies in Maryland and the District of Columbia. He also represents employers and insurers in Longshore Act claims. Mr. Vernon brings 30 years of experience to clients from national corporations to local small businesses. Those clients appreciate his personal attention to their cases and his efficient, ethical representation of their interests.

His extensive judge and jury trial experience extends to appellate practice in the Court of Appeals and Court of Special Appeals in Maryland, the District of Columbia Court of Appeals, and the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. In addition to individual court cases, Mr. Vernon also provides legal advice to clients on business and insurance practices, including safety, risk analysis, and personnel policies and procedures. He is an active member and speaker for bar, insurance, and employer organizations concerned with administrative, legislative, and related matters of interest to the business community.

Mr. Vernon is admitted to practice in Maryland and the District of Columbia, with additional admissions to the United States District Court for the District of Maryland; the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, and the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. He attended American University for his Bachelor of Arts degree and the Washington College of Law of the American University for his Juris Doctor degree.

Past Positions: Principal, Godwin, Erlandson, Vernon & Daney, LLC (2008–2017); Associate and Principal, Lord & Whip, P.A. (1987-2007); Attorney Advisor, U.S. Department of Labor Benefits Review Board (1983-1987); Fraud Investigator, New York City, Human Resources Administration, Bureau of Client Fraud Investigation (1981-1983). His affiliations include: American Bar Association; Maryland State Bar Association; Defense Research Institute; Maryland Defense Counsel, Baltimore Claims Association, Association of Insurance Compensation Attorneys (President 2015), and the Maryland Self-Insured Employers’ Compensation Association.