November 2007 – The properties at 10905-11 Falls Road are now owned by the same people that own and operate the car repair business as the Valley Services Company.   There have been numerous citations by the Baltimore County Code Enforcement Office citing the Valley’s Service Company’s illegal service garage operation at this location.      

The most recent court proceeding was the criminal case for assault filed against Mr. Steven Galasso by two County Code Enforcement Officers.   The County Officers were represented by the County State’s Attorney.   Mr. Galasso first requested a jury trial and then on November 15^th took an Alford plea (the defendant does not admit the act and asserts innocence, but admits that sufficient evidence exists with which the prosecution could likely convince a judge or jury to find the defendant guilty).  Judge Dugan ordered detention and a psychiatric exam before sentencing.

Earlier this year the Baltimore County Zoning Commissioner, Mr. Wiseman, on January 9, 2007 ordered termination of the non-conformance use of the property as a service garage and ordered that the property be returned to its unqualified RC-5 status.    His ruling was upheld in September by the County Board of Appeals and is now under judicial review in the County Circuit Court.

Earlier Court actions include the following consent judgment on July 8, 2005 in the Baltimore County Circuit Court with Judge Robert E. Cadigan.

 “ORDERED, that any officer, director, stockholder, agent, employee, independent contractor, or assignee of Automotive Emporium, Inc. t/a Valley Services Company or t/a Lutherville Collision & Truck Center be and they are hereby enjoined from engaging in any of the following activities at 10905 or 10911 Falls Road, Lutherville, Maryland 21093:

(1) operating a service garage or a body shop for the repair of passenger vehicles, (2) repairing, painting, or performing mechanical work on passenger vehicles, and (3) using 10905 or 10911 Falls Road as a drop off or transfer point for passenger vehicles to be repaired or painted elsewhere.”

“ORDERED, that Automotive Emporium, Inc. erect a sign at or near the driveway of 10905 Falls Road informing customers that they may not leave their vehicles at that location.”

Furthermore, Baltimore County Circuit Court Judge Judith Ensor, found the owners had not complied with Judge Cadigan’s Court Order and fined them.    This matter has been appealed to the Maryland Court of Special Appeals in Annapolis, and then returned to the Circuit Court for inclusion of remedy.

A fifth Civil Citation by the County resulted in a Hearing on March 9 and fines were again assessed   And the Hearing Officer’s Orders for the 4^th and 5^th fines were upheld by the County Board of Appeals and both now appealed and filed for judicial review in the Circuit Court.    No date yet set by the Court.