Congratulations to Associate Aaminah Woods on Her Recent Victory!

        On Friday, June 13, 2025, Associate Aaminah Woods argued her first Motion to Dismiss before the Circuit Court for Anne Arundel County.  Ms. Woods was up against a pro se Plaintiff who filed suit against USAA alleging a breach of contract, specifically a breach of her Marital Separation Agreement with her ex-spouse.  The Plaintiff claimed that USAA, without Plaintiff’s consent, authorization, or a court order, altered her policy in effect in 2016.  Due to these alterations, Plaintiff claims that, after a motor vehicle accident in 2018, she was unable to receive policy limits that she thought were in effect at the time of the 2018 accident.  Ultimately Plaintiff claimed that she was unaware that her policy limits were lowered and that USAA did so fraudulently and without consent.  Since certain provisions of Plaintiff’s Marital Separation Agreement explained who was responsible for payments on Plaintiff’s automobile insurance policy, Plaintiff insisted that USAA’s knowledge of this agreement between Plaintiff and her ex-spouse, coupled with the changes to her policy, resulted in a breach of that Marital Separation Agreement.

        At the Motion to Dismiss hearing, Ms. Woods made clear before the Circuit Court that (1) any issues with Plaintiff’s policy in effect at the time of her 2018 motor vehicle accident had already been decided before the Maryland Insurance Administration; (2) even if Plaintiff wanted to appeal that administrative decision, she was well outside of the required time frame to do so; and (3) despite USAA’s knowledge of Plaintiff’s Marital Separation Agreement, putting them on notice as to who would be responsible for paying the premiums on Plaintiff’s policy, USAA was not bound to the terms of Plaintiff’s Marital Separation Agreement, which ultimately meant that USAA was not a party to the Marital Separation Agreement and thus not a proper party to bring the lawsuit against.

        This win emphasizes how well a prepared argument and considerable knowledge of the applicable law and previous hearings can effectively counter a plaintiff’s claim for damages before a matter is even within trial posture.

        Congratulations Aaminah!