The Supreme Court of Maryland dismissed a writ of certiorari on January 23, 2026, in the case of *Joseph Basso v. Jose Rodriguez, et al.*, by majority decision rather than resolving the underlying legal dispute. The dismissal, designated as No. 45 for the September Term 2025, was procedural in nature and resulted from the petitioner's failure to comply with briefing requirements.

The case centered on attorney's fees under Maryland Rule 1-341 and contingency fee agreements, representing a significant legal question that the Supreme Court was prepared to address. However, the court's per curiam order indicates that a majority of the justices concurred in dismissing the petition due to procedural failures, specifically the late filing of briefs and unsuccessful attempts at stipulation between the parties.

The matter had been appealed from the Circuit Court for Prince George's County under case number CAL14-30313. The Supreme Court panel consisted of Chief Justice Fader and Justices Watts, Booth, Biran, Gould, Eaves, and Killough. The dismissal of the writ of certiorari means the lower court's decision stands, and the specific legal questions regarding attorney's fees under Maryland Rule 1-341 remain unresolved at the state's highest court level.

A dismissed writ of certiorari does not constitute a ruling on the merits of the case, but rather represents the court's decision not to review the matter due to procedural deficiencies. This leaves the parties bound by the lower court's previous rulings in their attorney fee dispute.