Pels Law

Pels Law 2007 Maryland Trial Lawyer of the year. Source: MTLA
Complex civil litigation. Electronically stored

Dear Attorneys,In the November/December 2026 issue, Bethesda Magazine will publish a list of Top Attorneys serving Montg...
06/09/2026

Dear Attorneys,

In the November/December 2026 issue, Bethesda Magazine will publish a list of Top Attorneys serving Montgomery County, Maryland. They only accept nominations from other Maryland licensed attorneys. Those who receive the most nominations by specialty will be included in their 2026 Top Attorneys list in their November/December issue and on their website.

To nominate lawyers for the list, please click here: https://bethesdamagazine.com/top-attorneys-form

You may recommend up to four attorneys per specialty who you would use if you needed legal help in that field, based on your knowledge and experience. Those who make the 2026 Top Attorneys list will be notified in August.

The deadline to nominate attorneys is 5 p.m. on June 26. Please vote for Jon Pels a compassionate advocate who has helped so many people and businesses in our community. For example, The Pels Law Firm announced this week a $750,000 class action settlement agreement resolving claims alleging that Just4Veterans LLC charged unlawful fees to veterans in connection with claims for U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (“VA”) disability benefits. The settlement is entered into on behalf of the Certified Class which includes U.S. military veterans who have been charged a fee by Just4Veterans LLC (“J4V”) in connection with their VA disability claim(s). Jon stands up for veterans and underdogs every day. I am proud to work for him at The Pels Law Firm!

06/08/2026

Announcement of Just4Veterans LLC Class Action Settlement:

The Pels Law Firm announces a $750,000 class action settlement agreement resolving
claims alleging that Just4Veterans LLC charged unlawful fees to veterans in connection with
claims for U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (“VA”) disability benefits. The settlement is
entered into on behalf of the Certified Class which includes U.S. military veterans who have been
charged a fee by Just4Veterans LLC (“J4V”) in connection with their VA disability claim(s). Class
members may be eligible for compensation. Defendants deny all allegations of wrongdoing and
liability and have entered into the proposed settlement solely to avoid the expense, burden, and
uncertainty of continued litigation.

The Class Action Settlement Agreement regarding the lawsuit filed in Circuit Court for Montgomery County, Maryland, captioned Grant Gallagher, et al. v. Just4Veterans LLC, et al., Case
No. C-15-CV-23-003578 (the “Action”) is entered into by Plaintiffs Grant Gallagher and Emily Heibel, individually and on behalf of the Certified Class, and Defendants Just4Veterans LLC and
Frederick Castanos Justo.

The Class Action Settlement Agreement provides monetary relief in that it eliminates unpaid J4V fee obligations for Class Members, and it also establishes a significant common fund
from which eligible Class Members can receive claim payments if fees were already paid to J4V. The Class Action Settlement Agreement also provides injunctive relief in that it precludes J4V from engaging any new clients for VA benefits services.

On May 22, 2026, the parties to the Action filed a Motion for Preliminary Approval of Class Action Settlement Agreement. If the Court preliminarily approves the Class Action Settlement Agreement, electronic notices will be sent to all Class Members with further information and instructions.

Judge John Maloney, Nina Basu (trial attorney for Pels Law) and Jon Pelswill be teaching a class on cross-examination on...
05/14/2026

Judge John Maloney, Nina Basu (trial attorney for Pels Law) and Jon Pelswill be teaching a class on cross-examination on June 12 at the Maryland State Bar Association’s (MSBA) annual convention in Ocean City, Maryland.

Judge Maloney will offer unique insights into practical issues that attorneys often neglect. Nina will be handling the lion's share of the program, providing basics in how to and, more importantly, how not to cross examine witnesses. Jon will explain the learned treatise exception to the hearsay rule -- how to lay a proper foundation and use it -- particularly with a difficult expert or corporate designee that will make them look dishonest or foolish in their opinions if they are not fully candid. An ancillary advantage to understanding this rule that Jon has discovered is that it helps to “Daubert proof” your own expert and can tell you if you have a solid case worthy of taking to trial (or, as valuable, whether you do not).

Jon wishes someone taught him this 33 years ago and is happy to provide his insights to younger attorneys. We hope to see some of you there.

Presenters:

The Honorable John M. Maloney, Associate Judge, Montgomery County Circuit Court, 6th Judicial Circuit, since January 30, 2015

Jon D. Pels, Managing Member the Pels law firm LLC

Nina Basu, lead trial attorney for the Pels Law Litigation Department

To register or for more information:

https://web.cvent.com/event/10c6ae07-1d5a-40ad-b75a-d4041c13b991/summary

Today, Pels Law attorney Maria Leonard Olsen was the keynote speaker at the Travis County Women Lawyer Foundation’s annu...
04/24/2026

Today, Pels Law attorney Maria Leonard Olsen was the keynote speaker at the Travis County Women Lawyer Foundation’s annual meeting about her work and the theme of self-care for busy people.

The Pels Law Firm is excited to announce that Jacqueline Duke J.D. Candidate, Class of 2028, of the Catholic University ...
03/30/2026

The Pels Law Firm is excited to announce that Jacqueline Duke
J.D. Candidate, Class of 2028, of the Catholic University of America, Columbus School of Law will be a legal intern with us the firm this summer. Jacqueline is interested in real estate, business, family and civil litigation and will learn about these areas from Pels Law attorneys during her internship. In the fall of her second year of law school, she will be joining the American Bankers Association in-house counsel's office as an intern to learn more about intellectual property matters and other legal issues in the banking world. Welcome, Jacqueline!

Pels Law attorney Maria Leonard Olsen did a TEDx Talk on the unanticipated consequences of consumer DNA tests at TEDxWar...
03/29/2026

Pels Law attorney Maria Leonard Olsen did a TEDx Talk on the unanticipated consequences of consumer DNA tests at TEDxWarrenton. It was selected as a TEDx Editor's Pick, a designation given to fewer than 1% of all TEDx Talks, "a distinction for the most important contributions toward TED’s 'ideas worth spreading.'"

She would greatly appreciate it if you would hit the like button at this link:

https://youtu.be/LDl3B-TKSgA?si=4TDXCakThEfscUFd

Comments and shares are also appreciated.

We believe this Talk has the potential to help a lot of people be prepared for what they learn from DNA tests and find help afterwards.

Her book on this subject, Before and After the DNA Test: A Practical Guide to Genetic Privacy, Medical Risks and Family Secrets, will be published by Bloomsbury in December and is available for pre-order on Amazon and at Bloomsbury Publishing.

The Pels Law Firm is pleased to announce that a federal District Court judge in North Carolina certified national class ...
01/17/2026

The Pels Law Firm is pleased to announce that a federal District Court judge in North Carolina certified national class action on behalf of our clients. We represent, along with co-counsel, disabled veterans who we alleged have been illegally and unfairly charged fees by what are colloquially named “claims sharks.” You may read the 28-page memorandum order certifying the class at this link: https://pelslaw.com/federal-judge-certifies-national-class-action-for-disabled-veterans-who-were-unfairly-charged-fees/

The Pels Law firm is pleased to announce that Jessica Rincon will complete her senior project internship at our firm thi...
01/17/2026

The Pels Law firm is pleased to announce that Jessica Rincon will complete her senior project internship at our firm this May. Jessica is a senior at The Academy of the Holy Cross in Kensington, MD, expected to graduate in May 2026. She has pursued advanced coursework in criminal and civil law and participated in the NYLF Law and CSI program at the University of Maryland, as well as the Georgetown University Summer International Law program. Jessica serves as President of the Anti-Racism and Social Justice Board and is a Senior Leader of the One Love Foundation. She is also Co-Founder and Ambassador of the French Club.

A nationally ranked French speaker, Jessica has received recognition for her performance on the National French Exam. She is passionate about advocacy, leadership and exploring opportunities in law. In her free time, Jessica enjoys drawing and painting, recently featured in the Stone Ride Exhibition, playing sports, and running her social media advocacy page, LovewithinBoundaries, which has raised over $400 for the One Love Foundation, advocating for healthy relationships, mental health, and support for sexual assault survivors. Last year, Jessica was invited to the Georgetown Day School Sexual Assault Summit in recognition of her advocacy work. Welcome, Jessica!

Proven strategy from Jon Pels.
01/07/2026

Proven strategy from Jon Pels.

Pels Law attorney Jesus Zelaya was quoted in Bethesda Magazine about his testimony before the Montgomery County Council ...
10/02/2025

Pels Law attorney Jesus Zelaya was quoted in Bethesda Magazine about his testimony before the Montgomery County Council regarding proposed legislation:

"While the majority of the more than 30 speakers supported the proposed ban, a few said they were concerned the legislation if passed would impose hardships on businesses. Jesus Zelaya, an attorney representing the Bethesda businesses Tri-State Stone & Building Supply Inc. and Ben Porto & Son Ltd., said the legislation will hurt businesses and property owners that are considered responsible for bamboo growing within 15 feet of their property.

“[The bill] would put a significant hardship on all property owners when bamboo and other nonnative vegetation have migrated onto their properties, or who have legally planted non-native vegetation,” Zelaya said. “The bill is unnecessary and contains extreme requirements that will cause undue hardship and cost to property owners.”"

Well done, Jesus!

https://bethesdamagazine.com/2025/07/23/bamboo-ban-public-hearing/

Address

4845 Rugby Avenue
Bethesda, MD
20814

Telephone

+13019865570

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Pels Law posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Practice

Send a message to Pels Law:

Shortcuts

Featured

Share

Category