MD Legal Briefs April 14, 2004

Daily Record, The (Baltimore), Apr 14, 2004 by Staff

Cass head of Ravens

Dick Cass, a attorney with the Washington law firm of Wilmer, Cutler & Pickering, who has served as counsel to a number of NFL owners and the NFL office, has been named president of the Baltimore Ravens. The announcement was made yesterday by the Ravens' new owner, Steve Bisciotti. Cass replaces David Modell, who will remain as a consultant to the team for the next two years. Cass joined Wilmer, Cutler in 1972, became a partner in 1979 and was chair of the firm's Business Transactions Section.

Tax cheat pleads

Mari Ayn Sailer, 27, of Laurel, pleaded guilty yesterday in U.S. District Court in Baltimore to filing a false claim against the United States and scheming to defraud a federally insured bank. According to the U.S. Attorney's office, Sailer acknowledged filing six fraudulent claims for 2001 federal income tax refunds, totaling $501,927, falsely naming four individuals in whose names she claimed refunds, plus herself and her boyfriend. In May and June 2002, a $42,613 check issued to Sailer in anticipation of the refund drew the suspicion of banks and led to an investigation that uncovered the scheme.