Judges to Banerjee: Put Up or Shut Up
Dozens of lawsuits and appeals filed in Montgomery County’s Circuit Court and District Court by former county executive candidate Mithun Banerjee may be dismissed this week as a result of orders filed by county judges. In actions affecting more than 50 cases, judges have denied Banerjee’s requests for filing fee or appeal fee waivers. The cases were all suspended pending those decisions.
Now judges have denied Banerjee’s requests to waive court costs, finding that he does not qualify for the waivers. Banerjee’s bankruptcy case was dismissed in March 2024, and his appeals of that dismissal were rejected in November 2025. The fee waiver denials, issued between October 5-8, provide Banerjee with 10-day windows to make payment or the complaints and appeals face dismissal.
Among the parties named in the dozens of cases are Montgomery County, WAMU 88.5 FM, American University, NPR, the Montgomery County Renters Alliance, Montgomery Community Media, several judges and lawyers, police officers, elected officials, and nonprofit executives. In addition to those cases, the fee waiver denials affect Banerjee’s three property foreclosure cases. All were held up by the bankruptcy claim and were set back in motion by Montgomery County judges last week.
Here are some of the most notable cases facing dismissal this week if fees aren’t paid:
Montgomery County, MD vs. Mithun Banerjee (Appealed)
On Dec. 2, 2025, District Court Judge Patrick Mays found Banerjee guilty on 41 civil citations related to conditions at his two residential rental properties, as well as operating them without a license. The court ordered Banerjee to pay $20,500 in associated fines ($500 per citation) within 30 days, as well as to abate all of the cited conditions. Banerjee appealed, paying the requisite $10 per case District Court appeal fee and requesting waivers for the also-required $165 per case Circuit Court filing fees. On Oct. 6, 2026, Judge Jeannie Cho issued a ruling that Banerjee “does not meet the financial eligibility guidelines” and that he “is not unable by reason of poverty to pay the prepaid costs.” If Banerjee wants to keep the appeals alive, he has to pay $6,765 by Friday, Oct. 16.
Mithun Banerjee vs. Elect Sitting Judges, et al.
On the eve of the Democratic primary in June, Banerjee filed a complaint against Elect Sitting Judges and the four incumbent Montgomery County jurists, James Dietrich, Catherine McQueen, Sharon Burrell, and Victor Del Pinto. Banerjee alleged election-law violations, writing on Facebook, “I requested the Election to be Stayed & Review the Sitting Judges Election as per the Maryland Laws.” On Oct. 6, Judge Cho ruled that the payment waiver paperwork was incomplete. Banerjee left two sections entirely blank. Banerjee has until Oct. 16 to pay the $165 filing fee or the case will be dismissed.
Mithun Banerjee vs. WAMU, et al.
On March 13, 2026, Banerjee filed a complaint against WAMU 88.5 FM, National Public Radio Inc., American University, and four individuals associated with them, in response to being barred from participating in a WAMU County Executive Candidate Forum. Banerjee sought a court order requiring his participation and relief for other damages. On Oct. 5, the court ruled that the payment waiver paperwork was incomplete. Banerjee has until Oct. 15 to pay the $165 filing fee or the case will be dismissed.
Mithun Banerjee vs. Montgomery County Renters Alliance, Incorporated, et al.
On October 8, 2025, Banerjee filed a complaint against Montgomery Community Media, Montgomery County Renters Alliance, Inc., Montgomery Community Television, and several individuals who were members of the Montgomery County Democratic Central Committee, elected officials, and/or election candidates. It came after the organizations hosted a public candidate forum but didn’t let him participate. He alleged the organizations violated nonprofit tax rules by getting involved in political campaigns and sought punitive damages. On Oct. 7, 2026, the court ruled that the payment waiver paperwork was incomplete. Banerjee has until Oct. 17 to pay the $165 filing fee or the case will be dismissed.
Richard E. Solomon, et al. vs. Mithun Banerjee, et al.
Brennan Ferguson, et al. vs. Mithun Banerjee, et al.
Keith Yacko, et al. vs. Mithun Banerjee, et al.
Banerjee owns two residential properties in the Glenmont area that he rents to tenants, plus his principal residence in the same neighborhood. Each home is mortgaged to a different lender, all three of which filed foreclosure proceedings in November 2025, May 2026, and August 2026. The plaintiffs in the case titles are attorneys representing banks. All three foreclosure filings were stalled in some manner due to Banerjee’s fee waiver requests, claim of pending bankruptcy, or both. In at least one, he sought a waiver for a mediation fee. Now all of those suspensions have been cleared and the judges have ordered the foreclosure cases to proceed.
