Civil Practice
& Procedure
in the
District Court
of Maryland
2004 Edition
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Preface ............................................................................................................................................ iii
MICPEL’s
Acknowledgements ......................................................................................................... v
Chapter 1
History and Operation
1.1 Historical Background ....................................................................................................................... 1
1.2 General Practice Considerations ....................................................................................................... 2
1.3 Practice Pointers ................................................................................................................................. 3
1.4 Appearance by Counsel ...................................................................................................................... 4
Chapter 2
Jurisdiction and Venue
2.1 Generally .............................................................................................................................................. 5
2.2 Exceptions ............................................................................................................................................ 5
2.3 Amount in Controversy ....................................................................................................................... 6
2.4 Concurrent Jurisdiction ...................................................................................................................... 6
2.5 Jury Trial Prayers ................................................................................................................................ 6
2.6 Venue .................................................................................................................................................... 8
Chapter 3
Complaint
3.1 Contents ............................................................................................................................................... 9
3.2 Serving the Complaint ......................................................................................................................... 10
a.
Private process ..................................................................................................................... 11
b.
Certified mail ........................................................................................................................ 11
c.
Sheriff ................................................................................................................................... 12
3.3 Problems with Service ......................................................................................................................... 13
3.4 Judgment on Affidavit ......................................................................................................................... 14
3.5 Attachment Before Judgment ............................................................................................................ 15
a.
Applicability .......................................................................................................................... 15
b.
Request for writ .................................................................................................................... 16
c.
Procedure upon issuance ....................................................................................................... 17
d. Real
property ....................................................................................................................... 17
e.
Request filed with complaint .................................................................................................. 18
f.
Dissolution ............................................................................................................................. 18
g.
Release of property ............................................................................................................... 18
h. Third
party claims on property ............................................................................................... 19
i.
Disposition of property ........................................................................................................... 19
Chapter 4
Notice of Intention to Defend
4.1 Generally .............................................................................................................................................. 21
Chapter 5
Pleadings and Discovery
5.1 Motions ................................................................................................................................................. 23
5.2 Amendments of Pleadings ................................................................................................................. 23
5.3 Discovery Provisions ........................................................................................................................... 24
5.4 Interrogatories ..................................................................................................................................... 25
a. Scope ................................................................................................................................... 25
b. Time
of filing ......................................................................................................................... 26
c.
Response .............................................................................................................................. 27
d.
Motions to compel ................................................................................................................ 28
Chapter 6
Trial
6.1 Pre-Trial ............................................................................................................................................... 29
a.
Consolidation ........................................................................................................................ 29
b. Dismissal
.............................................................................................................................. 29
c.
Recusal of judge ................................................................................................................... 30
d.
Pre-trial conference .............................................................................................................. 31
e.
Postponement requests ......................................................................................................... 32
6.2 Witnesses .............................................................................................................................................. 35
6.3 Admission of Medical Records .......................................................................................................... 37
6.4 Commencement of Trial ..................................................................................................................... 39
6.5 Motion for Judgment ........................................................................................................................... 39
6.6 Evidentiary Issues ............................................................................................................................... 40
6.7 Post Trial Matters ................................................................................................................................ 43
a. Motion
for new trial .............................................................................................................. 43
b. Motion
to alter/amend ........................................................................................................... 43
c.
Revisory power of court ........................................................................................................ 43
Chapter 7
Judgment and Enforcement
7.1 Generally .............................................................................................................................................. 45
7.2 Confessed Judgment ........................................................................................................................... 46
7.3 Collection and Enforcement ............................................................................................................... 47
a. Lien
on property ................................................................................................................... 47
b.
Discovery in aid of enforcement ............................................................................................ 49
7.4 Writ of Execution ................................................................................................................................. 50
a. Real
property ........................................................................................................................ 50
b.
Personal property ................................................................................................................. 51
c.
Garnishment .......................................................................................................................... 52
7.5 Interest on Judgments ........................................................................................................................ 55
Chapter 8
Special Proceedings
8.1 Landlord-Tenant ................................................................................................................................. 57
a. The
complaint ....................................................................................................................... 57
b. Rent
escrow ......................................................................................................................... 59
c. Tenant
in breach of lease ....................................................................................................... 60
d. Tenant
holding over .............................................................................................................. 60
e.
Wrongful detainer ................................................................................................................. 61
1. Description of proceeding ............................................................................................................. 61
2. Jurisdiction ................................................................................................................................... 61
3. Venue .......................................................................................................................................... 62
4. Pre‑trial ........................................................................................................................................ 62
5. Trial ............................................................................................................................................. 62
f. Real
Property Article Title 8 — Landlord And Tenant ............................................................ 63
8.2 Replevin/Detinue ................................................................................................................................ 109
8.3 Small Claims ........................................................................................................................................ 116
8.4 Domestic Violence Protective Orders ............................................................................................... 116
a. Family
Law Article Title 4 — Domestic Violence Protective Orders ..................................... 122
b.
Protective Order Process — When the Respondent has been served with IPO .................... 135
c.
Protective Order Process — When the Respondent has NOT been served with IPO ........... 136
8.5 Peace Orders ....................................................................................................................................... 137
a.
Comparison of Protective Order and Peace Order Statutes and Relief ................................. 138
8.6 Forfeiture Hearings ............................................................................................................................. 142
Chapter 9
Appeals from
the District Court................................................................................................................. 143
Chapter 10
Mediation...................................................................................................................................................... 145
Appendices
Appendix A
A.1 RULES ON ACCESS TO COURT RECORDS ............................................................................... 148
A.2 DIAL UP ACCESS .............................................................................................................................. 185
A.3 COURT SYSTEM DESCRIPTIONS ................................................................................................ 185
A.4 JIS COMPUTER/MODEM/SOFTWARE REQUIREMENTS ................................................... 186
A.5 MODEM SETUP PARAMETERS .................................................................................................... 186
A.6 CONTACT INFORMATION .......................................................................................................... 187
A.7 JIS DIAL UP ACCESS ACCOUNT INFORMATION FORM —
APPLICATION OF SERVICE & JIS
PUBLIC ACCESS INQUIRY
REQUEST ............................................................................................................................................ 188
A.8 JIS DIAL UP ACCESS USER’S GUIDE &
ELETRONIC LAND RECORDS
ONLINE IMAGERY USER’S GUIDE ............................................................................................. 192
Appendix
B
DISTRICT COURT
OF MARYLAND DIRECTORY........................................................................... 256
Appendix
C
CIVIL COST
SCHEDULE AND OTHER CHARGES.......................................................................... 285
Appendix
D
D.1 INDEX OF DISTRICT COURT RULES OF CIVIL
PROCEDURE ........................................... 288
D.2 DISTRICT COURT DEADLINES ................................................................................................... 289
Appendix
E
DISTRICT COURT
FORMS..................................................................................................................... 293
Appendix
F
REQUEST FOR
ATTORNEY CODE/ADDRESS CHANGE............................................................. 445
Appendix
G
PURCHASE ORDER
— CIVIL FORMS................................................................................................. 447
PURCHASE ORDER
— DISTRICT COURT FORMS
Appendix
H
PUBLIC REQUEST
FOR RECORDS STORED AT MARYLAND
STATE ARCHIVES........................................................................................................... 449
Appendix
I
MARYLAND COURT
INTERPRETER PROGRAM........................................................................... 451
Table of
Authorities..................................................................................................................................... 455
Table of Cases.............................................................................................................................................. 463