936 LAWS OF MARYLAND. [CH. 431
CHAPTER 431.

AN ACT to add a new section to Article 17 of the Code of
Public Local Laws of Maryland (1930 Edition), entitled
"Prince George's County, " sub-title "Hyattsville, " said
new section to be known as Section 513A of said Article
and said new Section to empower the Mayor and Com-
mon Council of Hyattsville to settle claims and suits as-
serted against it for which the said Mayor and Common
Council may be responsible by reason of the negligence
or wrongful act of any of its officers or employees.

SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of
Maryland, That a new section be and the same hereby is
added to Article 17 of the Code of Public Local Laws of
Maryland (1930 Edition), entitled "Prince George's Coun-
ty, " sub-title "Hyattsville, " to be known as Section 513A
of said Article and to read as follows:

513A. The Mayor and Common Council of Hyattsville
are empowered to settle, in their discretion, claims and suits,
either at law or in equity, or whether such claim may be
based upon a suit already instituted or not, whenever the
cause of action or claim arises out of the negligence or
wrongful act, whether of commission or omission, of any
officer or employee of the Mayor and Common Council for
whose negligence or acts the Mayor and Common Council,
if a private individual, would be prima facie liable to re-
spond to damages, irrespective of whether such negligence
occurred or such acts were done in the performance of a
municipal or a governmental function of the said Mayor
and Common Council; provided, that in the settlement of
any claim under the provisions of this section the Mayor
and Common Council shall not pay to any claimant an
amount in excess of five hundred dollars ($500. 00), and
any settlement so authorized may be paid out of any money
which the Mayor and Common Council may have in its
general funds; provided further, however, that nothing
herein contained shall be construed as depriving the Mayor
and Common Council of any defense it may have to any suit
whether at law or in equity, which may be instituted against
it or to give any person, corporation, partnership or associ-
ation, any right to institute any suit against said Mayor
and Common Council which did not exist prior to the
passage of this act; and provided, further, that no action
taken by the Mayor and Common Council in an effort to
effectuate a settlement of any claim or suit authorized to be
settled by the provisions of this act shall be taken as an