1002                             Laws of Maryland                       [Ch. 608

three Associate Judges; the number of such judges may be increased
or decreased by the General Assembly by law.

308.    THE GOVERNOR, BY AND WITH THE ADVICE AND
CONSENT OF THE SENATE, SHALL APPOINT TO SAID COURT
A CHIEF JUDGE AND TWO ASSOCIATE JUDGES TO TAKE OF-
FICE ON THE FIRST MONDAY OF JUNE, 1955, FOR A TERM
EXPIRING ON THE FIRST MONDAY OF MAY, 1959. THE ADDI-
TIONAL ASSOCIATE JUDGE HEREIN PROVIDED SHALL BE
APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR, BY AND WITH THE ADVICE
AND CONSENT OF THE SENATE, TO TAKE OFFICE JUNE 1,
1957, FOR A TERM EXPIRING ON THE FIRST MONDAY OF
MAY, 1961. THEREAFTER SAID JUDGES SHALL BE APPOINT-
ED FOR TERMS OF FOUR YEARS EXPIRING ON THE FIRST
MONDAY IN MAY.

309.   (a) The People's Court of Baltimore County shall have ex-
clusive original jurisdiction at law in all civil cases arising in Balti-
more County, including all cases for the enforcement of contracts,
to obtain redress for wrongs, in actions of replevin and attachments
as provided in Article 9 of the Annotated Code of Maryland, where
the debt or damages claimed or the amount in controversy does not
exceed Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00), and cases between land-
lord and tenant arising under Article 53 of the Annotated Code of
Maryland and Title 17 of the Code of Public Local Laws of Baltimore
County, and all civil cases arising in Baltimore County over which
Justices of the Peace and Trial Magistrates had jurisdiction prior
to June 6, 1955.

(b)  Baltimore County is hereby divided into three (3) People's
Court Districts, as follows:

Eastern District, comprising that part of Baltimore County lying
to the southeast of the Belair Road;

Central District, comprising that part of Baltimore County
bounded on the east by the Belair Road and on the west by the
Liberty Road; and

Western District, comprising that part of Baltimore County lying
to the southwest of the Liberty Road.

(c)  No person shall be sued in the People's Court of Baltimore
County except in the People's Court District where the defendant
resides; provided, however, in the event of any cause of action in-
volving more than one defendant, such cause of action may be brought
where any one or more of such defendants reside.

(d)  No corporation shall be sued in the People's Court of Balti-
more County except in the People's Court District where the princi-
pal office of such corporation is located, or in which it is doing
business.

In the event any question of jurisdiction is raised under sub-sec-
tion (c) or sub-section (d) before final judgment, the People's Court
is authorized to transfer any such cause to the appropriate district
for further proceedings.

312. Summons, which shall include as a part thereof a copy of
the statement of claim, shall be served upon the defendant named