Marvin Mandel, Governor                         877

(11) WHERE ANY SUBDIVISION OF THE STATE PROVIDES
ITS OWN TRAFFIC SCHOOL THE JUDGES OF THE DIS-
TRICT COURT SHALL HAVE AUTHORITY TO REQUIRE IN
APPROPRIATE CASES THAT PERSONS SHALL ATTEND
SUCH LOCAL TRAFFIC SCHOOL IN LIEU OF THE STATE
MAINTAINED TRAFFIC SCHOOL.

(c) Civil Jurisdiction.

(1)    General Jurisdiction. The District Court shall have juris-
diction at law in all cases for the enforcement of contracts and to
obtain redress for wrongs where the debt or damages claimed do not
exceed five thousand dollars ($5,000.00); in actions of replevin where
the value of the thing in controversy does not exceed five thousand
dollars ($5,000.00); in all cases of attachment on original process
where the sum claimed does not exceed five thousand dollars
($5,000.00); in all other civil actions over which the People's Court
of Baltimore City, Baltimore County, Anne Arundel, Prince George's,
Montgomery, OR Wicomico County or the Housing Court of Balti-
more County had jurisdiction prior to the effective date of this
section in each such county, and where the amount in controversy
does not exceed five thousand dollars ($5,000.00); and in all actions
involving landlord and tenant, distraint, forcible entry and detainer
and grantee suits regardless of the amount involved.

(2)    Concurrent and Exclusive Jurisdiction. In all those civil
actions listed in paragraph (1) hereof, the District Court shall have
exclusive original jurisdiction where the amount in controversy does
not exceed two thousand five hundred dollars ($2,500.00); provided
that the court shall have exclusive original jurisdiction in actions
involving landlord and tenant, distraint, forcible entry and detainer
and grantee suits regardless of the amount involved. Jurisdiction
shall be concurrent with the circuit court in all cases where the
amount in controversy exceeds two thousand five hundred dollars
($2,500.00), but does not exceed five thousand dollars ($5,000.00).

(3)    Venue, (i) The venue provisions of Article 75, Section 75
of the Annotated Code of Maryland, 1957 Edition, as amended, shall
apply to all civil actions in the District Court.

(ii) In all civil actions where the amount in controversy exceeds
five hundred dollars ($500.00) either party shall have a
right, within such time as prescribed by rule, to demand a trial by
jury in which event the case shall be transmitted forthwith to the
Circuit Court in the County in which the cause of action arose or was
filed, or to the Superior Court of Baltimore City if the cause of action
arose or was filed in the City of Baltimore.

(E)    DISTRICT COURT JUDGES SHALL HAVE AUTHORITY
AS PROVIDED BY LAW CONCERNING THE ADMITTING OF
PERSONS TO EMERGENCY AND/OR MENTAL HEALTH FA-
CILITIES.

(F)   (1) ANY DEFENDANT IN A CIVIL OR CRIMINAL
CASE PENDING BEFORE ANY DISTRICT COURT JUDGE
SHALL HAVE THE CASE REMOVED TO ANOTHER DISTRICT
COURT JUDGE SITTING IN OR ASSIGNED TO THE SAME
DISTRICT BY FILING AT ANY TIME BEFORE TRIAL
AN AFFIDAVIT, EXECUTED BY THAT PARTY OR HIS AT-