4006

VETOES

Small Claims — District Court

FOR the purpose of [[establishing in the District Court
of each Judicial District of Maryland a Snail Claims
Division for the purpose of the informal settlement
of claims for money not in excess of $500, exclusive
of interest and costs, and relating generally to the
practice, procedures, rules, forms, hearings, fees,
transfer of cases, and appeals with respect to small
claims in the District Courts of Maryland]]
requiring by a certain date that the Court of

Appeals establish procedures in the District Court
for the informal processing and trial of any cause
of action under a certain amount; imposing certain
duties on the Chief Judge of the District Court;
providing for the filing and hearing of certain
claims; requiring clerks of the District Court to
render assistance in the preparation of a statement
of claim when requested by the person filing the
statement of claim; providing the clerk shall not be
liable for assistance rendered; and providing for
the rales of evidence and procedures in certain
civil claim cases filed in the District Court of
Maryland.

Honorable John Hanson Briscoe
Speaker of the House of Delegates
State House
Annapolis, Maryland

May 15, 1975.

Dear Mr. Speaker:

In accordance with Article II, Section 17 of the
Maryland Constitution, I have today vetoed House Bill
743.

This bill requires the Court of Appeals to
promulgate rules establishing procedures for the
processing of claims of $500 or less in the District
Court on an informal basis. It requires the Court of
Appeals to have these procedures in force and effect by
January 1, 1976.

The bill then sets forth certain statutory
procedures to be followed with respect to these small
claims, among them that,

(1) an action is commenced by filing a
Statement of Claim "in concise form and free of
technicalities";

(2) the Clerk shall assist individuals in