2824

LAWS OF MARYLAND

Ch. 757

Approved May 19, 1981.

CHAPTER 758

(House Bill 693)

AN ACT concerning

District Court - Civil Jurisdiction

FOR the purpose of increasing the maximum amount over which
the District Court has exclusive original civil

jurisdiction; increasing the minimum amount in

controversy in which a plaintiff may elect to file suit
in District Court or in a trial court of general
jurisdiction; and making technical changes.

BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments,

Article - Courts and Judicial Proceedings

Section 4-401(1) and 4-402(d)(1)

Annotated Code of Maryland

(1980 Replacement Volume and 1980 Supplement)

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
MARYLAND, That section(s) of the Annotated Code of Maryland
be repealed, amended, or enacted to read as follows:

Article - Courts and Judicial Proceedings

4-401.

Except as provided in § 4-402 OF THIS SUBTITLE, and
subject to the venue provisions of Title 6 OF THIS ARTICLE,
the District Court has exclusive original civil jurisdiction
in:

(1) An action in contract or tort, if the debt
or damages claimed do not exceed [$5,000] $10,000;

4-402.

(d) (1) Except in a case under paragraph (2), (4),
(5), or (6) of § 4-401 OF THIS SUBTITLE, the plaintiff may
elect to file suit in the District Court or in a trial court
of general jurisdiction, if the amount in controversy
exceeds [$2,500] $5,000.

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act
shall take effect July 1, 1981.