Ch. 362                                     1993 LAWS OF MARYLAND

(1989 Replacement Volume and 1992 Supplement)

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
MARYLAND, That the Laws of Maryland 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 $20,000, exclusive of attorney's fees if attorney's fees are recoverable by law or
contract;

(2)     An action of replevin, regardless of the value of the thing in controversy;

(3)     A matter of attachment before judgment, if the sum claimed does not
exceed $20,000, exclusive of attorney's fees if attorney's fees are recoverable by law or
contract;

(4)     An action involving landlord and tenant, distraint, or forcible entry and
detainer, regardless of the amount involved;

(5)     A grantee suit brought under § 14-109 of the Real Property Article;

(6)     A petition for injunction relating to the use, disposition, encumbrances,
or preservation of property that is:

(i) Claimed in a replevin action, until seizure under the writ; or

(ii) Sought to be levied upon in an action of distress, until levy and any
removal;

(7)     A petition [of] SEEKING AN injunction OR OTHER EQUITABLE RELIEF
filed by:

(i) A county or municipality including Baltimore City for the
enforcement of its health, housing, fire, building, electric, licenses and permits, plumbing,
animal control, and zoning codes;

(ii) (I) A tenant in an action under § 8-211 of the Real Property
Article or a local rent escrow law; or

(iii) (II) A person who brings an action under § 14-120 of the Real
Property Article. ;

(8) A PETITION FILED BY A COUNTY OR MUNICIPALITY, INCLUDING
BALTIMORE CITY, FOR ENFORCEMENT OF LOCAL HEALTH. HOUSING, FIRE,
BUILDING. ELECTRIC. LICENSES AND PERMITS, PLUMBING. ANIMAL CONTROL, AND
ZONING CODES FOR WHICH EQUITABLE RELIEF IS PROVIDED;

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