Ch. 275

2003 LAWS OF MARYLAND

(2)     It shall be a complete defense to any action brought under this
section by a holder to whom a dishonored check or other instrument was issued that
the dishonor of the check or other instrument was due to a justifiable stop payment
order or to the attachment of the account.

(3)     In any action brought under this section by a holder or holder in due
course to whom a dishonored check or other instrument was negotiated, the action is
subject to all valid defenses that may be raised by the maker or drawer against the
holder or holder in due course under Title 3 of this article.

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 $25,000, exclusive of prejudgment or postjudgment interest, costs, and
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 $25,000, exclusive of prejudgment or postjudgment interest, costs, and
attorney's fees if attorney's fees are recoverable by law or contract;

(4)     An action involving landlord and tenant, distraint, or wrongful
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 injunction filed by:

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

(ii) A person who brings an action under § 14-120 or § 14-125.1 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, consumer protection, and zoning codes for which equitable
relief is provided;

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