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H.B. 70
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VETOES
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be filed and heard in the District Court. Expanding the exclusive jurisdiction for the
District Court has an impact on the ability of a litigant to request a trial by jury, and
precludes discovery in cases that may involve relatively minor amounts in potential
damages, but have a real impact in the life of citizens.
The established jurisdictional amounts for our court system are designed to carefully
balance the cases considered by the District Court and circuit courts in order to
protect the rights of the individuals involved in legal actions. The disruption of this
balance created by increasing the established jurisdictional amount in controversy
may unfairly prejudice plaintiffs by limiting their rights. I agree with the Maryland
State Bar Association's stated reluctance to change jurisdictional amounts unless
supported by substantial evidence that such a change is warranted. House Bill 70
does not provide the compelling evidence necessary to alter the current law. This
concern prompted the Maryland Trial Lawyers' Association to request a veto of this
bill last year.
For the above reasons, I have vetoed House Bill 70.
Sincerely,
Parris N. Glendening
Governor
House Bill No. 70
AN ACT concerning
District Court - Small Claim Actions
FOR the purpose of altering the minimum amount in controversy in civil cases over
which the District Court of Maryland and the circuit courts have concurrent
jurisdiction; altering the amount of a small claim action in the District Court;
altering the amount in controversy in a civil action in the District Court in
which formal pleadings are prohibited; altering the minimum amount in
controversy in civil cases in which appeals from the District Court are required
to be heard on the record; providing for the application of this Act; and generally
relating to small claim actions in the District Court.
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments,
Article - Courts and Judicial Proceedings
Section 4-402(d)(l)(i), 4-405, 6-403, and 12-401(f)
Annotated Code of Maryland
(1998 Replacement Volume and 2001 Supplement)
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
MARYLAND, That the Laws of Maryland read as follows:
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Article - Courts and Judicial Proceedings
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- 4958 -
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