Terms Used In Maryland Code, COURTS AND JUDICIAL PROCEEDINGS 5-1001

  • Appeal: A request made after a trial, asking another court (usually the court of appeals) to decide whether the trial was conducted properly. To make such a request is "to appeal" or "to take an appeal." One who appeals is called the appellant.
  • Complaint: A written statement by the plaintiff stating the wrongs allegedly committed by the defendant.
  • County: means a county of the State or Baltimore City. See
  • Damages: Money paid by defendants to successful plaintiffs in civil cases to compensate the plaintiffs for their injuries.
  • Habeas corpus: A writ that is usually used to bring a prisoner before the court to determine the legality of his imprisonment. It may also be used to bring a person in custody before the court to give testimony, or to be prosecuted.
  • including: means includes or including by way of illustration and not by way of limitation. See
  • Person: includes an individual, receiver, trustee, guardian, personal representative, fiduciary, representative of any kind, corporation, partnership, business trust, statutory trust, limited liability company, firm, association, or other nongovernmental entity. See
  • state: means :

    (1) a state, possession, territory, or commonwealth of the United States; or

    (2) the District of Columbia. See
  • Tort: A civil wrong or breach of a duty to another person, as outlined by law. A very common tort is negligent operation of a motor vehicle that results in property damage and personal injury in an automobile accident.
(a) In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated.

(b) (1) “Administrative remedy” means any procedure for review of a prisoner’s complaint or grievance, including judicial review, if available, that is provided by the Department, the Division of Correction, or any county or other municipality or political subdivision, and results in a written determination or disposition.

(2) “Administrative remedy” includes a proceeding under Title 10, Subtitle 2 of the State Government Article or Title 10, Subtitle 2 of the Correctional Services Article.

(c) (1) “Civil action” means a legal action seeking money damages, injunctive relief, declaratory relief, or any appeal filed in any court in the State that relates to or involves a prisoner’s conditions of confinement.

(2) “Civil action” includes:

(i) An appeal of an administrative remedy to any court;

(ii) A petition for mandamus against the prisoner’s custodian, its officers or employees, or any official or employee of the Department;

(iii) Any tort claim against a custodian, the custodian’s officers or employees, or any employee or official of the Department;

(iv) Any action alleging a violation of civil rights against a custodian, the custodian’s officers and employees, or any official or employee of the Department; or

(v) Any appeal, application for leave to appeal, or petition for certiorari.

(3) “Civil action” does not include a postconviction petition or petition for habeas corpus relief.

(d) “Conditions of confinement” means any circumstance, situation or event that involves a prisoner’s custody, transportation, incarceration, or supervision.

(e) “Custodian” means the institution or agency that has custody of the prisoner.

(f) “Department” means the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services.

(g) (1) “Prisoner” means a person who is in the custody of the Department or a local detention center.

(2) “Prisoner” includes pretrial detainees.