Terms Used In Maine Revised Statutes Title 14 Sec. 2604

  • Answer: The formal written statement by a defendant responding to a civil complaint and setting forth the grounds for defense.
  • Corporation: A legal entity owned by the holders of shares of stock that have been issued, and that can own, receive, and transfer property, and carry on business in its own name.
  • Counterclaim: A claim that a defendant makes against a plaintiff.
  • Defendant: In a civil suit, the person complained against; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.
  • Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
  • Trustee: A person or institution holding and administering property in trust.
If all the trustees live in the same county, the action must be brought there; if they reside in different counties, in any county in which one of them resides; and in a trustee process against a corporation, its residence is deemed to be in the county in which it has its established or usual place of business, held its last annual meeting or usually holds its meetings; except that an action in which a railroad corporation is named and alleged as trustee may be brought in any county in which the railroad corporation runs and operates its road; and except that an action in which a financial institution authorized to do business in this State or credit union authorized to do business in this State is named and alleged as trustee may be brought in any county in which the financial institution or credit union maintains a place of business. [PL 2003, c. 149, §4 (AMD).]
When trustee process is used in connection with the commencement of an action for divorce, the action must be brought in the county in which the court has jurisdiction over the parties named in the action, and the alleged trustee, although residing in another county, may be summoned to appear in the county in which the court has jurisdiction over the parties named in the action and must answer and make disclosure in that county. The court sitting therein shall have full power and authority to award from the funds found to be held by the alleged trustee and belonging to the defendant such sum or sums as it may deem proper as an award for alimony or in lieu thereof. [PL 2003, c. 149, §4 (AMD).]
When trustee process is used in connection with a counterclaim arising out of the transaction or occurrence that is the subject matter of the opposing party’s claim, the alleged trustee may be summoned to appear in the county in which the action is pending, even though that trustee does not reside or maintain a usual place of business in that county. [PL 2003, c. 149, §4 (AMD).]
SECTION HISTORY

PL 2003, c. 149, §4 (AMD).