Maryland Code, COURTS AND JUDICIAL PROCEEDINGS 6-312
Terms Used In Maryland Code, COURTS AND JUDICIAL PROCEEDINGS 6-312
- Complaint: A written statement by the plaintiff stating the wrongs allegedly committed by the defendant.
- 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.
- including: means includes or including by way of illustration and not by way of limitation. See
- 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.
- 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
- Service of process: The service of writs or summonses to the appropriate party.
- Statute: A law passed by a legislature.
- Summons: Another word for subpoena used by the criminal justice system.
(b) This section applies to a person who is a defendant subject to a complaint, counterclaim, cross-claim, or third-party complaint.
(c) (1) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a party may effect service by delivering a copy of the summons and the complaint to a defendant personally or by leaving copies of the summons and complaint at the defendant’s dwelling house or usual place of abode with a person of suitable age and discretion residing at the dwelling house or place of abode or by delivering a copy of the summons and the complaint to an agent authorized by appointment or law to receive service of process.
(2) Any service under this subsection is as effective as actual personal service.
(3) The method of service provided in this subsection is in addition to and not exclusive of any other means of service that may be provided by statute or rule for obtaining jurisdiction of a defendant.
(d) This section does not affect any defense, including noncooperation, available to an insurer or a person who has a self-insurance plan under the terms of the applicable insurance or self-insurance plan.
(e) A defendant who is subject to the provisions of this section is deemed to have consented to service of process as described in this section.