May17,2000

The Honorable Casper R. Taylor, Jr.
Speaker of the House
State House
Annapolis, MD 21401

Dear Mr. Speaker:

In accordance with Article II, Section 17 of the Maryland Constitution, I have today vetoed House Bill 356 - District Court - Civil Jurisdiction - Dishonored Checks and Other Instruments.

House Bill 356 provides that the District Court of Maryland has exclusive original civil jurisdiction in an action for damages for a dishonored check or other instrument regardless of the amount in controversy.

Currently, the District Court of Maryland has exclusive original civil jurisdiction in an action for damages that does not exceed $25,000. 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. Any disruption of this balance created by an exception to the established jurisdictional amount in controversy should be thoroughly supported by substantial evidence that such an exception is warranted. House Bill 356 does not provide the compelling evidence necessary to alter the current law.

For the reasons stated above, I have vetoed House Bill 356.

Sincerely,
Parris N. Glendening
Governor