Source: https://www.medicalmalpracticehelp.com/lawyer/state-laws/maryland/
Timestamp: 2020-01-27 08:35:15
Document Index: 752274297

Matched Legal Cases: ['§5', '§5', '§5', '§5', '§5', '§5', '§5', '§5', '§3', '§3', '§3', '§3', '§3', '§3', '§3', '§3', '§3', '§3', '§3', '§3', '§3']

Maryland Medical Malpractice Laws | Medical Malpractice Help
Medical Malpractice Help » Lawyer » Medical Malpractice Laws » Maryland
Maryland - News Articles
Circuit Courts generally hear more serious criminal cases, major civil cases, including juvenile and other family law cases such as divorce, custody and child support, and most cases appealed from the District Court, Orphans’ Courts, and certain administrative agencies. Each County and the City of Baltimore has a Circuit Court.District Courts are trial level courts that most people deal with when interacting with the state’s court system. Each County and the City of Baltimore has at least one District Court location. Cases are argued before a judge only; there are no jury trials in District Court. Orphans’ Court is a specialized court that deals with wills, estates, and various other probate issues as well as some guardianship matters.
The statute of limitations contains special rules governing claims by minors. If the plaintiff was under the age of 11 “at the time the injury was committed,” the statute of limitations set forth in MC 5-109(a) does not begin to apply until the plaintiff’s 11th birthday. MC §5-109(b). In the event the injury is to the plaintiff’s reproductive system or foreign object left inside the body, the statute of limitations set forth in MC 5-109(a) does not begin to apply until the plaintiff’s 16th birthday. MC §5-109(c).
MC §5-201 tolls the statute of limitations with respect to a plaintiff who is a mental incompetent. A plaintiff covered by this provision “shall file his action within the lesser of three years or the applicable period of limitations after the date the disability is removed.” MC §5-201(a). MC §5-109(f) makes it clear that nothing in the medical malpractice statute of limitations limits the application of the tolling provision for mentally incompetent plaintiffs.
Actions against local governments are governed by the Local Government Tort Claims Act, which is codified at MC §5-303 to MC §5-304. The term ‘local government’ is defined broadly in MC §5-301(d). The Local Government Tort Claims Act operates differently than the Maryland Tort Claims Act. The Court of Special Appeals explained the difference as follows:
We hold that … the cap on non-economic damages contained in §3-2A-09(b) applies to all health care malpractice claims, whether they are: (1) arbitrated under §3-2A-05; (2) arbitrated, but followed by a rejection of the arbitration award under §3-2A-06; or (3) waived out of arbitration under §§3-2A-06A or 3-2A-06B. Lockshin, 987 A.2d at 31.
Accordingly, Maryland has a mandatory arbitration requirement for medical malpractice cases. MC §3-2A-04(a)(1)(i) states that a person “having a claim against a health care provider for damage due to a medical injury shall file the claim with the Director.” The Director referred to in the statute is the Director of the Health Care Alternative Dispute Resolution Office established under MC §3-2A-03(a). Generally, plaintiffs must submit their claim to the Office for arbitration before they are permitted to file suit in court.
However, the parties can mutually agree to waive arbitration.MC §3-2A-06A(a). In addition, MC §3-2A-06B(a) provides arbitration “may be waived by the claimant or any defendant” and that all further proceedings are governed by MC §3-2A-06B. The plaintiff may only waive arbitration after filing the Certification of Merit, so the intended safeguard against frivolous claims remains in place. MC §3-2A-06B(b)(1).Furthermore, it is unlikely that the defendant would choose to waive arbitration if the defendant believes the claim is without merit or otherwise frivolous.Within 60 days after filing the election to waive arbitration, the plaintiff must file a complaint along with the waiver in the appropriate court, and failure to do so constitutes grounds for dismissal of the complaint. MC §3-2A-06B(f).
The award must be itemized by category and amount for damages assessed for incurred medical expenses, rehabilitation costs, and loss of earnings, and damages for future expenses, costs, and losses must be itemized separately. MC §3-2A-05(e)(4). The award must be delivered to the Director in writing within one year from the date all defendants have been served and within ten days after the close of the hearing. MC §3-2A-05(g). The Director must then provide a copy of the award to the parties within 15 days of having received it. Id.