Understanding DCM (Continued from page 19)


gomery County.27 The system is based


on the comments and recommendations derived from a year’s worth of meetings with Administrative Judges, local attor- neys, court clerks and consultants.28 Richard Abbott, (“Abbott”) an attorney from Pennsylvania with DCM experience, is Baltimore County Circuit Court’s DCM coordinator. Baltimore County Circuit Court has


the following tracks:


Expedited Track Types of cases: attachment before judg-


27


Circuit Court for Baltimore County Civil Differentiated Case Management Plan (2001), available at http://www.co.ba.md.us/ p.cfm/agencies/circuit/civilmgmtplan.cfm; Interview with Richard F. Abbott, DCM Coordinator, Baltimore County Circuit Court. (Dec. 7, 2001). Comments in this article attributed to Mr. Abbott are from the December 7, 2001 interview.


28


Interview with Richard F. Abbott, DCM Coordinator, Baltimore County Circuit Court. (Dec. 7, 2001).


ment, declaratory judgment, district court appeals de novo, district court jury trial prayers, foreclosure, injunc- tion, mandamus, mechanic’s lien, name change, etc. Trial is set 90 days after the


defendant’s Answer.


Standard Track Types of cases: motor tort, personal injury, negligence, fraud and misrep- resentation, intentional tort, condemnation, confessed judgment (vacated), worker’s compensation (non-jury). Trial is set 240 days after the


defendant’s Answer.


Standard Mediation Track Types of cases: contract, worker’s com- pensation (jury).


A trial date is scheduled if media- tion proves unsuccessful.


Extended Standard Track Types of cases: asbestos, lender liabil- ity, professional malpractice, serious motor tort, serious personal injury and state insolvency. Trial is set 340 days after the


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Complex Track Types of cases:


major construction


contract, major product liability, des- ignated toxic tort claims, class action suits and other complex cases. Trial is set 450 days after the defendant’s Answer.29


Abbott advised that in addition to the type of case or nature of the complaint, he con- siders the proposed trial length and number of parties when setting a case on a track. Complex cases are always specially assigned to a judge. Abbott stated that the factors that aid in the determination of whether a case is “complex” are the number of experts to be named; the number of motions to be addressed; and the number of parties. If a party expects a case to be complex, Abbott instructs the party to mark “Complex” on the Case Information Sheet and request by letter that the case be specially assigned to a judge. The party also should explain in the letter why the case should be considered complex. Approximately 70 cases, or one to two percent of the total cases filed, are considered complex and assigned to a judge.30 Unlike Montgomery County, Balti-


more County does not use a scheduling conference. Instead, the court issues only a scheduling order. A scheduling confer- ence and status conference occur only in cases assigned to the Complex Track. Complex case parties or the judge can re- quest a scheduling conference.31 In Montgomery County, a medical malpractice case is automatically assigned to Track 4 and a specific judge, who con- ducts a scheduling conference. Under the Baltimore County Circuit Court DCM system, however, a medical malpractice case is not considered complex and will be assigned to the Extended Standard Track. The Court issues a scheduling or-


der, but no scheduling conference is set. 32


Unlike Montgomery County, in the 29


Circuit Court for Baltimore County Civil Differentiated Case Management Plan (2001), available at http://www.co.ba.md.us/ p.cfm/agencies/circuit/civilmgmtplan.cfm


30


Interview with Richard F. Abbott, DCM Coordinator, Baltimore County Circuit Court. (Dec. 7, 2001).


31


Circuit Court for Baltimore County Civil Differentiated Case Management Plan (2001), available at http://www.co.ba.md.us/ p.cfm/agencies/circuit/civilmgmtplan.cfm; Interview with Richard F. Abbott, DCM Coordinator, Baltimore County Circuit Court. (Dec. 7, 2001).


32Id. Summer 2002


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