DE HB232

Raise the Justice of the Peace Court's civil jurisdiction limit from $15,000 to $25,000 for common-law contract and tort actions, penalties, and forfeitures.

Allow the $25,000 jurisdictional limit to be exceeded in summary possession actions arising from commercial leases, enabling the court to consider monetary claims exceeding the standard limit when possession is at issue.

Create new § 5701B permitting parties to bifurcate claims in commercial lease disputes by filing separate actions for summary possession in Justice of the Peace Court and a plenary action in another court, with the plenary action required to be filed within six months of final judgment in the possession case.

Take effect 90 days after enactment into law.