In this subtitle, “foreign judgment” means a judgment, decree, or order of a court of the United States or of any other court that is entitled to full faith and credit in this State.

In this subsection, “legally protected health care” has the meaning stated under § 2–312 of the State Personnel and Pensions Article. Except as provided in subparagraphs (ii), (iii), and (iv) of this paragraph, a copy of any foreign judgment authenticated in accordance with an act of Congress or statutes of this State may be filed in the office of the clerk of a circuit court. If the face amount of the judgment is $2,500 or less, the copy shall be filed with the clerk of the District Court. If the face amount of the judgment is not more than a jurisdictional amount described in § 4–401 of this article, but more than $2,500, the copy may be filed either with the clerk of the District Court or in the office of the clerk of a circuit court. Except as required by federal law, a judgment creditor may not file a copy of any foreign judgment under this section if the judgment was issued in connection with any litigation concerning legally protected health care, unless the underlying cause of action is: Based in tort, contract, or statute; A claim for which a similar or equivalent claim would exist in the State; and Brought by the patient who received legally protected health care, or the patient’s legal representative; or Based on conduct that would be prohibited under the laws of this State. The clerk shall treat the foreign judgment in the same manner as a judgment of the court in which the foreign judgment is filed. A filed foreign judgment has the same effect and is subject to the same procedures, defenses, and proceedings for reopening, vacating, staying, enforcing, or satisfying as a judgment of the court in which it is filed.

At the time a foreign judgment is filed, the judgment creditor or the judgment creditor’s attorney shall file with the clerk of the court an affidavit showing the name and last known post office address of the judgment debtor and the judgment creditor. The clerk promptly shall mail notice of the filing of the foreign judgment to the judgment debtor at the address given and shall note the mailing in the docket. The notice must include the name and post office address of the judgment creditor and if the judgment creditor has an attorney in this State, the attorney’s name and address. The judgment creditor may mail a notice of the filing of the judgment to the judgment debtor and may file proof of mailing with the clerk. If proof of mailing by the judgment creditor has been filed, lack of mailing notice of filing by the clerk does not affect the enforcement proceedings.

The court shall stay enforcement of the foreign judgment until an appeal is concluded, the time for appeal expires, or a stay of execution expires or is vacated if the judgment debtor: Shows the court that an appeal from the foreign judgment is pending or will be taken, or that a stay of execution has been granted; and Proves that the judgment debtor has furnished the security for the satisfaction of the judgment required by the state in which it was rendered. If the judgment debtor shows the court any ground on which enforcement of a judgment of the court of this State would be stayed, the court shall stay enforcement of the foreign judgment for an appropriate period, and require the same security for satisfaction of the judgment that is required in this State.

A person filing a foreign judgment shall pay $25 to the clerk of the court. Fees for other enforcement proceedings shall be as otherwise provided by law for judgments of the courts of this State. The judgment creditor retains the right to bring an action to enforce a judgment instead of proceeding under this subtitle.

This subtitle shall be interpreted and construed to achieve its general purpose to make the law of those states which enact it uniform.

This subtitle may be cited as the “Uniform Enforcement of Foreign Judgments Act”.