Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, a cause of action at law, whether real, personal, or mixed, survives the death of either party. A cause of action for slander abates upon the death of either party unless an appeal has been taken from a judgment entered in favor of the plaintiff. A right of action in equity survives the death of either party if the court can grant effective relief in spite of the death.

In this section the following words have the meanings indicated. “Proceeding” includes: An arbitration proceeding; Any part of an action; and Any part of an appellate proceeding. “Session” includes an extraordinary session. Subject to subsection (d) of this section, if a member or desk officer of the General Assembly is an attorney of record in a proceeding, the proceeding shall be continued from 5 days before the legislative session convenes until at least 10 days after it is adjourned. If a member of the Legislative Policy Committee or of any committee or subcommittee thereof or a committee or subcommittee of the State legislature functioning during the legislative interim is an attorney of record in a proceeding, the proceeding shall be continued while the committee or subcommittee is holding a meeting. If a brief, a memorandum of law, or another document is required to be filed in a proceeding continued under this section: The proceeding shall be continued for a time sufficient to allow it to be prepared and filed; and Any time prescribed by the Maryland Rules, by rule or order of court, or by any statute applicable to the filing of the document shall begin to run 10 days after the General Assembly adjourns. The attorney may waive the benefit of this section. The attorney may exercise any right under this section after filing a motion or letter with the appropriate court or administrative agency without the attorney personally appearing. This section applies to a proceeding in a federal, State, or local court or administrative agency.

In a civil action in the District Court, if the amount in controversy is $2,500 or less, there shall be no formal pleadings. If the amount in controversy exceeds $2,500 the forms and pleadings are as provided by Title 3, Chapter 300 of the Maryland Rules.

Except as provided in this section, a case transferred from the District Court to a circuit court for trial shall be deemed to have originated in the circuit court and the parties are entitled to removal as provided by rule or law. This section does not apply to an appeal from a final judgment of the District Court.

Any action, including one in the name of the State, brought by a next friend for the benefit of a minor may be settled by the next friend. If the next friend is not a parent or person in loco parentis of the child, the settlement is not effective unless approved by the parent or other person responsible for the child. If both parents are dead, and there is no person responsible for the care and custody of the child, the settlement is not effective unless approved by the court in which the suit was brought. Approval may be granted only on the written application by the next friend, under oath, stating the facts of the case, and why the settlement is in the best interest of the child.

An unincorporated association, joint stock company, or other group which has a recognized group name may sue or be sued in the group name on any cause of action affecting the common property, rights, and liabilities of the group. An action under this section: Has the same force and effect with respect to the common property, rights, and liabilities of the group as if all members of the group were joined; and Does not abate because of any change of membership in the group or its dissolution.

A creditor of a person engaged in a mercantile, trading, or manufacturing business as an agent or doing business or trading under any designation, title, or name other than the person’s own name who fails to file the certificate required under § 1-406 of the Corporations and Associations Article, may bring an action in a court of competent jurisdiction against the person or the name, title, or designation under which the business is conducted and service on the person shall be valid. All the assets used in or owned by the person’s business are subject to seizure and sale under execution in satisfaction of the judgment.

Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, the appearance of an attorney-at-law in any case before a court in the State terminates automatically on the expiration of an appeal period during which no party enters an appeal from a final judgment. On the motion of the court that has jurisdiction over a case or on the motion of a party, the court may suspend the termination of appearance under subsection (a) of this section.

For a period of 30 days after the entry of a judgment, or thereafter pursuant to motion filed within that period, the court has revisory power and control over the judgment. After the expiration of that period the court has revisory power and control over the judgment only in case of fraud, mistake, irregularity, or failure of an employee of the court or of the clerk’s office to perform a duty required by statute or rule.

In any court proceeding, an attorney entering his appearance on behalf of a client may be granted a continuance if: The entry of appearance is made in good faith and not for purposes of delay; The case has not been continued previously an unreasonable number of times; and At the time his appearance is entered he is the attorney of record in another court proceeding which previously had been scheduled for a time which will cause a conflict with the case in which the appearance is being entered.

In this section the following words have the meanings indicated. “Custodian” has the meaning stated in § 4–101(d) of the General Provisions Article. “Public record” has the meaning stated in § 4–101(j) of the General Provisions Article. If the custodian of public records is not known and cannot be ascertained after a reasonable effort by a party in a legal proceeding, the party may request a court to issue a subpoena for the custodian of public records to be served on: A resident agent designated under § 1–1301 of the Local Government Article for service on a local entity; A resident agent designated under § 6–109 of the State Government Article for service on a State agency that is not represented by the Attorney General; or The Attorney General or an individual designated by the Attorney General as provided under the Maryland Rules for service on a State agency that is represented by the Attorney General. Service of a subpoena under this section is equivalent to personal service on a custodian of public records. The Court of Appeals may adopt rules to implement the provisions of this section.

An individual arrested for failure to appear in court to show cause why the individual should not be found in contempt for failure to answer interrogatories or to appear for an examination in aid of enforcement of a money judgment shall be taken immediately: If the court is in session, before the court that issued the order that resulted in the arrest; or If the court is not in session, before a judicial officer of the District Court for a determination of appropriate conditions of release to ensure the individual’s appearance at the next session of the court that issued the order that resulted in the arrest. If a judicial officer determines that the individual should be released on other than personal recognizance without any additional conditions, the judicial officer shall impose on the individual the least onerous condition or combination of conditions that will reasonably ensure the appearance of the individual as required.

A nongovernmental corporate party shall, with its first appearance, pleading, petition, motion, response, or other request addressed to the court, file one copy of a disclosure statement that: Identifies any parent corporation and any publicly held corporation owning 10% or more of its stock; Identifies any member or owner in a joint venture or limited liability corporation; Identifies all partners in a partnership or limited liability partnership; Identifies any corporate member, if the party is any other unincorporated association; or States that there is no such corporation. If any information filed in accordance with subsection (a) of this section changes, the nongovernmental corporate party shall file a supplemental statement.