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<section article="grp" article_name="Real Property" number="8-503" title_number="8" title_name="Landlord and Tenant" subtitle_number="5" subtitle_name="Tenant Remedies">
  <level label="a">
    <level label="1">
      <text>In this section the following words have the meanings indicated.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>“Court record” has the meaning stated in § 8–502(a) of this subtitle.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>“Failure to pay rent proceeding” means an action initiated by a landlord under § 8–401 of this title.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>“Shield” has the meaning stated in § 8–502(a) of this subtitle.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <level label="1">
      <text>Within 60 days after the final resolution of a failure to pay rent proceeding, the District Court shall shield all court records relating to the proceeding if the proceeding did not result in a judgment of possession.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <level label="i">
        <text>On motion by a tenant, the District Court may shield all court records relating to a failure to pay rent proceeding that results in a judgment of possession if:</text>
        <level label="1">
          <text>The tenant demonstrates by a preponderance of the evidence that the tenant exercised the right of redemption under § 8–401(g) of this title and at least 12 months have passed since the final resolution of the proceeding that the tenant seeks to shield; or</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>The District Court determines that there is good cause to shield the court records.</text>
        </level>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>Subject to subparagraph (iii) of this paragraph, the District Court shall seal the court records within 30 days after granting the tenant’s motion to shield.</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>If a judgment for possession is entered in a proceeding in which the tenant asserted a rent escrow defense under § 8–211 of this title, the District Court may shield only the court records related to the judgment for possession.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <text>Court records shielded under subsection (b) of this section may be opened only:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>On written request by the tenant; or</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>On order of the District Court for good cause shown.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="d">
    <text>A tenant may obtain a copy of an order issued under this section at any time from a clerk of the District Court, on proper identification, without a showing of need.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="e">
    <text>An order to shield court records under this section may not affect any action in which an appeal is pending.</text>
  </level>
</section>
