Terms Used In Maryland Code > STATE GOVERNMENT > Title 12 > Subtitle 3 > Part II - Civil Actions and Special Proceedings

• Counterclaim: A claim that a defendant makes against a plaintiff.
• Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
• including: means includes or including by way of illustration and not by way of limitation. See
• Obligation: An order placed, contract awarded, service received, or similar transaction during a given period that will require payments during the same or a future period.
• Person: includes an individual, receiver, trustee, guardian, personal representative, fiduciary, representative of any kind, corporation, partnership, business trust, statutory trust, limited liability company, firm, association, or other nongovernmental entity. See
• Recipient of services: includes :
  
  (i) An individual in a public facility under the Maryland Mental Health Law;
  
  (ii) An individual in a facility for an evaluation required under the Maryland Developmental Disabilities Law;
  
  (iii) An individual in a residential, public facility or a facility from which this State obtains residential care under the Maryland Developmental Disabilities Law;
  
  (iv) An individual to whom juvenile screening or treatment services are provided under § 9-227(b)(1)(ii) of the Human Services Article; and
  
  (v) An individual in a private therapeutic group home from which this State obtains residential care under the Maryland Mental Health Law. See
• Settlement: Parties to a lawsuit resolve their difference without having a trial. Settlements often involve the payment of compensation by one party in satisfaction of the other party's claims.
• state: means :
  
  (1) a state, possession, territory, or commonwealth of the United States; or
  
  (2) the District of Columbia. See
• Trial: A hearing that takes place when the defendant pleads "not guilty" and witnesses are required to come to court to give evidence.
• Verdict: The decision of a petit jury or a judge.