Differentiated Case Management System

The Circuit Court for Baltimore City schedules its civil non-family cases in accordance with a Differentiated Case Management (“DCM”) program. Under the DCM system there are eight tracks and a case is designated to that track depending on the nature of the claim, the number of parties, and the relief being requested. Under Maryland Rule 2-111, every complaint filed with the Clerk of the Court must contain a Civil Non-domestic Case Information Report. This Case Information Report is used by the Associate Administrator for the Civil Courts in the designation of a case to a particular track. The tracks are:

[]	Expedited		Trial 30 to 120 days from notice. Non-jury matters.
[]	Standard-Short		Trial seven months from Defendant’s response. Includes torts with actual damages up to $7,500; contract claims up to $20,000; condemnations; injunctions and declaratory judgments.
[]	Standard-Medium		Trial 12 months from Defendant’s response. Includes torts with actual damages over $7,500 and under $50,000, and contract claims over $20,000.
[]	Custom Trial		Per order of Judge in Charge of Civil. Includes actual damages over $50,000, professional malpractice and product liability.
[]	Lead Paint		Trial per model order based upon youngest minor plaintiff’s date of birth. Please provide date of birth for youngest plaintiff.
[]	Asbestos		Events and deadlines set by assigned judge.
[]	Specially Assigned Cases		Cases designated by the Administrative Judge because of the type of case, complexity of issues, pretrial matters, or trial time. Events and deadlines set by assigned judge.
[]	Business and Technology		Cases designated by the Director of the Business & Technology Program. Events and deadlines set by assigned judge.

Depending on the track, each civil case is given a scheduling order when the case initially becomes “at issue”, i.e., when the first Answer is filed by a defendant. The scheduling order sets forth a trial date, a pre-trial settlement conference, and other pre-trial dates, including a deadline for discovery and the filing of dispositive motions.