§ RULE 3-503 CONSOLIDATION; SEPARATE TRIALS

Codes > Maryland Rules > Title 3 > Chapter 400 > RULE 3-503

RULE 3-503. CONSOLIDATION; SEPARATE TRIALS

    (a) Consolidation.

        (1) When Permitted. When actions involve a common question of law or fact or a common subject matter, the court, on motion or on its own initiative, may order a joint hearing or trial or consolidation of any or all of the claims, issues, or actions. The court may enter any order regulating the proceeding, including the filing and serving of papers, that will tend to avoid unnecessary costs or delay.

        (2) Transfer to Circuit Court for Consolidation. An action instituted in the District Court may be transferred to a circuit court for consolidation with an action pending in that court under the circumstances described in Code, Courts Article, § 6-104(b).

    (b) Separate Trials. In furtherance of convenience or to avoid prejudice, the court, on motion or on its own initiative, may order a separate trial of any claim, counterclaim, cross-claim, or third-party claim, or of any separate issue, or of any number of claims, counterclaims, cross-claims, third-party claims, or issues.

    Source: This Rule is derived from former M.D.R. 501.