(a) If a tenant under a lease dies, or, if the tenant is a corporation and ceases to exist, distress may be brought against the tenant named in the lease regardless of death or nonexistence. The plaintiff shall give notice of an action of distress to the personal representative of a deceased defendant or to any person who was an officer at the time the corporation ceased to exist and the plaintiff shall certify to the court that the plaintiff has given notice. Then the plaintiff may proceed with levy and sale as provided in this subtitle.
(b) If a tenant dies and no personal representative is appointed by a court having jurisdiction, or if an officer of the nonexistent corporation cannot be found and, therefore, service of process is returned non est, then, on application of the plaintiff, an order may be passed requiring a copy of the petition for distress to be posted at the courthouse door at least one week before the date of sale. Failure of the plaintiff to apply for the order subjects the plaintiff to suit by the personal representative of the deceased tenant, or by the officer or surviving directors of the nonexistent corporation for any loss or damage sustained. If the plaintiff makes application for the order, the plaintiff is under no liability either to the estate of the deceased tenant, or to the surviving trustees or officers of the nonexistent corporation.
Structure Maryland Statutes
Subtitle 3 - Distress for Rent
Section 8-302 - Action at Law; Jurisdiction; Leases Subject to Distress; Venue
Section 8-303 - Form and Contents of Petition; Service
Section 8-304 - Show-Cause Order
Section 8-306 - Goods Levied On; Exclusions From Levy
Section 8-307 - Exemptions From Levy; Goods Subject to Security Interest
Section 8-308 - Levied Goods in Court
Section 8-309 - Entry Under Levy; Forcible Entry; Time of Levy
Section 8-310 - Removal of Levied Goods; Bond
Section 8-311 - Levy on Goods of Third Person; Finality of Levy; Removal of Excluded Goods
Section 8-312 - Effect of Levy on Title to Goods; Risk of Loss of Levied Goods
Section 8-313 - Expense of Removing Goods; Liability for Removal of Goods Affixed to the Property
Section 8-314 - Answer to Petition; Hearing; Final Order of Sale
Section 8-316 - Bond for Return of Levied Goods; Order to Release Goods
Section 8-317 - Order to Make Forcible Entry After Levy on Goods
Section 8-318 - Notice of Sale
Section 8-319 - Manner of Sale; Removal for Sale
Section 8-321 - Security for Costs
Section 8-323 - Rights of Third Party When Goods Sold Under Distress
Section 8-324 - Termination of Leases; Possession of Premises
Section 8-325 - Deficiency Judgment; Hearing; Exemptions
Section 8-326 - Levy on Goods of Husband and Wife
Section 8-327 - Amendment of Petition or Other Pleading
Section 8-329 - Assignment of Leases; Liability of Assignee
Section 8-330 - Service of Process
Section 8-331 - Stay When Notice Not Received
Section 8-332 - Right to Appeal; Time for Taking; Trial; Stays