The Maryland Judiciary Case Search is a useful tool for obtaining important infomation
The Maryland Judiciary Website is located at http://casesearch.courts.state.md.us/inquiry/inquiry-index.jsp .
You can use this website to find out important information about people with whom you may need to interact. You can do this by searching with the name of the person or business with which you are dealing. First, when you get to the webpage above, you have to check the box that says “I have read, understand and agree to the terms…..” and then click “Continue”. This will bring you to the page where you can put in the person or business name. Here are a few of the helpful uses:
1. IF YOU ARE ABOUT TO ACCEPT A CHECK FROM A COMPANY AND/OR PERSON
Before receiving a check from a company and/or person, you can put their name, or their company’s name, in the website. The results will show if they have ever been sued for debt or if they have ever had criminal charges for issuing a check with insufficient funds.
2. IF YOU ARE ABOUT TO START WORK FOR A NEW EMPLOYER
Before working for a new company, you can check to see if there were any past lawsuits against them for not paying their bills and/or employees.
3. IF YOU ARE ABOUT TO HIRE A NEW EMPLOYEE OR SUBCONTRACTOR
On the other side, if you own or manage a business, you can check to see whether a prospective employee has ever been convicted of any crimes. Wouldn’t it be nice to know that you new salesman has been convicted of employee theft or assault, before, you make the mistake of hiring him/her. If you are set to hire that new delivery man, you can also check to see if your new driver has ever been convicted of drunk driving or other driving related incidents. (Your prospect’s references may lie, but the Judiciary Case Search won’t.)
4. IF YOU ARE ABOUT TO MOVE INTO A RENTAL PROPERTY
Before moving into a new home or apartment, you can use the website to see if your new landlord has ever been convicted of a crime. You can find out if the landlord has been charged with domestic violence, assault, battery, fraud, etc. You can also see if the landlord has been sued for housing violations.
5. IF YOU ARE A LANDLORD AND READY TO ADD A NEW TENANT
Before letting that new tenant sign the lease, you can check this website to see if he/she has bounced checks, been sued for past due rent or has been convicted of criminal cases including assault. Similarly, if your prospective tenant has been quick to file peace orders against others, this may warn you that you could become the next person accused.
6. IF YOU ARE ABOUT TO GO OUT ON A DATE
Everyone knows that you can “Google” your date to find out any scuttlebutt. But, before you get in a car with this person, or go in their home, wouldn’t it be nice to know if there is any history of violent behavior? Now you can get an indication quickly, without incurring the expense of a private investigator.
Remember that all charges and lawsuits are included, even when the defendant has been found not guilty or not liable. So, you have to read the entries very carefully.