Sec. 5. 30-A MRSA §6111, sub-§5, as amended by PL 1989, c. 104, Pt. C, §§8 and 10, is further amended to read:

5. Appeal to Law Court. Any party aggrieved by the finding of the Superior Court may appeal within 30 days to the Supreme Judicial Court. The time for taking the appeal and the manner and any conditions for the taking of the appeal are as the Supreme Judicial Court provides by rule. The judgment of the Superior Court is binding upon all parties unless appealed under this subsection.

SUMMARY

The bill deletes a reference to the Superior Court in the provision governing ad damnum clauses because most civil actions can now be filed in either the District or Superior Court. The bill provides greater uniformity and consistency in the appeal process for civil cases by allowing the Supreme Judicial Court to set the time periods and conditions for direct appeals from the District and Superior Courts to the Law Court. Statutes regarding appeals by criminal defendants already provide that time periods and manner of appeal are set by rule.