1. A. In this chapter, the following terms have the meanings indicated.

2. B. Terms Defined.

   1. (1) “Act” means Courts and Judicial Proceedings Article, §§3-2A-01—3-2A-09, Annotated Code of Maryland, as amended from time to time.
   2. (2) “Arbitration panel” means the arbitrators selected in accordance with the Act and these regulations to determine a health care malpractice claim.
   3. (3) “Attorney” means a member of the Maryland Bar.
   4. (4) “Award” means a final decision under the Act, whether in favor of the claimant or defendant.
   5. (5) “Certificate of merit” means the formal verification by a qualified expert of a medically meritorious claim or defense to a claim.
   6. (6) “Chairman” means the attorney member of the arbitration panel.

   7. (7) County.

      1. (a) “County” means all counties in the State.
      2. (b) “County” includes Baltimore City.
   8. (8) “Court” means a circuit court for a county.
   9. (9) “Director” means the Director of the Health Care Alternative Dispute Resolution Office.
   10. (10) “Health care provider” has the meaning stated in Courts and Judicial Proceedings Article, §3-2A-01(e), Annotated Code of Maryland.
   11. (11) “Party” includes the counsel of record for a party.
   12. (12) “Prehearing conference” means the conference that the chairman has with all parties at least 60 days before a hearing date.

Authority: Courts and Judicial Proceedings Article, §§3-2A-01—3-2A-09 and
5-109; Article 48A, §482A; Annotated Code of Maryland

Effective date: December 22, 1976 (3:26 Md. R. 1536)

Regulation .12D amended as an emergency provision effective August 25,

1980 (7:18 Md. R. 1732); adopted permanently effective November

14, 1980 (7:23 Md. R.2163)

Annotations: COMAR 01.03.01 cited in Tabler v. Medical Mutual Liability

Insurance Society, 301 Md. 189 (1984) and Munzer v. Ramsey, et al., 63 Md.

App. 350 (1985)

Regulations .01—.15 repealed and new Regulations .01—.17 adopted effective June 3, 1996 (23:11 Md. R. 808)