Cal. Civ. Code § 8-323
Md. Code Ann., Real Property Art. Title 8 — Landlord and Tenant
Operative Text
If the goods of a third party are distrained on and sold under an action of distress, the third party has a right of action against the tenant for damages for any loss sustained by the third party as a result of the levy and sale of the third party’s goods under distress. The action for damages may be brought before the court before which the original action was brought, regardless of any monetary limitation of the civil jurisdiction of the court. If the action for damages is brought in any other court, only a certified copy of the record in the original court need be filed as evidence of the proceedings.
Under Maryland Real Property § 8-323, when a third party's belongings are seized and sold through a distress action (a legal process used to collect unpaid rent), that third party has a legal right to sue the tenant for any financial losses caused by the seizure and sale. The lawsuit can be filed in the same court that handled the original distress action, and that court may hear the case regardless of its usual dollar-amount limits. If the third party chooses a different court, a certified copy of the original court's record serves as sufficient evidence of the prior proceedings.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Maryland Real Property § 8-323 is primarily directed at the relationship between tenants and third parties whose property may be caught up in a distress action, but landlords initiating distress proceedings should be aware that the process can expose tenants to additional liability from third parties. Compliant operators generally ensure that distress actions target only property that legitimately belongs to the tenant, reducing the risk of third-party goods being swept into a levy. Understanding the downstream consequences of distress actions, including potential third-party claims against tenants, is part of responsible use of this legal remedy.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under § 8-323 of the Maryland Real Property Code, if your belongings or a third party's belongings are wrongly seized and sold in a distress action initiated against you, that third party has a statutory right to pursue you for their losses. Tenants facing distress actions may want to carefully document which property on the premises belongs to others, as this provision creates a direct liability pathway for third-party owners. Tenant-rights organizations and legal aid services can help explain how this provision interacts with other protections available under Maryland law.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 14, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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