Farmers & Mechanics National Bank v. Walser

MURPHY, Chief Judge.

Maryland Rule 2-221(a) provides that “[a]n action for interpleader or in the nature of interpleader may be brought against two or more adverse claimants who claim or may claim to be entitled to property.” The rule further states that the defendants’ claims “need not have a common origin or be identical but may be adverse to and independent of each other ... [and that] [t]he plaintiff may deny liability in whole or in part to any or all of the defendants.” In this case, we consider whether Rule 2-221 abrogates the common law rule that a stakeholder cannot maintain an…