Belt v. Prince George's County Abstract Co.
Court of Appeals of Maryland
Appeal from tlie Circuit Court for Prince George's County, in Equity. The appellee was incorporated by the Act of 1890, chap. 209. It organized and undertook to begin business by offering to search the records, papers, etc., in the office of the appellant, but was prevented by him from doing so, unless it agreed to pay him the fees he considered he was entitled to under the Constitution and laws of the State.
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Appeal from tlie Circuit Court for Prince George's County, in Equity. The appellee was incorporated by the Act of 1890, chap. 209. It organized and undertook to begin business by offering to search the records, papers, etc., in the office of the appellant, but was prevented by him from doing so, unless it agreed to pay him the fees he considered he was entitled to under the Constitution and laws of the State. The appellee applied to the Circuit Court for Prince George’s County for a writ of injunction against the appellant. The application was set for hearing, and the Court, (Bbooke, J.,)…
1Opinion of the CourtRobinson, J.
The appellee is an Abstract Title Company, chartered hy the Legislature of this State, and the question is whether its officers and employés have the legal right themselves to examine and make abstracts or copies of the public records in the office of the Clerk of the Circuit Court for Prince George’s County, without paying the fees which the law provides shall be paid to the Clerk for such services.
The broad contention is, that the public records are public property, and kept for the public benefit, and although their custody and safe-keeping are committed by law to the clerk, yet every one…
2Cases cited2 opinions
- Burton v. TuiteMichigan Supreme Court · 1889
- Brewer v. WatsonSupreme Court of Alabama · 1882
3Cited by10 opinions
- United States v. MitchellDistrict Court, District of Columbia · 1975
- State ex rel. Nevada Title Guaranty & Trust Co. v. GrimesNevada Supreme Court · 1906
- In re ChambersU.S. Circuit Court for the District of Nebraska · 1891
- State ex rel. Clay County Abstract Co. v. McCubreySupreme Court of Minnesota · 1901
- United States v. Baltimore Post Co.District Court, D. Maryland · 1924
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