STATE OF MAINE. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, } ORDERED, That 500 copies of the following Bill, be printed for the use of the House. WM. T. JOHNSON, Clerk. STATE OF MAINE. IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD ONE THOUSAND EIGHT HUNDRED AND FORTY-FOUR. AN ACT to promote the speedy and economical administration of justice. WHEREAS protracted litigation is ruinous to the 2 parties concerned, and highly injurious to the public 3 at large, and it is the duty of the Legislature to pro4 vide means by which the decision of civil causes may 5 be as speedy and attended with as little expense as 6 the nature of the case will admit: Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Represen2 tatives in Legislature assembled as follows: 3 From and after the first day of May in the year of 4 our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty-four, 5 in any action which may be pending in the Supreme 6 Judicial Court or in the District Court for any dis7 trict wherein the title to real estate shall not be in 8 question; or the debt or damage claimed shall not 9 exceed the sum of three hundred dollars, either party 10 at the first term in which said action is entered, may 11 offer, and consent in writing (and the same shall be 12 entered of record, and the time when the offer is 13 made) to refer the action by rule of court, to one or 14 more referees, to be mutually agreed upon by the 15 parties, and if they cannot agree to be appointed by 16 the court; and if the other party accepts the said 17 offer the action shall be referred accordingly. But if 18 the other party neglect or refuse to accept the same, 19 he shall recover no cost from the date of such offer. |