[LAW-LIB:58666] Opinions on why statute wording would be changed

From: Lorelei Broskey (LoreleiBroskey@lehighcounty.org)
Date: Thu Apr 02 2009 - 12:39:26 PDT

  • Next message: Morgan, David: "[LAW-LIB:58667] Securities Regulation Law Journal"

    Hi,

    I would love some feed back on this.

    To make a long story short, there is a 1976 statute section to which the
    only change made since then has been to change the words "maintain an
    action..." to "institute an action..."

    I have a patron who is researching this statute. There is no leg
    history that we can find specific to this minor change.

    I think it's just a "plain language initiative change", done to remove
    the rather outdated "maintain an action" (in its original usage, as you
    see in older law, like "Plaintiff could not maintain an action in
    trespass if blah blah...).

    I do not think there WAS any legislative intent to alter the meaning of
    the rest of the clear section, and that Institute an action just means
    START a litigation on this topic. And that "maintain an action" really
    is just an old way to say "bring a court case."

    Patron never heard of "plain language", and I can't prove it! Does
    anyone else see anything MORE in that change?

    Lorelei A. Broskey, MLS
    Director of Library and Information Services
    Lehigh County Law Library
    455 W. Hamilton St
    Allentown, PA 18101-1614

    610-782-3308
    fax 610-820-3311

    The web site for the
    Court of Common Pleas of Lehigh County is:
    www.lccpa.org



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