Federal judge sends ground rent suit back to state court

BALTIMORE (AP) - A federal judge sent a lawsuit challenging changes to Maryland's ground rent law back to state court on Monday.

Dozens of ground rent holders, who had previously been able to eject homeowners for overdue rents on the ground beneath their homes, are suing the state claiming the reforms amount to a taking of property. Holders buy and sell the leases to tens of thousands of homes in Baltimore and other jurisdictions as investments.

U.S. District Judge Andre M. Davis said the law was in need of change, but the state court was the best place to decide whether the ground rent holders, who are seeking compensation...