What's happening
This bill raises the civil and small claims court jurisdictional limit from $3,000 to $5,000 in New York.
Why it matters
Expanding access to justice. By raising the jurisdictional limit, more individuals and small businesses can resolve disputes involving up to $5,000 in local courts, potentially saving time and legal costs compared to higher courts.
Reducing court congestion. Higher limits may shift more lower-value cases to these courts, which are designed for simpler, faster resolution, possibly easing the burden on higher-level courts.
Modernizing court thresholds. The previous $3,000 cap had not been updated in decades; this increase better reflects inflation and the current economic landscape, making the courts more relevant for typical disputes.
Encouraging self-representation. With more cases eligible for small claims and civil courts, people may be more likely to represent themselves without lawyers, making the legal process more approachable and affordable for everyday New Yorkers.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Raise Small Claims Limit
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
27 Co-sponsors
- Sandy Galef
- Daniel O'Donnell
- Michael DenDekker
- Aileen Gunther
- Dan Quart
- Phil Steck
- Ellen C. Jaffee
- Steven Otis
- Michael Blake
- James Skoufis
- Fred Thiele
- Walter T. Mosley
- Peter Abbate
- Charles Barron
- Michael Montesano
- Raymond Walter
- Philip Palmesano
- Christopher Friend
- Anthony H. Palumbo
- Karl Brabenec
- Victor M. Pichardo
- David Buchwald
- Richard Gottfried
- Andrew R. Garbarino
- Steven Englebright
- Earlene Hooper
- Amy Paulin
History
- Referred to judiciary
- Referred to judiciary
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
2157
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 17, 2017
Introduced by M. of A. ZEBROWSKI, GALEF, O'DONNELL, DenDEKKER, GUNTHER, QUART, STECK, JAFFEE, OTIS, BLAKE, SKOUFIS, THIELE, MOSLEY, ABBATE, BARRON, GRAF, MONTESANO, WALTER, PALMESANO, FRIEND, PALUMBO, BRABENEC, PICHARDO, BUCHWALD, GOTTFRIED, GARBARINO, ENGLEBRIGHT, HOOPER -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. CROUCH, GLICK, MAGEE, McDONOUGH, McLAUGHLIN, PEOPLES-STOKES, SIMON, STEC -- read once and referred to the Committee on Judiciary
AN ACT to amend the uniform justice court act, in relation to civil jurisdictional limits
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision a of section 201 of the uniform justice court act, as amended by chapter 685 of the laws of 1977, is amended to read as follows:
a. The court shall have jurisdiction as set forth in this article and as elsewhere provided by law[, subject, in the case of a city court governed by this act, to the limitations stated in § 2300 (b) (2) (i) of this act]. The phrase "[$3000] $5000", whenever it appears herein, shall be taken to mean "[$3000] $5000 exclusive of interest and costs"[, except that, in the case of a city court governed by this act whose monetary jurisdiction is, pursuant to § 2300 (b) (2) (i) of this act, below $3000, it shall be taken to mean such lesser sum as is applicable in the particular court, exclusive of interest and costs].
§ 2. Section 202 of the uniform justice court act, as amended by chapter 685 of the laws of 1977, is amended to read as follows: § 202. Money actions and actions to recover chattels.
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the court shall have jurisdiction of actions and proceedings for the recovery of money or chattels where the amount sought to be recovered or the value of the property does not exceed [$3000] $5000.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD04634-01-7
A. 2157 2
§ 3. Section 1801 of the uniform justice court act, as amended by chapter 76 of the laws of 1994, is amended to read as follows: § 1801. Small claims defined.
The term "small claim" or "small claims" as used in this act shall mean and include any cause of action for money only not in excess of [three] five thousand dollars exclusive of interest and costs, provided that the defendant either resides, or has an office for the transaction of business or a regular employment, within the municipality where the court is located. However, where a judge of the county court, pursuant to subdivision (g) of section three hundred twenty-five of the civil practice law and rules, transfers a small claim from the town or village court having jurisdiction over the matter to another town or village court within the same county, the court to which it is transferred shall have jurisdiction to determine the claim.
§ 4. This act shall take effect on the first of January next succeeding the date on which it shall have become a law and shall apply to actions or proceedings filed on or after such date.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.