What is the highest $$ amount you can sue for in small claims court?

Question

Would $2000 be too much?

Answer 1

Depending on where you live, up to $5000. $2000 should fly anywhere in the US.

Answer 2

Small claims courts are courts of limited jurisdiction that hear civil cases between private litigants. Courts authorized to try small claims may also have other judicial functions, and the name by which such a court is known varies by jurisdiction: it may be known by such names as county court or magistrate's court. Small claims courts can be found in Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, South Africa, United Kingdom, and many U.S. states.

Typically, a small claims court will have a maximum monetary limit to the amount of judgments it can award; these limits vary. Upper limits are set in the thousands of dollars/pounds. By suing in a small claims court, the plaintiff typically waives any right to claim more than the court can award. The plaintiff is allowed to reduce a claim to fit the requirements of this venue. In some jurisdictions, a party who loses in a small claims court is entitled to a trial de novo in a court of more general jurisdiction and with more formal procedures.

Answer 3

Different amounts in different jurisdictions. Some places it's up to $10,000; some places you can only sue in the smaller courts (like Magistrate Court) for small claims, some go through county courts etc. Need to call your local courthouse to find out what's happening in your part of the world.

Answer 4

Again, another question that is being answered by non-lawyers, resulting in bad information. In Illinois the small claims jurisdiction was raised to $10,000 on 1/1/06. It differs from state to state. Call the Circuit Clerk of your county and ask what the limit is for small claims court.

Answer 5

I'm sure it is different for each state.


What is Small Claims Court?
The Small Claims Section is a court in which you may sue someone (the defendant) to collect a small amount of money that you believe is owed to you. Because procedures in Small Claims are simpler than in other courts, persons usually can file and present their cases relatively quickly and inexpensively, and often without an attorney. This segment explains how to file a complaint, a counterclaim, or an appeal, and gives general information about Small Claims in New Jersey.

Small Claims is one of three sections of the Superior Court's Special Civil Part. The other two sections are Landlord/Tenant and regular Special Civil Part. Small Claims handles cases in which the demand is not more than $3,000. If the amount of money you are trying to recover is more than $3,000, but less than $15,000, your case should be filed in the regular Special Civil Part. Cases in which damages are more than $15,000 must be filed in the Law Division of the Superior Court.

If you believe you are entitled to damages greater than $3,000 but still wish to sue in Small Claims, you give up your right to recover damages over $3,000. The additional money cannot be claimed later in a separate lawsuit.
http://www.judiciary.state.nj.us/civil/civ-02.htm#Sm-cl

Answer 6

Depends on your state. In Indiana it was just raised to $6,000.00.

This site lists the amounts by state... http://www.nolo.com/article.cfm/ObjectID/ADF1FA1B-C67D-4B95-AD615532C3AE0862/catID/D80CF756-DBF6-432D-B625E7D1A29183D0/104/308/273/ART/

The clerk of your county's court will have the information on the limits. Small claims courts are meant to be user friendly and some even prohibit representation by an attorney. Your clerk's office should have small claims forms that you can use to file.

Remember, even through the evidence rules are informal, you still have to have competent evidence.

Good Luck.

Answer 7

5thousand, if you would like to know more about small claims court, what to say and what to do, how to dress, watch "The Peoples Court, with judge Maralyn Monroe". It's really a good show. 2,000 is not a lot at all.

Just remember to:

1.Dress appropriatley
2.Watch what you say
3.If it was a deal, make SURE that you have signed proof.

g'luck!

Answer 8

It depends on the country and, in the US, the state. $2,000 is probably not too much, IF there even IS a small claims court in your state.

Answer 9

$5000

Answer 10

$5000