New York S 2636: Raises the jurisdictional amount for small claims cases

Bill Text

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S02636 Summary:

BILL NOS02636 

&nbsp

SAME ASSAME AS A03113

&nbsp

SPONSORMAY

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COSPNSR

&nbsp

MLTSPNSR

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Amd §§201, 202, 208, 211 & 1801, UJCA

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Raises the jurisdictional amount for small claims cases from $3,000 to $10,000 in justice court.

Go to top S02636 Actions:

BILL NOS02636 

&nbsp

01/22/2025REFERRED TO JUDICIARY

01/07/2026REFERRED TO JUDICIARY

Go to topS02636 Committee&nbspVotes:

Go to topS02636 Floor&nbspVotes:

There are no Assembly votes for this bill in this legislative session.

Go to topS02636 Text:

 STATE OF NEW YORK
 ________________________________________________________________________

 2636

 2025-2026 Regular Sessions

 IN SENATE

 January 22, 2025
 ___________

 Introduced by Sen. MAY -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
 printed to be committed to the Committee on Judiciary

 AN ACT to amend the uniform justice court act, in relation to raising
 the jurisdictional amount for small claims cases

 The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-
 bly, do enact as follows:

 1 Section 1. Subdivision a of section 201 of the uniform justice court
 2 act, as amended by chapter 685 of the laws of 1977, is amended to read
 3 as follows:
 4 a. The court shall have jurisdiction as set forth in this article and
 5 as elsewhere provided by law, subject, in the case of a city court
 6 governed by this act, to the limitations stated in §2300 (b) (2) (i) of
 7 this act. The phrase "[$3000] ten thousand dollars", whenever it appears
 8 herein, shall be taken to mean "[$3000] ten thousand dollars exclusive
 9 of interest and costs", except that, in the case of a city court
 10 governed by this act whose monetary jurisdiction is, pursuant to §2300
 11 (b) (2) (i) of this act, below [$3000] ten thousand dollars, it shall be
 12 taken to mean such lesser sum as is applicable in the particular court,
 13 exclusive of interest and costs.
 14 § 2. Section 202 of the uniform justice court act, as amended by chap-
 15 ter 685 of the laws of 1977, is amended to read as follows:
 16 § 202. Money actions and actions to recover chattels.
 17 Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the court shall have
 18 jurisdiction of actions and proceedings for the recovery of money or
 19 chattels where the amount sought to be recovered or the value of the
 20 property does not exceed [$3000] ten thousand dollars.
 21 § 3. Section 208 of the uniform justice court act, as amended by chap-
 22 ter 685 of the laws of 1977, is amended to read as follows:
 23 § 208. Counterclaims.
 24 The Court shall have jurisdiction of any counterclaim whose subject
 25 matter would be within its jurisdiction if sued upon separately. If a

 EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
 [ ] is old law to be omitted.
 LBD06239-01-5

 S. 2636 2

 1 counterclaim for money only in excess of [$3000] ten thousand dollars is
 2 interposed, the court may entertain it to the extent of [$3000] ten
 3 thousand dollars but it shall be deemed waived as to the excess above
 4 [$3000] ten thousand dollars.
 5 § 4. Section 211 of the uniform justice court act, as amended by chap-
 6 ter 685 of the laws of 1977, is amended to read as follows:
 7 § 211. Joinder of causes of action in complaint; effect on jurisdiction.
 8 Where several causes of action are asserted in the complaint, and each
 9 of them would be within the jurisdiction of the court if sued upon sepa-
 10 rately, the court shall have jurisdiction of the action. In such case
 11 judgment may be rendered by the court in excess of [$3000] ten thousand
 12 dollars if such excess result solely because of such joinder.
 13 § 5. Section 1801 of the uniform justice court act, as amended by
 14 chapter 485 of the laws of 2021, is amended to read as follows:
 15 § 1801. Small claims defined.
 16 The term "small claim" or "small claims" as used in this act shall
 17 mean and include any cause of action for money only not in excess of
 18 [three] ten thousand dollars exclusive of interest and costs, provided
 19 that the defendant either resides, or has an office for the transaction
 20 of business or a regular employment within the municipality where the
 21 court is located, or where claimant is or was a tenant or lessee of real
 22 property owned by the defendant and the c