What kind of cases do Small Claims Courts hear

Small claims court is aimed to be a court for the people. The hearings and court proceedings are informal, uncomplicated and involve very little formalities. Small claims court provides a place where you can go to sue for money where the amount cannot exceed $5.000.

If you have a problem that you want to resolve, first consider whether it is the kind of dispute you can bring in a small claims court. Only monetary disputes related to civil cases can be heard in the Small Claims Court. However, many types of cases are not suitable for small claims court. For example, Small claims court is not appropriate for landlords seeking to evict a tenant (but it can still be used to collect unpaid back rent). Also, you cannot file a new case in the Small Claims Court to enforce an unpaid court judgment from the old case.

Some of the most common types of cases include:

Property damage

Breach of contract and business disputes

Defective product or unsatisfactory service

Landlord-Tenant disputes (money, rent)

Fraud

Accidents and personal injury

Unpaid debts