HB248 Alabama 2012 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Mike Jones

Republican

Co-Sponsors

Paul BeckmanAllen Farley

Session

Regular Session 2012

Title

Courts, circuit, district and small claims division, jurisdictional limits increased, contempt of court, maximum fine increased, Secs.12-11-30, 12-12-30, 12-12-31, 12-19-71, 12-19-72 am'd

Description

Under existing law, the district court has jurisdiction over cases where the amount in controversy is $10,000 or less, and the circuit court has jurisdiction over cases where the amount in controversy exceeds $10,000.

Under existing law, the small claims division of the district court has jurisdiction over cases where the amount in controversy does not exceed $3,000.

Under existing law, the circuit court may impose a fine not exceeding $100 for contempt.

Under existing law, a plaintiff filing a case in circuit or district court is charged a filing fee.

This bill would increase the jurisdiction of the district court to cases where the amount in controversy is $20,000 or less and would provide that the circuit court has jurisdiction over cases where the amount in controversy exceeds $20,000.

This bill would also raise the jurisdiction of the small claims division of the district court to cover all cases where the amount in controversy is $5,000 or less.

This bill would increase the fine for contempt to $500.

This bill would revise the filing fee and filing fee distribution statutes to reflect the new jurisdiction, but to keep the filing fees and distribution of filing fees at the same amounts as before the revisions provided in this act.

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Subjects

Civil Procedure