Exclusive jurisdiction of small claims

1. Law
2. District of Columbia Code
3. Organization and Jurisdiction of the Courts. [Enacted title]
4. Small Claims and Conciliation Branch of the Superior Court
5. Jurisdiction and Procedures
6. Exclusive jurisdiction of small claims

The Small Claims and Conciliation Branch has exclusive jurisdiction of any action within the jurisdiction of the Superior Court which is only for the recovery of money, if the amount in controversy does not exceed $10,000, exclusive of interest, attorney fees, protest fees, and costs. An action which affects an interest in real property may not be brought in the Branch. If a counterclaim, cross claim, or any other claim or any defense, affecting an interest in real property, is made in an action brought in the Branch, the action shall be certified to the Civil Division.

(July 29, 1970, 84 Stat. 489, Pub. L. 91-358, title I, § 111; Oct. 30, 1984, 98 Stat. 3142, Pub. L. 98-598, § 4; Aug. 23, 1994, 108 Stat. 1564, Pub. L. 103-303, § 2(a); Dec. 14, 2016, 130 Stat. 1350, Pub. L. 114-257, § 5(a).)

Prior Codifications

1981 Ed., § 11-1321.

1973 Ed., § 11-1321.

Section References

This section is referenced in § 11-1323 and § 16-3904.

Cross References

Rules of court applicable in Small Claims and Conciliation Branch, see § 16-3901.

Set-off or counterclaim, small claims court jurisdiction, see § 16-3904.

Editor's Notes

Section 5(b) of Public Law 114-257 provided that the amendment made by section 5(a) shall apply to any case filed in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia on or after December 14, 2016.

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