(a) Notwithstanding 12 V.S.A. § 5535, claims to the Small Claims Court brought under this subchapter shall be decided by the Court with no jury. An appeal from the decision of the Small Claims Court shall be in accordance with provisions of 12 V.S.A. § 5538.

(b) The Small Claims Court shall decide a claim filed under this subchapter by an inmate of a correctional facility on the basis of affidavits of the parties and testimony by telephone; or the Court may in its discretion request additional evidence to decide such claims.

(c) Upon award of damages by the Small Claims Court, the Commissioner of Finance and Management shall issue a warrant for such amount, the acceptance of which shall be a full discharge of all claims against the State arising out of the matters involved therein. (Amended 1959, No. 328 (Adj. Sess.), § 8(b); 1981, No. 249 (Adj. Sess.), § 7; 1983, No. 195 (Adj. Sess.), § 5(b); 1997, No. 156 (Adj. Sess.), § 47, eff. April 29, 1998.)