Halt.org is reporting in its latest eJournal that Indiana “Senator James W. Merritt, Jr. introduced Senate Bill 455, which would reduce the small claims jurisdiction from $6,000 to $3,000. This would effectively repeal the recently passed increase in small claims jurisdiction from $3,000 to $6,000. HALT’s research indicates that no state has ever decreased its small claims jurisdictional limit.”
Click here to see the text of Merritt’s (um) meritless bill. The digest of the Bill states:
“Small claims courts. Provides that the jurisdictional amount for small claims or city court actions includes attorney’s fees. Reduces to $3,000 the jurisdictional amount in small claims or city court actions not involving landlord-tenant disputes, and removes a provision that would have increased the jurisdictional amount to $6,000 in 2005. Permits a pretrial hearing to determine whether a claim is frivolous. Prohibits the granting of a continuance solely on the basis that the party is not represented by an attorney. Requires the judge to file a brief memorandum documenting the reasons for the judgment.”
Earlier this month, we were worried about small claims reform taking backward steps, but not quite this blatantly.
- Go here to learn more about HALT’s Small Claims Reform activities.