S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   4551
 
                        2021-2022 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                             February 5, 2021
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sen. PALUMBO -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
   printed to be committed to the Committee on Judiciary
 
 AN ACT to amend the uniform justice court act, in relation to the  mone-
   tary jurisdiction of justice courts
 
   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1. Subdivision a of section 201 of the uniform  justice  court
 act,  as  amended by chapter 685 of the laws of 1977, is amended to read
 as follows:
   a. The court shall have jurisdiction as set forth in this article  and
 as  elsewhere  provided  by  law,  subject,  in the case of a city court
 governed by this act, to the limitations stated in § 2300 (b) (2) (i) of
 this act. The phrase "[$3000]  $15,000",  whenever  it  appears  herein,
 shall  be  taken  to  mean  "[$3000]  $15,000  exclusive of interest and
 costs", except that, in the case of a city court governed  by  this  act
 whose  monetary  jurisdiction is, pursuant to § 2300 (b) (2) (i) of this
 act, below [$3000] $15,000, it shall be taken to mean such lesser sum as
 is applicable in the particular court, exclusive of interest and costs.
   § 2. Section 202 of the uniform justice court act, as amended by chap-
 ter 685 of the laws of 1977, is amended to read as follows:
 § 202. Money actions and actions to recover chattels.
   Notwithstanding any other provision  of  law,  the  court  shall  have
 jurisdiction  of  actions  and  proceedings for the recovery of money or
 chattels where the amount sought to be recovered or  the  value  of  the
 property does not exceed [$3000] $15,000.
   § 3. Section 208 of the uniform justice court act, as amended by chap-
 ter 685 of the laws of 1977, is amended to read as follows:
 § 208. Counterclaims.
   The  Court  shall  have jurisdiction of any counterclaim whose subject
 matter would be within its jurisdiction if sued upon  separately.  If  a
 counterclaim  for money only in excess of [$3000] $15,000 is interposed,
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
              

                                                            LBD08150-01-1

 S. 4551                             2
 
 the court may entertain it to the extent of [$3000] $15,000 but it shall
 be deemed waived as to the excess above [$3000] $15,000.
   § 4. Section 211 of the uniform justice court act, as amended by chap-
 ter 685 of the laws of 1977, is amended to read as follows:
 § 211. Joinder of causes of action in complaint; effect on jurisdiction.
   Where several causes of action are asserted in the complaint, and each
 of them would be within the jurisdiction of the court if sued upon sepa-
 rately,  the  court  shall have jurisdiction of the action. In such case
 judgment may be rendered by the court in excess of  [$3000]  $15,000  if
 such excess result solely because of such joinder.
   §  5.  Section  1801  of  the uniform justice court act, as amended by
 chapter 76 of the laws of 1994, is amended to read as follows:
 § 1801. Small claims defined.
   The term "small claim" or "small claims" as used  in  this  act  shall
 mean  and  include  any  cause of action for money only not in excess of
 [three] FIFTEEN  thousand  dollars  exclusive  of  interest  and  costs,
 provided  that  the  defendant  either resides, or has an office for the
 transaction of business or a regular employment, within the municipality
 where the court is located. However, where a judge of the county  court,
 pursuant  to subdivision (g) of section three hundred twenty-five of the
 civil practice law and rules, transfers a small claim from the  town  or
 village  court  having  jurisdiction  over the matter to another town or
 village court within the same county, the court to which  it  is  trans-
 ferred shall have jurisdiction to determine the claim.
   §  6.  This  act shall take effect on the thirtieth day after it shall
 have become a law.