Senate Bill S2191

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   2191
 
                        2025-2026 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                             January 15, 2025
                                ___________
 
 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.
                                                            LBD05998-01-5
              

 S. 2191                             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 485 of the laws of 2021, 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,  or where claimant is or was a tenant or
 lessee of real property owned by the defendant and the claim relates  to
 such  tenancy  or  lease,  and such real property is situated within the
 municipality where the court is located. However, where a judge  of  the
 county court, pursuant to subdivision (g) of section three hundred twen-
 ty-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 transferred shall have jurisdiction to determine the claim.
   §  6.  This  act shall take effect on the thirtieth day after it shall
 have become a law.