S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
       ________________________________________________________________________

                                         9826

                                 I N  A S S E M B L Y

                                    April 13, 2012
                                      ___________

       Introduced  by M. of A. GUNTHER -- read once and referred to the Commit-
         tee on Judiciary

       AN ACT to amend the uniform justice court  act,  in  relation  to  civil
         jurisdictional limits

         THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
       BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

    1    Section 1. Subdivision a of section 201 of the uniform  justice  court
    2  act,  as  amended by chapter 685 of the laws of 1977, is amended to read
    3  as follows:
    4    a. The court shall have jurisdiction as set forth in this article  and
    5  as  elsewhere  provided  by  law[,  subject, in the case of a city court
    6  governed by this act, to the limitations stated in S 2300 (b) (2) (i) of
    7  this act]. The phrase "[$3000] $15,000",  whenever  it  appears  herein,
    8  shall  be  taken  to  mean  "[$3000]  $15,000  exclusive of interest and
    9  costs"[, except that, in the case of a city court governed by  this  act
   10  whose  monetary  jurisdiction is, pursuant to S 2300 (b) (2) (i) of this
   11  act, below $3000, it shall be taken to mean such lesser sum as is appli-
   12  cable in the particular court, exclusive of interest and costs].
   13    S 2. Section 202 of the uniform justice court act, as amended by chap-
   14  ter 685 of the laws of 1977, is amended to read as follows:
   15  S 202. Money actions and actions to recover chattels.
   16    Notwithstanding any other provision  of  law,  the  court  shall  have
   17  jurisdiction  of  actions  and  proceedings for the recovery of money or
   18  chattels where the amount sought to be recovered or  the  value  of  the
   19  property does not exceed [$3000] $15,000.
   20    S  3.  Section  1801  of  the uniform justice court act, as amended by
   21  chapter 76 of the laws of 1994, is amended to read as follows:
   22  S 1801. Small claims defined.
   23    The term "small claim" or "small claims" as used  in  this  act  shall
   24  mean  and  include  any  cause of action for money only not in excess of
   25  [three] FIFTEEN  thousand  dollars  exclusive  of  interest  and  costs,
   26  provided  that  the  defendant  either resides, or has an office for the
   27  transaction of business or a regular employment, within the municipality
   28  where the court is located. However, where a judge of the county  court,

        EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                             [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                                  LBD15238-01-2

       A. 9826                             2

    1  pursuant  to subdivision (g) of section three hundred twenty-five of the
    2  civil practice law and rules, transfers a small claim from the  town  or
    3  village  court  having  jurisdiction  over the matter to another town or
    4  village  court  within  the same county, the court to which it is trans-
    5  ferred shall have jurisdiction to determine the claim.
    6    S 4. This act shall take effect on the first of January next  succeed-
    7  ing  the  date  on  which  it shall have become a law and shall apply to
    8  actions or proceedings filed on or after such date.