Under current California law a person filing a case in Small Claims court may demand a maximum of $7,500.00 in damages. Effective January 1, 2012, the jurisdictional limits for many cases filed in Small Claims Court will increase from $7,500 to $10,000.
The revisions to California Code of Civil Procedure Sections 116.221 and 116.224 contain an important exception for personal injury victims whose injuries were caused by a driver with automobile insurance. Plaintiffs injured by negligent drivers who have auto insurance will have to wait until January 1, 2015 before the Small Claims Court limits increase from $7,500 to $10,000.
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