Bill upping county lawsuit threshold signed into law

court
The threshold increases to $30,000 on Jan. 1, 2020.

On Friday, Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill that will increase the limit on damages in civil suits filed at the county level.

Since 1992 there has been a $15,000 limit on damages in civil suits, also called “small claims,” filed on the county level.

HB 337 raises the maximum damages handled in county court cases to $30,000 on Jan. 1, 2020, and to $50,000 by Jan. 1, 2022. The $15,000 limit would remain in place for cases filed before Dec. 31, 2019.

The increase was pitched due to the current high caseloads in the state’s circuit courts.

The Florida Supreme Court has also recommended a threshold increase, though only to $25,000.

HB 337, sponsored by Ormond Beach Republican Rep. Tom Leek, cleared both chambers with a unanimous vote on the final day of the 2019 Legislative Session.

Drew Wilson

Drew Wilson covers legislative campaigns and fundraising for Florida Politics. He is a former editor at The Independent Florida Alligator and business correspondent at The Hollywood Reporter. Wilson, a University of Florida alumnus, covered the state economy and Legislature for LobbyTools and The Florida Current prior to joining Florida Politics.



#FlaPol

Florida Politics is a statewide, new media platform covering campaigns, elections, government, policy, and lobbying in Florida. This platform and all of its content are owned by Extensive Enterprises Media.

Publisher: Peter Schorsch @PeterSchorschFL

Contributors & reporters: Phil Ammann, Drew Dixon, Roseanne Dunkelberger, A.G. Gancarski, Anne Geggis, Ryan Nicol, Jacob Ogles, Cole Pepper, Gray Rohrer, Jesse Scheckner, Christine Sexton, Drew Wilson, and Mike Wright.

Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @PeterSchorschFL
Phone: (727) 642-3162
Address: 204 37th Avenue North #182
St. Petersburg, Florida 33704




Sign up for Sunburn


Categories