News Room: SB 221: Small Claims Court Increase

This year, access to this swift and relatively inexpensive forum for justice was expanded thanks to Senate Bill 221, authored by state Sen. Joe Simitian, D-Palo Alto. Signed into law last year, SB221 raised the small claims court jurisdictional limit -- the maximum amount of damages that can be awarded to a plaintiff -- from $7,500 to $10,000. This builds on a previous measure by Simitian, signed into law in 2005, that raised the limit from $5,000 to $7,500 read more ...

On issues ranging from clean energy to elder abuse and from drug abuse to consumer protection, these bills authored by State Senator Joe Simitian (D-Palo Alto) will become law on or by January 1. read more ...

Governor Jerry Brown today signed legislation, Senate Bill 221, by State Senator Joe Simitian (D-Palo Alto), to expand access to Small Claims Court, often called the “people’s court.” Senate Bill 221 increases the Small Claims Court jurisdictional limit from $7,500 to $10,000. It follows up on Simitian’s successful 2005 effort (SB 422) which raised the previous limit from $5,000 to $7,500. The bill passed both houses of the Legislature with bipartisan unanimous support. read more ...

The California State Legislature has passed State Senator Joe Simitian’s (D-Palo Alto) bill to expand access to Small Claims Court, often called the “people’s court.” Senate Bill 221 increases the Small Claims Court jurisdictional limit from $7,500 to $10,000. It follows up on Simitian’s successful 2005 effort (SB 422) which raised the previous limit from $5,000 to $7,500. The bill passed both houses of the Legislature with bipartisan unanimous support. read more ...

State Senator Joe Simitian’s (D-Palo Alto) bill to expand access to Small Claims Court, often called the “people’s court,” passed the State Senate today on a vote of 37 to 0. Senate Bill 221 increases the Small Claims Court jurisdictional limit from $7,500 to $10,000. read more ...