Rep. Anielski Votes To Raise Monetary Limit In Small Claims Court

February 26, 2016

 

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State Representative Marlene Anielski (R-Walton Hills) voted in favor of legislation that doubles the monetary cap in small claims courts during  session.
 
House Bill 387, sponsored by Cincinnati-area lawmakers Reps. Lou Terhar and Jonathan Dever, increases from $3,000 to $6,000 the amount of money that is available for recovery in small claims divisions of county and municipal courts, marking the first time in nearly 20 years that the cap has been raised. The adjustment also puts Ohio on par with both the national average and surrounding states.
 
“House Bill 387 is a common sense piece of legislation that will bring Ohio up to speed with the rest of the nation,” Rep. Anielski said.  “As the Chairwoman of the House Local Government Committee, I was happy to move the bill promptly through committee in an effort to support our hard-working small business owners.”
 
The previous $3,000 cap made it difficult for small businesses to recover losses in small claims courts, especially after additional court costs were factored in. Similarly, going through higher-level courts is not an option for many businesses due to high attorney fees. HB 387 both preserves the role of small claims courts being a quicker, less expensive alternative, while still allowing businesses to recoup losses when seeking monetary recoveries in civil disputes.
 
HB 387 now heads to the Ohio Senate for further consideration.