{"id":4814,"date":"2004-05-04T14:30:12","date_gmt":"2004-05-04T18:30:12","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.law.harvard.edu\/formerlyknownas\/2004\/05\/04\/small-claims-courts-still-sla"},"modified":"2011-08-05T14:58:49","modified_gmt":"2011-08-05T18:58:49","slug":"small-claims-courts-still-slackers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/archive.blogs.harvard.edu\/ethicalesq\/2004\/05\/04\/small-claims-courts-still-slackers\/","title":{"rendered":"Small Claims Courts: Still Slackers"},"content":{"rendered":"

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\"scales  It’s too bad we can’t ground state legislators until they significantly improve our small claims courts.   Yesterday, the legal reform group <\/FONT>HALT<\/FONT><\/STRONG><\/A> issued its <\/FONT>2004 Small Claims Court Report Cards<\/FONT><\/A> for each state.  As with its <\/FONT>2002<\/FONT><\/A> report cards, the results are disappointing.   <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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This time, Georgia and California were at the top of the class, while Kentucky and Missouri received the worst grades.  <\/FONT>In describing the 2004 results, <\/FONT>HALT notes<\/FONT><\/A>:<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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The 2004 Small Claims Report Card graded states in six categories<\/STRONG>: dollar limit, self-help, convenience, mediation, expedited collection and injunctive relief. Grades varied from the “B” range for top-ranked Georgia and three other states, to failing marks for Delaware, Kentucky, Mississippi and Missouri.  No state received an “A” grade<\/STRONG>.<\/EM> <\/FONT>
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The 2004 report card emphasizes the urgent need to raise jurisdictional dollar limits<\/STRONG> on small claims courts-as low as $1,500 in some states, which makes these courts a venue where only conflicts of nominal value are resolved. The report card also reveals the necessity of implementing reforms to make these courts a more consumer-friendly, accessible alternative to traditional litigation<\/STRONG>. <\/FONT><\/P><\/DIV><\/BLOCKQUOTE>
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The National Summary of Grades<\/A> shows the overall grade of every state, plus the grade in each category.  A press release covering each state is available at the HALT site, along with the state’s Report Card.  The Report’s summary notes:<\/FONT><\/FONT><\/FONT>
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 “Small claims courts – which use simplified procedures, require plain English, provide consumer aids and often prohibit lawyers – have tremendous promise as a means of empowering ordinary people to take charge of their own routine legal needs. By reforming these courts to fulfill this promise, state lawmakers can show a commitment to opening up the legal system to all Americans.”<\/FONT><\/FONT><\/FONT> <\/P><\/BLOCKQUOTE>
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Here is a summary of the grades received:<\/FONT><\/FONT><\/FONT>
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“a Key”  none<\/EM><\/FONT><\/FONT><\/FONT>                  “b Key”  five states <\/FONT>
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“c Key”  23 states            “D key” 19 states       “f Key”  four states <\/FONT>
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