PRIOR PRINTER'S NO. 1887 PRINTER'S NO. 2031
No. 1541 Session of 2001
INTRODUCED BY GANNON, M. BAKER, BELFANTI, CALTAGIRONE, CAPPELLI,
CASORIO, L. I. COHEN, CORRIGAN, CREIGHTON, DALEY, DALLY,
DeLUCA, FAIRCHILD, FLICK, GABIG, GEIST, GEORGE, HALUSKA,
HERMAN, HORSEY, JAMES, KIRKLAND, McCALL, MELIO, PRESTON,
READSHAW, RUBLEY, SAINATO, SCRIMENTI, SOLOBAY, STABACK,
STEELMAN, STERN, WATSON, C. WILLIAMS, WILT, WOGAN AND
YOUNGBLOOD, MAY 8, 2001
AS REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY, HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES, AS AMENDED, MAY 22, 2001
AN ACT
1 Amending Title 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure) of the
2 Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, further providing for
3 jurisdiction and venue.
4 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
5 hereby enacts as follows:
6 Section 1. Section 1515(a)(3) of Title 42 of the
7 Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes is amended to read:
8 § 1515. Jurisdiction and venue.
9 (a) Jurisdiction.--Except as otherwise prescribed by general
10 rule adopted pursuant to section 503 (relating to reassignment
11 of matters), district justices shall, under procedures
12 prescribed by general rule, have jurisdiction of all of the
13 following matters:
14 * * *
15 (3) Civil claims, except claims against a Commonwealth
1 party as defined by section 8501 (relating to definitions),
2 wherein the sum demanded does not exceed [$8,000] $15,000 <--
3 $12,000, exclusive of interest and costs, in the following
4 classes of actions:
5 (i) In assumpsit, except cases of real contract
6 where the title to real estate may be in question.
7 (ii) In trespass, including all forms of trespass
8 and trespass on the case.
9 (iii) For fines and penalties by any government
10 agency.
11 A plaintiff may waive a portion of his claim of more than
12 [$8,000] $15,000 $12,000 so as to bring the matter within the <--
13 monetary jurisdiction of a district justice. Such waiver
14 shall be revoked automatically if the defendant appeals the
15 final order of the district justice or when the judgment is
16 set aside upon certiorari.
17 * * *
18 Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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