Senate Bill 0428
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
Florida Senate - 2000 SB 428
By the Committee on Judiciary
308-488-00
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to trial court jurisdiction;
3 amending s. 34.01, F.S.; increasing the amount
4 in controversy over which the county court has
5 jurisdiction; conforming a reference; providing
6 an effective date.
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8 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
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10 Section 1. Subsections (1) and (2) of section 34.01,
11 Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
12 34.01 Jurisdiction of county court.--
13 (1) County courts shall have original jurisdiction:
14 (a) In all misdemeanor cases not cognizable by the
15 circuit courts;
16 (b) Of all violations of municipal and county
17 ordinances; and
18 (c) As to causes of action accruing:
19 1. Before July 1, 1980, of all actions at law in which
20 the matter in controversy does not exceed the sum of $2,500,
21 exclusive of interest, costs, and attorney's fees, except
22 those within the exclusive jurisdiction of the circuit courts.
23 2. On or after July 1, 1980, of all actions at law in
24 which the matter in controversy does not exceed the sum of
25 $5,000, exclusive of interest, costs, and attorney's fees,
26 except those within the exclusive jurisdiction of the circuit
27 courts.
28 3. On or after July 1, 1990, of actions at law in
29 which the matter in controversy does not exceed the sum of
30 $10,000, exclusive of interest, costs, and attorney's fees,
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CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
Florida Senate - 2000 SB 428
308-488-00
1 except those within the exclusive jurisdiction of the circuit
2 courts.
3 1.4. Before On or after July 1, 2000 1992, of actions
4 at law in which the matter in controversy does not exceed the
5 sum of $15,000, exclusive of interest, costs, and attorney's
6 fees, except those within the exclusive jurisdiction of the
7 circuit courts.
8 2. On or after July 1, 2000, of actions at law in
9 which the matter in controversy does not exceed the sum of
10 $25,000, exclusive of interest, costs, and attorney's fees,
11 except those within the exclusive jurisdiction of the circuit
12 courts.
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14 The party instituting any civil action, suit, or proceeding
15 pursuant to this schedule where the amount in controversy is
16 in excess of $5,000 shall pay to the clerk of the county court
17 the filing fees and service charges in the same amounts and in
18 the same manner as provided in s. 28.241.
19 (2) The county courts shall have jurisdiction
20 previously exercised by county judges' courts other than that
21 vested in the circuit court by s. 26.012, except that county
22 court judges may hear matters involving dissolution of
23 marriage under the simplified dissolution procedure pursuant
24 to the Rule 1.611(c), Florida Family Law Rules of Civil
25 Procedure or may issue a final order for dissolution in cases
26 where the matter is uncontested, and the jurisdiction
27 previously exercised by county courts, the claims court, small
28 claims courts, small claims magistrates courts, magistrates
29 courts, justice of the peace courts, municipal courts, and
30 courts of chartered counties, including but not limited to the
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CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
Florida Senate - 2000 SB 428
308-488-00
1 counties referred to in ss. 9, 10, 11, and 24, Art. VIII of
2 the State Constitution of 1885.
3 Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2000.
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6 SENATE SUMMARY
7 Provides that on or after July 1, 2000, the county courts
have jurisdiction of actions at law in which the matter
8 in controversy does not exceed $25,000, exclusive of
interest, costs, and attorney's fees, except causes of
9 action within the exclusive jurisdiction of the circuit
courts.
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