Printable Format61-2703. Definitions; small claim, amount. As used in this act:
(a) "Small claim" means a claim for the recovery of money or personal property, where the amount claimed or the value of the property sought does not exceed $10,000, exclusive of interest, costs and any damages awarded pursuant to K.S.A. 60-2610, and amendments thereto. In actions of replevin, the verified petition fixing the value of the property shall be determinative of the value of the property for jurisdictional purposes. A small claim shall not include:
(1) An assigned claim;
(2) a claim based on an obligation or indebtedness allegedly owed to a person other than the person filing the claim, where the person filing the claim is not a full-time employee or officer of the person to whom the obligation or indebtedness is allegedly owed; or
(3) a claim obtained through subrogation.
(b) "Person" means an individual, partnership, limited liability company, corporation, fiduciary, joint venture, society, organization or other association of persons.
History: L. 1973, ch. 239, § 3; L. 1979, ch. 187, § 1; L. 1986, ch. 223, § 2; L. 1986, ch. 222, § 1; L. 1986, ch. 224, § 1; L. 1994, ch. 273, § 19; L. 1999, ch. 145, § 1; L. 2004, ch. 176, § 5; L. 2024, ch. 22, § 1; July 1.
Law Review and Bar Journal References:
"The New Kansas Consumer Legislation," Barkley Clark, 42 J.B.A.K. 147, 148 (1973).
"Recent Developments in Kansas Residential Landlord-Tenant and Eviction Law," Suzanne Carey McAllister, 55 K.L.R. 933 (2007).
Attorney General's Opinions:
Small claims procedure. 86-107.
Corporation's use of small claims procedures without attorney representation. 95-100.
CASE ANNOTATIONS
1. Actions under residential landlord and tenant act (K.S.A. 58-2540 et seq.) may be filed under this act when claims within statutory limitation. Barton v. Miller, 225 Kan. 624, 625, 626, 627, 592 P.2d 921.
2. Cited; malpractice counterclaim is within small claims court's general jurisdiction. Banister v. Carnes, 9 Kan. App. 2d 133, 136, 675 P.2d 906 (1984).
3. District court hearing small claims appeal de novo cannot grant judgment beyond scope of small claims jurisdiction. Armstrong v. Lowell H. Listrom & Co., 11 Kan. App. 2d 448, 725 P.2d 540 (1986).
4. Three separate procedures to resolve civil claims examined and compared. Patterson v. Brouhard, 246 Kan. 700, 703, 792 P.2d 983 (1990).
5. Counterclaimant may reserve right to bring action in district court for amount in excess of small claims jurisdiction. Shollenberger v. Sease, 18 Kan. App. 2d 614, 615, 856 P.2d 951 (1993).
6. District court reversed after denying appellee the award of attorney fees. Hodges v. Johnson, 288 Kan. 56, 199 P.3d 1251 (2009).