Q: If I'm being sued for,more than the maximum amount that a court of common pleas can give what happens?
I'm being sued in Pennsylvania for 16000 dollars and I read that the maximum amount you can sue for in the court of common pleas is 12000
A:
You may be thinking of the Magisterial or Municipal courts. The jurisdictional limit in the Magistrates and Municipal Courts (small claims divisions) in Pennsylvania is $12,000, including attorney's fees. (It does not include post-filing interest and court costs.) If the case is over $12,000, the plaintiff can waive some of the damages to keep it under the $12,000 limit. Otherwise, the judge may dismiss the case for lack of jurisdiction.
There is no upper jurisdictional limit in the Court of Common Pleas. However, cases under $50,000 filed in Common Pleas court will typically be referred to mandatory arbitration. Either party can appeal the arbitrator's award to the Common Pleas Court.
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