Special Civil Part
The Special Civil Part is the civil court of limited jurisdiction. The Special Civil Part is a high
volume court that deals with three case types: landlord/tenant matters, small claims lawsuits up to
$3,000 and up to $5,000 for actions to recover security deposits and special civil lawsuits up to $15,000.
Typical small claims and Special Civil lawsuits include breach of a written or oral contract,
return of money used as a down payment, loss or damage of property caused by a motor vehicle
accident, back rent, bad checks, return of a tenant’s security deposit, payment for work performed, or
defective merchandise.
Landlord/tenant matters involve disputes between landlords and tenants. A landlord may file a
complaint against a tenant for failure to pay rent, continued disorderly conduct, willful destruction of
property, habitual lateness in the payment of rent, violation of the rules and regulations after a written
notice to comply as outlined in a lease or document, or a tenant’s conviction of a drug offense or other
offenses.
