Mark D. Anderson
Attorney at Law
Call us at: (952) 736-2552
Conciliation Court is designed as a quick and easy way for citizens to have their "small claims" heard in an expedited process.
The maximum amount of claim that may be awarded is $7,500.00.
Only money damages and replevin actions may be heard in conciliation court. By law, Conciliation Court does not have jurisdiction for "equitable claims" such as specific performance, injunctions, and declaratory relief. Personal injury cases, criminal law cases, and family law cases are not allowed in Conciliation Court.
There are many procedural rules that must be followed in order to obtain a hearing in Conciliation Court. After obtaining a judgment in Conciliation Court, the case must be "transcribed" to District Court. The process to transcribe a judgment into District Court, involves completing and filing an Affidavit of Identity and filing it with the Court along with a filing fee of $30.00. A judgment in Conciliation Court is not enforceable until it is transcribed in District Court.
There are number of difficulties in dealing with Conciliation Court including the fact that each County in Minnesota has their own manner of administering Conciliation Court. Another obstacle in dealing with Conciliation Court is that except for the right to obtain subpoenas, parties generally do not have the right to obtain information from the opposing Party in advance of the hearing.
Attorneys can participate in the trial "to the extent and in the manner that the judge, in the judge's discretion, deems helpful."
For more information about the conciliation court process click here.
Please feel free to contact me if you have a question about filing or defending a conciliation court claim.
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Conciliation Court
