Civil Lawsuit
Suing someone for $12,000 or less
Civil claims (except against the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania) in which the amount demanded does not exceed $12,000.00 may be filed at District Court 39-3-02 involving the following causes of action:
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breach of contract (except in cases where title to real estate may be in question);
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torts also known as damages to one's person, property or relationships with others; and
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for fines and penalties by any government agency. See 42 Pa.C.S. 1515 (a)(3).
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Actions filed by a landlord solely to recover monetary damages against a tenant are civil actions.
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At the District Court level, one can only file a civil suit seeking monetary damages because this is not a court of equity. This means the District Court does not have the authority to order personal property (ex: a laptop, a cell phone, a painting, etc.) be returned to an aggrieved party. Additionally, the District Court does not have authority to require a specific act be completed such as: hauling away debris, finishing a construction job, etc.
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Appeals from civil judgments are filed in the Prothonotary's Office located at the Court of Common Pleas, 14 N Main ST, Chambersburg, PA 17201.
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Below are some helpful links.
Servicemembers Civil Relief Affidavit
