Can I have a jury trial in a small claims court case?
No, a jury trial is not available in small claims court cases in Florida. Small claims court is a court of limited jurisdiction, meaning it can only decide certain cases. In Florida, small claims court can hear cases involving $5,000 or less in damages. The parties involved in the case must represent themselves, and as such, only the judge, not a jury, will make a decision on the case. When filing a legal case in Florida, one of the initial steps is to determine whether the claim fits the requirements for a small claims court case. Small claims court cases are generally much simpler than regular court cases, and so they can be resolved more quickly. The parties do not need to be represented by a lawyer, so costs are generally lower. Because of the informal nature of the proceedings, jury trials are not available in small claims court. The parties involved may present evidence and witnesses to help the judge resolve the case. In Florida, the rules of evidence are not as strict as those in regular court cases. Therefore, witnesses may provide evidence without being sworn in, and documents may be introduced as evidence without authentication. At the conclusion of the hearing, the judge will make a decision based on the evidence presented. The losing party may appeal the decision of the judge within 30 days of receiving the ruling.
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