Can I have a jury trial in a small claims court case?

In Rhode Island, jury trials are not available in small claims court. Small claims court is intended to offer a less formal, less expensive alternative to traditional civil court cases, while simplifying the procedures to represent oneself in court. Small claims court cases are usually settled as a judge-alone trial without a jury. The Rhode Island Small Claims court has rules that limit the amount of money that one can sue for, and the types of matters that one can bring to court. Most of the cases that come to small claims court involve monetary disputes, such as collections, consumer claims, contract disputes, and damages. Generally, cases involving fraud, slander, or libel do not belong in small claims court. Small claims court procedures and rules of evidence often differ from those found in traditional civil court cases. Rhode Island small claims court does not allow the introduction of witness testimony, documentary evidence, or expert testimony. The judge will listen to and review the evidence presented by both sides in the case, and then make a decision based on the evidence presented. Since jury trials are not available in Rhode Island small claims court, both parties will present their cases to the judge, who will then make a decision. This process typically takes less time and is less expensive than a traditional jury trial.

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Can I have a jury trial in a small claims court case?

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