Rule 143.05 Counterclaim Exceeding Jurisdiction - When Heard

If someone sues you in small claims court and you want to file a counterclaim asking for more money than small claims court normally allows, you still might be able to get it heard there. The judge can decide to hear both your original claim and the bigger counterclaim together, but only if everyone involved agrees to it.

Before you agree to this, the judge has to tell you that you have the right to talk to a lawyer first. This gives you a chance to think it through and get advice before deciding whether to let the small claims court handle a claim that's bigger than what it normally deals with.

If all sides agree, the case moves forward with both claims being decided in small claims court. If anyone doesn't agree, the counterclaim would need to go through a different court process instead.