Sec. 1. 14 MRSA §7483, as enacted by PL 1981, c. 667, §2, is amended to read:

§7483. Venue

A small claim shall must be brought in the a division of the District Court in the county where the transaction occurred, where the defendant resides, where the defendant has a place of business or, if the defendant is a corporation or partnership, where its registered agent resides.

SUMMARY

This bill requires a civil action under the small claims laws to be brought in a division of the District Court in the county where the transaction occurred. Current law permits a small claim to be brought in the division of the District Court where the transaction occurred or where the defendant resides or has a place of business or where its registered corporate or partnership agent resides. The bill then expands the permissible District Court venue for small claims to the entire county where the transaction occurred and eliminates other venue options.