August 19, 2011 - Virginia Code § 16.1-77 was amended to increase the civil jurisdiction of the General District Courts of the Commonwealth of Virginia. The General District Court has exclusive jurisdiction of civil claims when the amount of such claim does not exceed $4,500 exclusive of interest and attorney’s fees contracted for in the instrument, which is the subject of the claim. With the July, 2011 Amendment, the General District Court has concurrent jurisdiction with the Circuit Court when the amount of the claim exceeds $4,500 but does not exceed $25,000 exclusive of interest and any attorney’s fees contracted for in the instrument, which is the subject of the claim.

Plaintiffs can now file suit in the General District Court in the Commonwealth of Virginia for an amount up to $25,000.

Cases brought in General District Court can generally be resolved faster without the cost of discovery.  It is an option a Plaintiff should consider when evaluating litigation in the Commonwealth of Virginia.