Amends GS 7A-210 to increase the amount in controversy threshold for a small claim action to $10,000 (was $5,000). Amends GS 7A-243 to provide that the district court division is the proper division for civil actions in which the amount in controversy is $20,000 or less and the superior court division is the proper division for actions in which the amount in controversy exceeds $20,000 (was, $10,000).
Amends GS 7A-37.1 to make nonbinding arbitration mandatory in all civil actions where claims do not exceed $20,000, unless all parties to the action waive arbitration. Adds new subsection GS 7A-37.1(c2) to require a court to consider the fact that an arbitrator’s decision in a small claim matter was affirmed by the court on appeal for trial de novo as a significant factor in favor of assessing all court costs and attorneys’ fees against the appellant.
Effective July 1, 2011, and applies to actions filed on or after that date.