Increase in monetary jurisdictions of the civil courts

An increase in the monetary jurisdiction of the civil courts took effect on the 3rd of February 2014. The changes are provided for in Section 2(1) and Part 3 of the Courts and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2013:-

• the jurisdiction of the District Court in civil proceedings will be limited to €15,000
• the jurisdiction of the Circuit Court in civil proceedings (other than personal injury claims) will be limited to €75,000
• the jurisdiction of the Circuit Court for personal injury actions as defined in Section 2 of the Civil Liability and Courts Act 2004 will be limited to €60,000.

There has also been an increase in solatium, the amount of damages which can be awarded for mental stress to the dependents of a deceased person in wrongful death cases, from €25,394.76 to €35,000.