Legal Question in Civil Litigation in Massachusetts

Re: Small Claims

They should file your complaint irrespective of the ad damnum, or the amount you demand in your complaint, but with a few exceptions recovery is limited by statute to $2,000.00 (TWO THOUSAND DOLLARS). To be safe, I would demand the statutory limit of $2000.00. If you prevail, the Court will also award you the cost of the filing fee.

The two exceptions are:

There is no "cap" of $2,000.00 for property damages caused by a motor vehicle and

Punitive damages for a ch.93A violation may exceed $2,000.00 when doubled or trebled as long as the single damages awarded do need exceed $2,000.