The Washington State legislature recently made a few interesting changes in the monetary limits for court cases.  

Chapter 227, Laws of 2008, 60th Legislature

TRIAL COURTS–OPERATION
EFFECTIVE DATE: 07/01/08

Sec. 2. RCW 12.40.010 and 2001 c 154 s 1 are each amended to read as follows: 

In every district court there shall be created and organized by the court a department to be known as the “small claims department of the district court.” The small claims department shall have jurisdiction, but not exclusive, in cases for the recovery of money only if the amount claimed does not exceed ((four)) five thousand dollars.

This same law changed the limit for district court to $75,000 from $50,000 for civil cases.

This change hopes to affect the number of cases brought at each level of court.