Most residents of the Commonwealth of Virginia will have some experience with the General District Court system at some time while they reside here. The GDC happens to be where almost all traffic and parking matters are adjudicated in a final manner.
For those practicing outside traffic and criminal law the GDC is where small civil cases are adjudicated. For non landlord tenant matters the jurisdiction of the GDC is limit to claims of less than $15,000.00 pursuant to Va. Code § 16.1-77(1). If your case exceeds the jurisdictional limit it must be filed in the Circuit Court where the procedures require payment of additional attorneys’ fees by an exponential factor, and almost a year of extra time to get to trial.
A GDC civil case can usually be concluded in 2-4 months, and even a heavily contested matter can usually be completed for $7,500 or less in attorneys’ fees. There are certain limitations on the GDC case such as the automatic right of appeal, but even that imposes limitations on the losing party.
In short the GDC is faster and cheaper for civil litigants, and therefore a more efficient way to adjudicate claims. The jurisdictional limit makes it difficult to adjudicate claims in the $15,000.00-$30,000.00 range in an efficient manner.
Although I might personally advocate for a slightly higher jurisdictional limit two bills going before the General Assembly this session would raise the jurisdictional limit to $25,000.00. The raise in the jurisdictional limit to $25,000.00 is being suggested by Sen. Don McEachin (D- Richmond) in bill SB774, and Del. Sal Iaquinto (R-Virginia Beach), in bill HB1590.
