Except for occasional backlogs our Small Claims Courts have to a large extent fulfilled this promise. There is an expanding body of Small Claims Court law now available to consumers, attorneys, arbitrators and Judges including manuals, law journals, articles and web sites.
Many small claims arise from defective or misrepresented goods and services.
Small Claims Courts not only provide a cost effective forum but allow consumers to enforce their rights under a variety of consumer protection statutes. Attorneys fees and costs may be recovered as well. In addition to GBL 349 there are a variety of consumer protection statutes available to resolve small claims arising from common consumer transactions. Warranty Of Habitability Tenants in Spatz v. Axelrod Management Co . and coop owners in Seecharin v. Radford Court Apartment Corp. brought actions for damages done to their apartments by the negligence of landlords, managing agents or others, e.g., water damage from external or internal sources.