N.Y. Uniform Justice Court Act § 1802: Parts for the determination of small claims established

§ 1802. Parts for the determination of small claims established.

The chief administrator shall assign the times and places for holding,

and the judges who shall hold, one or more parts of the court for the

hearing of small claims as herein defined, and the rules may regulate

the practice and procedure controlling the determination of such claims

and prescribe and furnish the forms for instituting the same. There

shall be at least one evening session of each part every month for the

hearing of small claims, provided however, that the chief administrator

may provide for exemption from this requirement where there exists no

demonstrated need for evening sessions. Such practice, procedure and

forms shall differ from the practice, procedure and forms used in the

court for other than small claims, notwithstanding any provision of law

to the contrary. They shall constitute a simple, informal and

inexpensive procedure for the prompt determination of such claims in

accordance with the rules and principles of substantive law. The

procedure established pursuant to this article shall not be exclusive of

but shall be alternative to this procedure now or hereafter established

with respect to actions commenced in the court by the service of a

summons. No rule to be enacted pursuant to this article shall dispense

with or interfere with the taking of stenographic minutes of any hearing

of any small claim hereunder.