The City of Pineville, Louisiana

The Pineville City Court was established by the State of Louisiana. It has the authority to decide certain juvenile and criminal matters, as well as, civil disputes up to $50,000.00 ($5,000.00 for Small Claims Suit.) You do not have to hire a lawyer to represent you in City Court. However, suits require written pleadings which can be too complicated for an individual to prepare on his/her own behalf. The technical rules of evidence are relaxed and all relevant evidence is admissible provided the Judge is satisfied as to its reliability, and the Judge has sufficient competent evidence on which to base his judgment.

Though the procedure in Pineville City Court is relatively informal, YOU MUST STILL PROVE BY COMPETENT EVIDENCE THAT THE DEFENDANT OWES YOU THE MONEY YOU SEEK. Again, you do not require a lawyer, but it is advisable to get legal advice BEFORE you file a lawsuit.

The Pineville City Court exists as a service to you, however, it is not free. You will be required to pay a deposit before filing your suit. The Clerk can provide you with a schedule of fees and tell you how much the deposit will be. The deposit is an advance toward the actual costs incurred during the suit. The Clerk cannot predict exactly how much final costs will be. If the costs exceed the deposit, you will be required to post additional deposits as the case progresses. If a judgment is rendered in your favor, the Court may order the defendant to reimburse you for the costs. The Court cannot guarantee that you will get your money back. If you file the suit, you are responsible to the Court for payment of all costs.