Middlesex County Civil Division Overview
Typical civil cases involve contracts, personal injury, automobile accidents, landlord/ tenant disputes, employment and discrimination cases. The Civil Division has several subdivisions:
Civil Part (Law Division): ("L" docket numbers)
Tort and contract cases, name changes, Mass Torts and docketed judgments. This court has no recovery limit on damages that may be recovered. Most cases are heard before a jury.
General Equity Part: (“C” and “F” dockets numbers)
The General Equity Division is part of the Chancery Division of the Superior Court. It has general jurisdiction in cases involve primarily non-monetary issues and actions. These cases are non-jury and involve such issues as foreclosures and requests for injunctive relief or specific performance. General Equity Judges also conduct the hearings involving the County Surrogate’s Office, which is a separate government agency.
Special Civil Part: ("DC-" docket numbers)
Tort and contract cases with a value that does not exceed $15,000. A complaint must be filed in the county where at least one defendant resides or a defendant business is located.
Small Claims: ("SC-" docket numbers)
Tort and contract cases with a value or $3,000 or less. A complaint must be filed in the county where at least one defendant resides or a defendant business is located. These are non-jury trials.
Landlord/ Tenant: ("LT-" docket numbers)
Disputes involving possession of a premise by the landlord or the tenant. (Cases for past due rent money are filed either in Civil Part, Special Civil Part or Small Claims, depending on the amount of the money being sought).
Civil Division Assignment Office
The Assignment Office schedules trials, settlement conferences, case management status conferences, Ferriera hearings, wage execution hearings, friendly proof hearings (minors) and default judgment hearings.
Civil Part Arbitration Office
In addition to adjudication, many cases participate in one or more of the Complementary Dispute Resolution (CDR) programs to help litigants resolve their disputes outside of the courtroom. These programs are established under the authority of the Supreme Court and are subject to the New Jersey Court Rules.