[See Standing Order of the Supreme Court, dated July 17, 2019, effective January 1, 2020, and applicable to civil actions for money damages commenced on or after that date (MA R S CT SDG ORDERS Amount-in-Controversy) which increased the amount-in-controversy from $25,000 to $50,000.]
Section 3. The court shall have exclusive original jurisdiction of civil actions for the foreclosure of mortgages, and of real and mixed actions, except those of which the land court or district courts have jurisdiction, of complaints for flowing lands, and of claims against the commonwealth. Except as otherwise provided by law, the court shall have original jurisdiction of civil actions for money damages. The actions may proceed in the court only if there is no reasonable likelihood that recovery by the plaintiff will be less than or equal to $25,000, or an amount ordered from time to time by the supreme judicial court. Where multiple damages are allowed by law, the amount of single damages claimed shall control.
Structure Massachusetts General Laws
Part III - Courts, Judicial Officers and Proceedings in Civil Cases
Title I - Courts and Judicial Officers
Chapter 212 - The Superior Court
Section 1 - Number of Superior Court Justices; Chief Justice; Definitions
Section 1a - Deputy Court Administrator
Section 2 - Court; Manner of Holding
Section 3 - Exclusive Original Jurisdiction
Section 3a - Statement to Accompany Complaint for Civil Action for Damages
Section 4 - Original Jurisdiction
Section 5 - Appellate Civil Jurisdiction
Section 6 - Criminal Jurisdiction
Section 7 - Indictments; Transmittal
Section 8 - Security in Civil or Criminal Cases to Stand on Appeal
Section 9 - Orders or Decrees of Supreme Judicial Court; Recording
Section 12 - Affirmation of Judgment on Non-Entry of Appeal
Section 13 - Late Entry of Appeal
Section 14 - Sittings of Court; Places
Section 14a - Sittings; First Justices; Powers and Duties; Terms; Removal
Section 20 - Civil and Criminal Business; Separation; Jurors
Section 20a - Central Pools of Jurors
Section 21 - Special Jury Sittings for Criminal Business
Section 22 - Return Day in Criminal Cases
Section 23 - Grand Jury; Assembling
Section 24 - Precedence of Certain Prosecutions
Section 25 - Continuance of Sitting
Section 26a - Land Title Actions; Jury-Waived Civil Actions; Transfer to Land Court
Section 29 - Speedy Trial of Persons Held in Default of Bail
Section 30 - Labor Dispute Cases; Panel of Justices; Hearing; Review