(1) In a civil action in a circuit court where all parties have appeared, where the only relief claimed is recovery of money or damages, where a party asserts a claim for money or general and special damages in an amount exceeding $50,000, exclusive of attorney fees, costs and disbursements and interest on judgment, and where all parties asserting those claims waive the amounts of those claims that exceed $50,000, the court shall refer the action to arbitration under ORS § 36.400 to 36.425. A waiver of an amount of a claim under this section shall be for the purpose of arbitration under ORS § 36.400 to 36.425 only and shall not restrict assertion of a larger claim in a trial de novo under ORS § 36.425.

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Terms Used In Oregon Statutes 36.415

  • Damages: Money paid by defendants to successful plaintiffs in civil cases to compensate the plaintiffs for their injuries.
  • Defendant: In a civil suit, the person complained against; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.
  • Juror: A person who is on the jury.
  • Trial: A hearing that takes place when the defendant pleads "not guilty" and witnesses are required to come to court to give evidence.
  • Verdict: The decision of a petit jury or a judge.

(2) In a civil action in a circuit court where all parties have appeared, where the only relief claimed is recovery of money or damages and where a party asserts a claim for money or general and special damages in an amount exceeding $50,000, exclusive of attorney fees, costs and disbursements and interest on judgment, any party against whom the claim is made may file a motion with the court requesting that the matter be referred to arbitration. After hearing upon the motion, the court shall refer the matter to arbitration under ORS § 36.400 to 36.425 if the defendant establishes by affidavits and other documentation that no objectively reasonable juror could return a verdict in favor of the claimant in excess of $50,000, exclusive of attorney fees, costs and disbursements and interest on judgment. [Formerly 33.380; 1995 c.618 § 13; 1995 c.658 § 33; 2005 c.274 § 4]