Small Claims Standards: 7:01 Promptness of decision

The Administrative Office of the Trial Court issues these Standards to assist judges, clerk-magistrates and other personnel of the District Court, Boston Municipal Court, and Housing Court Departments in implementing recently amended Trial Court Rule III, Uniform Small Claims Rules (effective January 1, 2002).

If the court does not announce a decision at the end of the trial, it should tell the parties when they may expect a decision. Unless special circumstances necessitate further delay, the decision should be made within five court days of trial.

Commentary

The court's obligation after trial is to render a decision. Although an immediately-rendered judgment is generally preferable, invariably there will be times when the court will take the case under advisement. In these instances, the court should make every effort to reach its decision within five court days of the trial. If special circumstances preclude this—e.g. the court is awaiting receipt of further evidence or time consuming research is required—the court should give the parties some indication of when they may expect a decision.