ORS 46.461: Counterclaims; fee; transfer of case to circuit court.

(1) The defendant in an action in the small claims department may assert as a counterclaim any claim that, on the date of issuance of notice pursuant to ORS 46.445, the defendant may have against the plaintiff and that arises out of the same transaction or occurrence that is the subject matter of the claim filed by the plaintiff. (2) If the amount or value of the counterclaim exceeds $10,000, the court shall strike the counterclaim and proceed to hear and dispose of the case as though the counterclaim had not been asserted unless the defendant files with the counterclaim a motion requesting that the case be transferred from the small claims department to the circuit court. After the transfer the plaintiff’s claim will not be limited to the amount stated in the claim filed with the small claims department, though it must involve the same controversy. (3)(a) If the amount or value of the counterclaim exceeds that specified in subsection (2) of this section, and the defendant files a motion requesting transfer as provided in subsection (2) of this section, the case shall be transferred to the circuit court. The clerk of the court shall notify the plaintiff and defendant, by mail, of the transfer. The notice to the plaintiff shall contain a copy of the counterclaim and shall instruct the plaintiff to file with the court and serve by mail on the defendant, within 20 days following the mailing of the notice, a reply to the counterclaim and, if the plaintiff proposes to increase the amount of the claim originally filed with the small claims department, an amended claim for the increased amount. Proof of service on the defendant of the plaintiff’s reply and amended claim may be made by certificate of the plaintiff or plaintiff’s attorney attached to the reply and amended claim filed with the court. The defendant is not required to answer an amended claim of the plaintiff. (b) Upon filing the motion requesting transfer, the defendant shall pay to the clerk of the court an amount equal to the difference between the fee paid by the defendant as required by ORS 46.570 and the fee required of a defendant under ORS 21.160. Upon filing a reply to the counterclaim, the plaintiff shall pay to the clerk of the court an amount equal to the difference between the fee paid by the plaintiff as required by ORS 46.570 and the fee required of a plaintiff under ORS 21.160. [1977 c.875 §10; 1979 c.567 §3; 1983 c.242 §2; 1983 c.673 §5; 1985 c.367 §2; 1985 c.496 §31; 1987 c.714 §9; 1987 c.725 §2; 1991 c.790 §7; 1995 c.658 §49; 1997 c.378 §7; amendments by 1997 c.378 §8 repealed by 1999 c.84 §9; 1997 c.801 §82; 1999 c.84 §3; 2007 c.125 §3; 2011 c.595 §50]