Costs in Small Claims

The actual legal disbursements of the prevailing party for entry fee, witness’ fees, fees for copies, officers’ fees, and costs for service shall be allowed as costs, including any statutory costs. The recording fee paid for filing a judgment lien shall also be added to the judgment amount. The costs paid as an application fee for any execution on a money judgment shall be taxed by the clerk upon the issuance of an execution. No other costs shall be allowed either party except by special order of the judicial authority. The judicial authority shall have power in its discretion to award costs, in a sum fixed by the judicial authority, not exceeding $100 (exclusive of such cash disbursements, or in addition thereto) against any party, whether the prevailing party or not, who has set up a frivolous or vexatious claim, defense or counterclaim, or has made an unfair, insufficient or misleading answer, or has negligently failed to be ready for trial, or has otherwise sought to hamper a party or the judicial authority in securing a speedy deter- mination of the claim upon its merits, and it may render judgment and issue execution therefor, or set off such costs against damages or costs, as justice may require. In no case shall costs exceed the amount of the judgment. (P.B. 1978-1997, Sec. 590.) (Amended June 26, 2000, to take effect Jan. 1, 2001; amended June 21, 2010, to take effect Jan. 1, 2011.) 299 © Copyrighted by the Secretary of the State of the State of Connecticut