A recent analysis by NYPIRG reveals that New York City's small claims courts are excessively delayed, with cases taking an average of over a year to resolve. The study, which examined nearly 47,000 cases, shows that particularly in Queens, cases can take more than 14 months to conclude, far longer than the statewide average of five-and-a-half months. The overwhelming backlog discourages individuals from seeking justice for financial grievances, highlighting significant disparities in case resolution times compared to other regions in the state.
Regular people who need to use small claims court to recover money that they're owed are not getting the justice that they seek because of how long these small claims cases take.
The situation was most severe in Queens, where 7,330 cases filed in the review period took an average of more than 14 months to complete, compared to a state average of five-and-a-half months.
The Bronx's nearly 4,800 cases took an average of more than nine months to resolve, while the roughly 8,500 cases in Brooklyn took about eight-and-a-half months.
The report found wait times were significantly shorter in most other parts of the state, where judges handle a fraction of the cases in New York City.
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