MS HB244

Authorizes circuit and county courts to order civil actions involving money judgments between $5,000 and $100,000 (or unspecified amounts) to proceed as expedited small claims.

Requires complaining parties to serve detailed factual and legal statements, damage categories, witness lists, and relevant documents within 30 days of answer service, with defending parties responding within 60 days or 30 days before trial.

Limits discovery to 10 interrogatories, 10 requests for admission, depositions of up to 2 nonparties for 4 aggregate hours, insurance agreement requests, and expert witness disclosures at least 60 days before trial.

Establishes presumptive admissibility for specified documents (contracts, billing statements, medical records, property damage estimates, photographs) disclosed in compliance with the act unless authenticity is controverted.

Requires trial to be set within 30 days of final responsive pleading; allows courts to opt out of expedited procedures if deemed inappropriate for the case's complexity or circumstances; takes effect July 1, 2013, and repeals when Mississippi Supreme Court enacts equivalent rules.