15-6-72. Expedited civil actions--General provisions.

(1) Eligible actions. This article IX governs "expedited civil actions" in which the sole relief sought is a money judgment and in which all claims (other than compulsory counterclaims) for all damages by or against any one party total $75,000 or less, including damages of any kind, penalties, and attorneys' fees, but excluding prejudgment interest accrued prior to entry of judgment, post-judgment interest, and costs.

(2) Excluded actions. This article IX does not apply to small claims or domestic relations cases.

(3) Electing expedited procedures. An eligible plaintiff may elect to proceed by filing an expedited civil action and by certifying that the sole relief sought is a money judgment and that all claims (other than compulsory counterclaims) for all damages by or against any one party total $75,000 or less, including damages of any kind, penalties, and attorneys' fees, but excluding prejudgment interest accrued prior to entry of judgment, post-judgment interest, and costs. The certification must be on a form approved by the Supreme Court and signed by all plaintiffs and their attorneys if represented. (See Form 27). The certification is not admissible to prove a plaintiff's damages in the expedited civil action or in any other proceeding.

(4) South Dakota Rules of Civil Procedure otherwise apply. Except as otherwise specifically provided by this rule, the South Dakota Rules of Civil Procedure are applicable to expedited civil actions.

(5) Limitation on damages. Except as provided in subdivision (6), a party proceeding under this article IX may not recover a judgment in excess of $75,000, nor may a judgment be entered against a party in excess of $75,000, excluding prejudgment interest that accrues prior to entry of judgment, post-judgment interest, and costs. The jury, if any, must not be informed of the $75,000 limitation. If the jury returns a verdict for damages in excess of $75,000 for or against a party, the court may not enter judgment on that verdict in excess of $75,000, exclusive of prejudgment interest that accrues prior to entry of judgment, post-judgment interest, and costs.

(6) Stipulated expedited civil action. In a civil action not eligible under subdivision (1) and not excluded by subdivision (2), the parties may request to proceed as an expedited civil action upon the parties' filing of a Joint Motion to Proceed as an Expedited Civil Action. (See Form 28). If the court grants the parties' motion, and unless the parties have otherwise agreed, the parties will not be bound by the $75,000 limitation on judgments in subdivision (5). The parties may enter into additional stipulations regarding damages and attorneys' fees. Unless otherwise ordered, the joint motion and any stipulations must not be disclosed to the jury.

(7) Termination of expedited civil action. Upon timely application of any party, the court may terminate application of this rule and enter such orders as are appropriate under the circumstances if:

(A)    The moving party makes a specific showing of substantially changed circumstances or other good cause sufficient to render the application of this rule unfair; or

(B)    A party has in good faith filed a compulsory counterclaim that seeks relief other than that allowed under subdivision (1).

(8) Permissive counterclaims. Permissive counterclaims are subject to the $75,000 limitation on damages under subdivision (5), unless the court severs the permissive counterclaim.

(9) Side. As used throughout this article IX, the term "side" refers to all the litigants with generally common interests in the litigation.

Source: SL 2016, ch 238 (Supreme Court Rule 15-16), eff. Jan. 1, 2016.

15-6-72.1. Local intergovernmental actions--Expedited action--Alternative dispute resolution.

In order to facilitate the quick and efficient resolution of disputes, whenever two or more local governmental bodies are engaged in a legal dispute, on motion of any party or on its own, the court may order the parties to proceed:

(1)    Under the expedited civil action process set out in §§ 15-6-73 to 15-6-76.1, inclusive, regardless of any amount in controversy; or

(2)    To alternative dispute resolution, other than binding arbitration, on such terms as the court may order.

Source: SL 2021, ch 85, § 1.

15-6-72.2. Definition--Local government body.

For the purposes of § 15-6-72.1, the term, local government body, shall mean:

(1)    Any county, municipality, township, or unincorporated territory;

(2)    Any school district;

(3)    Any organization that offers a public service, organized or authorized by a county, municipality, or township, including law enforcement, fire protection services, or emergency medical services; and

(4)    Any special district including ambulance districts under chapter 34-11A, conservation districts under chapter 38-8, consumer power districts under chapters 49-35 through 49-40, drainage basis utility districts under chapter 46A-10B, improvement districts under chapter 7-25A, irrigation districts under chapters 46A-4 through 46A-7, predator control districts under chapter 40-37, public hospital districts under chapter 34-10, regional railroad authorities under chapter 49-17A, regional recycling and waste management districts under chapter 34A-16, road districts under chapter 31-12A, rural fire protection districts under chapter 34-31A, sanitary districts under chapter 34A-5, water development districts under chapters 46A-3A through 46A-3E, water project districts under chapter 46A-18, water user districts under chapter 46A-9, or watershed districts under chapter 46A-14.

Source: SL 2021, ch 85, § 2.