(a) Except as provided in subdivisions (b) and (c), an action or special proceeding treated as a limited civil case pursuant to Article 1 (commencing with Section 85) of Chapter 5.1 of Title 1 of Part 1, including an action or special proceeding initially filed as a limited civil case or remanded as one thereafter, shall be conducted as a mandatory expedited jury trial pursuant to this chapter.
§ 630.20.Mandated Expedited Jury Trials In Limited Civil Cases
Title 8. Of the Trial and Judgment In Civil Actions · Chapter 4.6. Mandatory Expedited Jury Trials in Limited Civil Cases · Enacted 2015 · no amendments on record · Last verified July 28, 2026
In one sentenceSection 630.20 makes an expedited jury trial mandatory for most limited civil cases, lists nine grounds letting either side opt out — including punitive damages, coverage disputes, and intentional-conduct claims — exempts unlawful detainer proceedings entirely, and routes any resulting judgment to the appellate division of the superior court.
Full Text of § 630.20
(b) Either party may opt out of the mandatory expedited jury trial procedures if any of the following criteria is met:
(1) Punitive damages are sought.
(2) Damages in excess of insurance policy limits are sought.
(3) A party's insurer is providing a legal defense subject to a reservation of rights.
(4) The case involves a claim reportable to a governmental entity.
(5) The case involves a claim of moral turpitude that may affect an individual's professional licensing.
(6) The case involves claims of intentional conduct.
(7) The case has been reclassified as unlimited pursuant to Section 403.020.
(8) The complaint contains a demand for attorney's fees, unless those fees are sought pursuant to Section 1717 of the Civil Code.
(9) The judge finds good cause exists for the action not to proceed under the rules of this chapter. Good cause includes, but is not limited to, a showing that a party needs more than five hours to present or defend the action and that the parties have been unable to stipulate to additional time.
(c) This chapter does not apply to a proceeding in forcible entry or forcible or unlawful detainer.
(d) A judgment in a limited civil case conducted as a mandatory expedited jury trial may be appealed to the appellate division of the superior court in which the case was tried.
Plain-English Summary
Chapter 4.6 flips the voluntary model of Chapter 4.5 into a default rule for smaller-dollar cases. Any action or special proceeding treated as a limited civil case — whether filed that way originally or later remanded to that status — must be conducted as a mandatory expedited jury trial, unless it fits one of subdivision (b)'s exceptions or falls outside the chapter entirely under subdivision (c).
Either side can opt out on any of nine grounds: the case seeks punitive damages, seeks damages beyond insurance policy limits, involves an insurer defending under a reservation of rights, involves a claim reportable to a government entity, involves a claim of moral turpitude that could affect professional licensing, alleges intentional conduct, has been reclassified as unlimited under § 403.020, demands attorney's fees beyond what Civil Code § 1717 allows, or presents good cause — including a party's need for more than five hours to present or defend the case where the parties couldn't agree to more time.
Unlawful detainer proceedings never fall under this chapter at all. And because a mandatory expedited jury trial in a limited civil case skips the ordinary trial-level appellate options, subdivision (d) sends any resulting judgment to the appellate division of the superior court that tried the case.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is an expedited jury trial mandatory in every limited civil case?
Yes, unless the case fits one of the opt-out grounds in subdivision (b) or is a proceeding in forcible entry or unlawful detainer, which this chapter never covers.
What are the grounds for opting out of the mandatory expedited jury trial?
Punitive damages sought, damages beyond insurance limits, a reservation-of-rights defense, a claim reportable to a government entity, a claim of moral turpitude affecting professional licensing, intentional-conduct claims, reclassification as unlimited under § 403.020, a demand for attorney's fees beyond Civil Code § 1717, or good cause shown to the court.
Where does an appeal from a mandatory expedited jury trial judgment go?
To the appellate division of the superior court in which the case was tried.
Does this chapter apply to unlawful detainer cases?
No. Subdivision (c) excludes proceedings in forcible entry or forcible or unlawful detainer entirely.
Amendment History
Added by Stats 2015 ch 330 (AB 555),s 5, eff. 1/1/2016.
Source & verification. Section text is reproduced verbatim from
the Deering's California Codes Annotated / vLex. Enacted by the California Legislature.
Last verified July 28, 2026.
· Official source
Also known as: mandatory expedited jury trial californialimited civil case jury trial rules