Rule 501 - Scope and Purpose(a) How Known and Cited. These rules for the small claims division for the county court are additions to C.R.C.P. and shall be known and cited as the Colorado Rules of Civil Procedure, or C.R.C.P. These rules are promulgated pursuant to section 13-6-413 , C.R.S. (b) Procedure Governed. These rules govern the procedure in all small claims courts. They shall be liberally construed to secure the just, speedy, informal, and inexpensive determination of every small claims action. (c) Purpose. Each small claims court shall provide for the expeditious resolution of all cases before it. Where practicable, at least one weekend session and at least one evening session shall be scheduled or available to be scheduled for trial in each small claims court each month. (d) Record of Proceedings. A record shall be made of all small claims court proceedings. Colo. R. Sm. Clm. Ct. P. 501
Entire chapter repealed and readopted February 24, 1994, effective 7/1/1994; entire rule amended and effective 9/6/2001. ANNOTATION Law reviews. For article, "Changes to the Statutes and Rules Governing Procedures in Colorado Small Claims Courts", see 31 Colo. Law. 29 (February 2002). The strict technical application of procedural filing deadlines is to be avoided in cases where it would result in a punitive disposition of litigation and an arbitrary denial of substantial justice contrary to the spirit of the rules of civil procedure. The district court's order emphasized the importance of the timely and inexpensive resolution of small claims at the expense of an equally important concern: The tenet that requires courts to construe procedural rules in a manner that ensures the just determination of every action. Semental v. Denver County Court, 978 P.2d 668 (Colo. 1999).