Amount in Controversy Law and Legal Definition
Amount in controversy is the value of the relief demanded or the amount of monetary damages claimed in a lawsuit. Amount in controversy also referred to as jurisdictional amount when the amount in controversy determines the court's authority to hear a particular case. It is the minimum monetary value of a claim that must be met in order for a court to have jurisdiction over that claim. For example, according to 28 USCS § 1332 federal district courts can hear lawsuits concerning questions of federal law and controversies between citizens of different states only if the amount in controversy is more than $75,000.
