Terms Used In Alabama Code 6-5-273

  • Damages: Money paid by defendants to successful plaintiffs in civil cases to compensate the plaintiffs for their injuries.
  • Guardian: A person legally empowered and charged with the duty of taking care of and managing the property of another person who because of age, intellect, or health, is incapable of managing his (her) own affairs.
  • Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
  • person: includes a corporation as well as a natural person. See Alabama Code 1-1-1

An action for recovery of damages and penalties under this article may be brought in any court of competent jurisdiction, including the small claims division of a district court in the county where the merchant is located, if the person or the parent or legal guardian of the unemancipated minor who committed the theft offense fails to make payment to the merchant of the amount specified in the demand within 30 days after the date of service of the written demand upon him or her, if the total damages do not exceed the jurisdictional limit of the small claims division.