MONTGOMERY, Ala. - Alabama's $3,000 limit and high filing fees for small claims disputes unfairly restricts people who have larger claims but can't afford attorneys, said a national legal advocacy group that gave the state's small claims courts a "D" on report card released Monday.

HALT, an organization of Americans for Legal Reform, graded each state in categories including convenience, mediation and dollar limits. Only seven other states have small claims maximums lower than Alabama's $3,000 limit.

"A $3,000 limit on small claims leaves many people stuck in a legal no man's land with a dispute that is too large for small claims curt, yet not large enough to hire an attorney," HALT Senior Counsel Tom Gordon said. "With the low small claims dollar limit in place now, Alabama is shutting out large numbers of people from the civil justice system."

The state also has one of the highest filing fees in the nation with $120 for small claims cases over $1,500. None of the Alabama courts surveyed offer evening or weekend hours, which makes it impossible for people to attend court without missing work.

Alabama's grade has dropped since HALT's 2002 report in which it received a "C-minus" grade. Georgia ranked number one with a "B" grade.

LOAD-DATE: May 4, 2004