Evaluating the effectiveness of Brazilian Justice: An Empirical Analysis of Small Claims Courts

Abstract:     
The purpose of this paper is to assess effectiveness of Brazilian Justice, by analizing Small Claims Courts capability to produce positive results.

The grounds for such analysis is based on empirical data, new in their majority, gathered from the data in the National Research on Special Civil Courts of the CEBEPEJ (Brazilian Center for Legal Studies and Research) and intents to objectively gauge the quality of services offered in the Small Claims Courts to the population.

It examines the effectiveness of the Special Courts, aiming at quantifying the cases in that, at the end of the lawsuits, the party in fact receives the resources to which such party is entitled – be it due to a favorable decision, or arising from an amicable agreement.

Number of Pages in PDF File: 17

Keywords: Special Civil Courts; Small Claims Courts; qualified Access to justice, settlement/mediation, process effectiveness, empirical research

working papers series