§ 20-91.7c — Business court docket — Jurisdiction — Complex cases —

Oklahoma § 20-91.7c

• Jurisdiction: Oklahoma
• Title 20: Courts

Text

Restrictions. A. In an action where damages are requested under subsection B or C of this section, the amount in controversy shall be at least Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($500,000.00). B. When a business court division is created pursuant to Section 91.7 of Title 20 of the Oklahoma Statutes, certain cases, excluding arbitration cases, filed on or after January 1, 2026, may be assigned to the business court docket. The business court shall have the power to grant any relief that may be granted by a district court and may exercise concurrent jurisdiction and the powers of a court of equity, to the extent that such powers are exercised. Notwithstanding the amount in controversy, where equitable relief is requested in a business dispute, a business court may hear an action: 1. Arising under the Uniform Arbitration Act, Section 1851 et seq. of Title 12 of the Oklahoma Statutes; 2. Arising under the Uniform Commercial Code, Section 1-101 et seq. of Title 12A of the Oklahoma Statutes; 3. Arising under the Oklahoma General Corporation Act, Section 1001 et seq. of Title 18 of the Oklahoma Statutes; 4. Arising under the Oklahoma Limited Liability Company Act, Section 2000 et seq. of Title 18 of the Oklahoma Statutes; 5. Arising under the Oklahoma Revised Uniform Partnership Act, Section 1-100 et seq. of Title 54 of the Oklahoma Statutes; 6. Arising under the Uniform Limited Partnership Act of 2010, Section 500-101A et seq. of Title 54 of the Oklahoma Statutes; 7. Arising under the Oklahoma Uniform Securities Act of 2004, Section 1-101 et seq. of Title 71 of the Oklahoma Statutes; 8. Arising under the Uniform Trade Secrets Act, Section 85 et seq. of Title 78 of the Oklahoma Statutes; 9. Shareholder and unitholder derivative actions; 10. That relates to the internal affairs of businesses including, but not limited to, rights or obligations between or among business participants regarding the liability or indemnity of business participants, officers, directors, managers, trustees, controlling shareholders or members, or partners; 11. Where the complaint includes a professional malpractice claim arising out of a business dispute; 12. Involving tort claims between or among two or more business entities or individuals as to their business or investment activities relating to contracts, transactions, or relationships between or among such entities or individuals; 13. For breach of contract, fraud, or misrepresentation between businesses arising out of business transactions or relationships; 14. Arising from e-commerce agreements, technology licensing agreements including, but not limited to, software and biotechnology license agreements, or any other agreement involving the licensing of any intellectual property right including, but not limited to, an agreement relating to patent rights; and 15. Involving commercial real property. C. A business court shall have jurisdiction to hear complex cases. For purposes of this act, “complex case” means an action that requires exceptional judicial management to avoid placing unnecessary burdens on the court or the litigants, expedite the case, keep costs reasonable, and promote effective decision-making by the court, parties, and counsel. In deciding whether an action is a complex case, the court shall consider factors including, but not limited to, whether the action is likely to involve: 1. Numerous hearings, and pretrial and dispositive motions raising difficult or novel legal issues that will be time-consuming to resolve; 2. Management of a large number of witnesses or a substantial amount of documentary evidence; 3. Management of a large number of separately represented parties; 4. Multiple expert witnesses; 5. Coordination with related actions pending in one or more courts in other counties, states, or countries, or in a federal court; 6. Substantial post-judgment judicial supervision; or 7. Legal or technical issues of complexity. D. An action is presumptively a complex case, subject to rebuttal, if it involves one or more of the following types of claims: 1. Antitrust or trade regulation claims; 2. Intellectual property matters including, but not limited to, trade secrets, copyrights, and patents; 3. Securities claims or investment losses involving more than two parties; 4. Environmental or toxic tort claims involving more than two parties; 5. Ownership or control of business claims; 6. Insurance coverage claims; 7. Construction defect claims involving many parties or structures; 8. Product liability claims; or 9. Mass tort claims. Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to include individual consumer claims or transactions involving a retail customer of goods or services who uses or intends to use such goods or services primarily for personal, family, or household purposes; provided, however, this paragraph shall not be construed to preclude the court from exercising jurisdiction over mass actions or class actions involving such individual consumer claims. E. A business court shall have supplemental jurisdiction over any other claim related to a case or controversy within the court’s jurisdiction that forms part of the same case or controversy. If a party objects to the business court’s supplemental jurisdiction over other claims, the business court judge may remand those claims to the district court. F. A business court shall not have authority to exercise jurisdiction over claims arising under federal or state law, as applicable, involving: 1. The Oklahoma Consumer Protection Act, Section 751 et seq. of Title 15 of the Oklahoma Statutes; 2. Against a governmental entity or political subdivision under Title 19 of the Oklahoma Statutes or under The Governmental Tort Claims Act, Section 151 et seq. of Title 51 of the Oklahoma Statutes; 3. Guardianship matters under Title 30 of the Oklahoma Statutes; 4. Probate matters under Title 58 of the Oklahoma Statutes; 5. A deceptive trade practice as set forth in Section 53 of Title 78 of the Oklahoma Statutes, to the extent such matter is not a business dispute; 6. Residential landlord and tenant; 7. Personal injury and wrongful death; 8. Domestic relations; 9. Foreclosures; 10. Individual consumer claims or transactions involving a retail customer of goods or services who uses or intends to use such goods or services primarily for personal, family, or household purposes; provided, however, this paragraph shall not be construed to preclude the court from exercising jurisdiction over mass actions or class actions involving such individual consumer claims; 11. Collections in matters involving a corporation or other entity subject to the farming and ranching statutes of this state or an individual farmer; or 12. Cases that would generally be considered consumer transactions or human relation matters.

Legislative History

Added by Laws 2025, c. 316, § 6, eff. Sept. 1, 2025.