Section 517.011 - Applicability of chapter1. The provisions of this chapter shall apply to the practice and procedure in civil cases originally filed before associate circuit judges in hearing and determining the following cases or classes of cases: (1) Except as otherwise provided by law, all civil actions and proceedings for the recovery of money, whether such action be founded upon contract or tort, or upon a bond or undertaking given in pursuance of law in any civil action or proceeding, or for a penalty or forfeiture given by any statute of this state, when the sum demanded, exclusive of interest and costs, does not exceed twenty-five thousand dollars;(2) All actions against any railroad company in this state, to recover damages for killing or injuring horses, mules, cattle or other animals within their respective counties, without regard to the value of such animals, or the amount claimed for killing or injuring the same;(3) All cases arising under chapter 213, 272, 302, 303, 388, 429, 430, 444, 482, 521, 533, 534, 535, or 577;(4) In counties of less than seventy thousand inhabitants, when a circuit judge is absent from the county, cases that a circuit judge can hear in chambers except where otherwise provided by law.2. The provisions of this chapter shall not apply to the practice and procedure before associate circuit judges in hearing and determining cases, except as provided in subsection 1 of this section.L. 1985 S.B. 5, et al., A.L. 1986 S.B. 741, A.L. 1988 H.B. 1660, A.L. 1989 S.B. 127, et al., A.L. 1993 S.B. 88 merged with S.B. 180