Collection Actions: 13.3.12.2.2 Court does not have authority to issue the award
A judgment is void if the court has no subject matter jurisdiction over the matter.231 Lack of subject matter jurisdiction can be shown when the type of case or the amount awarded is beyond the powers of a court—for example, when a small claims court has authority only to issue judgments up to $10,000 but issues an award for $11,000. When state law views proper venue as jurisdictional, filing the action in an improper venue should also provide a basis to set aside the default judgment.