The legislature 'clearly' intended the case to be limited civil

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SENATE THIRD READING
SB 2139 (Lockyer)
As Amended July 1, 1998
2/3 vote. Urgency

SENATE VOTE : 37-0

JUDICIARY 16-0 APPROPRIATIONS 21-0

. . .

SUMMARY : Makes various technical statutory changes needed to
implement trial court unification in counties which so elect
following the recent approval by the voters of SCA 4 by Senator
Lockyer. Specifically, this bill consists largely of technical
and terminological revisions to accommodate unification of the
courts, including the following provisions:

1) The creation of a new classification of civil cases known as
"limited civil cases." Limited civil cases are matters
traditionally within municipal court jurisdiction. They
receive the same procedural treatment, including filing fees,
economic litigation procedures, and appeals, that municipal
court cases currently receive.

See procedure for limited civil cases by statute
This defines you get discovery and all the procedure of a standard trial.

https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/face ... .&article=

2) The elimination of potential confusion by providing a statutory
grant of jurisdiction to the court of appeal in all civil and
criminal cases, with the exception of limited civil cases and
misdemeanor and infraction cases.

3) The creation of an appellate division in the superior court,
with jurisdiction of limited civil cases and misdemeanor and
infraction cases to preserve the effect of jurisdiction of the
former superior court appellate department over causes arising
in municipal court.

4) The provision of a small claims appeal consisting of a de novo
trial before a superior court judge other than the original
trial judge, with the opportunity for representation by
counsel.

. . . .