Everybody's Guide to Small Claims Court , Everybody's Guide to Small Claims Court

Go after the money that's owed you -- represent yourself in small claims court and win! Everybody's Guide to Small Claims Court gives you the step-by-step instructions and plain-English legal information you need to bring or defend a case with maximum success. From preparing evidence and witnesses to making a presentation in court, you'll learn how to: *decide if you have a good case *determine how much to sue for *write your demand letter *mediate a settlement before it goes to court *file and serve papers *prepare and present a winning case Everybody's Guide to Small Claims Court gives you down-to-earth examples of common cases, including: *auto repair *rental deposit *auto warranty *property damage *small business disputes Updated and revised to reflect the latest in the law, the 9th edition covers small claims court procedures in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Table of Contents......Page 10 Introduction......Page 16 A. First Things......Page 20 B. Checklist of Things to Think About Before Initiating or Defending Your Case......Page 22 C. Legal Jargon Defined......Page 25 D. Legal Research......Page 30 2. Do You Have a Good Case?......Page 34 A. Stating Your Legal Claim in Court Papers......Page 35 B. But Is My Case Really Any Good?......Page 36 C. How to Approach a Breach of Contract Case......Page 39 D. How to Approach a Breach of Warranty Case......Page 47 E. How to Approach a Case When Your Property Has Been Damaged by the Negligent or Intentional Acts of Someone Else......Page 50 F. How to Approach a Personal Injury (and Mental Distress) Case......Page 53 G. How to Approach a Case When You Are Injured by a Defective Product (Doctrine of Strict Liablility)......Page 55 H. How to Approach a Case When Your Rights Under State Law Have Been Breached......Page 56 I. Professional Malpractice......Page 57 J. How to Prove a Nuisance Case......Page 58 3. Can You Recover If You Win?......Page 60 4. How Much Can You Sue For?......Page 64 B. Splitting Small Claims Court Cases......Page 65 C. How to Compute the Exact Amount of Your Claim......Page 67 D. Computing an Exact Amount—Malpractice Cases......Page 77 E. Equitable Relief (Or, Money Can’t Always Solve the Problem)......Page 78 5. Is the Suit Brought Within the Proper Time Limits (Statute of Limitations)?......Page 80 A. Statute of Limitations Periods......Page 81 B. Computing the Statute of Limitations......Page 84 C. Defendant Should Tell the Judge If the Statute of Limitations Has Run Out......Page 86 6. How to Settle Your Dispute......Page 88 A. Write a Formal “Demand” Letter......Page 89 B. Try to Negotiate a Settlement......Page 97 C. Write Down the Terms of Any Settlement......Page 98 D. Bring in a Mediator......Page 105 7. Who Can Sue?......Page 110 A. Participation by Attorneys and Bill Collectors......Page 112 C. Class Actions (Group Lawsuits)......Page 115 E. Business Owners Who File Claims Do Not Always Have to Personally Appear in Court......Page 116 8. Who Can Be Sued?......Page 118 B. Suing Two or More People......Page 119 C. Suing an Individually Owned Business......Page 120 D. Suing Partnerships......Page 121 E. Suing a Corporation or Limited Liability Company (LLC)......Page 122 G. Special Procedures for Suits Against Minors......Page 123 H. Special Rules for Suits Against Government Agencies......Page 124 I. Special Procedures for Suits Against the Estates of Deceased People......Page 125 9. Where Can You Sue?......Page 126 A. When the Defendant Is Out of State......Page 127 B. When the Defendant Is in Your State......Page 128 A. How Much Does It Cost?......Page 134 B. Filling Out Your Court Papers and Getting Your Court Date......Page 135 C. The Defendant’s Forms......Page 138 E. Changing a Court Date......Page 141 F. If One Party Doesn’t Show Up......Page 143 11. Serving Your Papers......Page 148 C. How to Serve Papers on an Individual......Page 149 D. How to Serve Papers on a Business......Page 153 F. Notify the Court That Service Has Been Accomplished (“Proof of Service”)......Page 154 H. How to Serve a Claim of Defendant......Page 156 I. How to Serve Papers on Someone in the Military—Declaration of Nonmilitary Service......Page 157 K. Time Limits in Which Papers Must Be Served......Page 158 12. The Defendant’s Options......Page 160 A. Claim Improper Service or Another Technical Defense......Page 161 B. You Have a Partial Defense—Try to Compromise......Page 162 D. You Want to Avoid Conflict—Try to Mediate......Page 163 E. Have Your Case Transferred to a Formal Court......Page 164 F. Fight Back......Page 165 G. You, Not the Plaintiff, Were Wronged—File a “Claim of Defendant”......Page 167 13. Getting Ready for Court......Page 168 A. Interpreter Services......Page 169 C. Private Lawyers......Page 170 D. Mediation and Arbitration......Page 171 F. Court Times......Page 172 G. Understanding the Courtroom and Basic Procedure......Page 173 H. Dealing With Your Opponent......Page 174 I. Dealing With the Judge or Commissioner......Page 175 J. Organizing Your Testimony and Evidence......Page 177 14. Eye and Expert Witnesses......Page 180 B. Subpoenaing Police Officers......Page 183 C. Subpoenaing Documents......Page 185 D. Written Evidence......Page 188 E. Judges as Witnesses......Page 191 F. Testimony by Telephone......Page 192 A. Uncontested Cases—Getting a Judgment by Default......Page 194 B. Contested Cases......Page 195 C. Don’t Forget to Ask for Your Costs......Page 202 16. Motor Vehicle Repair Cases......Page 204 B. Can I Prove the Defendant’s Negligence Caused My Loss?......Page 205 A. New Vehicles......Page 212 B. Used Vehicle Dealers......Page 217 C. Used Vehicles From Private Parties......Page 220 A. Small Claims Court Is a Good Place to Sue on Bad Debts......Page 224 B. Bad Debt Cases From the Plaintiff’s Point of View......Page 226 C. Debt Cases From the Debtor’s Point of View......Page 231 19. Vehicle Accident Cases......Page 236 B. Was There a Witness to the Accident?......Page 237 D. Determining Fault......Page 238 E. Diagrams......Page 239 G. Estimates......Page 240 H. Your Demand Letter......Page 241 I. Appearing in Court......Page 242 20. Landlord-Tenant Cases......Page 244 A. Security Deposit Cases......Page 245 B. Unpaid Rent, Rent Withholding and Other Money Damage Cases......Page 253 C. Obnoxious Behavior......Page 258 D. The Landlord’s Right of Entry and the Tenant’s Right of Privacy......Page 259 E. Evictions......Page 261 F. Discrimination......Page 262 A. Clothing (Alteration and Cleaning)......Page 264 B. Dog-Related Cases......Page 266 C. Damage to Real Property (Land, Buildings and So On)......Page 267 D. Police Brutality/False Arrest Cases......Page 269 F. Suits Against Airlines or Hotels......Page 270 22. Disputes Between Small Businesses......Page 272 B. Try Negotiation and Mediation Before Suing......Page 274 C. Organizing Your Case......Page 276 D. The Drama of the Distraught Designer......Page 280 E. Old Friends Fall Out......Page 283 A. The Judgment......Page 288 B. Time Payments......Page 289 D. The Satisfaction of Judgment......Page 292 E. The Appeal......Page 295 F. Filing Your Appeal......Page 298 G. Arguing Your Appeal Without a Lawyer......Page 299 H. Further Appeals......Page 300 24. Collecting Your Money......Page 302 A. The Timing of Collecting Your Money......Page 303 B. Finding the Debtor’s Assets......Page 306 C. Creating Property Liens......Page 307 D. Levying on Wages, Bank Accounts, Business Assets, Real Property and So On......Page 308 F. Renew Your Judgment......Page 316 25. Where Do We Go From Here?......Page 320 Appendix Small Claims Court Rules for the 50 States (and the District of Columbia)......Page 326 Related Products......Page 370 Table of Contents 10 Introduction 16 1. In the Beginning 20 A. First Things 20 B. Checklist of Things to Think About Before Initiating or Defending Your Case 22 C. Legal Jargon Defined 25 D. Legal Research 30 2. Do You Have a Good Case? 34 A. Stating Your Legal Claim in Court Papers 35 B. But Is My Case Really Any Good? 36 C. How to Approach a Breach of Contract Case 39 D. How to Approach a Breach of Warranty Case 47 E. How to Approach a Case When Your Property Has Been Damaged by the Negligent or Intentional Acts of Someone Else 50 F. How to Approach a Personal Injury (and Mental Distress) Case 53 G. How to Approach a Case When You Are Injured by a Defective Product (Doctrine of Strict Liablility) 55 H. How to Approach a Case When Your Rights Under State Law Have Been Breached 56 I. Professional Malpractice 57 J. How to Prove a Nuisance Case 58 3. Can You Recover If You Win? 60 4. How Much Can You Sue For? 64 A. Cutting Down a Claim That’s Over the Limit to Fit Into Small Claims Court 65 B. Splitting Small Claims Court Cases 65 C. How to Compute the Exact Amount of Your Claim 67 D. Computing an Exact Amount—Malpractice Cases 77 E. Equitable Relief (Or, Money Can’t Always Solve the Problem) 78 5. Is the Suit Brought Within the Proper Time Limits (Statute of Limitations)? 80 A. Statute of Limitations Periods 81 B. Computing the Statute of Limitations 84 C. Defendant Should Tell the Judge If the Statute of Limitations Has Run Out 86 6. How to Settle Your Dispute 88 A. Write a Formal “Demand” Letter 89 B. Try to Negotiate a Settlement 97 C. Write Down the Terms of Any Settlement 98 D. Bring in a Mediator 105 7. Who Can Sue? 110 A. Participation by Attorneys and Bill Collectors 112 B. Suits by Minors 115 C. Class Actions (Group Lawsuits) 115 D. Special Rules for Prisoners and Military Personnel Transferred Out of State 116 E. Business Owners Who File Claims Do Not Always Have to Personally Appear in Court 116 8. Who Can Be Sued? 118 A. Suing One Person 119 B. Suing Two or More People 119 C. Suing an Individually Owned Business 120 D. Suing Partnerships 121 E. Suing a Corporation or Limited Liability Company (LLC) 122 F. Suing on a Motor Vehicle Accident 123 G. Special Procedures for Suits Against Minors 123 H. Special Rules for Suits Against Government Agencies 124 I. Special Procedures for Suits Against the Estates of Deceased People 125 9. Where Can You Sue? 126 A. When the Defendant Is Out of State 127 B. When the Defendant Is in Your State 128 10. Plaintiffs’ and Defendants’ Filing Fees, Court Papers and Court Dates 134 A. How Much Does It Cost? 134 B. Filling Out Your Court Papers and Getting Your Court Date 135 C. The Defendant’s Forms 138 D. Jury Trials 141 E. Changing a Court Date 141 F. If One Party Doesn’t Show Up 143 11. Serving Your Papers 148 A. Who Must Be Served? 149 B. Where Can Papers Be Served? 149 C. How to Serve Papers on an Individual 149 D. How to Serve Papers on a Business 153 E. How to Serve Papers on a Public Agency 154 F. Notify the Court That Service Has Been Accomplished (“Proof of Service”) 154 G. How to Serve Subpoenas 156 H. How to Serve a Claim of Defendant 156 I. How to Serve Papers on Someone in the Military—Declaration of Nonmilitary Service 157 J. Costs of Personal Service 158 K. Time Limits in Which Papers Must Be Served 158 12. The Defendant’s Options 160 A. Claim Improper Service or Another Technical Defense 161 B. You Have a Partial Defense—Try to Compromise 162 C. You Have Absolutely No Defense 163 D. You Want to Avoid Conflict—Try to Mediate 163 E. Have Your Case Transferred to a Formal Court 164 F. Fight Back 165 G. You, Not the Plaintiff, Were Wronged—File a “Claim of Defendant” 167 13. Getting Ready for Court 168 A. Interpreter Services 169 B. Free Legal Advice 170 C. Private Lawyers 170 D. Mediation and Arbitration 171 E. Getting to the Courthouse 172 F. Court Times 172 G. Understanding the Courtroom and Basic Procedure 173 H. Dealing With Your Opponent 174 I. Dealing With the Judge or Commissioner 175 J. Organizing Your Testimony and Evidence 177 14. Eye and Expert Witnesses 180 A. Subpoenaing Witnesses 183 B. Subpoenaing Police Officers 183 C. Subpoenaing Documents 185 D. Written Evidence 188 E. Judges as Witnesses 191 F. Testimony by Telephone 192 15. Presenting Your Case to the Judge 194 A. Uncontested Cases—Getting a Judgment by Default 194 B. Contested Cases 195 C. Don’t Forget to Ask for Your Costs 202 16. Motor Vehicle Repair Cases 204 A. Have I Suffered a Loss? 205 B. Can I Prove the Defendant’s Negligence Caused My Loss? 205 17. Motor Vehicle Purchase Cases 212 A. New Vehicles 212 B. Used Vehicle Dealers 217 C. Used Vehicles From Private Parties 220 18. Bad Debts: Initiating and Defending Cases in Which Money Is Owed 224 A. Small Claims Court Is a Good Place to Sue on Bad Debts 224 B. Bad Debt Cases From the Plaintiff’s Point of View 226 C. Debt Cases From the Debtor’s Point of View 231 19. Vehicle Accident Cases 236 A. Who Can Sue Whom? 237 B. Was There a Witness to the Accident? 237 C. Police Accident Reports 238 D. Determining Fault 238 E. Diagrams 239 F. Photos 240 G. Estimates 240 H. Your Demand Letter 241 I. Appearing in Court 242 20. Landlord-Tenant Cases 244 A. Security Deposit Cases 245 B. Unpaid Rent, Rent Withholding and Other Money Damage Cases 253 C. Obnoxious Behavior 258 D. The Landlord’s Right of Entry and the Tenant’s Right of Privacy 259 E. Evictions 261 F. Discrimination 262 21. Miscellaneous Cases 264 A. Clothing (Alteration and Cleaning) 264 B. Dog-Related Cases 266 C. Damage to Real Property (Land, Buildings and So On) 267 D. Police Brutality/False Arrest Cases 269 E. Defamation (Including Libel and Slander) 270 F. Suits Against Airlines or Hotels 270 22. Disputes Between Small Businesses 272 A. Remember: You Didn’t Always Hate Your Opponent 274 B. Try Negotiation and Mediation Before Suing 274 C. Organizing Your Case 276 D. The Drama of the Distraught Designer 280 E. Old Friends Fall Out 283 23. Judgment and Appeal 288 A. The Judgment 288 B. Time Payments 289 C. Paying the Judgment Directly to the Court 292 D. The Satisfaction of Judgment 292 E. The Appeal 295 F. Filing Your Appeal 298 G. Arguing Your Appeal Without a Lawyer 299 H. Further Appeals 300 24. Collecting Your Money 302 A. The Timing of Collecting Your Money 303 B. Finding the Debtor’s Assets 306 C. Creating Property Liens 307 D. Levying on Wages, Bank Accounts, Business Assets, Real Property and So On 308 E. Recovering Collection Costs and Interest 316 F. Renew Your Judgment 316 25. Where Do We Go From Here? 320 Appendix Small Claims Court Rules for the 50 States (and the District of Columbia) 326 Related Products 370 0873378652,9780873378659 Nolo.com

all The Tools And Information You Need To Successfully Present And Win Your Case In Small Claims Court.

the Only Guide To Small Claims Court That Provides Tips By Former Judges, everybody's Guide To Small Claims Court helps You Bring Or Defend Your Small Claims Suit Without A Lawyer. This Legal Primer Shows You How To Build Your Case, Present Evidence, And Covers In Detail What To Expect When You Have Personal Injury, Auto Damage, Dry Cleaning Damage, Or Landlord/tenant Issues.

thorough Preparation For Your Day In Small Claims Court Can Make The Difference Between Writing A Check And Receiving One.

the 13th Edition Is Completely Updated With A Current Appendix Of Small Claims Rules And Limits, An Expanded Discussion Of Mediation, And More Advice From Real Judges And Commissioners.

kiplinger's Personal Finance Magazine

everybody's Guide To Small Claims Court Walks You Through The Halls Of Small Justice And Explains How To File A Claim, Figure Damages And Argue Your Case Effectively.

The only guide to small claims court that provides insights from judges.Smart preparation for your day in small claims court can make the difference between writing a check and receiving one.Everybody's Guide to Small Claims Court provides the information, tips and strategies you need to sue someone successfully, or put up a winning defense. Find out how to:write a demand letter file and serve papers prepare a winning presentation prepare evidence line up persuasive witnesses figure out your damages mediate a settlement collect money when you win Everybody's Guide to Small Claims Court gives you down-to-earth examples of common cases, including:auto repair rental deposit auto warranty property damage small business disputes The 12th edition is completely updated to include the latest procedures for small claims courts in every state and Washington, D.C. Plus, it now includes useful, practical comments by judges who've seen it all. Go after the money that's owed you -- represent yourself in court and win! Smart preparation for your day in Small Claims Court can make the difference between writing a check and receiving one. This completely updated legal guide gives you step-by-step instructions on how to bring or defend your case with success