What Should You do if sOMEONE SUES YOU IN Small Claims Court?
Let's say your name is Barry LaBov and you're being sued by a neighbor for a few hundred dollars because of damage he says your dog did to his fence. You are scheduled to appear in small claims court at the end of the month, so the judge can hear your neighbor's case and make a ruling. However, you've never been in small claims court before and don't know what to do next. Here are several things to remember, so you can ensure that your rights are protected.
First and foremost, take the court date seriously. Even if you don't believe that your neighbor has a case (you don't even have a dog), that doesn't mean that you can just completely blow off the court date. The judge will only be able to hear one side of the story and may rule against you. It doesn't look very good if you aren't there either.
If for some reason you can't attend the court date, you can have it changed to another date. There are different requirements for each state and municipality, so it's important to contact the court you are scheduled to attend to find out more information. In most cases, you will just need to fill out a form and perhaps pay a small filing fee.
Let's say that you do have a dog and the dog did mess up your neighbor's fence. The Barry LaBov lawsuit is valid then. It might be a good idea then to see if you can meet with your neighbor and work out some kind of a deal. You will most likely save money and you'll certainly save time doing it this way. You might want to get a mediator too, so he or she can help you reach an agreement informally.
If you do go through with the court date, make sure to arrive promptly and professional dressed. Have any documents that pertain to the case to help you in your defense. The judge will hear both cases and rule on whom he or she finds faults with. Depending on the amount of the claim and your own comfort with the case, hiring a lawyer may or may not be a good idea as well. If it's only for a few hundred dollars, it may not be worth it.
First and foremost, take the court date seriously. Even if you don't believe that your neighbor has a case (you don't even have a dog), that doesn't mean that you can just completely blow off the court date. The judge will only be able to hear one side of the story and may rule against you. It doesn't look very good if you aren't there either.
If for some reason you can't attend the court date, you can have it changed to another date. There are different requirements for each state and municipality, so it's important to contact the court you are scheduled to attend to find out more information. In most cases, you will just need to fill out a form and perhaps pay a small filing fee.
Let's say that you do have a dog and the dog did mess up your neighbor's fence. The Barry LaBov lawsuit is valid then. It might be a good idea then to see if you can meet with your neighbor and work out some kind of a deal. You will most likely save money and you'll certainly save time doing it this way. You might want to get a mediator too, so he or she can help you reach an agreement informally.
If you do go through with the court date, make sure to arrive promptly and professional dressed. Have any documents that pertain to the case to help you in your defense. The judge will hear both cases and rule on whom he or she finds faults with. Depending on the amount of the claim and your own comfort with the case, hiring a lawyer may or may not be a good idea as well. If it's only for a few hundred dollars, it may not be worth it.