Muddlethru
Proud Parent
and of course it's a bit more complex if you don't have the experience doing this. i agree with you. i have it down perfectly. i'm in small claims court at least twice a year collecting money owed us from belligerent people who thought they could take advantage of us. it is a civil matter and could become a criminal matter if they don't pay up. honestly, this is all quite simple as far as i'm concerned.
and last time filing the necessary paperwork was approx $300. i have had any costs associated with filing paid to me in the "damages". so, it just cost me my time.
and i have done the exact same thing when they bounce checks and won't pay up plus the bank fees associated with the trampolining check. then i get them for bouncing and theft of professional services! it's good for damages depending on what Judge you get awhere i'm at.
i thought i better throw this in also. they usually pay up BEFORE they must appear in criminal court based on the complaint that i filed with my local PD. a prosecutor has never denied these complaints. theft is theft. and they are more motivated when it is over $100.
Good for you dunno! Clearly your repeat offenders do not fall under the garden variety. I don't have much experience in this cause of action as its burden of proof is more complicated. In addition, if I understand it correctly, it can be linked to criminal activity as well but so happy to hear you are able to get them offenders,
@Terry, if you have an ongoing relationship with the judge (you are at his courtroom a lot) or you get a tolerant, kind judge, you may get lucky and he/she may help you. But there are a lot of intolerant judges and if they have a full or busy court schedule that day, they'll throw out as many cases as they can. Cases are heard very quickly. My experience is in Los Angeles which is a highly litigious area. Judges are cranky. Now if you are in Swett, North Dakota
and are the only one in the docket, the judge may even type the complaint for you. Nonetheless, the more research you do and the more prepared you are, the more likely you are to prevail.
