Small Claims Court in Dallas (Howe: middle-class, rent, insurance)

[Vitalstatistix]

Can anyone share their experience at Small Claims Court? Is it easy to file a case? Is it very time consuming? In case a decision goes against you, can the other party come after you? Can they file a fresh case in a jurisdiction of their choice in say Juneau, Alaska? In short, how painful is it & what are the potential downsides?

There has been many an occasion when I have fantasized dragging a blue-chip corporation (insurance carriers, Airlines & other such corporate crooks) before the courts of law. The intent was never to make money but to prove my point & penalize the wrong doer.

Thought I have been short-charged/stiffed/cheated with documented evidence but as yet another god-fearing member of the long oppressed middle-class, I am very leery of getting into a court battle. My only knowledge of law comes from reading John Grisham novels. Bottom-line, I am scared to drag somebody to small claims court. How easy or difficult is it?

[TX75007]

LOL.

You have read too many novels. Its one thing to win a case, its another to collect. If they have lots of real property, then its possible to collect. Maybe. You never know what kind of games they can play or who their buddies are or that they are hocked up to their eyeballs or there are a dozen other cases ahead of you.

Best thing to do is to make sure you never put yourself in a situation where you have to go to court.

That means only work with reputable people, don't pay until the work is done, complain early and often, do not rent or sell to lowlifes, never extend credit to anyone, make sure everyone has skin in the game, get a big deposit, and if it looks good, then its too good.

If a judge finds out you are wasting his or her time, then your name will be mud.

[ptran33]

Keep in mind... The max you can collect from small court is $5000. However, it vary from state to state.

[ptran33]

Hope this'll help. See Small Claims Court in Dallas County - Procedures

[mia25]

I think, in TX, you can collect up to $10,000. Maybe.

[Grainraiser]

Well there is huge difference between winning a case and getting paid for that win. It's been years since I went to small claims court but when I did I found out it was a waste of time. I won my case there was nothing they could do to have the other party pay up.

[Pete53FR]

Small claims court is the only place I know of that the Judge is on the little guys side. As far as collecting I don't know but when I worked near one I would sometime visit and watch what happened. I do know that some companies will pay or settle but once again it does not cost that much either.