We're pleased to announce that, after much editing and revising, the newest book in the Guerrilla Guides to the Law series is now available!
The Guerrilla Guide to Small Claims Court is the one book that covers small claims court as it should be covered, information you need and without a bunch of padding just to make you pay more for the book!
Small Claims Court is still court, and many of the same rules apply, but knowing how to find those rules, how to make them work in your favor, and which ones aren't the same can be the difference between winning and losing a case.
In this book, Lawyer X walks a potential litigant through the process beginning with ways to resolve cases suitable for small claims court without actually having to go to court, preparing and filing the case, then methods of collecting (or preventing collection) after the case is over.
This book is the result of countless hours spent in courtrooms across the country and helping people with legal issues that concern them.
As is always the case with a Guerrilla Guide to the Law, this book is filled with information necessary to a party to a lawsuit whether they be the Plaintiff or Defendant.
All topics of a small claims case are covered in a way that can be quickly and easily digested, then serve as a reference source from that point on.
This book is not just a rehash of the court websites, as so many of these books are, instead it is offers practical lessons on all aspects of a case, as shown by the table of contents:
- The Purpose Behind The Guerrilla Guides
- About the Author
- Introduction
- Overview of the Small Claims Court System
- Before You File the Lawsuit
- Jurisdictional Limits
- Venue
- Is it worth it?
- Can you Sue?
- Cause of Action
- Statute of Limitations
- Judge or Jury?
- Get A Lawyer or Do it Yourself (Pro Se)
- What Is Your Case Worth and For How Much Can or Should You Sue?
- Types of Damages
- How To Settle the Dispute Without a Trial
- Mediation
- Arbitration
- Jurisdiction and Venue
- What Rules Apply
- Rules of Civil Procedure
- Rules of Evidence
- Local Rules of Court
- How A Lawsuit Starts
- Petition/Complaint
- The Default Judgment
- Discovery in Small Claims Court
- Disclosure
- Interrogatories
- Requests For Production
- Requests For Admission
- Responding To or Answering Discovery
- Subpoenas
- Depositions
- Motions
- Where Can I Get a Form for That?
- Getting Ready for Small Claims Court
- Preparing Your Evidence
- How to Admit Evidence
- Witnesses
- The Trial
- Opening Statements
- Examination of Witnesses
- Cross Examination
- Parties Resting
- The Defense's Case
- Rebuttal
- Rest and Close
- Jury Charge Conference
- Closing Statements
- The Verdict
- The Judgment
- The Basics of Appealing a Small Claims Judgment
- The Basics of Collecting on a Judgment
- Finding Assets
- Informal Collection
- A Big List of Do Nots
- Formal Methods of Collection
- Completing the Case
- Satisfaction and Release of Judgment
- Tax Deduction for an Unpaid Judgment
- Conclusion
Being thoroughly familiar with the system is the key to winning, and The Guerrilla Guide to Small Claims Court will teach you how to win any small claims case whether it be for a car wreck, a property dispute, or any other small claim.
The book also provides links to sections of the website where access to the small claims courts of all 50 states is available and updated.