Small Claims Court

　　If you are enable to resolve your complaint through wish to use the Small Claims Court.Known popularly as the people's court，this informal and inexpensive forum is designed to help yourself disputes of $2，000 or less without the aid of an attorney.

　　The atmosphere of Small Claims Court is informal， and the rules of the Court are simple. You can sue or be sued in this Court without being represented by a lawyer， because the more formal procedures characteristic of other courts are not required. Instead， you are allowed to present your own evidence and speak in layperson's terms.

　　By choosing a Small Claims Court， you waive all right to a jury trial. Furthermore， it is only in very specific instance that you have the right to appeal to a higher court if the Clerks does not find in your favor. Defendants， however， always have the right to appeal.

　　If the other party has a lawyer， you are not necessarily at a disadvantage because you are representing yourself. The participation by lawyers representing parties may be limited in a manner consistent with the simple and informal adjudication of the controversy. It is the Clerk's duty to ensure all parties a fair hearing.

　　To file suit， obtain the appropriate form， called the Statement of Claim and Notice， from the Small Claims Court in your district. Fill out the form completely and accurately.

　　The Clerk will provide a copy of your completed Statement of Claim and Notice form， which will show you the date and time of trial. You will also receive a Docket Number， or reference number for your suit. Use this number to identify your case when you contact the Clerk.

　　A week before the hearing， call the Clerk to ensure that the Defendant has received the Statement of Claim and Notice. The Clerk will inform you if the case was postponed， or if the Defendant has filed an answer. Obtain a copy and use the Defendant's answer to prepare your case more effectively.

　　To refresh your memory， prepare a chronological summary of events and relevant facts to facilitate your presentation. Pull together all the evidence that will help you prove your case， such as contracts， letters， canceled checks， receipts， leases， estimates and actual damaged goods or photographs. Bring certified copies of the applicable Attorney General's regulations if you are citing a specific violation.

　　If you are suing under the Consumer Protection Act， Chapter 93A， notify the Clerk of that fact and that you are entitled to double or treble damages under that statute. Bring a copy of your 30-day demand letter.

　　You may also wish to schedule witnesses who can verify your claims or confirm your statements. If a witness refuses to participate， the Clerk can help subpoena him or her. A subpoena is a court notice ordering a witness to appears in court on a trial date.

　　Arrive at the Court House at least an hour before your case is heard. When your case is called， you， the Defendant， and any witnesses must be sworn in. Then， the Clerk will hear each side of the case allowing each side to develop the story with evidence and witness participation. The Plaintiff or person suing， presents the case first. The presentation should be brief， well-organized and emotionally controlled. Then， the Defendant， or person being sued presents his or her version of the case. Always speak directly to the Clerk.

　　Don't argue with the Defendant in Court， or interrupt his or her presentation.

　　If the Defendant defaults， or does not show up， and you appear for trial， you automatically win. However， you must show the Court proof of your claim. （If the Defendant appears for the trial and the Plaintiff fails to appear， the case will be dismissed. If neither Plaintiff nor Defendant appears for trial， the claim must also be dismissed. ）

　　After hearing the arguments of both parties， the Clerk may make an immediate decision， or may require more time for deliberation， which would leave the case Under Advisement and you would be notified by mail of the final decision. If the Clerk finds in favor of the Defendant， then the case will be over and you will receive no payments. You will be required to pay the Court costs for the Defendant. If the decision is for the Plaintiff， the Court will issue a Notice of Judgment and Order that orders the Defendant to pay you the damages and rt entry fee. The Clerk may award you less than your ginal claim.

　　Generally， the Defendant has the right to appeal the ision within 10 days. The Defendant must pay an appeal fee and post $100 in cash or certified check or bond unless the Court waives this requirement.

　　If the Defendant fails to pay you， then you must inform the Clerk who will issue a Notice to Show Cause you. You then must arrange to have the notice delivered to the Defendant by a county Deputy Sheriff or municipal Constable. The Notice to Show Cause will “indicate the date and time of hearing. At the hearing， the Court will take appropriate action to recover payment.

　　Alternatively， you may ask the Clerk for an Execution form？ This form allows the county Deputy Sheriff or municipal Constable to seize and sell the Defendant's property to recover the amount owed. Within one year of the Court's decision， a party can apply for relief from the judgment or order. This means that the Court may decide to reverse the decision because of an error or other reasons that the Court finds sufficient. Ask the Clerk if you have any questions about this or other Small Claims Court procedures.

　　小額錢債法庭

　　如果你不能通過自助或當地消費者保護組織調解來解決你的投訴，那么你可能希望訴諸于小額錢債法庭。它被人們稱為老百姓的法庭，這個非正式并且廉價的法庭是被設計來幫助你在沒有律師的參與下解決標的為2 000美元或以下爭議的場所。

　　小額錢債法庭的氛圍是非正式的，其規(guī)則也是簡易的。你可以不由律師代理而去訴或被訴，因為這里不要求其他法庭所具有的正式程序。相反，你被允許出示證據并以非專業(yè)人員的語言陳述。

　　你一旦選擇了小額錢債法庭，你就放棄了由陪審團審判的權利。而且如果書記官并不支持你，那么只有很少情況下你可以向上一級法院上訴。但是被告總是有權上訴的。

　　如果對方請了律師，你不一定因為自己代理而處于不利地位。因為法庭爭議的判決方法是簡易和非正式的，所以律師參與代理當事人的行為受到了限制。書記官的責任就是確保訴訟各方受到公平的審判。

　　為了打官司，你必須從小額錢債法庭獲得合適的表格，稱為索償書和告知書。你要完整并且精確地填寫好表格。

　　書記官會交給你一份填妥的索償書和告知書，上面標明了舉行審判的日期和時間。你的官司也會有一個標簽號或文件號。在你聯系書記官時可以用該號碼表明你的案子。

　　審前一周，致電書記官，確認被告已收到索償書和告知書。書記官會通知你案子是否延期，被告是否遞交了答辯書。去索取一份被告的答辯書，以此更有效地準備訴訟。

　　你必須理清思路，制作一份相關事實和事件概要的流水賬，以便于法庭陳述。聚合所有能證明案情的證據，比如合同書、信件、取消的支票、收據、租賃合同、估算單以及實際損毀貨物或照片。如果引用一個具體案例，可準備好適用的司法部長規(guī)定的批準文本。

　　如果你是依據《消費者保護法》第93A條款起訴的，那么必須告知書記官此事，說你依據該法令有權得到雙倍或三倍的損害賠償金。準備好一封30日內的索求信。

　　你還可能希望定好證人出庭的日期，他們可以證明你的訴求或證實你的陳述。如果證人拒絕出庭，書記官可以傳喚他或她出庭。傳喚令就是一份法庭的通知書，它命令證人在審判日出庭作證。

　　你至少必須于案件開審前l(fā)小時抵達法庭。當你的案子開審時，你、被告還有所有證人必須人庭宣誓。然后，書記官聽取各方案情陳述，允許各方以證據和證人證言來推進陳述。原告或起訴人首先陳情。其陳述應該簡短，組織完善并且控制情緒。然后，被告或被訴之人陳述其案情。

　　必須保持與書記官直接對話。別當庭與被告爭執(zhí)，或打斷其陳述。

　　如果被告缺席或未能出庭，而你卻出庭了，那么你就自動獲勝。但是你必須向法庭出示你的訴求證據。（如果被告出庭而原告卻未能出庭，那么該案就被駁回。如果原被告雙方都未能出庭，那么該案也被駁回。）

　　在聽取了雙方當事人的論點之后，書記官可以當庭作出判決，或可以要求更多時間考慮，這會使案子處于延后思考之中，其最終判決將會用郵件送達。如果書記官的判決支持被告，那么案子結案，原告就無賠償費可拿。也不要求原告支付被告的訴訟費用。如果判決支持原告，那么法庭會簽發(fā)一份判決通知令，命令被告支付損害賠償金和訴訟費用，書記官會判給你少于訴求的賠償金。

　　一般而言，被告有權在l0日內上訴。被告必須支付上訴費，郵寄現金l00美元或有效支票或票據，除非法庭放棄這種要求。

　　如果被告未能支付賠償金，那么你必須告知書記官，他會簽發(fā)一份強制執(zhí)行令。然后你必須安排縣司法長官或市警察局長送達給被告。該執(zhí)行令標明了聽審的日期和時間。在聽審時，法庭將采取適當行動來取得賠償金。

　　或者，你可以問書記官要一份執(zhí)行表格。該表格授權縣司法長官或市警察局長沒收并出售被告財物來歸還所欠款項。

　　在法庭判決一年內，一方當事人可以申請法庭判決或命令的司法救濟。這意味著法庭可能因差錯或其他足夠的理由而決定逆轉以前的判決。如果對此或其他小額錢債法庭程序有疑問，可以向書記官詢問。