Return-Path: <@cs.cmu.edu:annem@firebird.ece.cmu.edu> Received: from cs.cmu.edu by K.GP.CS.CMU.EDU id aa05476; 7 Aug 92 14:40:54 EDT Received: from firebird.ece.cmu.edu by CS.CMU.EDU id aa10961; 7 Aug 92 14:40:14 EDT Received: by firebird.ece.cmu.edu (5.54-ECE2/5.17) id AA04824; Fri, 7 Aug 92 14:40:05 EDT From: Anne Meixner Message-Id: <9208071840.AA04824@firebird.ece.cmu.edu> To: bovik@cs.cmu.edu Subject: Small Claims Court Date: Fri, 07 Aug 92 14:40:04 -0400 Below is the response I received when I asked for information and people's experience with Small Claims Court. Before these response's I wanted to document a few phone numbers. For general information call the Citty at 355-5625. Caveat: besure to specifiy where your accident occurred or your residence as that will determine where you should file. I filed my claim at the district magistrates in Greenfield # 521-7782. Further along is a book produced by HALT is recommanded, I recieved a copy and found it to be a good source of information. Good Luck with your claim! ------- Message 2 Return-Path: dbidwa@SEI.CMU.EDU Received: by firebird.ece.cmu.edu (5.54-ECE2/5.17) id AA02143; Mon, 29 Jun 92 16:02:12 EDT Received: from localhost by hg.sei.cmu.edu (5.65/2.5) id AA29966; Mon, 29 Jun 92 16:02:09 -0400 Message-Id: <9206292002.AA29966@hg.sei.cmu.edu> To: annem@firebird.ece.cmu.edu Subject: Re: Small Claims Court Date: Mon, 29 Jun 92 16:02:07 EDT From: Daniel Bidwa I took a moving company to small claims court a few months ago (their truck had hit my car four months earlier, and, although they admitted responsibility, they wouldn't pay up). I filed claims at the District Justice's office (in Squirrel Hill), asking for the cost of the repairs plus court costs ($37) plus $50 for the hassle of having to take them to court. I had a copy of the estimates I had gotten for the repair of the damages, and a copy of the letter they sent me that said, in effect, "if you promise not to sue us for any other damages, we'll pay the amount listed on the estimate." The company didn't contest the charges, and I got a check in the mail in a few weeks. A witness to your accident would probably be helpful. (I assume it was his fault?) A police report would be even better, although not having one shouldn't hurt either (PA law says that if the cars can be driven away, and nobody is injured, a police report isn't necessary). On a different note, if your insurance covers collision, maybe you should let them know what's going on so that their lawyers can earn their keep. (On the other hand, reporting accidents to your insurance company can sometimes backfire, whether they're your fault or not -- I told my insurance company about the moving truck incident, which happened while my car was parked (legally) outside my house, and apparently it ended up on my record, because they brought it up (in a negative sense) when I was adding my motorcycle to my policy.) Good luck! Dan ------- Message 3 Return-Path: dmw@taurus.ece.cmu.edu Received: by firebird.ece.cmu.edu (5.54-ECE2/5.17) id AA02973; Tue, 30 Jun 92 09:11:18 EDT Received: by taurus.ece.cmu.edu (5.54-ECE2/5.17) id AA04744; Tue, 30 Jun 92 09:11:17 EDT Date: Tue, 30 Jun 92 09:11:17 EDT From: Hank Walker Message-Id: <9206301311.AA04744@taurus.ece.cmu.edu> To: annem@firebird.ece.cmu.edu (Anne Meixner) Cc: Subject: Re: Small Claims Court All very simple. I've gone to the one in the Born building on Murray Ave. You fill out some forms, dress nicely, show up at the appointed time with your evidence (notarized statement, photos), and say your piece. If you don't like the result, you can appeal to the Court of Common Pleas, but that is a really major hassle, and probably not worth your time unless your car was totaled. And if the other guy has no money, this is all a waste of time anyway. ------- Message 4 Return-Path: Michael.Witbrock@MJW.BOLTZ.CS.CMU.EDU Received: by firebird.ece.cmu.edu (5.54-ECE2/5.17) id AA03212; Tue, 30 Jun 92 12:28:01 EDT Received: from Messages.7.8.N.CUILIB.3.45.SNAP.NOT.LINKED.MJW.BOLTZ.CS.CMU.EDU.rt.r3 via MS.5.6.MJW.BOLTZ.CS.CMU.EDU.rt_r3; Tue, 30 Jun 92 12:27:44 -0400 (EDT) Message-Id: <4eI8i0C00XNIAXLcB3@cs.cmu.edu> Date: Tue, 30 Jun 92 12:27:44 -0400 (EDT) From: Michael.Witbrock@cs.cmu.edu To: Anne Meixner Subject: Re: Small Claims Court In-Reply-To: <1992Jun29.190755.28421@fs7.ece.cmu.edu> References: <1992Jun29.190755.28421@fs7.ece.cmu.edu> Distribution: cmu As far as I know, pgh doesn't have small claims courts. What I did (am doing) is went to the magistrate for the district of the crash and filed suit. They didn't show up, so they lost. This seems to be standard practice. They appealed, so I have had to sue them again in pittsburgh district court. That has about a 4 month delay (I filed the first time in magistrates court 3 months ago. The refiling was a couple of weeks ago. The court date is Oct 29.) Expect the whole process to take about 8 months. Expect to develop an aversion to lawyers who make appeals designed only to delay matters in the hope you'll give up. Filing in the magistrates court costs around $40, which you'll get back if you win in the end. Filing in the district court costs nothing (but I think you have to file in the magistrates court first). michael ------- Message 5 Return-Path: Michael.Mauldin@NL.CS.CMU.EDU Received: by firebird.ece.cmu.edu (5.54-ECE2/5.17) id AA03323; Tue, 30 Jun 92 14:49:01 EDT Date: Tue, 30 Jun 1992 14:44-EDT From: Michael.Mauldin@NL.CS.CMU.EDU To: Anne Meixner Subject: Re: Small Claims Court Message-Id: <709929857/mlm@NL.CS.CMU.EDU> In-Reply-To: Anne Meixner's bboard message of 29-Jun-92 17:57 My advice would be to get your facts written down as clearly as possible, including receipts for damages, statements by witnesses (best to have at least one witness come with you). It would also be good to spend $20 to go to Hyatt legal service for a 30 minute consulatation on the facts with a real attorney, but you can represent yourself in small claims court. Make sure the guy has some assets worth seizing (like a second car, a bank account, or whatever). I got a $1000 judgement against a bad car repairman, and he turned out to have nothing to seize. So all I got was a piece of paper saying he owed me money. When you go to court be brief, clear, and to the point. Don't worry about legal jargon, the Judge will know the law that applies. Good luck. Michael L. Mauldin (Fuzzy) Email: mlm+@cs.cmu.edu Carnegie Mellon University, CMT Phone: 412-268-5293 (9am-6pm) 5000 Forbes Avenue Home: 412-731-6883 Pittsburgh, PA 15213-3890 Fax: 412-268-6298 ------- Message 8 Return-Path: feather@mast.ece.cmu.edu Received: by firebird.ece.cmu.edu (5.54-ECE2/5.17) id AA04895; Wed, 1 Jul 92 18:58:44 EDT Received: by fs1.ECE.CMU.EDU (5.54-ECE2/5.17) id AA01950; Wed, 1 Jul 92 18:58:37 EDT X-Notice: This is an experimental mail service. There is no assurance of delivery at this address. Questions to gripe@gauss.ece.cmu.edu Received: by mast.ece.cmu.edu (5.54-ECE2/5.17) id AA00608; Wed, 1 Jul 92 18:58:36 EDT Date: Wed, 1 Jul 92 18:58:36 EDT From: Frank Feather Message-Id: <9207012258.AA00608@mast.ece.cmu.edu> To: annem@fs1.ece.cmu.edu, feather@mast.ece.cmu.edu Subject: Insurance/Small Claims Court. Anne, Paula gave me the number to the State Insurance commission to give to you. The number is: 565-5020. She also gave me two names: Bob Moon and Ron Grarina. I'm not sure if these are lawyers or what. Also, if you are interested in going to small claims court I have a very good book on just that topic. It's from HALT, a policial action committee on legal reform. It's packed away but I'll try to find it. - -frank ------- End of Forwarded Messages