01/03/2022
https://www.facebook.com/108190387186047/posts/623380905666990/?d=n
The Big Deal with Small Claims Court
What is the big deal with small claims court? A lot, as you will soon see.
The small claims court’s real name is “Justice Court” because the Judge is the local Justice of the Peace though one could easily argue it is so named because average citizens go there to get justice.
While most think of the Justice of the Peace as a place to get married, file an eviction or challenge a traffic ticket, the Justice Courts can hear many claims including breach of contract, suits on sworn accounts, damage to personal property, and suits for recovery of personal property. And, Justice Court is usually the least expensive (and quickest) way for a person or company that feels like someone else owes them money.
In Texas, the jurisdictional limit for Justice Court is now $20,000 and that is no small claim to most people. As an added bonus, the Justice Court provides a more informal setting than County or District Courts so many litigants represent themselves, but do not lose sight of the fact that in many Justice Court cases, you can ask the Judge to order the other side to repay your attorney’s fees – if you hired one. Last but certainly not least, discovery is limited – and as anyone who has sued or been sued knows, discovery is expensive.
So as you can see, if you have a small claim, taking advantage of the Justice Court is a big deal!
