Winning Big in Colorado Small Claims Court, 2nd Edition : How to Sue and Collect

by Brackney, Charles P.

• ISBN13: 9781883726751
• ISBN10: 1883726751
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2002-07-01
• Publisher: Bradford Pub Co

Table of Contents

An Introduction to Small Claims Court	1	(6)
Is Small Claims Court for You?	1	(1)
What is Small Claims Court?	2	(1)
Common Case Scenarios in Small Claims Courts	3	(2)
Can You Really Win a Case Without an Attorney?	5	(2)
Determining if Your Case is Right for Small Claims Court	7	(14)
Who is Liable?	7	(2)
Negligence	9	(1)
Rescission of a Contract	10	(1)
Specific Performance of a Contract	11	(1)
Return of Personal Property	11	(1)
How to Calculate the Dollar Amount of Damages and Losses	11	(3)
The Small Claims Court Dollar Amount: What ``Small Amount''	14	(3)
Who Can Sue and Be Sued?	17	(2)
Statutes of Limitations	19	(1)
Can You Settle This?	19	(2)
Laying the Groundwork for a Small Claims Case	21	(4)
The Demand Letter	21	(4)
Filing an Action in Small Claims Court	25	(30)
Where to Sue -- Venue	25	(5)
Location of Small Claims Courts	30	(3)
Filing a Small Claims Case	33	(2)
Form JDF 250, Notice, Claim and Summons to Appear for Trial	35	(1)
Completing the Complaint	36	(3)
Filing Fees	39	(1)
The Hearing Date	39	(3)
Limitations on Case Filings	42	(1)
Service of Process	42	(10)
Judge or Magistrate?	52	(1)
Form JDF 259, Objection to Magistrate Hearing Case	53	(2)
The Defendant's Response	55	(14)
What the Defendant Must Know	55	(1)
The Defendant's Options	55	(1)
Settlement	56	(1)
Mediation	57	(1)
Request for a New Hearing Date	57	(1)
Defenses	57	(1)
Contest by the Defendant	58	(1)
Form JDF 250 Part 2, Defendant's Response	59	(1)
Defendant's Counterclaim	60	(1)
Form JDF 250 Part 2, Defendant's Counterclaim	61	(3)
Form JDF 251, Notice of Removal	64	(1)
Defendant's Right to Legal Representation	65	(1)
Notice of Representation by Attorney	66	(2)
No Action by the Defendant	68	(1)
Preparing for the Court Hearing	69	(12)
Reviewing Your Case	69	(2)
Written or Printed Evidence	71	(1)
Diagrams	72	(1)
Pictures	72	(1)
Physical Evidence	73	(1)
Witnesses	73	(2)
Subpoenas	75	(2)
Form JDF 254, Subpoena or Subpoena to Produce	77	(3)
Pulling It All Together	80	(1)
Tips for Common Cases	81	(12)
When Someone Owes You Money	81	(2)
When You Owe But Don't Think You Should Have to Pay -- Or, ``I Want My Money Back!''	83	(2)
Security Deposit Cases	85	(1)
Suits by Landlords	86	(2)
Unpaid Wages	88	(1)
Suing a Contractor	89	(1)
Motor Vehicle Repair Cases	90	(1)
Motor Vehicle Accident Cases	91	(1)
Suits Against Government Agencies and Employees	92	(1)
Enforcement of Restrictive Covenants on Residential Property	93	(8)
A Special Category of Cases	93	(1)
Initiating the Action	94	(1)
Temporary Orders	95	(1)
Form JDF 258, Temporary Order and Citation Enforcement of Restrictive Covenant on Residential Property	96	(1)
Permanent Orders	97	(1)
Form JDF 260, Permanent Order	98	(1)
Pointers for Plaintiffs and Defendants	99	(2)
The Trial	101	(8)
Observing	101	(1)
Practice, Practice, Practice	102	(1)
Detail, Details	102	(1)
Showtime!	102	(2)
Presenting Your Case	104	(4)
Default Cases	108	(1)
After the Trial	109	(16)
The Collection Process Begins	109	(2)
Form JDF 252A, Motion and Order for Interrogatories -- Short Form	111	(3)
Form JDF 252B, Motion and Order for Interrogatories -- Long Form	114	(6)
Requests to Set Aside Small Claims Court Judgments	120	(1)
Form JDF 253, Request to Set Aside Dismissal/Default Judgment	121	(2)
Appeals	123	(2)
Collecting Your Money	125	(32)
Focusing on Your Ultimate Goal	125	(1)
Gathering Information -- Again	126	(2)
Garnishing the Debtor's Wages or Salary	128	(2)
Form 1140, Writ of Continuing Garnishment	130	(3)
Completing the Writ of Continuing Garnishment (Form No. 1140)	133	(3)
Objection!	136	(1)
Form 1142, Objection to Calculation of Amount of Exempt Earnings	137	(2)
Garnishing the Debtor's Bank Account	139	(2)
Form 1143, Writ of Garnishment with Notice of Exemption and Pending Levy	141	(2)
Back of Form 1143, Partial List of Exempt Property	143	(1)
Form 1144, Claim of Exemption to Writ of Garnishment With Notice	144	(1)
Garnishing the Bank Account of a Business	145	(1)
Form 1146, Writ of Garnishment -- Judgment Debtor Other Than Natural Person	146	(1)
Liens Against Real Estate	147	(1)
Writs of Execution	148	(1)
Private Collection Firms	149	(6)
Satisfaction of Judgment	155	(1)
Form 330, Satisfaction of Judgment	156	(1)
Conclusion	157	(2)
TABLE OF APPENDICES	159	(28)
A. Glossary	160	(4)
B. List of Forms	164	(2)
C. Small Claims Case Checklist	166	(2)
D. Small Claims Court Statutes and Rules	168	(11)
E. Garnishment Statutes	179	(6)
F. Other Statutes and Court Rules	185	(2)
Index	187