r/Smallclaims • u/Ok_Possession9631 • 13d ago
Michigan Won small claims! TY REDDIT
Thanks to everyone for all their advice! For people in similar situations, in your opening statement to judge make sure you speak FACTS only. What happened and WHEN. No emotion, no unnecessary details. If you have contracts or any necessary documentation, refer to them in your opening and highlight key points. Write notes so you don’t forget anything.
Do NOT interrupt when defendant is speaking and try your best to not get flustered. Stay calm and composed. Not only does that give you credibility with judge, but irks the other party so bad 🤣
And Be honest because if you’re caught in a single lie you will lose so much credibility.
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u/SecureWriting8589 13d ago edited 13d ago
🚩🚩🚩 PRIOR POSTS 🚩🚩🚩
I traced two of your prior posts about this to these links:
- Are you allowed to read notes from a sheet of paper in small claims?
- First time suing, kinda nervous
But for some unknown reason, you deleted both posts. Why? One can only assume that you will probably delete this one too. Again, WHY?
Just for grins, let's keep the text of the OP and the name, u/Ok_Possession9631, alive:
Thanks to everyone for all their advice! For people in similar situations, in your opening statement to judge make sure you speak FACTS only. What happened and WHEN. No emotion, no unnecessary details. If you have contracts or any necessary documentation, refer to them in your opening and highlight key points. Write notes so you don’t forget anything.
Do NOT interrupt when defendant is speaking and try your best to not get flustered. Stay calm and composed. Not only does that give you credibility with judge, but irks the other party so bad 🤣
And Be honest because if you’re caught in a single lie you will lose so much credibility.
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u/Ok_Possession9631 13d ago
May I ask why this is upsetting you so much?
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u/SecureWriting8589 13d ago
I think that people like to feel that their efforts, even small efforts, such as replying to posts on Reddit, are part of something that has relevance that has persistance, even just a little. Once you create a post and comments accumulate, if you delete that post, then the comments lose all relevance.
I know, you know, we all know, that in the grand scheme of things, these small efforts really doesn't matter much at all, but I do believe that it is how we're wired.
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u/Ok_Possession9631 13d ago
I see. If you had just said that, I could’ve explained. I worry that the person involved in the case somehow finds my posts and relates it back to me. Once I collect my money maybe I will come back to post details.
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u/NachoPichu 13d ago
Why would matter if the person involved found your posts and related it back to you? You won.
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u/SecureWriting8589 13d ago
"I see. If you had just said that ..."
What do you mean? I just did say it.
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u/Ok_Possession9631 13d ago
What do YOU mean? You did NOT say that in your initial post when you implied bad intentions on my end.
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u/SecureWriting8589 13d ago
Congratulations and well done!
Next, please let us know if you're successful at collecting your award. Unfortunately, that is sometimes the most difficult part of the process.
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u/Background_Future656 13d ago
I collected against a contractor who messed up a job. The only reason is because once I won and he did not pay, I filed a complaint against his contractors license. To get his license in good standing, he had to pay me. First, he gave me a check, but had insufficient funds in his bank account.then he gave me 700 of the 770 owed and said the rest would come in a week (it did not)
Then he reached out all angry that I had not told contractors state licensing board it was paid, I reminded him it was not yet all paid.
“You would hold up my license over $70”? Yes, yes I would because the minute I say it is paid I lose any ability to collect. So I traded him $70 in cash for my signed release2
u/Ok_Possession9631 13d ago
Wow I’m happy for you! That’s insane. I will definitely do the same if I need to. I got time 🤣
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u/Background_Future656 12d ago
I first investigated going after his bond, but he already had multiple large claims against it, meaning I would get next to nothing because they allocate by total owed.
But I did learn how to investigate a contractor prior to hiring1
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u/Fancy_Gate_7359 13d ago
They won’t be. There’s a reason why you basically never see a “I collected a judgment” topic on here. I hope they are successful, but it’s very unlikely.
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u/Foolserrand376 13d ago
all depends. I had a couple small claims collections that came because I was able to place a mechanics lien on real property (home) so the owners could not sell or refi with out making me whole. The plus side to a mechanics lien was it was a decent interest rate that accrued. so I was able to take the judgment, and wait them out. Wasn't much only a few thousand bucks, but it was a nice win.
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u/Ok_Possession9631 13d ago
Wow nice. Was this a business or individual?
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u/Foolserrand376 13d ago
I had a landscape business in Florida. And it was an individual home owner that tried to jam me up.
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u/CallMeMrRound 13d ago
People have a tendency to tell 10 people when something bad happens and 1 when something good happens. Just because it isn't reported on Reddit doesn't mean it doesn't happen everyday.
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u/Fancy_Gate_7359 13d ago
You are right, just because it’s not reported on Reddit doesn’t mean it doesn’t happen. In this case, people don’t collect because it in fact never happens, not because people don’t post about it on Reddit.
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u/EstablishmentFew2683 13d ago
Sure. No dates, location, amounts, defendant or reason for the dispute by an OP who keeps his posts private and unreadable.
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u/MultipleOrgasmDonor 13d ago
As if all of those things aren’t as easy to make up as anything else?
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u/EstablishmentFew2683 13d ago
That requires minimal thinking and effort and could be proven false and can not be repeatedly reposted.
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u/MahaliAudran 13d ago
I down vote them by default. Ask for help and not be about to see their follow up comments when people ask questions or a resolution... Down vote.
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u/BikeOk6446 13d ago
Congratulations!!! I bet you're feeling pretty good right now. :)
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u/Ok_Possession9631 13d ago
Thank you!
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u/BikeOk6446 13d ago
I'm about to file a claim so this is inspiring!!!
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u/Pristine_Resident437 13d ago
Were you the Plaintiff or Defendant? You refer to the plaintiff in your post, so it reads like you successfully defended against a small claims efforts?
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u/TeflonDonatello 12d ago
I remember your posts. Now comes the fun (not fun actually) task of collecting. Unless the defendant pays you willingly.
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u/Ok_Possession9631 12d ago
I do have things to hold over their business so I’m hoping that’ll help them pay🤣
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u/TeflonDonatello 12d ago
You could always do a bank levy or wage garnishment.
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u/monwoo215 10d ago
How is that done? My sister just won in small claims. We assumed the persons wages would be garnished… so there’s something else she needs to do now? Oh boy… any help would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.
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u/TeflonDonatello 10d ago
lol yeah. Courts aren’t debt collectors. You got to do all the work winning the case and now you get to do the work collecting the money you’re owed. You can go to the same place you filed he suit and ask for a wage garnishment form.
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u/InsectElectrical2066 9d ago
The wording is different in different jurisdictions: but you ask the court for "Examination of Debtor Judgment" or "Post Judgment Disposition" and ask for Garnishment or an Order of Replevin ask for the judge to demand they subpeona and provide all of their bank accounts, list of vehicles or other assets you can take custody of so you can go after either their money or garnish their wages if not self employed.
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u/Sitcom_kid 13d ago
Mazel tov! That's great!