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Difference between revisions of "Being Sued in Small Claims Court"

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m (Drew Jackson moved page Being Sued in Small Claims Court (Script 167) to Being Sued in Small Claims Court (No. 167): align with new Dial-A-Law website)
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{{Dial-A-Law Blurb}}
{{REVIEWEDPLS | reviewer = [https://www.ganapathico.com/our-team/anna-kurt/ Anna Kurt], Ganapathi Law Group|date= August 2017}} {{Dial-A-Law TOC|expanded = courts}}
{{Dial-A-Law TOC|expanded = smallclaims}}
If a notice of claim names you as a defendant in a Small Claims Court lawsuit, learn what options you have, how to act on them, and what happens next.
If a notice of claim names you as a defendant in a Small Claims Court lawsuit, learn what options you have, how to act on them, and what happens next.


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For most claims, the court will schedule a '''settlement conference'''. The registry will tell you the date and time for the conference. You must attend. The judge will give their opinion of the case during the conference. If the claim cannot be settled, it will go to '''trial'''.
For most claims, the court will schedule a '''settlement conference'''. The registry will tell you the date and time for the conference. You must attend. The judge will give their opinion of the case during the conference. If the claim cannot be settled, it will go to '''trial'''.


You can try to resolve the claim any time before trial. If the claim is over $10,000, you or the other party can file a '''notice to mediate''', which will result in a '''mediation session'''. There, a neutral mediator will try to help you both come to an agreement on the issues. See our information on [[Going to Trial in Small Claims Court (Script 168)|going to trial in Small Claims Court (no. 168)]] for more on this option, as well as what happens at trial.   
You can try to resolve the claim any time before trial. If the claim is over $10,000, you or the other party can file a '''notice to mediate''', which will result in a '''mediation session'''. There, a neutral mediator will try to help you both come to an agreement on the issues. See our information on [[Going to Trial in Small Claims Court (No. 168)|going to trial in Small Claims Court (no. 168)]] for more on this option, as well as what happens at trial.   


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===With your case===
===With your case===
You do not need a lawyer to go to Small Claims Court. But you'll probably better understand the process, as well as the strength of your case, if you get '''legal advice'''. If you have limited means, you might be able to get legal help from pro bono services, a student legal clinic, or an advocate. See our information on [[Low Cost and Free Legal Services (Script 430)|free and low-cost legal help (no. 430)]].
You do not need a lawyer to go to Small Claims Court. But you'll probably better understand the process, as well as the strength of your case, if you get '''legal advice'''. If you have limited means, you might be able to get legal help from pro bono services, a student legal clinic, or an advocate. See our information on [[Free and Low-Cost Legal Help (No. 430)|free and low-cost legal help (no. 430)]].


===More information===
===More information===
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:Web: [http://www.smallclaimsbc.ca smallclaimsbc.ca]
:Web: [http://www.smallclaimsbc.ca smallclaimsbc.ca]


[updated August 2017]
'''The above was last reviewed for legal accuracy by [https://www.ganapathico.com/our-team/anna-kurt/ Anna Kurt], Ganapathi Law Group.'''


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