small-claims-court

A collection of 152 posts

small-claims-court

Can I Sue My Boss Personally? When You Can Name Them

Sometimes. You can sue your boss personally for unpaid wages and overtime under federal law. You can sue them for things they did to you directly, like assault or defamation. And you can sue them for money they owe you. But you usually cannot sue your boss personally for discrimination

demand-letters

Can You Send a Demand Letter via Email? (Yes, With One Catch)

Yes, you can send a demand letter via email. No general law says a demand letter has to arrive by mail. Courts care about two things: that you made a clear written demand, and that the other side actually got it. But here's the catch. Email proof is

employment

Can I Sue My Employer for Not Following Company Policy?

Can I sue my employer for not following company policy? Usually not for the broken policy alone. A company policy is not a law. In most states, your employer can change its own rules or skip them without breaking any law. But there are four big exceptions. The policy is

small-claims-court

Can You Sue Someone for Scamming You Online? (2026 Guide)

Yes, you can sue someone for scamming you online. But there's a catch that decides everything: you need to know who they are. Courts require a real name and a mailing address. If you have those, small claims court lets you sue for $30 to $75 in filing

small-claims-court

What Is a Right to Sue Letter? (And When You Don't Need One)

A right to sue letter is a notice from the EEOC that lets you file a workplace discrimination lawsuit in court. You need one before you can sue your employer for discrimination under most federal laws. Once you get the letter, you have 90 days to file your case. That

medical-bills

How to Dispute a Medical Bill (and Win): The 2026 Guide

To dispute a medical bill, ask for an itemized bill, match it against your insurance paperwork, and send a written dispute to the billing office that names the exact charges you're fighting. Give them 30 days to answer. If your insurer caused the problem, file an appeal with

medical-bills

How to Negotiate Medical Bills: What Works in 2026 (With Scripts)

Yes, you can negotiate medical bills. Almost all of them. Start by asking for an itemized bill and checking it for errors. Then apply for the hospital's financial assistance program. Then call the billing office and ask one question: "What's the settlement amount?" People

medical-bills

Do Medical Bills Affect Your Credit? The Real 2026 Rules

Mostly no. A medical bill can't hurt your credit the day it arrives. It has to go unpaid for months, get sold to a collection agency, sit for a full year, and be over $500. Only then can it show up on your credit report. Paid medical collections

medical-bills

Can You Sue a Hospital for Overbilling? Yes. Here's How

Yes, you can sue a hospital for overbilling. Most of these cases fit in small claims court, where filing costs $10 to $75 and you don't need a lawyer. If the hospital charged you for care you never got, billed you twice for the same thing, or charged

small-claims-court

Is There a Minimum Amount for Small Claims Court?

No. There is no small claims court minimum amount in any state. You can sue for $1 if you want. Courts set a maximum you can ask for, not a minimum. The real floor is practical, not legal: the filing fee. That runs $15 to $75 in most states. Add

small-claims-court

Small Claims Court in Cincinnati, Ohio: How to File in 2026

To file in small claims court in Cincinnati, bring a sworn complaint form to the Hamilton County Clerk of Courts. It's at 1000 Main St., Room 115. You can also file online through the county's e-filing system. You can sue for up to $6,000.

small-claims-court

Small Claims Court in Columbus, Ohio: 2026 Filing Guide

You file small claims in Columbus, Ohio at the Franklin County Municipal Court, Small Claims Division. The claim limit is $6,000. Filing costs $92 plus service. That's about $102 for one defendant with certified mail. You file in person or by mail at the Clerk's

debt-collection

Can a Debt Collector Sue You? Yes. Here's What Actually Happens

Yes, a debt collector can sue you for an unpaid debt. But a lawsuit is not their first move. For small debts, it may never come. Most collectors sue only after months of calls and letters. They mostly sue over debts above $1,000. And they can only sue while

small-claims-court

Can I Sue My Employer While Still Employed? Yes. Here's How

Can I sue my employer while still employed? Yes. You can sue your employer and keep your job. Federal and state laws protect you. Your company can't fire you, demote you, or cut your pay because you filed a claim. That's called retaliation. And here'

consumer-rights

The 2026 Consumer Dispute Index: America's Most-Complained-About Companies (Mid-Year Edition)

Meta tops the 2026 Consumer Dispute Index with a score of 100, nearly double Walmart at 56. See the 25 companies Americans take legal action against most.

small-claims-court

How Long Does Small Claims Court Take? The Full Timeline

How long does small claims court take? For most people, 30 to 90 days from filing to judgment. You'll usually get a hearing date 30 to 70 days after you file. The hearing itself takes 15 to 45 minutes, and many judges rule the same day. If the

small-claims-court

Can You Sue the Government? Yes, Here's How It Works

Yes, you can sue the government. You can sue a city, a county, a state, or even the United States. But the rules are different than suing a person or a business. Before you can sue, you almost always have to file a written notice of claim with the government

small-claims-court

Can You Sue Someone for Cheating? What the Law Really Allows

In most states, you can't sue someone for cheating. Not your spouse, and not the person they cheated with. But five states still allow it: Hawaii, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Dakota, and Utah. The claim is called alienation of affection. Juries there have awarded millions. Everywhere else, you

small-claims-court

Can You Sue Someone for Harassment? Yes. Here's How

Yes, you can sue someone for harassment. You have two main options. You can ask a court for a restraining order to make them stop. Or you can file a civil lawsuit for money damages. Many people do both. The right choice comes down to one question. Do you want

small-claims-court

What Happens If You Sue Someone With No Money?

You can sue someone with no money, and you can win. The court does not check the other person's bank account before you file. If you win, you get a judgment. In most states, that judgment lasts 10 to 20 years. It grows interest the whole time. When

small-claims-court

Can You Sue Someone for Giving You an STD? Yes. Here's How

Yes. You can sue someone for giving you an STD in every state. Most of these cases claim one thing. They knew they had it. They didn't tell you. You got sick. You can sue even if you both said yes to the sex. And you don'

small-claims-court

Can You Sue Someone for Defamation of Character? Yes. Here's How

Yes, you can sue someone for defamation of character. To win, you have to prove four things. They made a false claim of fact about you. They shared it with at least one other person. They were at least careless about the truth. And it hurt your name or cost

small-claims-court

Can You Sue Your Neighbor? What You Can Sue For and How to Win

Yes, you can sue your neighbor. The most common things you can sue your neighbor for are property damage, noise, tree damage, trespassing, and harassment. Unpaid loans count too. Most of these fights belong in small claims court. Filing costs $10 to $75. No lawyer is needed. And you can

small-claims-court

How to File a Lawsuit With No Money: Fee Waivers and Free Help

You can file a lawsuit with no money. Every state lets you ask the court to skip the filing fee if you can't afford it. It's called a fee waiver. You fill out one form about your income, and if you qualify, you file for free.

small-claims-court

Can You Go to Jail for Not Paying a Judgment? What Really Happens

No. You can't go to jail for not paying a judgment. Debtors' prisons were banned by federal law in 1833. No state lets a judge lock you up just for owing money on a civil judgment. But there's a catch, and it's a