small-claims-court

A collection of 187 posts

home-warranty

Home warranty denied your claim? Here's what to do

Home warranty denied your claim? Stop. Don't pay yet. You have real options. The Better Business Bureau got 15,000 home warranty complaints in one year. A Forbes survey found 13% of homeowners had a claim denied outright. That's lots of people in your exact position.

small-claims-court

Can You Sue a Company That Went Out of Business? (Usually, Yes)

Yes, you can usually sue a company that went out of business. Here's the part most people miss. Most businesses that "close" never file the legal papers to shut down. On paper, they still exist, and you can sue them like normal. Even a company that

small-claims-court

How to sue a corporation in small claims court (and why you have more leverage than you think)

Yes, you can sue a corporation in small claims court. That includes Amazon, Walmart, your airline, your bank, and your gym. You don't need a lawyer. You don't need a lot of money. And you can get a hearing date in 60 to 90 days. Small

small-claims-court

How to Sue Someone in Another State (Without Flying There)

Yes, you can sue someone in another state. The real question is where. You can always sue a person in the state where they live. You can often sue them in your own state instead, if the deal happened there, the damage happened there, or they do business there. And

small-claims-court

New York Lemon Law: How It Actually Works (Yes, Used Cars Too)

The New York lemon law makes a carmaker refund or replace your new car when it can't fix a warranty defect after 4 tries, or after the car sits in the shop for 30 or more days. And New York goes further than almost every other state: it

small-claims-court

California Lemon Law: How It Actually Works (2026 Rule Changes)

The California lemon law makes a carmaker buy back or replace your car when it can't fix a warranty defect after a fair number of tries. It's the strongest lemon law in the country. But the rules changed in 2025 and 2026 under two new laws:

small-claims-court

Texas Lemon Law: How It Actually Works (New and Used Cars)

The Texas lemon law can force a manufacturer to buy back, replace, or fix a new vehicle that keeps breaking under warranty. Your car needs to pass one of three tests, which we'll get to. And here's the part nobody expects: there's no lawsuit.

small-claims-court

Florida Lemon Law: How It Actually Works (New and Used Cars)

The Florida lemon law (Chapter 681, Florida Statutes) covers new and demonstrator vehicles for the first 24 months after delivery. If the manufacturer can't fix a serious defect after a reasonable number of tries, you can get a refund or a replacement vehicle. Here's the catch

small-claims-court

What to Do If Someone Sues You (Step by Step)

If someone sues you, do not ignore it. Read the papers to find your deadline. In most states you get 14 to 30 days to act. Then pick one of four moves: fight it, settle it, countersue, or do nothing. Do nothing and the court can enter a default judgment

small-claims-court

Can You Sue Someone Without Proof? What Counts as Evidence

You can file a lawsuit without proof. No one checks your evidence when you file. But winning is a different story. To win, you need enough evidence to show your version of events is more likely true than not. That's a lower bar than most people think. And

small-claims-court

How to sue an apartment complex: a step-by-step guide

You can sue an apartment complex in small claims court. You don't need a lawyer. Most disputes are over security deposits, mold, or unsafe living conditions. Start by writing everything down. Then send a demand letter. Many landlords settle right there, before you ever file in court. If

small-claims-court

How to Countersue Someone (And What Happens When You Do)

To countersue, you file your own claim against the person suing you, inside the same case. Courts call it a counterclaim. In small claims court, that means one short form (California uses the SC-120 Defendant's Claim), a filing fee that usually runs $5 to $75, and getting

small-claims-court

How Out of Court Settlements Actually Work (Real Data From 2026)

An out of court settlement is when two parties resolve a dispute without a trial. No judge decides. No jury. Both sides agree on terms, sign a written deal, and move on. Most consumer disputes end this way. At PettyLawsuit, about 70% of cases resolve without anyone going to court.

small-claims-court

Can You Sue a Company for Harassment? What Actually Counts

Yes, you can sue a company for harassment. But which door you walk through depends on one thing: do you work there? Employees have to go through the EEOC first, and the harassment has to target something the law protects, like race, sex, religion, age, or disability. Everyone else gets

small-claims-court

Can You Sue Anyone for Anything? The Honest Answer

Yes, you can sue anyone for anything. Sort of. Nobody at the courthouse checks whether your case is good before you file. Fill out a form, pay the fee, congrats, you're suing someone. Winning is a whole different animal. A court only hands you money if you got

small-claims-court

Can a Landlord Sue a Tenant for Damages? Both Sides of the Fight

Yes. A landlord can sue a tenant for damages that go beyond normal wear and tear. Unpaid rent, heavy cleaning bills, money lost when a tenant breaks the lease early: all fair game too. Most of these fights end up in small claims court, and state limits run anywhere from

small-claims-court

Can You Get Fired for Suing Your Employer? What Really Happens

No. Your employer can't legally fire you for suing them over unpaid wages, discrimination, harassment, or a workers' comp claim. Firing you for it is called retaliation. That's a separate violation with its own payout. It stacks on top of your first claim. But there&

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