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Monday, May 11, 2009 9:30 pm by Kaci Christian, FOX23.com, Tulsa OK)—Your neighbor’s kid hit a baseball through your window, but refuses to pay. Or you thought the mechanic had fixed your transmission, but the car’s conked out again, and he wants to charge you more! Or your slacker tenant hasn’t paid the rent, but just won’t leave. These are just a sampling of problems that might have you ready to take legal action. In tonight’s
Solving Problems report, FOX 23’s Kaci Christian shows the steps you’ll need to take in
So You Want to Sue.
“If you’ve had it up to here, and you’re ready to take your friend, your tenant, your neighbor, or anyone to court—and the damages are less than $6,000, Small Claims Court is the place to go,” reports FOX 23’s Kaci Christian, “but is it worth it? And how do you prove your case?”
“Judgment $896.67, plus fees and costs,” orders Judge Charles Hogshead in Tulsa County’s Small Claims Court.
And on another case, Judge Hogshead rules, “Judgment for $1,464.62.”
“$6,000 plus costs to the action,” says the judge.
Sounds good, right? Having a judge rule in your favor, and money ordered to come your way. But there are things you need to know to successfully navigate the Small Claims Court.
First, meet Judge Charles Hogshead.
He’s heard it all.
“We did over 22,000 cases last year,” explains Judge Hogshead.
“Everybody that comes in here thinks that they’ve got—their case is a winner,” he says. “That all the facts are on their side, if you just listen to their story, you’re automatically gonna see they’re right—except both of ’em feel that way.”
