Q: Do I need a lawyer to handle a lawsuit in Small Claims Court?
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- New York
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- Answered
A:
Not necessarily, but you absolutely MUST be organized. If you are presenting your case to the judge, make sure you have copies of the exhibits for the other side, the judge and yourself. If you are cross examining a witness, take your time, be civil and clear, and make sure you do not interrupt the witness and listen to the judge's instructions carefully. Make sure well in advance that if you have any witnesses, including experts such as car mechanics or repairmen, that they are available for the Cort appearance, and if they are not, attempt to obtain a short adjournment of the trial, which you must do on notice (send a letter to the Court with a copy to your opponent).
If the other side is represented by a lawyer, you may want to ask the Court for an adjournment to obtain a lawyer if you can afford one, so that the adversary doesn't have an unfair advantage. Good luck!
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