10/31   So I went to Small Claims Court and won. However, I'm really
        dissappointed at how it works. It is quite informal and arbitrary,
        just like politburo, and you're at the mercy of whoever's the judge
        that day. For me, I spent a lot of time organizing photos, documents,
        NOTORIZED documents, etc but the judge didn't even ask for them.
        Like I said it's really arbitrary like politburo. Court system sux.
        \_ and even after you win, how do you collect?
           \_ go to their employer and garnish their wages if they don't
              pay up.
        \_ I won by default 10 years ago when the defedent didn't show up in
           the court.  She hit me in a crash and she didn't have a driver's
           license.  That's the end of the story.  I never collected the
           money.  Oh, the judge did look at the repair estimate slips I showed
           him before setting the amount, though.
           \_ It's your own fault for not persuing it further.  The court only
              decides who wins and for how much, if anything.  There are other
              mechanisms for extracting payment.  The court system is
              excellent.  It allows little people without a lawyer to sue and
              win thousands of dollars with little time, expense, or
              expertise in the law.
              \_ How does one force the other guy to pay after winning in Small
                 Claims Court?
                 \_ There are a few ways, the best is garnishing wages if they
                    have a real job.  If they're entirely under the table it
                    will be harder but not always impossible if you keep on
                    them.  However, it is true that for a very small claim
                    you will spend way more time and effort than the money
                    involved.  Then it becomes about revenge or personal
                    satisfaction.
                        \_ you can pay a collector, $0 if no payment collected
                           but about 50% if collected. The court case is
                           a really powerful document. The paper gives you
                           rights to garnish any information on that person
                           and allows you to mess up his/her credit rating
                           and allows you to seize properties, assets, and
                           more commonly, wages. The other way is to pay
                           for a private investigator who will do these things
                           for you. You can always find one that'll charge
                           $0 if not collected.
           money.