basketcase Posted October 17, 2010 Report Share Posted October 17, 2010 Ok this might sound like a really stupid question to most of you and please excuse my ignorance of these legal issues as I have never encountered these problems and I also have never been in a courthouse before (a little sheltered I guess). But I am a very determined person and I will conquer this!!!So my question is...If I go to the courthouse which I am assuming at this point it would be the Consolidated Justice Court that this summons mentions, Do I just ask someone to point me to the case files and when they do this what am I to expect a file cabinet or computers that I just start looking through? How helpful are the people at the courthouse with explaining where and how to search.And when you find these case files what do they contain, is it just the outcome or are all the documents filed available for viewing? Will I have any hair left when I leave the courthouse??????? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soveu53 Posted October 17, 2010 Report Share Posted October 17, 2010 Ok first things first breathe in and out ok nowWhat is it that your are trying to do?Are you intending to research case laws than your best bet is to go to a law library but reading your post its would be another nightmare in itself believe me doing legal research is a nightmare in itself if your new to it. Heck I still hate doing research unless its an interesting case lol..If your going to the courthouse to locate your case file than you just go to the window and ask the clerk if they can advise you on where to look for a case fileeach state and courthouse is set up differently when I went to do research on small claims cases they were on computer, microfiche, and in books, so it just depends on how the court house is set up.As for rather or not the clerks of the court will be helpful well good luck each individual has a different experience. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
basketcase Posted October 17, 2010 Author Report Share Posted October 17, 2010 Thanks for your reply, I am preparing to file my answer to a summons and If I am understanding right someone they said to go to the courthouse and check the case files for the JDB's that are suing me and see the files that the defendants won to see on what basis they won. Does that sound right? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soveu53 Posted October 17, 2010 Report Share Posted October 17, 2010 Yes, You do want to pull some of their cases and see what their working with and don't forget about looking for what type of defenses were used. Take notes or make copies that way you can refer back to them if you have any questions later on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
basketcase Posted October 17, 2010 Author Report Share Posted October 17, 2010 Thank you Soveu38, Heading downtown for this new adventure this week....YIPEEE I can do it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soveu53 Posted October 17, 2010 Report Share Posted October 17, 2010 Your welcom hope I helped you a little bit and you can do it have fun with it too Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LostMind Posted October 17, 2010 Report Share Posted October 17, 2010 I would recommend checking the court calendar for civil dates and try and sit in and see what goes on in your court to get comfortable with it, I found this to be very educational. There may be a law library you can use at your court house, ours has a computer terminal in it where printing is free as opposed to the clerks office where it's 50 cents a page and your neighbors are looking over your shoulder( yes this did happen to me). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chapel Hill Posted October 18, 2010 Report Share Posted October 18, 2010 Your willingness to take the time do research cases puts you well ahead of anyone here who had taken a default judgment when they could have just done what you're doing.At the courthouse you will research the law firm that is suing you. Read every case they have filed since 2008. You need to know the result. Did the case settle? Was the case dismissed? Did they outright get their a$$ kicked? Was the case dismissed based on a motion by the trial court?What do you think you as an individual could do once you know the answer to these above questions? This is your fight. You will get out of it what you put into it. It's nice to have help but let me tell you. No one who has taken a dismissed with prejudice did so because someone else did the work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
basketcase Posted October 18, 2010 Author Report Share Posted October 18, 2010 LostMind & Chapel Hill, Thank you for your advice and encouragement! I might now know what I am doing yet but, I am determined to figure it out so thank you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chapel Hill Posted October 18, 2010 Report Share Posted October 18, 2010 Your showing up shows the judge that you take your case seriously. Not matter the circumstance always be present when your case is filed even if not required. You want the jurist hearing your case to get a feel for you as a person. They will know whether or not they can play fast and loose with your rights or whether you'll spend the next 4 years outside their home with a sign and 20 of your closest friends. In a nutshell a telephonic appearance doesn't do you as a litigant as much good and being present to see the reaction of the judge. You can also use your hands to make gestures and just in general screw over the person to lazy or too busy to show up. You should also be able to do a fairly good job of arguing over a voice on the telephone when you're in the courtroom. Fine line between being adversarial and being an a$$. You should visit your judges courtroom for as many hearings as you can to learn where that fine line is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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