Filing in Small Claims Court

[MJM1977]

What is the name of your state? Washington


I am considering filing a case agaisnt a seller in small claims court. I won't bore you with the details (sufficed to say it doesn't involve me buying magic beans or envelopes with jokes inside.) Anyway, I am in Washington and the seller is in Arkansas. I want to know:

A) Can I file a claim against him here?

and...

B) if not, would I have to travel to Arkansas to file a claim there, or could it be done by mail or phone?

 

[CALIF-LAWPRO45]

What is the name of your state? Washington


I am considering filing a case agaisnt a seller in small claims court. I won't bore you with the details (sufficed to say it doesn't involve me buying magic beans or envelopes with jokes inside.) Anyway, I am in Washington and the seller is in Arkansas. I want to know:

A) Can I file a claim against him here?

MY RESPONSE: Sure. It would be worthless to do so, but sure, you can file in your town. Remember: Your watchword is "jurisdiction."


and...

B) if not, would I have to travel to Arkansas to file a claim there, or could it be done by mail or phone?

MY RESPONSE: You can certainly call the clerk of the appropriate court to obtain the Small Claims paperwork, and mail them back when you complete them. However, you will need to make a personal appearance or two in Arkansas for the trial.

When you think about all the non-reimburseable money you'll be spending to sue the guy, it becomes economically ridiculous. This is the reason why dealing across State lines makes litigation prohibitive. Perhaps this will teach you a good lesson to stop using the computer, and buy locally.

IAAL

 

[MJM1977]

. Perhaps this will teach you a good lesson to stop using the computer, and buy locally.

IAAL

This may shock you, but I can't find everything I want at the local wal-mart. There are alot of things out there that can only be found via the internet or mail catalog. Small local stores carry only a limited number of the things I collect, and charge way more than they should. When I take into account the time and gas money I would have to spend to find things "locally," it is still more than worth it shopping online, even if a deal goes sour now and then. Not to mention the fact that that I NEVER would have been able to find most of the things I have online.

Hmmm... I think I'll go to ebay and see if there's anything I want. And those little local collectable shops? They can either learn to compete, or die.

 

[CALIF-LAWPRO62]

This may shock you, but I can't find everything I want at the local wal-mart. There are alot of things out there that can only be found via the internet or mail catalog. Small local stores carry only a limited number of the things I collect, and charge way more than they should. When I take into account the time and gas money I would have to spend to find things "locally," it is still more than worth it shopping online, even if a deal goes sour now and then. Not to mention the fact that that I NEVER would have been able to find most of the things I have online.

Hmmm... I think I'll go to ebay and see if there's anything I want. And those little local collectable shops? They can either learn to compete, or die.

My response:

Good for you! Maybe, someday, you'll get tired of being cheated by people across State lines, with an inability to do anything about it. Or, maybe you've got a truckload of money in your bank account, and you don't care.

Have fun.

IAAL