Just want what we're owed...

[bobs_5150]

We are in California, our client is in Florida. The client halted development on a custom business app a few days before completion. At the time she halted development she had two invoices past due, one for $4,500 and one for $3,500. We consulted a collection attorney who told us we will never find anyone to take the case because the amount is so small. He also told us that because she sought out our services, jurisdiction falls in California, but then we would have to get judgement recognized by a Florida court to collect, so it would be easier to file in Florida.

She refuses to pay on the grounds that there are errors on the site. Our response is that there are errors because she halted development before it was finished (by refusing to pay her outstanding invoices). Had she not quit paying us, we would have been finished in a few days. She also ducked all questions about when she would pay the outstanding debt, refused to make payment arrangements, etc. We worked until the first invoice was three weeks past due before we gave up - she had ample time to address the payment issue.

My questions:

1) Can we file two small claims actions, one for each invoice, so we don't have to eat the extra $3,000?

2) If we file in California and win, how hard will it be to get a judgement recognized in Florida? (This, of course, would save us extensive travel costs).

Thanks, Bob

 

[I AM ALWAYS LIABLE]

We are in California, our client is in Florida. The client halted development on a custom business app a few days before completion. At the time she halted development she had two invoices past due, one for $4,500 and one for $3,500. We consulted a collection attorney who told us we will never find anyone to take the case because the amount is so small. He also told us that because she sought out our services, jurisdiction falls in California, but then we would have to get judgement recognized by a Florida court to collect, so it would be easier to file in Florida.

She refuses to pay on the grounds that there are errors on the site. Our response is that there are errors because she halted development before it was finished (by refusing to pay her outstanding invoices). Had she not quit paying us, we would have been finished in a few days. She also ducked all questions about when she would pay the outstanding debt, refused to make payment arrangements, etc. We worked until the first invoice was three weeks past due before we gave up - she had ample time to address the payment issue.

My questions:

1) Can we file two small claims actions, one for each invoice, so we don't have to eat the extra $3,000?

2) If we file in California and win, how hard will it be to get a judgement recognized in Florida? (This, of course, would save us extensive travel costs).

Thanks, Bob

My response:

Easy to ask, difficult to explain. It would take hours to answer your questions.

Therefore, it would be in your best interests to go to Barnes & Noble to pick up one of their real good books on Small Claims court procedure. Your answers, procedures, and "what if" outcomes are all spelled out in the various chapters.

Good luck to you.

IAAL

 

[bobs_5150]

thanks...

Thanks for your response. Can you recommend specific titles?

 

[I AM ALWAYS LIABLE]

Re: thanks...

Thanks for your response. Can you recommend specific titles?

My response:

Go here to check it out. Use "Small Claims" as your search parameter:

http://www.inetsupermall.com/barns_noble_online_books.htm

IAAL