Small claims court cases are resolved by trial, arbitration, settlement, or default judgment. Trial. This is the method that is most familiar to most Americans.

The purpose of small claims court is to allow for people to resolve their disputes quickly and inexpensively, for claims that are usually less than $10,000. Knowing when to use them, on the other ...

March 11 (Reuters) - During a recent small claims court hearing in San Francisco, a baseball cap-wearing handyman accused a property owner of throwing out his tools worth $2,000. In another case ...

But in Small Claims Court, you act as your own lawyer and can sue debtors of all sorts. Landlords. A boss who owes you a check. A car insurance company that didn't cover damages.