Win Your Lawsuit: Sue in California Superior Court Without a Lawyer

Web Resources\r......Page 0
Table of Contents......Page 9
Your Courtroom Companion......Page 15
1. Is This Book for You?......Page 17
Who Can Use This Book......Page 18
Lawsuits Covered in This Book......Page 19
Lawsuits This Book Does Not Cover......Page 24
When You Have a Choice: Small Claims Court......Page 26
The Pros and Cons of Representing Yourself......Page 27
The Course of a Typical Limited Jurisdiction Case......Page 31
Finding the Law, on Paper and Online......Page 32
General Instructions for Filling Out Your Forms......Page 33
2. Do You Have a Good Case?......Page 35
Is Your Case Fresh Enough?......Page 36
Evaluating the Evidence......Page 37
Preserve Your Evidence Now......Page 40
Can You Collect the Judgment If You Win?......Page 43
How Much Should You Sue For?......Page 44
3. Can’t We Settle Somehow?......Page 49
How Much Are You Willing to Settle For?......Page 50
Should You Use a Third Person to Help You Settle?......Page 51
Making a Settlement Offer......Page 53
Taking Care of the Details......Page 57
Should a Lawyer Review the Settlement Agreement?......Page 59
If You’re Worried About Getting Paid......Page 62
4. Deciding Where and Whom to Sue......Page 63
Selecting the Plaintiff(s)......Page 64
Selecting the Defendant(s)......Page 65
Making Sure You Can Sue in California......Page 77
Selecting the Right Court......Page 79
5. Preparing the Complaint......Page 83
Beginning Your Tort or Contract Complaint......Page 84
Tort Complaints: Personal Injury, Property Damage, and Wrongful Death......Page 87
Contract Complaints......Page 106
Complaints for Other Types of Lawsuits......Page 122
Preparing the Summons and Cover Sheet......Page 124
Preparing a Case Questionnaire......Page 126
Requesting a Waiver of the Filing Fee......Page 127
Preparing an Attachment......Page 131
6. Filing the Papers......Page 133
Photocopy Your Documents......Page 134
Filing the Papers......Page 135
7. Serving the Papers on the Defendants......Page 139
Serve Your Papers by Mail......Page 140
Serving the Summons and Complaint......Page 142
Completing the Proof of Service......Page 144
Serving Other Papers as the Case Proceeds......Page 148
8. Lawsuits from the Defendant’s Point of View......Page 149
Initial Steps......Page 150
Decide Whether to Represent Yourself......Page 156
Ask for More Time......Page 157
Prepare an Answer......Page 158
Prepare a Cross­Complaint......Page 174
What Happens Next?......Page 178
9. If Defendant Doesn’t Respond......Page 181
Taking the Defendant’s Default......Page 182
Applying for a Judgment......Page 188
Court Hearings on Your Default......Page 194
Setting Aside a Default Judgment......Page 195
10. Discovery......Page 199
Types of Discovery......Page 200
Discovery Rules and Limits......Page 201
Doing Your Own Discovery......Page 202
Responding to Discovery......Page 207
Less­Used Methods of Discovery......Page 212
Failing to Respond to a Discovery or Case Questionnaire Request......Page 213
Discovering Doe Defendants......Page 217
11. The Opposition Gets Nasty: Summary Judgment and Other Motions......Page 219
Motion for Summary Judgment......Page 220
Motion for Summary Adjudication of Issues......Page 231
Other Motions: Demurrers, Motions to Quash, and Motions to Strike......Page 232
Demand for Bill of Particulars......Page 233
12. Moving Your Case to Arbitration and Trial......Page 235
Meeting With Your Opponent......Page 236
Completing the Case Management Statement......Page 237
Arbitration or Mediation?......Page 241
Preparing for the Arbitration Hearing......Page 242
Attending the Arbitration Hearing......Page 245
The Arbitration Decision......Page 246
13. Preparing for a Trial or Arbitration......Page 249
A Short Course in the Rules of Evidence......Page 250
Using Written Declarations......Page 253
Having Witnesses Attend a Trial or Arbitration Hearing......Page 260
Making a Chart of Your Evidence......Page 266
Drafting Questions to Ask Your Witnesses......Page 267
Attending a Settlement Conference......Page 268
14.\rTrial Before a Judge......Page 271
Sizing Up the Judge......Page 272
Rules of Courtroom Etiquette......Page 275
Plaintiff’s Case......Page 276
Plaintiff’s Rebuttal......Page 280
Closing Arguments......Page 281
Judgment......Page 282
15. Trial Before a Jury......Page 283
Jury Selection......Page 284
Challenging Jurors......Page 286
Preparing Jury Instructions......Page 287
The Trial......Page 288
Jury Deliberations......Page 289
16. After the Trial......Page 291
Requesting a New Trial......Page 292
Appealing the Judgment......Page 293
17. Finding a Good Lawyer......Page 295
Your Choices......Page 296
Checking Out the Lawyer......Page 298
Appendix. Tear-Out Forms......Page 299
Request for Dismissal......Page 301
Blank Pleading Paper......Page 305
Attachment to Judicial Council Form......Page 307
Complaint—Personal Injury, Property Damage, Wrongful Death......Page 309
Cause of Action—Motor Vehicle......Page 315
Cause of Action—Premises Liability......Page 317
Cause of Action—General Negligence......Page 319
Cause of Action—Intentional Tort......Page 321
Exemplary Damages Attachment......Page 323
Complaint—Contract......Page 325
Cause of Action—Breach of Contract......Page 329
Cause of Action—Breach of Warranty (Merchantability)......Page 331
Cause of Action—Breach of Warranty (Fitness)......Page 335
Civil Case Cover Sheet......Page 339
Civil Case Cover Sheet Addendum and Statement of Location......Page 343
Case Questionnaire—For Limited Civil Cases (Under $25,000)......Page 351
Request to Waive of Court Fees......Page 359
Summons......Page 363
Notice and Acknowledgement of Receipt—Civil......Page 365
Proof of Service by First-Class Mail—Civil......Page 367
Application and Order for Appointment of Guardian ad Litem—Civil......Page 371
Proof of Service of Summons......Page 375
Answer—Personal Injury, Property Damage, Wrongful Death......Page 379
Answer—Contract......Page 383
General Denial......Page 387
Cross-Complaint—Personal Injury, Property Damage, Wrongful Death......Page 391
Request for Entry of Default......Page 397
Judgment......Page 401
Declaration......Page 405
Attached Declaration......Page 407
Form Interrogatories—Limited Civil Cases (Economic Litigation)......Page 409
Requests for Admission......Page 417
Amendment to Complaint (Fictitious/Incorrect Name)......Page 419
Case Management Statement......Page 421
Request for Statement of Witnesses and Evidence......Page 429
Civil Subpoena for Personal Appearance at Trial or Hearing......Page 431
Request for Trial De Novo After Judicial Arbitration......Page 435
Civil Subpoena (Duces Tecum)......Page 439
Index......Page 445
Related Products......Page 461