I have only just seen this thread. Ralph Warner has written a book "Everybody's Guide to Small Claims Court" a work of about 500 pages which I have only browsed through. But it would be a "must read" for anyone bringing a suit in a small claims court in the United States. It is available for free reading on the internet. Some states do allow representation by lawyers and some don't.
But what I have been told by Attorneys in New York is that Judges themselves usually discourage Attorneys from appearing except where a litigant is under some disability which prevents him from adequately setting out his side of the story. Judges prefer to have an informal hearing in these cases, although if the case turns on a point of law, the parties should acquaint themselves with the relevant point of law. In the case where a body corporate such as an airline is a party, some human person must appear for the company and it is usual for an Attorney to represent the company. The Attorney must give advance notice to the Court and to the other side, that he has been retained to appear. The other side can then decide if he also should have an Attorney present.
Last edited by AirlinesMustPay; Oct 19, 2009 at 2:55 AM.
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