This is the eighth’ of a |
series of columns explaining -

ae how to use the Small Claims a
° Court. Small Claims Court is | - 7

>. a court. in. which the. layman q a re
‘can sue a person who owes | | °.
him money or who has.

_ caused him some damage, ee : oe .

where the amount involved i is . re
$1.000 or less. - a oT re an 7

. Here we explain the f° | , oot a
procedure followed at the J. - .. 3:

: trial. The ‘next. column will, f..-0°. 0?

, explain. how to. "present, your, a ee

» easeattrian

rok i”

. Onice the. ‘summons - is:
served onthe defendant and ::
the defendant’-has filed a 7 Pa]
notice of intention to appear, pes . .
the plaintiff prepares for the | ne re re

- trial date. If the defendant: {| 2 am ne mom

e does not appear onthe day of #0 2. oe Ts

- the trial,. the plaintiff. can..} bs mt, Se eho TL

- ‘obtain a default judgment’ |] ae 7 so ,

: | fexplained in a previous J} oo: |: _ oy
. column). If the plaintiff doés : Y _

_ mot appear, the defendant | -  - -
“wins and can claim:his court fo -*° |; Ce Co,
“Costs and.a.$6 witness fee. : SB EN es

adjourn the hearing, he must.
contact the other party ahead ©
of time. The other party need.
not appear forthe adjourn- -. .
ment. The party wanting the. ” te Oa ge te
adjournment must ° appear EE oes rer enn
and get the judge’s permis- | — . woe
[t= — sion. Thisis usually granted - FES . re - a
the first time. There must be a ce an re me BO ns . eee
an exceptional reason for 9 — nS = 7 a ; :
further adjournment. : aren . a

If the trial is to go ahead,
both parties will. appear at jo
the time  stated:.on the | ae
-- Summons.” The parties” for. Ps
every other trial.that:day will vB ~

PERSONAL to ah ee
also be in the: court oom: Ope

a: Someone in. every home. onthe 2 0 es
-. North: Shore will read these .. * Sos
‘tines: If yous want. to reach ns

. The judge- will” first hear . - _ co - averyone .on the: North Shore,

_ applications. - ‘for... adjourn- | - ; : os ao *
“aments: Then’ the. clerk” cwill: a a a “Gisrtaye scoop s : .
°. call the trial. list.” When your’ “ - ” “ an Saker t & * CLASSIFIED: 98 “3464 © ~ a .

. case. is called, stand up and te . ee “We're: ‘pany to talk: to rs a a Bos
introduce. yourself. Then: sit:  , mo cy ue ot ; oe : oe

.. ‘ b en ee . ~
down and wait for your case po . ae
to be heard. If there are long J... . ma, ea oe Do
. trials ahead of you on thelist, -f- 00. - ” ae a . ae

this could take some time. oy = : Do ae Boe a ns So .

When. your, case: ‘is ‘valled, , ;
- both parties. ‘approdc.i- the, ee
front of- the .court: and. ee
reintroduce ‘themselves... At Bo me
_ this point: you can. ask the rr :
court to‘-amend,. ie. to Fo 0 -
corréct’,. mistakes:.in’ your. f+. ,
- summons..\ The? defendant: .
can ‘object. to the change if it.
oc, 2 means: ‘he | is: not: therefore’
". . prepared; For'..example, vif:
Jo) you try to, add another claim .. J.
to he summons; he. will’ ot :
have his.defense prepared: ‘on;
~~. that: matter.:.If the’ jiidge' re
-+ gives him the adjournment, | | _ _ . *
_.,.. the summons .. must. te. bh,
corrected and reserved. ee ee

Ifthere is: no adjournment, : en IR
the trial. proceeds, The Po
plaintiff. goes first.\He calls (fs me
ro his’ -withedses,, . “including ’:
himself. to’. the: stand to:.be:
sworn, and: give ‘évidence. Fo,
‘After. “he: ee ‘ asked “his” ah —
questions: of; each witness; J oe hos
‘the defendant can: cross / er

. an examine. ya ; a en ae
at 4 ‘ ’ a 0 Moe . . mos
‘Then the: defendant, calls ST! rae

| his witnesses,’ and: the Po
laintiff .cross examines) Stat
nally, the parties are given a oe et es
‘a chaneo’ to summarize their Pe
Co case and’ make submissions” ']. yo ry eee
. to the judge. ey

The procedure for presen: le co a 4 bye
-, ting your. case will be" fp | - " . ae te,

i”. explained in’: the. Text, | ce oe Byes
$ , column. .- -” mae ‘ -_ . et my Set oa tae, wa " . :
be S  Bor more. ‘infomation, \° er ne
hoe “contact the: Vancotver Peow Po: rs ae

' ple’s Law School and order | mT ore
. oir bookl¢ o on » Small Clan | ee rs
' Court.: o why Pa my emer

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