top Ad Widget

Collapse

Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

Being sued. What's the first step?

Collapse
X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

    Being sued. What's the first step?

    My lovely landlord is finally getting around to suing me for about $5000. Just got the letter today (haven't picked it up at the post office. I knew what is was so I looked it up online.) Not sure when the court date is.

    What's my first step? I really have no defense. I mean, I owe them the money. I wasn't planning on filing bk until the beginning of September as we would have more time to prepare the paperwork.

    Is there ANYTHING I can do to buy time?
    I may be smarter than an attorney, but I'm not one. No legal advice here, people.
    Filed Ch. 7 pro se on 10/22/10 341 on 11/19/10 Report of No Distribution Filed on 11/19/10 Discharged 1/19/11 Closed 2/2/11

    #2
    #1 answer the summons. I know in my state we have 30 days from service to answer so you may want to look up the timeline for your court. Once you answer you should get a court date for sometime in the future. That should start you off.
    Filed Chapter 7 - 06/30/2010
    Discharged - 11/18/2010
    Closed - 12/22/2010

    Comment


      #3
      Ok good. Thanks.

      So it seems I could easily wait until the beginning of September to file?

      I just want to file before they garnish. I don't care about the rest. Just want to avoid garnishment.
      I may be smarter than an attorney, but I'm not one. No legal advice here, people.
      Filed Ch. 7 pro se on 10/22/10 341 on 11/19/10 Report of No Distribution Filed on 11/19/10 Discharged 1/19/11 Closed 2/2/11

      Comment


        #4
        Here's some info on answering a complaint in Ohio. http://www.ohiolegalservices.org/pub...s/qandact_view

        It looks like you have 28 days to answer. Even if you don't answer and they get a default judgement on the 29th day, they are very unlikely to get a garnishment in place before you file in early September. But, to be sure you have plenty of time, you should probably file an answer so a court date will be set. The above link has a lot of info that should help you with the answer.
        LadyInTheRed is in the black!
        Filed Chap 13 April 2010. Discharged May 2015.
        $143,000 in debt discharged for $36,500, including attorneys fees. Money well spent!

        Comment


          #5
          Don't ignore the summons though. I was also sued by Citibank but I was prepared by their threatening letter before, along with many other creditors so by the time I got the sommons, I was just a few days into filing. About the wage garnishment, it's going to take them a while until they can actually get it, that's what I understand, because they have to get a judgment against you first. Showing up in court can buy you some time, I think. Your best bet is to talk to your attorney to find out.
          Filed chapter 7 Jul 13, 2010 341 hearing Aug 12, 2010 Trustee's report of no distribution Aug 20, 2010 Discharged Oct 13, 2010 Closed Oct 28, 2010.

          Comment


            #6
            Thanks everyone. A big relief. If we wait to respond until like the 27th day, then that will be mid-late August. Then a court date, probably won't be until the beginning of September. Then a judgment. I did see on the court website that a judgment for not showing and for losing are the same. I can't afford to miss work for a court case I'm going to lose, so I plan on scheduling but no showing, lol. Then they have to give us 30 days to pay the judgment, so it won't be until October before they could submit a request to garnish, to which they have to give us a 15 day notice.

            Fantastic! Perfect timing as well.
            I may be smarter than an attorney, but I'm not one. No legal advice here, people.
            Filed Ch. 7 pro se on 10/22/10 341 on 11/19/10 Report of No Distribution Filed on 11/19/10 Discharged 1/19/11 Closed 2/2/11

            Comment

            bottom Ad Widget

            Collapse
            Working...
            X