Legal Question in Civil Litigation in California

Re: small claim

Normally you must file in one of the following places: where the defendant lives, where the contract was entered into, where the the real property is located. Even if you can sue in California, will you be able to collect anything from him? You would have to get a court order honoring the California judgment and then have it enforced where he lives. If he works for someone, does not have his own home, or the car he bought has little value, you are not going to recover anything. The only negative that occurs to him is that his credit records will show a judgment against him.

Send him a letter offering to compromise for a lower sum in cash or that you will then have to use your legal rights to sue, etc. Good luck.