Legal Question in Civil Litigation in Illinois

Is $500 worth suing?

This is my problem, I am a college

student and basically have very limitted

spending income. I recently bought

items for someone with the assurance

that I would be paid back (most of

which I do have in writing).

Furthermore, this person also sent a

package through FedEX (for a total bill

of $167) under my name and address.

They also removed their credit card

from our group's hotel room on a

recent trip and I am now stuck with

their $210 bill. Earlier this month, this

person moved from FL to CA, but

something happened to cause them to

move back to FL. I currently have no

working phone number for this person,

but I do have an address for their

parent's house which is where they have

told mutual acquaintances is where they

are staying. I was getting the run

around about the money owed for the

better part of the month and now I have

not heard directly from this person for

the better part of two weeks. I have also

recently learned that this person also

owes numerous others amounts of

money ranging from $35-$125.

So, my question is, in your opinion,

should I sue this person? If yes, is there

in any direction that you can give me in

going about doing it? Thank you.


Asked on 9/17/06, 2:15 am

1 Answer from Attorneys
Nima Taradji Taradji Law Offices

Re: Is $500 worth suing?

The long and short answer is: "no." It's not worth it. You will end up spending $250 for the suit and perhaps you even get a judgment--after many court appearances and days taken of off work.

Then, once you have a judgment, your problem will be collection of it. The type of person you are talking about usually is judgment proof--unless they are independently wealthy--but even then, you will have to naturalize your judgment in Florida and see whether Florida law allows you to collect your judgment... all this will cost you!

My advice, is to forget the money you have lost and learn from whatever mistake you have made.

Move on and forget.

I hope this helps,

Taradji Law Offices

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Answered on 9/17/06, 5:35 am


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