Legal Question in Personal Injury in Illinois
I'm not sure if a judgment has been entered against me or not, but a small claims court case I am involved in is going to prove up. I impeached the plaintiff testimony twice, and I had a witness in court (my sister) who can testify to that.
I presented compelling evidence of my case to the judge and the judge just simply said, "I don't believe you". What can I do? Can I appeal this judgment before the prove up takes place? What are my options here. This involves a car accident but no bodily injury claimed, just property damage.
The judge actually said there was not "enough damage" to the plaintiffs car to rule in my favor, but the witness only showed part of the damage to her car in the pictures she presented. The estimates for damage were not allowed as evidence, but the estimates detail much more damage than was presented by the plaintiff in court.
Bear in mind I have a witness to what happened in the court that day who is willing to testify under oath to the lies the plaintiff told. Also, the court had it on record that I had pleaded guilty to a traffic ticket also connected with this case, which I subsequently proved to be untrue. The plaintiff kept saying to the judge, "I was there. He plead guilty. I heard it come out of his mouth, etc." And while true the plaintiff was there in traffic court, I most certainly plead not guilty, and when the judge ordered the records brought to the bench, she saw in fact that the judge in that case recorded a plea of "not guilty" so that was tossed as evidence. Main point here is the plaintiff lying under oath about hearing me plead guilty that day in court. I impeached her testimony on another fact regarding previous damage to her vehicle, but the judge seemed not to care a whit about it.
I'm in a jam here as I feel I am being railroaded, and my rights are being violated. I need help FAST. Can you advise me? Is there warrant from what I've entered here to have a review of this trial and should I file an appeal?? Thank you. Please help.
1 Answer from Attorneys
Generally, you have 30 days from final judgment to file an appeal.