Legal Question in Credit and Debt Law in Michigan

Dentist suing over $200 bill

I have a question about a case a dentist filed with me. First off, I do owe him $200-maybe $300 now cause he keeps adding interest onto it. In July of 08, I signed for a letter stating he was taking me to court for the above amount. (The address was incorrect on the notice) The date was set. Since I never disputed I owed him the amount--layoffs and a higher mortgage payment kept me from making the payment agr. I made with him--I didn't show for the hearing. (on top of the fact that the hearing was @ 8am, 30 miles from my house, 3 of my kids get on the bus @ 8am, and I have a 1yr old, and no one to watch him, with my husband taking our only vehicle to work that day) I figured that since I knew i owed him, they would enter a judgement, and take my taxes.(they didn't) When taxes came, we were so far behind on everything, that I couldn't pay it then, and they wouldn't accept anything but the full amount. I then get a notice last week saying I need to show for a contempt of court hearing, because of 2 no shows in Jan, and March 9. I never got those notices. They want assets, and the house, car, bank is in my husband's name, and I don't work. Do I have to furnish that info? Do I have to pay costs for hearings I knew nothing about?


Asked on 3/16/09, 9:03 am

1 Answer from Attorneys
Lesley Hoenig Lesley A. Hoenig, Attorney at Law

Re: Dentist suing over $200 bill

What happened is they are doing a citation to discover assets, and they purport to have properly served you with the initial notice. They are legally allowed to seek information about property in your name. They cannot touch property that is not in your name for debts that you personally owe, you just need to be honest with them about your assets.

With that said, if you truly did not receive notice, you should consult with a local attorney to help you with dealing with the issue of paying costs for proceedings you were not aware of. Whatever you do, you need to make sure you make it to your next court date so that you aren't found in contempt.

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Answered on 3/16/09, 6:28 pm


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