Naperville Civil Litigation Attorney

DuPage County Lawyer for Small Claims and Landlord Evictions

Civil litigation can be a real hassle. Merely being in a position where you need to take action in civil court can be difficult. If you need to file a lawsuit, it is likely because another party has carelessly or perhaps intentionally caused some type of harm to you. This harm may be personal (a bodily injury) or financial in nature. You may have already tried solving the issue yourself to no avail. Most landlords will make several attempts to collect overdue rent before filing a case, for example. While you may not want the hassle of a court case, filing one may be the only way to recover the money you are owed.

With Appelman Law LLC, you may be pleasantly surprised at how easy litigation can be. Our many years of experience have given us the skills we need to make the court system work for our clients. If your claim is worth less than $10,000, you may be eligible to use the expedited and simplified small claims process. Many types of cases, such as those involving vehicle damage or an unpaid contractual obligation, can be settled in small claims court. Whether your case does or does not qualify for the small claims process, our attorneys can take on the challenge of litigating so that your life is not on hold during the case.

Landlord Evictions

The entire purpose of screening tenants is to prevent a situation where someone you are renting housing to stops paying, damages your property, or uses their unit for illegal purposes. Unfortunately, no screening process is perfect and most landlords will have to file an eviction at least once.

Through civil litigation, you can seek to have the tenant removed and also to obtain a judgement requiring the tenant to pay you for any damages or overdue rent. Although tenants have strong legal protections in Illinois, tenants who fail to pay rent or otherwise violate the terms of their lease can lose those protections. It is important to always work with an attorney when you are seeking to evict a tenant.

Small Claims Court

Small claims court offers a relaxed set of rules and an expedited process for settling minor disputes worth less than $10,000. This often makes small claims court the quickest and most convenient way to settle cases involving lower amounts of money. Types of cases commonly handled in small claims court include:

• Property damage - Minor car accidents that involve some property damage but no personal injury are often settled in small claims court. The same is true of any other cases involving minor property damage, such as petty acts of vandalism or negligent damage to borrowed property.
• Minor personal injury - If your total damages for an injury do not exceed the limit, you may be able to take advantage of the small claims process. This is common for injuries that require only 1-2 outpatient visits to treat and do not lead to a loss of significant income.
• Contractual breach - Has someone stopped making payments they owe you? Were you wrongfully charged for poorly-performed work by a contractor? These types of disputes can generally be settled in small claims court.

Small claims court is an often-underutilized venue for addressing legal disputes involving relatively lower amounts of money. While standard civil courts use a strict set of rules and procedures to protect both parties when large amounts of money are on the line, small claims court offers a more streamlines method for settling cases that do not require this level of formality.

Contact a Naperville Civil Litigation Lawyer

Appelman Law LLC is committed to helping people and small businesses settle their legal disputes in the simplest and most effective way possible. To begin with a complimentary consultation, please contact us at 630-717-7801.