A judgment worth your time? Inside Milwaukee County small claims court
MILWAUKEE COUNTY (WITI) — Love watching shows like "Divorce Court" or "Judge Judy" - where the testimony and decisions come quick? When it comes to small claims courts, the drama that plays out on television isn't what happens in real life.
Alison Norris knows all too well how the process works. She filed against her landscaper, Joseph Aiello, in Racine County's small claims court. She and her husband hired Aiello to do work on their backyard. It's a job that was never finished. Norris won her case and Aiello owes her more than $2,700 for money she paid him and court fees. However, Norris still hasn't seen the money or Aiello.
Norris' decision to go to small claims court to get her money back is common.
In Milwaukee County in 2014, more than 35,000 had cases in small claims court.
In general, to file under small claims in Milwaukee County, the case has to be for about $10,000 or less. It will cost you $98 to file and another $60 to serve the person you're suing. Still, even if you do everything right and win your judgment — it's not guaranteed you'll get your money back.
Judicial Commissioner Maria Dorsey says that's the number one mistake or misconception people have about "winning" in small claims court.
"Oftentimes, when somebody gets a money judgment against somebody else, oftentimes, they think the court is a bank or something and gives out the money that they're awarded," Dorsey said.
It doesn't work that way. If the person won't pay you back, you have to be your own investigator -- and find out where they work and how to garnish their wages.
The entire process can be confusing, especially since in most cases people don't have a lawyer. Milwaukee County does offer assistance. Two days a week people can attend a free legal clinic at the Milwaukee County Justice Center on the ground floor of the Milwaukee County Courthouse. The clinic pairs people with law students from Marquette University and attorneys from the area who volunteer their services.
"We work with them to fill out the first step of the paperwork, tell them the room numbers they need to go to, what the filing fee's going to cost, fill out a fee waiver— just get them going in the right direction," said Katie Mayer, Assistant Director of Pro Bono & Public Service at Marquette University Law School.
When your case is in small claims court, Commissioner Dorsey says you've got to pay attention. You can't be reading or on your phone because it will cost you.
"If you missed your case, if you're a tenant, your landlord could have already been given the authority to go to the sheriff because it looks as if you're not here," explained Dorsey.
The process is time-consuming and you have to decide if it's worth it. For Alison Norris, she's not sure if her efforts paid off.
"I think we went back three times to court and then to finally get our judgement and even then it's not even guaranteed that we're going to get our money. To me, I didn't get the results that I wanted," Norris said.
FOX6's Contact 6 tried to help Norris get results. Katrina Cravy sent Joey Aiello letters, left voicemails and tried to find him at home, but still he is nowhere to be found.
If you're considering going to small claims court in Milwaukee County — you can learn more about the process by clicking HERE.