County judge:
court attracts
few fanatics
By Jane Owens
Very few "kooks" bring cases to the Lancaster
County Small Claims Court, according to Judge
Jeffrey Cheuvront.
"When the Small Claims Court was first started,
some people were afraid that all kinds of fanatics
would be coming to court," Cheuvront said.
"Actually, that hasn't been true at all. I think the
court is working out very well."
Created by a Nebraska legislative bill passed last
January, the court provides a method for settling
legal disputes involving claims of $500 or less.
The bill, sponsored by the Senate Judiciary
Committee, reorganized Nebraska's county court
system, Cheuvront noted.
Since the Lancaster County Small Claims Court
was established, Cheuvront said he has heard about
30 cases each month.
The court offers several advantages to persons who
use it, he said.
People involved in minor legal disputes do not have
to hire lawyers but still can have a judge decide their
cases.
Another advantage is that Small Claims Court cases
usually are settled quickly. Most are settled within
four months, according to the judge.
Before the court was created, some small claims
were difficult to settle because many lawyers do not
take cases involving such small amounts of money,
Cheuvront said.
About 70 per cent of the court's cases involve
claims of less than $200, the judge said.
Most of the cases Cheuvront hears involve
automobile accident property damages, he said.
The judge said he also hears several legal disputes
between landlords and tenants and a few cases
involving dissatisfied consumers.
"One of the most interesting cases I ve had
involved a $12 claim against the telephone company
for long distance charges. The girl who filed the claim
had one of the best prepared arguments I ve ever
heard, including those prepared by professional
lawyers," Cheuvront said.
According to the judge, the girl brought several
witnesses and af fadavits to court.
The phone company argued that their computer
never makes a mistake," Cheuvront said. The girl won
her case, "which just proves that you can beat b.g
business." . ,
Some persons who win cases are dissatisfied
because they expect the court to collect claims for
them, the judge said. Instead, they must collect their
own claims.
The court can garnish a person's wages or execute
his property if he refuses to pay a claim, Cheuvront
noted.
In addition, either party can appeal the courts
decision to the Lancaster County District Court
within 10 days.
"I've been surprised by the very high percentage
of small claims that have been paid," Cheuvront said.
"We've only had two appeals to go to the District
Court, but I'm certain that it's not duo to the wisdom
of the small claims judge," ho said. "It's just that the
claims are so small it doesn't pay to appeal them."
Cheuvront's other duties include heating probate
and civil cases as a Lancaster County District Cou
judge, he said. S
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daily nebraskan
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