Legal Aid and Defender (LAD) has been conducting a series of free workshops this summer for residents of Wayne, Macomb and Oakland counties on how to represent themselves in small claims court and collect money judgments.
 |
|
Mary Morris of the Wayne Mediation Center (left) joins Michelle Johnson of LAD at our July 19 workshop.
(Photo by John Meiu)
|
LAD scheduled the summer workshops in response to the popularity of its spring workshops on small claims court.
The first workshop was held July 19 at LAD headquarters in Detroit. The second was on August 14, and the third will be Tuesday, September 18 at the Sterling Heights Public Library, 40255 Dodge Park Road, Sterling Heights.
Michelle Johnson, supervising attorney of LAD's Detroit-Wayne office, conducted the July 19 workshop. Small claims court is a judicial process in district courts for settling money disputes of $3,000 or less, she said.
The limit will be raised to $5,000 in September, then triennially in increments of $500 until it reaches $7,000 in 2024, Johnson added.
Mary Morris, a program representative for the
Wayne Mediation Center, was the guest speaker at the workshop. She explained to attendees how they could use mediation as an alternative to filing suit in small claims court.
 |
| Macomb County office conducts a small claims court workshop at Clinton/Macomb Library led by Kelly Bidelman, managing attorney at LAD. |
The workshops are designed to teach tri-county residents how to represent themselves in the small claim court and collect money judgments.
Kelly Bidelman, managing attorney of LAD's Macomb County office in Mount Clemens, conducted the May 15 workshop.
In a response to a question from an attendee, Bidelman said that personal injury cases cannot be filed in small claims court, but must be filed in circuit court.
Due to their popularity, LAD is planning to conduct additional workshops this year in the tri-county area.
Attorneys and law firms will also be honored for their volunteer service providing legal representation for clients through LAD's pro bono program. These include the Kelvin W. Scott Pro Bono Corporation of the Year and the Law Firm of the Year.
