Page 46 - Judgment Enforcement Course

Judgment Enforcement – The Step-by-Step Course

make payments, or to vacate the judgment, or something else. Hugely important. Think of

it like an auto-dealer showroom: You want to see everything you can.

Questions and Answers

Q. What if I ask for a case file and clerk says “Sorry, they are not for the
general public?”

A. I’ve never had this problem, but I’m sure it has happened. If it happens to you, don’t
get irritated or angry. That will get you nowhere at a court. But sometimes clerks need

some gentle instruction. The Freedom of Information Act guarantees that federal and state
public records are available to the public. They must show you the records. But you
probably won’t want to demand that they produce them for you. Instead, ask the clerk if he
or she is sure they can’t be viewed. Politely ask the clerk to please check with a supervisor
to make sure. I’ll add that I’ve heard that in a few courts there’s a small fee to view a case.

Q. If I explain my business to the clerk, will he or she have heard of it?
A. Maybe, but maybe not. That’s why it’s part of your job to be a kind of teacher. I’ve

had clerks say, “I’ve never heard of that.” I also had a clerk check with a judge, who said,
“I’ve never heard of that business, but it’s a great idea! It can help these people get their
money.”

Peter’s Personal Story:

Before I started in this business, courts made me sweaty. My only experience in court
was when the person who bought my house sued me for a leaky skylight. Ugh. I found
myself nervous in front of the judge. I also lost the case, but that’s a different story. Even
when I went to the courthouse on business the first time, I wasn’t all that uncomfortable. It
wasn’t my home yet, and I didn’t know anyone. I didn’t know the rules. I thought maybe I

was the only person who didn’t know anything. It was like the first day at a new school.
Today I’m as comfortable as a cat on a couch. It took some time, but now the
courthouse is familiar territory. Research, and Hands-On Experience are the keys to
success in any business. They are our keys too.

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