Consider this scenario: you're a successful
floor finisher and have just
completed a project that consisted of
sanding and resurfacing a client's dining
room floor. You've made the floor
gleam, packed up your equipment, and
even finished the job on schedule. But
when you request payment the client
expresses dissatisfaction. Portions of
the floor were gouged, he says, and
the surface appears to have bubble
spots. The client refuses to pay the
bill, which — labor and materials
included — you've set at $575. How
can you collect payment without necessarily
hiring a lawyer? By taking the
matter to small claims court.
Quite often, a small contractor is in
the position of seeking relatively small
monetary damages from a