4. Prepare for trial
Question & Answer
I’m being sued by someone in Small Claims Court. What should I do?Settlement Conference
If you disagreed with all or part of the claim against you, you will have a . This must happen within 90 days of when you filed your Defence. You must have a settlement conference before you can go to trial.
A settlement conference is an informal meeting between you, the , and the judge. During this meeting, you and the plaintiff have a chance to tell your side of the story to the judge.
The court schedules the settlement conference for you. You must attend your settlement conference. If there are days you can’t go to court, you must tell the court when you file your Defence.
Claims less than $2,500
If you’re being sued for less than $2,500, you can ask the judge to make a decision about the claim during the settlement conference. This can only happen as long as both parties agree to it in writing. If the judge decides your case at the settlement conference, you will not have to go to trial. This can save you a lot of time and money.
You can only do this if the plaintiff and other defendants agree to use this option. If they do, you must complete and file a Consent form.
Prepare for trial
If you did not settle your case in the settlement conference, you must prepare for trial. This can include:
- going to more hearings
- summoning witnesses
- preparing more court documents
- scheduling a trial
The Guide to Getting Ready for Court on the Ministry of the Attorney General website can help you prepare for the trial.
