What defenses can the other party raise in small claims court?

In Florida, the other party in a small claims court case can raise multiple defenses to protect themselves. These defenses are meant to prove their innocence and defend themselves from financial liability. The first defense is to make sure the other party is legally responsible, or "liable," for the debt or claim. If it can be proven that the other party is not liable, they may be able to have the case dismissed. The other party may also try to prove that the amount they owe is not accurate, or that the debt or claim may have already been paid or discharged in bankruptcy. The other party can also use the defense of lack of jurisdiction, meaning that the court may not have the authority to hear the case. This could be because the other party is not located in the same state as the court, or the claim involves a federal law. Another defense is called "inadequate service of process." This means that the court may not have given the other party proper notice of the hearing. Finally, the other party can also claim that the amount of the claim is too high or the statute of limitations has run out. The statute of limitations is the time period in which a lawsuit must be filed. Overall, the other party in small claims court in Florida has many options to defend themselves from a claim. They can try to prove their innocence or use various other defenses such as lack of jurisdiction, inadequate service of process, or the statute of limitations.

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