Can I introduce new evidence in a small claims court hearing after it has started?
Yes, you can introduce new evidence during a small claims court hearing in California, even after it has started. However, there are a few rules that apply. You must prove that the evidence was not available before the hearing began and that it is relevant to the case. The other party must also be given a chance to respond to the new evidence. If the judge decides that the new evidence is relevant, the judge may allow you to present the evidence to the court. For example, you could bring a witness or new documents to the hearing to support your case. The judge then may allow the other party to cross-examine the witnesses or respond to the new documents. Alternatively, the judge may decide to adjourn the hearing to give the other party time to respond to the new evidence. This means that the hearing will be delayed so that one of the parties can have enough time to find witnesses, documents, or create an argument to support their case. In short, while you can introduce new evidence during a small claims court hearing in California, you need to make sure that the evidence is relevant and not available before the hearing began. The other party must also be given time to respond to the new evidence.
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