Can I have a jury trial in a small claims court case?
No, unfortunately you cannot have a jury trial in small claims court in Michigan. Small claims court is a court system designed to quickly and efficiently handle disputes involving small amounts of money (usually less than $6,000). It is designed to be simple and informal, and does not involve juries. The court will assign a judge to each case. The judge will hear both sides of the argument, review the evidence, and then make a decision. Parties involved are usually allowed to bring witnesses, evidence, and can present their arguments to the judge. In Michigan, any party involved in a small claims court case has the right to be represented by an attorney. Small claims court is meant to be a faster and less costly legal procedure than the regular court system. Because of this, it usually focuses on simple, straightforward cases. Juries, which are made up of members of the community, are not used in small claims court cases. This is due to the costs involved in calling witnesses, as well as the fact that juries often take a long time to reach a decision. In summary, a jury trial is not available in small claims court in Michigan. Cases heard in small claims court are typically decided by a judge who listens to both sides and reviews the evidence.
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