Your best decision is to stay out of court if at all possible. Cheap layers/attorneys are not your best friend. It's a financial deal and simply another job for them to make more money.

Settling between two parties can often be handled through arbitraton which is less expensive to all persons involved with a dispute.

Fortunately, we didn't do anything wrong and went out of our way trying to make the customer happy to no avail with a severe "kick in the pants".

Thankfully, most small business firms, even large ones, don't encounter the "cusstomer from Hell" like we did. Our client lives in a $500K house, so poorsville is not the problem with our fraudulent client.

If YOU're a small business owner it's something worth knowing before one day you get kicked in the back-side like we did with this customer from Hell.

I've advocated for many years - ALWAYS invest in GOOD legal counsel; a qualified Accountant [CPA]; and Insurance Agent. There are 3 important advisors to success in your business.

A little research in our town opened my eyes BIG and WIDE to how a small business owner can suddenly find himself/herself in deep water without a paddle or pot to go.

Just a few of my recent discoveries --

Did you know.... the town Sheriff can reach inside YOUR bank account and take ALL your money? Got a friend in town working for the Sheriff's Dept? Ask him/her, they'll tell you how it happens and you may want to ask about their bonus, too.

It doesn't make any difference WHO YOU OWE or if checks will start bouncing - it's part of our LEGAL justice system - allows the "hand-of-the-law" to take your stuff and leave you screwed.

Another disturbing happening - you can be sued or counter-sued by someone and never know it until you get a "writ of execution" from the Sheriff's department... when they come to sell ALL your property - equipment - and maybe leave you bankrupt as well as the good vendors you own money to.

In our town you basically have to hire an Attorney to represent you in court.... Guilty and you know it means give it up without wasting anymore time and effort, a "no options" decision... probably your town too.

What you may not know - your legal counsel is NOT required to have malpractice insurance protection when he/she screws up the process on your behalf. Most attorneys have it.... the problem with small business owners is they look for the CHEAPEST not the BEST legal advice.

Courts in our town DO NOT send notices by Registered mail either which means they have NO proof of delivery, but WHO cares? YOU will.

Only your legal counsel supposedly gets the notices from the Courts and it's his/her responsibility to advise you or it's tough break for you when no one told you "courts in session" - and YOU'RE absent.

'Treble' damages is a tough financial burden to most small businessowners? It's amazing how this can kick you into oblivion without a trace. The finest small business owner is not protected from the marketplace challenge.

Did you feel it? The smasher coming when you thought everything was peachy-le-creme - maybe your best year ever? Sooner than later is the key, so be sure to get your advisors promptly, without delay. It may just SAVE your CASH as well as your business future.