Legal Question in Civil Litigation in Pennsylvania

About 2 years ago, I was living with my boyfriend. The gas and electric were in my name. When I moved out, he asked me to keep the utilities in my name since he could not get them in his. Since his young son was living with him, I agreed, only after he verbally agreed to pay the bills. Well, he ran up the bills and has not paid a dime on them. I need to know if it's even worth going to small claims court.


Asked on 3/25/10, 7:22 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys

If you can show you did not live there for the time the bills are unpaid, yes. Let him try to explain to the judge that he really wanted them in his name, and explain why he has not paid. This is an issue of "veracity", or who is believable. Your story makes you sound nice, and at worst, gullible. If he offers excuses as to why he is not liable for his water, electric, etc., then he on the other hand will sound like a BS-ing liar. To $3,000 you go to Small Claims, to $15,000, you go too Special Civil Part, where you can get the forms form the court, or online, and represent yourself. Make you claim short and sweet, in fact, use what you have in your question to LawGuru, and just leave off the last sentence!

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Answered on 3/31/10, 12:04 pm


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