What are Maine Small Claims Cases and Class Action Lawsuits?

State residents in Maine typically have the right to bring legal proceedings, such as small claims and class action cases, against another person or corporation. In class-action proceedings, individuals take action against one or more groups rather than a single person or corporation. On the other hand, small claim cases are filed by individuals seeking fast and informal court proceedings involving financial claims below $6000. A small claims court is set up under the district court to resolve small claims lawsuits.

What is a Class Action Lawsuit in Maine?

Rule 23 of the Maine Rules of Civil Procedure identifies a class action case as any case taken by or against individuals as participants of a class before the court declines to recognize it as such by order or suspends a prior certification by order. Chemical contamination, data hacks, illegal investment banking, drug lawsuits, salary abuse, gender discrimination, occupational welfare violations, insurance litigation, bullying against workers, and false ads are typical examples of class action cases.

How do I File a Claim in a Maine Small Claims Court?

In Maine, state residents can initiate a small claims lawsuit at the small claims court located in the district court. It is advisable to file these suits in the county where the incident happened, where the accused lives, or where the corporation is based. For landlord/tenant disputes, the lawsuit should be filed in the county where the property is located. Plaintiffs are usually given a Statement of Claim (SC–001) to complete and submit. Note that the claimant should be 18 years old or above to pursue a small claims lawsuit. However, a parent or guardian can submit this lawsuit if the claimant is a minor.

The applicant is then allowed to send this application to the court clerk in person or by mail, together with the application fee. Additional charges may be included for notifying the accused person or corporation. Claimants may contact the court clerk directly to find out the charges required, since the cost differs from one county to the other. Also, at the initial filing, the complainant may submit the necessary documentation available to support the claim. Some of these documents may include bank statements, sketches, figures, agreements, canceled checks, affidavits, photos, and emails. However, since the procedures are simpler, easier, and less costly, it could be better to appeal to a district court.

Do I Need a Small Claims Lawyer?

No, small claims cases may be resolved without the help of a professional lawyer. Many small claim lawsuits in Maine have been handled at the small claims court without an attorney. Nevertheless, an attorney can help collect the appropriate legal documentation for a hearing. Hiring a professional may help when suing a large corporation, or it is also recommended if the matter is challenged at the district court. This is because the proceedings in small claims are generally more structured and rigorous at the district court.

How do Class Action Lawsuits Work in Maine?

Under the class-action rule in Maine, a class action case occurs when a group of individuals, popularly referred to as ‘class,’ files a petition about the legal offenses committed by an individual or company. Before a class action suit can proceed, the district court typically validates the lawsuit by ensuring it meets the requirements laid out under the class action rule. The general requirements include:

• Numerous class members are involved in the case, which may not be practicable to resolve individually.
• Question of law, facts, and proofs that are common to all class members
• A conflict of interest does not exist among the representatives of the class.
• The class members are typically represented equally and sufficiently.

The class is told of the complaint if the judge certifies the case, and the case is prosecuted.At the time of registration, the defendant has the opportunity to raise concerns regarding the fairness of the allegations made against them. Once the investigation is complete and testimony is gathered, the case moves to either a court or jury trial to determine the defendant’s guilt and any damages. However, state law outlines specific conditions under which a class action may be compromised, settled, or discontinued, subject to approval. Class action lawsuits are typically complex because they involve large corporations and a significant number of claimants. As a result, these cases may take months to settle.

Is a Class Action Better Than a Single Party Suit?

The benefits of class action suits over single-party cases depend on the injury or damages sustained by a defendant. If the damages suffered by an individual are more severe than those suffered by other people in the class, such a person may be advised to pursue a single-party claim. Nevertheless, contrary to this, a person may profit from a class-action lawsuit since it is the less costly alternative. This is because participants bear the legal expenses.One significant advantage of a class action lawsuit is the expedited legal process and a higher likelihood of winning the case. Under Maine law, class action claims generally ensure that plaintiffs have access to qualified legal counsel before the court proceedings can move forward. In contrast to the lower costs associated with class actions, plaintiffs in individual lawsuits often face high legal expenses in their pursuit of fair representation.

Records that are considered public may be accessible from some third-party websites. These sites often simplify the search process, as they are not restricted by geographic location, and search engines on these sites may help when starting a search for specific or multiple records. To begin using such a search engine on a third-party or government website, interested parties are typically required to provide:

• The name of the person involved in the record, unless said person is a juvenile
• The location or assumed location of the document or person involved

Third-party sites are independent of government sources and are not sponsored by these government agencies. Because of this, record availability on third-party websites may vary.

What Cases are Heard by Small Claims Courts in Maine?

As contained under Maine statute, all financial disputes should not exceed $6000, and they should be brought before a small claims court. Some of the cases covered under small claims may include:

• Debt recovery for products or services unpaid by a person or business;
• A transaction from an individual or company for inadequate products where the defendant refuses to refund, offer a loan, have an appropriate swap, or fix the merchandise;
• Issues with the previous landlord who has declined to refund a security deposit without a good explanation.
• Issues with an earlier occupant who has failed to pay for the damages to the rental property for which it may be liable; or
• Issues involving private possessions lent to individuals who refuse to return them or return them in a broken state.