Without a lawyer, I sued two Boston Police officers in a civil action. The case is coming up for trial next Monday.作者: choi 时间: 2-4-2013 09:57
I have no access to a computer until a public library opens, which is 9am in Boston (and I do not have a mobile device). This morning (Feb 4) I arrived at the courtroom ready but reluctant for a trial,* five minutes to 9 (despite my best effort to be early enough). A court starts conducting business at 9 am.
* Just last Wednesday (Jan 30) the courtroom clerk notified the parties to come in at 9am, Monday, Feb 4 to try the case. But the judge allowed the case to go forward only on Jan 10, 2013. I did not do any discovery in the meantime. (Discovery is one of the most important innovations in US legal system, which allows parties in a civil action to anticipate what other people (opposing parties and witnesses may testify in a trial, thus making informed settlements more likely.)
To my surprise (because the courtroom clerk had noted in court docket on Jan 30, 2013 that my case was not in teh waiting list but would go straight to jury enpanelment), there were SEVERAL other cliques of lawyers solemnly waiting for their turns (apparently). The courtroom clerk said SHE made a mistake when she notified the trial date of FEBRUARY (MOnday), the judge actually meant it to be March 4 (Monday).
After I left the courtroom, I accessed my email account in a public library and learned that at 8:08am this morning another clerk of the same judge had notified me of the mistake--and said there was no need for me to go to court later (at 9am).