THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, February 10, 1995 TAG: 9502090188
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 11 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY MARLENE FORD, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 60 lines
Don't bring your second-grade teacher into court as a character witness. Do bring in documented evidence of pertinent records. Don't watch the O.J. Simpson trials. Do stand when talking to the judge.
Gregory A. Giordano can give plenty of advice on the correct procedures to follow in small claims court. As a lawyer and past president of the Virginia Beach Bar Association, that's part of his job. However, in what some would view as a generous approach to the practice of law, Giordano and the local bar association are bestowing that advice upon the public - for free.
The local bar association has made available for the public a videotape titled ``Your Day In Court.'' This tape was originally produced two years ago in cooperation with the Virginia State Bar for the purpose of preparing people representing themselves in small claims court. Copies are available at the Virginia Beach Bar Association in the Municipal Center or through the public libraries.
``Small claims court deals with disputes of up to $10,000, but they're usually a couple of hundred dollars,'' Giordano said. ``My roommate left without paying his share of the rent. Someone ran into my car and the repairs are $1,000. A bad laundry job costs the customer $35. These are the kinds of cases that can make people sue and go to court.''
He explained that often the amount in dispute doesn't warrant the cost of an attorney. However, with some advance information about common court proceedings the parties involved could handle their own case effectively.
The nearly hour-long tape plays like a version of TV's ``People's Court.'' Characters called Theresa Tenant, Mr. Owner, Fred Friend and the naive, but honest handy man, Jack Hammer, trot through their paces pretty much the way the ordinary citizen could be expected to do. They present opening statements, offer witnesses, bring evidence, cross examine, present closing statements and rest their cases. In between doing the right things they also whine, accuse and tell irrelevant stories about their personal lives and a pet ferret.
What's different from the Judge Wapner version is that the do-it-yourself mock trial is interspersed with valuable advice from an unseen adviser. Everything from the courtesy of rising when speaking to the judge to the specific kinds of evidence that is admissible is detailed. The tape then concludes with a detailed plan for filling out the forms associated with the trial.
``In Alexandria this is a fairly new project, but it's been very effective there,'' Giordano said.
He added with a laugh, ``This is more help than watching the O.J. trial. Now that trial is just out of this world.'' ILLUSTRATION: Gregory A. Giordano
``Your Day In Court,'' the general public's how-to video for cases
brought in small claims court is available through the Virginia
Beach Bar Association. They may be viewed free at the Virginia Beach
General District Court or checked out at the public libraries. Call
427-3570.
by CNB