Originally Posted by
Justice Matters
While we are admittedly unfamiliar with American law and procedure is there not any basis to allow you to file your claim in Florida?
If yes, is there an agreement for the reciprocal enforcement of judgments between Florida and Pennsylvania?
If yes to both then you may want to consider filing in Florida.
In the US, Small Claims Court jurisdiction is in the State where the Defendant resides/has a business. I've never seen it any different. If you COULD change venue you would need the consent of the Defendant - and you can't change venue - and he'd have to be insane in order to consent to changed venue and traveling to Florida to have the case heard.
The reason it's the Defendant's jurisdiction is so that lawsuits aren't filed which are impossible for the Defendant to defend - for example, I sue "Rick" in NY and force him to come here to defend himself. Puts him at a disadvantage.
Although now that you mention it...
Of course, there's always a Superior Court in Florida if somehow that jurisdiction can be argued.