The following procedure shall govern Small Claims, which include appeals from Magisterial District Judges where the damages claimed do not exceed the sum of $3,000 (exclusive of interest and costs), and civil actions where the damages claimed do not exceed the sum of $3,000 (exclusive of interest and costs).
FORM 1320A Notice of Hearing Date, Notice to Defend and Notice of Duty to Appear at Arbitration Hearing
IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS OF ALLEGHENY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA CIVIL DIVISION
___________________
Plaintiff,
vs.
Defendant.
ARBITRATION DOCKET
No._________________________
HEARING DATE: ____________
NOTICE TO DEFEND
YOU HAVE BEEN SUED IN COURT. If you wish to defend against the claims set forth in the attached copy of the suit papers, YOU MUST complete and detach two of the copies of the attached "Notice of Intention To Appear."
One completed copy of the "Notice of Intention to Appear" must be filed or mailed to Department of Court Records, First Floor, City-County Building, 414 Grant Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15219 and the other completed copy must be mailed to:
_____________________________________
_____________________________________
___ within TWENTY (20) days from the date these papers were mailed. You are warned that if you fail to do so the case may proceed without you and a judgment may be entered against you by the court without further notice for any money claimed in the complaint or for any other claim or relief requested by the plaintiff. You may lose money or property or other rights important to you.
YOU SHOULD TAKE THIS PAPER TO YOUR LAWYER AT ONCE. IF YOU DO NOT HAVE A LAWYER, GO TO OR TELEPHONE THE OFFICE SET FORTH BELOW. THIS OFFICE CAN PROVIDE YOU WITH INFORMATION ABOUT HIRING A LAWYER.
IF YOU CANNOT AFFORD TO HIRE A LAWYER, THIS OFFICE MAY BE ABLE TO PROVIDE YOU WITH INFORMATION ABOUT AGENCIES THAT MAY OFFER LEGAL SERVICES TO ELIGIBLE PERSONS AT A REDUCED FEE OR NO FEE.
LAWYER REFERRAL SERVICE, The Allegheny County Bar Association
4th Floor Koppers Building, 436 Seventh Avenue
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15219
Telephone: (412) 261-5555
HEARING NOTICE
YOU HAVE BEEN SUED IN COURT. The above Notice to Defend explains what you must do to dispute the claims made against you. If you file the written response referred to in the Notice to Defend, a hearing before a board of arbitrators will take place in the Arbitration Assembly Room, Courtroom Two, Seventh Floor City-County Building, Pittsburgh, PA 15219, on ________________, _____ (insert date and year) at 9:00 A.M. IF YOU FAIL TO FILE THE RESPONSE DESCRIBED IN THE NOTICE TO DEFEND, A JUDGMENT FOR THE AMOUNT CLAIMED IN THE COMPLAINT MAY BE ENTERED AGAINST YOU BEFORE THE HEARING.
DUTY TO APPEAR AT ARBITRATION HEARING
If one or more of the parties is not present at the hearing, THE MATTER MAY BE HEARD AT THE SAME TIME AND DATE BEFORE A JUDGE OF THE COURT WITHOUT THE ABSENT PARTY OR PARTIES. THERE IS NO RIGHT TO A TRIAL DE NOVO ON APPEAL FROM A DECISION ENTERED BY A JUDGE.
NOTICE: You must respond to this complaint within twenty (20) days or a judgment for the amount claimed may be entered against you before the hearing.
If one or more of the parties is not present at the hearing, the matter may be heard immediately before a judge without the absent party or parties. There is no right to a trial de novo on appeal from a decision entered by a judge.
FORM 1320B Notice of Intention to Appear
NOTICE OF INTENTION TO APPEAR
(Three copies required)
To the Plaintiff or the
Plaintiff's Attorney
Case Caption
Hearing Date
I intend to appear at the hearing scheduled for the above date and defend against the claim made against me.
I do not owe this claim for the following reasons:
________________________________________
________________________________________
________________________________________
________________________________________
I certify that I have mailed a copy of this Notice to the Plaintiff or the Plaintiff's attorney.
Date: ___________________________Sign here:
Address:
____________________________________
Alle. Cnty. Pa. 1320