Question

part c: application scenarios
read each scenario and decide which legal option (small claims court, class - action suit, online service, or legal aid society) would be most appropriate. briefly explain your choice.

1. scenario 1: alex paid $3,000 for furniture that never arrived. he wants his money back but doesn’t want to hire a lawyer.
2. scenario 2: hundreds of cell phone customers were overcharged on their monthly bills. a few customers file a case that could help everyone.
3. scenario 3: maria lost her job and cannot afford a lawyer but needs help with a housing dispute against her landlord.

Explanation:

1. Alex has a relatively small - value claim and doesn't want a lawyer. Small claims court is designed for such cases where parties can represent themselves and handle claims of a limited amount.
2. When hundreds of customers have a similar issue and a few are filing a case that can benefit everyone, a class - action suit is appropriate as it allows multiple plaintiffs with similar claims to join together in one lawsuit.
3. Maria cannot afford a lawyer and has a housing dispute. Legal aid society provides free or low - cost legal services to those who cannot afford a lawyer, especially for issues like housing disputes.

Answer:

1. Small claims court. Alex has a small - value claim and doesn't want a lawyer, which is a typical situation for small claims court.
2. Class - action suit. Multiple customers with similar overcharging issues can be grouped together in a class - action.
3. Legal aid society. Maria is in a financial situation where she can't afford a lawyer and needs help with a housing issue, which legal aid societies assist with.