Quote Quoting azlegal3
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Ugh, I woke up early today and tried to get copies of my case file. I had no luck. I got bounced back and forth from the Legal Records Department to the Precinct Justice Court, and nobody knew how to get copies of my case files. I got tired of walking back and forth between both locations in the sun, plus finding parking downtown, so I gave up. I even asked if I could get the case file online, but they said nope, not possible.
I'm guessing that the file is on a pile somewhere for the judge to review the Plaintiff's motion and that's why they couldn't put their hands on it.

Quote Quoting azlegal3
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However, I did end up filing my response form to prevent the Default judgment. I also mailed a copy of my answer form to the law firm that is suing me. The lady said the court would send me something in the mail soon.
I suggest you check the online docket a couple of times a week to see what's happening.

http://www.jp.co.pima.az.us/casesearch/hmuver.aspx

Quote Quoting azlegal3
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Hopefully this will stop the default action from taking place.
As long as you filed it on time, it will delay things for several months.

That you were charged $37 to file an answer leads me to conclude that the case will follow the Superior Court Rules for regular civil cases even though it's in the Justice Court.

You need to be aware of those rules lest you slip up and the other side wins on a technicality.

See the following page for the Civil Case time line. Were rules are cited you can click on them to read the rules:

http://www.sc.pima.gov/?tabid=180

In a regular civil case you are allowed to engage in Discovery where you can request the documents (evidence/proof, etc) from the Plaintiff. Click on the links to the appropriate pages. You can probably find ways to nitpick the documents that they've already sent you and ask for more.

Quote Quoting azlegal3
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Their case against me is probably a run-of-the-mill case, stating that I borrowed from a creditor, I failed to pay, they now bought and own the debt, and they want money in return. Or something along those lines.
This is a two edged sword now. On the one hand the collection agency has to start paying its attorney by the hour to keep on handling the litigation to completion so they might be willing to settle for a discounted amount to avoid that.

On the other hand, if it goes all the way to judgment and you lose you'll likely get hit with their lawyer fees (which could be thousands) since your credit card contract probably has the appropriate bilateral "loser pays lawyer fees" provision.