Hi both, thanks for the information and advice, I really appreciate it!
It was a physician visit. I was unhappy with the treatment (both in medical and social sense) and then got slapped with a bill a few weeks later.
Then my question is what prevents people from filing lawsuits, for punitive amounts, and without prior notice? If the defendants have to shoulder the lawyer fee and court fees wholesale, there is absolutely no check against plaintiffs overloading the court with trivial lawsuits. In fact, lawyers would be encouraging people to file trivial lawsuits so that they can make reasonable lawyer fee. I don't see cable companies or landlords filing lawsuits left and right so I assume there is something in the system which makes it not in their best interest, economically, to not to.
What are the consequences of losing in the court and not paying though? Can the court issue an injunction on my bank account? While I am a poor student, it's not like I cannot pay $2k, but it is large amount, compared to the original $500, and I'd rather not default on my apartment rents.


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