Quote Quoting nirty28
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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.
Common mistake. Don't like the service, don't pay the bill. All that gets you is an even bigger bill when you get sued.

Quote Quoting nirty28
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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.
You assume correctly. A person filing a frivolous lawsuit can be sanctioned by the court with monetary penalties.

However, there is nothing frivolous about a lawsuit against you for a debt that you agreed to pay when you were treated by the physicial.

Quote Quoting nirty28
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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
The consequences are that the bill could be even higher when there is a judgment against you as the attorney will incur additional costs to enforce the judgment and those costs get added to the amount of the judgment.

The judgment also goes on your credit reports for a long time and that certainly doesn't do you any good.

Bottom line, you owe the money. If you have the cash you would be wise to make a settlement offer and see how it goes.