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[kendell]

I have a small claim court date on 05/25/2011 8:30 are in El Monte. And I have another crimal court in West Covina on same date and same time.
I went to El Monte small claim court clerk refused to change date. I went to West Covina court the clerk refused either.
What am I going to do now?

[colum]

Why did you wait until so close to your court date? You knew well in advance that there was a conflict. You're screwed. But that's what you get for not paying attention.

[calvert]

Why did you wait until so close to your court date? You knew well in advance that there was a conflict. You're screwed. But that's what you get for not paying attention.

Go to your criminal court date. Miss the other you could lose money. Miss criminal court and you go to jail.

[seme22]

If you fail to appear to a criminal court hearing a warrant will be issued for your arrest. If you fail to appear to a small claims hearing the other party will be awarded the judgment. It's your call but I would strongly suggest you appear at your criminal hearing.

[caffar]

Did you have your lawyer speak with the clerk in West Covina (You DO have a lawyer for your criminal case, right?). If so, I don't see why he couldn't have gotten you a continuance unless you've been pushing back your court date already.

If neither one of them is willing to budge, then you're SOL. Your choices are to skip small claims court and lose automatically, or skip criminal court and go to jail and hurt your chances with leniency or in sentencing. I think you know which one you should skip if it comes to that.

[cadby]

You've known about both dates for quite some time and waiting until the last minute to do anything to resolve them has angered the court clerks so they're making life hard for you.

Try to contact the judge in the small claims case directly. Also send a registered letter to the small claims clerk. If unsuccessful via those routes, appear for your criminal case and then appeal the default judgment in the small claims case afterward. Use the receipt for the registered letter to prove you tried to reschedule the small claims case.