Santa Barbara — SC-500*

Source: https://www.courts.ca.gov/documents/sc500.pdf

SC-500 Plaintiff's Claim and ORDER to Go to Clerk stamps date here when form is filed. Small Claims Court (COVID-19 Rental Debt) THIS IS AN ACTION TO RECOVER COVID-19 RENTAL DEBT AS DEFINED UNDER CODE OF CIVIL PROCEDURE, § 1179.02. ACCESS TO RECORDS IN THIS CASE IS LIMITED UNDER CODE OF CIVIL PROCEDURE, § 1161.2.5. Notice to the person being sued: • You are the defendant if your name is listed in 2 of this form or on form SC-500A. The person suing you is the plaintiff, listed in 1 . • You and the plaintiff must go to court on the trial date listed below. If you do not go to court, you may lose the case. If you lose, the court can order that Fill in court name and street address: your wages, money, or property be taken to pay this claim. (Note: This Superior Court of California, County of small claims case cannot result in your eviction.) Bring witnesses, receipts, and any other evidence you need to prove your case. • Read this form and all pages attached to understand the claim against you and to protect your rights, and read SC-500-INFO, COVID-19 Rental Debt in Small Claims Court for more information, at www.courts.ca.gov/forms. Aviso al Demandado: Court fills in case number when form is filed. • Usted es el Demandado si su nombre figura en 2 de la página 2 de este Case Number: formulario, o en el formulario SC-500A. La persona que lo demanda es el Demandante, la que figura en 1 de la página 2. Case Name: • Usted y el Demandante tienen que presentarse en la corte en la fecha del juicio indicada a continuación. Si no se presenta, puede perder el caso. Si pierde el caso, la corte podría ordenar que le quiten de su sueldo, dinero u otros bienes para pagar este reclamo. (Nota: Este caso de reclamos menores no puede resultar en un desalojo.) Lleve testigos, recibos y cualquier otra prueba que necesite para probar su caso. • Lea este formulario y todas las páginas adjuntas para entender la demanda en su contra y para proteger sus derechos, y lea SC-500-INFO, La deuda de alquiler del COVID-19 en la corte de reclamos menores para más información, en www.courts.ca.gov/forms. Order to Go to Court The people in 1 and 2 must go to court: (Clerk fills out section below.) Date Time Department Name and address of court, if different from above Trial 1. Date 2. 3. Date: Clerk, by , Deputy Instructions for the person suing: • You are the plaintiff. The person you are suing is the defendant. • Before you fill out this form, read forms SC-500-INFO and SC-100-INFO to know your rights. Get the forms at any courthouse or county law library, or go to www.courts.ca.gov/forms. • Fill out pages 2, 3, and 4 of this form. Make copies of all the pages of this form and any attachments—one for each party named in this case and an extra copy for yourself. Take or mail the original and the copies to the court clerk’s office and pay the filing fee. The clerk will write the date of your trial in the box above. Your court may allow electronic filing. Check your local court website for information: www.courts.ca.gov/find-my-court.htm. • You must have someone at least 18—not you or anyone else listed in this case—give each defendant a court-stamped copy of all pages of this form and any pages this form tells you to attach. See forms SC-104 and SC-104B. • Go to court on your trial date listed above. Bring witnesses, receipts, and any evidence you need to prove your case. Judicial Council of California, www.courts.ca.gov Rev. January 1, 2024, Mandatory Form Plaintiff's Claim and ORDER SC-500, Page 1 of 6 Code of Civil Procedure, §§ 116.110 et seq.,116.223, 1161.2.5, 1179.02 to Go to Small Claims Court (COVID-19 Rental Debt)

Plaintiff (list names): Case Number:

1 The plaintiff (the person, business, or public entity that is suing) is: Name: Phone:

Street address:
Street City State Zip
Mailing address (if different):
Street City State Zip
Email address (if available):
If more than one plaintiff, list next plaintiff here:
Name: Phone:
Street address:
Street City State Zip
Mailing address (if different):
Street City State Zip
Email address (if available):
Check here if more than two plaintiffs and attach form SC-500A.
Check here if either plaintiff listed above is doing business under a fictitious name and attach form SC-103.

2 The defendant (the person being sued) is: Name: Phone: Street address: Street City State Zip Mailing address (if different): Street City State Zip

If more than one defendant, list next defendant here:
Name: Phone:
Street address:
Street City State Zip
Mailing address (if different):
Street City State Zip

Check here if more than two defendants and attach form SC-500A.
Check here if any defendant is on active military duty and write defendant's name here:

Rev. January 1, 2024 Plaintiff’s Claim and ORDER to Go to Small Claims Court SC-500, Page 2 of 6 (COVID-19 Rental Debt)

Plaintiff (list names): Case Number:

3 The plaintiff claims the defendant owes $ for COVID-19 rental debt (unpaid rent or other financial obligations of a tenant that came due in the period from March 1, 2020, to September 30, 2021). (Code Civ. Proc., § 1179.02.) (Explain amount below.) a. Rent. List all rent you claim defendant owes that came due in the period from March 1, 2020, to September 30, 2021. For each month you claim rent is due, include each amount due and the date it came due.

b. Other amounts of COVID-19 rental debt. List all unpaid financial obligations under the lease or rental agreement (other than rent) that you claim defendant owes and that came due during the period in (a) above. For each month you claim other financial obligations are due, include each amount, the date it came due, and what it was for (for example, parking fees or utilities included as part of the rental agreement).

Check here if you need more space. Attach one sheet of paper or form MC-031, and write “SC-500, Item 3” at the top.

4 Amounts paid or offsets List any amounts you received from defendant, rental assistance programs, and other third parties that you have already credited, and any other amounts you have offset or credited, for rent or other financial obligations due between March 1, 2020, and September 30, 2021, that you are not claiming in item 3 above. Include each amount, when it was paid or credited, and what it was for.

Check here if you need more space. Attach one sheet of paper or form MC-031, and write “SC-500, Item 4” at the top.

5 You must ask the defendant (in person, in writing, or by phone) to pay you before you sue. Have you done this? Yes No If no, explain why not:

Rev. January 1, 2024 Plaintiff’s Claim and ORDER to Go to Small Claims Court SC-500, Page 3 of 6 (COVID-19 Rental Debt)

Plaintiff (list names): Case Number:

6 Why are you filing your claim at this courthouse? This courthouse covers the area (check one that applies): a. Where the defendant lives or does business. b. Where the rental agreement, lease, or contract (written or spoken) was made, signed, performed, or broken by the defendant or where the defendant lived or did business when the defendant made the contract. c. Other (specify): 7 List the zip code of the place checked in 6 above (if you know it): 8 Have you filed more than 12 other small claims within the last 12 months in California? Yes No If yes, the filing fee for this case will be higher. 9 Plaintiff must make a good-faith effort to help defendant obtain rental assistance before filing this case. Check all that apply below. You must also attach documentation of those efforts or, if you do not have documentation, describe your effort below. Plaintiff made a good-faith effort to help defendant obtain rental assistance before filing this case, as required under Code of Civil Procedure section 871.10(a), by: a. Investigating whether governmental rental assistance is available to the tenant; b. Seeking governmental rental assistance for the tenant; or c. Cooperating with the tenant's efforts to obtain rental assistance from any governmental entity or other third party. Check here if documentation is attached. If not attached, describe your efforts below.

10 I understand that the court cannot issue a judgment for me if I have received rental assistance for the amounts I am claiming from defendant. (Both statements must be true.) a. I have not received rental assistance or other financial compensation from any other source corresponding to any of the amount claimed in item 3 above; and b. I do not have any application pending for rental assistance or other financial compensation from any other source corresponding to any of the amount claimed in item 3 above. 11 I understand that by filing a claim in small claims court, I have no right to appeal this claim. I declare under penalty of perjury under the laws of the State of California that the information above and on any attachments to this form is true and correct. Date: Plaintiff types or prints name here Plaintiff signs here Date: Second plaintiff types or prints name here Second plaintiff signs here Requests for Accommodations Assistive listening systems, computer-assisted real-time captioning, or sign language interpreter services are available if you ask at least five days before the trial. For these and other accommodations, contact the clerk’s office for Disability Accommodation Request (form MC-410). (Civ. Code, § 54.8.)

Rev. January 1, 2024 Plaintiff’s Claim and ORDER to Go to Small Claims Court SC-500, Page 4 of 6 (COVID-19 Rental Debt)

SC-500 Information for the defendant (the person being sued) "Small claims court" is a special court where generally only • Prove this is the wrong court. Send a letter to the court claims for $12,500 or less are decided. This limitation has been before your trial explaining why you think this is the wrong court. lifted for cases for recovery of COVID-19 rental debt.* The process Ask the court to dismiss the claim. You must serve (give) a copy is quick and cheap. The rules are simple and informal. You are the of your letter (by mail or in person) to all parties. (Your letter to defendant—the person being sued. The person who is suing you the court must say you have done so.) is the plaintiff. • Go to the trial and try to win your case. Bring Do I need a lawyer? You may talk to a lawyer before or after witnesses, receipts, and any evidence you need to prove your the case. But you may not have a lawyer represent you in court case. To have the court order a witness to go to the trial, fill out (unless this is an appeal from a small claims case). form SC-107, Small Claims Subpoena and Declaration and have it served on the witness.How do I get ready for court? Read form SC-500-INFO, COVID-19 Rental Debt in Small Claims Court. You don’t have to • Sue the person who is suing you. If you have a claim file any papers before your trial, unless you think this is the wrong against the plaintiff, and the claim is for $12,500 or less, you court for your case. But bring to your trial any witnesses, receipts, may file Defendant's Claim and ORDER to Go to Small Claims and evidence that support your case. And read “Be Prepared for Court (form SC-120) and bring the claim in this action. If your Your Trial” at www.courts.ca.gov/smallclaims/prepare. claim is for more than allowed in small claims court, you may still file it in small claims court if you give up the amount over theWhere can I get the court forms I need? Go to any small claims value amount, or you may file a claim for the full courthouse or your county law library, or get forms at value of the claim in the appropriate court. If your claim is for www.courts.ca.gov/forms. more than allowed in small claims court and relates to the same What if I need an accommodation? If you have a contract, transaction, matter, or event that is the subject of the disability or are hearing impaired, fill out form MC-410, Disability plaintiff's claim, you may file your claim in the appropriate court Accommodation Request. Give the form to your court clerk or the and file a motion to transfer the plaintiff's claim to that court to ADA/Access Coordinator. resolve both matters together. You can see a description of the What if I don’t speak English well? Ask the court clerk amounts allowed in the paragraph above, titled “Small Claims Court.”as soon as possible for a court-provided interpreter. You may use form INT-300, Request for Interpreter (Civil), or a local court form • Agree with the plaintiff's claim and pay the to request an interpreter. If a court interpreter is unavailable for money. Or, if you can’t pay the money now, go to your trial your trial, it may be necessary to reschedule your trial. You cannot and say you want to make payments. bring your own interpreter for the trial unless the interpreter has been approved by the court as a certified, registered, or • Let the case "default." If you don’t settle and do not go to provisionally qualified interpreter. (See Cal. Rules of Court, rule the trial (default), the judge may give the plaintiff what he or she 2.893, and form INT-140.) is asking for plus court costs. If this happens, the plaintiff can What happens at the trial? The judge will listen to both legally take your money, wages, and property to pay the judgment. (But not your rental unit; this is not an eviction case.)sides. The judge may make a decision at your trial or mail the decision to you later. What if I need more time? What if I lose the case? If you lose, you may appeal. You’ll You can change the trial date if: have to pay a fee. (Plaintiffs cannot appeal their own claims.) • You cannot go to court on the scheduled date (you will have to pay a fee to postpone the trial), or• If you were at the trial, file form SC-140, Notice of Appeal. You must file within 30 days after the clerk hands or mails you the • You did not get served (receive this order to go to court) at least 15 days before the trial (or 20 days if you live outside the judge's decision (judgment) on form SC-200 or form SC-130, county). Notice of Entry of Judgment. Ask the Small Claims Clerk about the rules and fees for• If you were not at the trial, fill out and file form SC-135, Notice of postponing a trial. Or fill out form SC-1

30, county). Notice of Entry of Judgment. Ask the Small Claims Clerk about the rules and fees for• If you were not at the trial, fill out and file form SC-135, Notice of postponing a trial. Or fill out form SC-150 (or write a letter) and Motion to Vacate Judgment and Declaration, to ask the judge to mail it to the court and to all other people listed on your court cancel the judgment (decision). If the judge does not give you a papers before the deadline. Enclose a check for your court fees, new trial, you have 10 days to appeal the decision. File form unless a fee waiver was granted. SC-140. For more information on appeals, see www.courts.ca.gov/ Need help? smallclaims/appeals.. Your county’s Small Claims Advisor can help for free. ?Do I have options? Yes. If you are being sued, you can: • Settle your case before the trial. If you and the plaintiff agree on how to settle the case before the trial, the plaintiff must file form CIV-110, Request for Dismissal or a written and signed settlement agreement with the clerk. Ask the Small Claims Advisor for help. Or go to www.courts.ca.gov/smallclaims/advisor. *Limits do not apply in an action to recover COVID-19 rental debt, which is unpaid rent or other financial obligations of a tenant that are due between March 1, 2020, and Sept. 30, 2021. (See Code Civ. Proc., §§ 116.223 & 1179.02.) Read SC-500-INFO, COVID-19 Rental Debt in Small Claims Court. Rev. January 1, 2024 Plaintiff’s Claim and ORDER to Go to Small Claims Court SC-500, Page 5 of 6 (COVID-19 Rental Debt)

SC-500 Información para el demandado (la persona demandada) La “Corte de reclamos menores” es una corte especial donde • Probar que es la corte equivocada. Envíe una carta a la corte generalmente se deciden casos por $12,500 o menos. Se suspendió antes del juicio explicando por qué cree que es la corte este límite para acciones para reclamar una deuda de alquiler del equivocada. Pídale a la corte que despida el reclamo.Tiene que COVID-19.* El proceso es rápido y económico. Las reglas son entregar (dar) una copia de su carta (por correo o en persona) a sencillas e informales. Usted es el Demandado—la persona que se todas las partes. (Su carta a la corte tiene que decir que hizo la está demandando. La persona que lo está demandando es el entrega.) Demandante. • Ir al juicio y tratar de ganar el caso. Lleve testigos, recibos y ¿Necesito un abogado? Puede hablar con un abogado antes o cualquier prueba que necesite para probar su caso. Si desea que después del caso. Pero no puede tener a un abogado que lo la corte emita una orden de comparecencia para que los testigos represente ante la corte (a menos que se trate de una apelación de un vayan al juicio, llene el formulario SC-107, Citatorio de reclamos caso de reclamos menores). menores (Small Claims Subpoena) y entrégueselo legalmente al ¿Cómo me preparo para ir a la corte? Lea el formulario SC-500- testigo. INFO, La deuda de alquiler del COVID-19 en la corte de reclamos • Demandar a la persona que lo demandó. Si tiene un reclamo menores. No tiene que presentar ningún documento antes del juicio, a contra el Demandante, y el reclamo se puede presentar en la menos que piense que ésta es la corte equivocada para su caso. Pero corte de reclamos menores, tal como se describe en este lleve al juicio los testigos, recibos y pruebas que apoyan su caso. Y formulario, puede presentar el formulario SC-120, Reclamo del lea “Esté preparado para su juicio” en www.courts.ca.gov/ demandado (Defendant’s Claim) y presentarlo en este mismo reclamosmenores/preparese. caso. Si su reclamo excede el límite permitido en la corte de ¿Dónde puedo obtener los formularios de la corte que necesito? reclamos menores, puede igualmente presentarlo en la corte de reclamos menores si está dispuesto a limitar su reclamo alVaya a cualquier edificio de la corte, la biblioteca legal de su condado, máximo permitido, o puede presentar un reclamo por el montoo imprima los formularios en www.courts.ca.gov/smallclaims/forms total en la corte apropiada. Si su reclamo excede el límite(página está en inglés). permitido en la corte de reclamos menores y está relacionado con¿Qué hago si necesito una modificación? Si tiene una el mismo contrato, transacción, asunto o acontecimiento que eldiscapacidad o tiene impedimentos de audición, puede llenar el reclamo del Demandante, puede presentar su reclamo en la corteformulario MC-410, Solicitud de modificaciones para discapacidad. apropiada y presentar una moción para transferir el reclamo delEntregue el formulario al secretario de la corte o al Coordinador de Demandante a dicha corte, para poder resolver los dos reclamosAcceso/ADA de su corte. juntos. Puede ver una descripción de los montos permitidos en el ¿Qué pasa si no hablo bien inglés? Solicite un intérprete al párrafo anterior titulado “Corte de reclamos menores”. secretario de la corte lo más pronto posible. Puede usar el formulario • Aceptar el reclamo del Demandante y pagar el dinero. O, si no INT-300 o un formulario de su corte local. Si no está disponible un puede pagar en ese momento, vaya al juicio y diga que quiere intérprete de la corte para su juicio, es posible que se tenga que hacer los pagos a plazos. cambiar la fecha de su juicio. No puede llevar su propio intérprete • No ir al juicio y aceptar el fallo por falta de comparecencia. Sipara el juicio a menos que el intérprete haya sido aprobado por la no llega a un acuerdo con el Demandante y no va al juicio (fallocorte como un intérprete certificado, registrado, o provisionalmente por falta de comparecencia), el juez le puede otorgar alcalificado. (Vea la regla 2.893 de las Reglas de la Corte de California, Demandante lo que está reclamando más los costos de la corte.y el formulario INT-140.) En ese caso, el Demandante legalmente puede tomar su dinero, ¿Qué pasa en el juicio? El juez escuchará a ambas partes. El juez su sueldo o sus bienes

3 de las Reglas de la Corte de California, Demandante lo que está reclamando más los costos de la corte.y el formulario INT-140.) En ese caso, el Demandante legalmente puede tomar su dinero, ¿Qué pasa en el juicio? El juez escuchará a ambas partes. El juez su sueldo o sus bienes para cobrar el fallo. (Pero no su hogar puede tomar su decisión durante la audiencia o enviársela por correo alquilado; esto no es un caso de desalojo.) después. ¿Qué hago si necesito más tiempo? Puede cambiar la fecha del ¿Qué pasa si pierdo el caso? Si pierde, puede apelar. Tendrá que juicio si: pagar una cuota. (El Demandante no puede apelar su propio reclamo.) • No puede ir a la corte en la fecha programada (tendrá que pagar • Si estuvo presente en el juicio, llene el formulario SC-140, Aviso de una cuota para aplazar el juicio), o apelación (Notice of Appeal). Tiene que presentarlo dentro de 30 • No le entregaron los documentos legalmente (no recibió la orden días después de que el secretario le entregue o envíe la decisión para ir a la corte) por lo menos 15 días antes del juicio (o 20 días (fallo) del juez en el formulario SC-200 o SC-130, Aviso de si vive fuera del condado). publicación del fallo (Notice of Entry of Judgment). Pregúntele al secretario de reclamos menores sobre las reglas y las • Si no estuvo en el juicio, llene y presente el formulario SC-135, cuotas para aplazar un juicio. O llene el formulario SC-150 (o escriba Aviso de petición para anular el fallo y Declaración para pedirle al una carta) y envíelo antes del plazo a la corte y a todas las otras juez que anule el fallo (decisión). Si la corte no le otorga un nuevo personas que figuran en sus papeles de la corte. Adjunte un cheque juicio, tiene 10 días para apelar la decisión. Presente el formulario para pagar los costos de la corte, a menos que le hayan dado una SC-140. exención. Para obtener más información sobre las apelaciones, vea ¿Necesita ayuda? El Asesor de Reclamos Menores de suwww.courts.ca.gov/reclamosmenores/apelaciones. ? condado le puede ayudar sin cargo. ¿Tengo otras opciones? Sí. Si lo están demandando, puede: • Resolver su caso antes del juicio. Si usted y el Demandante se ponen de acuerdo en cómo resolver el caso antes del juicio, el Demandante tiene que presentar el formulario CIV-110 Solicitud de desestimación (Request for Dismissal) o un acuerdo de resolución O visite www.courts.ca.gov/reclamosmenores/asesores. escrito y firmado al secretario de la corte. Pídale al Asesor de Reclamos Menores que lo ayude. *Los límites no se aplican a las acciones para reclamar una deuda de alquiler del COVID-19, que se define como alquiler u otras obligaciones financieras impagas de un inquilino que vencieron entre el 1 de marzo de 2020 y el 30 de septiembre de 2021. (Vea el Código de Procedimiento Civil, secciones 116.223 y 1179.02.) Lea el formulario SC-500-INFO, La deuda de alquiler del COVID-19 en la corte de reclamos menores.

Rev. January 1, 2024 Reclamo del Demandante y ORDEN Para Ir a la Corte de SC-500, Page 6 of 6 Reclamos Menores (COVID-19 Rental Debt) For your protection and privacy, please press the Clear This Form button after you have printed the form. Print this form Save this form Clear this form