Terms of Service

Important Legal Notice

PETTY LAWSUIT IS NOT A LAW FIRM AND DOES NOT PROVIDE LEGAL ADVICE

Petty Lawsuit is a self-help document automation and filing assistance platform. We are not attorneys, and we cannot and do not provide legal advice, opinions, or recommendations about your legal rights, remedies, defenses, options, or strategies. No attorney-client relationship is formed by using our services. The information and services provided are not a substitute for the advice of an attorney.

1. Acceptance of Terms

By accessing or using Petty Lawsuit ("Platform," "Service," "we," "us," or "our"), you agree to be bound by these Terms of Service ("Terms"). If you do not agree to these Terms, do not use our Service.

2. Description of Service

Petty Lawsuit provides a platform that assists users in:

• Preparing small claims court documents
• Looking up business information and registered agents
• Determining proper court venue and jurisdiction
• Generating and sending demand letters via email and certified mail
• Organizing evidence and case information
• Calculating appropriate claim amounts
• Filing court documents (where available)

You are responsible for: The accuracy of all information you provide, understanding and complying with all applicable laws and court rules, meeting all deadlines, and the outcome of your case.

3. Eligibility

You must be at least 18 years old and legally capable of entering into contracts to use our Service. By using the Service, you represent and warrant that you meet these eligibility requirements.

You may not use the Service if you have been previously banned or if your account has been terminated for violation of these Terms.

4. Account Registration

To use certain features, you must create an account. You agree to:

• Provide accurate, current, and complete information
• Maintain and update your information to keep it accurate
• Maintain the security of your account credentials
• Accept responsibility for all activities under your account
• Immediately notify us of any unauthorized use

5. Fees and Payment

Pricing

Our current pricing structure includes:

• Platform service fees for document preparation and filing assistance
• Certified mail fees (passed through from our provider)
• Court filing fees (passed through from courts)
• Any applicable taxes

Payment Processing

All payments are processed through Stripe. By providing payment information, you authorize us to charge the applicable fees. You agree to Stripe's terms and conditions.

Refunds

Our refund policy:

• Service fees are non-refundable once documents are generated
• Certified mail fees may be refunded if mail is returned as undeliverable
• Court filing fees are subject to individual court policies and are generally non-refundable
• Refund requests must be submitted within 30 days of the transaction

6. Acceptable Use

You agree not to use the Service to:

• File frivolous, harassing, or malicious lawsuits
• Submit false or misleading information
• Violate any applicable laws or regulations
• Infringe on any third party's rights
• Upload malware or harmful code
• Attempt to gain unauthorized access to our systems
• Interfere with or disrupt the Service
• Use the Service for any illegal purpose
• Impersonate any person or entity
• Collect or store personal data about other users
• Use automated systems or bots without permission

7. Intellectual Property

Our Property

The Service, including all content, features, and functionality, is owned by us and protected by intellectual property laws. You may not copy, modify, distribute, sell, or lease any part of our Service without our written permission.

Your Content

You retain ownership of the information and materials you submit ("Your Content"). By using the Service, you grant us a worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free license to use, process, store, and transmit Your Content solely to provide the Service to you.

Feedback

Any feedback, suggestions, or ideas you provide about the Service becomes our property and may be used without compensation to you.

8. Privacy

Your use of the Service is subject to our Privacy Policy, which is incorporated into these Terms by reference. Please review our Privacy Policy to understand our practices.

9. SMS/Text Message Communications

By providing your phone number and opting in to receive text messages from PettyLawsuit, you consent to receive SMS messages regarding:

• Case status updates and notifications
• Court deadline reminders
• Document filing confirmations
• Important account notifications

Message Frequency

Message frequency varies based on your case activity. You may receive multiple messages per week during active case periods.

Opting Out

You may opt out of SMS messages at any time by replying STOP to any message. After opting out, you will receive a confirmation message and no further SMS messages will be sent. You can opt back in at any time through your account settings.

Help and Support

For assistance with SMS communications, reply HELP to any message or contact us at support@pettylawsuit.com.

Carrier Fees

Message and data rates may apply. Check with your mobile carrier for details about your text messaging plan.

10. Third-Party Services

Our Service integrates with third-party services including:

• Privy for authentication
• Stripe for payment processing
• Lob for certified mail
• Mailgun for email delivery
• Twilio for SMS text messaging

Your use of these services is subject to their respective terms and policies. We are not responsible for third-party services.

11. Disclaimers and Limitations of Liability

No Legal Advice

WE DO NOT PROVIDE LEGAL ADVICE. THE SERVICE IS PROVIDED FOR INFORMATIONAL AND SELF-HELP PURPOSES ONLY. OUTCOMES ARE NOT GUARANTEED.

As-Is Service

THE SERVICE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE" WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, OR NON-INFRINGEMENT.

No Guarantee of Results

We do not guarantee that:

• The Service will meet your requirements
• The Service will be uninterrupted or error-free
• The results obtained will be accurate or reliable
• Any errors will be corrected
• You will win your case or recover any money

Limitation of Liability

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, WE SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, OR ANY LOSS OF PROFITS OR REVENUES, WHETHER INCURRED DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, OR ANY LOSS OF DATA, USE, GOODWILL, OR OTHER INTANGIBLE LOSSES.

IN NO EVENT SHALL OUR AGGREGATE LIABILITY EXCEED THE AMOUNTS PAID BY YOU TO US IN THE TWELVE (12) MONTHS PRECEDING THE EVENT GIVING RISE TO LIABILITY, OR ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS ($100), WHICHEVER IS GREATER.

12. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Petty Lawsuit, its officers, directors, employees, agents, and affiliates from any claims, damages, losses, liabilities, costs, and expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees) arising from:

• Your use of the Service
• Your violation of these Terms
• Your violation of any law or third-party rights
• Your Content
• Any claims related to your legal matters

13. Dispute Resolution

Arbitration Agreement

Any dispute arising from these Terms or your use of the Service shall be resolved through binding arbitration in accordance with the American Arbitration Association rules, except that you may assert claims in small claims court if eligible.

Class Action Waiver

YOU AGREE TO BRING CLAIMS ONLY IN YOUR INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY AND NOT AS A PLAINTIFF OR CLASS MEMBER IN ANY PURPORTED CLASS OR REPRESENTATIVE PROCEEDING.

Governing Law

These Terms are governed by the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to conflict of law principles.

14. Termination

We may terminate or suspend your account and access to the Service immediately, without prior notice or liability, for any reason, including if you breach these Terms.

Upon termination, your right to use the Service will cease immediately. Provisions that by their nature should survive termination shall survive.

15. Changes to Terms

We reserve the right to modify these Terms at any time. If we make material changes, we will notify you by email or through the Service. Your continued use after changes constitutes acceptance of the new Terms.

16. General Provisions

Entire Agreement

These Terms, together with our Privacy Policy, constitute the entire agreement between you and us regarding the Service.

Severability

If any provision of these Terms is found to be unenforceable, the remaining provisions will continue in full force and effect.

Waiver

No waiver of any term shall be deemed a further or continuing waiver of such term or any other term.

Assignment

You may not assign or transfer these Terms. We may assign our rights and obligations without restriction.

17. Contact Information

For questions about these Terms, please contact us at:

Understanding What PettyLawsuit Does and Does Not Do

PettyLawsuit is a self-help document automation platform that assists individuals in preparing legal documents for small claims court proceedings. It is important to understand the distinction between what our platform provides and what a licensed attorney provides. We generate court forms, demand letters, and other legal documents based on the information you supply. We automate the process of looking up the correct court jurisdiction, determining filing fees, and formatting documents according to your state's specific requirements. However, we do not evaluate the merits of your legal claims, predict the outcome of your case, or represent you in court.

When you use PettyLawsuit, you remain fully responsible for the accuracy and truthfulness of all information you provide. Our system relies on the facts you enter - including the names and addresses of parties, the nature of your dispute, the amount you are claiming, and the evidence you upload - to generate appropriate documents. If you provide incorrect or incomplete information, the resulting documents may be inaccurate, and your case could be delayed or dismissed. We strongly recommend reviewing all generated documents carefully before filing them with any court, and verifying that names, dates, addresses, and claim amounts are correct.

Our platform is designed to handle the most common types of small claims disputes, including unpaid debts, security deposit disputes, breach of contract claims, property damage, defective products and services, and consumer protection violations. While small claims court rules are generally straightforward, each state and sometimes each county has specific procedural requirements that must be followed. PettyLawsuit maintains an up-to-date database of these requirements and automatically applies the correct rules to your case, but you should always verify current court rules and filing deadlines with your local court clerk's office to ensure compliance.

By agreeing to these Terms of Service, you acknowledge that PettyLawsuit provides tools and information to help you navigate the small claims process on your own, and that our services do not create an attorney-client relationship. If your dispute involves complex legal issues, significant amounts of money, or potential criminal liability, we recommend consulting with a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction before proceeding. Small claims courts have dollar limits that vary by state, and claims that exceed those limits must be filed in higher courts where different rules and procedures apply. Our goal is to empower you with the knowledge and documents you need to pursue straightforward small claims cases efficiently and affordably.