I showed up at court on March 8th to find a crowd already gathered. By crowd, I mean way more people than I had anticipated.

First, there was the attorney himself, a face I recognized from his bio online. He was in a suit, with a leather briefcase, looking very lawyer-like.

Second, there was in-house legal counsel from Equifax, who played a supporting and advisory role to the actual litigation counsel.

Third, there was a Vice President in the legal department of Equifax, who specialized in analyzing credit reports, and could testify specifically to my record.

The judge was again, a judge pro tem, which means she was an attorney who had been appointed judge for the day. Technically in an appeal of a small claims court judgment, you’re allowed to have a Superior Court judge hear the trial. Equifax’s attorney made sure the judge pro tem knew that she wasn’t wanted there.

“You’ll follow the rules and procedures, right?” he demanded, before signing the stipulation.

The judge, a lady with all white hair, nodded mildly. “Yes, I follow all the rules of evidence.”

All three of them sat at the Defendants’ table, and I sat alone at my Plaintiff’s table. I presented my case, for the second time, and brought plenty of evidence to back myself up, including a report done by Senator Elizabeth Warren’s office with aid from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, which described in detail how Equifax actually may profit from its negligence.

This time, Equifax was not going to let me off so easy. Before I had even distributed the report, Equifax’s lawyer shook his head vehemently. “How is this evidence even permissible?” he asked, gesturing to my report. “It’s hearsay.”

I had read up on my caselaw. “Hearsay is permissible in small claims court.”

“Show me the case. Do you have the case?”

I did not have the case. I had the case name (Houghtaling v. Superior Court), but I did not have the case. The lawyer looked smug. The judge looked on mildly.

It was going to be a long hearing.