Yes, a transcript of the proceedings in small claims court can be requested and produced. However, it may come at an additional cost to the individual requesting it. It is important to check with the specific court on their transcript policies.
No. Criminal mischief is a crime (as far as i know its a misdemeanor, but it could be a felony somewhere). Being that it is a crime it goes to a criminal court. Small claims court is for civil disputes, typically for claims under $2,000. Only your state/county/local law enforcement can take someone to court for criminal mischief. Now say the 'criminal mischief' was something that caused damage to you or your property, then you can file a suit in small claims court for the cost of damages. You just need to be able to prove what it cost(s) to fix these losses.
Small claims court are designed to be quick and cost effective. If one side shows up with an attorney, thing start to escalate and the efficiencies go away.
At the very least, anyone suing a landlord should educate himself or herself about the forms and process, and asking a lawyer how to do that might be an efficient although expensive method. There are many books and online articles about small claims court. Most small claims courts do not allow any attorney to represent a client in court, but that doesn't mean you can't hire one to help you avoid court or to prepare for court.
It depends on who caused the damage, and what the agreement with insurance is.
The cost to file a civil suit in Rhode Island is $80.00. The cost to file a suit in small claims court in Rhode Island is $55.00.
You will need to file a lawsuit requesting an injunctive relief. For that, it is strongly recommended that you have an attorney represent you. It will cost a lot less if you sue the person for the value of the property in small claims court. In small claims, you don't need an attorney (in fact, they are not allowed). See the below link.
Take the driver to small claims court for the cost of the rental.
Take them to small claims court. The cost is very cheap and you don't use a lawyer. Make sure you can prove your case.
This is what small claims court is for. You should be able to recover the cost of your ticket + the cost of filing the papers in court. If you think you are going to get rich for "pain and suffering" I don't think that's going to happen.
It depends on the state you live in and the type of lawsuit you are filing. For example, if the amount of damages you are claiming is small (usually under a few thousand), you can go to small claims court and the filing fees are very low for that. I would check on your court's website - they usually have information about it.
If you are suing someone for an amount less then 5,000 you can take them to small claims court. However check your state guidelines on the amount, as each state varies.