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Judge Dale Gorczynski Reelected Justice of the Peace 1-1
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February 7, 2008
Judge Dale Gorczynski to Receive 2008 "Judge of the Year Award" from P.O.L.I.C.E., Inc.   January 24, 2008 An Evening With Judge Dale M. Gorczynski Justice of the Peace Precinct 1, Place 1 Hosted by Philip H. Hilder & Eugene Tausk Join us for a warm reception Thursday, January 24, 2008 5-7:30 PM 819 Lovett Boulevard Houston, Texas 77006
Light Buffet Pd. Pol. Adv. by Dale Gorczynski Campaign, 6302 Cindy Lane, Houston, TX, 77008, Cynthia C. Gorczynski, Treasurer Send Contributions to: 6302 Cindy Lane Houston, Texas 77008 January 11, 2008
Judge Dale Gorczynski to Receive an Award from the Houston Medical Community
An Exhibit of Editorial Cartoons The University of Alabama
Recognizing
former Houston City Council members Joel Dunnington,
MD Patty Young Sponsored
by January 9th, 2008 Judge Dale is Endorsed by Old Acres Homes Citizens Council Civic Club Leaders
Leroy Flowers President, Montgomery Terrace Civic Club
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
-- December 26, 2007 Judge
Dale M. Gorczynski Files for Re-Election Long-time Incumbent Begins Run for Harris County Justice of the Peace Precinct 1, Place 1 Judge Dale Gorczynski officially filed today for re-election as Justice of the
Peace Precinct One, Position One (JP-1-1) at the Harris County Democratic party headquarters. A proud Democrat, Judge Gorczynski has served on the bench at the Mickey
Leland Courthouse Annex on North Shepherd for fifteen years. Prior to his work as Justice of the Peace, Gorczynski served
thirteen years on the Houston City Council representing District H. "I am ready to provide four more years of service to the people of Harris County"
stated Judge Gorczynski. He is
supported by a wide variety of community leaders including Democratic elected officials such as Constable Jack Abercia, Commissioner
El Franco Lee, and Commissioner Sylvia Garcia, as well as many local Democratic Precinct Chairs. "My supporters and I will bring our campaign for re-election to every part
of Precinct One," Judge Gorczynski noted.
"Our message will be simple, direct, and positive. The message is that JP 1-1 is a court that provides outstanding
service to all the diverse people of Harris County. My staff and I work hard every day to make sure that everyone who
comes to our court is treated with fairness, compassion, and courtesy." "Our court is a leader in the use of innovative technology to provide a more efficient
and more pleasant customer experience," Judge Gorczynski continued. "It is also a leader in the use of new methods to collect unpaid fines. We are
collecting greater revenue for the citizens of Harris County. At the same time, we resolve troublesome, forgotten problems
for offenders." Judge Dale Gorczynski is
known nationwide for his work in animal cruelty cases thanks to his regular appearances on Animal Planet's "Animal
Cops: Houston" television series.
He is a founding member of the College of Justice Court Judges of Texas, an honorary society whose membership includes many
of the most highly trained Justices of the Peace in the State. Judge Gorczynski is an attorney, a trained mediator,
and a member of the College of the State Bar of Texas. He holds degrees from Rice University (BA), University of Texas
School of Public Health (MPH), and University of Houston Law Center (JD).
Date: Sat 11/17/2007 LAW / Docket looms larger for small claims / Money limit doubles to $10,000 in
court where even lawyers are optional IN this court, lawyers, three-piece suits and even ties are optional. It's small-claims court - Judge Judy country. In fact, that TV show and at least three others come to these local courts to lure away the juiciest cases. This is where small businesses and average citizens seek justice without a lot of legalese or attorney's fees. In fact, the judge isn't even required to be a lawyer. In Houston, small lawsuits land in the 16 Harris County justice of the peace courts. There they compete on chaotic and crowded dockets with animal seizures, evictions, truancy cases, traffic tickets, bad checks and weddings. Because the money limit just doubled to $10,000 from $5,000 in September, small-claims court is about to get busier. "We expect a whole lot more cases," said Harris County Justice of the Peace Dale Gorczynski, who presides over the Precinct 1, Place 1 court. About 1,100 small claims were filed in his court in the last year, according to his chief civil clerk, Alan Cerny. These lawsuits are often consumers against small businesses, small businesses against each other or citizen versus citizen. A lot have to do with car repairs and purchases. Another set of small claims is about home repair - either homeowners suing over allegedly imperfect work or contractors suing for not being paid. And then there are the suits among family members, former friends and ex-lovers. Court is informal, few folks dress up and most aren't fully prepared. The judge sends just about everybody off to talk to a law student "mediator" and there is a tiny six-seat jury box for when someone demands a jury. The clerk's office that takes the complaints and $80 fees to file them has signs reading "Clerks cannot give legal advice." Gorczynski said the rule of thumb is if the clerk can summon the answer in about 30 seconds, it's information. If it takes more pondering, it's legal advice. In Gorczynski's court, at 7300 N. Shepherd, one day last week there were eight small-claims cases on the docket. Five settled before coming to court, and a case against a Chevrolet dealer was dismissed because no one showed up. Paul Edwards was there because his physical therapy staffing company, Edwards Therapy Staffing, sued a home health care company that stopped paying for prescribed therapy his staff was compelled to complete. "We wanted to be in small claims. We were stiffed for $16,000. But you hire an attorney for a $16,000 case, it's the same work as if you hired one for a $16 million case," Edwards said. He wanted to leave lawyers out of it. But the judge would not allow him to cut his $16,000 claim into smaller pieces to try it in small claims. Edwards had been luckier last time. "Just filing the small claims lawsuit got another company to pay us $8,000 they owed," he said. "Small claims could have saved us a lot of grief this time, too." Car cases predominant Gorczynski said 75 percent of the cases he sees in small-claims court are about buying, selling and repairing cars. "I'm convinced a really good mechanic could be a pretty good small-claims judge," he said. "I'd guess in the early days of justice, a lot of the cases had to do with horses, too." When Janice Shepherd and Robert McKee came forward with their claim and counterclaim, it might have seemed to be about a car, too, but the judge said it was easy to see this case fell into the category he calls Love Gone Wrong. Shepherd wanted $5,000 from McKee for damaging the engine in her 1995 Altima and causing her pain and suffering. McKee countersued for some loans he'd made to her and the cost of her dining room table and chairs he'd bought her. "You can tell you have a Love Gone Wrong case from the moment they stand up," the judge said. "They bolt out of their seats and look like they are ready for physical combat." Because one of them was injured, Gorczynski came off the bench and sat across the table from the estranged couple, who said they'd been together on and off for years. The judge asked each one to write on the blackboard the costs they wanted from the other, he listened to their complaints, and watched Shepherd riffle through her red case of papers, unable to find documents she said she had. In the end, the verdict was based on a piece of paper. McKee was awarded $300 he lent his ex-lover after the judge saw she signed a contract with him promising repayment or to hand over her widescreen TV. Shepherd, who brought the original suit, got nothing. Suit over Jamaica trip Among the most interesting small claims Gorczynski said he's handled was filed by a spurned man who sued for the cost of a wedding dress he bought his fiancee. She not only broke up with him but soon married another man in the dress. Verdict for the lonely dress purchaser. Then there was the case of the llama named Lorenzo who got into a neighbor's corral and bit some horses. Lorenzo Llama and his owner did not have a good excuse for this behavior. Verdict for the horse owner. Another memorable claim was made by a man suing his ex-girlfriend for half the cost of a trip to Jamaica. Gorczynski found that the man had unmet expectations, but that didn't change that the girlfriend thought he was paying. Verdict for the girlfriend. The judge said most of the cases, be they between businesses or exes, come down to what's reasonable - reasonable expectations, reasonable outcomes and what reasonable people would have done or have said. ... THE PEOPLE'S COURT Small-claims lawsuits are heard in Texas Justice of the Peace courts. Here are some of the facts: Claim must be for less than $10,000. Filing fees and fees to serve the person or company come to $80. The lawsuit must be filed in the home county of the person or company being sued. You don't need a lawyer. If either side skips the court date, it could lose the case on the spot. Credit agencies can't sue in small-claims court. You aren't supposed to scream, as some on TV do. Calm goes a long way. A small-claims ruling of more than $250 may be appealed to a county court at law Source: Harris County
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