“Most people who get sued by a debt collector can't afford a lawyer, so they give up and lose by default. It doesn't have to be that way. I built CaseDefender so you can fight back yourself, even if hiring a lawyer isn't an option.”
Why this exists
For more than 20 years, John Skiba has represented people on the receiving end of debt collection lawsuits. In that time he saw the same thing happen over and over: someone gets served, panics, realizes they can't afford the thousands of dollars it costs to hire an attorney, and does nothing at all.
When you do nothing, the collector wins automatically. That's called a default judgment, and it can follow you for years through garnished wages and frozen bank accounts. Roughly 95% of people sued for a debt never file a response, which means most of these cases are won without the collector ever having to prove anything.
The frustrating part is that many of those cases were winnable. Debt buyers frequently can't produce the original signed agreement, can't prove they actually own the account, or are suing on a debt that's too old to collect. But none of that matters if nobody shows up to make them prove it.
Built so you can do this yourself
So he started giving the information away. What began as a YouTube channel answering questions for people who couldn't afford a consultation has grown into 1,100+ videos on consumer debt protection, 85,000+ subscribers, and more than 6 million+ views, plus a full library of step-by-step guides and the document tools on this site.
CaseDefender puts that same information into plain-language courses, step-by-step guides, and fill-in-the-blank court documents. You can use it today, without paying an attorney thousands of dollars.
You represent yourself. We give you the documents, the deadlines, and the roadmap, so you can walk into court knowing exactly what you're doing.
Watch on YouTube
John Skiba answers real questions from people fighting debt collection lawsuits, free, every week. 1,100+ videos and counting, watched more than 6 million+ times.
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CaseDefender is an online provider of legal fill-in-the-blank forms and general information. CaseDefender is not a law firm, does not act as your attorney, is not affiliated with any law firm, and does not provide legal advice or legal representation. CaseDefender's forms, courses, and other products are not a substitute for the advice of an attorney. No attorney-client relationship and no attorney-client privilege is created by using this service. You are representing yourself. Any document you produce is your own document: you are solely responsible for reviewing it for accuracy, for every legal decision you make, for confirming it complies with the rules of your court, and for filing and serving it on time. Court rules, deadlines, and the law vary by state and by court, and they are strict. CaseDefender cannot guarantee any result and is not responsible for the outcome of your case. If you want advice about your situation, consult a licensed attorney in your state; your state bar association maintains a referral directory.
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