u/Commercial_Assist655

Quick summary:

1. I was served papers stating Portfolio Recovery sued me and was given a date to show up to court. The amount they say I owe is about $6000
2. I showed up and it last about a minute. The judge just asked my name and then stated the reason I was being sued. portfolio was there on video call. I objected to owing any amount. He said I would get a date for remediation.
3. remediation comes up and it took about 5 minutes over video call. I rejected owing them anything.
4. I was given a new court date for trial for summary judgement. I showed up and waited for my name to be called. Portfolio Recovery showed up via video call on a case about 10minutes before mine was called. Portfolio did not show up when my name was called. The judge tried calling them on the phone and put everything on hold for 15 minutes and tried calling them again. They did not show back up. He looked at me visibly frustrated and asked me what possibly my defense against this is because portfolio clearly has all the correct paperwork. I pretty much said that some of the paperwork they have is inadmissible and he did not like that answer. He told me that the only reason he is rejecting the summary judgement is because they didn’t show up and that if that’s my defense I have no shot at the next hearing.
5. I received the next court date. A non jury trial that states both parties must appear in person at the courthouse. Portfolio Recovery replied to the email confirming the date works for them and they have a witness ready.

This is where I’m at now. Next court date is about 2 months out. Honestly I do not think I have a chance at winning given the paperwork they have provided. What are the odds they don’t show up to this? I’m assuming “in person” means they can’t just show up via zoom call like the previous court dates. In a perfect world I go to this court date and they don’t show up and everything gets dropped, but if they do show up the judge will surely give them a win and I will likely owe the full amount and all court and lawyer fees. Do I risk it, or do I try contacting them to settle before the court date?