01/16/2026
Deputy Judge Janis Criger offers practical, experience‑based guidance on how litigants—especially self‑represented ones—should approach opening statements in Small Claims Court. She emphasizes that openings are often misunderstood, and many people entering Small Claims Court for the first time don’t realize how limited and focused an opening should be. The video is part of a broader educational series designed to demystify the Small Claims Court trial process and help both new advocates and ordinary people navigate Small Claims Court more confidently. www.smallclaimslawyer.ca
Judge Criger begins by explaining that an opening statement in Small Claims Court is not the place to tell your full story. That happens later, from the witness stand, under oath. In Small Claims Court, the opening is simply a short, direct explanation of why you are there. She recommends what she calls the “25‑words‑or‑less” approach for self‑represented litigants: a concise statement that identifies the core issue without argument, narrative, or evidence.
She gives an example: if someone owes you money and hasn’t paid, your Small Claims Court opening might be as simple as: “I sued because the defendant owes me money and hasn’t paid.” That’s it. No documents, no background, no storytelling. The judge stresses that this minimalism is not only acceptable but ideal in Small Claims Court, because the real evidence comes later when you testify. www.smallclaimslawyer.ca
Judge Criger contrasts this with how lawyers or paralegals sometimes open in Small Claims Court, occasionally previewing the evidence they intend to call. While this is permitted, she notes it is rarely necessary. The judge reiterates that the purpose of an opening in Small Claims Court is not to persuade through evidence but to orient the court to the dispute. www.smallclaimslawyer.ca
A key point she highlights—one that surprises many litigants—is that opening statements in Small Claims Court are not evidence. They are not given under oath, and the judge cannot rely on anything said in an opening as proof. This is why the opening should be simple and factual: it frames the case without attempting to prove it. www.smallclaimslawyer.ca
The video closes with Judge Criger reinforcing that the best openings in Small Claims Court are short, clear, and focused on the reason for the claim. Whether you are a lawyer, paralegal, or self‑represented litigant, the goal is the same: help the judge understand, in one sentence, what the Small Claims Court case is about before the real evidence begins. www.smallclaimslawyer.ca
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A2aob1yfAPM
We are fully licensed lawyers with decades of experience before Small Claims Court, Superior Court of Justice, Divisional Court and Ontario Court of Appeal. The majority of cases involve commercial and business disputes, real estate and property law and debtor-creditor law.
