Skill: agistack/sue (version 1.0.0)

--- name: Sue description: A comprehensive AI agent skill for anyone considering or facing a lawsuit. Helps you evaluate whether suing is worth it, understand the litigation process from filing to resolution, prepare your case effectively, navigate settlement negotiations, and make informed decisions at every stage of a legal dispute. --- # Sue ## Before You File Anything The decision to sue someone is easier to make than it is to unmake. Once a lawsuit is filed, the relationship with the other party changes permanently. The costs begin accumulating immediately. The time commitment extends across months or years. The outcome is uncertain regardless of how strong the case appears from the inside. None of this means you should not sue. Sometimes suing is the only mechanism available to enforce a legitimate right, recover a genuine loss, or stop ongoing harm. But the decision deserves more deliberation than it usually receives, because the question is not just whether you have a valid legal claim — you may well have one — but whether pursuing it through the court system is the best available path to the outcome you actually want. This skill helps you make that evaluation honestly before any filing, and navigate the process effectively if you decide to proceed. --- ## Do You Have a Case A legal claim requires more than being wronged. It requires a wrong that the law recognizes, evidence that the wrong occurred, a defendant who is legally responsible, and damages that can be quantified. Many situations that feel like clear injustices do not meet all four requirements. Many situations that seem complicated do. The skill helps you evaluate your potential claim against these requirements. What legal theory applies to your situation — breach of contract, negligence, fraud, discrimination, defamation, property damage — and what each theory requires you to prove. What evidence you have and what evidence you would need that you may not have. Whether the defendant has the resources to pay a judgment if you win, because a judgment against someone with no assets is a piece of paper. Whether your damages are large enough to justify the cost of pursuing them. This evaluation is not pessimism. It is the analysis that determines whether litigation is likely to produce a net positive outcome or a net negative one, and that information belongs at the beginning of the decision rather than the end of the process. --- ## The Cost-Benefit of Litigation Litigation is expensive in money, time, and psychological energy. Attorney fees in a contested civil matter can reach tens of thousands of dollars before trial. The process routinely takes one to three years from filing to resolution. The discovery process requires producing documents, answering written questions under oath, and sitting for depositions. The stress of active litigation affects relationships, work performance, and health in ways that are real and often underestimated. Against these costs, the potential recovery needs to be honestly assessed. Not the best-case recovery, but the probability-weighted recovery — the range of possible outcomes multiplied by their likelihood, minus the costs of achieving them. A claim worth $50,000 that has a sixty percent chance of succeeding and will cost $25,000 in legal fees has an expected value of $5,000. The same claim settled before significant legal fees are incurred for $30,000 has a higher expected value than winning. The skill helps you build this analysis before committing to a litigation path. --- ## The Litigation Process A lawsuit moves through a defined sequence of stages, each with its own requirements, deadlines, and strategic considerations. Filing begins with a complaint that states the legal claims and the relief requested. Service delivers the complaint to the defendant, who then has a specified period to respond. The pleading stage establishes what is disputed and what is not. Discovery is the extended period of evidence exchange — documents, written questions, depositions — that produces the factual record the case will be decided on. Motions allow parties to ask the court to rule on legal questions before trial. Settlement negotiations occur throughout, most intensively as trial approaches. Trial resolves the remaining disputes if settlement is not reached. Appeal follows if the losing party has grounds to challenge the outcome. Most cases settle before trial. Understanding why — and understanding what drives settlement timing and value — is as important as understanding the trial process itself. --- ## Building Your Case The strength of a lawsuit is determined by evidence, not by the righteousness of the position. Courts decide based on what can be proven, not on what is true. The party with better evidence, better organized, better presented, wins more often than the party with the stronger underlying position who cannot prove it. The skill helps you identify, preserve, and organize the evidence that supports your claim. The documents that establish the agreement, the breach, the harm. The communications that show what each party knew and when. The witnesses who can testify to relevant facts. The expert opinions that may be required to establish causation or damages. The timeline that connects the defendant's conduct to your harm in a way a fact-finder can follow. Evidence that is lost, destroyed, or disorganized is evidence that cannot help you. Building the evidentiary foundation of a case is work that begins the moment litigation becomes a possibility. --- ## Settlement as Strategy Most civil disputes settle before trial. Settlement is not failure — it is the resolution mechanism that works for the majority of cases, for good reasons. It provides certainty in an uncertain process. It ends the cost and distraction of litigation. It allows both parties to move on. It avoids the risk of a trial outcome that is worse than the settlement that was available. The skill helps you approach settlement strategically rather than reactively. Understanding your best alternative to a negotiated settlement — what happens if you do not settle — and the other party's best alternative. The timing of settlement discussions and why offers made at different stages of litigation carry different signals. The difference between a settlement number that reflects realistic litigation economics and one that reflects wishful thinking about trial outcomes. The terms beyond money that sometimes matter as much as the dollar figure. --- ## Small Claims as an Alternative For disputes within the jurisdictional limit — typically $5,000 to $10,000 depending on the state — small claims court provides a faster, cheaper, and less procedurally complex alternative to civil court. Attorneys are often not permitted or not cost-effective. The process is designed to be navigable without legal training. The timeline from filing to hearing is typically weeks rather than years. The skill covers small claims procedure completely for self-represented litigants: what claims qualify, how to file, how to serve the defendant, what to bring to the hearing, how to present your case to a judge who will ask the questions, and how to collect if you win.

path: examples.md
content: # Sue — Real Usage Examples

*Copy these prompts directly into your AI agent to get started.*

---

## Quick Start Prompts

### Should I Sue

"A contractor took $8,500 from me, did shoddy work, and is now ignoring my calls. Should I sue and what are my realistic options?"

### Evaluate My Claim

"My former employer owes me $14,000 in unpaid commissions. They are disputing the calculation. Do I have a case?"

### Small Claims

"Someone rear-ended my car and their insurance is only offering $2,200. The repair estimate is $3,800. Can I take this to small claims court?"

### Settlement Offer

"The person I am suing just offered to settle for $15,000. My attorney thinks we could win $35,000 at trial. How do I evaluate this offer?"

---

## Conversation Examples

### Example 1: The Contractor Dispute

User: A contractor took a $12,000 deposit for a kitchen renovation, did about $3,000 worth of work, and then stopped showing up. It has been two months. What are my options?

Agent: You have a strong breach of contract claim for the work not performed. The question is which path gets you the best outcome. First, send a formal written demand — certified mail — giving him 10 days to either complete the work or refund the unearned deposit. Document this carefully. If he does not respond, you have several paths: small claims court if your state limit covers the amount, civil court with an attorney if the amount justifies it, a complaint to your state contractor licensing board which can threaten his license, and a report to the state attorney general's consumer protection office. The licensing board complaint often produces faster results than litigation because it threatens something the contractor values more than money. Tell me your state and the full amount at issue and I will help you prioritize these options.

---

### Example 2: Evaluating a Settlement

User: I slipped and fell at a grocery store eight months ago. I broke my wrist. Medical bills are $22,000 and I missed six weeks of work. The store's insurance just offered $35,000. My attorney says we could get $75,000 to $100,000 at trial. Should I take it?

Agent: This is a genuine decision with legitimate arguments on both sides. The $35,000 offer is real money you have right now with no further cost, stress, or uncertainty. The $75,000 to $100,000 trial estimate is a range your attorney believes is achievable — but trial outcomes are uncertain, trials take time, and your net recovery after attorney fees at the trial number needs to be compared to your net recovery after attorney fees at the settlement number. If your attorney is on a 33% contingency, $35,000 nets you roughly $23,000 now. $75,000 at trial nets you roughly $50,000 after fees, minus additional costs, minus the time value of waiting potentially another year or two. The gap is real but so is the risk. What does your attorney say about the strength of the liability evidence — is the store's fault clear or contested?

---

### Example 3: Collecting a Judgment

User: I won in small claims court six months ago. The defendant was ordered to pay me $4,200. They have not paid anything. What can I do?

Agent: Winning a judgment is the beginning of collection, not the end of the dispute. You have several enforcement tools available. Wage garnishment lets you collect directly from their paycheck if they are employed — you file with the court and their employer is required to withhold a percentage. Bank levy lets you seize funds from their bank account if you can identify where they bank. Property liens attach to real estate they own and must be paid before they can sell or refinance. In many states you can also conduct a debtor's examination — a court proceeding where you can compel them to disclose their assets under oath. Tell me your state and what you know about the defendant's employment and assets and I will walk you through the most promising collection path.

---

## Power User Prompts

"Walk me through what discovery would look like in my type of case and what it would require from me."

"The defendant filed a counterclaim against me. What does this mean and how does it change my situation?"

"My attorney wants to take the case to mediation. What is mediation and how is it different from settlement negotiation?"

"I want to represent myself in a civil lawsuit. What are the realistic risks and how do I prepare?"

"The statute of limitations on my claim is approaching. What does that mean and what do I need to do?"

---

*Suing is a tool, not a reflex. Used deliberately with clear eyes about the costs and realistic expectations about the outcomes, it is sometimes the right tool. This skill helps you know when.*


path: heartbeat.md
content: # Sue Skill — Heartbeat

*Litigation runs on deadlines. Missing one can end your case.*

---

## When a Dispute Begins

Run immediately when any potential legal dispute arises:

"I have a dispute with [party] over [issue]. The amount involved is [amount]. Here is what happened: [summary]. Help me evaluate my options before I do anything."

Immediate actions in any dispute:
- Preserve all communications — do not delete anything
- Document the current state with photos, records, or written notes
- Identify the statute of limitations for your type of claim
- Send nothing in writing to the other party that you would not want a judge to read

---

## Pre-Filing — Case Evaluation

Before filing any lawsuit:

"I am considering suing [party] for [claim]. Help me evaluate whether this is worth pursuing and what the realistic outcomes are."

Pre-filing checklist:
- Legal theory identified and elements understood
- Evidence inventory — what you have and what you need
- Defendant asset check — can they pay a judgment
- Cost-benefit analysis — expected recovery vs litigation cost
- Alternative resolution options considered — demand letter, mediation, licensing board
- Statute of limitations deadline confirmed

---

## Active Litigation — Weekly Check

While a lawsuit is active:

"Here is where my case stands: [stage]. My next deadline is [date]. What should I be doing this week?"

Active case deadlines to track:
- Response deadlines to any filed motions
- Discovery production deadlines
- Deposition dates
- Expert witness disclosure deadlines
- Pretrial conference dates
- Trial date

---

## Settlement Decision Points

When a settlement offer arrives:

"I just received a settlement offer of [amount]. My case involves [summary]. My attorney's trial estimate is [range]. Help me evaluate this offer."

Settlement evaluation framework:
- Net recovery after fees at settlement vs expected net recovery after fees at trial
- Probability of winning at trial honestly assessed
- Time to trial and value of resolution now vs later
- Non-monetary terms in the offer worth considering
- What happens if you reject and the next offer is lower

---

## Post-Judgment — Collection

After winning a judgment:

"I have a judgment for [amount] against [party]. They have not paid. Here is what I know about their situation: [assets, employment]. What are my collection options?"

Collection tools by situation:
- Employed defendant: wage garnishment
- Has bank accounts: bank levy
- Owns real estate: judgment lien
- Unknown assets: debtor's examination under oath
- Judgment debtor in another state: domestication of judgment

---

*Every stage of litigation has a deadline. Every deadline missed is an opportunity lost or a right forfeited. Stay ahead of the calendar.*


path: skill.json
content: {
  "name": "sue",
  "version": "1.0.0",
  "description": "A comprehensive AI agent skill for anyone considering or facing a lawsuit. Covers case evaluation, litigation process, evidence building, settlement strategy, small claims court, and judgment collection.",
  "author": "AGIstack",
  "license": "MIT-0",
  "homepage": "https://clawhub.ai",
  "keywords": [
    "sue", "lawsuit", "litigation", "legal claim", "civil court",
    "small claims", "settlement", "damages", "breach of contract",
    "plaintiff", "defendant", "judgment", "collection", "dispute"
  ],
  "files": {
    "skill.md": "skill.md",
    "heartbeat.md": "heartbeat.md",
    "examples.md": "examples.md"
  },
  "capabilities": {
    "case_evaluation": "Assesses whether a legal claim is worth pursuing based on evidence, damages, and realistic outcomes",
    "cost_benefit_analysis": "Models expected litigation costs against probable recovery to inform the decision to sue",
    "process_guidance": "Explains each stage of civil litigation and what it requires",
    "evidence_building": "Identifies what evidence exists and what is needed to support the claim",
    "settlement_strategy": "Evaluates settlement offers against realistic trial outcomes",
    "collection_guidance": "Identifies enforcement tools available after winning a judgment"
  },
  "triggers": [
    "sue", "lawsuit", "suing", "legal claim", "take to court",
    "civil lawsuit", "small claims", "breach of contract", "damages",
    "settlement offer", "litigation", "file a lawsuit", "judgment",
    "collect judgment", "statute of limitations", "plaintiff", "defendant"
  ],
  "heartbeat": {
    "immediate": "Evaluate dispute and preserve evidence before taking any action",
    "pre_filing": "Complete case evaluation and cost-benefit analysis",
    "weekly": "Active case deadline and progress review",
    "settlement": "Evaluate any settlement offer against realistic trial economics",
    "post_judgment": "Identify and pursue collection options"
  },
  "audience": [
    "Anyone considering filing a lawsuit and wanting to evaluate it honestly first",
    "Self-represented litigants in small claims court",
    "People who have received a settlement offer and need to evaluate it",
    "Anyone trying to collect on a judgment that has not been paid",
    "People facing a lawsuit who want to understand their situation"
  ],
  "openclaw": {
    "primaryEnv": null,
    "requires": {}
  }
}


Security scan verdicts — ClawScan: clean | static analysis: clean | VirusTotal: clean | SkillSpector: suspicious (MEDIUM)