Before your hearing, go sit in the audience of a small claims hearing. It can be helpful to know what to expect when the judge calls your name and asks you to present your case. Being prepared is an easy way to increase your chances of winning. Don't underestimate the value of preparedness. You don't want to show up to court with an entourage of friends and followers. But having a few witnesses who can convince the judge of your reliability can be helpful. Whenever possible, use direct or circumstantial evidence. Either is better than making unsubstantiated claims. Direct evidence is evidence that proves a fact without any guesswork. You might be able to provide many types of direct evidence. One example might be the damaged or broken piece of property you are seeking payment for; testimony from someone who saw the defendant damage the property would also be direct evidence; and a third example might be a receipt displaying the total value of the damaged property. Circumstantial evidence suggests something occurred, but you can't prove it directly. For example, you might have a witness who says she saw the defendant take the piece of property and enter a building. She might go on to say that she saw the defendant leave the building with the damaged or broken property. This doesn't prove the defendant damaged the property. It would, however, suggest that this is a likely possibility. Whenever possible, avoid relying on hearsay. Hearsay is testimony or documents which quote a person who is not in court. Your judge will likely be hearing many cases and will appreciate a clear, efficient explanation of your case. When preparing for your hearing, be sure to consider the following: What happened? How has it affected you? How much does the other party owe you? Why is the defendant at fault? Prepare concise answers to all these questions.

Summary: Sit in on a small claims court hearing. Enlist witnesses and evidence. Get your point across effectively.

Epilepsy often occurs at a young age, typically beginning around 6 months to 5 years of age. Seizures or fits then occur for the rest of the dog's life. Dogs can have different types of seizures associated with their epilepsy. These include: Focal seizures: These are associated with bizarre behavior, such as repeatedly and compulsively rubbing of one part of the body or 'fly-catching' behavior, where the dog snaps at invisible objects in the air. This type of seizure is also known as a complex partial seizure or psychomotor seizure. Generalized seizures: This type of seizure affects the whole body. The dog is unconscious and unaware of what's happening to it or around it. The dog is unable to stand and usually collapses to one side. The body goes rigid, the limbs often move in a paddling motion, and the mouth may close tightly. Typically this lasts for 30 seconds to 3 minutes, after which time the dog recovers and regains consciousness. Status epilepticus: This is where the dog enters a seizure but does not wake up. The seizure continues indefinitely or consists of several seizures but the dog does not regain consciousness between them. It is essential to seek veterinary attention if your dog is having this type of seizure, as brain damage can occur during status epilepticus. Dogs with epilepsy are prone to groups of seizures spaced apart. Seizures often occur in cluster or groups, within a 24 hour period. How frequent these groups are depends on the individual. For example, a dog with mild epilepsy may have one seizure every six months, while a severely affected individual may have groups of seizures every couple of weeks. After the first seizure, contact your vet. They can medicate your pet to make another seizure the same day less likely. If you can, record a video of one of the seizures on your cellphone so that you can show it to your vet at a later date. This may be useful for your vet and can help them make a diagnosis. Abnormal electrical behavior in the brain can cause your beagle to behave strangely before, during, and after a seizure. This is yet another sign that your dog may have had a seizure. This behavior can include being aggressive and attempting to bite, in a dog that is otherwise sweet-tempered. Be aware of this and be extremely careful about allowing children close to the dog, as a child may accidentally get bitten. Also record videos of this behavior to show to your vet. As an owner, your first step is to recognize your dog is having seizures and take the dog to the vet. However, it is important to keep a diary of how many and how often your dog's seizures are. This helps the vet determine the seriousness of the condition and the amount of medication that might be needed. The terms "seizure" and "fits" are often used interchangeably with "epilepsy," but there is an important difference between them. Epilepsy is a medical condition, whereas a seizure is a symptom. This is equivalent to pneumonia being a medical condition, but a cough being the symptom. Seizures can be triggered by a variety of different things, such as ingesting a toxins, kidney disease, a porto-systemic shunt, brain cancer, meningitis, or other such medical or physical conditions.

Summary: Be on the look out for seizures. Be aware that there may be additional seizures. Pay attention to strange behavior after a suspected seizure. Make a record of your dog's seizures. Determine the difference between epilepsy and seizures.

First, remove as much furniture as possible from the room. Cover all remaining furniture, as well as your floors, with drop clothes. Tape off or otherwise cover ceiling fixtures. Finally, tape plastic sheeting around the ceiling's perimeter to protect your walls. You will also want to remove any faceplates which are on your ceiling, such as vent covers. You will want to be sure that the base layer of your ceiling is in prime condition. Repair cracks in plaster and generally ensure that the ceiling is as smooth as possible. Cracks can worsen over time and inconsistencies (as well as cracks) will be made more visible by the texture of the ceiling. Some cracks and inconsistencies can be fixed with spackle, but others may be structural and should be addressed by an inspector or contractor. Paint a coat of paint primer on your ceiling before adding the texture. This can help to reduce the appearance of a previous color but it will also help the new paint adhere to the wall. Choose a primer in a color as close as possible to your final color. There are a number of ways to texture a ceiling. You can buy pre-textured paint (which will likely be the easiest option). You can also texture the ceiling by adding materials to either latex or oil based paint. Purchase material that is meant for texturing paint, such as special sand, and mix it according to the manufacturer's instructions, as well as your own preference. Generally, you will mix 1 part of the additive to every ten parts of paint. This works out to roughly 1 cups of texture for every gallon of paint. Once you believe you have the paint mixed properly, you will want to do a small test patch to ensure you are happy with the texture. Try to do the test patch in a corner of the room or otherwise in a less visible area. Adjust your paint as necessary.
Summary: Protect your walls and furniture. Repair any cracks or inconsistencies in the ceiling. Paint a priming layer on your ceiling. Mix your textured paint. Test your paint.