Chapter 181 – Laws Concerning Litigation and Testimony

181.1) Avoid a lawsuit by compromise.

181.2) Use a Jewish tribunal if you must go to court.

181.3) If a heathen is involved, you may go to a general Court of Law if he refuses to come to the Jewish tribunal.

181.4) If you are sued for a debt that you justly owe, do not use subterfuge to lower the amount owed.

181.5) You must present your case in front of your opponent.

181.6) It is wrong to bribe the judge; and it is wrong to accept a bribe.

181.7) Do not put in a false plea.

181.8) Litigants may each chose an arbitrator.

181.9) A man may at times take the law into his own hands. See the source for details.

181.10) All judges must have wisdom in the Torah, humility, fear of G-d, hate of money, love of truth, the esteem and love of his fellow men and a reputation for good deeds.

181.11) Appoint the best and wisest men in your community if there are no men learned enough to be judges.

181.12) If you are summoned to testify on behalf of a neighbor and are qualified to do so, you should testify.

181.13) A one-witness testimony is admissible only when a monetary transaction is involved.

181.14) If a witness accepts a reward for testifying, his testimony is null and void.

181.15) A witness that derives a benefit from the matter or has a personal interest should not testify.

181.16) It is best not to come to court with a power of attorney, but to be there yourself.

181.17) You should avoid taking oaths.

181.18) Do not let another swear falsely.

181.19) Do not testify on behalf of a non-Jew if it will hurt a Jew in a non-Jewish court.

181.20) A witness may testify to a remembered fact even if it happened a long while back.

181.21) You may be disqualified to testify if you are related to a litigant.

181.22) Do not testify with a wicked man. He is not a qualified witness.