[paulddraper]

Credibility is part of judgment.

The claim was that he didn't fully hold up his end of the contract. This isn't a criminal case with forensics; this is small claims with a lot of he-said, she-sad.

Not dodging court lends credibility to your side.

[eridius]

Attending certainly would add credibility, but it seems unconscionable that the judge wouldn't even let the assistant present their defense at all.