[bragen]

A bit of background on why (IMO) it's good to see these small claims cases succeed for non-trivial amounts:

AT&T is essentially class action proof post-AT&T v. Concepcion. AT&T had always put mandatory arbitration and class action waiver provisions in its contracts but states (most notably CA) usually ignored them and allowed class actions to proceed. In Concepcion, the Supreme Court said that the Federal Arbitration Act (an act that basically says promoting arbitration is so desirable any contract that calls for arbitration must be honored) preempts state law that would ignore those provisions.

In other words, the formula for becoming class action proof is now 1) insert mandatory arbitration provision; 2) insert class action waiver; 3) dare consumers to sue you one at a time.

Virtually the only way I see to overcome Concepcion right now is mass, coordinated (but individual), small claims suits or arbitrations. If AT&T had to face several million suits where it was actually relatively easy to win $850, they'd be begging for the old class action system.

[extension]

To what extent is a third party allowed to assist a claimant in small claims court? If someone were to start a business that made it as easy as possible for people to take AT&T to court...