I've been to Small Claims Court in Michigan. $500 limit on recovery and very simple rules. No lawyers allowed! Stop by your local court and pick up the rules. BTW, I won. The other guy, a roofing contractor, didn't have a case. He wouldn't accept a summons so I paid to have him served. He met me the night before the court date and paid me the cost of the repair, my court cost and the cost to have him served.
If you take it to small claims court and the other party doesn't show - you win. At least that's the way it worked in MI. But winning doesn't mean that you get the money right away - the other party gets a judgement entered against them but you can't get blood out of a stone.
+1000
An honest man wouldn't tell you he was honest and he'd be insulted if you asked.