Received a notice of Trial/Hearing, what should I expect at this hearing?

make sure you go to the hearing, if not they may get a default judgement and you dont want that. Deny all without proof. I wouldnt be surprised if Mann Bracken even shows up seeing as they have just filed bankruptcy among closing offices all over and being in lots of trouble all over the country. Just make sure you show up at the hearing

Request discovery at the hearing, this way you will be able to ask for validation and they will probably not be able to validate. Mann/Bracken are horrible people!

By all means, SHOW UP AT THAT HEARING!!!!!!!! This creditor is counting on you not being there, because if you don't go, they get a judgement by default and it's easy money for them! Depending on what county you live in California, you can even pull your case up on line for the current status. I did this in my county when I was sued last year by one of the worst creditors known in the forums, and my case was dismissed! I called to confirm this, but it was true.
Lastly, DO NOT be scared!! Trust me, this is what Mann/Bracken wants: to try and push you around! Stay strong, fight--and remember, you have all of us behind you.

Wow thanks a lot guys. Im definitely going..

My friend said the same thing, they are counting on me not being there and will be very upset if I do come to the hearing and ask for discovery..

So I request discovery, who do I tell that to? the judge?

Yes--and to their lawyers (if they show up). But by all means, YOU show up!!!! Good luck and keep us posted. You might even find out that there will be a bunch of people being sued by them showing up on the same day.

Oh wow, that would suck.. I am very scared and not looking forward to it..

Does anyone know what kind of answers I will be asked tomorrow???

I have no idea how to tackle this or how to answer the questions the judge or attorneys will ask me..

You may check with the following site. It's really informative.

"http://www.nedap.org/hotline/court.html"

Thanks SC, that was great.. Just what I wanted.

To those interested, here is what happened....I still don't understand completely what happened maybe someone can enlighten me..

I arrived there on time and was waiting outside the courtroom with about 30-40 other people half of them were lawyers.. There was a sheet in front of the door with all the days cases, I looked at the paper and saw my case on there. So anyway they open the door and we all signed in with the clerk and lawyers were calling out names and taking people outside for settlement discussions, no one ever approached me or called my name.. .

So soon after the judge came in and the first few cases were conference calls with lawyers of Banks/Insurance Co's, they were on the phone and all the calls were very brief, lasting probably about 15 secs each. Then he started calling names and was hearing cases, now we get to the part I wasn't expecting and still do not understand, after about 4 cases some guy I will label him "this guy" came forward I think he was some kind of lawyer anyway he was answering questions and giving the judge brief updates on many, many different cases. At first I thought he was the lawyer for Citibank, cause the first 5 cases Citibank was the plantiff but then he was discussing cases that had other plantiffs, after about 25 mentioned cases, my case and name came up (Me vs Discover Bank) and "this guy simply said dismissal without prejudice. I didn't know what happened, so I went up to the clerk and he said my case was dismissed and for me to go home, there was nothing left for me to do..

So after hearing me out, what happened?? Who was "this guy" how come he was in charge of telling the judge about a ton of cases???

Well anyway I didn't have to be there obviously but it was good to hear the immediate decision on today's proceedings.

I know that dismissal w/o prejudice means I'm not out of the woods yet, but what happened today was a success, right?

if they refile will they have to send me another summons?

Does anyone know who "that guy" was? He obviously wasn't with Mann Bracken, how come he was able to tell the judge my case was dismissed?

Who was he? He was talking about a ton of cases, did MB tell him to say that? Im confused.

He was probably an officer of the court, which is why he had all of that info. This was indeed a success for you-but yes, it does mean that there is a rare possibility that they could file again. This was the same judgement I got in 2008, and I have yet to hear back from the creditor.