lucy24 - 12:01 am on Dec 13, 2012 (gmt 0)

Sounds as if it depends on your local courts. Some places would have issued a default judgement after the first no-show.

Can't help but wonder if she's going to end up paying $2000 to the lawyer instead of to the site owner. After all, the whole point of small claims is that you don't need a lawyer. (I looked it up once. In a surprising number of states you're actually allowed to have one. Speaking in court, that is, not just advising behind the scenes.)

Moral: Keep the registration in your own name and keep your contact info up-to-date. If it has to be someone else's job, make sure you have a written contract with penalties spelled out.

Then again, she could wait around and grab her-own-name dot name if & when it becomes available.