lucy24 - 8:32 am on Dec 12, 2011 (gmt 0)

Most States $5,000 and less are Justice of the Peace courts and require the PRESENCE of both parties at a date certain.

Are you sure you're not thinking of small claims? Dollar ceiling varies from state to state, and afaik you are never required to use small claims rather than the superior court (what New York calls "supreme court" just to confuse us). If you're big enough to keep attorneys on salary, the extra expense is nothing. What matters is to scare everyone into settling, so you build up a precedent of "this type of case cannot be won".

How can you bring a copyright-related suit in a state court? Copyright is federal.