Man Awarded 1,000 Shekels for Damaged Jeans After Suing Dental Chain
Translated & summarized from Bizportal by baba
A man who sued the MaccabiDent dental chain for 7,000 shekels over damaged jeans received a default judgment awarding him 1,000 shekels plus 500 shekels in costs. The court found evidence for the jeans' damage but not for other claimed damages like distress or lost work time.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Man awarded 1,000 shekels for damaged jeans after suing dental chain.
- Dental chain failed to respond, resulting in a default judgment.
- Court reduced award, citing lack of evidence for distress and lost work.
- Defendant can still request to cancel judgment by paying costs.
- Ruling emphasizes need for evidence in small claims court.
Oren Georgi sued the MaccabiDent dental clinic chain for 7,000 shekels, claiming damage to his jeans. The chain failed to respond to the lawsuit filed on May 27, 2026, and on August 31, Senior Registrar Neama Nir issued a default judgment against them without a hearing.
Despite the default judgment, Georgi will not receive the full amount he sought. The registrar awarded him 1,000 shekels for the damaged jeans, plus 500 shekels in legal costs, totaling 1,500 shekels, approximately one-fifth of his claim. The registrar explained that even in the absence of a defense, courts must examine the merits of the claim and cannot automatically award the full sum requested.
While the damage to the jeans was deemed proven, the registrar ruled that claims for "distress and suffering" and "loss of work time" were subjective estimations by the plaintiff and lacked sufficient evidence. The ruling cited a 2022 Supreme Court precedent. MaccabiDent is obligated to pay the awarded sum with interest within 30 days, or face default interest.
However, the judgment is not necessarily final. MaccabiDent has 30 days from receiving the judgment to request its cancellation, provided they submit a defense affidavit and pay legal costs for the cancellation request. The registrar noted that such requests are often granted to allow for a substantive hearing, even if the defendant ultimately loses the case.
The ruling serves as a lesson for both plaintiffs and defendants in small claims court. For plaintiffs, it underscores the need for documentary evidence for all claimed damages, as subjective claims like distress or lost time are often dismissed without a hearing. For defendants, it highlights that ignoring a lawsuit incurs costs, even if the default judgment is eventually overturned.