And this final note. Going to small claims court usually involves small claims, with judgments worth hundreds of dollars.

But a woman here in Los Angeles proved that’s not always the case. She won just shy of the maximum $10,000 allowed in small claims. And she won it against Honda Motor Company. Heather Peters sued the carmaker for saying that the Civic hybrid she bought could get 50 miles per gallon of gas, when the most she got was 42.

She chose NOT to take part in a class action settlement that would have given her about $100 and a coupon toward a new car.

Honda says it will appeal.