Introduction to suing Coinbase in Small Claims Court
Coinbase can be sued for $10,000 in their home state of California in small claims court. In other states, it can be as much as $20,000.
People often sue the company for:
- Lost of access to Coinbase account
- Money wrongfully transferred
- Failure to withdraw money from account
The first step of suing Coinbase in Small Claims Court
The first and most important thing to do when suing Coinbase is to make sure that you sue the right legal entity. Big companies often own lots of smaller companies that are very interconnected, so be sure to review the contracts you’ve signed with Coinbase for any legal entities they mention in your contract with them. By suing the wrong company, even if owned by the same parent company, you can have your case dismissed and you’ll have to file another small claims lawsuit.
In many cases, the legal name of Coinbase is Coinbase Inc. but be sure to double-check!
Finding Coinbase's Registered Agent
If you’re suing Coinbase in another state, then you might need to name a different registered agent. You can always send a demand letter to Corporation Service Company in the state of Delaware no matter what state you’re filing in.
See below to find the registered agent for Coinbase in your state.
How to write a Demand Letter to Coinbase
A well written demand letter may help you avoid court entirely.
- On the top, in the address block, put in the company name and address:
Coinbase
100 Pine Street Suite 1250 San Francisco, CA 94111
- Next, put the subject line as 'Re: Demand for Payment'
- In one sentence, tell them how much Coinbase owes you which you will claim in your small claims lawsuit.
- Then, in two to three sentences describe your issue. (ex: why you are owed for failure to deliver package)
- Finally, state in plain language that you will go to small claims court if necessary. Don't say that you will do anything else, such as speaking poorly about them.
- On the bottom, include your name and address
How to send a demand letter to Coinbase
After you write the demand letter to Coinbase, you’ll want to send it to their registered agent so that it’s guaranteed to go to the legal department. Make sure that you get a tracking number for the mail you send them. It can become important evidence in your case.
File your small claims forms against Coinbase
You’ll need to find and prepare your small claims form based on where you decide to sue. Usually, people sue where the defendant lives or does business.
Then, wherever you decide to sue, look up the county small claims system. They’ll provide details on their website about what small claims forms are necessary. Then you’ll need to file at the correct courthouse, receive your paperwork back, and serve the defendant.
Serve your small claims paperwork to Coinbase
One of the last steps before your trial will be to physically give the small claims paperwork to Coinbase. In order to keep your court date, you should hire a professional process server so that you can be sure all legal guidelines are appropriately followed.
Go to your small claims trial against Coinbase
On the date of your small claims trial, be sure to arrive early and well prepared. Bring at least three copies of all evidence you intend to present, and if your hearing is remote be sure to have provided copies in advance to the other party and to the court. Failure to follow the strict local guidelines can result in your case being dismissed, but if you’ve followed the rules then you can often win by default when the other party doesn’t show up.
