[CountD]

I am not some member of the peanut gallery who is shooting off in the dark about what is right and what is wrong, what should and shouldn't be done, as I have been there.

I lived in San Diego, and I have been on both sides of the small claims. I know where the small claims court is, have been there many times filing, and have been through the process.

1) You cannot ignore it.
2) However, you should and need to write the court a letter challenging the venue of the case. You need to write a letter stating that the transaction happened in Washington, and that the trailer was picked up in Washington, and you are a resident of Washington. The clerk will take this letter and read it in the court to the judge when your case comes up, and they will send you the outcome (on whether or not this has any merit, and will give you another date if it's even sueable in California). The guy suing you will show, and the judge will probably throw it out on venue alone. Make sure you send it to the clerk with the case number and is registered mail.
3) Do not be intimidated. Do not lose sleep. I know it is hard not to, but these things happen.
4) People can sue anyone at any time, for any reason, and for anything. So just because some guy in SoCal filed, it means nothing. It just means he filled out paperwork and gave them $65. This is all this means. It usually is a $65 intimidation scheme.
5) You cannot use a lawyer in California small claims court.
6) We live in the USA, and this is a process to deal with things. That's just the way it is, and it's actually good to know that people have a voice.

The people at San Diego small claims have seen everything. The judges have too. They make the process as pleasant as possible. Just because you are served doesn't mean anything. I was once sued over a tarp I sold someone. Seriously. This always happens in California.

Get your letter out to the clerk challenging venue. You won't have to show on the court date. It will be read in court.

I am not a lawyer, but this is the process.

And...it's not some scam. You can fill out the paperwork and sue anyone from San Diego. You can sue someone in Russia in San Diego small claims. The clerk won't read it. They don't care as long as you file. They used to have people who you could call and have them help you - ie lawyers that give you advice for free - but this went away with the California budget cuts.