I ve only been to court once to free my wife and a sister 8f hers. (long story, fight, sister stabs girl with scissors in beauty salon, missed heart by inches, preventive in campo, than pop in my car with a police man cos no car to take prisonners, weekend in jail, monday judge hearing).
Had to pay for hearing orelse 2 weeks wait ( cheap like 500 pesos for the clerk to put names on top of list), we have 2licenciado friends who helped us for free, rhey travelled from santiago during the night ( see some dominicans can be real friends).
judge hears parties, 3 of them, us, victim, salon owner( it got trashed in the process).
Lawyer comes out to see me, cos of course I m in waiting room cos price wiil go up if judge sees ure a gringo.
Lawyer ask if I m wiiling to pay or if I prefer "normal way".we hadvto leave the dr a week later ao I ll pay.
Lawyer lent me money ( cos I had none left). 12 000 pesos total. victim got told to quit complaining for nothing, salon owner to choose better personnel. we had 2 sign local police register once a month for a year( 1000 pesos took care of that), got wished a safe journey and they thanked us........
Hope it served lesson to my wife ( who just happened to be with sister), lesson learned salon lady( I went to see here next day and told her if she hadnt sided with "victim" I would have paid for damage even if judge said no), lesson learned for me ( our lady lawyer is a true friend)
PS they have a thing here called papaer of good conduct( or somethjng like that) the syndico in ure village produces it if ure a law abiding citizen. He was the ex chulo of victimand spoke ul in our defense( very good of him),