既然你的对手是律师，你就要装的傻一点，说大白话

Your honor, I bought a house from XXX on date YYY.  Then I got a bill from the water company saying I owe ZZZ.  I found out the money was owed by him for service provided before YYY date.   I want XXX to pay for the bill.

small claim court就是说大白话的地方。对方说什么法律原理，你就说”your honor，I am not a lawyer, I don't know what he really meant, but here are the facts,  然后再车轱辘话说一遍“。