Under the Uniform Commercial Code, you have a right to file a lien against these people for damages, without a formal court judgement, as long as you first provide them with due process: Perform Legal Serve on them with a claim that allows up to ninety days to respond.
That's an option that was explained, to me, by an attorney. I didn't know what the UCC even was until he explained the fact that it was a process employed by the IRS to avoid the court costs contingent under statutory law to first, notify, or SERVE the complaint which is called a sworn affidavit of truth, wait the ninety days and then file with the County Clerk's office for twenty dollars.