So I just moved back to the US after a long time living abroad and when I went to get a license in my new state, this came up on the "problem driver point system" database. Basically, I hit someone from behind in the year of our lord 2000 (yes, 24 years ago) when they started to pull out of a parking lot but slammed on their brakes. It cracked their bumper a little and knocked the ram on the front of my truck askew but we both drove beaters and agreed it didn't matter. However I guess they got my license plate and reported to their insurance. This insurance company (a big one that still exists) went after me and the result was that in 2003 I had a default judgment against me for about $2500, which according to the subrogation law firm who now holds this debt and therefore the lien against my license is now more than $11,000 because of interest (??!!!?). The law firm sent me a copy of the judgment from the specific county court where it happened, and I called that court and they said yeah it's real and that they would need clearance from the law firm to remove the FiFa (?) on my license, but then she said "I don't know, it's weird, they haven't renewed the FiFa and this is really old. But I can't offer any legal advice".

I can honestly say I didn't know anything about any of this, I moved out of the USA to Europe about two months after the accident and more than two years before the judgment was handed down in my absence and never came back except for visits until now, but that's on me and I would have dealt with it if I'd known about it and I want to deal with it now. But I definitely don't think that its fair for this law firm to hold a veto over me getting a license. I definitely have no other legal or civil issues in my life, so this was a surprise for sure.

Paying $11,000 is not impossible for me, but it's just about all the money I have to live on while I look for a job and an apartment here lol I can't stay with my sister forever. Also I inherited a decent used SUV and I don't know anyone I trust enough to drive it who doesn't already have a perfectly good car, so it's probably going to just sit until I manage to sort this out which is ANNOYING and stressful. Any advice on the most expedient and cheapest way to resolve this (both! please!) is much appreciated.