In California small claims court, you can sue an out-of-state corporation in the county where you reside. It's one of the options on the form: where the plaintiff was injured. You don't have to go to Sacramento yourself, just serve the papers to their agent of service there. The clerk of court will even serve them by certified mail for you so you don't have to hire a process server.
Drive, fly, walk, bike, etc. Them's the breaks, the superior court is in Sacramento. Same, I'm in OC.
I’m in O.C. too. We can road trip it.
Ventura here. Where is my high speed rail?
Normal rail's an option too but I've done the Coast Starlight and it took 12 hours to get here from Sactown.
No, there are actually five superior court locations in Orange County (Westminster, Brea, Costa Mesa, Santa Ana, and Orange -- but Orange is Family and Juvenile so it's really four if you want small claims). No need to go to Sacramento.