California could be "funny" and tell you that you have to go to Michigan in order to file a suit. However, this is not so (~if~ this is told to you). You can (or should be able to) file a suit, local to you, and it would be up to Chris to make it there. If he does not go, he could get a default judgment against him (where you win).
If a Default Judgment is given (or you receive a different judgment in your favor), you have to, then, contact Chris's local court and file (with a filing fee) for them to accept a foreign judgment ... where they can/will, then, enforce the judgment, that was given in California, if they accept it.