1
00:00:00,567 --> 00:00:05,300
{\an8}Did you claim that your daughter
was being physically by her father?

2
00:00:06,433 --> 00:00:08,133
- I'm...
- That's either yes or no.

3
00:00:08,133 --> 00:00:09,467
To a point.

4
00:00:09,467 --> 00:00:12,367
I really don't understand
two people who hate each other

5
00:00:12,367 --> 00:00:15,467
more than they love their child, period.

6
00:00:15,867 --> 00:00:17,934
[announcer]
<i>This is</i> Judy Justice.

7
00:00:35,100 --> 00:00:37,300
{\an8}[announcer]
<i>Curtis Brown and Heather Palen</i>

8
00:00:37,300 --> 00:00:40,400
{\an8}<i>are suing Heather's ex-husband Scott Manis</i>

9
00:00:40,734 --> 00:00:44,066
{\an8}<i>for impound fees, harassment,
and defamation.</i>

10
00:00:45,066 --> 00:00:46,166
[bailiff]
Court come to order.

11
00:00:46,166 --> 00:00:47,100
All rise.

12
00:00:47,800 --> 00:00:48,767
Have a seat, please.

13
00:00:50,667 --> 00:00:53,567
{\an8}Case 2142, Brown-Palen versus Manis.

14
00:00:53,567 --> 00:00:54,834
{\an8}- Thank you.
- You're welcome.

15
00:00:55,533 --> 00:00:57,667
Ms. Palen, this is your former husband?

16
00:00:58,300 --> 00:00:59,200
[Heather]
That is correct, Your Honor.

17
00:00:59,200 --> 00:01:00,700
[Judy]
How long were you married?

18
00:01:01,633 --> 00:01:03,600
- Eighteen years.
- And this is your daughter?

19
00:01:03,900 --> 00:01:05,600
- [Heather] Correct.
- [Judy] This your only child?

20
00:01:05,600 --> 00:01:07,433
- With Mr. Manis, it is.
- [Judy] Yes.

21
00:01:07,433 --> 00:01:09,233
- Yes.
- [Judy] Do you have other children?

22
00:01:09,233 --> 00:01:10,233
One other, yes.

23
00:01:10,233 --> 00:01:11,900
- [Judy] How old?
- 32.

24
00:01:11,900 --> 00:01:14,066
[Judy]
When did you and Mr. Manis separate?

25
00:01:14,367 --> 00:01:17,066
I moved out of the family home

26
00:01:17,066 --> 00:01:19,934
in March of 2018.

27
00:01:19,934 --> 00:01:21,400
[Judy]
And this is your boyfriend.

28
00:01:21,400 --> 00:01:24,166
- [Heather] Correct.
- [Judy] I'm going to, in broad strokes,

29
00:01:24,166 --> 00:01:25,633
at least try to reconcile

30
00:01:25,633 --> 00:01:28,433
both the complaint
and the answerer in this case.

31
00:01:28,433 --> 00:01:31,500
I assume there was
a time when your daughter,

32
00:01:31,500 --> 00:01:33,300
- whose first name is?
- Tricia.

33
00:01:33,300 --> 00:01:36,233
{\an8}[Judy] Tricia was living with you
after the separation?

34
00:01:36,433 --> 00:01:40,033
{\an8}We had a mutual divorce decree of 50-50.

35
00:01:40,266 --> 00:01:41,333
[Judy]
And was that honored?

36
00:01:41,333 --> 00:01:44,100
[Heather]
Until September 4th of 2020,

37
00:01:44,100 --> 00:01:47,700
Mr. Manis had brought
Tricia back to my home.

38
00:01:47,700 --> 00:01:51,834
And while we were out of the home,
he had her pack her belongings.

39
00:01:51,934 --> 00:01:54,533
No, okay, let's stop there.

40
00:01:54,533 --> 00:01:56,667
- Tricia, how old are you?
- I'm 19, Your Honor.

41
00:01:56,667 --> 00:02:01,533
Okay, and right subsequent
to the separation and the divorce,

42
00:02:01,533 --> 00:02:06,100
until September of 2020,
you shared custody?

43
00:02:06,100 --> 00:02:07,100
- Correct.
- Yes, ma'am.

44
00:02:07,100 --> 00:02:10,600
[Judy] And then Tricia decided
she would prefer to live with her father.

45
00:02:10,600 --> 00:02:12,567
- Correct.
- [Judy] For whatever reason.

46
00:02:12,567 --> 00:02:15,467
I don't have to go into it
because this doesn't really have to do

47
00:02:15,567 --> 00:02:17,967
with who she chose to live with
or where she was living.

48
00:02:18,066 --> 00:02:20,967
It has to do with a car. Okay.

49
00:02:20,967 --> 00:02:24,900
So while she was living with Mr. Manis,

50
00:02:24,900 --> 00:02:27,633
Mr. Manis purchased a car?

51
00:02:27,633 --> 00:02:29,400
- Yes, ma'am.
- [Judy] For her use.

52
00:02:29,400 --> 00:02:30,734
- [Scott] Correct.
- [Judy] In what month

53
00:02:30,734 --> 00:02:32,500
{\an8}did you purchase a car for her use?

54
00:02:32,500 --> 00:02:33,734
{\an8}- Month and year.
- Oh, boy.

55
00:02:33,934 --> 00:02:36,200
{\an8}I believe that was probably...

56
00:02:37,166 --> 00:02:41,133
February of 2019, I believe.
18 or 19.

57
00:02:41,133 --> 00:02:42,433
[Judy] Well, let's figure it out.

58
00:02:42,533 --> 00:02:45,834
It was about six months
prior to the case with her.

59
00:02:45,967 --> 00:02:48,667
Okay, so September 4th, we had the car.

60
00:02:48,667 --> 00:02:51,200
It would have been probably
June or July of the same year.

61
00:02:51,200 --> 00:02:52,367
So you bought her a car

62
00:02:52,367 --> 00:02:55,100
a couple of months before she decided
to come and live with you?

63
00:02:55,100 --> 00:02:56,834
- Correct.
- Okay, I got it.

64
00:02:56,834 --> 00:02:59,033
She had just obtained her license.

65
00:02:59,033 --> 00:03:02,934
That's okay, I'm just trying
to get a timetable.

66
00:03:02,934 --> 00:03:05,133
Right before she decided
to come to live with you

67
00:03:05,233 --> 00:03:07,166
and not have 50-50 custody anymore,

68
00:03:07,166 --> 00:03:08,834
- you purchased a car for her?
- Correct.

69
00:03:08,834 --> 00:03:13,467
{\an8}[Judy] And she drove that car
in June or July, August.

70
00:03:13,467 --> 00:03:15,467
- Correct.
- [Judy] At your house?

71
00:03:15,467 --> 00:03:16,533
At both houses.

72
00:03:16,533 --> 00:03:20,467
She was allowed to go
to take the car to their house?

73
00:03:20,467 --> 00:03:22,500
- Correct.
- [Judy] When she saw her mother?

74
00:03:22,500 --> 00:03:23,934
- Yes.
- [Judy] And then bring it back.

75
00:03:23,934 --> 00:03:25,433
- Correct.
- [Judy] There was a time

76
00:03:25,433 --> 00:03:27,800
when you took the car away from her.

77
00:03:27,800 --> 00:03:28,800
When was that?

78
00:03:28,900 --> 00:03:30,934
Probably mid August.

79
00:03:30,934 --> 00:03:33,133
- Mid August of 2020.
- [Scott] Correct.

80
00:03:33,133 --> 00:03:35,633
Well, the threat was to take the car away
because her grades were slipping.

81
00:03:35,633 --> 00:03:37,467
I didn't actually take the car away.

82
00:03:37,467 --> 00:03:38,667
[Judy]
When did you take it away?

83
00:03:38,667 --> 00:03:40,133
[Scott]
I actually never did take it away.

84
00:03:40,133 --> 00:03:43,367
Her mother and her mother's boyfriend
decided to purchase her another car

85
00:03:43,367 --> 00:03:45,600
to eliminate my threat
of taking away the car.

86
00:03:45,600 --> 00:03:46,767
Well, I don't know if that's because

87
00:03:46,767 --> 00:03:48,667
- but they decided to...
- [Scott] Correct.

88
00:03:48,667 --> 00:03:49,700
Purchase another car.

89
00:03:49,700 --> 00:03:52,300
And what did you do with the car
that you had gotten for your daughter?

90
00:03:52,300 --> 00:03:54,200
- I sold that.
- [Judy] When did you sell it?

91
00:03:54,200 --> 00:03:57,433
Probably a month or so
after she got the other car.

92
00:03:57,433 --> 00:04:01,767
And the threat was made to your daughter
because you were concerned

93
00:04:01,767 --> 00:04:05,000
about how she was doing in school
or how she was doing socially.

94
00:04:05,000 --> 00:04:06,266
What were the reasons?

95
00:04:06,266 --> 00:04:07,533
{\an8}Her grades were slipping.

96
00:04:08,133 --> 00:04:11,000
{\an8}So I wanted her to concentrate
more on her grades rather than...

97
00:04:11,000 --> 00:04:13,066
- [Judy] Grades were slipping.
- Correct, at school.

98
00:04:13,066 --> 00:04:14,767
She gave you any reason for that?

99
00:04:14,767 --> 00:04:16,600
She was under a lot of pressure
with the divorce.

100
00:04:16,600 --> 00:04:20,800
So you purchased a car,
Mr. Brown and Mrs. Palen,

101
00:04:20,800 --> 00:04:23,367
with the understanding,
according to your complaint,

102
00:04:23,367 --> 00:04:26,567
that the car would remain in your name,

103
00:04:26,567 --> 00:04:28,633
there would be payments made on the car,

104
00:04:28,633 --> 00:04:32,066
and once the car was paid,
it would transfer to Tricia?

105
00:04:32,066 --> 00:04:34,367
Well, one thing led to another.

106
00:04:34,367 --> 00:04:35,967
{\an8}Things sort of went south.

107
00:04:35,967 --> 00:04:39,433
{\an8}And according to what
I've read in these papers,

108
00:04:39,600 --> 00:04:41,233
you got sort of annoyed,

109
00:04:41,900 --> 00:04:45,033
and the car that you had purchased

110
00:04:45,033 --> 00:04:48,200
was in the physical custody of Tricia,

111
00:04:48,200 --> 00:04:49,734
who was living with her father.

112
00:04:49,734 --> 00:04:52,934
And Mr. Manis caused the car

113
00:04:52,934 --> 00:04:55,266
to be towed and impounded,

114
00:04:55,266 --> 00:04:58,400
which caused you substantial expense

115
00:04:58,400 --> 00:05:00,867
to get the car out of impound,

116
00:05:00,867 --> 00:05:04,166
and he did that maliciously.
- Correct.

117
00:05:04,166 --> 00:05:06,100
And you want him to pay those expenses

118
00:05:06,100 --> 00:05:09,433
because you did, in fact,
get the car out of Impound,

119
00:05:09,433 --> 00:05:11,133
subsequently sold it.

120
00:05:11,133 --> 00:05:12,867
How much were the impound fees?

121
00:05:12,867 --> 00:05:17,033
$1,565.22 Your Honor.

122
00:05:17,033 --> 00:05:20,767
[Judy]
Okay, and Mr. Manis, in defense of that,

123
00:05:20,767 --> 00:05:25,333
acknowledges that he towed the car,
your car.

124
00:05:25,333 --> 00:05:28,467
He towed the car,
which was at your house?

125
00:05:28,467 --> 00:05:31,066
- Your Honor, I had...
- [Judy] Where was the car?

126
00:05:31,066 --> 00:05:33,200
The car at the time was at my house.

127
00:05:33,200 --> 00:05:34,367
[Judy]
That's what I'm asking you.

128
00:05:34,467 --> 00:05:36,200
The car was at your house.

129
00:05:36,200 --> 00:05:39,000
You had it towed to impound,

130
00:05:39,000 --> 00:05:41,500
and you had it towed on what date, sir?

131
00:05:41,500 --> 00:05:43,767
The car was impounded on September 4th.

132
00:05:43,767 --> 00:05:45,967
- [Judy] Of what year?
- 2020, I believe.

133
00:05:45,967 --> 00:05:48,533
And your defense for doing that?

134
00:05:48,533 --> 00:05:50,900
- [Curtis] Your Honor, he requested...
- Just a second.

135
00:05:50,900 --> 00:05:52,734
Your defense for doing that

136
00:05:52,734 --> 00:05:57,066
is that you are merely following
Mr. Brown's instructions.

137
00:05:57,066 --> 00:05:58,600
And the police officers.

138
00:05:58,600 --> 00:06:01,300
[Judy] You were following
Mr. Brown's instructions.

139
00:06:01,300 --> 00:06:02,400
[Scott] Correct.

140
00:06:02,400 --> 00:06:04,233
[Judy]
I see you have a police officer here.

141
00:06:04,233 --> 00:06:06,233
I have several police reports, Your Honor.

142
00:06:06,233 --> 00:06:07,200
About what?

143
00:06:07,200 --> 00:06:10,900
This isn't just about the car.
There's several years of harassment.

144
00:06:10,900 --> 00:06:12,934
No, no, I'm dealing with the car.

145
00:06:12,934 --> 00:06:15,033
- [Scott] I understand.
- Right now I'm dealing with the car.

146
00:06:15,033 --> 00:06:17,500
So I have, the several officers that came

147
00:06:17,500 --> 00:06:19,867
instructed us to get the car
removed from the property.

148
00:06:19,867 --> 00:06:21,767
Well, that may be so.

149
00:06:21,767 --> 00:06:24,367
{\an8}You could have the car
removed from the property

150
00:06:24,367 --> 00:06:28,567
{\an8}and ask the police to have it
deposited in front of their house.

151
00:06:28,567 --> 00:06:32,333
- I understand.
- Yeah, you chose not to do that.

152
00:06:32,333 --> 00:06:34,633
May I show you his request
to have the car towed?

153
00:06:34,633 --> 00:06:36,433
He offered a reward
for the car to be towed.

154
00:06:36,433 --> 00:06:37,667
Just a second.

155
00:06:37,667 --> 00:06:40,467
I want you to tell me
where I'm wrong so far.

156
00:06:43,867 --> 00:06:47,633
See what we can all do to make her
as unhappy as possible.

157
00:06:47,633 --> 00:06:50,700
{\an8}So I really don't understand
two people who probably,

158
00:06:50,700 --> 00:06:53,100
{\an8}in their own way, love their child

159
00:06:53,100 --> 00:06:55,834
{\an8}but hate each other more
than they love their child,

160
00:06:55,834 --> 00:06:58,500
{\an8}which, to me, is absolutely bizarre.

161
00:07:09,834 --> 00:07:12,000
{\an8}[announcer]
<i>Curtis Brown and Heather Palen...</i>

162
00:07:12,300 --> 00:07:15,266
{\an8}<i>...claim Heather's ex-husband,
Scott Manis...</i>

163
00:07:15,266 --> 00:07:16,900
{\an8}<i>...owes for impound fees.</i>

164
00:07:16,900 --> 00:07:21,000
<i>Scott is counter-suing Heather
for filing a false CPS report.</i>

165
00:07:21,000 --> 00:07:24,133
Okay, you had the car towed to an impound.

166
00:07:24,233 --> 00:07:27,834
You did not call him or your ex-wife

167
00:07:27,834 --> 00:07:30,734
the day that you had the car
towed to impound.

168
00:07:30,734 --> 00:07:36,300
It was some period of time later
if the fees for impound were $1500.

169
00:07:36,300 --> 00:07:40,500
Your excuse for that is you were
merely following his request.

170
00:07:40,500 --> 00:07:43,066
His request, that's what
you wrote in your answer.

171
00:07:43,066 --> 00:07:44,834
- Is that wrong?
- No, Your Honor.

172
00:07:44,834 --> 00:07:49,300
[Judy] Okay, well, so now we know that
you didn't notify them

173
00:07:49,300 --> 00:07:51,467
- when you had the car towed.
- [Curtis] Your Honor...

174
00:07:51,467 --> 00:07:55,667
Because you could have the car towed
to the local police precinct

175
00:07:55,667 --> 00:07:57,867
and called them and said,
"Come pick up the car.

176
00:07:57,867 --> 00:07:59,800
It can't be in front of my house anymore."

177
00:07:59,800 --> 00:08:02,033
- Your Honor.
- He was actually at my house that night.

178
00:08:02,033 --> 00:08:04,033
Just a second, I didn't ask you anything.

179
00:08:04,033 --> 00:08:05,166
- Sorry
- [Judy] Go ahead.

180
00:08:05,166 --> 00:08:07,834
The police, when they came to our house,
the car was present.

181
00:08:07,834 --> 00:08:09,567
They acknowledged the presence of the car.

182
00:08:09,667 --> 00:08:11,333
You can't tell me
what the police did, sir.

183
00:08:11,333 --> 00:08:13,433
- [Scott] I have the reports, Your Honor.
- I would like to see the...

184
00:08:13,433 --> 00:08:14,400
I will see the report.

185
00:08:14,400 --> 00:08:18,233
What I'm asking you is,
there were two things.

186
00:08:18,233 --> 00:08:24,100
If you wanted the car out of your custody
and you wanted to quietly

187
00:08:24,100 --> 00:08:29,433
and stop the friction, send it back
to the people who purchased it,

188
00:08:29,433 --> 00:08:30,767
you could have done that.

189
00:08:30,767 --> 00:08:32,800
You chose not to do that.

190
00:08:32,800 --> 00:08:34,734
Your Honor, the reason
I chose not to do that

191
00:08:34,734 --> 00:08:38,000
is because of the,
I have several false allegations

192
00:08:38,000 --> 00:08:40,133
{\an8}from CPS, the police.

193
00:08:40,266 --> 00:08:42,100
{\an8}I did not choose to have
any contact with...

194
00:08:42,100 --> 00:08:44,433
{\an8}You didn't have to have
any contact with them, sir.

195
00:08:44,433 --> 00:08:45,700
- [Scott] In order to...
- You don't have

196
00:08:45,700 --> 00:08:47,333
to have any contact with them.

197
00:08:47,333 --> 00:08:51,000
Just like you paid a tow truck company
to take the car to impound,

198
00:08:51,000 --> 00:08:52,133
you pay the tow truck company.

199
00:08:52,133 --> 00:08:54,467
You live in a private house
or an apartment?

200
00:08:54,467 --> 00:08:56,433
- Private house.
- [Judy] You have the tow truck company

201
00:08:56,433 --> 00:08:58,300
drop the car off in front of their house.

202
00:08:58,300 --> 00:09:00,767
Now, after you had the car
towed to an impound company,

203
00:09:00,767 --> 00:09:02,667
did you contact them in any way?

204
00:09:02,667 --> 00:09:04,967
- No, I didn't, I was instructed...
- [Judy] No, did you ask the police

205
00:09:04,967 --> 00:09:07,333
- to contact them and tell them?
- The police knew, yes.

206
00:09:07,333 --> 00:09:08,967
I didn't ask you what the police knew.

207
00:09:08,967 --> 00:09:10,967
You can't tell me what the police knew

208
00:09:10,967 --> 00:09:14,600
So you had the car towed on September 4th.

209
00:09:14,600 --> 00:09:17,133
And when were you notified
the car was in impound?

210
00:09:17,266 --> 00:09:22,433
I received a certified letter
on September 26th, which was a Friday.

211
00:09:22,433 --> 00:09:25,266
It said to contact them
Monday through Friday between 8 and 4.

212
00:09:25,266 --> 00:09:28,667
Just a second, you received that
on September 26th?

213
00:09:28,667 --> 00:09:30,767
- Yes.
- [Judy] Is that the first notice

214
00:09:30,767 --> 00:09:33,834
{\an8}that you have had that the car
was impounded, correct?

215
00:09:33,834 --> 00:09:35,200
{\an8}- Yeah, that's true.
- [Judy] Okay, so now

216
00:09:35,200 --> 00:09:37,367
{\an8}the onus is upon you, Mr. Manis.

217
00:09:37,367 --> 00:09:40,166
I want you to prove your defense to me.

218
00:09:40,166 --> 00:09:44,333
Your defense was you were following
Mr. Brown's instructions?

219
00:09:44,333 --> 00:09:46,967
- Yes, Your Honor.
- Okay, it's all I want to see.

220
00:09:46,967 --> 00:09:48,834
Here you go, Your Honor.

221
00:09:58,166 --> 00:10:02,100
So this says, "$100 reward
to anyone that impounds my car."

222
00:10:02,100 --> 00:10:05,767
Call tow truck and tell them
to contact me.

223
00:10:05,767 --> 00:10:07,433
- Yes, Your Honor.
- [Judy] You know this number?

224
00:10:07,433 --> 00:10:09,333
- Yes.
- Yes, well, did you do that?

225
00:10:09,333 --> 00:10:13,300
The tow company sent them
a letter on 9/10 of 2020.

226
00:10:13,300 --> 00:10:15,033
And I have the proof of that also,
Your Honor.

227
00:10:15,033 --> 00:10:17,300
Yeah, I would like to see
what you're looking at.

228
00:10:17,300 --> 00:10:20,200
- That's not on September 4th.
- [Scott] No.

229
00:10:20,200 --> 00:10:23,667
- That's not on September 4th.
- 9/10 they sent out a notice.

230
00:10:23,667 --> 00:10:25,133
[Judy] Okay, let's see.

231
00:10:27,266 --> 00:10:32,500
Well, this says that attempts were made
on 9/21, 9/26 and 10/5.

232
00:10:32,500 --> 00:10:35,266
- That's what it looks like, attempts made.
- That's when they

233
00:10:35,266 --> 00:10:37,367
had attempted to deliver,
but they did not pick it up.

234
00:10:37,367 --> 00:10:39,867
- So they had no notice?
- They had notice.

235
00:10:39,867 --> 00:10:41,266
[Judy] No, they had no notice.

236
00:10:41,266 --> 00:10:43,000
They had no notice.

237
00:10:43,000 --> 00:10:44,533
If they would have gone
to their post office box,

238
00:10:44,533 --> 00:10:45,500
they would have had notice.

239
00:10:45,500 --> 00:10:48,567
If I had taller parents,
I would have been 5'7".

240
00:10:48,567 --> 00:10:50,266
[laughter]

241
00:10:50,834 --> 00:10:52,266
They had no notice.

242
00:10:52,266 --> 00:10:55,734
Okay, $1,565, that's what you owe them.

243
00:10:55,734 --> 00:10:57,166
It was a malicious act.

244
00:10:57,166 --> 00:10:59,233
Your Honor, this isn't just about the car.

245
00:10:59,233 --> 00:11:01,500
[Judy] This is all, listen to me.

246
00:11:01,500 --> 00:11:03,467
- This is all...
- Through CPS.

247
00:11:03,467 --> 00:11:06,100
- If you would please.
- Let me-- you have a counterclaim?

248
00:11:06,100 --> 00:11:08,767
- [Scott] Yes, ma'am.
- And your counterclaim I'm going to hear.

249
00:11:08,767 --> 00:11:14,066
Right now, you owe Mr. Brown $1,565

250
00:11:15,467 --> 00:11:18,066
because what you did was malicious.

251
00:11:18,066 --> 00:11:20,834
And I don't understand something,
you have one child together.

252
00:11:20,834 --> 00:11:23,433
I assume that you don't want
to make her miserable.

253
00:11:23,433 --> 00:11:27,100
That when she was born, you said,
"Oh, let's see what we can do

254
00:11:27,100 --> 00:11:31,100
over her lifetime to make her
as unhappy as possible.

255
00:11:31,100 --> 00:11:35,000
See, what we can all do to make her
as unhappy as possible."

256
00:11:35,000 --> 00:11:39,367
So I really don't understand two people
who probably in their own way,

257
00:11:39,367 --> 00:11:43,633
love their child, but hate each other
more than they love their child,

258
00:11:43,633 --> 00:11:46,266
which to me, is absolutely bizarre.

259
00:11:46,266 --> 00:11:49,200
So right now,
because you did a malicious thing

260
00:11:49,200 --> 00:11:52,533
by having their car towed
and not giving them a heads up

261
00:11:52,533 --> 00:11:56,367
that you had the car towed to a place
that was going to cost them money,

262
00:11:56,367 --> 00:12:00,467
you owe them $1,565.

263
00:12:00,467 --> 00:12:04,800
Now I'm going to hear your claim
that they made false charges

264
00:12:04,800 --> 00:12:07,233
- to CPS about you.
- Yes, ma'am.

265
00:12:07,233 --> 00:12:08,967
Your Honor, can I say something?

266
00:12:08,967 --> 00:12:10,934
- About what?
- [Tricia] The car.

267
00:12:10,934 --> 00:12:14,567
Before you say anything,
did I say anything that was inaccurate?

268
00:12:14,567 --> 00:12:16,600
Did your father have the car towed?

269
00:12:16,600 --> 00:12:18,533
The answer is he's acknowledged that.

270
00:12:18,533 --> 00:12:20,266
He had the car towed and put it in a place

271
00:12:20,266 --> 00:12:25,000
where neither your mother
or her boyfriend knew where it was,

272
00:12:25,000 --> 00:12:29,800
resulting in they are having
to pay fines to get the car out.

273
00:12:29,800 --> 00:12:32,000
Is there anything that I said was wrong?

274
00:12:32,000 --> 00:12:33,934
That is partially incorrect

275
00:12:33,934 --> 00:12:37,100
because I had contacted my mother
at the time and asked either...

276
00:12:37,100 --> 00:12:39,033
[Judy] Okay, that's what I'll hear.

277
00:12:39,033 --> 00:12:40,734
You contacted your mother...

278
00:12:40,734 --> 00:12:44,033
I did contact my mother previously,
not only on normal messages,

279
00:12:44,033 --> 00:12:46,233
but also on Messenger messages,

280
00:12:46,233 --> 00:12:49,900
{\an8}including how I wanted
either the title or my money back

281
00:12:49,900 --> 00:12:52,233
{\an8}and that they could have
the car before that.

282
00:12:52,233 --> 00:12:55,000
Once the Facebook post was done.
Just a second.

283
00:12:55,000 --> 00:12:58,300
All I want you to show me
is that you notified

284
00:12:58,300 --> 00:13:03,667
either your mother or Mr. Brown
that the car was impounded,

285
00:13:03,667 --> 00:13:05,266
when you notified them.

286
00:13:05,266 --> 00:13:07,667
She also did ask my best friend.

287
00:13:07,667 --> 00:13:10,700
[Judy]
All I want-- just a second.

288
00:13:10,700 --> 00:13:12,667
That's all I want.
Don't tell me what you said

289
00:13:12,667 --> 00:13:14,533
to your best friend who's not here.

290
00:13:14,533 --> 00:13:17,834
All I want to do is see
where you notified your mother

291
00:13:17,834 --> 00:13:19,433
that the car was impounded.

292
00:13:19,433 --> 00:13:23,100
So there is this one
about money in my account,

293
00:13:23,100 --> 00:13:24,433
which was about the car.

294
00:13:24,433 --> 00:13:26,200
I don't want to see
anything about the car.

295
00:13:26,200 --> 00:13:30,233
I only want to see where you notified
your mother or Mr. Brown

296
00:13:30,233 --> 00:13:31,900
that the car was impounded.

297
00:13:31,900 --> 00:13:34,066
- Oh, I don't have the text about it.
- [Judy] Okay.

298
00:13:34,066 --> 00:13:36,000
But I did notify her
that it was impounded.

299
00:13:36,000 --> 00:13:37,100
[Judy]
Well, I don't know that.

300
00:13:37,100 --> 00:13:40,200
And it seems to me you weren't talking
to your mother on a regular basis

301
00:13:40,200 --> 00:13:42,000
because there was a lot of acrimony.

302
00:13:42,000 --> 00:13:44,700
If you have it, you have it.
If you don't have it, you don't have it.

303
00:13:44,700 --> 00:13:46,467
So, Tricia, you could sit down.

304
00:13:46,467 --> 00:13:49,000
♪

305
00:13:49,000 --> 00:13:51,567
{\an8}I'm telling you that it is inappropriate.

306
00:13:51,567 --> 00:13:54,400
{\an8}The act of sharing a bed

307
00:13:54,400 --> 00:13:58,066
{\an8}with a teenage female child as a father

308
00:13:58,066 --> 00:14:00,467
{\an8}would give me cause to pause.

309
00:14:00,467 --> 00:14:02,100
{\an8}♪

310
00:14:12,600 --> 00:14:14,133
{\an8}[announcer]
<i>Defendant Scott Manis</i>

311
00:14:14,133 --> 00:14:17,100
{\an8}...has accused his ex-wife, Heather Palen

312
00:14:17,100 --> 00:14:21,066
{\an8}<i>of filing a false report
with Child Protective Services.</i>

313
00:14:21,066 --> 00:14:23,667
Now, it was a malicious act
to have the car impounded.

314
00:14:23,667 --> 00:14:26,233
There's no question in my mind
that if they knew it was impounded,

315
00:14:26,233 --> 00:14:30,333
they would have gotten it
out before, $1,565.

316
00:14:30,333 --> 00:14:33,734
Now, you want to show me
what information you have?

317
00:14:33,734 --> 00:14:36,967
{\an8}- [Scott] Yes, ma'am.
- With regard to filing a false CPS report.

318
00:14:36,967 --> 00:14:41,266
{\an8}Correct, I have CPS reports
and the police investigators report.

319
00:14:41,367 --> 00:14:42,734
Okay, may I see it, please?

320
00:14:53,734 --> 00:14:57,133
- This report was in September of 2020?
- [Scott] Yes, ma'am.

321
00:14:57,133 --> 00:14:59,166
- Okay.
- It's been several years

322
00:14:59,166 --> 00:15:01,567
of these reports and just
disgusting allegations.

323
00:15:01,567 --> 00:15:04,333
[Judy] Just a second, shh...

324
00:15:06,433 --> 00:15:12,066
So you filed or you made allegations
to Child Protective Services?

325
00:15:12,066 --> 00:15:14,200
CPS actually contacted me, Your Honor,

326
00:15:14,200 --> 00:15:16,600
regarding several calls
that they had received

327
00:15:16,600 --> 00:15:18,667
for the welfare of my daughter Tricia.

328
00:15:18,667 --> 00:15:19,967
[Judy] In what year?

329
00:15:19,967 --> 00:15:23,700
{\an8}I was contacted, I believe it was 2019,
and again in 2020.

330
00:15:23,700 --> 00:15:25,867
{\an8}- [Judy] They contacted you?
- Correct.

331
00:15:25,867 --> 00:15:27,900
- [Judy] For what?
- To do an interview because of the claim

332
00:15:27,900 --> 00:15:30,400
that was made about
regarding Tricia's safety

333
00:15:30,400 --> 00:15:32,633
[Judy]
That were made by an anonymous source.

334
00:15:32,633 --> 00:15:34,400
[Heather]
I don't know who made them, Your Honor.

335
00:15:34,400 --> 00:15:39,700
In Minnesota, you can't make
multiple reports by one person.

336
00:15:39,700 --> 00:15:42,467
I cannot call day after day
to make reports.

337
00:15:42,467 --> 00:15:47,233
I'm just asking you,
did you at some point claim

338
00:15:47,233 --> 00:15:49,600
that you had reason to believe

339
00:15:49,600 --> 00:15:54,000
that your daughter was being in some way
physically abused by her father.

340
00:15:54,000 --> 00:15:55,900
- I'm...
- [Judy] That's either a yes or a no.

341
00:15:57,700 --> 00:16:00,233
- Yes to a point.
- [Judy] Yeah, okay.

342
00:16:00,233 --> 00:16:03,500
And part of that involved a sexual abuse?

343
00:16:03,500 --> 00:16:04,934
{\an8}That one was not claimed by me.

344
00:16:05,533 --> 00:16:11,500
{\an8}I did state to CPS that he does
have her sleep in his bed with him.

345
00:16:11,500 --> 00:16:13,066
[Judy]
Well, I have to tell you something.

346
00:16:13,066 --> 00:16:13,967
Which is a little weird.

347
00:16:13,967 --> 00:16:16,033
I have to tell you something
that doesn't seem a little weird.

348
00:16:16,033 --> 00:16:19,133
It seems a lot weird that your daughter,

349
00:16:19,133 --> 00:16:21,633
your daughter acknowledged, sir.

350
00:16:21,633 --> 00:16:24,900
- [Scott] Your Honor.
- Your daughter, what I'm telling you is

351
00:16:24,900 --> 00:16:28,400
it is inappropriate for a man
to sleep in the same bed

352
00:16:28,400 --> 00:16:29,867
as his 15-year-old daughter.

353
00:16:30,000 --> 00:16:31,633
- Your Honor, we went to a concert.
- [Judy] That's my view.

354
00:16:31,633 --> 00:16:34,533
[Judy] And if that's true, there may be
a reasonable explanation for it.

355
00:16:34,533 --> 00:16:37,734
She said she was scared,
whatever when interviewed.

356
00:16:37,734 --> 00:16:39,367
That's what it says in here.

357
00:16:39,367 --> 00:16:43,033
But I'm telling you,
as a mother and a grandmother,

358
00:16:43,033 --> 00:16:48,700
in my view, and I'm not a professional
psychiatrist or psychologist,

359
00:16:48,700 --> 00:16:50,767
but it is inappropriate for a teenager

360
00:16:50,767 --> 00:16:53,533
to sleep in the same bed
with her father, period.

361
00:16:55,233 --> 00:16:57,667
Maybe some countries, it's appropriate.

362
00:16:59,100 --> 00:17:03,200
Your Honor, we went to a concert
and shared a hotel room at a concert.

363
00:17:03,200 --> 00:17:05,266
[Judy]
No, that's not what your daughter said.

364
00:17:05,266 --> 00:17:07,767
No, no, no.
That's not what your daughter said, sir.

365
00:17:07,767 --> 00:17:09,233
- [Scott] May I finish?
- Yes.

366
00:17:09,233 --> 00:17:12,467
When she was going through all the stuff
with the divorce and everything,

367
00:17:12,467 --> 00:17:14,200
she came into my room, I was asleep.

368
00:17:14,200 --> 00:17:15,900
She laid next to me.

369
00:17:16,533 --> 00:17:18,800
- I'm asleep.
- Listen to me.

370
00:17:19,934 --> 00:17:22,767
I'm not suggesting that
anything inappropriate.

371
00:17:22,767 --> 00:17:25,300
- Sir, understand this.
- You're absolutely right.

372
00:17:25,300 --> 00:17:30,166
I'm not suggesting that
any inappropriate actions happened

373
00:17:30,166 --> 00:17:32,000
between you and your daughter.

374
00:17:32,000 --> 00:17:35,400
I'm telling you that it is inappropriate,

375
00:17:35,400 --> 00:17:37,967
the act of sharing a bed

376
00:17:37,967 --> 00:17:41,467
with a teenage female child as a father

377
00:17:41,467 --> 00:17:44,000
would give me cause to pause.

378
00:17:44,000 --> 00:17:45,834
I would say, you know what?

379
00:17:45,834 --> 00:17:49,000
That's not a good idea, it's especially--

380
00:17:49,000 --> 00:17:52,400
sweetheart, it's especially
not a good idea

381
00:17:52,400 --> 00:17:55,567
when parents seem to be feuding.

382
00:17:55,567 --> 00:17:57,400
It's grist for the mill.

383
00:17:57,400 --> 00:17:59,967
You may want to go and see
if she's scared say,

384
00:18:00,100 --> 00:18:02,934
"Sweetheart, I'll go and sit
in a chair in your room."

385
00:18:02,934 --> 00:18:04,767
- Many times.
- [Judy] In your room.

386
00:18:04,767 --> 00:18:08,233
- Many times.
- [Judy] But please, this is inappropriate.

387
00:18:08,233 --> 00:18:10,166
Do you understand? It's inappropriate.

388
00:18:10,166 --> 00:18:12,500
Did you read the detective's
statements in there?

389
00:18:12,667 --> 00:18:14,667
No, I'm not interested
in the detective's statements.

390
00:18:14,800 --> 00:18:17,000
- Obviously.
- [Judy] If what your daughter says is true

391
00:18:17,000 --> 00:18:18,800
as a result of the investigation,

392
00:18:18,800 --> 00:18:23,333
then there was reason for somebody
to suggest to CPS to do an investigation.

393
00:18:23,333 --> 00:18:24,767
So, listen.

394
00:18:24,767 --> 00:18:29,166
Bottom line, I can't tell the two of you
to stop feuding, I can't.

395
00:18:29,166 --> 00:18:32,834
You either hate each other
more than you love your daughter.

396
00:18:32,834 --> 00:18:36,633
That's the answer
and this court can't fix that.

397
00:18:36,633 --> 00:18:40,767
All I can do is fix $1,565,

398
00:18:40,767 --> 00:18:42,533
which is what you owe them
for impound fees.

399
00:18:42,533 --> 00:18:44,533
This case is over, thank you.

400
00:18:44,533 --> 00:18:45,867
[bailiff]
This court is adjourned.

401
00:18:45,867 --> 00:18:48,033
♪

402
00:18:48,033 --> 00:18:49,066
I think the judge is wrong.

403
00:18:49,066 --> 00:18:51,233
I am thankful for the judge.

404
00:18:51,233 --> 00:18:54,000
She didn't read all the evidence.
Multiple pages weren't read.

405
00:18:54,000 --> 00:18:55,834
He's very good at manipulating others.

406
00:18:55,834 --> 00:18:57,133
I have multiple accusations.

407
00:18:57,133 --> 00:19:01,667
And being the person that,
"Oh, pity me, feel sorry for me."

408
00:19:01,667 --> 00:19:03,633
False allegations to the CPS.

409
00:19:03,633 --> 00:19:07,900
My ex-husband decided that
he would show me.

410
00:19:07,900 --> 00:19:10,667
No, he's trying to get my daughter
her money back or the title to her car.

411
00:19:10,800 --> 00:19:13,834
He actually had the car as of August 24th.

412
00:19:13,834 --> 00:19:17,667
Then he brought her to the house
and moved her out on September 4th.

413
00:19:17,667 --> 00:19:20,300
And that's when it all
just started going downhill.

414
00:19:20,300 --> 00:19:21,400
She has a lot of hatred.

415
00:19:21,400 --> 00:19:23,700
I believe he's very angry
that I divorced him.

416
00:19:23,700 --> 00:19:25,033
Let-- she falls off a bridge,

417
00:19:25,133 --> 00:19:28,467
And he lost the control over me
that he had while we were married.

418
00:19:30,433 --> 00:19:34,467
You know, Sarah, I've been doing
these family cases for a very, very,

419
00:19:34,467 --> 00:19:39,066
probably 40 plus years,
and it always makes me sad that adults;

420
00:19:39,066 --> 00:19:44,233
that the adults, the mothers, father,
even with a new boyfriend,

421
00:19:44,233 --> 00:19:49,400
there is a window in life
when you feel relatively healthy.

422
00:19:49,400 --> 00:19:50,834
Nothing hurts you.

423
00:19:50,834 --> 00:19:52,467
You don't have a bad back.

424
00:19:52,467 --> 00:19:55,467
You don't have to worry about indigestion.

425
00:19:55,467 --> 00:19:57,767
You can walk around without a walker.

426
00:19:57,767 --> 00:19:59,633
You look pretty reasonable.

427
00:19:59,633 --> 00:20:03,266
And that you will take years away
from that good time

428
00:20:03,266 --> 00:20:05,867
to create negativity

429
00:20:05,867 --> 00:20:09,166
around not only yourself,
but the people that you love.

430
00:20:09,166 --> 00:20:11,066
I think that's great advice.

431
00:20:11,066 --> 00:20:16,333
I always said to people,
both men and women, that it's one journey.

432
00:20:16,333 --> 00:20:21,266
You can take that journey
and put as much positive energy into it.

433
00:20:21,266 --> 00:20:23,133
Yeah, I just felt bad for the daughter.

434
00:20:23,133 --> 00:20:26,433
I mean, I know she's growing now, 19,
but still 19.

435
00:20:26,433 --> 00:20:29,967
It still hurts your feelings to hear
and see that your parents hate each other

436
00:20:30,100 --> 00:20:32,800
more than they care and love about you.

437
00:20:32,800 --> 00:20:35,333
Well, maybe that statement...

438
00:20:35,333 --> 00:20:37,700
- Will make a difference.
- [Judy] Will make a difference because

439
00:20:37,700 --> 00:20:40,367
I'm sure it's not true.

440
00:20:40,367 --> 00:20:43,300
- I have a feeling...
- But when it's said to you

441
00:20:43,300 --> 00:20:45,100
in the court in front of your child,

442
00:20:45,100 --> 00:20:46,867
hopefully they take
some action on it then.

443
00:20:46,867 --> 00:20:49,266
Well, hopefully they'll say, "Boing!"

444
00:20:49,266 --> 00:20:51,233
You know, she has a new boyfriend

445
00:20:51,233 --> 00:20:53,633
and he's got his daughter
who's living with him.

446
00:20:53,633 --> 00:20:57,166
They should be happy and they're divorced.

447
00:20:57,166 --> 00:20:59,667
- Close the book.
- Close the book.

448
00:20:59,667 --> 00:21:03,100
Her mother and her boyfriend
should get a puppy together.

449
00:21:03,100 --> 00:21:05,367
Not until they get married.

450
00:21:05,367 --> 00:21:07,500
Not until they-- but do something.

451
00:21:07,500 --> 00:21:09,467
This is a grown young woman.

452
00:21:09,467 --> 00:21:12,166
Have a healthy adult relationship
with your child.

453
00:21:12,166 --> 00:21:13,767
Right, not over a car.

454
00:21:13,767 --> 00:21:16,066
but, you know, teenagers do
crazy things for a car.

455
00:21:16,066 --> 00:21:19,834
I think that some teenagers would live
with Satan if they bought 'em a car.

456
00:21:21,633 --> 00:21:23,400
[announcer]
<i>Are you having a family dispute?</i>

457
00:21:23,400 --> 00:21:25,500
{\an8}<i>Go to JudyJustice.tv.</i>