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{\an8}[metal banging]
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She hit me first, Your Honor.
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We're not talking about hitting,
I'm talking about vandalizing a car.
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She also threatened me with a knife.
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You go outside with a knife.
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Yes.
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Over a guy.
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Over a guy.
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[announcer]
This is Judy Justice.
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{\an8}[♪ dramatic music plays]
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{\an8}[announcer] Autumn Burke is suing
her former friend Freya Brown
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for vandalizing her car
and an assault.
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[Kevin]
Court come to order. All rise.
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Have a seat, please.
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Hello, Judge. Case 2186.
Burke versus Brown.
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Thank you.
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Ms. Burke, I understand that you
and the defendant met
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when you were both in foster care.
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- Yes.
- How old are you?
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Nineteen.
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And how old were you?
If I can ask you these questions.
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If you're uncomfortable,
please let me know.
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How old were you
when you went into foster care?
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Sixteen, I believe.
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Were you originally placed
in group homes?
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Yes.
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And through Orangewood Foundation
as well as transitional housing programs.
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When did you start transitional housing
from group homes?
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{\an8}I started that when I was 17.
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{\an8}Um, that was in 2021,
where I was roommates with Freya,
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and we lived there.
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Okay. And could you describe the facility
where you were living?
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We were living in Tustin
in an apartment complex
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where they rent out the rooms
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and they have uh, foster kids
go in there, and then they pay.
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Well, they don't pay rent,
but it's a transitional program
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to move up to the extended foster care
transitional housing program
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for after you're 18.
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So it's better be to be placed
into this one.
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So it helps foundation towards
the next one.
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- Towards total independence?
- Yes.
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And how long did you stay
in that facility? Until when?
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Like, a few months after I turned 18,
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I got into the Costa Mesa
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transitional housing.
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Okay, from Costa Mesa,
did you go into any other facility
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through the foster care system,
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or you're then supposed to get a job
and get on your own two feet?
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So this program,
the Independent Living Program,
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it's really hard for foster kids
to get into.
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You have to be set up
with all the requirements.
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And so...
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What kind of requirements?
Are there academic requirements?
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Yeah, academic requirements.
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Working, going to school,
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meeting with the manager
that comes in every week.
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Yes.
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{\an8}- [Judy] Were you going to school?
- Yes.
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{\an8}- What school were you going to?
- Golden West College.
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- Are you still going to school?
- Yes.
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I currently am taking a break
from this semester,
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but I'm still going to continue it.
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- [Judy] Are you working?
- Yes.
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And you're living on your own?
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I'm renting a room out in Irvine
with two different roommates.
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And Ms. Brown, what about you?
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How long have you been in the foster care
system and how old are you now?
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{\an8}I've been in the foster care system since
I was 13 years old.
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{\an8}I am currently 19.
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Tell me where you're living.
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Right now I live in a rented room
in a house also in Irvine.
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- Tell me what you're doing.
- Right now I work in sales.
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I'm a sales associate.
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- Is it a full-time job?
- It's part-time.
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I'm also in school.
I go to Fullerton College,
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and I'm a biology major.
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Interesting.
Are you good in science?
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I really liked science in high school,
so, yeah.
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Well, you seem like two
absolutely delightful ladies.
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I don't know why
you got into this kerfuffle,
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but each one of you claim
that you were assaulted by the other.
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You claim that Ms. Brown
caused vandalism to your car.
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Ms. Brown says that you had her
falsely arrested after this altercation,
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which seems to be
an unhappy event over a guy.
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Over a guy.
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I mean, there are necessary evils.
But over a guy!
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[spectators laugh]
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So two lovely girls who've probably
weathered a lot of storms in your life
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to keep together that most 15-,
16-year-olds don't have to do.
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How could two nice girls
get into a kerfuffle over a guy?
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- I have no idea.
- Go.
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Okay, so on September 2nd,
near 10:00 p.m.,
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I was cooking us dinner,
and Freya was sitting at the counter.
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{\an8}And then while I'm cooking dinner,
I get a call from my ex.
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{\an8}- And he's just...
- From your ex-boyfriend, not ex-husband?
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Oh, yes.
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- From your ex-boyfriend?
- Yes.
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Okay. And his name is,
what's his first name?
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- Uh, I would prefer...
- Let's call him Kat.
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Kat, yeah.
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- So Kat...
- You get a call from Kat.
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Do you know Kat?
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Personally, no,
I do not know him.
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- [Judy] Have you ever met him?
- No, I have not.
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Okay, so now you get a call from Kat,
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and how long has he been
your ex-boyfriend?
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Well, we just have a "situationship."
Like, it was just off and on.
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But he just called me, and I just had him
on the phone on speaker and...
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So you had him on speakerphone,
you're cooking her dinner,
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she's sitting at the counter?
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Yeah, and he starts making
flirtatious comments, like saying
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if I had any cute friends near around?
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And I know it doesn't sound right, but...
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It doesn't, no.
It doesn't sound good, Ms. Burke.
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Yeah, but that's just like, I know him
and that's like a different story,
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but regardless, then Freya...
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So, what was he saying?
I wanna know what he was saying.
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You have to tell me 'cause she probably
remembers what he was saying.
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- I do.
- So, if you don't remember, I'll ask her.
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{\an8}[Judy]
What did he say?
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{\an8}He asked, in general, if I had any cute
friends near me or any around,
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just saying if there is any cute friends
near me so that he...
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- That's not what happened.
- Okay.
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So, your ex-boyfriend
calls you and asks you
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if you have any cute friends around?
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- [Burke] Yes.
- And you didn't just hang up on him?
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Well, yes, well, I told him,
I said that I can't like see him tonight
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and that he shouldn't be saying that.
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But the call ended 'cause he had to go,
'cause he had to go back to work.
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So, it ended quick.
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Wait, just a second. He must have
said something that annoyed her.
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That was it.
He just asked if I had...
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Okay, you don't remember.
What did he say?
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He called her, they were talking
for a minute, and then she was saying,
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you know, "Oh, I miss you," this and that.
And he was like, "Can I come over?"
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At which point she told him,
"Oh, I'm with my two friends."
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And he was like,
"Oh, what do they look like?
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Are they cute? How old are they?"
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Which I thought was disrespectful to me
and also disrespectful to her.
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{\an8}I was trying to be a good friend.
I informed her of it and...
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{\an8}- So, he was acting... like a guy?
- [Freya] Yeah.
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- You know...
- Yes.
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Think before you talk,
there's no filter here.
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So, he said, "Oh really?
You can't come over.
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You have two friends. Are they cute?
Are they nice-looking?"
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And just to tell you, Ms. Brown,
I don't think it was disrespectful.
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I just think it's a stupid remark.
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- No.
- [Judy] You know, do you understand?
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- I understand, but...
- [Judy] It's just stupid.
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The tone and then the content--
cause I, it was on speaker.
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Like, I could hear everything, so...
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So, when he hung up,
what did you say to her?
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After they hung up,
I didn't say anything to her.
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She said to me, she was like,
"You don't know him.
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You know, like, we're in love."
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- And you said to her?
- Basically saying I don't know him.
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So, I was like, "Yes, you're
completely right I don't know him,
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but I don't wanna hang out with him,"
basically is what I told her.
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- [Judy] Well, was he coming over?
- No, no.
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- [Judy] No, no, no.
- I was just telling her like...
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And what's your version? After he hung up,
let me hear your version of what she said.
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Okay, so after I hung up, it was just
practically some of what she said,
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but it was more in an aggressive way
and with a lot of attitude, and...
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[stammering]
Show me.
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Uh, I get done with the phone
and I'm cooking and then,
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she wants to like humble under her breath
and like say like, I don't know,
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just rude things about the call,
like just looking at me weird.
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And I'm l like, what's the problem?
And I was just...
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Okay, so she's looking at you weird
and you say, "What's the problem?"
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And she says?
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{\an8}I don't know, she was going off and about
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{\an8}and then she started throwing trash
on my counter and then threw it at me.
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- Yeah, you did.
- That is not true.
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Now, I have to tell you something.
So far it makes sense.
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But then I don't want you to tell me,
she just went from,
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nothing disrespectful to throwing food
around the counter.
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- That didn't happen.
- That did not.
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Okay. So, before she started
throwing the trash on my counter,
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she was saying, um,
how that I had attitude,
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but I was telling her
that I did not have attitude.
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I was trying to deescalate the situation.
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So far we're not attitude.
So far she's mumbling.
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- No, that's what she said.
- She said it under her breath?
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Yeah, and then so she, I don't know,
like I said, it was a snap of a finger.
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Like, I'd never seen her switch like that.
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And, you know, I was confused,
and then after she threw the trash,
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I told her to grab your stuff
and get outta my house.
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And so I gave her time,
she went in my room, grabbed her stuff,
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I waited by the door, I had it wide open.
And she's just cursing and yelling
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and just like, just,
I didn't want her in my house.
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And if I would've known
she was like that...
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No, no, no. Don't-- let's not.
Don't go down any tributaries.
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{\an8}[♪ dramatic music plays]
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{\an8}When you got out to the car,
she had a brick in her hand.
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{\an8}Was there any damage to the car?
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{\an8}Yes, I have photos, proof,
to the left driver's side
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{\an8}and there's a video as well
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{\an8}of the neighbor's Ring camera
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{\an8}showing her vandalizing my car.
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{\an8}Okay, I'll see the video.
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{\an8}[announcer] Autumn Burke
claims her former friend,
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{\an8}Freya Brown, owes for vandalism
and an assault.
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Freya is countersuing for an assault
and filing a false police report.
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There's a piece that I'm missing
from this story,
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but let's say that following
your timeline,
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what probably makes sense
is you got into an argument,
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{\an8}you said to her, "You know,
he's really not that way.
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{\an8}He's really a nice guy and I love him."
[comical gibberish]
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{\an8}And she said, "Well, somebody
who really loves you doesn't say,
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'I wanna come over and hang out
with your two good-looking friends.'"
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That could escalate
into something that's angry.
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Your Honor, well, the thing is,
when she did mention those things,
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they weren't calm as you expressed.
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- Yes, they were.
- No, they weren't.
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They were very aggressive.
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[Judy] They could have been
aggressive, but that's...
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- They could've been aggressive but...
- And I couldn't see the reason
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why it shouldn't have been
that way at all.
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00:10:00,800 --> 00:10:03,266
Listen, I'm not saying
I agree with you or not,
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but I'm saying that common sense
dictates to me that if you're on the phone
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with somebody that you still like,
and that you're an on-again, off-again,
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and, "You can't come over today
because I have two friends here."
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"Oh, really?
You have two friends?
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00:10:15,367 --> 00:10:17,500
Maybe I'll come over
and hang out with your two friends."
225
00:10:17,633 --> 00:10:19,500
She found that disrespectful.
226
00:10:19,500 --> 00:10:24,000
I actually find it disrespectful to you
and disrespectful to him.
227
00:10:24,367 --> 00:10:26,100
You really have nothing to do with it,
Ms. Brown,
228
00:10:26,233 --> 00:10:28,433
somebody else was being a schlemiel.
229
00:10:28,600 --> 00:10:31,533
- No. I mean I wasn't saying like...
- [Judy] Okay.
230
00:10:31,700 --> 00:10:34,600
All right, so now you tell her
to get out, open her things,
231
00:10:34,600 --> 00:10:36,500
she's out the door, and...?
232
00:10:36,500 --> 00:10:40,100
Well, no, she's not out the door yet.
So, then I have the door wide open.
233
00:10:40,200 --> 00:10:42,934
She comes and then we're
still, like, argumenting,
234
00:10:42,934 --> 00:10:44,700
and I'm trying to get her out
of my house.
235
00:10:44,900 --> 00:10:47,867
- She pushes me, and I go back into...
- That's not true.
236
00:10:47,967 --> 00:10:49,600
- Yes, it is.
- Ssh!
237
00:10:49,600 --> 00:10:52,533
I go back into the door,
and then she starts hitting on my arm,
238
00:10:52,533 --> 00:10:54,667
like hitting me,
so I'm like defending back.
239
00:10:54,667 --> 00:10:58,800
And it was just crazy, like,
I didn't realize I had the door wide open
240
00:10:58,800 --> 00:11:01,066
{\an8}for her to get out,
but, like, peacefully.
241
00:11:01,200 --> 00:11:02,967
{\an8}Okay, so she pushes you,
242
00:11:03,100 --> 00:11:05,367
{\an8}she puts her hands on you,
you put your hands on her,
243
00:11:05,367 --> 00:11:06,400
pushing, pushing.
244
00:11:06,500 --> 00:11:10,200
And up until that point, there's a lot
of maybe pushing, touching the arms,
245
00:11:10,200 --> 00:11:12,100
touching the hands,
but nobody is injured.
246
00:11:12,100 --> 00:11:14,233
Is that a fair statement?
Standing at the door?
247
00:11:14,233 --> 00:11:17,100
Well, I got assaulted
'cause I have the pictures
248
00:11:17,333 --> 00:11:19,133
to show that my nail came off.
249
00:11:19,233 --> 00:11:21,066
[Judy] No, I just,
I'm asking you a question.
250
00:11:21,066 --> 00:11:24,166
Up until that time, did your nail
come off during that time?
251
00:11:24,166 --> 00:11:26,767
- Yes.
- Was it a real nail or a fake nail?
252
00:11:27,100 --> 00:11:29,567
Both. Both of my nails came off.
Like it was...
253
00:11:29,567 --> 00:11:33,200
[Judy] On the same finger?
You had a fake nail over your real nail?
254
00:11:33,300 --> 00:11:34,567
And it both ripped off.
255
00:11:34,567 --> 00:11:35,967
Okay.
I'll take a look.
256
00:11:47,033 --> 00:11:49,633
Okay, I see a black-and-blue mark
here that's under here.
257
00:11:49,633 --> 00:11:50,767
- [Burke] Mm-hmm.
- Right?
258
00:11:50,767 --> 00:11:53,834
- [Burke] Yes.
- And this is on your hand?
259
00:11:53,934 --> 00:11:54,800
[Burke] Yes.
260
00:11:54,934 --> 00:11:57,734
- [Judy] What was this?
- From blocking her hitting me.
261
00:11:57,734 --> 00:12:00,467
- What was she hitting you with?
- Just her hands.
262
00:12:00,633 --> 00:12:03,400
She was just like a cat fight.
Like she just went crazy.
263
00:12:03,400 --> 00:12:06,100
And so I was figuring out,
trying to get her out of my house.
264
00:12:06,100 --> 00:12:08,567
Okay. Did you respond
to her hitting you?
265
00:12:08,667 --> 00:12:10,800
- Yes.
- Yes. Do you have any photographs?
266
00:12:10,800 --> 00:12:12,700
- Yes, I do have photos.
- I'd like to take a look.
267
00:12:12,700 --> 00:12:13,633
Okay.
268
00:12:24,467 --> 00:12:27,533
- So, I see a scratch above your eye.
- Mm-hmm.
269
00:12:27,900 --> 00:12:30,467
And a little bruise
on this part of your hand.
270
00:12:30,967 --> 00:12:32,934
- Is that what it is?
- Yes, on my wrist.
271
00:12:33,033 --> 00:12:36,033
And then there's a bruise on,
is it this part of your elbow?
272
00:12:36,033 --> 00:12:36,967
My elbow, yes.
273
00:12:37,166 --> 00:12:40,533
Okay, so now you're arguing
with each other,
274
00:12:40,734 --> 00:12:42,567
you both get banged up a little bit.
275
00:12:42,767 --> 00:12:44,100
- Now she's outside.
- Yes.
276
00:12:44,400 --> 00:12:46,800
And what did you do?
You finally got her out the front door.
277
00:12:46,800 --> 00:12:50,500
So, after a few minutes, she called me
and said, "Warning, I'm at your car."
278
00:12:50,500 --> 00:12:53,200
So, when I heard that,
I called the cops immediately
279
00:12:53,333 --> 00:12:55,800
and I asked them to come down
because I think she's gonna be
280
00:12:55,800 --> 00:12:59,100
vandalizing
my car or God knows what.
281
00:12:59,100 --> 00:13:01,100
{\an8}And then, so, when that happened,
282
00:13:01,100 --> 00:13:05,066
{\an8}me and my witness, Jasmine,
we walked down outta my house
283
00:13:05,066 --> 00:13:09,300
{\an8}'cause I wanted to go see, like,
if my car, like, what was going on.
284
00:13:09,700 --> 00:13:12,500
And so, as I'm walking out,
my car's parked over here.
285
00:13:12,767 --> 00:13:14,967
Um, Freya's over here,
and so when I'm walking out,
286
00:13:14,967 --> 00:13:18,233
then I meet her right here,
and she has a brick in her hands.
287
00:13:18,467 --> 00:13:21,333
And, yeah, she had a brick in her hand
the whole time
288
00:13:21,333 --> 00:13:23,500
until the cops came
and then they arrested her,
289
00:13:23,500 --> 00:13:27,000
and they asked me if I wanted to file
for assault and vandalization,
290
00:13:27,000 --> 00:13:28,233
and I said yes.
291
00:13:28,233 --> 00:13:31,400
Okay, and when you got out to the car,
she had a brick in her hand.
292
00:13:31,400 --> 00:13:33,000
Was there any damage to the car?
293
00:13:33,000 --> 00:13:36,233
Yes, I have photos, proof,
to the left driver's side,
294
00:13:36,567 --> 00:13:39,967
{\an8}and there's a video as well
of the neighbor's Ring camera
295
00:13:40,100 --> 00:13:42,166
{\an8}showing her vandalizing my car.
296
00:13:42,367 --> 00:13:43,367
- Yeah.
- Oh, sorry.
297
00:13:43,367 --> 00:13:45,133
[Judy] Lemme see the damage,
and then I'll see the video.
298
00:13:45,133 --> 00:13:46,200
Thank you.
299
00:13:56,767 --> 00:13:59,533
- Okay, now I'll see the video.
- Okay.
300
00:14:02,800 --> 00:14:07,333
[loud pounding]
301
00:14:07,333 --> 00:14:09,000
[brick clanking]
302
00:14:10,033 --> 00:14:12,633
[metal and brick crashing]
303
00:14:12,633 --> 00:14:14,600
This bitch won't let me
get in a chat fight.
304
00:14:14,600 --> 00:14:16,166
[indistinct response]
305
00:14:16,166 --> 00:14:18,834
You're good. I'm good.
306
00:14:21,467 --> 00:14:23,734
[brick crashing]
307
00:14:28,734 --> 00:14:32,500
[loud crash]
308
00:14:37,433 --> 00:14:40,533
[loud crash]
309
00:14:43,367 --> 00:14:45,934
[loud crash]
310
00:14:49,100 --> 00:14:52,000
[loud crash and clatter]
311
00:14:57,600 --> 00:14:58,767
Okey-dokey!
312
00:14:59,433 --> 00:15:01,433
That's where you were arrested,
Ms. Brown?
313
00:15:01,433 --> 00:15:03,667
{\an8}- Yes.
- Have you ever seen that video before?
314
00:15:03,667 --> 00:15:05,200
{\an8}- I have not.
- You have not?
315
00:15:05,400 --> 00:15:06,934
- No.
- Okay.
316
00:15:08,033 --> 00:15:09,867
Can I see the estimates
to the damage to your car?
317
00:15:09,867 --> 00:15:11,000
Yes, ma'am.
318
00:15:15,100 --> 00:15:16,633
Tell me when you bought this car.
319
00:15:16,633 --> 00:15:19,500
I bought this car
on August 1st in 2022.
320
00:15:20,033 --> 00:15:22,800
It was my first car.
I paid for it full all by myself.
321
00:15:22,900 --> 00:15:24,066
You paid for it in cash?
322
00:15:24,066 --> 00:15:26,000
Oh, yes. And a check.
323
00:15:26,166 --> 00:15:28,700
Okay. How long had
you been saving for the car?
324
00:15:28,700 --> 00:15:30,800
{\an8}Oh, I've been saving for it for years.
325
00:15:30,934 --> 00:15:33,233
{\an8}Like, a few years,
ever since I've been working.
326
00:15:33,233 --> 00:15:34,467
How much did you pay for it?
327
00:15:34,467 --> 00:15:40,133
I paid a total of, I believe 7,300
and something dollars.
328
00:15:41,266 --> 00:15:43,800
Okay. So, the estimate to fix the car...
329
00:15:44,934 --> 00:15:48,033
is $3,777?
330
00:15:48,033 --> 00:15:49,133
Yes, ma'am.
331
00:15:49,233 --> 00:15:53,800
And the next thing is this price
of the vehicle for which you paid 7350.
332
00:15:53,800 --> 00:15:54,734
Yes.
333
00:15:55,300 --> 00:15:59,033
Now Ms. Brown, one would say to you
as a result of seeing that video,
334
00:15:59,033 --> 00:16:00,433
temper, temper, temper,
you may have a temper.
335
00:16:00,433 --> 00:16:01,867
You can't do what you did.
336
00:16:01,867 --> 00:16:03,633
Would you acknowledge
that you can't do what you did?
337
00:16:03,633 --> 00:16:04,934
- Yes, I acknowledge that.
- Great.
338
00:16:05,100 --> 00:16:07,200
So that means that you have
to take care of this problem.
339
00:16:07,200 --> 00:16:08,734
She hit me first, Your Honor.
340
00:16:08,734 --> 00:16:10,500
- We're not talking about hitting.
- I understand.
341
00:16:10,500 --> 00:16:12,467
I'm talking about vandalizing a car.
342
00:16:15,133 --> 00:16:18,633
{\an8}- She says the weapon was a knife.
- It was.
343
00:16:18,767 --> 00:16:21,133
{\an8}And the knife was being held by you.
344
00:16:21,133 --> 00:16:22,934
{\an8}- Yes, in self-defense.
- So, you took...
345
00:16:22,934 --> 00:16:25,300
{\an8}No, she says it's not in self-defense
anymore, madam.
346
00:16:25,300 --> 00:16:28,266
{\an8}It's not self-defense. She's out.
She's away from you.
347
00:16:28,266 --> 00:16:30,233
{\an8}[♪ dramatic music plays]
348
00:16:33,400 --> 00:16:35,500
{\an8}[♪ dramatic music plays]
349
00:16:40,333 --> 00:16:43,433
[announcer] Autumn Burke
has accused her former friend,
350
00:16:43,667 --> 00:16:46,633
{\an8}Freya Brown, of vandalism and assault.
351
00:16:47,200 --> 00:16:49,767
Freya claims Autumn
threatened her with a knife
352
00:16:49,967 --> 00:16:52,166
and filed a false police report.
353
00:16:52,166 --> 00:16:55,433
Neither one of you were hospitalized
as a result of this assault.
354
00:16:55,433 --> 00:16:57,266
You got a couple of
black-and-blue marks.
355
00:16:57,266 --> 00:16:58,600
- Two girls had a fight...
- She also threatened me with a knife.
356
00:16:58,600 --> 00:16:59,667
...and it shouldn't,
that shouldn't have happened.
357
00:17:00,100 --> 00:17:03,667
But now the fight is deescalated,
and you went outside
358
00:17:03,667 --> 00:17:07,200
and purposely vandalized her car
in a very, very aggressive way.
359
00:17:07,200 --> 00:17:09,367
And all I'm saying to you
is you understand
360
00:17:09,467 --> 00:17:10,934
that that was
temper, temper, temper.
361
00:17:10,934 --> 00:17:13,500
You're not allowed to,
do that and you have to pay for it.
362
00:17:13,500 --> 00:17:14,967
{\an8}She also threatened me
with a knife.
363
00:17:15,066 --> 00:17:17,000
{\an8}- [Judy] She what?
- Threatened me with a knife.
364
00:17:17,100 --> 00:17:18,834
{\an8}Just a second. I didn't see that
365
00:17:18,834 --> 00:17:22,000
when you were out there by yourself
picking up a brick, right?
366
00:17:22,000 --> 00:17:24,300
- Yes.
- And that was a long video.
367
00:17:24,300 --> 00:17:26,233
I don't see her in that video at all.
368
00:17:26,667 --> 00:17:29,934
I just see you picking up the brick,
not doing enough damage,
369
00:17:30,033 --> 00:17:31,767
picking it up,
doing a little more damage,
370
00:17:31,767 --> 00:17:33,633
picking it up,
going to another side of the car,
371
00:17:33,633 --> 00:17:35,533
picking it up,
going to the front of the car.
372
00:17:35,533 --> 00:17:37,467
I don't see her there threatening you.
373
00:17:37,467 --> 00:17:38,767
She didn't threaten me at that point.
374
00:17:38,900 --> 00:17:41,300
Right. Clearly,
when you left the house,
375
00:17:41,467 --> 00:17:45,133
that ugly confrontation
had been deescalated.
376
00:17:45,400 --> 00:17:46,467
It had not, actually.
377
00:17:46,467 --> 00:17:49,333
Of course it was because you were out
there by yourself. You could have gone.
378
00:17:49,333 --> 00:17:52,700
And if it was an ugly confrontation,
you go to the police station and you say,
379
00:17:52,800 --> 00:17:55,233
"I left my license in my friend's car.
We had a fight.
380
00:17:55,233 --> 00:17:58,200
Could you come back with me
on a standby and get my license?"
381
00:17:58,200 --> 00:18:00,734
{\an8}Instead of using a brick
to bash in her car.
382
00:18:00,834 --> 00:18:03,066
{\an8}My circumstances
were different from Autumn's.
383
00:18:03,066 --> 00:18:04,433
{\an8}I would like to inform you of that.
384
00:18:04,433 --> 00:18:06,200
What were your different circumstances?
385
00:18:06,433 --> 00:18:08,967
Well, I was supposed to be
moving in three days,
386
00:18:08,967 --> 00:18:10,400
which Autumn was aware of.
387
00:18:10,500 --> 00:18:12,867
So, had I called the police and been like,
388
00:18:12,967 --> 00:18:17,166
oh, I need this help, then I would
have jeopardized my housing.
389
00:18:17,300 --> 00:18:20,166
Oh, no, that's not true.
Sorry. Sorry about that Ms. Brown.
390
00:18:20,266 --> 00:18:22,367
If you called the police
and merely said to them,
391
00:18:22,467 --> 00:18:24,233
"I don't wanna have
an argument with her,"
392
00:18:24,367 --> 00:18:26,867
that would not have jeopardized you
getting into housing.
393
00:18:26,967 --> 00:18:30,934
Having this fight
and vandalizing her car,
394
00:18:30,934 --> 00:18:33,000
that could prevent you
from getting into housing.
395
00:18:33,000 --> 00:18:35,266
- That's what got me kicked out.
- I'm not, just I'm...
396
00:18:36,000 --> 00:18:38,533
Just telling you,
calling the police is not an issue.
397
00:18:38,533 --> 00:18:43,667
Going outside and for a period
of probably at least 60 seconds
398
00:18:44,233 --> 00:18:47,667
and moving from different parts
of her car and hitting it with a brick
399
00:18:47,667 --> 00:18:50,066
and bending down
and picking up the brick again,
400
00:18:50,066 --> 00:18:53,867
that would prevent you
from getting into housing.
401
00:18:53,967 --> 00:18:57,200
I wasn't referring to the calling
the police. I meant the fighting.
402
00:18:57,200 --> 00:18:58,900
Oh, I'm not talking about the fighting.
403
00:18:58,900 --> 00:19:02,166
3775, that's the cost of fixing the car.
404
00:19:02,300 --> 00:19:05,200
Now the only other issue
that you have on your counterclaim
405
00:19:05,200 --> 00:19:07,400
is for being falsely arrested.
406
00:19:07,400 --> 00:19:09,633
- Yes.
- I would arrest you for that.
407
00:19:09,633 --> 00:19:10,767
You should be.
408
00:19:10,767 --> 00:19:14,367
Listen, if I came out of my house
and found somebody bashing
409
00:19:14,700 --> 00:19:17,633
my property, I don't care
if we had a long-standing feud
410
00:19:17,633 --> 00:19:20,367
and we're, "Well, I have a long-standing
feud with her, we had an argument.
411
00:19:20,533 --> 00:19:21,533
We had a fight," whatever.
412
00:19:21,633 --> 00:19:25,734
That is not the natural progression
of having an altercation
413
00:19:25,734 --> 00:19:28,433
with an old friend,
going out and vandalizing her car.
414
00:19:28,533 --> 00:19:31,600
So your counter suit for being
falsely arrested is dismissed.
415
00:19:31,600 --> 00:19:35,934
Judgment for the plaintiff
in the amount of $3775.
416
00:19:36,133 --> 00:19:39,533
Your Honor, I would like to be
rightfully... for losing my housing
417
00:19:39,533 --> 00:19:41,734
during that process
because of that incident.
418
00:19:41,734 --> 00:19:44,300
{\an8}Because of the transitional housing
program I was in,
419
00:19:44,400 --> 00:19:46,834
{\an8}I got kicked out of it,
and so I had 30 days.
420
00:19:46,934 --> 00:19:51,000
So, I believe I should be getting for
that as well because...
421
00:19:51,500 --> 00:19:54,967
Where's the head of the Department
of Social Services to testify before me
422
00:19:54,967 --> 00:19:59,133
that the reason you lost your housing,
if in fact you did lose your housing,
423
00:19:59,133 --> 00:20:01,133
was because of this vandalism?
424
00:20:01,133 --> 00:20:02,767
You have a witness here
to tell me that?
425
00:20:03,133 --> 00:20:06,333
I have the 30-days' notice,
if that counts.
426
00:20:06,333 --> 00:20:07,667
- May. I'll take a look.
- Yes.
427
00:20:09,734 --> 00:20:10,834
Oh, here it is.
428
00:20:18,400 --> 00:20:19,266
This says, "This letter is to give you
written 30-day notice
429
00:20:21,066 --> 00:20:23,800
to move out
of the transitional housing program.
430
00:20:23,800 --> 00:20:26,333
You were involved
in a verbal-physical altercation
431
00:20:26,333 --> 00:20:28,533
which involved a weapon
with another individual
432
00:20:28,533 --> 00:20:32,567
and resulted in the police being called
on September 1st, 2022.
433
00:20:32,667 --> 00:20:35,166
When you went to the program, you
were informed and signed paperwork
434
00:20:35,266 --> 00:20:38,100
agreeing to our program rules
and expectations."
435
00:20:38,433 --> 00:20:39,934
Who was it alleged
that had the weapon?
436
00:20:39,934 --> 00:20:41,133
She had a knife.
437
00:20:41,133 --> 00:20:43,967
I brought-- that's self-defense.
I dropped it right when I saw you.
438
00:20:43,967 --> 00:20:45,066
- [Judy] Just a second.
- No, you didn't.
439
00:20:45,066 --> 00:20:46,133
- Yeah, I did.
- Just a second.
440
00:20:46,133 --> 00:20:47,233
Well, just a second.
441
00:20:47,333 --> 00:20:49,967
She says the weapon was a knife.
442
00:20:49,967 --> 00:20:53,200
- It was.
- And the knife was being held by you.
443
00:20:53,200 --> 00:20:54,800
- Yes, for self-defense.
- So, you took...
444
00:20:54,800 --> 00:20:57,333
No, she says not in self-defense
anymore, madam.
445
00:20:57,467 --> 00:21:00,600
It's not self-defense. She's out.
She's away from you.
446
00:21:00,734 --> 00:21:04,633
{\an8}Your choice is
to call the police and wait.
447
00:21:04,633 --> 00:21:06,667
Your choice is not to pick up a knife.
448
00:21:06,800 --> 00:21:08,967
'Cause so far
this altercation has been
449
00:21:08,967 --> 00:21:13,033
a lot of tussling between girls
that shouldn't have happened.
450
00:21:13,266 --> 00:21:15,734
But so far,
nothing involved a weapon.
451
00:21:16,100 --> 00:21:17,800
So, you went outside with a knife.
452
00:21:18,200 --> 00:21:20,300
And according to the rules,
you can't do that.
453
00:21:20,400 --> 00:21:22,834
And that was the reason
that you lost your housing
454
00:21:22,834 --> 00:21:24,400
because there's no other reason.
455
00:21:24,633 --> 00:21:28,433
It said it involved a weapon,
and they listed the rules.
456
00:21:28,700 --> 00:21:33,533
Drugs, alcohol, assault,
danger-making threats.
457
00:21:34,000 --> 00:21:36,400
Well, you have a knife,
that's threats, whatever.
458
00:21:37,266 --> 00:21:41,934
3775, fix your car.
You're not allowed to do that to her car.
459
00:21:42,367 --> 00:21:44,800
That's a hissy fit.
Figure out how to do it.
460
00:21:44,800 --> 00:21:46,433
Your counterclaim's dismissed.
461
00:21:46,433 --> 00:21:49,133
You should have been arrested
for vandalism, goodbye.
462
00:21:49,133 --> 00:21:50,500
[Kevin]
This court is adjourned.
463
00:21:52,700 --> 00:21:55,266
{\an8}Well, I was in shock.
I was like, wow.
464
00:21:55,367 --> 00:21:59,100
{\an8}Like I, over no reason.
Over my ex calling me?
465
00:21:59,100 --> 00:22:01,934
{\an8}Like, come on,
like we're adults now.
466
00:22:02,066 --> 00:22:05,233
{\an8}I'm gonna move on with my life and just go
up from here and not down here,
467
00:22:05,333 --> 00:22:07,433
{\an8}where other people
like to take me down to their level.
468
00:22:07,533 --> 00:22:12,033
{\an8}I'm super thankful to have her handle
my case today. She is a queen.
469
00:22:13,567 --> 00:22:16,967
You know what I was really impressed
with, with both of those girls, Sarah?
470
00:22:17,066 --> 00:22:18,867
You know,
I know the foster care system
471
00:22:18,867 --> 00:22:22,700
usually wherever it is,
can be a brutal system to negotiate.
472
00:22:23,000 --> 00:22:27,600
And these two young women,
at least on the surface,
473
00:22:27,767 --> 00:22:29,967
appear to have negotiated it
474
00:22:29,967 --> 00:22:33,967
in an orderly, reasonable way.
475
00:22:34,066 --> 00:22:36,300
- I mean, she's living on her own.
- Mm-hmm.
476
00:22:36,300 --> 00:22:38,867
She evidently worked for a very long time
477
00:22:39,000 --> 00:22:41,967
because she saved up
and bought her own car.
478
00:22:41,967 --> 00:22:43,033
- That's...
- Yeah.
479
00:22:43,033 --> 00:22:44,700
- It's a big deal.
- I wanna respond, that's a big deal.
480
00:22:44,700 --> 00:22:48,800
And even be able to figure out the system,
which even as lawyers sometimes
481
00:22:48,900 --> 00:22:52,300
we have a difficult time navigating things
in the foster care system.
482
00:22:52,300 --> 00:22:56,467
To figure out this transitional program
that better sets you up for the next step,
483
00:22:56,567 --> 00:22:58,100
that sets you up better
for the next step.
484
00:22:58,200 --> 00:23:00,734
I respected that, that she took
the time to figure out...
485
00:23:00,834 --> 00:23:02,233
- Both of them.
- Both, both.
486
00:23:02,333 --> 00:23:06,266
Their best possible options for navigating
the system that they were placed in.
487
00:23:06,400 --> 00:23:07,800
- Both working.
- Yes.
488
00:23:07,900 --> 00:23:11,500
Both going to school to try to get
themselves into a better circumstance.
489
00:23:11,500 --> 00:23:15,233
The defendant certainly is
a biology major, which fascinates me.
490
00:23:15,233 --> 00:23:16,800
- Not our thing.
- Not our thing.
491
00:23:16,800 --> 00:23:18,066
Great for her.
492
00:23:18,333 --> 00:23:22,834
But clearly, bright young women
who made it to a place at age 19.
493
00:23:23,166 --> 00:23:24,934
- That's really terrific.
- Yeah.
494
00:23:25,033 --> 00:23:28,467
And supportive of each other
because one had a license, one didn't.
495
00:23:28,600 --> 00:23:30,767
So, they were supporting each other.
496
00:23:30,867 --> 00:23:35,700
All very little-- and get
into a kerfuffle over nothing.
497
00:23:35,834 --> 00:23:39,567
It shows just how fast all that work
and all that preparation
498
00:23:39,567 --> 00:23:43,066
for the next step and for the housing
can just crumble.
499
00:23:43,066 --> 00:23:45,967
Can just unravel.
Really sad. That's sad.
500
00:23:45,967 --> 00:23:47,734
But they seem like two nice young women
501
00:23:47,734 --> 00:23:50,967
and I think that they have a really--
both of them have a shot.
502
00:23:50,967 --> 00:23:52,633
Yeah, to make it back on track,
and I hope they do.
503
00:23:52,633 --> 00:23:53,867
Me too.
504
00:23:53,867 --> 00:23:55,400
{\an8}[♪ dramatic music plays]
505
00:23:55,400 --> 00:23:57,100
{\an8}[announcer]
Are you a victim of an assault?
506
00:23:57,200 --> 00:23:59,266
{\an8}Go to JudyJustice.tv.
507
00:24:04,000 --> 00:24:06,867
[♪ end theme music plays]