1
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She purchased a car in your name.

2
00:00:03,967 --> 00:00:04,834
Yes, ma'am.

3
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You acknowledge that this was a loan.

4
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So, why didn't you pay her?

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Um…

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I didn't know any, like…

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I'm really nervous.

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Part of it is nervousness and
part of it is you have no defense.

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[narrator]
This is Judy Justice.

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[theme music playing]

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[narrator]
April Johnson is suing her former nanny

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Katelyn Hemingway for breach of contract
and emotional distress.

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[Kevin]
Court, come to order. All rise.

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Have a seat, please.

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Judge, case 4076,
Johnson versus Hemingway.

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-Thank you.
-You're welcome.

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[Judy] I'm gonna start
with you, Miss Hemingway.

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-You were hired as a nanny…
-Yes, ma'am.

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-for the plaintiff and her six children.
-Yes, ma'am.

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And they're young children.
You were hired in what month and year?

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-April of 2024.
-That's not correct.

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[Judy] Where had you worked before?

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[Katelyn]
I was a nanny for a different family.

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And when did you work for them?

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About a year prior
to working for Miss April.

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[Judy]
So, you were without a job for a year?

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No, I worked for them
for an entire year before--

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One year. And what happened
to that job?

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They no longer needed me and
they were planning on moving away.

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[Judy]
Where did you work before that?

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I was a behavioral analyst

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for a company that works
with Autistic children.

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-How old are you?
-I'm 21 now.

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[Judy] And you started to work
for them April of 2024.

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I believe.

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It was January of 2024.
I interviewed her in December of 2023.

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-[Judy] Does that sound better?
-Yes.

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[Judy] And at some point,
a couple of months later,

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sometime, probably in April,
the plaintiff purchased a car in your name

40
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because you did not have
a reliable mode of transportation

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and you were taking the kids
back and forth.

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Yes, ma'am.

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And when that car was purchased,
were you with the plaintiff?

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No, ma'am.

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So, she purchased a car and came back
and said, "This is the car?"

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Or did you discuss with her the car?

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We discussed the car.

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[Judy] Okay. And tell me
what the discussion was.

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She discussed that she would
give me a loan.

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[Judy] Okay. She discussed with you
making a loan to you

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for the purchase price of the car.

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Did she actually do that,
and was the car purchased?

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-Yes, ma'am.
-How much was the car?

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Nine thousand, one hundred
and fifty-seven dollars.

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[Judy] Okay. And the plaintiff
paid for that car?

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-[Katelyn] Yes, ma'am.
-[Judy] You were making payments to her.

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Yes, ma'am.

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And how much did you pay off?

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[Katelyn] Three thousand,
seven hundred and sixty-seven dollars.

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-I have the amount, ma'am, if you'd like.
-[Judy] I would.

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She paid $2,524.35.

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-[Katelyn] That is incorrect.
-What's incorrect?

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I paid $3,761 towards the car.

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[Judy]
Where does the discrepancy come from?

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Before I quit, I was working
for her for ten days straight.

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They went to Hawaii.
She did not pay me for those ten days.

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So, what you're talking about is
you only really paid her the $2,000--

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I've never actually paid her in cash.

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She's always deducted it
from my paychecks.

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Okay. Miss Johnson, now do you know where
she's getting that figure from of $3,000--

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I don't know where
she's getting the figure from.

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I do have a spreadsheet.

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[Judy] She says
with the times she worked,

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she paid off $3,700.

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That's incorrect.

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-[Judy] How much did she pay off?
-$2,635.

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Twenty-six hundred dollars?
And there is $1,000 difference.

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And you say, the $1,000 difference
comes from ten days

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-that she didn't pay you for?
-Yes, ma'am.

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-Yes, ma'am.
-[Judy] Which ten days didn't she pay you?

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Okay. So, from July 27th to August 6th.

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You were away until August 6th?

83
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Yes, we were gone from 7/28 to 8/6.

84
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She worked 130 hours
during that timeframe.

85
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And she earned $2,275.

86
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Was she paid for all that time?

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No, ma'am, 'cause that money
goes towards the car.

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I'm asking you, all together,
including those ten days,

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she said she paid you a total of $3,700.

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She is wrong, ma'am. She paid $2,524.35.

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Let me see.

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Okay. Well, my question to you,
Miss Hemingway,

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you acknowledge that this was a loan.

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-Yes, ma'am.
-[Judy] And you acknowledge

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that minimally, you owe her $5,400?

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-Yes, ma'am.
-[Judy] So, why didn't you pay her?

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[Katelyn] Because I was put in a position
where I was forced to quit

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because of the circumstances
and the safety of me and this work style.

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I never really had a schedule.
I didn't know any, like…

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I'm really nervous. I'm so sorry.

101
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Part of it is nerves, Miss Hemingway,
part of it is that you have no defense.

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I have a defense. There was--

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I read your defense. You left to go home.

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You live in Texas
or your family's in Texas?

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I live in Utah.

106
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[Judy] But you had to go back
to take care of a family situation.

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In what state was that?

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-Texas.
-[Judy] Texas. That's what I thought.

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I read your papers. And while
you were there, the plaintiff told you

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there was going to be someone else
moving into the house,

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a cousin or nephew or somebody.

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And they were also going to be
in a room in the basement of the house

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where you had your room.

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And you felt very uncomfortable,
you didn't know who this person was.

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And you felt uncomfortable that there was
gonna be a man in the basement with you.

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And you voiced that to the plaintiff,

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and the plaintiff said, that's too bad,
he's my nephew, or whatever, cousin.

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And it was at that point that you quit.

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No, that's not the point.

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That's what you say in your answer.

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That's one of the biggest reasons
I quit.

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[Judy]
That's what it says in your answer.

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What's the other reason that you quit?

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Her dogs attacked me
and left me marks.

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I didn't-- I'm sorry,
I'm just really nervous. I can't talk.

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I'm just curious, because you don't
say anything about the dogs here.

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The only thing that you talked about
was this man--

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She told me--
She told me that this man does drugs.

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-No, I didn't.
-And he was…

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and he has like tattoos and everything.

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You can quit your job, Miss Hemingway,
but that doesn't vacate the loan.

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[Katelyn]
I understand.

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A year and a half ago,
I got raped by a man.

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And so, hearing April wanting

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to move another person…

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that wasn't already part of the agreement.
I was told I would have my own space.

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Just a second.
I absolutely understood your answer,

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and agree with you
that it was probably in your interest,

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emotionally, not to have to live
in a basement apartment

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next to a young man
that you didn't know,

141
00:07:07,767 --> 00:07:11,533
that even the plaintiff said
had some trouble.

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00:07:11,600 --> 00:07:13,467
-Would that be a fair statement?
-Yeah.

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Did the person that you moved in
had a history of a little trouble.

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00:07:16,500 --> 00:07:18,033
-Yes, ma'am.
-[Judy] Okay.

145
00:07:18,100 --> 00:07:21,567
But it's your relative, it's not hers.
She's a kid, she's 20 years old.

146
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She doesn't have to live next door
to somebody. So, you can quit.

147
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-Absolutely.
-Yes, ma'am--

148
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That doesn't mean
you don't have to pay for the car.

149
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-'Cause you have the car.
-I understand.

150
00:07:30,533 --> 00:07:33,500
Okay. Then, all we have is
a difference in amount.

151
00:07:33,567 --> 00:07:36,133
Okay? So, you're gonna go outside,

152
00:07:36,200 --> 00:07:38,767
and you're going to figure out
what the amount is.

153
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It's either $5,000 or $6,000
that she owes.

154
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Neither of them.

155
00:07:43,266 --> 00:07:46,533
Okay. Outside with your spreadsheets.
Somebody's gonna come and help you.

156
00:07:46,600 --> 00:07:49,033
I'm not doing it.
Math is not my strong suit.

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00:07:49,100 --> 00:07:51,933
Outside. We'll recall the case
when you've come to a number.

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-Thank you.
-[dramatic music playing]

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00:07:53,867 --> 00:07:55,734
[narrator]
And later today…

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I don't know why you're mad at him.

161
00:07:57,367 --> 00:08:00,467
You should be angry at the drunk driver
who caused the accident.

162
00:08:00,533 --> 00:08:02,000
So, what are you doing in court?

163
00:08:02,066 --> 00:08:03,934
All of this stuff
that you're talking about.

164
00:08:04,000 --> 00:08:07,567
A desk that you would've liked
to have had of hers.

165
00:08:07,633 --> 00:08:08,767
Nonsense.

166
00:08:11,500 --> 00:08:14,200
[theme music playing]

167
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[narrator]
April Johnson claims her former nanny

168
00:08:21,332 --> 00:08:25,800
Katelyn Hemingway broke their agreement
and caused emotional distress.

169
00:08:25,867 --> 00:08:29,600
Have you come to an agreement with
regard to how much is left on the loan?

170
00:08:29,667 --> 00:08:30,934
-Yes, ma'am.
-[Judy] And you?

171
00:08:31,000 --> 00:08:32,933
-Yes, ma'am.
-[Judy] How much is left on the loan?

172
00:08:33,000 --> 00:08:35,500
Seven thousand, forty-one dollars
and twenty-five cents.

173
00:08:35,567 --> 00:08:36,834
[Judy]
Acknowledged?

174
00:08:36,900 --> 00:08:39,165
There have been many weeks
that April has not paid me,

175
00:08:39,232 --> 00:08:43,567
but I will go with her number
for $7,040.21.

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00:08:43,633 --> 00:08:47,767
Okay, $7,041. Thank you very much.
Judgment for the plaintiff.

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00:08:47,834 --> 00:08:49,233
[Kevin]
This court is adjourned.

178
00:08:49,300 --> 00:08:50,867
[theme music playing]

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00:08:54,433 --> 00:08:57,300
Because she claims I owed her a certain
amount of money,

180
00:08:57,367 --> 00:09:00,767
and I don't believe through the things
that she has put me through

181
00:09:00,834 --> 00:09:02,133
that I owe that money.

182
00:09:02,200 --> 00:09:04,800
I was honestly shocked when she quit.

183
00:09:04,867 --> 00:09:09,100
She brought a man into my space.
I didn't feel was necessary.

184
00:09:09,166 --> 00:09:12,133
So, I did not-- no longer
want to work there.

185
00:09:12,200 --> 00:09:14,233
I will have a new nanny on Monday.

186
00:09:14,300 --> 00:09:15,734
I'm happy I'm outta there.

187
00:09:17,934 --> 00:09:21,567
I understood the defendant's position
in not wanting to stay in the basement,

188
00:09:21,633 --> 00:09:25,066
with or without her history, you know,
with a stranger, a male.

189
00:09:25,133 --> 00:09:27,233
With a stranger who had a bad history.

190
00:09:27,300 --> 00:09:31,333
Yeah, sure. So that's, obviously,
a reason to quit and I understand that.

191
00:09:31,400 --> 00:09:35,467
But that's, like you said in court,
not a reason to not repay a loan.

192
00:09:35,533 --> 00:09:38,533
I thought that was gonna turn out
a little different, based on the papers.

193
00:09:38,600 --> 00:09:40,467
I thought she was gonna claim gift.

194
00:09:40,533 --> 00:09:43,133
I thought she was gonna claim,
this was given to me.

195
00:09:43,200 --> 00:09:47,700
But when she was in open court, she said,
no, I know that it was a loan and I quit.

196
00:09:47,767 --> 00:09:51,800
I think, in her mind, quitting equated--
Because she had a reason to quit,

197
00:09:51,867 --> 00:09:54,633
she equated that
with not having to repay on the loan.

198
00:09:54,700 --> 00:09:56,734
A loan is a loan.

199
00:09:56,800 --> 00:10:00,467
She acknowledged that it was a loan.
She acknowledge it in text messages.

200
00:10:00,533 --> 00:10:03,900
Case 4074, Bennahmias versus Morales.

201
00:10:03,967 --> 00:10:05,500
All parties, please, come forward.

202
00:10:05,567 --> 00:10:10,367
[narrator] Andrea Bennahmias
is suing her daughter's former boyfriend,

203
00:10:10,433 --> 00:10:14,700
Matthew Morales, for attorney fees
and the return of property.

204
00:10:14,767 --> 00:10:18,400
Miss Bennahmias, the defendant
lived with your daughter.

205
00:10:18,467 --> 00:10:19,467
Yes.

206
00:10:19,533 --> 00:10:21,700
[Judy] He lived with your daughter
for a couple of years?

207
00:10:21,767 --> 00:10:22,767
No.

208
00:10:22,834 --> 00:10:24,667
-[Judy] I'm looking at him.
-Oh, I'm sorry.

209
00:10:24,734 --> 00:10:26,266
[Judy]
How long did you live--

210
00:10:26,333 --> 00:10:28,867
We lived together
about six to seven months.

211
00:10:28,934 --> 00:10:31,166
I thought that you indicated
in your answer

212
00:10:31,233 --> 00:10:33,266
that it was a couple of years.

213
00:10:33,333 --> 00:10:36,200
We were dating for approximately
two and a half to three years,

214
00:10:36,266 --> 00:10:38,367
but we lived together
for about six to seven months.

215
00:10:38,433 --> 00:10:39,567
Two months.

216
00:10:39,633 --> 00:10:42,100
-[Judy] I don't want to hear you.
-Okay. Sorry.

217
00:10:42,165 --> 00:10:46,100
-[Judy] When did you start dating?
-March of 2021.

218
00:10:46,165 --> 00:10:48,400
And in what month
did you move in together?

219
00:10:48,467 --> 00:10:50,500
In March of 2023.

220
00:10:50,567 --> 00:10:53,000
[Judy] Did you move into your apartment,
her apartment,

221
00:10:53,066 --> 00:10:55,066
or did you move into a joint apartment?

222
00:10:55,133 --> 00:10:56,633
Uh, she moved into my apartment.

223
00:10:56,700 --> 00:10:58,800
And how long have you lived
in your apartment?

224
00:10:58,867 --> 00:11:01,967
Um, I've probably been there
about four years or so.

225
00:11:02,033 --> 00:11:04,033
This is what the case is about.

226
00:11:04,100 --> 00:11:06,900
Your daughter was tragically killed
in an automobile accident.

227
00:11:06,967 --> 00:11:07,967
Yes.

228
00:11:08,033 --> 00:11:10,133
[Judy] Mr. Morales was not in the car…
-No.

229
00:11:10,200 --> 00:11:11,600
[Judy]
…at the time that happened.

230
00:11:11,667 --> 00:11:13,900
And it is your claim
that he has certain property

231
00:11:13,967 --> 00:11:15,367
-of your daughter's…
-Yes.

232
00:11:15,433 --> 00:11:17,600
[Judy]
…that rightfully belongs to you.

233
00:11:17,667 --> 00:11:20,100
Since I assume she died
without a will.

234
00:11:20,166 --> 00:11:22,133
Intestate. Yes, Your Honor.

235
00:11:22,200 --> 00:11:24,467
I know what that means, madam.
I'm a lawyer.

236
00:11:24,533 --> 00:11:26,166
-She died without a will.
-Correct.

237
00:11:26,233 --> 00:11:27,867
[Judy]
And you want your stuff.

238
00:11:27,934 --> 00:11:31,233
Mr. Morales says
that after she passed away,

239
00:11:31,300 --> 00:11:34,467
you, who had moved cross-country
a couple of years ago,

240
00:11:34,533 --> 00:11:38,300
had designated someone
whose name was Belinda?

241
00:11:38,367 --> 00:11:39,767
-Bethany.
-[Judy] Bethany.

242
00:11:39,834 --> 00:11:43,433
To gather up your daughter's things
that you wanted.

243
00:11:43,500 --> 00:11:45,533
-And Bethany took them.
-Correct.

244
00:11:45,600 --> 00:11:51,400
You're suing him for, oh, $10,000
for value of return of property,

245
00:11:51,467 --> 00:11:54,133
attorney's fees and damages
for pain and suffering.

246
00:11:54,200 --> 00:11:59,033
Okay. You know, sometimes, it's much
easier to be angry than it is to be sad.

247
00:11:59,100 --> 00:12:01,800
So, I have absolutely no idea
what you're doing here.

248
00:12:01,867 --> 00:12:02,900
I've been angry.

249
00:12:02,967 --> 00:12:04,633
I have no idea what you're doing here.

250
00:12:04,700 --> 00:12:08,300
But it looks as if there's a bag
over there.

251
00:12:08,367 --> 00:12:10,934
Would you tell me, Mr. Morales,
what is in that bag?

252
00:12:11,000 --> 00:12:13,934
There were a few items
that I did end up finding.

253
00:12:14,000 --> 00:12:16,166
Would you please give that to me, Kevin.

254
00:12:16,233 --> 00:12:18,967
So, these are those said items.
So, I brought them.

255
00:12:19,033 --> 00:12:20,033
Okay.

256
00:12:26,934 --> 00:12:30,066
Okay. And you brought these
to give to her mother.

257
00:12:30,133 --> 00:12:31,800
-Correct.
-[Judy] Fine.

258
00:12:31,867 --> 00:12:34,834
Would you give those
to the plaintiff, please?

259
00:12:34,900 --> 00:12:36,867
[Andrea]
Thank you. Thank you.

260
00:12:38,834 --> 00:12:42,200
[Judy] In what month and year
was the accident, Mrs. Bennahmias?

261
00:12:42,266 --> 00:12:48,165
She was killed on August 13th, 2023.

262
00:12:48,233 --> 00:12:52,600
And now, we're a year and a half later,
and what is it that you think

263
00:12:52,667 --> 00:12:56,800
that Mr. Morales has
that belonged to your daughter,

264
00:12:56,867 --> 00:12:59,633
and that therefore, you should have?

265
00:12:59,700 --> 00:13:02,934
I have a list.
I lived with my daughter for 25 years.

266
00:13:03,000 --> 00:13:04,667
-[Judy] I want to explain something.
-I'm sorry.

267
00:13:04,734 --> 00:13:07,166
I don't want to see a 15 page list.

268
00:13:07,233 --> 00:13:11,333
A year and a half after,
tell me what the big ticket items are

269
00:13:11,400 --> 00:13:14,333
that you think that he has
that belong to your daughter.

270
00:13:14,400 --> 00:13:16,500
I just got three small bags back.

271
00:13:16,567 --> 00:13:18,367
-And my daughter--
-[Judy] I don't care.

272
00:13:18,433 --> 00:13:21,100
Okay, I don't understand the question.
I'm so sorry.

273
00:13:21,166 --> 00:13:24,567
If you say, my daughter had
a Rolex watch…

274
00:13:24,633 --> 00:13:25,967
[Andrea]
Mm-hmm.

275
00:13:26,033 --> 00:13:28,767
…and it wasn't in her property,
that's a thing.

276
00:13:28,834 --> 00:13:33,066
If you say my daughter
had a set of white pearls,

277
00:13:33,133 --> 00:13:35,967
and that wasn't in her property,
that's a thing.

278
00:13:36,033 --> 00:13:41,867
I don't want to hear about clothes, shoes,
pocket books, cooking utensils, dishes.

279
00:13:41,934 --> 00:13:44,600
I don't want to hear anything about that.

280
00:13:44,667 --> 00:13:47,533
Do you understand?
So now, look at your list,

281
00:13:47,600 --> 00:13:51,967
and tell me what the first thing is,
nothing that I've mentioned:

282
00:13:52,033 --> 00:13:55,500
-clothes, shoes, underwear…
-[Andrea] Okay.

283
00:13:55,567 --> 00:13:57,467
-pocket books--
-[Andrea] Okay.

284
00:13:57,533 --> 00:14:01,200
-A rose gold colored Apple--
-[Judy] Just a second.

285
00:14:01,266 --> 00:14:03,767
-A rose gold colored Apple--
-[Andrea] Apple watch.

286
00:14:03,834 --> 00:14:06,100
Which I have a picture of her wrist--

287
00:14:06,166 --> 00:14:08,734
-[Judy] Just a second. An Apple watch.
-Mm-hmm.

288
00:14:08,800 --> 00:14:12,767
Do you have an Apple watch that belonged…
what was her name?

289
00:14:12,834 --> 00:14:14,934
Excuse me, Rachel. And no, I do not.

290
00:14:15,000 --> 00:14:16,867
Um, I'm assuming that--

291
00:14:16,934 --> 00:14:18,633
[Judy]
You don't have it.

292
00:14:18,700 --> 00:14:20,367
-No, I don't.
-[Judy] Did you sell it?

293
00:14:20,433 --> 00:14:23,000
-No.
-No. He doesn't have it. What's next?

294
00:14:23,066 --> 00:14:26,700
I'm so sorry, but right here,
from his attorney to mine,

295
00:14:26,767 --> 00:14:30,767
he says he has it. But he purchased it,
so he believes it's his.

296
00:14:30,834 --> 00:14:33,000
-He has it.
-[Judy] Just a second.

297
00:14:33,066 --> 00:14:34,333
Is that correct?

298
00:14:34,400 --> 00:14:36,433
I did purchase it, but I do not have it.

299
00:14:36,500 --> 00:14:39,233
I don't know if it was confiscated
when she was in the accident

300
00:14:39,300 --> 00:14:41,000
because she was wearing it.
I'm not sure.

301
00:14:41,066 --> 00:14:42,533
He doesn't have it. Next.

302
00:14:42,600 --> 00:14:44,233
-Okay, but this--
-[Judy] Next!

303
00:14:44,300 --> 00:14:45,367
Oh, my God.

304
00:14:45,433 --> 00:14:47,900
[dramatic music playing]

305
00:14:47,967 --> 00:14:52,133
She must've been happy with him
if she moved with him.

306
00:14:52,200 --> 00:14:54,033
You should be saying, thank you

307
00:14:54,100 --> 00:14:57,867
for making the last few months
of my daughter's life happy.

308
00:15:00,900 --> 00:15:04,867
[theme music playing]

309
00:15:07,567 --> 00:15:12,266
[narrator] Andrea Bennahmias
claims her daughter's former boyfriend,

310
00:15:12,333 --> 00:15:15,133
Matthew Morales, owes for attorney fees

311
00:15:15,200 --> 00:15:19,033
and the return of property that
belonged to her deceased daughter.

312
00:15:19,100 --> 00:15:21,367
What's next on your list

313
00:15:21,433 --> 00:15:25,233
that you say that he has
that belongs to your daughter?

314
00:15:25,300 --> 00:15:28,667
Again, I may be a little nervous and sad.

315
00:15:28,734 --> 00:15:31,400
No, but I'm not explaining…
What can I tell you?

316
00:15:31,467 --> 00:15:36,500
I can't say that I only got three bags
back from a 29-year-old.

317
00:15:36,567 --> 00:15:38,500
[Judy]
I don't care what you got back.

318
00:15:38,567 --> 00:15:40,266
Then I don't understand the question.

319
00:15:40,333 --> 00:15:41,600
-[Judy] Pay attention.
-Okay.

320
00:15:41,667 --> 00:15:43,066
I'm processing this…

321
00:15:43,133 --> 00:15:45,233
-[Judy] You have to pay attention.
-I am.

322
00:15:45,300 --> 00:15:47,066
What did your daughter do for a living?

323
00:15:47,133 --> 00:15:49,900
She sold at a swap-meet for two years. I--

324
00:15:49,967 --> 00:15:51,700
-[Judy] No, just a second.
-Okay.

325
00:15:51,767 --> 00:15:55,533
What did she do for a living when
she and Mr. Morales were together?

326
00:15:55,600 --> 00:15:58,165
[Andrea]
She worked as a cocktail waitress.

327
00:15:58,233 --> 00:15:59,934
[Judy]
She wasn't a high-income earner.

328
00:16:00,066 --> 00:16:02,333
Am I getting that right, Mr. Morales?

329
00:16:02,400 --> 00:16:03,867
-That is correct.
-[Judy] Okay.

330
00:16:03,934 --> 00:16:06,734
Now, we're talking
about a year and a half later.

331
00:16:06,800 --> 00:16:09,033
Was she working
when she was living with you?

332
00:16:09,100 --> 00:16:11,900
She was working with me
when she was living with me.

333
00:16:11,967 --> 00:16:14,834
[Judy] She was working when she
was living with you, not working for you.

334
00:16:14,900 --> 00:16:17,533
No, not for me. She was working
when she was living with me.

335
00:16:17,600 --> 00:16:21,066
We did actually move to Reno
in July of 2023.

336
00:16:21,133 --> 00:16:24,633
And that's when she got the job
as a cocktail waitress.

337
00:16:24,700 --> 00:16:27,600
I want you to tell me
what else you think

338
00:16:27,667 --> 00:16:31,166
Mr. Morales has
that belongs to your daughter.

339
00:16:31,233 --> 00:16:32,500
Her birth certificate--

340
00:16:32,567 --> 00:16:33,934
-[Judy] Just a second.
-Okay.

341
00:16:34,000 --> 00:16:36,967
-[Judy] Do you have her birth certificate?
-I do, yes.

342
00:16:37,033 --> 00:16:40,066
Kevin, would you give
her birth certificate to her mother?

343
00:16:40,133 --> 00:16:43,165
Birth certificate's very easy, madam.
All you have to do is

344
00:16:43,233 --> 00:16:46,967
go to the county clerk's office and you
can get another one. What's next?

345
00:16:47,033 --> 00:16:48,633
-I appreciate--
-What's next?

346
00:16:48,700 --> 00:16:52,133
Yes. Um, there was a desk of Rachel's

347
00:16:52,200 --> 00:16:55,165
that he said he threw it away,
it was damaged.

348
00:16:55,233 --> 00:16:58,433
But I don't think he had the authority
to dispose of things.

349
00:16:58,500 --> 00:17:01,967
He wasn't an executor or anything, or a--

350
00:17:02,033 --> 00:17:03,967
-[Judy] Let me ask you this question.
-Yeah.

351
00:17:04,032 --> 00:17:06,800
You don't doubt this desk
that he threw away--

352
00:17:06,867 --> 00:17:08,599
Yes. He stated he did.

353
00:17:08,666 --> 00:17:12,099
You don't doubt that he threw it away
because it was damaged.

354
00:17:12,165 --> 00:17:14,066
What do you want him to do,
pay for it?

355
00:17:14,133 --> 00:17:15,666
Pay you the value for it?
What do you want?

356
00:17:15,733 --> 00:17:18,200
It's very sentimental.
I would've liked to repair it.

357
00:17:18,266 --> 00:17:20,165
-[Judy] Well, you can't have it.
-Okay.

358
00:17:20,233 --> 00:17:24,700
What else do you think that he has
that belonged to your daughter

359
00:17:24,767 --> 00:17:28,066
-I lived with my daughter for 25 years.
-[Judy] Listen, madam--

360
00:17:28,133 --> 00:17:31,266
She worked for 13 years
and she had accumulated a lot.

361
00:17:31,333 --> 00:17:33,433
She was just under 29-years-old.

362
00:17:33,500 --> 00:17:35,767
I have no idea whether that's true or not.

363
00:17:35,834 --> 00:17:38,033
I have no idea whether that's true or not.

364
00:17:38,100 --> 00:17:40,367
And it is irrelevant to these proceedings.

365
00:17:40,433 --> 00:17:42,533
Okay. So, what else does she have.

366
00:17:42,600 --> 00:17:47,400
All I know is I got two bags of clothes
from someone that was just shy of 29.

367
00:17:47,467 --> 00:17:50,533
And I lived with her
before I moved two years ago.

368
00:17:50,600 --> 00:17:55,567
And she had half my garage filled with
things, put it into a large storage unit.

369
00:17:55,633 --> 00:17:58,533
And I never got access
to the storage unit.

370
00:17:58,600 --> 00:18:01,967
I don't know why you're mad at him.
You should be angry at the drunk driver

371
00:18:02,033 --> 00:18:03,433
-who caused the accident.
-Oh, I am too.

372
00:18:03,500 --> 00:18:08,200
[Judy] So, what are you doing in court
if you said he stole $50,000 in cash

373
00:18:08,266 --> 00:18:09,967
that she kept in a vault.

374
00:18:10,033 --> 00:18:11,967
All of this stuff
that you're talking about;

375
00:18:12,033 --> 00:18:15,000
a desk that you would've liked
to have had of hers.

376
00:18:15,066 --> 00:18:17,967
-Okay.
-[Judy] Nonsense. I don't understand why.

377
00:18:18,033 --> 00:18:21,367
He didn't cause what happened
to your daughter to happen.

378
00:18:21,433 --> 00:18:24,400
-[Andrea] I understand.
-[Judy] I don't know what you're here for.

379
00:18:24,467 --> 00:18:27,033
May I answer the question you asked me?

380
00:18:27,100 --> 00:18:29,734
[Judy] Sure. Other than
what you've already told me,

381
00:18:29,800 --> 00:18:31,667
that you lived with her for so many years,

382
00:18:31,734 --> 00:18:35,266
that she had stuff in a storage unit,
that you didn't have access to it.

383
00:18:35,333 --> 00:18:37,266
That's all speculation.

384
00:18:37,333 --> 00:18:40,133
-I asked you--
-And I'll answer, Your Honor.

385
00:18:40,200 --> 00:18:45,166
What is it, a thing, that I can ask.
You said birth certificate.

386
00:18:45,233 --> 00:18:47,433
You got a birth certificate. Desk?

387
00:18:47,500 --> 00:18:50,934
He actually disposed of an old desk
that was damaged.

388
00:18:51,000 --> 00:18:53,433
What do you mention it for?
I don't know why.

389
00:18:53,500 --> 00:18:55,266
You said, I would've liked to have it.

390
00:18:55,333 --> 00:18:58,433
That means that you would like me
to make a monetary judgment

391
00:18:58,500 --> 00:19:02,100
against him for a desk.
Well, I'm not prepared to do that.

392
00:19:02,166 --> 00:19:03,667
So, let's move on.

393
00:19:03,734 --> 00:19:06,100
Can I answer the question you asked?

394
00:19:06,166 --> 00:19:07,433
[Judy]
Sure.

395
00:19:07,500 --> 00:19:13,066
To lose a child any way,
it's indescribable.

396
00:19:13,133 --> 00:19:17,600
Then, to have a short-term,
six month relationship

397
00:19:17,667 --> 00:19:21,333
retain 99.9% of your daughter's stuff.

398
00:19:21,400 --> 00:19:24,400
This is all I have to touch
to remember my daughter's life.

399
00:19:24,467 --> 00:19:26,433
-That's-- I want to tell you something.
-[Andrea] Yes.

400
00:19:26,500 --> 00:19:28,000
That's more important than a desk.

401
00:19:28,066 --> 00:19:29,734
I know it is.

402
00:19:29,800 --> 00:19:32,433
Or an Apple watch you can
go out to replace.

403
00:19:32,500 --> 00:19:35,700
So, I want you to sort of
think about it this way.

404
00:19:35,767 --> 00:19:39,467
If your daughter dated the defendant
for a couple of years,

405
00:19:39,533 --> 00:19:43,767
and then, was happy enough with him
to move with him.

406
00:19:43,834 --> 00:19:46,734
Now, you weren't there,
'cause you moved cross-country.

407
00:19:46,800 --> 00:19:49,300
You moved 2,000 miles away
from your daughter.

408
00:19:49,367 --> 00:19:54,734
Okay? She lived with him for a month,
two months; it's irrelevant.

409
00:19:54,800 --> 00:19:59,033
She must've been happy with him
if she moved with him.

410
00:19:59,100 --> 00:20:03,000
You should be saying thank you
for making the last few months

411
00:20:03,066 --> 00:20:04,867
of my daughter's life happy.

412
00:20:04,934 --> 00:20:07,700
She was living with a guy
who she clearly liked

413
00:20:07,767 --> 00:20:11,200
because she moved with him.
And instead of saying thank you,

414
00:20:11,266 --> 00:20:13,900
you sue him for nonsense. Nonsense.

415
00:20:13,967 --> 00:20:16,734
-It's not his fault that she's gone.
-I know that.

416
00:20:16,800 --> 00:20:20,066
You want something to touch of
your daughter's, it would seem to me--

417
00:20:20,133 --> 00:20:21,367
That's all I have.

418
00:20:21,433 --> 00:20:24,033
Just a second. It seems to me
that's a something.

419
00:20:24,100 --> 00:20:26,033
And I would rather-- Put that down.

420
00:20:26,100 --> 00:20:28,333
I would rather have that as a something,

421
00:20:28,400 --> 00:20:31,934
which your daughter
clearly curated herself.

422
00:20:32,000 --> 00:20:34,567
Which means, she went,
she saw this, she liked it.

423
00:20:34,633 --> 00:20:37,867
It was a crystal, she collected them.

424
00:20:37,934 --> 00:20:40,266
It's clearly more important
than an Apple watch

425
00:20:40,333 --> 00:20:43,667
that you can go into Apple
and buy another one, or a desk.

426
00:20:43,734 --> 00:20:46,633
So, you want something to touch
of your daughter's, that's it.

427
00:20:46,700 --> 00:20:49,533
And say thank you,
for making the last couple of months

428
00:20:49,600 --> 00:20:52,900
of my daughter's life,
or couple of years, happy.

429
00:20:54,367 --> 00:20:56,400
-Are we done here? Thank you.
-[Matthew] I believe so.

430
00:20:56,467 --> 00:20:57,734
-Thank you.
-Thank you.

431
00:20:57,800 --> 00:20:59,400
[Kevin]
This court is adjourned.

432
00:20:59,467 --> 00:21:01,667
[theme music playing]

433
00:21:01,734 --> 00:21:05,367
Maybe it's their grieving process.
Maybe this makes them feel better.

434
00:21:05,433 --> 00:21:08,900
I don't know. But I think they're
targeting the wrong person in this.

435
00:21:08,967 --> 00:21:12,000
After just shy of 29 years of life,

436
00:21:12,066 --> 00:21:15,066
this is all I have
to remember my daughter.

437
00:21:15,133 --> 00:21:18,333
Oh, I gave them back everything
that I possibly had that was hers.

438
00:21:18,400 --> 00:21:20,734
It's good that I get to move forward.

439
00:21:20,800 --> 00:21:23,033
I really thought she'd be on my side.

440
00:21:23,100 --> 00:21:24,233
I hope she finds closure.

441
00:21:24,300 --> 00:21:26,633
It wasn't meant to be, but yes,
I can move on.

442
00:21:26,700 --> 00:21:30,000
And he can enjoy all my daughter's things
going forward.

443
00:21:31,834 --> 00:21:36,600
Anger is a much easier emotion
to deal with than sadness.

444
00:21:36,667 --> 00:21:37,700
Mm-hmm.

445
00:21:37,767 --> 00:21:40,266
The plaintiff was devastated
by the loss of her daughter.

446
00:21:40,333 --> 00:21:42,834
The defendant wasn't involved
in that accident at all.

447
00:21:42,900 --> 00:21:47,266
But it really just seems to me
that the last person you would lash out at

448
00:21:47,333 --> 00:21:49,433
is the person who brought her happiness

449
00:21:49,500 --> 00:21:52,300
for the last few months
or few years of her life.

450
00:21:52,367 --> 00:21:55,100
And from what we saw today,
he seemed very…

451
00:21:55,166 --> 00:21:57,600
-Decent.
-Decent. Here's the birth certificate,

452
00:21:57,667 --> 00:22:01,367
a couple of things that you weren't given
in the initial trade over.

453
00:22:01,433 --> 00:22:02,800
So, he seemed pretty reasonable.

454
00:22:02,867 --> 00:22:05,400
Tragic, a 29-year-old woman
killed by a drunk driver,

455
00:22:05,467 --> 00:22:06,867
which is what happened.

456
00:22:06,934 --> 00:22:10,367
Hopefully, this will give her some closure
though, with the last couple items.

457
00:22:10,433 --> 00:22:12,100
-I don't think so.
-With him, I mean.

458
00:22:12,166 --> 00:22:13,867
-With the defendant.
-Hopefully with him.

459
00:22:15,467 --> 00:22:16,700
[narrator]
Want justice?

460
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Go to JudyJustice.tv.

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