1
00:00:00,200 --> 00:00:05,567
You lease out antique cable cars
that people use for events.

2
00:00:05,633 --> 00:00:06,633
Yes, Your Honor.

3
00:00:06,700 --> 00:00:08,900
It was supposed to take
the bridal party to the church,

4
00:00:08,967 --> 00:00:10,699
that's it broken down
in front of the hotel.

5
00:00:10,766 --> 00:00:13,233
She's been planning this wedding
since she's 12 years old.

6
00:00:13,300 --> 00:00:16,734
Give me a ballpark figure
of how much you spent on this wedding?

7
00:00:16,800 --> 00:00:18,065
Can I say too much?

8
00:00:18,132 --> 00:00:19,300
[laughter]

9
00:00:19,367 --> 00:00:21,399
I'm still drinking light beer
because of it.

10
00:00:21,466 --> 00:00:24,265
[announcer] This is Judy Justice.

11
00:00:24,332 --> 00:00:27,332
[theme music playing]

12
00:00:40,200 --> 00:00:43,466
[announcer] Kaitlin McBride
and her father Jerry Boyle

13
00:00:43,533 --> 00:00:46,567
are suing business owner
Benjamin Lichtman

14
00:00:46,633 --> 00:00:51,033
for rental costs of a cable car used
on Kaitlin's wedding day.

15
00:00:51,100 --> 00:00:53,366
[Kevin] Court come to order, all rise.

16
00:00:55,667 --> 00:00:56,933
Have a seat, please.

17
00:00:58,567 --> 00:00:59,799
- [Kevin] Hello, Judge.
- How are you?

18
00:00:59,866 --> 00:01:03,500
Case number 1127,
McBride, Boyle versus Lichtman.

19
00:01:03,567 --> 00:01:04,632
Thank you.

20
00:01:05,567 --> 00:01:07,299
I'm gonna start with you, Mr. Lichtman.

21
00:01:07,367 --> 00:01:09,099
That's usually not a good thing.

22
00:01:09,165 --> 00:01:11,132
- Okay. Thank you, Your Honor.
- [Judge Judy] You understand that? Okay.

23
00:01:11,200 --> 00:01:14,632
So I'm not gonna--don't open your papers.

24
00:01:15,599 --> 00:01:16,900
You own a company,

25
00:01:16,966 --> 00:01:21,400
and you lease out antique
or old cable cars

26
00:01:21,466 --> 00:01:25,332
as one part of your company
that people use for events.

27
00:01:25,400 --> 00:01:26,432
So far, correct?

28
00:01:26,500 --> 00:01:27,567
Yes, Your Honor.

29
00:01:27,632 --> 00:01:29,432
How long have you had that company?

30
00:01:29,500 --> 00:01:32,667
I've been in this business since 2004.

31
00:01:32,734 --> 00:01:34,500
What's the name of your company?

32
00:01:34,567 --> 00:01:37,667
The name of the company
is Events West Inc.

33
00:01:37,734 --> 00:01:39,000
[Judge Judy] And where is it located?

34
00:01:39,066 --> 00:01:40,533
San Francisco, California.

35
00:01:40,599 --> 00:01:42,533
[Judge Judy] These two folks
were getting married.

36
00:01:42,599 --> 00:01:44,766
- [Benjamin] No.
- No, that's my dad.

37
00:01:44,834 --> 00:01:46,133
Where's your husband?

38
00:01:46,200 --> 00:01:48,066
At home with our daughter.

39
00:01:48,133 --> 00:01:49,133
[Judge Judy] Okay.

40
00:01:49,200 --> 00:01:50,599
When were you getting married?

41
00:01:50,667 --> 00:01:52,633
June 22nd, 2019.

42
00:01:52,700 --> 00:01:53,866
[Judge Judy] Father
paying for the wedding?

43
00:01:53,933 --> 00:01:55,066
- Yes.
- [Judge Judy] That's why.

44
00:01:55,133 --> 00:01:57,567
[laughter]

45
00:01:58,734 --> 00:02:00,200
- [Judge Judy] First marriage?
- [Kaitlin] Yes.

46
00:02:00,266 --> 00:02:01,566
[Judge Judy] You have siblings?

47
00:02:01,632 --> 00:02:03,132
Yeah. An older brother.

48
00:02:03,200 --> 00:02:06,000
[Judge Judy] So this was his only daughter
that he was paying for the wedding for?

49
00:02:06,066 --> 00:02:06,933
Yeah.

50
00:02:07,000 --> 00:02:08,467
[Judge Judy]
How many people were you having?

51
00:02:08,532 --> 00:02:10,165
Two hundred and fifty.

52
00:02:10,233 --> 00:02:12,300
You've been saving a long time
for this wedding?

53
00:02:12,366 --> 00:02:14,199
- [Jerry] Very long.
- [Judge Judy] Very long.

54
00:02:14,265 --> 00:02:16,699
She's been planning this wedding
since she's 12 years old.

55
00:02:18,766 --> 00:02:23,033
So, Mr. Lichtman, as far as planning
their wedding,

56
00:02:23,099 --> 00:02:26,265
one of the things that they wanted
as a kickoff

57
00:02:26,332 --> 00:02:28,933
was to take their wedding party

58
00:02:29,000 --> 00:02:33,599
from one location to another
in one of your cable cars.

59
00:02:33,667 --> 00:02:35,866
They had that and another vehicle,
yes, Your Honor.

60
00:02:35,933 --> 00:02:38,633
And that wedding was supposed
to take place when?

61
00:02:38,699 --> 00:02:41,966
The ceremony or the actual--
the date or the time?

62
00:02:42,033 --> 00:02:43,099
Both.

63
00:02:43,165 --> 00:02:45,099
Well, it was on June 22nd, 2019.

64
00:02:45,165 --> 00:02:49,033
And the timeframe was from

65
00:02:49,099 --> 00:02:52,300
12:30 to 5:00 PM for the cable car

66
00:02:52,366 --> 00:02:58,233
and from 12:30 to 4:30 PM
for the limo bus or land yacht.

67
00:02:58,300 --> 00:03:01,599
Okay. May I see the contract
that you signed?

68
00:03:15,265 --> 00:03:17,332
Did you prepare this contract?

69
00:03:17,400 --> 00:03:20,133
An employee prepared this contract.

70
00:03:20,199 --> 00:03:21,900
[Judge Judy]
Your company prepared the contract.

71
00:03:21,966 --> 00:03:22,800
That is correct.

72
00:03:22,866 --> 00:03:24,432
[Judge Judy] Yeah, you got to check
the English here.

73
00:03:24,500 --> 00:03:25,599
[Benjamin] Yeah. I would draw your...

74
00:03:25,667 --> 00:03:29,466
Yes. You gotta check some
of the English here, it's not English.

75
00:03:29,533 --> 00:03:34,066
The last sentence of the sixth clause
and the full eighth clause

76
00:03:34,133 --> 00:03:35,500
I think are relevant in this matter.

77
00:03:35,567 --> 00:03:37,633
[Judge Judy] I read what's relevant, sir.

78
00:03:37,699 --> 00:03:39,966
I read what you believe
is relevant to this,

79
00:03:40,033 --> 00:03:42,233
so let's, let's cut to the chase.

80
00:03:42,300 --> 00:03:44,233
Your cable car, you have a picture of it?

81
00:03:44,300 --> 00:03:46,332
Can I see it?

82
00:03:56,199 --> 00:03:58,033
Oh, that's an adorable way to travel.

83
00:03:58,099 --> 00:04:01,032
You're supposed to travel
starting at 12:30,

84
00:04:01,099 --> 00:04:02,667
take pictures on it.

85
00:04:02,734 --> 00:04:04,967
It was supposed to take the bridal party
to the church.

86
00:04:05,032 --> 00:04:06,400
- That's the reason we had two vehicles...
- Okay.

87
00:04:06,467 --> 00:04:09,165
...because I wasn't seeing
my husband before the wedding.

88
00:04:10,300 --> 00:04:11,900
- Not right before.
- [Kaitlin] Yeah.

89
00:04:12,967 --> 00:04:15,199
[Judge Judy] So this is what
was supposed to show up.

90
00:04:15,265 --> 00:04:17,699
[Kaitlin] That did show up, that's it
broken down in front of the hotel,

91
00:04:17,766 --> 00:04:20,266
the bridal party snapped some pictures
getting on it

92
00:04:20,332 --> 00:04:22,100
- before they realized it didn't start.
- [Judge Judy] Okay.

93
00:04:22,165 --> 00:04:23,632
So this is what happened.

94
00:04:23,699 --> 00:04:24,766
You sent this.

95
00:04:24,834 --> 00:04:26,567
- So the driver...
- [Judge Judy] Just, just a sec.

96
00:04:26,632 --> 00:04:28,466
Don't tell me "the driver."

97
00:04:28,533 --> 00:04:30,367
I don't care about the driver.

98
00:04:30,432 --> 00:04:36,100
Cable car came to take the bridal party
to the church,

99
00:04:36,165 --> 00:04:38,300
cable car didn't start.

100
00:04:38,367 --> 00:04:39,733
Well, cable car...

101
00:04:39,800 --> 00:04:41,800
[Judge Judy] Cable car didn't start,

102
00:04:41,867 --> 00:04:46,199
did not make the journey from where
they picked up the party to the church,

103
00:04:46,266 --> 00:04:49,367
Mr. Lichtman,
that would either be a yes or a no.

104
00:04:49,432 --> 00:04:51,533
- The cable car...
- [Benjamin] We did--the...

105
00:04:51,600 --> 00:04:53,766
...did not make the trip

106
00:04:53,834 --> 00:04:58,933
from where it was supposed to pick up
the bridal party

107
00:04:59,000 --> 00:05:01,466
to take them to the church

108
00:05:01,533 --> 00:05:03,600
due to mechanical failure.

109
00:05:03,666 --> 00:05:04,733
That is correct, Your Honor.

110
00:05:04,800 --> 00:05:06,100
[Judge Judy] Very good.

111
00:05:06,165 --> 00:05:07,533
There's no question.

112
00:05:07,600 --> 00:05:09,199
I don't have to get into
what they had to do.

113
00:05:09,266 --> 00:05:11,367
They had to get Uber cars to take them.

114
00:05:11,432 --> 00:05:14,266
People drove their own cars,
whatever it was.

115
00:05:14,333 --> 00:05:16,266
Now we're at the church.

116
00:05:16,332 --> 00:05:17,699
- That's correct, Your Honor.
- Judge Judy] Mr. Lichtman.

117
00:05:17,766 --> 00:05:19,533
- [Benjamin] Uh-hmm.
- [Judge Judy] Now we're at the church,

118
00:05:19,600 --> 00:05:24,533
and the cable car was
or was not at the church?

119
00:05:24,600 --> 00:05:25,899
The cable car...

120
00:05:25,966 --> 00:05:29,733
[Judge Judy] Just say was
or was not at the church?

121
00:05:29,800 --> 00:05:30,766
Was not.

122
00:05:30,834 --> 00:05:32,266
[Judge Judy] Was not.

123
00:05:32,332 --> 00:05:35,899
Was the cable car
supposed to be at the church?

124
00:05:35,966 --> 00:05:39,000
Yes--either a yes or a no?

125
00:05:39,066 --> 00:05:39,899
Yes, Your Honor.

126
00:05:39,966 --> 00:05:41,500
It was at the church.

127
00:05:41,567 --> 00:05:43,165
No, it was supposed
to be at the church.

128
00:05:43,233 --> 00:05:45,000
[Judge Judy]
It was supposed to be at the church.

129
00:05:45,066 --> 00:05:46,500
Was it at the church?

130
00:05:46,600 --> 00:05:47,432
It was broken down
in front of the hotel.

131
00:05:47,500 --> 00:05:51,500
[Judge Judy]
The answer is either a yes or a no?

132
00:05:51,567 --> 00:05:52,699
It's no, Your Honor.

133
00:05:52,766 --> 00:05:54,667
Was not at the church.

134
00:05:54,733 --> 00:05:57,165
So now it wasn't at the place
that they were supposed to take

135
00:05:57,233 --> 00:05:59,399
the bridal party to the church

136
00:05:59,466 --> 00:06:01,666
and it was not at the church.

137
00:06:01,733 --> 00:06:06,500
From the church, where was the cable car

138
00:06:06,567 --> 00:06:08,834
supposed to take the bridal party?

139
00:06:08,899 --> 00:06:11,000
It was supposed to take us
around San Francisco

140
00:06:11,065 --> 00:06:13,466
to different locations
with the photographer

141
00:06:13,533 --> 00:06:16,567
to get kind of classic
San Francisco wedding photos.

142
00:06:16,632 --> 00:06:20,500
And from what time to what time
was that supposed to happen?

143
00:06:20,567 --> 00:06:24,934
From after the ceremony so,
like, 3:00--ish till 5:00

144
00:06:25,000 --> 00:06:27,266
when it brought us back
to the reception.

145
00:06:27,332 --> 00:06:29,600
Okay. So the reception started at 5:00?

146
00:06:29,667 --> 00:06:33,766
It started at 3:30 but the bridal party
was gonna be late because of pictures.

147
00:06:33,834 --> 00:06:36,165
And you were supposed to have that
until 5:00 PM?

148
00:06:36,233 --> 00:06:38,667
- Uh-hmm.
- [Judge Judy] Contractually.

149
00:06:38,733 --> 00:06:43,066
Did the cable car appear to take you

150
00:06:43,132 --> 00:06:46,500
for your tour around San Francisco
and take photographs?

151
00:06:46,567 --> 00:06:48,033
No, it didn't.

152
00:06:48,834 --> 00:06:50,600
- Mr. Boyle.
- Yes.

153
00:06:50,667 --> 00:06:54,233
Give me a ballpark figure
of how much you spent on this wedding.

154
00:06:54,300 --> 00:06:55,600
Can I say too much?

155
00:06:55,667 --> 00:06:58,233
[laughter]

156
00:06:59,233 --> 00:07:00,600
[announcer] And later today.

157
00:07:00,666 --> 00:07:03,533
So what was this baloney
that you wrote here in your answer

158
00:07:03,600 --> 00:07:07,733
that you took an apartment that
she was supposed to move in with you?

159
00:07:07,800 --> 00:07:09,065
That's, that's now.

160
00:07:09,132 --> 00:07:10,699
- Oh, that's now?
- [Brandon] Yes, ma'am.

161
00:07:10,766 --> 00:07:11,666
[laughs]

162
00:07:16,867 --> 00:07:19,934
[theme music playing]

163
00:07:22,533 --> 00:07:25,934
[announcer] Kaitlin McBride
and her father Jerry Boyle

164
00:07:26,000 --> 00:07:28,567
claimed business owner Benjamin Lichtman

165
00:07:28,632 --> 00:07:31,033
owes for rental costs of a cable car

166
00:07:31,100 --> 00:07:34,432
after it broke down
on Kaitlin's wedding day.

167
00:07:34,500 --> 00:07:37,300
[Judge Judy] Okay. Did it take you

168
00:07:37,367 --> 00:07:41,132
- from the church around San Francisco...
- No, no.

169
00:07:41,199 --> 00:07:44,733
...to take photographs
of the wedding party

170
00:07:44,800 --> 00:07:47,766
in certain San Francisco landmarks

171
00:07:47,834 --> 00:07:50,266
with you in your dress?

172
00:07:50,867 --> 00:07:51,733
No, it didn't.

173
00:07:51,800 --> 00:07:55,733
And how long did it take you
to get the dress

174
00:07:55,800 --> 00:07:57,399
fitted and picked out?

175
00:07:57,466 --> 00:07:59,766
A year and a half, two years. (scoffs)

176
00:07:59,834 --> 00:08:01,533
- [Judge Judy] Mr. Boyle?
- [Jerry] Yes.

177
00:08:01,600 --> 00:08:04,800
Give me a ballpark figure
of how much you spent on this wedding.

178
00:08:04,867 --> 00:08:06,399
Can I say too much?

179
00:08:06,466 --> 00:08:08,699
[laughter]

180
00:08:09,934 --> 00:08:11,733
[Judge Judy] Did you spend six figures
on this wedding?

181
00:08:11,800 --> 00:08:13,000
Yes, we did.

182
00:08:13,065 --> 00:08:16,033
I'm still drinking light beer
because of it.

183
00:08:16,100 --> 00:08:20,233
I figured it sounds like
a six-figure plus wedding.

184
00:08:20,300 --> 00:08:23,834
You see your bus broke down.

185
00:08:23,899 --> 00:08:26,199
- Yes, Your Honor.
- Don't speak.

186
00:08:26,266 --> 00:08:30,199
What I don't understand is

187
00:08:30,266 --> 00:08:32,866
from the perspective
of a business person

188
00:08:32,933 --> 00:08:35,966
who told me the name
of your company, right?

189
00:08:36,033 --> 00:08:37,165
- Yes, Your Honor.
- [Judge Judy] In San Francisco

190
00:08:37,232 --> 00:08:39,200
and you're still in business, right?

191
00:08:39,265 --> 00:08:42,500
Well, I've been closed for--
due to COVID for quite a while

192
00:08:42,567 --> 00:08:44,265
but we're at--still in business,
yes, Your Honor.

193
00:08:44,332 --> 00:08:46,767
[Judge Judy] But you're still in business
and you hopefully plan

194
00:08:46,834 --> 00:08:48,899
that one day when this pandemic is over

195
00:08:48,966 --> 00:08:50,667
that you're gonna go back into business.

196
00:08:50,734 --> 00:08:52,265
To borrow a million dollars
from the government

197
00:08:52,332 --> 00:08:53,633
and make a go at it, yes.

198
00:08:53,700 --> 00:08:56,567
Yes, well, how much money did you get
so far from the government?

199
00:08:56,633 --> 00:08:58,000
Very little.

200
00:08:58,066 --> 00:09:01,299
[Judge Judy] How much money did you get
so far from the government?

201
00:09:01,366 --> 00:09:04,166
Twenty-five thousand
two hundred and four dollars

202
00:09:04,232 --> 00:09:07,366
which I used to pay employees and rent,
not myself.

203
00:09:07,432 --> 00:09:08,567
Maybe.

204
00:09:08,633 --> 00:09:10,466
This is what I don't understand.

205
00:09:10,533 --> 00:09:15,332
Mr. Boyle spent six figures.

206
00:09:15,399 --> 00:09:18,933
I didn't ask him what figure
but spent six figures on this wedding

207
00:09:19,000 --> 00:09:22,399
that his daughter had been planning
since she's 12 years old,

208
00:09:22,466 --> 00:09:25,033
a wedding of her dreams
which included a cable car.

209
00:09:25,100 --> 00:09:26,866
- Yes, Your Honor, I...
- [Judge Judy] And then...

210
00:09:26,933 --> 00:09:29,166
- I didn't ask you a question.
- Uh-hmm.

211
00:09:29,232 --> 00:09:31,399
They asked you for a refund

212
00:09:31,466 --> 00:09:36,066
because they didn't get
the entire service that they--

213
00:09:36,133 --> 00:09:40,667
don't speak--don't speak just listen.

214
00:09:40,734 --> 00:09:44,500
And then you tell me whether you think
you made a wise business decision.

215
00:09:44,567 --> 00:09:47,600
They didn't get the full service

216
00:09:47,667 --> 00:09:51,299
or the vast majority of the service

217
00:09:51,366 --> 00:09:53,000
that they bargained for.

218
00:09:53,066 --> 00:09:57,966
And Mr. Boyle wants his $1,700 back.

219
00:09:58,033 --> 00:10:02,000
That's a spit in the bucket
to what he spent on this wedding.

220
00:10:02,066 --> 00:10:06,667
So for him, I'm telling you,
is a matter of principle

221
00:10:06,734 --> 00:10:09,866
because they had to go through
the effort of filing papers or whatever.

222
00:10:09,933 --> 00:10:16,200
And then, how many times
did you continue this case since 2019?

223
00:10:16,265 --> 00:10:17,767
In small claims court?

224
00:10:17,833 --> 00:10:19,432
I want you to be very careful.

225
00:10:19,500 --> 00:10:24,265
Maybe you don't remember,
was it more than five or less than five?

226
00:10:24,332 --> 00:10:25,767
I don't recall, Your Honor.

227
00:10:25,833 --> 00:10:28,399
[Judge Judy] How many times
did he continue this case

228
00:10:28,466 --> 00:10:29,799
in small claims court?

229
00:10:29,866 --> 00:10:34,332
Well, he continued it four times
but he, due to other circumstances,

230
00:10:34,399 --> 00:10:37,100
they continued the case,
he tried to appear by Zoom

231
00:10:37,165 --> 00:10:39,533
and didn't fill out the proper paperwork.

232
00:10:39,600 --> 00:10:42,033
And so that got continued,
but it wasn't...

233
00:10:42,100 --> 00:10:44,933
That was in addition
to the four times that he--

234
00:10:45,000 --> 00:10:47,432
that he just said,
"I want a continuance."

235
00:10:47,500 --> 00:10:48,466
Yes.

236
00:10:48,533 --> 00:10:51,066
And now, they say I want a refund

237
00:10:51,133 --> 00:10:53,000
because they didn't get
what they bargained for.

238
00:10:53,066 --> 00:10:54,399
You have a company.

239
00:10:54,466 --> 00:10:59,600
Hopefully five, six million people
are gonna watch this program.

240
00:10:59,667 --> 00:11:01,600
They know the name of your company.

241
00:11:01,667 --> 00:11:02,899
They know where it is.

242
00:11:02,966 --> 00:11:05,700
They didn't provide the service.

243
00:11:05,767 --> 00:11:08,734
And they said, we'll give you a credit.

244
00:11:08,799 --> 00:11:10,332
- With all due respect, Your Honor.
- [Judge Judy] Just a second.

245
00:11:10,399 --> 00:11:12,500
- If I may, Your Honor. If I--if I...
- [Judge Judy] We'll give you...

246
00:11:12,567 --> 00:11:14,366
- No, You Honor.
- [Judge Judy] With...

247
00:11:14,432 --> 00:11:15,833
- No!
- [Judge Judy] We'll give you a credit.

248
00:11:15,899 --> 00:11:17,633
- No!
- [Judge Judy] Okay.

249
00:11:17,700 --> 00:11:18,866
- This is...
- [Judge Judy] That's exactly...

250
00:11:18,933 --> 00:11:20,399
Enough of your railroading,
Your Honor.

251
00:11:20,466 --> 00:11:23,667
[Judge Judy] That's, that's exactly
what you said in your answer, sir.

252
00:11:23,734 --> 00:11:25,332
- [Benjamin] Enough of your railroading
- Sir, that's exactly.

253
00:11:25,399 --> 00:11:26,966
what you said in your answer.

254
00:11:27,033 --> 00:11:29,500
We told them we would give them a credit.

255
00:11:29,567 --> 00:11:31,100
[Benjamin]
That was in the terms and conditions

256
00:11:31,166 --> 00:11:33,600
- of the contract that they signed.
- [Judge Judy] Four hours of service...

257
00:11:33,667 --> 00:11:35,700
- If Mr.--if Mr. Boyle...
- [Judge Judy] ...on the 19th Saturday.

258
00:11:35,767 --> 00:11:37,466
...had wanted to negotiate,

259
00:11:37,533 --> 00:11:41,200
he should have negotiated prior
to the signing of the contract.

260
00:11:41,265 --> 00:11:43,933
Seventeen hundred dollars,
judgment for the plaintiff.

261
00:11:44,000 --> 00:11:44,866
- We're done.
- We don't give a full refund.

262
00:11:44,933 --> 00:11:45,899
- We either...
- [Kevin] Court is adjourned.

263
00:11:47,899 --> 00:11:50,033
The offer we made was reasonable

264
00:11:50,100 --> 00:11:53,667
in line with other transportation
operators in San Francisco.

265
00:11:53,734 --> 00:11:55,232
The groom almost missed the wedding.

266
00:11:55,299 --> 00:11:57,600
That's the industry.
It's a tough industry.

267
00:11:57,667 --> 00:11:59,633
He was just playing games
for the last two years.

268
00:12:01,133 --> 00:12:03,833
[Sarah] The cable car, that's different.
I hadn't thought of that.

269
00:12:03,899 --> 00:12:07,232
But I'll need to bookmark it
just for future reference, just in case.

270
00:12:07,299 --> 00:12:08,767
- It was a...
- [Sarah] Good idea.

271
00:12:08,833 --> 00:12:10,533
It's an adorable idea.

272
00:12:10,600 --> 00:12:15,500
And one thing I never understand
with some business people,

273
00:12:15,567 --> 00:12:18,100
- especially if there's really no issue.
- Uh-hmm.

274
00:12:18,166 --> 00:12:23,500
[Judge Judy] Why do you want to expose
your company to any sort of litigation

275
00:12:23,567 --> 00:12:26,066
and then continue a case

276
00:12:26,133 --> 00:12:28,866
so that you're really just
wearing out the plaintiff,

277
00:12:28,933 --> 00:12:32,767
- when the amount was miniscule?
- Uh-hmm.

278
00:12:32,834 --> 00:12:34,767
[Judge Judy] Compared to the reputation
of your company.

279
00:12:34,834 --> 00:12:36,165
People go on the internet

280
00:12:36,232 --> 00:12:39,432
and they check the number of stars
that a company has.

281
00:12:39,500 --> 00:12:42,466
Why would you want to risk that
for $1,700?

282
00:12:42,533 --> 00:12:44,600
- [Sarah] I agree.
- Absolutely ridiculous.

283
00:12:44,667 --> 00:12:47,200
Bad judgment, bad business.

284
00:12:47,265 --> 00:12:50,533
Case number 1136,
Kennedy versus McKinney.

285
00:12:50,600 --> 00:12:51,933
All parties please come forward.

286
00:12:52,000 --> 00:12:56,933
[announcer] Ayanna Kennedy is suing
her ex-boyfriend Brandon McKinney

287
00:12:57,000 --> 00:12:59,899
for damages caused by a fire.

288
00:13:01,667 --> 00:13:03,200
Let me see if I understand this.

289
00:13:03,265 --> 00:13:05,466
Ms. Kennedy,
this used to be your boyfriend.

290
00:13:05,533 --> 00:13:07,734
- Correct.
- [Judge Judy] A couple of years ago

291
00:13:07,799 --> 00:13:09,833
you shared an apartment together?

292
00:13:09,899 --> 00:13:11,232
- Correct.
- Where?

293
00:13:11,299 --> 00:13:12,332
St. Louis, Missouri.

294
00:13:12,399 --> 00:13:14,332
When did you sign the lease
on the apartment?

295
00:13:14,399 --> 00:13:16,866
I signed the lease January of 2020.

296
00:13:16,933 --> 00:13:18,166
[Judge Judy] Who was on the lease?

297
00:13:18,232 --> 00:13:19,567
Just me, Ayanna Kennedy.

298
00:13:19,633 --> 00:13:21,166
You have a copy of that lease?

299
00:13:21,232 --> 00:13:22,166
Yes, I do.

300
00:13:22,232 --> 00:13:24,100
[Judge Judy]
I'd like to take a look at it.

301
00:13:29,100 --> 00:13:31,000
How you doing? Here's the...

302
00:13:35,100 --> 00:13:38,232
[Judge Judy] Okay.
When did Mr. McKinney move in with you?

303
00:13:38,299 --> 00:13:40,533
He moved in two months after.

304
00:13:40,600 --> 00:13:42,265
- So in March?
- [Ayanna] Yes.

305
00:13:42,332 --> 00:13:44,466
- [Judge Judy] Of 2021?
- Yes.

306
00:13:44,533 --> 00:13:46,600
- [Judge Judy] And he was your boyfriend?
- Yes.

307
00:13:46,667 --> 00:13:48,366
And he lived there for how long?

308
00:13:48,432 --> 00:13:51,000
I'll say like four or five months maximum.

309
00:13:51,066 --> 00:13:52,633
When did he move out?

310
00:13:52,700 --> 00:13:56,000
He moved out in--
well, I put him out, he--

311
00:13:56,066 --> 00:13:59,265
put him out like around late--
was it September?

312
00:13:59,332 --> 00:14:01,166
It was, like, I mean early September,

313
00:14:01,232 --> 00:14:02,866
it was early September when I put him out.

314
00:14:02,933 --> 00:14:05,033
September of?

315
00:14:05,100 --> 00:14:07,299
September of--

316
00:14:07,366 --> 00:14:09,500
I can't really remember it was August--

317
00:14:09,567 --> 00:14:11,332
late August, early September.

318
00:14:11,399 --> 00:14:13,432
It was like--okay, 'cause
I left out of town at the fifth.

319
00:14:13,500 --> 00:14:16,100
So, probably like around the first,
it was--it was...

320
00:14:16,166 --> 00:14:17,533
- [Judge Judy] Listen to me.
- [Ayanna] Around the time...

321
00:14:17,600 --> 00:14:20,466
Stop talking to yourself out loud.
I asked you a question.

322
00:14:20,533 --> 00:14:26,399
The question was
when did he no longer live with you?

323
00:14:27,767 --> 00:14:30,166
You know, I'm cordial with the guy

324
00:14:30,232 --> 00:14:32,734
who seats me at my table
at the restaurant.

325
00:14:32,799 --> 00:14:34,299
- Right.
- [Judge Judy] I say. (chuckles)

326
00:14:34,366 --> 00:14:37,500
How are you?
Beautiful day today, there's no smog.

327
00:14:37,567 --> 00:14:40,265
When you say a little more than cordial,

328
00:14:40,332 --> 00:14:42,466
you have to be a lot more than cordial

329
00:14:42,533 --> 00:14:44,633
to think about
taking an apartment together.

330
00:14:50,399 --> 00:14:52,432
[theme music playing]

331
00:14:56,033 --> 00:15:00,567
[announcer] Ayanna Kennedy claims
her ex-boyfriend, Brandon McKinney

332
00:15:00,633 --> 00:15:04,799
owes for damages
after starting a fire in her apartment.

333
00:15:04,866 --> 00:15:07,166
[Judge Judy] Listen to me.
I asked you a question.

334
00:15:07,232 --> 00:15:13,133
The question was
when did he no longer live with you?

335
00:15:13,200 --> 00:15:17,200
That's a month, a day, and a year.

336
00:15:17,265 --> 00:15:19,399
Think to yourself, don't think out loud.

337
00:15:19,466 --> 00:15:22,966
You signed the lease January 2020.

338
00:15:23,033 --> 00:15:25,166
It was a 12-month lease.

339
00:15:25,232 --> 00:15:28,066
I put him out September of 2020.

340
00:15:28,133 --> 00:15:31,600
There was a fire in your apartment.

341
00:15:31,667 --> 00:15:36,533
That's what this case is about,
in October of 2020.

342
00:15:36,600 --> 00:15:39,734
And the fire was in your house

343
00:15:39,799 --> 00:15:41,966
when the defendant was there.

344
00:15:42,033 --> 00:15:43,734
He was there with your permission.

345
00:15:43,799 --> 00:15:45,200
- Correct.
- [Judge Judy] So far, correct?

346
00:15:45,265 --> 00:15:47,933
- Correct.
- [Judge Judy] And there was a fire there

347
00:15:48,000 --> 00:15:50,066
that destroyed part of the residence

348
00:15:50,133 --> 00:15:54,834
- and furniture and other personalty.
- Correct.

349
00:15:54,899 --> 00:15:58,500
[Judge Judy] Which rendered the apartment
uninhabitable,

350
00:15:58,567 --> 00:16:00,299
- you couldn't live there.
- Right.

351
00:16:00,366 --> 00:16:02,432
[Judge Judy]
According to the terms of your lease,

352
00:16:02,500 --> 00:16:05,899
the landlord was supposed to provide you

353
00:16:05,966 --> 00:16:10,033
when you couldn't live there
with a like premises in the same complex.

354
00:16:10,100 --> 00:16:14,133
Did the landlord provide you
with a like residence in the same complex?

355
00:16:14,200 --> 00:16:15,533
- No.
- [Judge Judy] Okay.

356
00:16:15,600 --> 00:16:18,933
Then the landlord terminated this lease.

357
00:16:19,000 --> 00:16:20,000
It's in here.

358
00:16:20,066 --> 00:16:24,667
It says if the apartment is destroyed
by fire, the landlord has two options.

359
00:16:24,734 --> 00:16:28,466
Fire amongst other things,
he can find a like premises for you

360
00:16:28,533 --> 00:16:31,799
until the apartment is finished
or you can terminate the lease.

361
00:16:31,866 --> 00:16:33,767
You chose to terminate the lease?

362
00:16:33,834 --> 00:16:35,033
No, I didn't.

363
00:16:35,100 --> 00:16:36,500
Well, did you live in the apartment?

364
00:16:36,567 --> 00:16:39,600
I did live, I asked him is there--
he can't give me another unit.

365
00:16:39,667 --> 00:16:41,834
He said he don't know about that.

366
00:16:41,899 --> 00:16:47,700
Well, just a minute.
So, in October of 2020,

367
00:16:47,767 --> 00:16:50,299
did you live in the apartment
after the fire?

368
00:16:50,366 --> 00:16:52,533
- No.
- Where did you live?

369
00:16:52,600 --> 00:16:54,399
[Ayanna] I went home with my mother.

370
00:16:54,466 --> 00:16:56,899
[Judge Judy] Okay.
Did you pay rent in October?

371
00:16:56,966 --> 00:16:57,834
I did.

372
00:16:57,899 --> 00:16:59,899
[Judge Judy] Did you pay rent in November?

373
00:16:59,966 --> 00:17:02,033
Yes, I had finished off my lease.

374
00:17:02,100 --> 00:17:06,400
You finished out your lease
by paying your rent and didn't live there.

375
00:17:06,467 --> 00:17:09,432
Show me. Show me that you paid your rent?

376
00:17:09,500 --> 00:17:11,066
Well, I don't have that here.

377
00:17:11,133 --> 00:17:12,400
Well, that's what you're here for.

378
00:17:12,467 --> 00:17:13,599
That's what you're here for.

379
00:17:13,666 --> 00:17:15,099
There was a fire in the apartment.

380
00:17:15,165 --> 00:17:16,599
You're not a fire marshal, are you?

381
00:17:16,666 --> 00:17:17,799
- No.
- [Judge Judy] Okay.

382
00:17:17,866 --> 00:17:21,232
So you're here because
they kept your security on your apartment

383
00:17:21,299 --> 00:17:24,200
but your lease specifically provides

384
00:17:24,266 --> 00:17:26,567
that either the lease will terminate,

385
00:17:26,633 --> 00:17:29,099
or the landlord has to find you
another apartment.

386
00:17:29,165 --> 00:17:31,599
And you say you paid rent even though
you were living with your mother,

387
00:17:31,666 --> 00:17:32,767
which I don't believe.

388
00:17:32,834 --> 00:17:35,133
So why not live there?

389
00:17:35,200 --> 00:17:38,933
So you want your security deposit back
from him.

390
00:17:39,000 --> 00:17:41,032
They kept your security deposit

391
00:17:41,099 --> 00:17:44,066
and you claim
that he was the reason for the fire.

392
00:17:44,133 --> 00:17:46,066
- Which is true.
- Well, I don't know if that's true.

393
00:17:46,133 --> 00:17:48,232
And you can't prove that's true,
you were out of town.

394
00:17:48,299 --> 00:17:49,299
He says it was a faulty electrical wire...

395
00:17:49,366 --> 00:17:51,165
He was responsible for the fire.

396
00:17:51,232 --> 00:17:52,633
It's in the report.

397
00:17:52,700 --> 00:17:55,333
They said someone left
the eyelid on the stove.

398
00:17:55,400 --> 00:17:57,333
He was the only one there,

399
00:17:57,400 --> 00:17:59,467
the stove didn't come on by itself.

400
00:17:59,532 --> 00:18:00,666
I don't know.

401
00:18:00,733 --> 00:18:02,900
[Ayanna] He was there.
He admitted to it.

402
00:18:02,967 --> 00:18:05,633
He said he was cooking something
and he ran out the house

403
00:18:06,032 --> 00:18:07,767
and forgot the stove was on.

404
00:18:07,834 --> 00:18:09,266
And?

405
00:18:09,333 --> 00:18:11,567
The whole apartment was burnt up,

406
00:18:11,633 --> 00:18:13,165
- to a crisp.
- And?

407
00:18:13,232 --> 00:18:15,500
- And?
- The landlord knows that he did it.

408
00:18:15,567 --> 00:18:17,567
[Judge Judy]
I don't know what the landlord does.

409
00:18:17,633 --> 00:18:19,232
I don't even know if he was living there.

410
00:18:19,299 --> 00:18:22,567
He says, after this whole thing happened,
he took an apartment.

411
00:18:22,633 --> 00:18:24,165
You were supposed to move in with him.

412
00:18:24,232 --> 00:18:25,900
Is that right?
Is that what you said?

413
00:18:25,967 --> 00:18:26,967
Yes, ma'am.

414
00:18:27,032 --> 00:18:29,700
And where was that apartment
that she was supposed to move into?

415
00:18:29,767 --> 00:18:31,733
My apartment that I live currently.

416
00:18:31,799 --> 00:18:34,500
Do you remember
when she came home after the fire?

417
00:18:34,567 --> 00:18:35,834
Yes, ma'am.

418
00:18:35,900 --> 00:18:37,767
[Judge Judy] Did you see her
after she came home?

419
00:18:37,834 --> 00:18:39,066
- Yes, ma'am.
- [Judge Judy] After the fire?

420
00:18:39,133 --> 00:18:40,133
- Yes.
- [Judge Judy] Okay.

421
00:18:40,200 --> 00:18:41,467
Where did you see her? Where...

422
00:18:41,532 --> 00:18:42,467
[Brandon] At the apartment.

423
00:18:42,532 --> 00:18:44,400
- At the apartment?
- [Brandon] Yes, ma'am.

424
00:18:44,467 --> 00:18:46,232
Were you able to live
in the apartment?

425
00:18:46,299 --> 00:18:48,266
I actually stayed there.

426
00:18:48,333 --> 00:18:50,032
[Judge Judy]
You were staying there after the fire?

427
00:18:50,099 --> 00:18:52,299
- Yes, ma'am, where...
- Just...

428
00:18:52,366 --> 00:18:55,366
- [Brandon] Yes, ma'am.
- Just answer my questions.

429
00:18:55,432 --> 00:18:57,299
- Yes, ma'am.
- [Judge Judy] Great.

430
00:18:57,366 --> 00:18:58,733
So there was a fire.

431
00:18:58,799 --> 00:19:01,933
There was a lot of damage,
but you slept there?

432
00:19:02,000 --> 00:19:03,032
Yes, ma'am.

433
00:19:03,099 --> 00:19:05,032
Did you sleep there
for more than one night?

434
00:19:05,099 --> 00:19:06,799
Yes, ma'am.

435
00:19:06,866 --> 00:19:08,599
How long did you sleep there?

436
00:19:08,666 --> 00:19:10,066
I slept there about a week.

437
00:19:10,133 --> 00:19:11,500
When did she come home?

438
00:19:11,567 --> 00:19:13,032
- The end of that week.
- Okay.

439
00:19:13,099 --> 00:19:14,633
What happened when she came home?

440
00:19:14,700 --> 00:19:17,900
When she came home,
she began to examine for damages

441
00:19:17,967 --> 00:19:20,299
and, of course, her family came over,

442
00:19:20,366 --> 00:19:23,834
they um proceeded to repair the damages,

443
00:19:23,900 --> 00:19:27,599
like she had couches, clothes,
and things of that nature.

444
00:19:27,666 --> 00:19:30,567
So they took those out
and got those refurbished.

445
00:19:30,633 --> 00:19:32,432
- And?
- [Brandon] And then after that,

446
00:19:32,500 --> 00:19:33,767
she moved in with her parents.

447
00:19:33,834 --> 00:19:35,366
I moved in with my child's mother.

448
00:19:35,432 --> 00:19:38,066
So you never stayed in the apartment
with her together?

449
00:19:38,133 --> 00:19:39,967
Not after October.

450
00:19:40,032 --> 00:19:41,467
- [Judge Judy] Not after October.
- No, ma'am.

451
00:19:41,532 --> 00:19:43,567
[Judge Judy] So what was this baloney
that you wrote here

452
00:19:43,633 --> 00:19:48,366
in your answer that you took an apartment
that she was supposed to move in with you?

453
00:19:48,432 --> 00:19:50,066
That's, that's now.

454
00:19:50,133 --> 00:19:51,700
- [Judge Judy] Oh, that's now?
- Yes, ma'am.

455
00:19:51,767 --> 00:19:52,767
[laughs]

456
00:19:52,834 --> 00:19:55,066
[Brandon] October,
October when the fire happened,

457
00:19:55,133 --> 00:19:56,200
she went to her mother's house.

458
00:19:56,266 --> 00:19:57,666
I went to my child's mother house.

459
00:19:57,733 --> 00:19:59,266
- Because he had nowhere to stay.
- [Judge Judy] Okay.

460
00:19:59,333 --> 00:20:01,599
And then what happened
with your child's mother?

461
00:20:01,666 --> 00:20:04,500
[Brandon] My child's mother,
me and her, we ended up falling out.

462
00:20:04,567 --> 00:20:06,567
So I ended up living with my grandmother

463
00:20:06,633 --> 00:20:08,666
while she was still living
with her parents.

464
00:20:08,733 --> 00:20:09,733
And then?

465
00:20:09,799 --> 00:20:13,733
Then I proceeded to get an apartment
for us to not have to...

466
00:20:13,799 --> 00:20:16,799
[Judge Judy] So let me ask you
this question, Mr. McKinney.

467
00:20:16,866 --> 00:20:19,834
Since the fire, have you had--

468
00:20:19,900 --> 00:20:21,366
- since the fire.
- [Brandon] Yes.

469
00:20:21,432 --> 00:20:24,733
Sine you were supposed to get
an apartment together recently.

470
00:20:24,799 --> 00:20:26,200
- Right.
- [Judge Judy] I assume

471
00:20:26,266 --> 00:20:28,567
that you got back together
at some point.

472
00:20:28,633 --> 00:20:31,866
Friends, cordial, of course,
a little more than cordial.

473
00:20:31,933 --> 00:20:34,133
[Judge Judy] Well, you know,

474
00:20:34,200 --> 00:20:36,933
I'm cordial with the guy
who seats me at my table.

475
00:20:37,000 --> 00:20:38,000
[Brandon] Right.

476
00:20:38,066 --> 00:20:39,799
[Judge Judy]
Number 35 at the restaurant.

477
00:20:39,866 --> 00:20:42,099
- Right.
- [Judge Judy] I'm cordial, I say.

478
00:20:42,165 --> 00:20:45,799
(chuckles) How are you?
Beautiful day today, there's no smog here.

479
00:20:45,866 --> 00:20:47,099
It's lovely to be out.

480
00:20:47,165 --> 00:20:50,099
When you say a little more than cordial,

481
00:20:50,165 --> 00:20:53,232
Mr. McKinney,
you have to be a lot more than cordial

482
00:20:53,299 --> 00:20:55,599
to think about taking
an apartment together.

483
00:20:55,666 --> 00:20:57,032
- For sure.
- For sure.

484
00:20:57,099 --> 00:20:58,900
- [Brandon] Yes, ma'am.
- Now, my question is,

485
00:20:58,967 --> 00:21:02,633
were you a little more cordial
with Ms. Kennedy

486
00:21:02,700 --> 00:21:05,633
at your grandmother's house
or at her parents' house?

487
00:21:05,700 --> 00:21:07,299
At my grandmother's house
for sure.

488
00:21:07,366 --> 00:21:09,066
[Judge Judy] Oh, for sure.

489
00:21:09,133 --> 00:21:10,266
[Brandon] I apologize.

490
00:21:10,333 --> 00:21:12,165
[Judge Judy] Was your grandmother home?

491
00:21:12,232 --> 00:21:13,500
- Yeah.
- Yes, ma'am.

492
00:21:13,567 --> 00:21:15,200
Could you stand up for a moment,
please?

493
00:21:15,266 --> 00:21:16,266
[Gloria] Yes.

494
00:21:16,333 --> 00:21:18,032
[Judge Judy]
Thank you. Your last name is?

495
00:21:18,099 --> 00:21:19,133
Lee.

496
00:21:19,200 --> 00:21:20,767
- [Judge Judy] Ms. Lee.
- Yes.

497
00:21:20,834 --> 00:21:22,232
- Grandson?
- [Gloria] Yes.

498
00:21:22,299 --> 00:21:24,000
- [Judge Judy] You like him?
- Love him.

499
00:21:24,066 --> 00:21:25,299
[Judge Judy] He's cute.

500
00:21:26,467 --> 00:21:27,900
(laughs) He's cute.

501
00:21:28,866 --> 00:21:29,834
That was cute.

502
00:21:29,900 --> 00:21:34,500
Did you ever see Ms. Kennedy
in your house within the last year?

503
00:21:34,567 --> 00:21:36,532
- Yes.
- [Judge Judy] How often?

504
00:21:36,599 --> 00:21:39,099
[Gloria] Not that often but, yeah,
she came to visit.

505
00:21:39,165 --> 00:21:40,467
She came to visit who?

506
00:21:40,532 --> 00:21:41,767
My grandson.

507
00:21:41,834 --> 00:21:43,066
[Judge Judy] Did she ever stay over?

508
00:21:43,133 --> 00:21:44,133
Yes.

509
00:21:44,200 --> 00:21:46,133
[Judge Judy] Your case is dismissed,
Ms. Kennedy, we're finished.

510
00:21:46,200 --> 00:21:47,333
Thank you very much.

511
00:21:47,400 --> 00:21:48,400
[Kevin] Court is adjourned.

512
00:21:50,200 --> 00:21:51,599
The judge is dead wrong.

513
00:21:51,666 --> 00:21:54,133
By the time I came back
it was just flames, you know.

514
00:21:54,200 --> 00:21:56,866
He burned down my apartment.
I was gone, out of town.

515
00:21:56,933 --> 00:21:58,532
No, I never promised her anything.

516
00:21:58,599 --> 00:22:00,500
The universe is gonna get him.

517
00:22:01,599 --> 00:22:05,232
[Sarah] I am for sure that I've never been

518
00:22:05,299 --> 00:22:07,933
slightly more than cordial
with anyone in your house.

519
00:22:08,000 --> 00:22:10,599
And I've lived with you
on and off for years.

520
00:22:10,666 --> 00:22:12,799
So, I found that very funny.

521
00:22:12,866 --> 00:22:14,666
It was--it was funny, and I believe you.

522
00:22:14,733 --> 00:22:15,900
[Sarah laughs] Yeah.

523
00:22:15,967 --> 00:22:18,666
And I think that that grandmother
was a sweet soul

524
00:22:18,733 --> 00:22:21,099
and she loves him
'cause it's her grandson.

525
00:22:21,165 --> 00:22:24,099
But, you know,
that line has got to be somewhere.

526
00:22:24,432 --> 00:22:25,432
He'll find it.

527
00:22:27,767 --> 00:22:28,967
[announcer] Want justice?

528
00:22:29,032 --> 00:22:31,232
Go to JudyJustice.tv.

529
00:22:36,133 --> 00:22:39,133
[theme music playing]