1
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You were in a relationship.

2
00:00:01,734 --> 00:00:03,100
She broke up with you.

3
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Yes.

4
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What appliances did she take
when she left the house?

5
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She took the washer,
the dryer, and the fridge.

6
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I pay for everything.

7
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So what gives you the right to take them?

8
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She kindly offered me for my birthday.

9
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You're a grown-up lady. You're not a baby.

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[announcer] This is Judy Justice.

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[theme music playing]

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[announcer] Denyse Cruz is suing
her ex-girlfriend, Brenda Cardona,

13
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for mortgage payments,
the cost of appliances,

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and the balance on a car.

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[Kevin] Court come to order.

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Be seated, please.

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Hello, Judge.

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Case number 1132, Cruz versus Cardona.

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- Thank you.
- You're welcome.

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Ms. Cruz, you and Ms. Cardona
had been friends years ago.

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Twenty years.

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[Judge Judy] And according to what I read,
sort of lost touch.

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Ms. Cardona married?

24
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Yes.

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But divorced her husband in what year?

26
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It's been, uh, about four years almost.

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[Judge Judy]
And how long were you married?

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About 13 years.

29
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- [Judge Judy] You have kids?
- Yes, I do.

30
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- [Judge Judy] How many?
- I have twins.

31
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My daughter is here.

32
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My son is not here today.

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[Judge Judy]
After Ms. Cardona is divorced,

34
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the two of you sort of reconnected,

35
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and you reconnected
in a romantic way and you began dating.

36
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Shortly thereafter,
you purchased another house.

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You had lived according to what I remember
at least you lived in Porter Ranch?

38
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Yes, ma'am.

39
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[Judge Judy]
But you bought another house where?

40
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In Perris, California.

41
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- [Judge Judy] Paris?
- Perris, P-E-R-R-I-S. Perris.

42
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[Judge Judy] And that's about
how far from Porter Ranch?

43
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It's about an hour and a half.

44
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[Judge Judy]
And Ms. Cardona and her family

45
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moved into that house, is that correct?

46
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Yes.

47
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[Judge Judy] In what year did you move
into that house with your children?

48
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2019 about June, middle June.

49
00:02:00,467 --> 00:02:05,200
And you and Ms. Cardona, Ms. Cruz
were a couple from when to when?

50
00:02:05,266 --> 00:02:08,066
Well, we started dating
in December 15th, 2018

51
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until March 21st, uh 2021.

52
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[Judge Judy] Then you separated.

53
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And you in fact told Ms. Cardona that
you wanted her to move from the house.

54
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She eventually did several months later.

55
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It was September 26th
I believe when she moved out.

56
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When did you move out of the house,
Ms. Cardona?

57
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I left last month.

58
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- [Judge Judy] So in September?
- Yes.

59
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[Judge Judy]
Okay. So your claim is for several things.

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You claim she still owes money
on a car that you purchased

61
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that she was paying off.

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You claim that when she left the house,
she took appliances from the house

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and you say that she owes
for household expenses,

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which she had been paying,

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but she stopped paying
as of March or April until...

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April 26th.

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[Judge Judy] Until she moved out.

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Ms. Cardona says with regard
to the appliances, they were a gift.

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Is that what you're saying to me?

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Yes. Yes.

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No, they were not a gift.

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[Judge Judy] With regard to the car,

73
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she says she finished paying it off.

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- Yes.
- [Judge Judy] And with regard

75
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to the household expenses,

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you've been paying the mortgage
according to you, is that right?

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- Yes, I...
- [Judge Judy] Just...

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- It's either a yes or no. And if not...
- Yes.

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...how much was that?

80
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- Fourteen hundred.
- [Judge Judy] Okay.

81
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And according to you,
you stopped paying the mortgage

82
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because you wanted to save money to move.

83
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That is correct.

84
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[Judge Judy] Well, you can't do that
'cause if that was your agreement

85
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that you pay the mortgage, you have
to pay the mortgage, so that's easy.

86
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- Do you understand that?
- Yes, ma'am.

87
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Okay. And how many months did you
live there without paying the mortgage?

88
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- Four months.
- [Judge Judy] Okay.

89
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Now, let's deal with the appliances.

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What appliances did she take
when she left the house?

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She took the washer,
the dryer, and the fridge, Your Honor.

92
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Who paid for them?

93
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[Denyse] I pay for everything. Yes.

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I have the receipts from Costco.
I bought them from Costco.

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[Judge Judy] Is this correct Ms. Cardona

96
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without my looking at her receipts
that the plaintiff

97
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paid for the washer, dryer,
and the refrigerator?

98
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Half of it, yes.

99
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[Judge Judy] She only paid half?

100
00:04:04,066 --> 00:04:05,066
Yes.

101
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I paid her already half.

102
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How much did you give her
towards your half?

103
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[Brenda] I gave her 1,200.

104
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[Judge Judy] For what?

105
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For the washer, dryer, and fridge

106
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that, uh, she kindly offered me
for my birthday.

107
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[Judge Judy]
Oh, listen, I don't wanna hear,

108
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- "Kindly offered you for your birthday."
- [Brenda] Yes.

109
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[Judge Judy] I don't wanna hear,
"Kindly offered you for your birthday."

110
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Okay.

111
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So what gives you the right to take them?

112
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Again, it was a gift that she gave me.

113
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[Judge Judy] No, it wasn't a gift.

114
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It wasn't a gift
if you paid for half of it.

115
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If you split
the cost of the washer and dryer,

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- then if I believe that...
- Yes.

117
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...then you have to pay her

118
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for half of the cost
of the washer and dryer.

119
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You don't just take 'em with you.

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After we broke up,
I was going to pay her the rest.

121
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But she kicked me out of the house
with my kids

122
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and I didn't have money
to give her the half.

123
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But, I agreed with her
that I was going to give her payments.

124
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That's a lot of doublespeak.

125
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You wanna doublespeak?

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I...how old are you?

127
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Eighteen.

128
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[Judge Judy] It's embarrassing
to doublespeak in front of your daughter

129
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because the doublespeak
that you're giving me was,

130
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"The other half
she kindly gave me as a gift."

131
00:05:03,467 --> 00:05:04,700
And then you just told me,

132
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"I didn't have the money
to give her the other half.

133
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I was going to make it
for her in payments."

134
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So that's two different things
that you just told me.

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Am I crazy?

136
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No.

137
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[Judge Judy] Do you understand?

138
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One defense, either it was a gift...

139
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It was a gift.

140
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[Judge Judy]
...which I'm gonna ask for or...

141
00:05:20,967 --> 00:05:21,834
well, then what was this,

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- "I was gonna her pay half..."
- [Brenda] It was a gift...

143
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"...but I didn't have the money."

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[Brenda] ...but when she broke up,

145
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she charged me
for those appliances once we broke up.

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[Judge Judy] She broke up with you.

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It was her house.

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Sure it was a good deal
for you and your children

149
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because you're paying for the mortgage.

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- That's it.
- Yes.

151
00:05:35,332 --> 00:05:36,300
[Judge Judy]
But what did you expect her to do?

152
00:05:36,367 --> 00:05:38,400
You're no longer in a relationship.

153
00:05:38,467 --> 00:05:40,500
What did you think she should do?
Give you the house?

154
00:05:40,567 --> 00:05:41,633
- I never asked...
- [Judge Judy] Just a second.

155
00:05:41,700 --> 00:05:43,100
- I never asked for that.
- [Judge Judy] What did you...

156
00:05:43,166 --> 00:05:45,567
so she told you
she wanted you out of the house.

157
00:05:45,633 --> 00:05:47,433
- [Brenda] Yes.
- [Judge Judy] You didn't leave the house.

158
00:05:47,500 --> 00:05:49,367
- I paid the mortgage up to...May...
- [Judge Judy] May?

159
00:05:49,433 --> 00:05:50,400
...was the last...
the last time that I pay.

160
00:05:50,467 --> 00:05:52,100
- [Judge Judy] Okay. So you stayed...
- May.

161
00:05:52,166 --> 00:05:53,900
[Judge Judy] ...but you broke up in March.

162
00:05:53,967 --> 00:05:55,300
So you had March,

163
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April, and May,

164
00:05:56,967 --> 00:05:59,667
you had three months
to find another place.

165
00:05:59,734 --> 00:06:03,834
She didn't get a marshal to come
to throw you out with your children.

166
00:06:03,900 --> 00:06:05,867
- Uh-hmm.
- And then you stopped

167
00:06:05,934 --> 00:06:09,200
paying the mortgage
because you wanted to save up money.

168
00:06:09,266 --> 00:06:11,400
I didn't have money
to leave at the moment...

169
00:06:11,467 --> 00:06:12,800
- [Judge Judy] Okay.
- ...Judge Judy.

170
00:06:12,867 --> 00:06:14,100
I didn't have money.

171
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When you say, "I didn't have money,"

172
00:06:16,233 --> 00:06:18,834
if you said to me and said to her,

173
00:06:18,900 --> 00:06:21,667
"I wanna be able to save some money
before I move out

174
00:06:21,734 --> 00:06:23,100
because we've been here
for several years."

175
00:06:23,166 --> 00:06:24,000
[Brenda] Yes.

176
00:06:24,066 --> 00:06:27,166
So, I'm gonna give you
half of the mortgage,

177
00:06:27,233 --> 00:06:29,667
but not to do anything

178
00:06:29,734 --> 00:06:31,467
because you wanted to save money.

179
00:06:31,533 --> 00:06:33,500
Who was supposed to pay the mortgage

180
00:06:33,567 --> 00:06:35,166
while you and your girls were living?

181
00:06:35,233 --> 00:06:36,400
She's not related to you.

182
00:06:39,767 --> 00:06:41,166
You still have the appliances?

183
00:06:41,233 --> 00:06:42,066
Yes.

184
00:06:42,133 --> 00:06:44,100
You wash your clothes
in the washing machine,

185
00:06:44,166 --> 00:06:45,567
you dry them in the dryer,

186
00:06:45,633 --> 00:06:47,900
you put food in the refrigerator,

187
00:06:47,967 --> 00:06:48,834
you have to pay for that.

188
00:06:48,900 --> 00:06:49,767
You're a grown-up lady.

189
00:06:49,834 --> 00:06:51,467
You have two 18-year olds.

190
00:06:51,533 --> 00:06:52,500
You're not a baby.

191
00:06:52,567 --> 00:06:53,867
[announcer] And later today...

192
00:06:53,933 --> 00:06:55,800
She could do whatever
she wants with her property.

193
00:06:55,867 --> 00:06:57,533
You're on a month-to-month tenancy.

194
00:06:57,600 --> 00:07:00,633
If you don't like that
she's going to build additional units

195
00:07:00,700 --> 00:07:04,200
that she has a right to build
on the back of her house, uh move!

196
00:07:09,467 --> 00:07:12,533
[theme music playing]

197
00:07:16,000 --> 00:07:19,233
[announcer]
Denyse Cruz claims her ex-girlfriend,

198
00:07:19,300 --> 00:07:22,834
Brenda Cardona,
owes for the cost of appliances

199
00:07:22,900 --> 00:07:24,567
and the balance on a car.

200
00:07:24,633 --> 00:07:27,600
Who was supposed to pay
the mortgage when you didn't?

201
00:07:27,667 --> 00:07:30,033
I don't know whether she has
a mortgage on her other house.

202
00:07:30,100 --> 00:07:31,133
Do your daughters work?

203
00:07:31,200 --> 00:07:32,066
No.

204
00:07:32,133 --> 00:07:33,467
- [Judge Judy] Do you work?
- I do.

205
00:07:33,533 --> 00:07:34,767
Who was supposed to pay the mortgage?

206
00:07:34,834 --> 00:07:35,700
She works.

207
00:07:36,933 --> 00:07:38,166
So you have to pay her.

208
00:07:38,233 --> 00:07:41,000
The months you didn't pay is $5,600,
is that correct?

209
00:07:41,066 --> 00:07:42,367
$5,600.

210
00:07:42,433 --> 00:07:43,533
You have to pay for the mortgage.

211
00:07:43,600 --> 00:07:45,033
Now, let's get to the car.

212
00:07:45,100 --> 00:07:46,332
No, appliances.

213
00:07:46,400 --> 00:07:48,800
Did she agree
to pay for half of the appliances?

214
00:07:48,867 --> 00:07:50,266
- Yes, Your Honor. I even have a...
- May I see?

215
00:07:50,332 --> 00:07:53,300
...text in here of May 18th

216
00:07:53,367 --> 00:07:55,800
and she's saying, "Okay,
fair enough Denyse. I'll, I'll pay as..."

217
00:07:55,867 --> 00:07:57,133
- What was...
- [Denyse] "...I always do."

218
00:07:57,200 --> 00:07:58,200
But she never did.

219
00:07:59,400 --> 00:08:04,867
What was the $3,845.54 for?

220
00:08:04,934 --> 00:08:09,934
The 3,845 was the money that she owed
for the...for the car and the appliances.

221
00:08:10,000 --> 00:08:14,567
She says, "Okay, fair enough Denyse.
I will pay you as I always do."

222
00:08:14,633 --> 00:08:17,767
- [Denyse] Uh-hmm.
- "Have a blessed day." That was May 19th.

223
00:08:17,834 --> 00:08:19,200
- Yes. Yes, ma'am.
- [Judge Judy] Okay.

224
00:08:19,266 --> 00:08:20,734
So as of May,

225
00:08:20,800 --> 00:08:23,332
you agreed that you owed her

226
00:08:23,400 --> 00:08:27,367
$3,845.54

227
00:08:27,433 --> 00:08:29,033
because you say, "Okay, fair enough..."

228
00:08:29,100 --> 00:08:29,967
- Yes.
- [Judge Judy] "...Denyse.

229
00:08:30,033 --> 00:08:31,700
- I will pay you as always."
- [Brenda] Yes.

230
00:08:31,767 --> 00:08:33,133
- Basically...
- [Judge Judy] Not basically.

231
00:08:33,200 --> 00:08:34,734
Basically is a filler word.

232
00:08:34,799 --> 00:08:39,767
Any money that you sent to her
after May 18th I will look out.

233
00:08:39,834 --> 00:08:42,633
That's either an, "I sent nothing,"
or, "Here it is."

234
00:08:42,700 --> 00:08:46,133
No. I, I have the proofs here
that I don't own her anything

235
00:08:46,200 --> 00:08:48,165
besides the other half of the appliances.

236
00:08:48,233 --> 00:08:51,467
Just, just pay careful attention to me.

237
00:08:51,533 --> 00:08:52,433
Yes, ma'am.

238
00:08:52,500 --> 00:08:54,600
[Judge Judy] I want to see any payments

239
00:08:54,667 --> 00:08:58,233
that you made to her after May 19th.

240
00:08:58,300 --> 00:08:59,367
- No. It was before...
- [Judge Judy] Just say none...

241
00:08:59,433 --> 00:09:00,600
- It's before. None.
- [Judge Judy] Just...

242
00:09:00,667 --> 00:09:03,934
then you owe her $3,845.

243
00:09:04,000 --> 00:09:07,467
Now after May,
you did not pay the mortgage

244
00:09:07,533 --> 00:09:09,700
that you were supposed to pay
and you lived there.

245
00:09:09,767 --> 00:09:12,600
That's an additional $5,600.

246
00:09:12,667 --> 00:09:14,300
Do you understand?

247
00:09:14,367 --> 00:09:15,400
Yes.

248
00:09:15,467 --> 00:09:16,767
[Judge Judy] Good.

249
00:09:16,834 --> 00:09:18,333
That's 9,445.

250
00:09:18,400 --> 00:09:20,734
Now, you know,
people break up all the time.

251
00:09:20,800 --> 00:09:22,734
Half the marriages in this country fail.

252
00:09:22,800 --> 00:09:24,300
Put down your papers.

253
00:09:24,367 --> 00:09:25,734
She's not responsible for you.

254
00:09:25,800 --> 00:09:27,000
She's not responsible for your children.

255
00:09:27,066 --> 00:09:29,500
I understand that you work

256
00:09:29,567 --> 00:09:32,667
and that you have children
as a responsibility,

257
00:09:32,734 --> 00:09:34,900
but you are not her responsibility.

258
00:09:34,967 --> 00:09:36,533
So, it's a debt.

259
00:09:36,600 --> 00:09:37,834
Do you still have the car?

260
00:09:37,900 --> 00:09:39,033
Just...put your hand down.

261
00:09:39,100 --> 00:09:40,066
Do you still have the car?

262
00:09:40,133 --> 00:09:40,967
Yes.

263
00:09:41,033 --> 00:09:42,033
You drive around the car?

264
00:09:42,100 --> 00:09:42,934
Yes.

265
00:09:43,000 --> 00:09:43,867
[Judge Judy] Okay.

266
00:09:43,934 --> 00:09:45,467
And you still have the appliances?

267
00:09:45,533 --> 00:09:46,400
Yes.

268
00:09:46,467 --> 00:09:48,200
[Judge Judy] You wash your clothes
in the washing machine.

269
00:09:48,266 --> 00:09:49,734
You dry them in the dryer.

270
00:09:49,800 --> 00:09:52,100
You put food in the refrigerator.

271
00:09:52,165 --> 00:09:54,066
You took them even though,

272
00:09:54,133 --> 00:09:56,533
according to you,
you only paid for half of them.

273
00:09:56,600 --> 00:09:58,233
You have to pay for that.
You're a grown-up lady.

274
00:09:58,300 --> 00:10:00,000
You have two 18-year-olds.

275
00:10:00,066 --> 00:10:01,567
You're not a baby.

276
00:10:01,633 --> 00:10:03,300
9,445, judgment for the plaintiff.

277
00:10:03,367 --> 00:10:04,333
Thank you very much.

278
00:10:04,400 --> 00:10:05,633
The court is adjourned.

279
00:10:08,100 --> 00:10:09,367
I broke up with her.

280
00:10:09,433 --> 00:10:11,734
She paid until she got somebody else.

281
00:10:11,800 --> 00:10:14,667
I'm dating someone
and she couldn't handle that.

282
00:10:14,734 --> 00:10:15,934
And then she stopped paying.

283
00:10:16,000 --> 00:10:17,800
She cannot move on.

284
00:10:17,867 --> 00:10:19,900
Everything went sour after that.

285
00:10:19,967 --> 00:10:23,133
Sarah, they appear to be two nice women

286
00:10:23,200 --> 00:10:26,433
and you had to be somewhat
sympathetic with the defendant.

287
00:10:26,500 --> 00:10:29,834
She's trying to do her...you know,
her best because she's got two kids.

288
00:10:29,900 --> 00:10:33,133
They had an agreement,
even though it wasn't a written agreement.

289
00:10:33,200 --> 00:10:35,800
Fortunately, sometimes texts work.

290
00:10:35,867 --> 00:10:36,800
[Sarah] Yeah.

291
00:10:36,867 --> 00:10:40,800
Memorializing what your agreement is,

292
00:10:40,867 --> 00:10:43,300
even if you don't do it
by a formal contract.

293
00:10:43,367 --> 00:10:46,000
The texts that she wrote to her and said,

294
00:10:46,066 --> 00:10:47,333
"This is what you owe."

295
00:10:47,400 --> 00:10:49,867
And she said, "I agree."

296
00:10:49,934 --> 00:10:50,767
Uh-hmm.

297
00:10:50,834 --> 00:10:52,233
"I will pay you as always.

298
00:10:52,300 --> 00:10:53,500
Have a blessed day,"

299
00:10:53,567 --> 00:10:56,533
was enough of a contract
to acknowledge that there was a debt.

300
00:10:56,600 --> 00:11:00,100
If you can somehow
memorialize an agreement,

301
00:11:00,166 --> 00:11:01,500
and not just
a one-way agreement, not, "This...

302
00:11:01,567 --> 00:11:02,567
- Uh-hmm.
- [Judge Judy] "...is what you owe me,"

303
00:11:02,633 --> 00:11:04,600
but there needs to be a response

304
00:11:04,667 --> 00:11:06,700
and acknowledgement of that debt.

305
00:11:06,767 --> 00:11:08,633
That will usually work.

306
00:11:08,700 --> 00:11:10,100
Yeah, you're gonna be held to that.

307
00:11:11,166 --> 00:11:14,667
Case number 1112,
Fawcett, Hester versus Bawaney.

308
00:11:14,734 --> 00:11:16,133
All parties, please step forward.

309
00:11:16,200 --> 00:11:19,166
[announcer]
Lauren Fawcett and Patrick Hester

310
00:11:19,233 --> 00:11:21,500
are suing their former landlord,

311
00:11:21,567 --> 00:11:23,100
Sehel Bawaney,

312
00:11:23,166 --> 00:11:24,367
for breaching their lease,

313
00:11:24,433 --> 00:11:25,700
a security deposit,

314
00:11:25,767 --> 00:11:29,166
property damage, and a utility bill.

315
00:11:29,233 --> 00:11:30,533
You are Patrick Hester?

316
00:11:30,600 --> 00:11:31,433
Yes, Your Honor.

317
00:11:31,500 --> 00:11:32,333
[Judge Judy] This is your wife.

318
00:11:32,400 --> 00:11:35,165
And you were tenants of a duplex

319
00:11:35,233 --> 00:11:40,033
that is owned by the defendant
from 2016 until recently.

320
00:11:40,100 --> 00:11:44,533
Late 2015 until May 2021.

321
00:11:44,600 --> 00:11:47,165
And I assume that you were on

322
00:11:47,233 --> 00:11:49,934
after your initial lease
on a month-to-month lease?

323
00:11:50,000 --> 00:11:50,834
Correct, Your Honor.

324
00:11:50,900 --> 00:11:54,400
[Judge Judy] You're suing the defendant
for a whole bunch of things.

325
00:11:54,467 --> 00:11:56,567
For money owed for damages

326
00:11:56,633 --> 00:12:00,433
arising from a breached lease, number one.

327
00:12:00,500 --> 00:12:04,033
Number two,
the return of security deposit,

328
00:12:04,100 --> 00:12:06,300
you may have an issue with regard to that.

329
00:12:06,367 --> 00:12:09,600
Property damage
and the rest is a utility bill,

330
00:12:09,667 --> 00:12:11,533
which I'm not dealing with at all.

331
00:12:11,600 --> 00:12:15,033
Okay, so this is what I gather
from your complaint.

332
00:12:15,100 --> 00:12:17,800
You had a month-to-month lease,
you were good tenants.

333
00:12:17,867 --> 00:12:19,900
You initially had a 12-month lease

334
00:12:19,967 --> 00:12:22,967
that turned into a month-to-month tenancy,
so far accurate?

335
00:12:23,033 --> 00:12:23,867
Yes, Your Honor.

336
00:12:23,934 --> 00:12:26,400
So that means that you could move out,

337
00:12:26,467 --> 00:12:29,467
given 30 days' notice which would be nice.

338
00:12:29,533 --> 00:12:32,300
And she could tell you
to get out on notice,

339
00:12:32,367 --> 00:12:33,667
same 30 days.

340
00:12:33,734 --> 00:12:35,233
That sound reasonable to you?

341
00:12:35,300 --> 00:12:36,300
- Yes.
- [Judge Judy] Sure.

342
00:12:36,367 --> 00:12:38,165
And this place had a yard.

343
00:12:38,233 --> 00:12:39,934
Somebody have a picture of it to show me?

344
00:12:40,000 --> 00:12:40,834
Yes, Your Honor.

345
00:12:40,900 --> 00:12:41,967
[Judge Judy]
I'd love to take a look at it.

346
00:12:52,567 --> 00:12:53,400
Okay.

347
00:12:53,467 --> 00:12:56,100
So, this is the basic story.

348
00:12:56,165 --> 00:12:59,133
The county or whatever
governmental authority,

349
00:12:59,200 --> 00:13:02,600
gave the defendants
the right to build additional units

350
00:13:02,667 --> 00:13:05,767
in the back of the property,
which she wanted to do.

351
00:13:05,834 --> 00:13:09,633
She wanted to exercise her right
to do that, which is her right.

352
00:13:09,700 --> 00:13:12,400
And she could have said to you,
"It's been nice knowing you.

353
00:13:12,467 --> 00:13:17,166
I'm adding units to my property,
my property.

354
00:13:17,233 --> 00:13:20,233
So you can either stay or go
during the construction.

355
00:13:20,300 --> 00:13:21,500
It's gonna take a year."

356
00:13:21,567 --> 00:13:22,734
- Right?
- Yes, Your Honor.

357
00:13:22,800 --> 00:13:24,200
[Judge Judy]
I mean, you don't own the property.

358
00:13:24,266 --> 00:13:25,100
Correct.

359
00:13:25,166 --> 00:13:27,500
[Judge Judy]
You're renters, not even with a lease.

360
00:13:27,567 --> 00:13:30,100
So, part of the thing that had to go

361
00:13:30,166 --> 00:13:32,700
was a tree in the backyard,

362
00:13:32,767 --> 00:13:36,100
and you didn't want the tree to go
because that's where you get shade

363
00:13:36,165 --> 00:13:38,400
and your kids like to play,
I don't know what it was.

364
00:13:38,467 --> 00:13:40,165
So she sent people over to remove the tree

365
00:13:40,233 --> 00:13:44,667
to start the process
of constructing on her property,

366
00:13:44,734 --> 00:13:47,734
something that would add
additional value to her property.

367
00:13:47,800 --> 00:13:49,165
So far, am I missing anything?

368
00:13:49,233 --> 00:13:50,066
- No.
- No.

369
00:13:50,133 --> 00:13:50,967
[Judge Judy] No.

370
00:13:51,033 --> 00:13:53,200
So, raise your hand,
who was the one who interfered

371
00:13:53,266 --> 00:13:55,400
with them taking down the tree at first?

372
00:13:55,467 --> 00:13:56,567
Either of you?

373
00:13:56,633 --> 00:13:57,600
That would be you.

374
00:13:57,667 --> 00:14:00,367
And then they finally
did take down the tree,

375
00:14:00,433 --> 00:14:01,734
somebody called the police.

376
00:14:01,800 --> 00:14:03,066
I don't know who that was.

377
00:14:03,133 --> 00:14:04,567
Raise your hand if you called the police.

378
00:14:04,633 --> 00:14:06,000
That would be you.

379
00:14:06,066 --> 00:14:08,533
Police said, (laughs) "You can't stop them
from taking down the tree.

380
00:14:08,600 --> 00:14:10,800
It's their...it's their property."

381
00:14:10,867 --> 00:14:12,700
Did you find anything unusual about that?

382
00:14:12,767 --> 00:14:15,934
It was our understanding
with the initial lease that we signed

383
00:14:16,000 --> 00:14:17,734
and that we understood that we were...

384
00:14:17,800 --> 00:14:19,200
I don't care what you understood.

385
00:14:20,433 --> 00:14:21,867
I don't care what was in your mind.

386
00:14:21,934 --> 00:14:23,567
She could do whatever
she wants with her property.

387
00:14:23,633 --> 00:14:25,200
You're on a month-to-month tenancy.

388
00:14:25,266 --> 00:14:28,567
If you don't like
that she's gonna build additional units

389
00:14:28,633 --> 00:14:32,100
that she has a right to build
in the back of her house, uh move!

390
00:14:34,500 --> 00:14:38,367
There are tenant's rights
and there are landlord's rights.

391
00:14:38,433 --> 00:14:41,900
And she doesn't have to leave property
that she has fallow

392
00:14:41,967 --> 00:14:44,266
if she can generate income
from her property

393
00:14:44,333 --> 00:14:45,834
because you like a shade tree.

394
00:14:48,633 --> 00:14:50,734
That's why they kept your security deposit

395
00:14:50,800 --> 00:14:51,734
'cause you didn't pay rent.

396
00:14:51,800 --> 00:14:54,433
You live there, yourself,
your wife, your kids,

397
00:14:54,500 --> 00:14:55,633
you live there and you didn't pay rent.

398
00:14:55,700 --> 00:14:56,567
What were they supposed to do?

399
00:14:56,633 --> 00:14:58,200
How are they supposed to get their rent?

400
00:14:59,133 --> 00:15:00,100
I don't know.

401
00:15:06,233 --> 00:15:09,233
[theme music playing]

402
00:15:12,266 --> 00:15:15,066
[announcer]
Lauren Fawcett and Patrick Hester

403
00:15:15,133 --> 00:15:18,233
say their former landlord,
Sehel Bawaney,

404
00:15:18,300 --> 00:15:20,200
owes for breaking their lease,

405
00:15:20,266 --> 00:15:23,867
property damage,
and the return of their security deposit.

406
00:15:23,934 --> 00:15:28,066
Now, your first cause of action
is for a breached lease.

407
00:15:28,133 --> 00:15:29,300
First of all, you had no lease.

408
00:15:29,367 --> 00:15:31,000
You had a month-to-month tenancy.

409
00:15:31,066 --> 00:15:32,867
So what lease did she breach?

410
00:15:32,934 --> 00:15:36,233
The way that we read the law
when we had talked to a few people

411
00:15:36,300 --> 00:15:38,867
that gave us some guidance on the matter
said that the lease

412
00:15:38,934 --> 00:15:40,900
would be the initial lease that we signed.

413
00:15:40,967 --> 00:15:43,867
So, you think every month
you had another year?

414
00:15:43,934 --> 00:15:45,900
No, just the terms of that lease.

415
00:15:45,967 --> 00:15:46,800
[Judge Judy] Okay.

416
00:15:46,867 --> 00:15:51,867
Who did you speak to initially
and when about the addition

417
00:15:51,934 --> 00:15:54,333
that the defendant
wanted to put on the property?

418
00:15:54,400 --> 00:15:55,467
I spoke with her husband.

419
00:15:55,533 --> 00:15:56,367
[Judge Judy] Okay.

420
00:15:56,433 --> 00:15:57,700
You spoke with her husband.

421
00:15:57,800 --> 00:15:58,633
That would be you.

422
00:15:58,700 --> 00:15:59,900
[Rizwan] That would be me.

423
00:15:59,967 --> 00:16:01,467
[Judge Judy] In what month?

424
00:16:01,533 --> 00:16:02,567
[Patrick]
I can't recall, Your Honor. January...

425
00:16:02,633 --> 00:16:03,600
[Judge Judy] What month?

426
00:16:03,667 --> 00:16:05,133
January 25th to be exact.

427
00:16:05,200 --> 00:16:07,033
[Judge Judy] January 25th, 2021?

428
00:16:07,100 --> 00:16:07,934
Yes.

429
00:16:08,000 --> 00:16:09,200
[Judge Judy] When did you move out?

430
00:16:09,266 --> 00:16:10,700
- May 31st.
- [Judge Judy] Okay.

431
00:16:10,767 --> 00:16:12,166
So four months later?

432
00:16:12,266 --> 00:16:13,100
Correct, Your Honor.

433
00:16:13,166 --> 00:16:14,834
[Judge Judy]
So you were advised by your landlord

434
00:16:14,900 --> 00:16:17,100
that they were gonna build
these additional units

435
00:16:17,166 --> 00:16:18,734
four months before you moved.

436
00:16:18,800 --> 00:16:21,533
So now you had thirty days' notice
of that, right?

437
00:16:21,600 --> 00:16:22,467
Uh-hmm.

438
00:16:22,533 --> 00:16:26,033
[Judge Judy] When you spoke
to her husband, did he in fact say to you,

439
00:16:26,100 --> 00:16:29,266
"For any inconvenience
that you had during construction,

440
00:16:29,333 --> 00:16:32,066
if you wanted to stay
during the construction,

441
00:16:32,133 --> 00:16:34,233
he would reduce your rent."

442
00:16:34,300 --> 00:16:35,867
Did he say that to you?

443
00:16:35,934 --> 00:16:37,767
- Yes, and I...
- [Judge Judy] Yes...just a second.

444
00:16:37,834 --> 00:16:40,266
The answer is he told you
he was building these things

445
00:16:40,333 --> 00:16:41,834
and he said, "You have a choice.

446
00:16:41,900 --> 00:16:45,767
You can either stay
and I'll reduce your rent by $400

447
00:16:45,834 --> 00:16:46,900
or you can go.

448
00:16:48,333 --> 00:16:52,333
" Which means February 25th, 2021.

449
00:16:52,400 --> 00:16:54,834
What did you tell him when he said,

450
00:16:54,900 --> 00:16:57,533
"I will reduce your rent
if you choose to stay?"

451
00:16:57,600 --> 00:16:59,233
I said I need to talk to my wife.

452
00:16:59,300 --> 00:17:00,667
Did you talk to your wife?

453
00:17:00,734 --> 00:17:02,133
No, I didn't get to talk to my wife

454
00:17:02,200 --> 00:17:03,867
because she was having medical issues
going on.

455
00:17:03,934 --> 00:17:04,967
Just a second.

456
00:17:05,032 --> 00:17:05,900
Baloney.

457
00:17:07,433 --> 00:17:10,532
Did he also say to you,
you are an electrician by trade?

458
00:17:10,599 --> 00:17:11,433
Yes.

459
00:17:11,500 --> 00:17:14,733
[Judge Judy] Did he also say to you,
Not only will I reduce your rent,

460
00:17:14,800 --> 00:17:17,367
but I'll let you do the electrical work
for the new units."?

461
00:17:17,433 --> 00:17:18,266
Yes, he offered.

462
00:17:18,333 --> 00:17:19,165
[Judge Judy] Yes.

463
00:17:19,233 --> 00:17:20,099
The answer is yes.

464
00:17:20,165 --> 00:17:23,200
He said, "I'll reduce your rent
for the inconvenience.

465
00:17:23,266 --> 00:17:27,000
I'll also for the inconvenience,
because you've been good tenants,

466
00:17:27,066 --> 00:17:29,533
I will offer you the contract

467
00:17:29,600 --> 00:17:33,567
to do the electrical work on the new units
that I'm going to put in."

468
00:17:34,100 --> 00:17:36,200
He didn't have to do any of that for you.

469
00:17:36,266 --> 00:17:39,633
He could have tacked the 30-day-notice
on your door and said,

470
00:17:39,700 --> 00:17:43,567
"Vacate in 30 days. Begone by March 1st."

471
00:17:43,633 --> 00:17:45,066
They chose not to do that.

472
00:17:46,133 --> 00:17:48,667
Now, return of security deposit.

473
00:17:48,734 --> 00:17:51,133
How much security deposit
did you give them?

474
00:17:51,200 --> 00:17:52,533
Two thousand dollars.

475
00:17:52,600 --> 00:17:54,734
[Judge Judy] And that was in 2016?

476
00:17:54,800 --> 00:17:55,633
'15.

477
00:17:55,700 --> 00:17:57,567
[Judge Judy] 2015.

478
00:17:57,633 --> 00:17:59,967
Did you return their security deposit?

479
00:18:00,100 --> 00:18:01,133
Yes, Your Honor.

480
00:18:01,200 --> 00:18:02,266
[Judge Judy] How much?

481
00:18:02,333 --> 00:18:05,066
We returned $250.

482
00:18:05,133 --> 00:18:05,967
[Judge Judy] Why?

483
00:18:06,033 --> 00:18:09,200
Because they didn't pay us
the last month's rent.

484
00:18:09,266 --> 00:18:11,734
Oh. What was their rent?

485
00:18:11,800 --> 00:18:14,433
So the reduced rent
I believe we had already...

486
00:18:14,500 --> 00:18:17,567
since we'd taken that tree down,
we decided we would go ahead

487
00:18:17,633 --> 00:18:21,667
and reduced the rent as promised
that they had agreed to.

488
00:18:21,734 --> 00:18:23,567
So what was their reduced rent?

489
00:18:23,633 --> 00:18:26,100
Seventeen hundred dollars.

490
00:18:26,166 --> 00:18:27,934
[Judge Judy] And it had been $2,100.

491
00:18:28,000 --> 00:18:28,834
Yes.

492
00:18:28,900 --> 00:18:32,500
And according to you,
you moved out May 31st.

493
00:18:32,567 --> 00:18:33,400
Correct.

494
00:18:33,467 --> 00:18:35,233
[Judge Judy] Did you pay May's rent?

495
00:18:35,300 --> 00:18:36,166
No, Your Honor.

496
00:18:36,233 --> 00:18:38,300
[Judge Judy] Well
that's why they kept your security deposit

497
00:18:38,367 --> 00:18:39,233
'cause you didn't pay rent.

498
00:18:39,300 --> 00:18:41,967
You lived there, yourself,
your wife, your kids,

499
00:18:42,033 --> 00:18:43,367
you lived there and you didn't pay rent.

500
00:18:43,433 --> 00:18:44,800
What were they supposed to do?

501
00:18:44,867 --> 00:18:46,333
How are they supposed to get their rent?

502
00:18:48,266 --> 00:18:49,133
I don't know.

503
00:18:50,834 --> 00:18:52,200
I don't know.

504
00:18:52,266 --> 00:18:55,867
You do have a claim here
for property damage

505
00:18:55,934 --> 00:18:58,867
and the property damage that you allege

506
00:18:58,934 --> 00:19:01,233
was a broken trampoline?

507
00:19:01,300 --> 00:19:02,133
Yes, Your Honor.

508
00:19:02,200 --> 00:19:06,767
So let me see the trampoline
that you are alleging that they broke.

509
00:19:15,700 --> 00:19:18,266
When you say they broke it,
do you know who broke it?

510
00:19:18,333 --> 00:19:19,367
The tree contractors.

511
00:19:19,433 --> 00:19:20,266
[Judge Judy] Okay.

512
00:19:20,333 --> 00:19:22,900
And the tree contractor broke this?

513
00:19:22,967 --> 00:19:23,800
[Lauren] Correct.

514
00:19:23,867 --> 00:19:24,700
And this?

515
00:19:24,767 --> 00:19:25,633
[Lauren] Yes.

516
00:19:25,700 --> 00:19:26,667
Made holes in it.

517
00:19:26,734 --> 00:19:27,567
Yes, ma'am.

518
00:19:27,633 --> 00:19:32,200
Did you notify them that this was broken
by the tree contractor?

519
00:19:32,266 --> 00:19:33,133
- Yes, Your Honor.
- [Judge Judy] Did you notify them?

520
00:19:33,200 --> 00:19:34,033
Yes.

521
00:19:34,100 --> 00:19:35,467
[Judge Judy] When did you notify them?

522
00:19:35,533 --> 00:19:37,066
I believe it was the same day
that the tree was...

523
00:19:37,133 --> 00:19:40,200
Did they notify you
that the tree contractor

524
00:19:40,266 --> 00:19:41,867
had damaged their trampoline?

525
00:19:41,934 --> 00:19:42,934
Yes, Your Honor.

526
00:19:43,000 --> 00:19:46,266
But we notified them
prior to the tree contractor

527
00:19:46,333 --> 00:19:49,533
coming to remove anything
that might get into the way

528
00:19:49,600 --> 00:19:51,800
of the tree contractor.

529
00:19:51,867 --> 00:19:52,700
They did not...

530
00:19:52,767 --> 00:19:53,600
Explain that to me.

531
00:19:53,667 --> 00:19:54,533
[Sehel] I'm sorry.

532
00:19:54,600 --> 00:19:55,567
And, and I believe they didn't...

533
00:19:55,633 --> 00:19:56,967
No, they did not notify us.

534
00:19:57,033 --> 00:19:59,233
They didn't notify us that it was damaged.

535
00:19:59,300 --> 00:20:03,333
But prior to that,
we did notify them to remove any property

536
00:20:03,400 --> 00:20:05,834
that might be theirs
that might be in the way.

537
00:20:05,900 --> 00:20:09,700
Do you have any proof
by way of communication,

538
00:20:09,767 --> 00:20:13,233
text message, letter
that you notified them to remove

539
00:20:13,300 --> 00:20:16,567
this trampoline
because the tree was going to come down?

540
00:20:16,633 --> 00:20:18,300
Do you have any proof of that?

541
00:20:18,400 --> 00:20:19,233
- The answer is either...
- Well, I have...

542
00:20:19,300 --> 00:20:20,133
[Judge Judy] ...yes or no.

543
00:20:20,200 --> 00:20:21,700
Yes, but it's through text message.

544
00:20:21,767 --> 00:20:23,100
- That's okay.
- [Rizwan] Okay.

545
00:20:23,166 --> 00:20:24,567
I can do text messages.

546
00:20:24,633 --> 00:20:27,900
[Sehel] Also, Your Honor,
prior to even asking them

547
00:20:27,967 --> 00:20:29,233
to remove the trampoline,

548
00:20:29,300 --> 00:20:31,266
they're not supposed to have a trampoline

549
00:20:31,333 --> 00:20:34,133
for insurance reasons,
because it's a dangerous item

550
00:20:34,200 --> 00:20:37,066
on our premise,
and it could hurt our tenant.

551
00:20:37,133 --> 00:20:41,700
So we had asked them to remove
the trampoline to begin with.

552
00:20:41,767 --> 00:20:44,467
Is it correct that they asked you
to remove the trampoline?

553
00:20:44,533 --> 00:20:45,367
- They have...
- It is true.

554
00:20:45,433 --> 00:20:46,266
- They were...
- [Judge Judy] Just a second.

555
00:20:46,333 --> 00:20:47,166
Yes. Sorry.

556
00:20:47,233 --> 00:20:50,066
When did they ask you
to remove the trampoline?

557
00:20:50,133 --> 00:20:51,834
Before the tree was cut down, Your Honor.

558
00:20:51,900 --> 00:20:53,533
Okay. Your case is dismissed.

559
00:20:53,600 --> 00:20:54,767
We're finished. Thank you very much.

560
00:20:54,834 --> 00:20:56,300
You don't have to look for anything else.

561
00:20:56,367 --> 00:20:58,000
- Goodbye.
- [Kevin] Court is adjourned.

562
00:20:58,066 --> 00:20:59,400
Thank you.

563
00:20:59,467 --> 00:21:00,667
Oh, I feel relieved.

564
00:21:00,734 --> 00:21:02,667
This was so stressful for us.

565
00:21:02,734 --> 00:21:04,166
She made it, that's it.

566
00:21:04,233 --> 00:21:05,066
And move forward.

567
00:21:05,133 --> 00:21:07,934
Every single time, it was like more money,
more money, more money.

568
00:21:08,000 --> 00:21:09,100
We tried and that's it.

569
00:21:09,166 --> 00:21:12,100
We had to place all of that on hold
because of the situation.

570
00:21:12,166 --> 00:21:14,400
But we're gonna move forward.

571
00:21:14,467 --> 00:21:17,867
You know, Sarah,
most landlords are in business.

572
00:21:18,000 --> 00:21:18,834
They own property.

573
00:21:18,900 --> 00:21:21,200
They wanna keep it in good shape.

574
00:21:21,266 --> 00:21:23,800
These were perfectly lovely people.

575
00:21:23,867 --> 00:21:25,900
Perfectly reasonable people,

576
00:21:25,967 --> 00:21:29,767
they gave the people who had lived there
for five years alternatives.

577
00:21:29,834 --> 00:21:32,333
More than reasonable,
offered them the contract to make money

578
00:21:32,400 --> 00:21:34,266
- in his own business...
- Right.

579
00:21:34,333 --> 00:21:35,333
...as an electrician.

580
00:21:35,400 --> 00:21:37,233
- Or they could move in 30 days.
- Yeah.

581
00:21:37,300 --> 00:21:40,567
So they stayed,
they didn't pay their last month's rent,

582
00:21:40,633 --> 00:21:45,033
and then they sue 'em for thousands
and thousands of dollars.

583
00:21:45,100 --> 00:21:47,700
For something that they were way
within their rights to do...

584
00:21:47,767 --> 00:21:49,500
- [Judge Judy] To do.
- ...as property owners.

585
00:21:49,567 --> 00:21:54,567
And it's probably because she says,
"We asked a few people."

586
00:21:54,633 --> 00:21:56,667
- Yeah.
- [Judge Judy] Well, that's ridiculous.

587
00:21:56,734 --> 00:21:58,000
Landlords have rights.

588
00:21:58,066 --> 00:21:58,934
[Sarah] Uh-hmm.

589
00:21:59,000 --> 00:22:02,000
Tenants have rights,
but courts have to be in the middle.

590
00:22:02,066 --> 00:22:05,200
And I don't know when that happened
that the word "landlord"

591
00:22:05,266 --> 00:22:09,433
became synonymous with evil
or used in the pejorative.

592
00:22:09,500 --> 00:22:10,967
That's really too bad.

593
00:22:11,033 --> 00:22:12,734
- Can't pigeonhole people.
- Yeah.

594
00:22:12,800 --> 00:22:14,567
That's what these plaintiffs tried to do.

595
00:22:14,633 --> 00:22:15,767
Anyway, they didn't.

596
00:22:18,066 --> 00:22:19,166
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597
00:22:19,233 --> 00:22:21,300
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598
00:22:26,400 --> 00:22:29,400
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