I don't get out much. You know, I'm a teacher.
Stop saying that. I got the single mom.
You know, kids. Stop saying that.
'Cause when you do get out, you don't know how to come home!
[ Laughter ]
Sixty dollars!
For pain and suffering!
[ Laughter ]
[ Applause ]
Y'all gonna stop this here.
[ Laughter ]
Y'all be trying to choke a man on his words.
Damn it. You're not gonna do it.
Hey, it's a big world out there,
and it's filled with people that just don't see eye to eye.
See, that's where I come in.
See, I ain't got a law degree,
and I'm way too fly to wear a robe.
But this is where common sense presides -- in my house.
Court is now in session.
[ Chuckles ]
-- Captions by VITAC --
All rise for the Honorable Judge Steve Harvey!
I appreciate y'all.
Nancy, how you doing today?
I'm doing great.
[ Applause ]
Alright. Let's get started.
This is the case of Lisa Agosun,
Taryn Stallworth, and Quita Olaoluwa.
Lisa is suing her daughter Taryn and cousin Quita
for $4,298 in child care,
unpaid loans, and a trip to Los Angeles.
Taryn and Quita don't believe they owe Lisa any money
because babysitting was her idea
and still plan on taking Lisa to Los Angeles.
Let's start with you, Lisa.
You have 30 seconds to state your case.
Alright, Judge Harvey, I would like for you to help me
teach these two young ladies a lesson
about learning how to keep their word.
They had me babysitting for not one trip, but two trips.
Okay? They owe me for babysitting fees.
They also owe me for a loan that I gave them
while they went on their trip.
And they promised me a trip to L. A.
So how much are you suing for?
$4,298. And I need my money today.
[ Applause ]
Alright. Taryn and Quita.
Yes. Yes.
It's your turn. You have 30 seconds to respond.
Okay. I feel like I don't owe because it was a gift.
It was around birthdays. And I don't get to go anywhere.
And my mom doesn't like to let anyone else watch the kids.
So it was a gift.
She wanted me to go out and have fun.
So I took that upon her word, is it's a gift.
So that's why I feel like I don't owe.
And I definitely feel like I don't owe her.
I never agreed to any type of payment
when it came to the babysitting.
And then those are not my kids, so...
Let me get clarity on this relationship.
Lisa: So, Taryn is my daughter.
Quita is my cousin, but she's like my daughter
because she's been at my house as much as my other kids have.
They're good girls. They take me out.
But I want them to understand that they owe me for this money.
So where did they go the first trip?
The first trip, they went to Miami.
They were supposed to be gone three to four days.
They ended up staying seven.
Okay, now, you have the children?
I have five. One potty training.
Ain't that extra? Just for the potty training?
And these are all Taryn's kids?
Yes.
While y'all were on this trip, did you send Mommy any pictures?
Yes, we have pictures of us in Miami.
[ Laughter ]
Lisa: Look. Look. They was having fun.
Let me tell you what I see.
[ Laughter ]
I see two people who can't swim at all.
[ Laughter ]
When you're in the shallow...
and holding onto that rail...
but you got your one leg out like you're kicking.
Alright. Let's see the next one.
[ Laughter ]
You in the blue? Quita: Yes.
Yeah. You're doing the most.
[ Laughter ]
Well, we just had our pail full of combination dri--
Ahem. Oh, that's too much?
No, no. Unh-unh. No, no. Let her tell it.
See, when you nudge her in court,
you think I don't see that?
So you just had a pail full of what?
So, it was one of those beach pails
that you build a sand castle --
Oh, that you put the sand in. What was yours full of?
I don't know. Champagne.
I don't -- I don't know. Tequila.
It was a lot of -- Watermelon schnapps.
Yeah, yeah.
So you all just drinking.
You don't even know what's in there.
I only drink with her, and I trust her
because she always take care of me.
So whatever she give me --
She give me Hennessy for breakfast, you know.
For breakfast?
I just -- I ain't got the kids.
Ain't got the kids.
They're safe. With their granny.
Let's go back over to you, Miss Lisa.
Mm-hmm. Tell me about this --
There was a -- Is there more than one trip?
Oh, yeah. So, let me tell you.
That's when they buttered me up and told me they were gonna --
"Oh, if you do this, this second trip, babysit,
that we're gonna take you to L. A.
and let you go on the Hollywood Fame."
I'm gonna take a picture by your star, of course.
Girl, you better go make your trip.
Girl, you better go on out there and look at that thing.
[ Laughter ]
On both of these trips,
I didn't mention that I gave my daughter $800.
So I loan her money to go on these trips.
Wait a minute. Wait, wait. Each time? Each time.
Oh, you gave her $800 for Miami. Yes.
Where was the second trip to?
Las Vegas. The second trip was in Vegas.
Oh, went to Vegas? Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.
Okay, Judge Steve Harvey, let me tell you, please.
-Okay. -My mama is a mama bear.
She's very overprotective.
She is like -- "If something happened,
just in case of emergency.
If y'all get stranded, if you need a Uber,
this is for emergency purposes."
Ain't nobody gave nobody no $800 for no emergency.
So how long was the Las Vegas trip supposed to be for?
Three nights and four days,
and they didn't come back till seven days.
Three nights and four days in Vegas.
Taryn: Okay, but I got a good reason.
But, see. Hold on. I got a good reason.
You're talking to Mr. Las Vegas.
No one in here has gone to Las Vegas more times than me.
How many times have you gone to Las Vegas?
Just the one time. One time?
Yeah. I didn't know about it.
It was a surprise. It was surprise gift from me.
Yes. She surprised me. Oh, another surprise.
You know, your cousin --
your cousin so full of surprises,
you done ended up in court with her.
Lisa: Exactly! Exactly!
How did you stretch this into seven days in Vegas?
Let me tell you. It's Taryn's fault.
What?
[ Laughter ]
Yes. This is your witness.
She's standing next to you. Judge Harvey,
I got drunk the first night, and we couldn't --
We missed the plane. Yes.
Excuse me?
The second night, she got drunk.
Stop. Excuse me. And we missed the plane.
No. Listen to what you're saying.
She got herself drunk.
You're -- You're drunk now.
[ Laughter ]
She got herself drunk.
Listen to me. No, no, no.
If you're telling me you got in Vegas
and you got drunk the first night...
No, no, no. That's what you said.
No, no. Not the first night.
But listen to me. Listen to me!
I'm sorry. Listen to me!
You said, "I got drunk the first night,
and we missed the flight.
She got drunk the second night,
and we missed the other flight."
I meant the extended day.
So that means that you have been drunk
the entire time you're there. A little bit.
No, I'm sorry. Let me rephrase.
I meant the extended day.
So, after the third day, the reason why we had missed
the plane was because that first time I had got drunk.
Yeah, we kind of missed it sitting in the airport.
Yeah. Huh?
Wait. [ Muttering ]
Yes, this is your co-defendant.
That's why they're being sued together!
[ Laughter ]
♪♪
The reason why we had missed the plane
was because the first time I had got drunk.
Yeah, we kind of missed it sitting in the airport.
Yeah. Huh?
Wait. [ Muttering ]
Yes, this is your co-defendant.
[ Laughter ]
That's why they're being sued together!
Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. Whoa, whoa.
So you missed it sitting in the airport.
I couldn't tote her.
You couldn't tote her? Like carry her?
Yeah.
You was that drunk?
No. Well, I don't know. I don't remember.
So, now let -- Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa.
I don't really think
you all understand what's happening here.
Tell 'em, Judge Harvey.
See, as a defendant,
you're supposed to be here
defending your position against the plaintiff.
So far, everything you've said...
[ Laughter ]
...is on her side.
No, no, no. No.
This is how bad of a story you're telling.
You missed the first flight, Quita,
because you all were in the airport.
Yes. So now guess what.
You went back... We had to.
...and checked back in... Yes.
...and went back to get drunk some more.
[ Laughter ]
You're losing. No. Wait. Okay. Hold on.
No. Because -- Hold on. So, to be fair, it's a gift.
That -- Las Vegas, it was my birthday. It was a gift.
I don't get out much. I'm a teacher.
Stop saying that. I got the single mom.
Stop saying that, 'cause when you do get out,
you don't know how to come home!
[ Laughter ]
Thank you, Judge Harvey!
Taryn: But that's why I don't go out.
And that's why I get you out.
I don't go out unless I'm with her...
and unless I know the kids are safe with my mama.
Lisa: And they were. I'm so tired of y'all.
[ Laughter ]
I got it, Mama. Don't worry about it.
What else?
I got something. Well...
You have some evidence?
Yes. No. We have a gift.
[ Spectators "aww" ]
Thank you. I love you.
She don't want no damn flowers.
Quita: She likes those flowers.
For real, for real, I want to give her the world.
I do. I work hard for her.
I give her big birthday parties.
And we still planning on taking her to California.
-Yeah, we still wanna take -- -I don't wanna go with them.
[ Laughter ]
You still owe her a trip to L. A.
Yes. And y'all are gonna take her.
She just said she don't want to go with y'all. Why?
'Cause y'all don't know how to come home!
Thank you, Judge Steve!
Now, this trip that was promised,
how did you all promise her a trip?
Because I got -- She watched the babies for me to go,
that I would... And you overstayed your visit.
And I would pay for her. But that was before that happened.
No, we promised before we left. Okay.
Yes, after the oxtails and the flowers and wine.
You prepared the bribe. Yes.
Well, no.
Yes, yes! Yes.
See how I said, "You prepared the bribe."
You said, "Yes. No. No."
But, Judge Harvey, to be honest, I love my ma.
I would not be anywhere without her.
She is my everything. I would do anything for her.
Like, I've always done the best I could do for my mom,
and so it's like a reciprocation of relationship
where she's like, "Okay, you know what, you're working hard.
Go ahead and go have fun, enjoy yourself."
Because I don't get to really go out much
unless she comes into town. And I love her like a second mom
because Lisa is really my cousin,
but she's so much older than me, out of respect...
Wow. ...I was told to call her my aunt since I was young.
Yes.
You're the worst.
[ Laughter ]
You're -- I've never seen anybody come to court...
and just hammer their casket closed.
Quita starts off good, and then she always says something.
You know, "She's been there for me, you know,
'cause she's like a mother to me
because, you know, she's just way older than me.
And so I just..."
Not that much. Not old old, but...
I've reached a verdict.
[ Cheers and applause ]
First of all, let me say to the plaintiff and the defendant --
I really, really enjoyed this case
because it wasn't an argument.
That was nothing but an accusation...
and an admission of guilt.
[ Laughter ]
Let's talk about this lawsuit for $4,298.
The $2000 for the trip to L. A. that you promised.
You did promise her a trip to L. A.
because you said, "We gonna take her."
Then I heard her say, "I don't wanna go with them."
And you know why she don't want to go with y'all?
For two reasons.
'Cause you don't know when to come home...
and, if you do come home,
you're probably gonna miss that flight 'cause you're drunk!
[ Laughter ]
So, now, there's a $1,600 loan here.
Yes, Taryn didn't tell me she had extra money.
Where do you think the extra money come from?
She's a teacher.
She is one of the most underpaid people in America today.
Let's talk about the $600 childcare.
Extra days.
I don't know where you can leave your kid
for three extra days at one place
and four extra days in another place,
and it don't cost but $600. Mnh!
You know the only place you can do that?
With your mama!
She deserves everything.
Yes, she does. She does.
I'm glad you agree.
Yes, she does.
You finna pay...
[ Laughter ]
This verdict that I'm fixin' to render,
it ain't even a surprise to nobody.
From the moment y'all started talking,
she was winning the case.
And then you try to walk some flowers over there
to soften the blow.
We don't want no damn flowers. We want money!
Lisa: That's right!
Now, to the plaintiff, Miss Lisa,
for the suit for $4,298.
You know what?
Because she's a schoolteacher,
I know she can't afford this shot right here.
And I can't make her pay it, even though she owe it.
I've never met more people come into court more dead wrong
than these two right here
and smile through the whole thing.
Here's my ruling.
I'm going to honor your suit for the entire amount.
Ohh. $4,298.
They owe you all of that. Every doggone penny.
But since they don't have the money for that,
I, Judge Steve Harvey, am gonna clear that bill for you.
I'm going to pay that $4,298,
and I'm gonna do it in the form
'cause I'm gonna give you a check for $10,000.
[ Cheers and applause ]
And let me tell you something.
I want you to go to Los Angeles,
have a good time,
and they are not going on the trip!
'Cause y'all ass are fixin' to babysit.
That's my verdict, and that's the way I see it.
♪♪
My mom deserves everything that she got and more,
and I'm gonna make sure that she keeps getting
what she deserves, 'cause she's worth it.
It could be someone else's foot, folks.
And if the foot don't print, you must acquit.
Put that out there!
That was pretty good there, boy.
Thank you very much. Thank you very much.
♪♪
Okay, so, what do we have next?
This is the case of John Thomas
versus Kekoa Morris.
John is suing former roommate Kekoa for $1,000
for the lost security deposit
and pain and suffering due to property damage.
Kekoa says he didn't cause the damages alone
and is countersuing for his security deposit of $1,000.
Alright. Let's start with you, John.
You have 30 seconds to state your case.
Alright. Judge Steve, today I'm here
because I believe my former roommate, Kekoa,
he owes me an amount of $1,000.
We lost our security deposit at our old house,
and I believe that's primarily his fault.
So we all put up about $940,
and the pain and suffering that was attached with that
is $60 -- round us up to $1,000.
Kekoa, you have 30 seconds to respond.
I'm here because, frankly, the idea
that I owe Johnny money to cover his share
of the security deposit is ridiculous
because Johnny is part of the reason why we lost that deposit.
And because of that, I'm countersuing Johnny for $1,000.
Okay. How did this all come about?
What's this security deposit stemming from?
So, when the pandemic started in March of 2020 or so,
my housing situation was, like, all over the place.
So I reached out to some of my friends
that I had from previous work places,
or just friends in D. C. all around.
I was like, "Hey, we should all hunker down in the same house."
How many people is this? About five when we started.
Tell me how you got involved, how you all met.
Sure, sure.
So, Johnny was working with my friend from college, Ian.
He's my old friend. He told me, "Hey, I found this place.
Check it out." It was my dream home.
It was a mansion. It was as nice as could be.
And so I signed the lease that day, the first day I saw it.
And I believe I actually have the lease
as a form of submitted evidence.
Alright. Here we go. Now we're talking. Let's go.
Yeah. So I have that right there.
12 months starting first day of June 2020.
Security deposit, $4,700.
Okay, so, John, what's the problem?
Honestly, when we start, things are going great,
but about like a month and a half or so in,
Kekoa has the idea that we should get a kiddie pool,
we should get a little pool in the front yard.
It's not a kiddie pool. it's an inflatable pool.
I actually have a photo of it, of what it looked like.
That'll help me.
Yeah, I think if -- I submit it to the court right there.
Yeah, that's a kiddie pool, guys.
Yeah.
We were all excited about it.
I mean, I wasn't excited. I wasn't excited about it.
The whole house was on board. We wanted to have a good time.
It was the summer. We wanted to cool off,
have some people over, you know, when it was safe.
To reiterate, I was not excited by it.
I was very verbal about it.
And they actually put up a sign on the pool that was like,
"Johnny can't come in," because I was like,
"I don't want to pay for it."
Why were you against it?
I mean, it's a kiddie pool in the front yard of our house
that we're living in -- people are driving by, seeing it.
There's no chlorine, and I was like, "Alright, if you do it,
like, maybe have, like, you know --
empty out the water here and there."
But they're out here, like, tracking their feet
not only into the pool but also out of the pool and into the house.
And I knew that was gonna happen,
and that's actually what did happen.
Like, they were dragging all their dirt into the house.
Judge. Yeah. Okay.
What Johnny's trying to say
is that Johnny doesn't like the water.
He can't swim. He's not a water guy.
I also can't swim. That is worth knowing.
Excuse me.
I happen to be not a good swimmer at all.
I have what you call "get back" swimming skills.
I have enough swimming skills to get back up
on whatever I fell off of in that water.
[ Applause ]
But, sir...
you don't want the pool 'cause you can't swim.
It wasn't something that I would ever use.
In a kiddie pool? I'm not trying to sit in,
like, dirty water with four other dudes
and just dirt.
It wasn't dirty. That's a fact.
I didn't think it was something I wanted to do.
Your Honor, it got a little dirty,
but just because we were having so much fun with it
and people were enjoying it, because it was a good idea.
Judge Steve, I actually have a photo
of what the pool looked like a couple days in.
So I saw this.
[ Spectators exclaim ]
Absolutely not.
This is three or four days in,
mind you, maybe a week.
Imagine you got this, like, Shrek swamp in the front yard.
Like, I was not dealing with that at all.
I mean, it's not necessarily gross.
It's cleaner than it looks.
But what I will say is that for most of the time,
it didn't look like that.
In fact, I want to put up the picture of me and Ian
having a good time in the pool.
That's -- That's what it looked like for most of the time.
Think about it. This is day one.
You're only taking pictures like that on the first day.
It's novel. You don't do that on day two when it looks a little green.
Your Honor, if you saw that pool, you'd want to take a dip.
Am I right? It's a -- It's a -- No!
I can promise you...
I ain't gonna wanna take a dip in the pool.
That's fine. That's fine.
Did you ever have girls over?
Yeah. Sure, yeah.
Pool parties were had by that group.
I was upstairs in the room
and reading whatever book I was reading.
I was not part of the pool party. That's false.
I wanted no part of anyone
who wants to be part of that pool.
Sir.
Not for me. He's making that up.
Sir. Mr. John. Take a drink.
While they were in the pool with women,
you were upstairs reading a book.
So, now summer's over. What happened?
My job was to be the primary liaison for the landlord,
and he was not happy at all.
He felt that the damage to the grass was --
was absolutely, like, irreparable.
Let's see it.
[ Spectators gasp ] Yeah.
And the landlord was not happy at all.
He was actually very, very upset.
But there was no grass underneath the pool. It was concrete.
Yeah, 'cause you put the pool on it. On the concrete.
Can we pull up the picture of the pool again?
Yes. Oh, absolutely.
Yes. Let's go back to the picture.
Let's see the picture when the pool is gone.
Your Honor --
Look at that concrete.
This looks like something that was on the grass
that prohibited it from getting sun,
which kills the grass.
Look. You've got a security deposit of $4,700.
Grass don't cost $4,700 for this amount.
How did we lose the security deposit?
Because this angered our landlord.
The charges were a little punitive in nature.
I think we do have the breakdown of the charges.
Alright. We got an e-mail.
"Saturday. We have completed a final move-out inspection
that reflects damages and extra cost
that is over the normal wear and tear during your residency."
Rent, additional day, $151.
Water bill for that period, $205.
Trash removal, $263. Grass repair, $160.
General contractor. $6,200?!
The general contractor. What is he in here fixing?
We scuffed the walls.
And by "we," I mean mostly Johnny.
I'm not gonna say I never scuffed the walls,
but there is a lot of stuff that we have...
There's a flip on that. Truly, he's describing himself.
If I'm gonna be 100% honest, Kekoa was the one...
We tried to repair it, and, you know, I have a picture to show
exactly what that looked like.
Let's see the picture. Let's see that.
[ Spectators exclaim ]
So, this is what Johnny's mark on the house was.
Judge Steve, those are three different feet.
Look, they're all different sizes.
You can't prove that.
See, let me show you something, fellas.
There was a point in my life I actually thought
I was gonna be a detective, and then I found out
you can't be a police officer with a police record.
[ Laughter ]
But by the grace of God, somehow I'm a judge.
[ Laughter ]
Look at the foot.
We're looking at the actual photo.
See the skin color of the ankle? That's your left foot.
Whoa, whoa, whoa!
That's yours.
Steve: Look at the foot. We're looking at the actual photo.
See the skin color of the ankle? That's your left foot.
Whoa, whoa, whoa! I submitted a photo
of all of the guys who lived in the lease.
There we go. Let's see the picture of all the guys in here.
It could be someone else's foot, folks.
There are several brown ankles in this photo.
And if the foot don't print, you must acquit.
But you all outside -- Put that out there.
Make it known. Make it known. Mm-hmm.
That was pretty good there, boy.
Thank you very much. Thank you very much.
Boy, I ain't gonna lie to you.
That was damn good.
What else you got?
I want to bring up the video of my witness, Ian.
Alright. Let's see what Ian has to say.
Judge Steve Harvey, Your Honor,
I'm here today to shed some light on this case
and explain definitively why Johnny is responsible
for losing our security deposit.
John states that our pool was the reason
we lost our security deposit,
but this argument holds no merit.
When looking into the actual cause
of us losing the security deposit,
John was clearly at fault, as he was one of the dirtiest,
rowdiest members of the house.
He sawed my door in half
with the intent of installing a Dutch door.
He justified this by informing me, "I'll now be able
to walk around my room naked and carefree,
while communicating with my roommates on the outside."
What? I can show you exactly
what he was talking about with the "Dutch door,"
and I have a video of Johnny sawing his door in half.
A door that wasn't part of the house.
That was a door that we bought.
But let's roll the clip. I can explain myself.
Woman: Wow.
Why? Why did you do that?
What the [bleep]?
That door is a fake door.
We put in the real door after this.
There's nothing fake about it, Your Honor.
That's the door that Ian had to use
because Johnny sawed it in half.
If that was true, look at how --
Can we bring up the charges again?
Yeah. You know what I like about this case?
You all have prepared it for me.
[ Applause ]
I love this.
So, in this thing right here, they itemize everything
and then general contracting at the end.
If the door was in the house when the check-in happened
and it was halved, it would have deserved a spot on this list,
just like the grass.
But there is no mention of the door here,
which means it was either a fake door,
which is what happened, or removed by the time the landlord got here...
Let me ask both of you this question right here.
What did the landlord tell you
that the general contractor was $6,275?
Talk to me. I don't want to hear nothing else
except number five.
He said that primarily the rest of the charges
were scuffed floors and messed-up paint.
The messed-up paint was also primarily Kekoa
because he was in charge of painting the walls.
Your Honor, I submitted a photo of some of the damages
that we collectively had to repair.
-Alright. Let's see. -There go right there.
So, this is from a dartboard,
and he was in charge of repairing it.
It was more than obvious
that this was a botched job on the fix.
Fellas, your money is in this general contractor,
number five.
You don't bring me nothing in here about number five.
Judge Steve, what I'm trying to make clear
is that I believe number five
would have been smaller and we wouldn't have been
nitpicked as hard on the whole house
had we had a good relationship with the landlord.
I was super-conscious about not messing up the house.
Absolutely you were, John.
Because I was the one that had to talk to the landlord.
I was always on the phone with him.
You were liaison to the landlord.
And that's why I'm coming after Kekoa
because I had to take every bullet for the house.
Johnny likes to present himself as very buttoned-up,
very businesslike, using words like "liaison."
Yeah. It's a good word.
Who'd do that? It's a good word.
He's trying to paint a persona.
"You're the dude that talked to the landlord. That's it."
Exactly. That's all it is.
The facts still stand, though. That is what it was.
Behind closed doors. Johnny has a wild side.
He's a bull in a china shop.
And that's what he doesn't want you to know.
And I've shown plenty of evidence
that tells you what goes on when the film isn't rolling,
and that's what the general contractor bill is for.
Fellas, COVID had a lot of us turned up.
You guys found a way to fight it,
have some form of camaraderie and brotherhood and fellowship
during a very difficult time.
Sounds like a good idea.
Well, good ideas go bad all the time.
The first good but bad idea was the swimming pool.
John, I do believe that you wanted
to have nothing to do with that.
I think you've been very honest in that.
I wish I could talk to the landlord,
this idiot who thought renting out his house
to five 20-some-year-old dudes was a good-ass idea.
Listen to me. To all of you property owners out there,
don't do this.
I don't care how they --
These are decent-looking guys.
But when it comes to living
with five 20-some-year-old dudes,
you have no idea what you're signing up for.
And if you mix a little bit of beer in it...
and you put a kiddie pool in the front yard...
[ Laughter ]
...this got disaster wrote all over it.
I've reached a verdict.
[ Applause ]
I don't have enough evidence presented by either one of you
to discredit the other.
I loved your witnesses.
I loved your evidence that you brought.
I loved Ian the most. Ian. "Judge Harvey..."
[ Laughter ]
So, listen to me.
The countersue for $1,000, lost security deposit,
and the suit for $1,000, lost security deposit.
Here's the one I love most from you, though.
$60 for pain and suffering.
Mm-hmm. Yeah.
[ Laughter ]
Sixty dollars!
For pain and suffering!
That's the best one yet!
Hey, man, y'all get out of here.
[ Laughter ]
I'm throwing out the suit, the countersuit.
My verdict is for nobody.
That's my verdict. Get outta here.
But thank you, man. I loved it.
♪♪
Honestly, swimming lessons, they could be my future,
but it really depends on how clean the water is.
She started to sunbathe topless.
[ Laughter ]
"I bet you propose now."
♪♪
Okay, so, let's get started.
This is the case of Joy Clarke
versus Andre Kelly.
Joy is suing her partner, Andre, for $7,826.29
for the money she spent waiting two years
for him to propose.
Andre says he just didn't want to rush
the perfect proposal.
Let's start with you, Joy.
You have 30 seconds to state your case.
Hi, Judge Harvey. I'm here today
to sue my fiancé, Andre Saint Kelly,
for $7,826.29.
We had a set date in mind for our wedding,
and he took almost two years to propose.
So I'm looking to be reimbursed for my hair, my makeup,
my nails, my outfits in preparation
for this big moment in my life.
I need all of my coins.
[ Spectators murmur ]
Andre, it's your turn. You have 30 seconds to respond.
I'm here today because my world doesn't move
to the beat of her drum.
I wanted to propose at the time
that I felt right and felt comfortable.
So therefore I'm here to defend myself
and prove my case that I don't owe her
for the preparation that she took
waiting for the proposal that I was going to eventually --
Do we have a timeline? You're not supposed to
interrupt me while I'm giving my opening statement.
Well, that's what we're here to find out.
Let's start with you.
When did this marriage conversation start to happen?
How long are we dating? What's going on?
So, we started dating officially in August 2018,
and he met my family that December,
like, my entire family, so within six months.
The following year was my 30th birthday.
I love to travel.
We went to Bali, and we just had a wonderful time.
We met a priest who blessed us
and told us that he knew that we were a couple
that was supposed to be together.
He read our astrological chart, gave us numbers, and told us
to pick our wedding date from the numbers that he gave Dre.
The date that we talked about was August 21, 2021,
so that is the date that I'm backing out my claim from
and when I expected a proposal to be able to plan a wedding,
maybe, you know, nine months to a year out.
He asked you to marry him that day?
He did not.
[ Laughter ]
Well, let me ask you about this Bali trip, Andre.
So, you go to Bali. How's it going?
Oh, man. Amazing trip. A place that I always wanted to visit.
So, you know, and I'm there with the woman
that I loved at that time, so, you know, I --
[ Spectators murmur ]
Well, the woman that I love.
What he's meaning by "at that time,"
he's giving you the in-the-moment feeling.
Y'all gonna stop this here.
[ Laughter ]
Y'all be trying to choke a man on his words.
You gonna not do that in this court.
Damn it. You're not gonna do it.
Sittin' up in here with your own crazy self.
"Ahh. Okay."
That was perfectly fine, what he said. Go ahead, Dre.
I didn't propose at that time.
There was no set proposal date
or when I was supposed to propose.
But, yes, that was a date that we were, like, planning.
So, obviously, yes, a proposal was probably gonna happen
within a year of that date,
but obviously it didn't happen within a year of that date.
We went on at least four international trips last year.
He had all the proper time to propose.
So I was literally wanting to be ready
for when this big moment happened in my life.
I did submit to the court all of my evidence.
So, I did share all the times that I got my nails done,
my hair done, even my therapy sessions.
Whoa, whoa. Wait, wait. What? Whoa, whoa, whoa.
Okay. Give me this -- Give me this sheet.
Okay, now, these --
You're calling these
pre-engagement expenses. Correct.
Between 2019 and right now,
you all have gone on four international trips.
Yes.
And you were expecting on each one of those trips...
A proposal. Correct.
Like, it was -- it would have been the perfect time.
We went to multiple weddings.
Judge Harvey, all those trips were weddings.
And one of the things she definitely always said --
she never wants to share, like, that moment with anything else.
So, let me go down these "pre" expenses.
Nine hair appointments. [ Chuckles ]
Nine hair appointments for $1,420.25.
14 nail appointments.
I'm all about my nails, Steve.
I ain't mad at ya. $870.
Therapy sessions. $3,600.
Therapy is not cheap.
[ Laughter ]
I did submit a certified letter from my therapist.
You submitted a letter from your therapist?
Correct.
"This letter is to confirm that Joy Clarke
received numerous sessions
related to prolonged waiting for engagement.
She attended well over 2 years of counseling support
around the anxiety and her fears
if he would not propose."
Have you seen this letter?
No, I haven't. It's the first time I've seen it, too.
So me and you shocked together?
Yes.
Let me -- Let me go back to this pre-engagement expenses.
Birthday in Vegas outfits. $772.
Boy, you was clean in Vegas, girl.
Yeah, you jumped fly on 'em.
Oh, I was fly. It was the bag that did it.
What'd you have on? Um, I had --
Now, watch this right here. What'd she have on, Dre?
Ugh. I don't remember, sir.
I don't.
[ Laughter ]
Dre, what I just did for you was an alley-oop.
I know, and I missed it.
I threw the lob. All you had to do was grab it and dunk it.
Alright. And then Mexico outfits. $776.
That was down in Cancún?
Yes, we went to Cancún, Mexico City, and Tulum.
We have some photos of that one?
Yes.
Aw, yeah, she clean.
After that trip in September,
that one's probably the one that hurt the most.
Why? Why didn't it happen? What happened?
I'm -- I'm assuming he just wasn't ready.
Maybe not in the mindspace. Maybe not financially.
You're not married today?
We're engaged.
We're getting married this December.
I have an invitation for you in the back.
Wait. I'm -- I'm confused.
[ Laughter ]
You're not married today?
We're engaged.
We're getting married this December.
I have an invitation for you in the back.
Wait. I'm -- I'm confused.
[ Laughter ]
This is who you're gonna marry in December?
Yes.
But you're suing him?
Absolutely.
I'm confused. Why are we here?
'Cause I still incurred expenses to prepare for that.
It doesn't -- Just 'cause things happen
doesn't change what happened in the past.
But you're engaged now.
I am, and the proposal was very Andre.
What does that mean?
That means I'm a very private person
and I don't like my business...
Ohh! ...out in the open.
So I chose a proposal that suited myself.
How did you propose?
When we were first hanging out,
we were going to the beach a lot.
So, one of the first, like, spots that I took her to
that I know she's never been was in the hills of Malibu.
Had brunch, sitting there chilling,
and she started to sunbathe topless.
And I think I'm working through my nerves to, like,
you know, to propose.
Ohh, you gonna get you a ring, huh?
[ Laughter ]
"Ah, I bet if I take this top off."
[ Laughter ]
"Yeah. Yeah.
Yeah. I bet you propose now.
[ Laughter ]
Come on, Dre."
[ Laughter ]
Yeah, so, like, I just wanted a private, intimate moment.
He took his time.
He did. Took a long time. Yeah.
And, you know, a little fanfare don't hurt nobody.
Are you designing the wedding that you want?
Absolutely.
Is it going just the way you want it to go?
Absolutely.
Is he interfering with that?
No.
Ta-da.
[ Laughter ]
See, delay don't mean deny.
Woman: That's right.
His reasons were valid.
You wanting what you want is valid.
I've reached a verdict.
[ Applause ]
This is the way I see it.
Your suit for $7,826.
I'm gonna throw out the Mexico outfits for $776.46
'cause I think you've worn them again.
One of 'em.
The Vegas birthday outfit for $772.
I know good and well you're gonna wear that one again.
Yeah. I'm gonna take that out, too.
The Saint Croix outfit.
You're probably gonna use that on all of your resort trips.
Now, your nails.
Your nails are really nice,
but you're supposed to get your nails done.
'Cause don't nobody want to be looking down
at your raggedy hands.
So I'm gonna take that off.
Your hair is absolutely beautiful.
$1,420 for hair.
But you got to get your hair done anyway.
So now we're down to nothing except therapy.
The only reason I'm gonna give you money for therapy
is 'cause I want Andre to be living with somebody
that's gotten a lot of help.
[ Laughter ]
So I am ordering Andre to pay her therapy sessions
for $3,600.
That's my verdict...
and that's the way I see it.
Now, here's what you don't know.
Andre has something for you.
Babe, since you didn't get the proposal that you want,
I'm gonna propose to you now.
Aww!
[ Applause ]
Steve: I asked a friend of mine
to come and to do something special for 'em.
You all know him because he's one of the original stars
from "American Idol."
Ladies and gentlemen, Mr. Ruben Studdard.
[ Cheers and applause ]
Ruben: ♪ Ohh
♪ Since the day that we met, girl ♪
♪ I ain't never had anyone make me feel this way ♪
♪ And my heart is sure it wants to be with you ♪
♪ Wanna give you the whole world ♪
♪ If you make that promise to me, you're gonna stay ♪
♪ Without you here with me, I'm lost and so confused ♪
♪ I'm gonna be the one that's gonna last ♪
♪ And be the one that got your back ♪
♪ Ain't nothing never that bad that we won't be together ♪
♪ And though we both made our mistakes ♪
♪ Ohh
♪ And some we never wish we made ♪
♪ Never wish we made, yeah
♪ But we'll be okay
♪ If we just stay together
[ Cheers and applause ]
Dre, go ahead.
Joy Victoria Clarke...
will you be my beautiful wife?
Will you spend the rest of your life with me
so I can provide, protect, be your security,
and make me the man that I am to this day?
Of course. Will you marry me?
Yes.
Wrong hand.
[ Laughs ]
I got two now.
[ Cheers and applause ]
It don't get no bigger than getting proposed to on TV.
Now, tell your little friends that have their little wedding
over there in Cancún and all that.
Play his tape back for 'em.
Thank y'all very much, man.
Joy: Thank you so much.
Thank you. Thank you so much.
♪ Oh, I just wanna
♪ Make you feel beautiful
♪ Wanna make you feel beautiful ♪
I feel great after Dre's 2.0 proposal.
I am ecstatic.
I cannot believe him and Judge Steve Harvey
had this planned,
being serenaded by Ruben Studdard.
Like, it blows anything I even imagined.
♪ Girl, that's all I wanna do
-- Captions by VITAC --