1 00:00:00,367 --> 00:00:02,433 You own a tree-cutting business? 2 00:00:02,500 --> 00:00:03,333 Yes, sir. 3 00:00:03,400 --> 00:00:06,100 I just asked that he clean up the debris that was left behind by the grinder. 4 00:00:06,166 --> 00:00:08,266 I've never cleaned up stump chips. 5 00:00:08,333 --> 00:00:10,667 Now, I also have had a tree removed. 6 00:00:10,734 --> 00:00:12,467 And the first thing he said to me was, 7 00:00:12,533 --> 00:00:15,000 [gruff voice] "I don't do that. Somebody else has to do that for you." 8 00:00:15,066 --> 00:00:16,265 Did he say it in that voice? 9 00:00:16,332 --> 00:00:18,000 -Now you get the feel for it, right? -[laughs] 10 00:00:18,066 --> 00:00:20,467 [announcer] Today on Tribunal Justice. 11 00:00:20,533 --> 00:00:22,100 [theme music playing] 12 00:00:41,900 --> 00:00:45,300 [announcer] This case was filed in Lexington, South Carolina. 13 00:00:45,367 --> 00:00:48,200 Your Honor, this is case number 1136 on the calendar 14 00:00:48,266 --> 00:00:50,233 in the matter of Reiner versus Reed. 15 00:00:50,300 --> 00:00:52,967 Parties have been sworn in. You may be seated. 16 00:00:53,033 --> 00:00:54,100 -[Adam] Thank you, Byrd. -[Byrd] Mm-hmm. 17 00:00:54,166 --> 00:00:57,033 Mr. Reiner, you're suing the defendant for breach of contract 18 00:00:57,100 --> 00:00:58,600 and nonpayment of services. 19 00:00:58,667 --> 00:00:59,500 Yes, Your Honor. 20 00:00:59,567 --> 00:01:01,834 You own a tree-cutting business? 21 00:01:01,900 --> 00:01:02,734 Yes, sir. 22 00:01:02,800 --> 00:01:04,467 [Adam] And you were contacted by the defendant 23 00:01:04,533 --> 00:01:06,734 who needed some trees taken down on his property? 24 00:01:06,800 --> 00:01:07,633 [David] Yes, Your Honor. 25 00:01:07,700 --> 00:01:11,533 He also told you that it's not unusual that when the trees come down 26 00:01:11,600 --> 00:01:14,967 and the stumps are left over, that he wants the stumps ground down 27 00:01:15,033 --> 00:01:16,265 so they're flush with the lawn. 28 00:01:16,333 --> 00:01:17,166 Yes, sir. 29 00:01:17,233 --> 00:01:18,600 You prepared an invoice? 30 00:01:18,700 --> 00:01:19,533 [David] Yes, sir, I did. 31 00:01:19,600 --> 00:01:21,300 You discussed it with the defendant? 32 00:01:21,367 --> 00:01:22,200 Yes, Your Honor. 33 00:01:22,265 --> 00:01:23,100 [Adam] And you agreed on a price? 34 00:01:23,166 --> 00:01:24,000 Yes, Your Honor. 35 00:01:24,066 --> 00:01:24,900 [Adam] What was the price? 36 00:01:24,967 --> 00:01:26,233 $2,200. 37 00:01:26,300 --> 00:01:28,400 According to your complaint, sir, you did the work 38 00:01:28,467 --> 00:01:30,533 and the defendant refused to pay you. 39 00:01:30,600 --> 00:01:31,467 Yes, sir. 40 00:01:31,533 --> 00:01:32,834 [Adam] And that's the reason why you're here today. 41 00:01:32,900 --> 00:01:33,734 That's right. 42 00:01:33,800 --> 00:01:35,400 [Adam] Now, the defendant, on the other hand, 43 00:01:35,467 --> 00:01:38,000 Mr. Reed, you say, number one, 44 00:01:38,066 --> 00:01:40,834 that the plaintiff never provided you with a written contract. 45 00:01:40,900 --> 00:01:42,834 He never invoiced me for the job. 46 00:01:42,900 --> 00:01:45,567 [Adam] He never invoiced you, but you did get a proposal, a written proposal. 47 00:01:45,633 --> 00:01:47,900 I got a proposal. I got a proposal that was written out, yes. 48 00:01:48,000 --> 00:01:51,366 [Adam] And the two of you verbally agreed on the terms of that contract? 49 00:01:51,433 --> 00:01:52,265 We did. 50 00:01:52,333 --> 00:01:53,200 Yes, sir. 51 00:01:53,265 --> 00:01:55,967 That, according to you, the plaintiff did not complete the job 52 00:01:56,033 --> 00:01:57,834 that he was contracted to do. 53 00:01:57,900 --> 00:02:03,934 Specifically, he refused to remove the wood chips and the debris 54 00:02:04,000 --> 00:02:07,166 that had been left in the yard based upon the work 55 00:02:07,233 --> 00:02:08,233 that was done by the stump grinder. 56 00:02:08,300 --> 00:02:09,233 Yes, Your Honor. 57 00:02:09,333 --> 00:02:12,033 You also said that there were some holes 58 00:02:12,100 --> 00:02:15,734 that the stump grinder secures itself to the ground with 59 00:02:15,800 --> 00:02:17,734 that he also refused to level out. 60 00:02:17,800 --> 00:02:21,233 Not exactly. It's a different type of device that was used in my yard. 61 00:02:21,300 --> 00:02:22,834 It wasn't one that he anchored. 62 00:02:22,900 --> 00:02:25,734 It was-- It was more like a tractor device that the guy used. 63 00:02:25,800 --> 00:02:28,834 [Adam] All right, so according to you, Mr. Reed, the plaintiff 64 00:02:28,900 --> 00:02:31,266 did not complete the job because he didn't clean up the lawn 65 00:02:31,333 --> 00:02:34,500 and he didn't fix the damage caused by the tracks also, 66 00:02:34,567 --> 00:02:38,533 the tire marks that were left by some of the machinery, 67 00:02:38,600 --> 00:02:42,533 and that you would have gladly paid him the $2,200, 68 00:02:42,600 --> 00:02:44,433 but he refused to finish the job. 69 00:02:44,500 --> 00:02:45,934 That's your answer, correct? 70 00:02:46,000 --> 00:02:48,600 Yes, Your Honor. I mean, he actually has no idea what my yard looks like 71 00:02:48,667 --> 00:02:49,500 because he's never been back there. 72 00:02:49,567 --> 00:02:53,200 You can see in the exchange of messages, I wanted to pay him the money. 73 00:02:53,266 --> 00:02:55,367 I wanted him to get the money. I mean, it was right before the holidays. 74 00:02:55,433 --> 00:02:56,300 I wanted him to get paid. 75 00:02:56,367 --> 00:02:58,166 I wanted him to complete the job because I wanted my yard 76 00:02:58,233 --> 00:03:00,100 -to look right going into the winter. -[Adam] Got it. 77 00:03:00,166 --> 00:03:01,567 -But it didn't. -[Adam] Got it. 78 00:03:01,633 --> 00:03:03,700 I think we have a copy of the proposal. 79 00:03:03,767 --> 00:03:05,633 If we can put that up. Do you see that up there? 80 00:03:05,700 --> 00:03:08,333 That's the proposal, Mr. Reiner, that you prepared? 81 00:03:08,400 --> 00:03:09,233 [David] Yes, Your Honor. 82 00:03:09,300 --> 00:03:11,467 [Adam] This is dated November 10th, 2022. 83 00:03:11,533 --> 00:03:12,367 [David] Yes, Your Honor. 84 00:03:12,433 --> 00:03:14,100 [Adam] That was the scope of work, correct? 85 00:03:14,166 --> 00:03:15,066 Yes, sir. 86 00:03:15,133 --> 00:03:17,966 And you saw this and you had a copy of this, did you not, Mr. Reed? 87 00:03:18,033 --> 00:03:19,100 -Yeah. -[Adam] Okay. 88 00:03:19,166 --> 00:03:22,600 And I believe we also have a photograph of the plaintiff, 89 00:03:22,667 --> 00:03:24,900 Mr. Reiner, doing the work on the tree. 90 00:03:24,966 --> 00:03:26,100 Is that you, Mr. Reiner? 91 00:03:26,166 --> 00:03:27,233 [Romando] That is not at my house. 92 00:03:27,300 --> 00:03:28,233 [David] Yes, Your Honor. 93 00:03:28,300 --> 00:03:29,133 [Romando] That is not at my house. 94 00:03:29,200 --> 00:03:30,133 [Adam] Oh, that's not at your house. 95 00:03:30,200 --> 00:03:31,667 -That is not at my house. -[laughter] 96 00:03:31,734 --> 00:03:33,266 I can assure you that is not at my house. 97 00:03:33,333 --> 00:03:35,166 -[Adam] Okay. -He looks good up there and that's very-- 98 00:03:35,233 --> 00:03:37,166 That's very photogenic, but that is not at my house. 99 00:03:37,233 --> 00:03:38,066 That's fair. 100 00:03:38,133 --> 00:03:41,800 So in full disclosure, would it be fair to say that, Mr. Reiner, 101 00:03:41,867 --> 00:03:44,667 that you provided a copy of the photograph to the court 102 00:03:44,734 --> 00:03:48,367 as just an example, a depiction of what it looks like when you do the work? 103 00:03:48,433 --> 00:03:49,266 Right. 104 00:03:49,333 --> 00:03:52,000 Did you do the work yourself at Mr. Reed's home, 105 00:03:52,066 --> 00:03:54,500 or did you contract out the tree-cutting portion? 106 00:03:54,567 --> 00:03:56,966 I climbed all the trees. I did the work myself. 107 00:03:57,033 --> 00:03:58,834 But as far as the stump grinding goes, 108 00:03:58,900 --> 00:04:00,834 that guy works for me, he's not contracted. 109 00:04:00,900 --> 00:04:02,533 Right, you farm that out to someone who has the machine. 110 00:04:02,600 --> 00:04:03,433 -[David] Right. -All right. 111 00:04:03,500 --> 00:04:05,066 And that's not something that you were aware of. 112 00:04:05,133 --> 00:04:07,467 No, I mean, he told me that it would get done. 113 00:04:07,533 --> 00:04:08,834 [Adam] Right, and that's all you cared about. 114 00:04:08,900 --> 00:04:09,734 -Yeah. -[Adam] Okay. 115 00:04:09,800 --> 00:04:12,033 So let's start in the beginning then, Mr. Reed. 116 00:04:12,100 --> 00:04:16,700 How did you come to learn about Mr. Reiner and his tree-cutting acumen? 117 00:04:16,767 --> 00:04:18,399 My neighbor, my next-door neighbor. 118 00:04:18,466 --> 00:04:21,533 I'm new in the house, I just moved in, and I mentioned to my neighbor that 119 00:04:21,600 --> 00:04:24,000 these trees were problematic and I wanted to get them taken care of 120 00:04:24,066 --> 00:04:25,166 because you couldn't see the house. 121 00:04:25,233 --> 00:04:27,133 And he was excited because he wanted the trees gone as well. 122 00:04:27,200 --> 00:04:30,300 So he mentioned that there was a family relationship 123 00:04:30,367 --> 00:04:32,000 and that he'd done some work for him 124 00:04:32,066 --> 00:04:33,834 and that he'd get him to take care of it. 125 00:04:33,900 --> 00:04:36,533 Well, lo and behold, a couple days later, I look at my cameras, 126 00:04:36,600 --> 00:04:37,734 and they're in the backyard, 127 00:04:37,800 --> 00:04:40,033 taking a look at the trees and walking around the yard. 128 00:04:40,100 --> 00:04:41,100 And, like, I like the neighbor. 129 00:04:41,166 --> 00:04:42,567 I built a good relationship with him, so... 130 00:04:42,633 --> 00:04:47,133 Now, do you remember what specifically your neighbor told you, though, 131 00:04:47,200 --> 00:04:48,933 about the plaintiff, 132 00:04:49,000 --> 00:04:52,300 and as far as making sure to get certain things in writing 133 00:04:52,367 --> 00:04:55,367 so that there's no mistaking his scope of work? 134 00:04:55,433 --> 00:04:56,933 [Romando] Yeah, well, he didn't say to get it in writing. 135 00:04:57,000 --> 00:05:00,066 He just said, "Make sure that he tells you that he's gonna get those stumps gone 136 00:05:00,133 --> 00:05:02,000 because after he finished mine, 137 00:05:02,066 --> 00:05:04,367 I had to get out there in the yard and I had to do some work." 138 00:05:04,433 --> 00:05:07,467 And so when Mr. Reiner showed up, before he started the job, 139 00:05:07,533 --> 00:05:09,533 we were standing in my front yard and I looked down and said, 140 00:05:09,600 --> 00:05:12,200 "I want to be clear that you're going to get the stumps gone 141 00:05:12,266 --> 00:05:13,667 and there won't be anything left behind." 142 00:05:13,734 --> 00:05:15,333 He said, "Yes, sir, Mr. Reed, that's correct." 143 00:05:15,400 --> 00:05:16,600 And then I asked him about payment. 144 00:05:16,667 --> 00:05:19,000 He said, "You don't pay me until the job is done." 145 00:05:19,066 --> 00:05:21,834 [Adam] And so instead of taking a deposit up front, 146 00:05:21,900 --> 00:05:23,767 which would be reasonable to do, he said, 147 00:05:23,834 --> 00:05:25,900 "Don't pay a nickel until the whole job is done." 148 00:05:25,967 --> 00:05:26,800 Yes, Your Honor. 149 00:05:26,867 --> 00:05:29,600 But I think that the conversation that you just testified about 150 00:05:29,667 --> 00:05:31,867 that you had with your neighbor is a little different here 151 00:05:31,934 --> 00:05:34,400 than it was in the answer that you submitted 152 00:05:34,467 --> 00:05:36,734 in response to the plaintiff's complaint. 153 00:05:36,800 --> 00:05:38,567 In your answer, you said that the plaintiff 154 00:05:38,633 --> 00:05:42,467 was referred by your neighbor, who, according to you, 155 00:05:42,533 --> 00:05:45,800 cautioned you to make sure that the plaintiff 156 00:05:45,867 --> 00:05:49,200 cleaned up the debris after he was done. 157 00:05:49,300 --> 00:05:50,266 Is that still your testimony? 158 00:05:50,332 --> 00:05:51,433 Yeah, I guess I'm still still saying the same thing. 159 00:05:51,500 --> 00:05:53,233 -[Adam] So it wasn't just the stumps? -Yeah. 160 00:05:53,300 --> 00:05:56,800 It wasn't just the stumps that he said you've gotta make sure he takes care of, 161 00:05:56,867 --> 00:05:59,933 but it was also make sure that he takes care of the debris. 162 00:06:00,066 --> 00:06:01,000 Yeah, he's an older guy. 163 00:06:01,066 --> 00:06:02,667 He's like, "Make sure he don't leave the yard a mess." 164 00:06:02,734 --> 00:06:03,800 -That's kinda how he said it. -[Adam] Well, because-- Right. 165 00:06:03,867 --> 00:06:08,367 Well, because my sense is that your neighbor's been through that before. 166 00:06:08,433 --> 00:06:11,300 And he knows that when tree cutters come in, 167 00:06:11,367 --> 00:06:12,900 tree cutters cut trees. 168 00:06:12,967 --> 00:06:16,033 Some tree cutters also grind stumps. 169 00:06:16,100 --> 00:06:17,100 Others farm it out. 170 00:06:17,166 --> 00:06:20,066 But what they don't do, your neighbor seems to have known about, 171 00:06:20,133 --> 00:06:22,567 was clean up the debris or level out the property 172 00:06:22,633 --> 00:06:24,166 because that's a job for a landscaper. 173 00:06:24,233 --> 00:06:27,967 That's what I get a sense your neighbor was trying to convey to you. 174 00:06:28,033 --> 00:06:32,200 Before this contract was signed and the work was done by the plaintiff, 175 00:06:32,266 --> 00:06:35,433 had you ever had trees taken down on a property before? 176 00:06:35,500 --> 00:06:37,900 Not to this degree, just I had pruning and everything, but-- 177 00:06:38,000 --> 00:06:38,834 -Pruning. -[Romando] Yeah. 178 00:06:38,900 --> 00:06:40,500 But never stump grinding. 179 00:06:40,567 --> 00:06:42,633 Not stump grinding, but I had that conversation. 180 00:06:42,700 --> 00:06:46,367 The conversation I had with him, I had it with everyone who gave me a proposal, 181 00:06:46,500 --> 00:06:47,332 in the same way. 182 00:06:47,400 --> 00:06:50,166 As far as the stump goes and as far as cleaning up the debris? 183 00:06:50,233 --> 00:06:51,734 Yeah, I made it clear exactly how I wanted my yard, 184 00:06:51,800 --> 00:06:52,967 how I wanted it to be when it was done. 185 00:06:53,033 --> 00:06:54,166 [Adam] What do you do for a living, sir? 186 00:06:54,233 --> 00:06:55,066 Marketing. 187 00:06:55,133 --> 00:06:58,734 [Adam] In marketing, you sign contracts. Marketing contracts are pretty important. 188 00:06:58,800 --> 00:07:02,166 And you know that a signed contract or an agreement that you have 189 00:07:02,233 --> 00:07:05,734 outlines the scope of your responsibilities, liabilities, 190 00:07:05,800 --> 00:07:07,400 and things of that nature. 191 00:07:07,467 --> 00:07:10,433 It puts everything out there so that you, as the marketing guy, 192 00:07:10,500 --> 00:07:12,333 and whoever it is you're marketing to, 193 00:07:12,400 --> 00:07:14,533 knows what each other's responsibilities are. 194 00:07:14,600 --> 00:07:17,033 Can we put back up the scope of work, please? 195 00:07:17,100 --> 00:07:20,300 So there's nothing on that document, correct, 196 00:07:20,367 --> 00:07:23,700 that indicates that the plaintiff agreed to clean up the debris 197 00:07:23,767 --> 00:07:25,200 and to level the yard, right? 198 00:07:25,266 --> 00:07:26,934 There's nothing on that contract. 199 00:07:27,000 --> 00:07:28,934 Yeah, and at no point, you can see in my text messages, 200 00:07:29,000 --> 00:07:30,567 I didn't ask that he level the yard. 201 00:07:30,633 --> 00:07:34,133 I just asked that he clean up the debris that was left behind by the grinder, 202 00:07:34,200 --> 00:07:35,567 which in the photos you can see 203 00:07:35,633 --> 00:07:38,300 there's a lot of chunks of wood and wood chips. 204 00:07:38,367 --> 00:07:39,367 I never asked him. 205 00:07:39,433 --> 00:07:41,834 I even specified, "I'm not asking you to level my yard." 206 00:07:41,900 --> 00:07:42,767 [Adam] I get that. I get that. 207 00:07:42,834 --> 00:07:43,967 "I'm just asking you to clean up the remaining debris." 208 00:07:44,033 --> 00:07:46,133 And as you can tell through a lot of the text messages, 209 00:07:46,200 --> 00:07:47,400 a lot of the exchanges in-- 210 00:07:47,467 --> 00:07:49,633 Mr. Reed, I'm not suggesting that you're a bad guy, 211 00:07:49,700 --> 00:07:51,166 that you did anything that was so horrific. 212 00:07:51,233 --> 00:07:52,533 I'm not. I'm not suggesting that at all. 213 00:07:52,600 --> 00:07:56,467 It seems to me that this was just an example of a guy 214 00:07:56,533 --> 00:07:57,900 who does real dangerous work. 215 00:07:57,967 --> 00:08:01,600 He tried to be fair with you by not having you pay any money up front, 216 00:08:01,667 --> 00:08:03,033 and he did all the work. 217 00:08:03,100 --> 00:08:04,000 The grinding was done. 218 00:08:04,066 --> 00:08:06,033 You had to pay for the guy out of your own pocket, right? 219 00:08:06,100 --> 00:08:08,667 So the guy wants to get paid, who came in to do the grinding, 220 00:08:08,734 --> 00:08:11,000 and you didn't pay anything. 221 00:08:11,066 --> 00:08:12,066 Zero. 222 00:08:12,133 --> 00:08:14,066 To say, "I'm gonna give you 2,000 223 00:08:14,133 --> 00:08:16,800 and we're gonna fight over the other 200 bucks," or whatever it was. 224 00:08:16,867 --> 00:08:19,800 As a matter of fact, the plaintiff sent you a text message 225 00:08:19,867 --> 00:08:22,900 in which he said, "No, you know, that that's all landscaping. 226 00:08:22,967 --> 00:08:25,834 We don't clean up chips or level yards. That's landscaping. 227 00:08:25,900 --> 00:08:27,967 The trees are gone and the stumps are ground, 228 00:08:28,033 --> 00:08:29,200 as our contract states. 229 00:08:29,266 --> 00:08:33,900 For an additional $250, I can get a landscaping crew 230 00:08:33,967 --> 00:08:35,900 to bring in a little dirt to fill those holes 231 00:08:35,967 --> 00:08:37,667 and to pick up the chips." 232 00:08:37,734 --> 00:08:38,834 That's what he said to you. 233 00:08:38,900 --> 00:08:42,366 So you knew that it was only gonna be 250 bucks at most 234 00:08:42,433 --> 00:08:43,500 to get that stuff cleaned up, 235 00:08:43,567 --> 00:08:45,433 and you just decided to stiff him for the whole amount. 236 00:08:45,500 --> 00:08:47,100 How do you justify that? 237 00:08:48,967 --> 00:08:51,165 [announcer] Coming up on Tribunal Justice. 238 00:08:51,233 --> 00:08:54,567 If he had sent me an invoice and said, "Please send payment to this address," 239 00:08:54,633 --> 00:08:57,033 or "Can I come by your house and get this payment?" 240 00:08:57,100 --> 00:08:58,033 Is that really fair, though? 241 00:08:58,100 --> 00:09:01,333 Because given the fact that you felt like he'd been disrespectful, 242 00:09:01,400 --> 00:09:05,333 if he said, You're trying to get out of paying me, here's my invoice," 243 00:09:05,400 --> 00:09:07,567 I find it a little hard to believe that you would have said, 244 00:09:07,633 --> 00:09:08,633 "Okay, here's your money." 245 00:09:13,834 --> 00:09:15,667 [theme music playing] 246 00:09:15,734 --> 00:09:18,700 [announcer] David Reiner is suing his former client, 247 00:09:18,767 --> 00:09:22,834 Romando Reed, for payment of tree-cutting services. 248 00:09:22,900 --> 00:09:28,133 Romando claims David ruined his lawn after cutting down the trees. 249 00:09:28,200 --> 00:09:31,200 So you knew that it was only gonna be 250 bucks at most 250 00:09:31,266 --> 00:09:32,600 to get that stuff cleaned up, 251 00:09:32,667 --> 00:09:34,967 and you just decided to stiff him for the whole amount. 252 00:09:35,033 --> 00:09:36,066 How do you justify that? 253 00:09:36,133 --> 00:09:37,467 Because that's not correct, Your Honor. 254 00:09:37,533 --> 00:09:38,367 -[Adam] Tell me. -You don't know that. 255 00:09:38,433 --> 00:09:40,867 -[Adam] Where did I get that wrong? -Because he never actually saw my yard. 256 00:09:40,934 --> 00:09:42,500 He didn't know that it would be 250 to do that. 257 00:09:42,567 --> 00:09:44,767 He can't quote a job that he hasn't seen. 258 00:09:44,834 --> 00:09:46,165 -He can't say that-- -Well, he just did. 259 00:09:46,233 --> 00:09:47,934 -[Romando] It wasn't-- -He just did. 260 00:09:48,000 --> 00:09:49,100 He just did, though. 261 00:09:49,165 --> 00:09:50,633 -Then the last thing before-- -He didn't know-- 262 00:09:50,700 --> 00:09:52,333 [Adam] Hold on one second, please, sir, Mr. Reed, 263 00:09:52,400 --> 00:09:54,600 because I have just one more issue to go through. 264 00:09:54,667 --> 00:09:56,200 And this is a photograph. 265 00:09:56,266 --> 00:09:57,500 What am I looking at here? 266 00:09:57,567 --> 00:10:00,767 [Romando] You're looking at the front yard after me and my family 267 00:10:00,834 --> 00:10:03,033 had spent a few hours working on it. 268 00:10:03,100 --> 00:10:04,033 Okay. 269 00:10:04,100 --> 00:10:05,600 [Romando] There's still a lot of work to be done. 270 00:10:05,667 --> 00:10:07,600 And there's a pile of limbs in one of the photos. 271 00:10:07,667 --> 00:10:10,100 And that's just a sampling of what we have from one of the trees. 272 00:10:10,166 --> 00:10:11,166 -And that's not the largest. -[Adam] I get that. 273 00:10:11,233 --> 00:10:14,333 And how long do you say that it took you and your wife and your son 274 00:10:14,400 --> 00:10:18,600 to do that work that the plaintiff had offered to take care of for you for $250? 275 00:10:18,667 --> 00:10:19,900 That's just a couple hours right there. 276 00:10:19,967 --> 00:10:20,934 [Adam] Okay. 277 00:10:21,000 --> 00:10:24,100 I didn't want to contract additional work through him. 278 00:10:24,166 --> 00:10:26,266 He never saw it. He has no idea what my yard looks like. 279 00:10:26,333 --> 00:10:27,333 I get it. I get it. 280 00:10:27,400 --> 00:10:29,166 I thank you very much, Mr. Reed. Judge Acker. 281 00:10:29,233 --> 00:10:32,700 You know, for me, what I'm trying to figure out is, 282 00:10:32,767 --> 00:10:35,133 what's the normal business practice? 283 00:10:35,200 --> 00:10:40,066 My assumption might be that if you hire someone to do something, 284 00:10:40,133 --> 00:10:43,700 that part of the job includes cleaning up their mess. 285 00:10:43,767 --> 00:10:44,600 -Right? -Right. 286 00:10:44,667 --> 00:10:48,066 [Tanya] So help me understand why cleaning up the chips 287 00:10:48,133 --> 00:10:50,900 isn't normally done in the course of your business. 288 00:10:50,967 --> 00:10:51,934 When you take the chips away 289 00:10:52,000 --> 00:10:53,700 and all the debris that comes off from a stump, 290 00:10:53,767 --> 00:10:54,667 you're gonna leave holes. 291 00:10:54,734 --> 00:10:55,867 That's got to be spread out. 292 00:10:55,934 --> 00:10:57,266 [Tanya] Right. So put the holes aside. 293 00:10:57,333 --> 00:11:00,533 I'm just talking about the messy wood chips that were all over. 294 00:11:00,600 --> 00:11:02,867 Well, that was after I had removed the trees. 295 00:11:02,934 --> 00:11:05,367 Then a stump grinder comes in and grinds all this up, 296 00:11:05,433 --> 00:11:07,066 and that debris there is left. 297 00:11:07,133 --> 00:11:09,834 Once the stump grinder comes in and grinds up the stumps, 298 00:11:09,900 --> 00:11:13,233 is it your position that you can just leave that mess there? 299 00:11:13,300 --> 00:11:16,200 Well, that's common practice for my job. 300 00:11:16,266 --> 00:11:17,633 -[Tanya] It is? -Yes, ma'am. 301 00:11:17,700 --> 00:11:20,333 To me, it defies logic a little bit. 302 00:11:20,400 --> 00:11:22,300 The landscaping, I understand. 303 00:11:22,367 --> 00:11:24,166 Leveling out the land, I understand. 304 00:11:24,233 --> 00:11:25,934 Because if you remove a tree, 305 00:11:26,000 --> 00:11:28,133 then you've got to decide what you're gonna do. 306 00:11:28,200 --> 00:11:29,633 Maybe you're gonna put in bushes. 307 00:11:29,700 --> 00:11:33,700 Like, the job is not to landscape, but cleaning up your mess, 308 00:11:33,767 --> 00:11:35,467 I mean, I feel like I sound like my mother, 309 00:11:35,533 --> 00:11:36,767 like, you just gotta clean up after yourself. 310 00:11:36,867 --> 00:11:37,700 We did. 311 00:11:37,767 --> 00:11:39,066 [Tanya] So that's kind of how I see that. 312 00:11:39,133 --> 00:11:40,667 But no, you didn't entirely. 313 00:11:40,734 --> 00:11:44,066 However, Mr. Reed, 314 00:11:44,133 --> 00:11:48,367 there's a doctrine that we refer to as substantial completion. 315 00:11:48,433 --> 00:11:50,700 Which means that if somebody does most of a job, 316 00:11:50,767 --> 00:11:52,433 even if they don't do it perfectly, 317 00:11:52,500 --> 00:11:56,533 even if you're not entirely happy, you gotta pay them something. 318 00:11:56,600 --> 00:11:59,300 How much time did the plaintiff spend at your home 319 00:11:59,433 --> 00:12:01,166 doing the work that he did do? 320 00:12:01,233 --> 00:12:02,233 I'm not sure. 321 00:12:02,300 --> 00:12:03,967 How much time did you spend at the defendant's home, sir? 322 00:12:04,066 --> 00:12:04,900 Three days. 323 00:12:04,967 --> 00:12:05,900 [Tanya] Three days. How many hours each day? 324 00:12:05,967 --> 00:12:06,934 It was not three full days. 325 00:12:07,000 --> 00:12:08,633 Approximately eight hours a day. 326 00:12:08,700 --> 00:12:09,834 [Tanya] You may dispute that. 327 00:12:09,900 --> 00:12:12,033 You know what? Even if I split the difference, 328 00:12:12,100 --> 00:12:14,934 let's say I'm like, "You say zero hours, he says eight hours," 329 00:12:15,000 --> 00:12:16,467 four hours is still work. 330 00:12:16,533 --> 00:12:19,500 Like, you don't think it's fair to pay him nothing, do you? 331 00:12:19,567 --> 00:12:20,934 I don't, and I wanted to pay him. 332 00:12:21,000 --> 00:12:22,033 I wanted to pay him something. 333 00:12:22,100 --> 00:12:23,500 [Tanya] So why didn't you just pay him something? 334 00:12:23,567 --> 00:12:24,567 He didn't give me a means. 335 00:12:24,633 --> 00:12:26,633 The way he was communicating with me on text message, 336 00:12:26,700 --> 00:12:28,400 the last thing he sent me was disrespectful and I said, "You know what?" 337 00:12:28,467 --> 00:12:29,800 [Tanya] What was the last message? 338 00:12:29,867 --> 00:12:31,700 The last message, he said something about, 339 00:12:31,767 --> 00:12:33,367 "You're just trying to get out of paying this," and I think-- 340 00:12:33,433 --> 00:12:35,900 He did. He said you're trying to get out of paying him, 341 00:12:35,967 --> 00:12:40,000 which at the end of the day, Mr. Reiner, how much money did you make on this job? 342 00:12:40,066 --> 00:12:41,333 -Zero. -Nothing. 343 00:12:41,400 --> 00:12:42,600 [Tanya] And he put some time in. 344 00:12:42,667 --> 00:12:46,165 If he had sent me an invoice and said, "Please send payment to this address," 345 00:12:46,233 --> 00:12:48,266 or "Can I come by your house and get this payment?" 346 00:12:48,333 --> 00:12:49,533 Is that really fair, though? 347 00:12:49,600 --> 00:12:51,467 Because given where the communications were 348 00:12:51,533 --> 00:12:54,967 and given the fact that you weren't happy and given the fact that you felt 349 00:12:55,033 --> 00:12:56,533 like he'd been disrespectful, 350 00:12:56,600 --> 00:13:00,700 if he said, "You're trying to get out of paying me, here's my invoice," 351 00:13:00,767 --> 00:13:03,000 I find it a little hard to believe that you would have said, 352 00:13:03,066 --> 00:13:04,567 -"Okay, here's your money." -I would've paid him. 353 00:13:04,633 --> 00:13:05,500 [Tanya] I don't think that would've happened. 354 00:13:05,567 --> 00:13:06,600 I would not have paid the whole amount. 355 00:13:06,667 --> 00:13:08,333 How much do you think is fair? 356 00:13:08,400 --> 00:13:10,100 At this point, I don't know because I'm still looking at it 357 00:13:10,166 --> 00:13:12,333 with other landscaping jobs, because that is and now-- 358 00:13:12,400 --> 00:13:14,800 [Tanya] But see, now you're talking about landscaping jobs. 359 00:13:14,867 --> 00:13:15,867 'Cause that's the only person that's gonna look at it. 360 00:13:15,934 --> 00:13:17,367 No tree cutter is gonna come back and say, 361 00:13:17,433 --> 00:13:18,900 "Let me clean up this man's mess." 362 00:13:18,967 --> 00:13:20,767 Every single landscaper I've had looked at this said, 363 00:13:20,834 --> 00:13:22,333 "I can't believe he left your yard like this." 364 00:13:22,400 --> 00:13:25,734 But where we agree is that you concede 365 00:13:25,800 --> 00:13:28,533 that the value of the work that he did is worth something. 366 00:13:28,600 --> 00:13:30,467 It's worth more than the zero dollars you paid him. 367 00:13:30,533 --> 00:13:33,066 Yeah, I don't think anybody who puts in work should not get zero. 368 00:13:33,133 --> 00:13:37,200 The dispute here is not over the fact that he didn't send you an invoice. 369 00:13:37,266 --> 00:13:41,433 The dispute is that you weren't happy with the job that he thought was complete. 370 00:13:41,500 --> 00:13:42,834 So that's the dispute. 371 00:13:42,900 --> 00:13:46,867 For my part, I want to try to figure out the value of the work that you did do. 372 00:13:46,934 --> 00:13:49,633 I think I'll discuss that with my colleagues. Judge DiMango. 373 00:13:49,700 --> 00:13:51,266 I'm looking at this photograph. 374 00:13:52,467 --> 00:13:55,934 And in this photograph, in addition to wood chips, 375 00:13:56,000 --> 00:13:59,000 I see leaves, a lot, a lot, a lot of leaves. 376 00:13:59,066 --> 00:14:01,200 Now, if you were to have somebody come in 377 00:14:01,266 --> 00:14:03,900 and clean up these leaves other than yourselves, 378 00:14:03,967 --> 00:14:07,100 they would have cleaned up all of the little chips with it 379 00:14:07,166 --> 00:14:09,500 because they couldn't have picked up around the leaves. 380 00:14:09,567 --> 00:14:11,834 They would've had to pick up the chips with it. 381 00:14:11,900 --> 00:14:14,934 Just a point because you ended up taking on this task, 382 00:14:15,000 --> 00:14:17,633 which was an onerous task as you've admitted. 383 00:14:17,700 --> 00:14:20,967 And that included you getting rid of leaves and shredding. 384 00:14:21,033 --> 00:14:23,567 Now, I also have had a tree removed. 385 00:14:23,633 --> 00:14:28,367 And I've also had one moved with the stump being ground and one without. 386 00:14:28,433 --> 00:14:31,367 And like your contract here, sir, 387 00:14:31,433 --> 00:14:35,033 the individual whom I hired to cut the trees down 388 00:14:35,100 --> 00:14:37,165 did not have a stump grinding. 389 00:14:37,233 --> 00:14:39,533 And the first thing he said to me was, 390 00:14:39,600 --> 00:14:42,367 [gruff voice] "If you want your stumps ground, I don't do that. 391 00:14:42,433 --> 00:14:44,000 Somebody else has to do that for you." 392 00:14:44,066 --> 00:14:45,834 -So the reason I made-- -Did he say it in that voice? 393 00:14:45,900 --> 00:14:47,533 Yeah, yeah, that was exactly it. That's why I wanted... 394 00:14:47,600 --> 00:14:49,133 -[laughter] -I wanted to make a point. 395 00:14:49,200 --> 00:14:51,400 Now you get the feel for it, right? 396 00:14:51,467 --> 00:14:53,367 That's it, it's making you feel it. 397 00:14:53,433 --> 00:14:56,900 So when he says that, I say back to him very sweetly, 398 00:14:56,967 --> 00:14:59,033 [sweet voice] "Oh, thank you very much for telling me that." 399 00:14:59,100 --> 00:15:02,133 Now, if you think I speak like that, you are mistaken, too. 400 00:15:02,200 --> 00:15:07,867 So the bottom line is, we're looking at, in my mind, two contracts here: 401 00:15:07,934 --> 00:15:10,500 a contract between you and the defendant 402 00:15:10,567 --> 00:15:14,567 and a contract or, loosely stated, an agreement 403 00:15:14,633 --> 00:15:17,600 between you and the stump grinder. 404 00:15:17,667 --> 00:15:20,734 The fellow that does your grinding, what do you tell him to do? 405 00:15:20,800 --> 00:15:22,033 Grind the stump, that's it. 406 00:15:22,100 --> 00:15:26,867 And when the stump is ground, are there all small pieces of... 407 00:15:26,934 --> 00:15:28,433 Yes, ma'am, just little, small chips. 408 00:15:28,500 --> 00:15:30,033 [Patricia] Chips everywhere? 409 00:15:30,100 --> 00:15:33,066 The hole where the stump used to be and all the roots he chased out. 410 00:15:33,133 --> 00:15:35,367 It's two kind of points, that if he did work for him, 411 00:15:35,433 --> 00:15:36,934 he never came back to check that man's work, 412 00:15:37,000 --> 00:15:41,633 and the stump-grinding person said, "This is my business, I do work for him." 413 00:15:41,700 --> 00:15:44,967 Before, the guy, he left, I said, "Who's gonna clean up this mess?" 414 00:15:45,033 --> 00:15:47,100 And he said, "He'll be back to take care of that." 415 00:15:47,165 --> 00:15:50,000 And so it just baffles me that he wouldn't drive to my house 416 00:15:50,066 --> 00:15:51,734 to look at my yard to see my concerns. 417 00:15:51,800 --> 00:15:52,767 And it wasn't just the stump. 418 00:15:52,834 --> 00:15:54,633 [Patricia] He took everything that he cut down. 419 00:15:54,700 --> 00:15:55,633 He took all the trees down. 420 00:15:55,700 --> 00:15:57,533 [Romando] Yeah, I think we'll see in the photo. It wasn't just all those. 421 00:15:57,600 --> 00:15:58,934 There were lots of pieces of trees that's in my backyard. 422 00:15:59,000 --> 00:16:02,333 I saw pieces. I'm gonna show you because you've referred to it twice. 423 00:16:02,400 --> 00:16:05,867 I have that photograph right here that you're referring to. 424 00:16:05,934 --> 00:16:08,834 That's the one with the pile that you pushed off to the side. 425 00:16:08,900 --> 00:16:09,734 Am I right about that? 426 00:16:09,800 --> 00:16:12,367 Yeah, that's just one of the small piles of what was there. 427 00:16:12,433 --> 00:16:14,567 -[Patricia] But that's-- -And that's just the front yard. 428 00:16:14,633 --> 00:16:15,967 And he left a similar pile in the backyard. 429 00:16:16,033 --> 00:16:17,800 -And I'm not saying-- -This. Right? 430 00:16:17,867 --> 00:16:20,834 That's what you're referring to. This is what you pushed off to the side. 431 00:16:20,900 --> 00:16:23,100 -Yeah. -[Patricia] Okay. 432 00:16:23,166 --> 00:16:25,867 [announcer] Coming up on Tribunal Justice. 433 00:16:25,934 --> 00:16:29,834 So do you have any text messages between November 10th, 434 00:16:29,900 --> 00:16:32,333 the initial meeting, and November 16th, 435 00:16:32,400 --> 00:16:36,367 the date that the job started, in which the plaintiff agreed 436 00:16:36,433 --> 00:16:39,767 to clean up the debris at the house? 437 00:16:44,433 --> 00:16:48,233 [theme music playing] 438 00:16:48,300 --> 00:16:50,934 Now, do you have any contracts that you've written, 439 00:16:51,000 --> 00:16:53,567 where you have included the cleanup of the chips? 440 00:16:53,633 --> 00:16:56,233 No, ma'am. I've never cleaned up stump chips. 441 00:16:56,300 --> 00:17:01,533 Now, there are going to be smaller pieces of things that are strewn about the yard 442 00:17:01,600 --> 00:17:03,934 that, unless somebody comes in with the rake and is gonna 443 00:17:04,000 --> 00:17:06,266 rake up the whole yard, are going to be left behind. 444 00:17:06,333 --> 00:17:08,032 And I think that's more than a rake. 445 00:17:08,099 --> 00:17:11,032 Were you gonna hire somebody to come in and landscape this yard? 446 00:17:11,099 --> 00:17:13,666 We haven't decided what we wanna do, how we wanna do it. 447 00:17:13,733 --> 00:17:15,834 We just knew we wanted to get those trees cut down 448 00:17:15,900 --> 00:17:18,066 because they presented a danger with the storms that were coming. 449 00:17:18,133 --> 00:17:21,333 Because usually if you hire a landscaper, they wanna get rid of the leaves 450 00:17:21,400 --> 00:17:22,767 because they ruin your property. 451 00:17:22,834 --> 00:17:25,233 They would come in and clean up that whole mess. 452 00:17:25,300 --> 00:17:29,000 And I don't know whether or not somebody who's grinding the stump 453 00:17:29,066 --> 00:17:34,233 could have removed just the chips without, in fact, cleaning up your yard. 454 00:17:34,300 --> 00:17:36,333 Which brings us back to landscaping. 455 00:17:36,400 --> 00:17:38,934 Because where I'm on the fence, too, is, you know, you take on a job, 456 00:17:39,000 --> 00:17:40,767 you take on a responsibility. 457 00:17:40,834 --> 00:17:44,367 The job would involve cleanup, as well, to some extent. 458 00:17:44,433 --> 00:17:46,900 But I know your position is, the cleanup you do 459 00:17:46,967 --> 00:17:49,333 is to remove the large pieces that you take down. 460 00:17:49,400 --> 00:17:51,734 And your position is, "No, my yard should be clean." 461 00:17:51,800 --> 00:17:53,033 So I'm gonna leave. 462 00:17:53,100 --> 00:17:55,166 With that in mind, I'm gonna have Judge Levy. 463 00:17:55,233 --> 00:17:56,100 You have any other questions? 464 00:17:56,166 --> 00:17:58,500 Just real-- Yeah, just two real quick ones. 465 00:17:58,567 --> 00:18:01,266 You mentioned, Mr. Reed, about text messages 466 00:18:01,333 --> 00:18:03,767 that you had back and forth with the plaintiff. 467 00:18:03,834 --> 00:18:07,066 So we know that you met with him on November 10th. 468 00:18:07,133 --> 00:18:09,734 We know that the job started November 16th, 469 00:18:09,800 --> 00:18:12,633 and we know that the job ended on November 22nd. 470 00:18:12,700 --> 00:18:15,500 So do you have any text messages 471 00:18:15,567 --> 00:18:18,200 between November 10th, the initial meeting, 472 00:18:18,266 --> 00:18:21,533 and November 16th, the date that the job started, 473 00:18:21,600 --> 00:18:26,333 in which the plaintiff agreed to clean up the debris at the house? 474 00:18:26,400 --> 00:18:28,100 That's the conversation we had in-- 475 00:18:28,166 --> 00:18:29,734 [Adam] I'm asking texts. I'm asking texts. 476 00:18:29,800 --> 00:18:32,300 No, because I didn't know he was coming until that day. 477 00:18:32,367 --> 00:18:36,600 Okay, so there's no text message between the 10th and the 16th 478 00:18:36,667 --> 00:18:39,133 in which he agreed to any type of cleanup. 479 00:18:39,200 --> 00:18:42,500 Do you have any texts between the 16th and the 22nd 480 00:18:42,567 --> 00:18:46,367 indicating that the plaintiff agreed to do that cleanup? 481 00:18:46,433 --> 00:18:47,300 There are none. 482 00:18:47,367 --> 00:18:50,066 The only thing he said was that was not part of the deal. 483 00:18:50,133 --> 00:18:51,300 That's landscaping. 484 00:18:51,367 --> 00:18:53,266 You would agree that that's what the texts say? 485 00:18:53,333 --> 00:18:55,633 Just what the texts say, not what you spoke about orally. 486 00:18:55,700 --> 00:18:58,367 Yeah, that wasn't texts, that was discussed verbally. 487 00:18:58,433 --> 00:18:59,867 Thank you. I have nothing further. 488 00:18:59,934 --> 00:19:01,400 We're gonna retire to deliberate. Thank you both. 489 00:19:01,467 --> 00:19:04,600 Court now stands in recess. Parties are excused. 490 00:19:04,667 --> 00:19:07,633 [theme music playing] 491 00:19:07,700 --> 00:19:10,000 Both the plaintiff and the defendant, I think, 492 00:19:10,066 --> 00:19:11,834 came in here and testified honestly. 493 00:19:11,900 --> 00:19:14,867 There was no effort to exaggerate or minimize or lie 494 00:19:14,934 --> 00:19:16,500 like we've seen in so many other cases. 495 00:19:16,567 --> 00:19:19,667 What we have here, I believe, is just expectations 496 00:19:19,734 --> 00:19:21,533 and unreasonable expectations, perhaps. 497 00:19:21,600 --> 00:19:24,367 The plaintiff is a tree guy. 498 00:19:24,433 --> 00:19:25,867 He doesn't use a rake. 499 00:19:25,934 --> 00:19:27,400 The stump-grinding guy, 500 00:19:27,467 --> 00:19:28,800 he uses a stump grinder. 501 00:19:28,867 --> 00:19:29,767 That's what he does. 502 00:19:29,834 --> 00:19:33,266 If you want that work done, that is something that's extra. 503 00:19:33,333 --> 00:19:34,400 That's cleanup. 504 00:19:34,467 --> 00:19:40,367 Knowing that the only contract and proposal did not provide for cleanup, 505 00:19:40,433 --> 00:19:43,900 and there is not one text message, based upon my last questions, 506 00:19:43,967 --> 00:19:47,433 between the date that they met and the date that they started, 507 00:19:47,500 --> 00:19:51,433 that the plaintiff ever acknowledged that he would also do cleanup. 508 00:19:51,500 --> 00:19:53,800 This is just something that was in the defendant's mind. 509 00:19:53,867 --> 00:19:57,033 He, like so many other people, says it only makes sense 510 00:19:57,100 --> 00:19:57,934 that you clean it up. 511 00:19:58,000 --> 00:20:00,900 Well, that may make sense to people, 512 00:20:00,967 --> 00:20:03,233 but that's not the way that the business operates. 513 00:20:03,300 --> 00:20:08,166 So, in my opinion, I believe that the plaintiff has made out his case. 514 00:20:08,233 --> 00:20:11,533 It has nothing to do with ill will on the part of the defendant or what have you. 515 00:20:11,600 --> 00:20:15,600 But I believe he's entitled to every penny of his $2,200. 516 00:20:15,667 --> 00:20:18,867 I mean, honestly, Adam, my common sense is like, 517 00:20:18,934 --> 00:20:20,533 you should clean up these wood chips. 518 00:20:20,600 --> 00:20:24,400 I don't dispute what you're saying about it not being the practice, 519 00:20:24,467 --> 00:20:27,467 but I also believe the defendant when the defendant says, 520 00:20:27,533 --> 00:20:30,767 "I talked to him about this and he was gonna do it." 521 00:20:30,834 --> 00:20:33,400 So I think there was a misunderstanding. 522 00:20:33,467 --> 00:20:36,266 I'm just trying to figure out what makes the most sense reasonably. 523 00:20:36,333 --> 00:20:39,033 -In the-- -I think that the difference is that 524 00:20:39,100 --> 00:20:41,367 the plaintiff meant, "Yeah, I'm gonna clean up 525 00:20:41,433 --> 00:20:42,867 what I've taken down. 526 00:20:42,934 --> 00:20:46,934 I do not grind. The grinder comes in and he grinds." 527 00:20:47,000 --> 00:20:50,667 So I think that when the plaintiff said, "I'm gonna take off what I do," 528 00:20:50,734 --> 00:20:52,000 I think that's what he meant. 529 00:20:52,066 --> 00:20:55,100 And I'm gonna fall on the same side of the fence as you. 530 00:20:55,166 --> 00:20:57,133 I think that he should be paid for the work he did, in full. 531 00:20:57,200 --> 00:21:00,233 I definitely think he should be paid something. 532 00:21:00,300 --> 00:21:03,233 And I think that you both have dragged me over the fence 533 00:21:03,333 --> 00:21:04,166 or up that tree. 534 00:21:04,233 --> 00:21:05,734 -Yes! Yes! Yes! -We dragged you out with the mulch. 535 00:21:05,800 --> 00:21:08,066 -You dragged me up that tree. -We dragged you with the debris. 536 00:21:08,133 --> 00:21:09,333 With the debris and the mulch. 537 00:21:09,400 --> 00:21:12,200 I mean, there's no question that the job was substantially completed. 538 00:21:12,266 --> 00:21:14,667 -So I'm on board. -Great. Thank you. 539 00:21:14,734 --> 00:21:18,400 [theme music playing] 540 00:21:18,467 --> 00:21:19,633 Court is back in session. 541 00:21:19,700 --> 00:21:21,400 Parties are reminded you're still under oath. 542 00:21:21,467 --> 00:21:22,934 [Adam] Thank you, Byrd. -[Byrd] Mm-hmm. 543 00:21:23,000 --> 00:21:27,233 So, Mr. Reiner, you're suing the defendant for the full payment of $2,200 544 00:21:27,300 --> 00:21:29,533 for the work that you performed at his residence. 545 00:21:29,600 --> 00:21:31,734 And, Mr. Reed, you didn't pay, in part, 546 00:21:31,800 --> 00:21:34,333 because you said that the job wasn't completed. 547 00:21:34,400 --> 00:21:36,567 Unfortunately, Mr. Reed, the contract itself, 548 00:21:36,633 --> 00:21:38,967 the scope of work, it was written down, 549 00:21:39,033 --> 00:21:41,100 on the contract, does not include cleanup. 550 00:21:41,166 --> 00:21:44,400 Your testimony that the plaintiff had previously told you 551 00:21:44,467 --> 00:21:47,767 before the contract was signed that he would clean up the debris 552 00:21:47,834 --> 00:21:51,533 is contradicted and not supported by the text messages 553 00:21:51,600 --> 00:21:52,734 that you provided us. 554 00:21:52,800 --> 00:21:58,066 At no time did the plaintiff ever say that he would clean up the debris. 555 00:21:58,133 --> 00:22:00,567 So I can understand your point 556 00:22:00,633 --> 00:22:03,667 about wanting some more respect from the plaintiff 557 00:22:03,734 --> 00:22:05,600 in coming to your home and discussing it. 558 00:22:05,667 --> 00:22:08,000 He wasn't prepared to do that for whatever reason, 559 00:22:08,066 --> 00:22:09,767 but it doesn't mean he should not have gotten paid. 560 00:22:09,834 --> 00:22:12,700 So it is the unanimous verdict of the court 561 00:22:12,767 --> 00:22:17,000 that the plaintiff has met his burden and is entitled to the full amount 562 00:22:17,066 --> 00:22:18,834 of $2,200. 563 00:22:18,900 --> 00:22:20,800 The verdict of the court. Thank you. 564 00:22:20,867 --> 00:22:21,700 Thank you, Your Honor. 565 00:22:21,767 --> 00:22:25,066 This case is now concluded. Parties are excused. You may step out. 566 00:22:28,600 --> 00:22:30,367 I just thought that he would honor his word, 567 00:22:30,433 --> 00:22:32,367 which is really big with where we're from, 568 00:22:32,433 --> 00:22:33,800 but he didn't, and he wasn't honest, 569 00:22:33,867 --> 00:22:35,567 and he didn't tell the truth in there, so... 570 00:22:35,633 --> 00:22:37,533 I think Mr. Reed's a pretty good fella. 571 00:22:37,600 --> 00:22:39,467 I mean, if that's the way he wants to do business, 572 00:22:39,533 --> 00:22:41,100 that's what he has to go forward with. 573 00:22:41,166 --> 00:22:43,433 I know I pay my bills, my electricians, my plumbers. 574 00:22:43,500 --> 00:22:45,200 Anybody that does work, I pay those. 575 00:22:45,266 --> 00:22:48,300 Dismay. I knew I was gonna have a battle on my hands. 576 00:22:48,367 --> 00:22:51,734 He's the only person that didn't get paid because he didn't do the work. 577 00:22:51,800 --> 00:22:53,767 And now he'll get paid for doing some work. 578 00:22:53,834 --> 00:22:54,834 It just wasn't honest. 579 00:22:54,900 --> 00:22:57,800 Nothing's gonna change my business or nothing. 580 00:22:57,867 --> 00:23:00,266 [announcer] Does someone owe you money? 581 00:23:00,333 --> 00:23:03,734 Let Tribunal Justice decide your case. 582 00:23:03,800 --> 00:23:06,700 Find us on social media at Tribunal Justice. 583 00:23:06,767 --> 00:23:09,700 [theme music playing]