1 00:00:06,367 --> 00:00:09,200 You did rent your horse barn to her, is that correct? 2 00:00:09,266 --> 00:00:10,467 Yes, ma'am. 3 00:00:10,533 --> 00:00:14,000 Power has turned off again, no notice. And the water's off. 4 00:00:14,066 --> 00:00:16,567 It's not just once that the water goes off. 5 00:00:16,633 --> 00:00:17,934 How many times was it? 6 00:00:18,000 --> 00:00:19,166 It was five times. 7 00:00:20,100 --> 00:00:23,033 - What is that? - One of the metal gates rusted and broke. 8 00:00:23,100 --> 00:00:25,834 This type of an injury to a service horse, 9 00:00:25,900 --> 00:00:28,533 and this is how a landlord treats a tenant 10 00:00:28,600 --> 00:00:30,133 who has treated her so well. 11 00:00:30,200 --> 00:00:32,567 [announcer] Now on Tribunal Justice. 12 00:00:32,633 --> 00:00:36,000 ["Ride of the Valkyries" plays] 13 00:00:54,100 --> 00:00:57,900 [announcer] Today's case was filed in Pasadena, California. 14 00:00:57,967 --> 00:01:00,600 [Byrd] Your Honor, this is case number 2018 on the count 15 00:01:00,667 --> 00:01:03,100 in the matter of Curry versus Reynolds. 16 00:01:03,166 --> 00:01:04,934 - Thank you. - Parties have been sworn in, Judge. 17 00:01:05,000 --> 00:01:06,367 You may be seated. 18 00:01:06,433 --> 00:01:07,700 - [Judge DiMango] Thanks, Byrd. - [Byrd] Uh-hmm. 19 00:01:07,767 --> 00:01:09,033 [Judge DiMango] All right, Ms. Curry. 20 00:01:09,100 --> 00:01:11,967 You have a landlord-tenant relationship with the defendant, 21 00:01:12,033 --> 00:01:14,567 but you're not really the tenant, it's your two horses 22 00:01:14,633 --> 00:01:16,600 - that are the tenants there, correct? - Yes, ma'am. 23 00:01:16,667 --> 00:01:20,500 And you did rent your two-stall horse barn to her? 24 00:01:20,567 --> 00:01:21,934 - Yes. - [Judge DiMango] Okay. 25 00:01:22,000 --> 00:01:23,667 You rent it for five years. 26 00:01:23,734 --> 00:01:27,767 You say that she didn't provide you with those things that she promised. 27 00:01:27,834 --> 00:01:31,233 She actually unlawfully withheld your security deposit, 28 00:01:31,300 --> 00:01:34,533 and you're here suing for bodily harm and pain and suffering, 29 00:01:34,600 --> 00:01:36,400 your horses' pain and suffering, 30 00:01:36,467 --> 00:01:39,333 your horses' medicine, and that's $5,000. 31 00:01:39,400 --> 00:01:42,000 What you say is that she was the one 32 00:01:42,066 --> 00:01:44,767 that was taking exception to the terms of the lease. 33 00:01:44,834 --> 00:01:48,967 And in fact, you've interposed a counterclaim here for $2,700. 34 00:01:49,033 --> 00:01:50,700 - Your counterclaim... - 2,701. 35 00:01:50,767 --> 00:01:52,767 - [Judge DiMango] Oh, let me... - That one is important. 36 00:01:52,834 --> 00:01:55,200 - $2,701... - [Carol] Yes, ma'am. 37 00:01:55,265 --> 00:01:59,300 ... for her refusal to take out all of the trash that she had left there 38 00:01:59,366 --> 00:02:00,867 and for other damages. 39 00:02:00,934 --> 00:02:03,300 All right. Ms. Curry, your two horses 40 00:02:03,367 --> 00:02:05,600 are Ruby and Flash, is that correct? 41 00:02:05,667 --> 00:02:06,667 Yes, ma'am. 42 00:02:06,734 --> 00:02:08,967 Let's see a picture of Ruby and Flash. 43 00:02:09,032 --> 00:02:12,533 - Ruby is the white horse with you... - That is correct. 44 00:02:12,600 --> 00:02:13,900 - [Judge DiMango] Service horse. - [Susan] She was my service horse. 45 00:02:13,967 --> 00:02:14,967 - She saved my life. - [Judge DiMango] All right. 46 00:02:15,033 --> 00:02:16,600 And Flash is your husband's horse? 47 00:02:16,667 --> 00:02:17,834 [Susan] He's a buckskin, yes. 48 00:02:17,900 --> 00:02:20,834 Where are your horses now since you did move out, correct? 49 00:02:20,900 --> 00:02:22,834 We moved back to Albuquerque after 20 years. 50 00:02:22,900 --> 00:02:24,900 - And did you bring the horses with you? - Yes, ma'am. 51 00:02:24,966 --> 00:02:27,000 [Judge DiMango] But how did you find her location? 52 00:02:27,066 --> 00:02:32,466 Actually, um, we met at a, uh, boarding stables in Glendale. 53 00:02:32,533 --> 00:02:34,667 [Judge DiMango] I think we have a video of what it looked like before 54 00:02:34,734 --> 00:02:35,900 - when you first... - That is correct. I did. 55 00:02:35,966 --> 00:02:37,700 [Judge DiMango] So let's see what you saw 56 00:02:37,767 --> 00:02:40,233 - when you decided to rent the property. - [Susan] Okay. 57 00:02:40,300 --> 00:02:41,633 [Judge DiMango] Maybe you can tell us what we see, 58 00:02:41,700 --> 00:02:43,533 'cause all I basically see is dirt. 59 00:02:43,600 --> 00:02:46,166 You know, the allure there is missing for me. 60 00:02:46,233 --> 00:02:49,066 [Carol] Well, number one, you know, this is a nice-looking barn. 61 00:02:49,133 --> 00:02:52,533 It's large. It has indoor stalls and outdoor stalls, 62 00:02:52,600 --> 00:02:54,367 and the indoor stalls were very large. 63 00:02:54,433 --> 00:02:56,834 So you apparently have some prime horse real estate there? 64 00:02:56,900 --> 00:02:57,900 [Carol] Yes, ma'am. 65 00:02:57,966 --> 00:02:59,233 [Judge DiMango] And where do you keep your horses? 66 00:02:59,300 --> 00:03:02,633 At the--well, at the barn that I met Susan at. 67 00:03:02,700 --> 00:03:05,166 [Judge DiMango] But you don't keep your horses on your property. 68 00:03:05,233 --> 00:03:07,633 Because that house there, that main house, is that your house? 69 00:03:07,700 --> 00:03:09,266 - Yes. It was a rental. - Okay. 70 00:03:09,333 --> 00:03:10,800 - Okay. - But I moved back in. 71 00:03:10,867 --> 00:03:13,233 [Judge DiMango] Okay. So you're there, and now what? 72 00:03:13,300 --> 00:03:15,567 What happens? Everything's going fine, right? 73 00:03:15,633 --> 00:03:17,533 [Susan] So my husband is a well-seasoned carpenter 74 00:03:17,600 --> 00:03:19,033 who did a lot of the work 75 00:03:19,100 --> 00:03:21,633 and she did always ask, you know, "Can your husband do this? 76 00:03:21,700 --> 00:03:24,133 Can your husband do that?" And we did. And she... 77 00:03:24,200 --> 00:03:25,367 Well, you're there. You're staying there. 78 00:03:25,433 --> 00:03:27,600 You have your horse there. So let's get to stuff, that other thing. 79 00:03:27,667 --> 00:03:31,100 That you're claiming Ruby was injured by the broken gate? 80 00:03:31,166 --> 00:03:32,166 - [Susan] Yes. - Correct? 81 00:03:32,233 --> 00:03:35,233 That happened, um, I was actually out of town 82 00:03:35,300 --> 00:03:39,300 when that happened and the, um, horse mucker who took care of them, 83 00:03:39,367 --> 00:03:42,333 she had, uh, one of the metal gates rusted and broke. 84 00:03:42,400 --> 00:03:45,667 [Judge DiMango] You didn't see it, so all you can tell us would be hearsay, 85 00:03:45,734 --> 00:03:48,900 but you did see that she had injuries that she didn't have before you left. 86 00:03:48,966 --> 00:03:51,333 You're suing for those as damages, correct? 87 00:03:51,400 --> 00:03:52,567 That's part of it, correct. 88 00:03:52,633 --> 00:03:55,100 And did you read your lease in its entirety? 89 00:03:55,166 --> 00:03:56,166 Yes, ma'am. 90 00:03:56,233 --> 00:03:59,700 [Judge DiMango] And did you read the part where you signed release of liability? 91 00:03:59,767 --> 00:04:03,066 Because, you know, as much as you love Ruby, it's property. 92 00:04:03,133 --> 00:04:07,200 And any damage to property, you waived your right to sue the defendant for. 93 00:04:07,266 --> 00:04:09,033 - Did you read that? - Yes. 94 00:04:09,100 --> 00:04:12,967 [Judge DiMango] And you're also suing for the horses' pain and suffering, 95 00:04:13,033 --> 00:04:16,500 and I don't wanna upset you but it's longstanding legal authority 96 00:04:16,567 --> 00:04:19,567 that humans cannot sue for pain and suffering 97 00:04:19,632 --> 00:04:21,033 on behalf of their animals, 98 00:04:21,100 --> 00:04:24,700 no matter how much they think that they're family and they love them. 99 00:04:24,767 --> 00:04:26,400 It's a case you can't prove. 100 00:04:26,467 --> 00:04:30,367 But your pain and suffering, you were injured, according to you, 101 00:04:30,433 --> 00:04:34,166 by an altercation with an employee of the defendant, would that be correct? 102 00:04:34,233 --> 00:04:35,233 Yes, I was. 103 00:04:35,300 --> 00:04:36,200 [Judge DiMango] Who was your employee, ma'am? 104 00:04:36,266 --> 00:04:37,367 My worker. 105 00:04:37,433 --> 00:04:38,800 [Judge DiMango] And that worker, you claim, 106 00:04:38,867 --> 00:04:40,567 kinda knocked something out of your hand? 107 00:04:40,633 --> 00:04:42,367 He smacked the phone out of my hand. 108 00:04:42,433 --> 00:04:44,233 Now, the police, when they arrived, 109 00:04:44,300 --> 00:04:47,166 they interviewed an independent witness to that incident. 110 00:04:47,233 --> 00:04:49,133 -Yes. -And that person said two things. 111 00:04:49,200 --> 00:04:53,867 One, he was provoked and was in fear of his own safety basically. 112 00:04:53,933 --> 00:04:57,367 And second, that it was not for a half hour 113 00:04:57,433 --> 00:05:01,000 that you pointed out what appeared to be a bruise on your hand. 114 00:05:01,066 --> 00:05:03,633 - We have a photo of that. - Uh-hmm. 115 00:05:03,700 --> 00:05:06,233 But there's another photo that does not show that, 116 00:05:06,300 --> 00:05:09,867 because there's something over the top of that that was not clear. 117 00:05:09,934 --> 00:05:11,133 There's another photo. 118 00:05:11,200 --> 00:05:14,600 'Cause that was very different than this. 119 00:05:15,767 --> 00:05:17,467 - [Susan] Yes. Can I state something? - Sure. 120 00:05:17,533 --> 00:05:19,266 [Susan] So I suffer many health issues. 121 00:05:19,332 --> 00:05:21,567 - So I do bruise easily. - [Judge DiMango] Yes. 122 00:05:21,633 --> 00:05:24,100 And the bruises can start coming 123 00:05:24,166 --> 00:05:26,467 and then over, uh, a day and two, it can get worse and worse. Yes. 124 00:05:26,533 --> 00:05:29,500 And did that prevent you from doing anything? 125 00:05:29,567 --> 00:05:31,600 [Susan] It didn't prevent me from doing anything. 126 00:05:31,667 --> 00:05:34,266 I was also moving as she's doing construction, 127 00:05:34,332 --> 00:05:36,033 I was preparing to move. 128 00:05:36,100 --> 00:05:38,900 And, um, she kept turning off my power 129 00:05:38,967 --> 00:05:42,133 and there are--there are all those documents in here as well 130 00:05:42,200 --> 00:05:44,166 where I kept saying, "You need to give me notice." 131 00:05:44,233 --> 00:05:46,033 Did you shut off the power? 132 00:05:46,100 --> 00:05:49,300 Um, the power was shut off even though I had a notice, 133 00:05:49,367 --> 00:05:52,767 an agreement with the power company, that when a tenant would move out 134 00:05:52,834 --> 00:05:54,734 that it would just come over in my name. 135 00:05:54,800 --> 00:05:57,967 So you think a major power company says, 136 00:05:58,033 --> 00:06:00,133 "Oh, my God. Ms. Reynolds' tenant's leaving. 137 00:06:00,200 --> 00:06:02,000 I hope we can transfer the electricity." 138 00:06:02,066 --> 00:06:03,233 Well, it's the way it's been for 30 years. 139 00:06:03,300 --> 00:06:05,066 [Judge DiMango] I mean, you really don't think they remember that, do you? 140 00:06:05,133 --> 00:06:06,233 It's been that way for 30 years. 141 00:06:06,300 --> 00:06:09,266 I mean, uh, I did have--I've had many tenants move in and out. 142 00:06:09,333 --> 00:06:12,533 But maybe they didn't encounter this because they were not people-- 143 00:06:12,600 --> 00:06:14,867 other animals living in the barn at the time, 144 00:06:14,934 --> 00:06:18,500 which was where she kept the horses' medicines. 145 00:06:18,567 --> 00:06:19,567 - [Carol] Right. She was... - In the tack room. 146 00:06:19,633 --> 00:06:22,200 Okay. Well, first of all, she wasn't supposed to have a refrigerator there. 147 00:06:22,266 --> 00:06:24,066 I looked everywhere to see where it said that. 148 00:06:24,133 --> 00:06:26,500 Where did it say you cannot have a refrigerator? 149 00:06:26,567 --> 00:06:29,266 Well, I've been renting that stable out for many, many years 150 00:06:29,332 --> 00:06:31,734 and no one has ever had a refrigerator there. 151 00:06:31,800 --> 00:06:32,800 Tell me what is a tack room? 152 00:06:32,867 --> 00:06:35,233 A tack room is room where you keep your saddles and your bridles... 153 00:06:35,300 --> 00:06:36,567 - [Judge DiMango] What else? - ... your brushes. 154 00:06:36,633 --> 00:06:39,266 And it's just enough room to pull your saddles in and out. 155 00:06:39,332 --> 00:06:41,467 [Judge DiMango] But what--but there was room for a refrigerator in there. 156 00:06:41,533 --> 00:06:43,133 Well, apparently, she put one in. 157 00:06:43,200 --> 00:06:47,533 Yeah, she did have medicine for the horses that did spoil, right? 158 00:06:47,600 --> 00:06:49,967 [Susan] Yes, ma'am. And I have it all right here 159 00:06:50,033 --> 00:06:52,300 in every message between us 160 00:06:52,367 --> 00:06:55,166 in which she did keep turning off the power 161 00:06:55,233 --> 00:06:57,400 and the water for 24 hours. 162 00:06:57,467 --> 00:06:58,734 My horse had no water and then I had... 163 00:06:58,800 --> 00:06:59,933 [Judge DiMango] Did you turn the water off? 164 00:07:00,066 --> 00:07:01,166 [Carol] Never. The longest that it was ever off... 165 00:07:01,233 --> 00:07:02,233 - I had a message... - [Judge DiMango] Just a minute. 166 00:07:02,300 --> 00:07:03,767 The longest that it was ever off was two hours. 167 00:07:03,834 --> 00:07:05,834 [Judge DiMango] So you did--did you turn the water off? 168 00:07:05,900 --> 00:07:07,633 "No, the longest it was off." 169 00:07:07,700 --> 00:07:10,767 [Carol] No. You asked me if the water was turned off for 24 hours. 170 00:07:10,834 --> 00:07:12,233 - I did--I said... - Yeah, you just asked me... 171 00:07:12,300 --> 00:07:14,734 [Judge DiMango] No, no, I didn't. I said, "Did you turn the water off?" 172 00:07:14,800 --> 00:07:16,100 And you went, "No." 173 00:07:16,166 --> 00:07:18,000 Judge Levy? 174 00:07:18,066 --> 00:07:21,467 So Ms. Reynolds, I wanna get an idea as to how often 175 00:07:21,533 --> 00:07:23,667 did you go there and visit, if at all? 176 00:07:23,734 --> 00:07:25,767 Whenever I had tenants move in and out. 177 00:07:25,834 --> 00:07:27,800 Whenever there were things that needed to be done. 178 00:07:27,867 --> 00:07:29,467 What year was it that you moved in? 179 00:07:29,533 --> 00:07:33,233 I believe it was 2018 or... 180 00:07:33,300 --> 00:07:37,033 - 2018, is that about right? - It was--the lease was in 2019. 181 00:07:37,100 --> 00:07:38,734 [Judge Levy] So in 2019. 182 00:07:38,800 --> 00:07:40,066 When did you buy the fridge? 183 00:07:40,133 --> 00:07:42,100 As soon as I moved in, I had a mini fridge. 184 00:07:42,166 --> 00:07:44,633 Right. And the first time that you complain about it 185 00:07:44,700 --> 00:07:47,233 is when you get sued and you file a counterclaim 186 00:07:47,300 --> 00:07:48,933 saying she's not supposed to have a fridge. 187 00:07:49,000 --> 00:07:51,867 Explain to me how we're supposed to take anything that you say, 188 00:07:51,933 --> 00:07:53,400 uh, at face value? 189 00:07:53,467 --> 00:07:55,233 Well, I'm not going in her tack room. 190 00:07:55,300 --> 00:07:57,233 There's no reason for me to go in her tack room. 191 00:07:57,300 --> 00:07:59,734 There's no reason for me to go into her barn 192 00:07:59,800 --> 00:08:00,967 unless there's a problem. 193 00:08:01,033 --> 00:08:02,934 [Judge Levy] Listen, you file a counterclaim 194 00:08:03,000 --> 00:08:05,834 and you're claiming that she's not supposed to have a fridge, 195 00:08:05,900 --> 00:08:08,000 that that's a violation of the lease. 196 00:08:08,066 --> 00:08:10,166 Number one, it's not a violation of the lease. 197 00:08:10,233 --> 00:08:11,266 Read the lease. 198 00:08:12,734 --> 00:08:15,300 [announcer] Coming up on Tribunal Justice. 199 00:08:15,367 --> 00:08:18,567 Can we put up the picture of the plaintiff's alleged bruise? 200 00:08:18,633 --> 00:08:20,967 And I said "alleged" intentionally. 201 00:08:21,033 --> 00:08:22,967 [dramatic musical sting] 202 00:08:24,667 --> 00:08:26,433 [theme music plays] 203 00:08:26,500 --> 00:08:30,400 [announcer] Horse owner Susan Curry is suing stable owner Carol Reynolds 204 00:08:30,467 --> 00:08:33,299 for pain and suffering she and her horses endured 205 00:08:33,366 --> 00:08:35,533 from hazardous stable conditions. 206 00:08:35,600 --> 00:08:38,933 Carol is countersuing for damages done to her barn 207 00:08:39,000 --> 00:08:41,600 by Susan and her animals. 208 00:08:41,667 --> 00:08:44,300 I'm referring you now to exhibit three. 209 00:08:44,367 --> 00:08:46,500 - This is your text, right? - Yes. 210 00:08:46,567 --> 00:08:48,100 [Judge Levy] May 1st, 211 00:08:48,165 --> 00:08:50,834 "We've been good tenants for almost five years. 212 00:08:50,900 --> 00:08:54,367 Let's just say it could be the end of June or July. 213 00:08:54,433 --> 00:08:57,767 I will let you know as we know more. Thank you." 214 00:08:57,834 --> 00:09:00,633 She was moving out and your response was, 215 00:09:00,700 --> 00:09:02,867 "Okay, not a problem either way." 216 00:09:02,934 --> 00:09:06,133 So, Ms. Reynolds, it seemed like everything was good 217 00:09:06,200 --> 00:09:07,700 between the two of you, is that right? 218 00:09:07,767 --> 00:09:08,767 [Susan] Correct. 219 00:09:08,834 --> 00:09:11,066 [Judge Levy] So then we know that something must have happened 220 00:09:11,133 --> 00:09:12,667 after May 1st. 221 00:09:12,734 --> 00:09:14,800 I wanna know what that was. 222 00:09:14,867 --> 00:09:18,066 I had to move back into the apartment. 223 00:09:18,133 --> 00:09:21,667 And so I started doing some remodeling of the kitchen and the bathroom. 224 00:09:21,734 --> 00:09:25,767 [Judge Levy] And in doing that, she brings in subcontractors and contractors, 225 00:09:25,834 --> 00:09:29,467 and what she never had the common courtesy to do was to give you notice 226 00:09:29,533 --> 00:09:33,600 that there was gonna be shutoffs of electricity and of water. 227 00:09:33,667 --> 00:09:34,667 That is correct. 228 00:09:34,734 --> 00:09:36,200 [Judge Levy] And so in your text messages, 229 00:09:36,266 --> 00:09:38,667 it's not just once that the power goes off. 230 00:09:38,734 --> 00:09:41,066 It's not just once that the water goes off. 231 00:09:41,133 --> 00:09:42,500 How many times was it? 232 00:09:42,567 --> 00:09:45,165 It was five times on the power 233 00:09:45,233 --> 00:09:48,033 and it was over 24 hours on the water. 234 00:09:48,100 --> 00:09:51,667 And I'm asking her, "Please, can you just give me notice." 235 00:09:51,734 --> 00:09:54,100 You also told her that there was medicine in the fridge, 236 00:09:54,165 --> 00:09:55,633 and that's when she says to you, 237 00:09:55,700 --> 00:09:57,066 "Well, you're not even supposed to have a fridge." 238 00:09:57,133 --> 00:09:59,033 - Uh-hmm. - You've been a tenant five years. 239 00:09:59,100 --> 00:10:00,767 - You pay your rent for those five years? - [Susan] On time. 240 00:10:00,834 --> 00:10:02,567 Did she ever have to bring an action against you... 241 00:10:02,633 --> 00:10:04,033 - Never. - [Judge Levy] ... for nonpayment of rent? 242 00:10:04,100 --> 00:10:05,100 No. 243 00:10:05,166 --> 00:10:07,400 And this is how a landlord treats a tenant 244 00:10:07,467 --> 00:10:08,800 who has treated her so well? 245 00:10:08,867 --> 00:10:11,133 I got it. Judge Acker. 246 00:10:11,200 --> 00:10:14,934 [Judge Acker] Can we put up the picture of the plaintiff's alleged bruise? 247 00:10:15,000 --> 00:10:17,533 And I said "alleged" intentionally... 248 00:10:17,600 --> 00:10:18,834 [Susan] Okay. 249 00:10:18,900 --> 00:10:21,967 ... because on my iPad where I can enlarge the image, 250 00:10:22,033 --> 00:10:25,500 I see what looks like a lavender 251 00:10:25,567 --> 00:10:27,834 translucent piece of tape. 252 00:10:27,900 --> 00:10:31,834 And then there seem to be some kind of brownish circles, 253 00:10:31,900 --> 00:10:34,734 like something that was sort of stuck on your arm. 254 00:10:34,800 --> 00:10:38,667 So you're telling me that this is a bruise or is this a picture... 255 00:10:38,734 --> 00:10:41,000 - [Susan] No, it... - ... of your arm with something on it 256 00:10:41,066 --> 00:10:43,033 that you dressed up to look like a bruise? 257 00:10:43,100 --> 00:10:46,000 No, it--I mean, I wish I could bring you my hospital documents 258 00:10:46,066 --> 00:10:47,533 - that show all the bruising, but... - [Judge Acker] I wish you had. 259 00:10:47,600 --> 00:10:49,200 That's very interesting. 260 00:10:49,266 --> 00:10:52,333 So you called code enforcement on the defendant? 261 00:10:52,400 --> 00:10:54,700 - [Susan] Yes, ma'am. - And for what reason was that? 262 00:10:54,767 --> 00:10:57,467 So the reason I called code enforcement was I called 263 00:10:57,533 --> 00:10:58,734 when the water was shut off 264 00:10:58,800 --> 00:11:01,333 and I was so upset it had been off for 24 hours, 265 00:11:01,400 --> 00:11:03,934 and it actually was a very hot day that day. 266 00:11:04,000 --> 00:11:06,800 They're the ones who advised me and told me, 267 00:11:06,867 --> 00:11:09,300 "Well, she doesn't have a permit for this or that. 268 00:11:09,367 --> 00:11:11,133 You need to call code enforcement." 269 00:11:11,200 --> 00:11:12,500 [Judge Acker] Do you have a permit for the work? 270 00:11:12,567 --> 00:11:14,200 - Yes, ma'am. - Did you submit that permit? 271 00:11:14,266 --> 00:11:15,266 [Carol] No. 272 00:11:15,333 --> 00:11:16,734 Well, you knew you were being sued. 273 00:11:16,800 --> 00:11:18,800 Let's talk about your counterclaim. 274 00:11:18,867 --> 00:11:22,033 Now you're suing her for $2,701. 275 00:11:22,100 --> 00:11:27,233 Can we put up on the monitor the photograph of the graffiti? 276 00:11:27,300 --> 00:11:30,533 Ms. Reynolds, tell me what we're seeing. 277 00:11:30,600 --> 00:11:34,900 Well, the bottom left is where the horse kicked through the stall, 278 00:11:34,967 --> 00:11:37,800 uh, the top pictures are graffiti. 279 00:11:37,867 --> 00:11:40,066 And then this is all the junk that she left. 280 00:11:40,133 --> 00:11:41,834 [Judge Acker] And it's your testimony, Ms. Curry, 281 00:11:41,900 --> 00:11:44,700 that you didn't do that spray painting. 282 00:11:44,767 --> 00:11:46,100 - [Susan] No, ma'am. - [Judge Acker] But why? 283 00:11:46,165 --> 00:11:49,033 What I had stated is the mucker had marked a few things 284 00:11:49,100 --> 00:11:53,165 to keep things organized that she--and the mucker I got from her. 285 00:11:53,233 --> 00:11:55,500 You know, I never even really noticed or thought anything about it 286 00:11:55,567 --> 00:11:57,867 because the whole barn was always kept immaculate. 287 00:11:57,934 --> 00:12:00,967 I don't know that hole and that is not part of the barn. 288 00:12:01,033 --> 00:12:02,734 [Judge Acker] I understand we have a couple of videos. 289 00:12:02,800 --> 00:12:04,467 Let's see the move-out video. 290 00:12:05,200 --> 00:12:06,633 [Susan] This is the horses. 291 00:12:06,700 --> 00:12:07,934 I'm gonna hose them down. 292 00:12:08,900 --> 00:12:11,233 He's taken all the shavings, the hay. 293 00:12:11,300 --> 00:12:14,000 I'm humping the horse feeders and this wheelbarrow. 294 00:12:15,033 --> 00:12:17,900 And then, I don't know, I guess [bleep] everything I can't fit. 295 00:12:17,967 --> 00:12:21,567 [Judge Acker] That cement wall in the back, isn't that where the graffiti was? 296 00:12:21,633 --> 00:12:23,266 [Carol] Yes, ma'am. Well, you'd have to go back. 297 00:12:23,333 --> 00:12:24,867 [Judge Acker] Yeah, let's--can we rewind again? 298 00:12:26,367 --> 00:12:27,300 [Susan] I guess [bleep] every... 299 00:12:27,367 --> 00:12:28,467 [Judge Acker] Uh, did--had you seen that before? 300 00:12:28,533 --> 00:12:31,834 [Susan] I probably didn't ever--it just-- you know, I'm so busy, I didn't... 301 00:12:31,900 --> 00:12:33,734 You probably saw it but you're not sure. 302 00:12:33,800 --> 00:12:35,433 [Susan] Honestly, I can't remember. 303 00:12:35,500 --> 00:12:36,867 [Judge Acker] I don't have anything further. 304 00:12:36,934 --> 00:12:39,400 I have a real big question and then I'm gonna end it. 305 00:12:39,467 --> 00:12:41,567 If a horse kicks a hole in the wall, 306 00:12:41,633 --> 00:12:43,500 is that normal wear and tear? 307 00:12:43,567 --> 00:12:44,800 I think it might be. 308 00:12:44,867 --> 00:12:47,667 So every tenant that I've ever had, 309 00:12:47,734 --> 00:12:49,834 if they do something like that, they... 310 00:12:49,900 --> 00:12:51,165 [Judge DiMango] But they didn't do it, it's... 311 00:12:51,233 --> 00:12:55,100 Yeah, I mean, my last tenant had all the dirt refilled, 312 00:12:55,165 --> 00:12:56,165 you know, I mean, it's... 313 00:12:56,233 --> 00:12:57,233 [Judge DiMango] But everybody does something different. 314 00:12:57,300 --> 00:12:59,467 What we're looking at is this specific set of facts here. 315 00:12:59,533 --> 00:13:02,133 But based on that, I don't know if anybody has anything else to ask. 316 00:13:02,200 --> 00:13:03,200 Just a couple. 317 00:13:04,000 --> 00:13:07,033 There were three other videos that I think would be useful to see. 318 00:13:07,100 --> 00:13:09,200 So let's take a look at P2, please. 319 00:13:09,834 --> 00:13:12,500 All right. So give me a timeframe, please, Ms. Curry. 320 00:13:12,567 --> 00:13:14,800 When is it now that the video was taken? 321 00:13:14,867 --> 00:13:16,600 - 'Cause you took that video, right? - Yes, sir. 322 00:13:16,667 --> 00:13:19,233 Um, I believe it was the week before June 29th 323 00:13:19,300 --> 00:13:21,066 that I was actually gonna be leaving. 324 00:13:21,133 --> 00:13:24,467 And the water was off and it was really hot that day. 325 00:13:24,533 --> 00:13:26,300 [Judge Levy] Okay. And your horses were there 326 00:13:26,367 --> 00:13:28,667 - without having any water then... - Correct. And I videoed all of it. 327 00:13:28,734 --> 00:13:31,033 [Judge Levy] ... for 24 hours and the automatic system was... 328 00:13:31,100 --> 00:13:32,600 - [Susan] Correct. - [Judge Levy] ... not operational? 329 00:13:32,667 --> 00:13:34,567 - That's right. Yes, sir. Yes. - Let's take a look at the video. 330 00:13:35,400 --> 00:13:38,533 I'm documenting that the power's been turned off again, no notice. 331 00:13:38,600 --> 00:13:40,133 And the water's off. 332 00:13:40,200 --> 00:13:41,367 Sorry for my language. 333 00:13:41,433 --> 00:13:44,200 So they have no [bleep] water, 334 00:13:44,266 --> 00:13:46,467 including the automatic waters. 335 00:13:46,533 --> 00:13:48,967 So I'm sitting in the dark. 336 00:13:49,033 --> 00:13:52,333 I have no electricity and it hasn't been on for the past couple days, 337 00:13:52,400 --> 00:13:55,066 so you can see the fridges and freezers, 338 00:13:55,133 --> 00:13:56,700 everything's thawed out. 339 00:13:56,767 --> 00:14:00,333 Everything in my fridge is ruined. I had Banamine in here. 340 00:14:00,400 --> 00:14:03,967 I know it was off Saturday 'cause I made a comment Saturday. 341 00:14:04,033 --> 00:14:06,734 So my worker was working 342 00:14:06,800 --> 00:14:08,734 and it was never off for 24 hours 343 00:14:08,800 --> 00:14:10,900 because I--when she told me that the water was off, 344 00:14:10,967 --> 00:14:15,600 I texted my worker and he told me how long it's been--it had been off. 345 00:14:15,667 --> 00:14:19,266 Did you make any effort to communicate with the person who you knew 346 00:14:19,333 --> 00:14:23,600 was controlling the health, safety, and well-being of her animals 347 00:14:23,667 --> 00:14:26,333 to just give her notice since you weren't there? 348 00:14:26,400 --> 00:14:27,400 Did you do that? 349 00:14:27,467 --> 00:14:28,834 - No. - [Judge Levy] All right. 350 00:14:28,900 --> 00:14:30,066 I have nothing further. 351 00:14:30,133 --> 00:14:32,533 Uh, briefly, do you have horses? 352 00:14:33,767 --> 00:14:36,000 [announcer] Coming up on Tribunal Justice. 353 00:14:36,066 --> 00:14:38,633 Horses kick pipes, they break, 354 00:14:38,700 --> 00:14:40,734 and the barn would shut the water off. Yes, they do. 355 00:14:40,800 --> 00:14:42,834 Ah, so maybe that answers Judge DiMango's question 356 00:14:42,900 --> 00:14:45,133 and about normal wear and tear for a horse. 357 00:14:45,200 --> 00:14:46,967 [dramatic musical sting] 358 00:14:48,734 --> 00:14:50,467 [theme music plays] 359 00:14:50,533 --> 00:14:52,900 [announcer] Susan Curry is suing stable owner 360 00:14:52,967 --> 00:14:54,934 Carol Reynolds for $5,000 361 00:14:55,000 --> 00:14:59,600 claiming hazardous stable conditions her horses were subjected to. 362 00:14:59,667 --> 00:15:02,467 But Carol says Susan is making a mountain 363 00:15:02,533 --> 00:15:04,667 out of a molehill. 364 00:15:04,734 --> 00:15:06,367 Do you have horses? 365 00:15:06,433 --> 00:15:08,066 I've had hundreds of horses, yes. 366 00:15:08,133 --> 00:15:09,734 - Do your horses have water every day? - [Carol] They do. 367 00:15:09,800 --> 00:15:11,567 And they have buckets of water in their stalls 368 00:15:11,633 --> 00:15:15,934 even though they have automatic waters because horses kick pipes, 369 00:15:16,000 --> 00:15:18,567 they break, and the barn would shut the water off. 370 00:15:18,633 --> 00:15:20,000 - [Judge Acker] Ah, horses kick things. - Yes, they do. 371 00:15:20,066 --> 00:15:22,200 So maybe that answers Judge DiMango's question 372 00:15:22,266 --> 00:15:24,400 about normal wear and tear for a horse. 373 00:15:24,967 --> 00:15:27,066 - I don't have anything further. - [Judge DiMango] Thank you very much. 374 00:15:27,133 --> 00:15:28,934 We're gonna retire to deliberate. Thank you. 375 00:15:29,000 --> 00:15:30,567 Court now stands in recess. 376 00:15:30,633 --> 00:15:33,200 This case will be recalled. Parties are excused. 377 00:15:33,266 --> 00:15:36,033 [dramatic musical sting] 378 00:15:36,100 --> 00:15:39,200 I wanna go through some of what the plaintiff is asking for 379 00:15:39,266 --> 00:15:41,300 and you picked it up as I did when I first said it. 380 00:15:41,367 --> 00:15:43,100 Those bruises were just weird. 381 00:15:43,165 --> 00:15:46,633 There was a little bit of a minor bruise and then all of a sudden... 382 00:15:46,700 --> 00:15:48,533 You can really see it on the--there's that. 383 00:15:48,600 --> 00:15:50,000 Look, this is the clear-- this is the clear one. 384 00:15:50,066 --> 00:15:52,133 You know what I thought she might have done on this? 385 00:15:52,200 --> 00:15:56,467 You know how sometimes they have that healing stuff that you paint on. 386 00:15:56,533 --> 00:15:58,934 - That's... - That's what it kinda looks like she did. 387 00:15:59,000 --> 00:16:01,166 - She painted that... - Right. Yeah, like one of those strips, 388 00:16:01,233 --> 00:16:02,700 - like, that has silicone ... - Yes, exactly. 389 00:16:02,767 --> 00:16:03,934 ... that can heal scars and the like. 390 00:16:04,000 --> 00:16:06,066 And it kind of enhanced the coloring and all of that, 391 00:16:06,133 --> 00:16:07,600 but there was no real pain and suffering. 392 00:16:07,667 --> 00:16:09,500 She couldn't really attest to that. 393 00:16:09,567 --> 00:16:13,033 So with regard to her bodily harm, the horses' pain and suffering, 394 00:16:13,100 --> 00:16:15,700 I'm not willing to give her any pain and suffering. 395 00:16:15,767 --> 00:16:19,400 I'm not saying that I'm in support of giving her any recovery. 396 00:16:19,467 --> 00:16:22,767 What I'm saying, having had two dogs who I love very much 397 00:16:22,834 --> 00:16:25,433 just as much as she loved her horses, 398 00:16:25,500 --> 00:16:28,700 that if they were for a period of time in distress 399 00:16:28,767 --> 00:16:31,934 because they did not have access to either food or water, 400 00:16:32,000 --> 00:16:34,567 that would bother me, and I don't have those same 401 00:16:34,633 --> 00:16:36,800 - eggshell plaintiff type issues... - Body issues. 402 00:16:36,867 --> 00:16:38,000 [Judge Levy] ... that she has. 403 00:16:38,066 --> 00:16:39,133 Well, I'm gonna just tell you. 404 00:16:39,200 --> 00:16:42,000 It says here, "For bodily harm and my horses' pain and suffering," 405 00:16:42,066 --> 00:16:44,600 she wants $1,540. 406 00:16:44,667 --> 00:16:46,934 Even if I wanna take it via your interpretation, 407 00:16:47,000 --> 00:16:49,100 we can't quantify pain and suffering, 408 00:16:49,165 --> 00:16:50,734 and I don't have any reason to believe 409 00:16:50,800 --> 00:16:53,100 that this has anything to do with them not having water. 410 00:16:53,165 --> 00:16:55,667 [Judge Acker] So I have to say, guys, 411 00:16:55,734 --> 00:16:59,133 I am really, really, really troubled by the fake bruise. 412 00:16:59,200 --> 00:17:01,233 -By the bruise. -[Judge Acker] That sort of speaks volumes 413 00:17:01,300 --> 00:17:05,165 about how little I can put any faith in what anybody up there said. 414 00:17:05,233 --> 00:17:07,967 So maybe I could find my way 415 00:17:08,032 --> 00:17:09,633 towards some recovery 416 00:17:09,700 --> 00:17:12,767 just because I think it was wrong for the plaintiff 417 00:17:12,834 --> 00:17:16,433 and her animals to be deprived water without notice. 418 00:17:16,500 --> 00:17:18,032 And I don't think that it was intentional, 419 00:17:18,099 --> 00:17:20,834 but I think that the defendant could've given her a heads-up. 420 00:17:20,900 --> 00:17:22,300 She was completely indifferent to it. 421 00:17:22,367 --> 00:17:24,200 - That's it. She... - And it was over--and it was five... 422 00:17:24,266 --> 00:17:25,800 - Her indifference bothers me. - And it was five times. 423 00:17:25,867 --> 00:17:29,166 My inclination, if I was gonna give anything for any reason, 424 00:17:29,233 --> 00:17:32,934 it would be the $221 for the medicine in the refrigerator, 425 00:17:33,000 --> 00:17:36,367 if that was required within a certain, like, temperature time. 426 00:17:36,433 --> 00:17:39,166 And while we didn't--and while we didn't get into it, the plaintiff did provide us 427 00:17:39,233 --> 00:17:42,633 with a detailed list of the medication and how much it did cost her. 428 00:17:42,700 --> 00:17:43,867 - Yes, she did. - She did do that. 429 00:17:43,934 --> 00:17:45,066 So there is--so there is evidence to that. 430 00:17:45,133 --> 00:17:46,333 That's why, so I'm willing to give that. 431 00:17:46,400 --> 00:17:50,033 And as to the defendant, my feeling would be her $700 432 00:17:50,100 --> 00:17:52,333 security deposit covered the damages. 433 00:17:52,400 --> 00:17:54,867 So I think it's an outright dismissal for the defendant. 434 00:17:54,934 --> 00:17:58,233 I think that they are both a little sensitive in their own way, 435 00:17:58,300 --> 00:18:02,633 and I kinda think that they escalated it immediately on themselves. 436 00:18:02,700 --> 00:18:04,834 - I'd give her the money for the medicine. - 221 for the medicine. 437 00:18:04,900 --> 00:18:05,967 - 221. - [Judge Levy] Great. 438 00:18:06,033 --> 00:18:08,834 That's for the horses' sake, not for anybody else here. 439 00:18:08,900 --> 00:18:12,333 [dramatic musical sting] 440 00:18:12,400 --> 00:18:13,533 [Byrd] Court is back in session. 441 00:18:13,600 --> 00:18:15,200 Parties are reminded you're still under oath. 442 00:18:15,266 --> 00:18:16,700 - Thank you, Byrd. - Uh-hmm. 443 00:18:16,767 --> 00:18:18,233 We'll begin with the countersuit. 444 00:18:18,300 --> 00:18:20,967 You did convince us that you had some damages 445 00:18:21,033 --> 00:18:24,266 that you needed to cover including the trash removal, 446 00:18:24,333 --> 00:18:26,567 which by your own statement in your video, 447 00:18:26,633 --> 00:18:28,433 you said you didn't give a... [imitates popping sound] 448 00:18:28,500 --> 00:18:30,367 ... about cleaning up. 449 00:18:30,433 --> 00:18:33,734 However, you did have her $700 security deposit 450 00:18:33,800 --> 00:18:37,834 and so we are going to find that the $700 covered the damages 451 00:18:37,900 --> 00:18:40,767 upon she and her horses leaving the property. 452 00:18:40,834 --> 00:18:45,100 So with regard to your counterclaim, it is therefore dismissed in its entirety. 453 00:18:45,166 --> 00:18:47,166 And then we reviewed the claims you made 454 00:18:47,233 --> 00:18:49,233 with regard to both your pain and suffering, 455 00:18:49,300 --> 00:18:50,934 the horses' pain and suffering. 456 00:18:51,000 --> 00:18:52,600 And the bottom line is, 457 00:18:52,667 --> 00:18:56,433 the $221 for the medication that was spoiled 458 00:18:56,500 --> 00:18:58,533 was the only claim that we felt that you had 459 00:18:58,600 --> 00:19:01,266 that warranted any merit and credibility. 460 00:19:01,333 --> 00:19:04,467 And any other claim that you've made, we find that you did not meet your burden 461 00:19:04,533 --> 00:19:06,200 by a preponderance of the evidence. 462 00:19:06,266 --> 00:19:10,834 And so therefore, the verdict is in your favor for $221. 463 00:19:10,900 --> 00:19:12,834 Your case is unanimously dismissed. 464 00:19:12,900 --> 00:19:14,333 - Thank you. - [gavel bangs] 465 00:19:14,400 --> 00:19:15,734 [Byrd] This case has now concluded. 466 00:19:15,800 --> 00:19:18,367 Parties are excused. You may step out. 467 00:19:18,433 --> 00:19:21,033 [theme music plays] 468 00:19:21,100 --> 00:19:22,967 I think that she has anger issues. 469 00:19:23,033 --> 00:19:26,100 I did at the very end get angry 470 00:19:26,166 --> 00:19:29,333 because she turned off the water and power over five times. 471 00:19:29,400 --> 00:19:33,000 You know, she was claiming that the water was off for 24 hours 472 00:19:33,066 --> 00:19:34,200 and she wasn't there. 473 00:19:34,266 --> 00:19:35,734 I'm glad I'm not there renting from her 474 00:19:35,800 --> 00:19:37,633 'cause I wouldn't be able to stay there if she was there. 475 00:19:37,700 --> 00:19:39,734 [announcer] Did someone destroy your property? 476 00:19:39,800 --> 00:19:42,834 Let Tribunal Justice decide your case. 477 00:19:42,900 --> 00:19:46,967 Find us on social media at Tribunal Justice. 478 00:19:47,033 --> 00:19:50,200 ["Ride of the Valkyries" plays]