1 00:00:06,166 --> 00:00:07,900 [Judge DiMango] You are brother and sister? 2 00:00:07,967 --> 00:00:10,433 - Yes, ma'am. - You go to him for this car loan? 3 00:00:10,500 --> 00:00:12,700 I was paying him payments when I could. 4 00:00:12,767 --> 00:00:14,400 Not correct. 5 00:00:14,467 --> 00:00:16,000 [Judge Levy] So she's willing to take from you, 6 00:00:16,065 --> 00:00:17,633 but she's not willing to give an inch? 7 00:00:18,400 --> 00:00:19,934 [Judge Acker] Your brother's tearing up thinking 8 00:00:20,000 --> 00:00:21,734 about having to sue his sister. 9 00:00:21,800 --> 00:00:23,100 I've always loved my brother. 10 00:00:23,166 --> 00:00:26,066 I never wanted to disappoint him. 11 00:00:26,133 --> 00:00:28,700 [announcer] Now on Tribunal Justice. 12 00:00:28,767 --> 00:00:32,200 ["Ride of the Valkyries" plays] 13 00:00:50,600 --> 00:00:52,033 [announcer] Today's case was filed 14 00:00:52,100 --> 00:00:53,767 in Terre Haute, Indiana. 15 00:00:54,433 --> 00:00:57,700 Your Honor, this is case number 2032 on the calendar 16 00:00:57,767 --> 00:00:59,767 in the matter of Bolin versus Maxwell. 17 00:00:59,834 --> 00:01:01,233 - Thank you, Byrd. - You're welcome, Judge. 18 00:01:01,300 --> 00:01:02,667 Parties have been sworn in. 19 00:01:02,734 --> 00:01:04,266 You may be seated. 20 00:01:04,333 --> 00:01:06,800 Mr. Bolin and Ms. Maxwell, 21 00:01:06,867 --> 00:01:08,400 you are brother and sister. 22 00:01:08,467 --> 00:01:09,633 - Yes, ma'am. - Yes, ma'am. 23 00:01:09,700 --> 00:01:12,500 [Judge DiMango] And Mr. Bolin, you cosigned a car loan 24 00:01:12,567 --> 00:01:15,200 for a 2016 Chevy Cruze 25 00:01:15,266 --> 00:01:17,333 on behalf of your sister. 26 00:01:17,400 --> 00:01:18,567 She got in a car accident. 27 00:01:18,633 --> 00:01:20,800 She stopped making payments on the car. 28 00:01:20,867 --> 00:01:23,000 Left the car in the impound lot. 29 00:01:23,066 --> 00:01:25,367 It started accruing impound fees. 30 00:01:25,433 --> 00:01:28,000 At some point, you were notified you covered that debt 31 00:01:28,066 --> 00:01:32,467 and you paid off her loan balance of $5,758. 32 00:01:32,533 --> 00:01:36,433 You're here asking that she pay you that money back. 33 00:01:36,500 --> 00:01:39,900 Ma'am, your defense is you never asked him to pay for the loan. 34 00:01:39,967 --> 00:01:43,667 This is something you've never agreed to, so therefore you owe him nothing. 35 00:01:43,734 --> 00:01:47,767 So I guess the gist of your defense is people-shouldn't-be-so-nice defense? 36 00:01:47,834 --> 00:01:49,333 No, ma'am. That's not what I-- 37 00:01:49,400 --> 00:01:51,533 the gist of my defense is at all. 38 00:01:51,600 --> 00:01:53,500 [Judge DiMango] So let's go through the story a second. 39 00:01:53,567 --> 00:01:54,866 How many siblings are you? 40 00:01:54,934 --> 00:01:56,000 Because it's interesting. 41 00:01:56,066 --> 00:01:57,265 I have seven brothers and sisters. 42 00:01:57,333 --> 00:01:58,400 - Eight--there's eight of us. - [Judge DiMango] There's eight. 43 00:01:58,467 --> 00:02:00,533 - And you are what number in line? - I'm number three. 44 00:02:00,600 --> 00:02:01,900 And she is what number in line? 45 00:02:01,967 --> 00:02:03,033 She's the baby of the family. 46 00:02:03,100 --> 00:02:04,400 - [Judge DiMango] You're number eight? - Yes, ma'am. 47 00:02:04,467 --> 00:02:07,266 Okay. Who approached who about the car? 48 00:02:07,333 --> 00:02:09,667 My older sister came to me 49 00:02:09,734 --> 00:02:13,166 and told me that, uh, Margie would be asking me to cosign 50 00:02:13,233 --> 00:02:15,900 because I had done it for my older sister. 51 00:02:15,967 --> 00:02:19,734 And I just felt like I probably had an obligation 52 00:02:19,800 --> 00:02:21,033 to take care of my little sister. 53 00:02:21,100 --> 00:02:22,567 What do you do for a living? 54 00:02:22,633 --> 00:02:23,900 I'm semi-retired. 55 00:02:23,966 --> 00:02:25,333 I work for utility companies. 56 00:02:25,400 --> 00:02:27,633 Okay. And you don't have to tell me if you don't want, 57 00:02:27,700 --> 00:02:29,400 - but how old are you? - I'm 61. 58 00:02:29,466 --> 00:02:30,667 [Judge DiMango] And ma'am, what do you do for a living? 59 00:02:30,734 --> 00:02:32,433 I'm currently unemployed. 60 00:02:32,500 --> 00:02:35,533 I lost my job, uh, two weeks before Thanksgiving. 61 00:02:35,600 --> 00:02:37,266 Were you unemployed at the time of this incident... 62 00:02:37,333 --> 00:02:38,400 - [Marjorie] I was not. - ... when you borrowed the money? 63 00:02:38,466 --> 00:02:39,533 I was not. 64 00:02:39,600 --> 00:02:40,867 [Judge DiMango] And, if you don't mind, how old are you? 65 00:02:40,934 --> 00:02:42,000 I am 52. 66 00:02:42,066 --> 00:02:43,133 - [Judge DiMango] Okay. Nine years... - Nine. 67 00:02:43,200 --> 00:02:44,266 [Judge DiMango] ... between the two of you. 68 00:02:44,333 --> 00:02:47,033 Okay. So now, do you go to him for this car loan? 69 00:02:47,100 --> 00:02:49,934 - I did. - And you say, "Yes, I'll do it?" 70 00:02:50,000 --> 00:02:52,066 Well, she went and found the vehicle 71 00:02:52,133 --> 00:02:54,000 for her--uh, for herself, 72 00:02:54,066 --> 00:02:57,633 just called me and said, "Hey, I need your--you cosign this." 73 00:02:57,700 --> 00:03:00,367 [Judge DiMango] I think you paid almost $19,000 for this vehicle, 74 00:03:00,433 --> 00:03:02,333 would that be correct on your payouts? 75 00:03:02,400 --> 00:03:03,767 Yes, ma'am. At the time, 76 00:03:03,834 --> 00:03:05,500 when I walked into the dealership, 77 00:03:05,567 --> 00:03:09,066 it was, I think 17,500 for the vehicle by itself. 78 00:03:09,133 --> 00:03:10,633 I talked him down on the vehicle. 79 00:03:10,700 --> 00:03:12,533 Well, maybe you should've been a lawyer. 80 00:03:13,166 --> 00:03:15,000 So anyway, now you get this car, 81 00:03:15,066 --> 00:03:17,266 you sign for it, and you're making payments. 82 00:03:17,333 --> 00:03:18,700 But I found something interesting. 83 00:03:18,767 --> 00:03:21,567 Because you're an adult woman-- you said you're 52 years old-- 84 00:03:21,633 --> 00:03:25,734 and yet you felt the need to reward her with compliments 85 00:03:25,800 --> 00:03:28,333 like it's an exchange of text messages. 86 00:03:28,400 --> 00:03:30,033 Very nice, you just keep paying, 87 00:03:30,100 --> 00:03:31,966 patting you on the back, correct? 88 00:03:32,033 --> 00:03:33,466 There had been some loans in the past 89 00:03:33,533 --> 00:03:35,700 that I had taken care of for her 90 00:03:35,767 --> 00:03:38,200 that I need--just felt the need that I needed to encourage 91 00:03:38,266 --> 00:03:40,266 to make sure that this stayed on track. Yes, ma'am. 92 00:03:40,333 --> 00:03:41,500 [Judge DiMango] Would that be accurate, ma'am? 93 00:03:41,567 --> 00:03:43,466 - No. - Did you ever had any issues? No? 94 00:03:43,533 --> 00:03:45,066 [Marjorie] With all due respect, ma'am, 95 00:03:45,133 --> 00:03:47,466 he checks his credit constantly 96 00:03:47,533 --> 00:03:51,533 and anybody that he helps out gets the same text messages, 97 00:03:51,600 --> 00:03:52,900 which he's my brother, 98 00:03:52,966 --> 00:03:55,433 and he did me a favor before 99 00:03:55,500 --> 00:03:58,400 and he had no reason to think I wouldn't pay him back. 100 00:03:58,466 --> 00:04:01,400 That's why I was actually a little insulted 101 00:04:01,467 --> 00:04:02,633 because I know my brother. 102 00:04:02,700 --> 00:04:03,867 See, that troubled me too, 103 00:04:03,934 --> 00:04:06,166 but not because I thought you were doing anything insulting, 104 00:04:06,233 --> 00:04:07,967 because your daughter sees her 105 00:04:08,033 --> 00:04:10,266 driving a different vehicle, is that correct? 106 00:04:10,333 --> 00:04:12,166 Yes, ma'am. It was actually in November. 107 00:04:12,233 --> 00:04:14,600 My daughter sees her driving a vehicle, 108 00:04:14,667 --> 00:04:18,132 calls me, "Did you cosign for another loan?" No. 109 00:04:18,200 --> 00:04:19,266 [Judge DiMango] Why would your daughter care 110 00:04:19,332 --> 00:04:20,433 if you did another loan? 111 00:04:20,500 --> 00:04:23,734 Mainly because I'm about a $150,000 out in loans 112 00:04:23,800 --> 00:04:25,300 to different family members. 113 00:04:25,367 --> 00:04:26,633 Oh, well, okay. 114 00:04:26,700 --> 00:04:27,767 - So you're the one... - So, she sees... 115 00:04:27,834 --> 00:04:29,332 - ... that needs the help here. - ... she has another vehicle... 116 00:04:29,400 --> 00:04:30,567 - [Judge DiMango] Okay. - ... and thought maybe I had 117 00:04:30,633 --> 00:04:32,000 cosigned for yet another loan. 118 00:04:32,066 --> 00:04:34,133 And you were in a different car, ma'am, 119 00:04:34,200 --> 00:04:35,834 and why were you in a different car? 120 00:04:35,900 --> 00:04:37,800 Because I wrecked my car. 121 00:04:37,867 --> 00:04:38,933 - [Judge DiMango] You were in an accident? - Yes, ma'am. 122 00:04:39,000 --> 00:04:40,633 - [Judge DiMango] What is it your fault? - Yes, it was. 123 00:04:40,700 --> 00:04:42,500 And we have a picture of the car now 124 00:04:42,567 --> 00:04:44,033 and that's the accident. 125 00:04:44,100 --> 00:04:45,300 And how did it occur, ma'am? 126 00:04:45,367 --> 00:04:48,700 [Marjorie] I was turning, making a left-hand turn, 127 00:04:48,767 --> 00:04:51,166 and I was going about five miles an hour, 128 00:04:51,233 --> 00:04:54,033 and I fell asleep because it was like 4:00 in the afternoon, 129 00:04:54,100 --> 00:04:56,567 I've been working like a hundred and twenty-five hours a week, 130 00:04:56,633 --> 00:04:58,933 - I used to run a trucking company. - You can't justify falling asleep, 131 00:04:59,000 --> 00:05:00,533 - uh, behind the steering wheel... - [Marjorie] I did. Well... 132 00:05:00,600 --> 00:05:01,667 - ... of a car. - [Marjorie] Okay. Exactly. 133 00:05:01,734 --> 00:05:02,800 - You're correct. - Like, no, I don't care 134 00:05:02,867 --> 00:05:04,333 - how many hours you work. - You're correct. 135 00:05:04,400 --> 00:05:07,834 I--and I hit a Dodge Ram heavy-duty pickup truck 136 00:05:07,900 --> 00:05:09,000 at five miles an hour. 137 00:05:09,066 --> 00:05:10,166 - I don't believe that either. - [Marjorie] Okay. 138 00:05:10,233 --> 00:05:11,834 That's not a five-mile-an-hour car accident. 139 00:05:11,900 --> 00:05:12,967 [Marjorie] Okay. But--okay. 140 00:05:13,033 --> 00:05:15,467 - Not by any common sense. - I understand. 141 00:05:15,533 --> 00:05:17,332 [Judge DiMango] But what else happened here 142 00:05:17,400 --> 00:05:19,467 that makes this even more tragic. 143 00:05:19,533 --> 00:05:21,900 How much insurance did you have on the car at the time? 144 00:05:21,967 --> 00:05:23,934 - At the time, none. - [Judge DiMango] None. 145 00:05:24,834 --> 00:05:26,233 Didn't have the money to pay it. 146 00:05:26,300 --> 00:05:27,734 - I wasn't checking... - So you're working a lot, 147 00:05:27,800 --> 00:05:29,834 you're working overtime, you have a job, 148 00:05:29,900 --> 00:05:31,967 and you're not making insurance payments on your car? 149 00:05:32,033 --> 00:05:34,166 It absolutely was not overtime. 150 00:05:34,233 --> 00:05:35,667 - I was a salary... - [Judge DiMango] You just said you worked 151 00:05:35,734 --> 00:05:37,400 a hundred and thirty-five hours, that's not overtime? 152 00:05:37,467 --> 00:05:39,433 - Like what is? - [Marjorie] Ma'am, I work a salary job. 153 00:05:39,500 --> 00:05:42,734 I was a dispatcher for 30 semi-truck drivers. 154 00:05:42,800 --> 00:05:45,233 [Judge DiMango] Okay. So now, the insurance lapse, 155 00:05:45,300 --> 00:05:46,633 where's the car? 156 00:05:46,700 --> 00:05:47,900 It went to the impound lot--oh. 157 00:05:47,967 --> 00:05:49,033 [Judge DiMango] It was towed to the impound lot? 158 00:05:49,100 --> 00:05:50,166 Yes, ma'am. 159 00:05:50,233 --> 00:05:51,500 [Judge DiMango] While it's in the impound lot, 160 00:05:51,567 --> 00:05:52,834 it's accruing fees? 161 00:05:52,900 --> 00:05:54,332 It's accruing charges, ma'am, 162 00:05:54,400 --> 00:05:55,734 and I was never notified. 163 00:05:55,800 --> 00:05:57,900 Those were the first pictures I've ever seen of the car. 164 00:05:57,967 --> 00:05:59,533 [Judge DiMango] You never went to get the car out? 165 00:05:59,600 --> 00:06:01,867 I wasn't notified the car had been in a wreck. 166 00:06:01,934 --> 00:06:03,200 [Judge DiMango] Who paid the impound fees? 167 00:06:03,266 --> 00:06:04,333 No one did. 168 00:06:04,400 --> 00:06:07,333 The car stayed in the impound lot. 169 00:06:07,400 --> 00:06:09,667 I kept asking her, "Where's the car? Where's the car?" 170 00:06:09,734 --> 00:06:11,066 [Judge DiMango] And what was she telling you? 171 00:06:11,133 --> 00:06:13,600 She--first she told me, "Yes, I have insurance. 172 00:06:13,667 --> 00:06:16,734 - It's at the, uh, body shop." - Did you do that? 173 00:06:16,800 --> 00:06:19,332 - I did not tell him that. - [Judge DiMango] What'd you tell him? 174 00:06:19,400 --> 00:06:20,467 What was your first thing you told him then? 175 00:06:20,533 --> 00:06:22,600 I told him that it was at the impound yard 176 00:06:22,667 --> 00:06:24,867 and that I had taken care of it with the bank 177 00:06:24,934 --> 00:06:26,533 and he did not find out that I've... 178 00:06:26,600 --> 00:06:27,800 [Judge DiMango] How did you take care of it with the bank? 179 00:06:27,867 --> 00:06:29,300 - I was still paying the payments... - Uh-hmm. 180 00:06:29,367 --> 00:06:30,767 [Marjorie] ... because they were taking it out 181 00:06:30,834 --> 00:06:33,433 - of my check every week and it... - [Judge DiMango] So, you have no money 182 00:06:33,500 --> 00:06:36,300 according to you to keep up your insurance payments. 183 00:06:36,367 --> 00:06:38,300 Did you ever tell anybody you had insurance? 184 00:06:38,367 --> 00:06:39,600 Nobody ever asked. 185 00:06:41,200 --> 00:06:43,867 [announcer] Coming up on Tribunal Justice. 186 00:06:43,933 --> 00:06:45,800 - What's your credit score? - It's not good. 187 00:06:45,867 --> 00:06:48,667 Yeah. First truthful thing you said all day today. 188 00:06:48,734 --> 00:06:50,100 [dramatic musical sting] 189 00:06:52,066 --> 00:06:53,900 [theme music plays] 190 00:06:53,967 --> 00:06:57,000 [announcer] Jonathan Bolin is suing his sister Marjorie Maxwell 191 00:06:57,066 --> 00:06:59,967 after she totaled the car he cosigned for. 192 00:07:00,100 --> 00:07:03,467 Marjorie claims her brother should never have paid off the loan 193 00:07:03,533 --> 00:07:06,667 because she had made payments in advance. 194 00:07:06,734 --> 00:07:08,800 Did you ever tell anybody you had insurance? 195 00:07:08,867 --> 00:07:10,600 Nobody ever asked. 196 00:07:10,667 --> 00:07:13,200 Your Honor, it's on the police report that she has insurance. 197 00:07:13,266 --> 00:07:14,633 [Marjorie] The policeman did ask me. 198 00:07:14,700 --> 00:07:16,600 I didn't lie to the policeman. I told the policeman the truth 199 00:07:16,667 --> 00:07:18,600 but the impound lot never asked me. 200 00:07:18,667 --> 00:07:21,200 But you're actually doing things 201 00:07:21,266 --> 00:07:24,066 that just defy common sense and decency. 202 00:07:24,133 --> 00:07:26,400 The reason they ask you do you have insurance 203 00:07:26,467 --> 00:07:28,967 is because insurance policies often will pay for your towing, 204 00:07:29,033 --> 00:07:30,400 they'll pay for a rental car. 205 00:07:30,467 --> 00:07:32,200 And here you are, I don't know, 206 00:07:32,266 --> 00:07:35,367 with the self-righteous kind of attitude that you have, 207 00:07:35,433 --> 00:07:37,433 saying, "The cops asked me, I told them, 208 00:07:37,500 --> 00:07:38,900 but, you know, why should I tell anybody else?" 209 00:07:38,967 --> 00:07:39,967 So back to you. 210 00:07:40,033 --> 00:07:41,967 You leave the car in the lot. 211 00:07:42,033 --> 00:07:44,200 Ultimately what's gonna happen with that money? 212 00:07:44,266 --> 00:07:47,200 So the impound company goes to the bank, 213 00:07:47,266 --> 00:07:48,600 files for the title. 214 00:07:48,667 --> 00:07:51,300 Do they actually keep the car if the bank is in the title? 215 00:07:51,367 --> 00:07:53,400 Yes, the bank gives them the car the title. 216 00:07:53,467 --> 00:07:55,433 The bank calls me because they said 217 00:07:55,500 --> 00:07:56,867 they've been trying to get ahold of her. 218 00:07:56,933 --> 00:07:58,800 They can't--that she wouldn't return the calls. 219 00:07:58,867 --> 00:08:00,934 - Right. And then you say... - [Jonathan] We're calling the loan. 220 00:08:01,000 --> 00:08:02,734 You're gonna call in the loan and you pay it. 221 00:08:02,800 --> 00:08:04,433 And the balance on that loan is? 222 00:08:04,500 --> 00:08:07,166 $5,757.63. 223 00:08:07,233 --> 00:08:10,200 So--wow. So you paid a good portion, 224 00:08:10,266 --> 00:08:12,767 you paid like $12,000 on this loan. 225 00:08:12,834 --> 00:08:15,633 Could you please just tell me why you're not paying him back? 226 00:08:15,700 --> 00:08:17,000 [Marjorie] Yes, ma'am. 227 00:08:17,066 --> 00:08:18,934 The accident happened in November. 228 00:08:19,000 --> 00:08:20,066 [Judge DiMango] November 29th. 229 00:08:20,133 --> 00:08:21,800 My brother did not find out about it, 230 00:08:21,867 --> 00:08:25,066 nobody in my family found out about that accident 231 00:08:25,133 --> 00:08:27,100 until sometime in March. 232 00:08:27,166 --> 00:08:29,300 Well, you excel at something. You're a good secret keeper. 233 00:08:29,367 --> 00:08:30,834 [Marjorie] No, I wasn't keeping secrets. 234 00:08:30,900 --> 00:08:33,332 I don't need to call my big brother. 235 00:08:33,400 --> 00:08:35,000 He went and paid off this loan 236 00:08:35,066 --> 00:08:37,533 without asking me my opinion on it 237 00:08:37,600 --> 00:08:39,100 and then calls me up and says, 238 00:08:39,165 --> 00:08:40,799 "You're going to pay me." 239 00:08:40,866 --> 00:08:42,265 What am I going to say to him? 240 00:08:42,332 --> 00:08:43,400 What's the difference who you pay? 241 00:08:43,467 --> 00:08:45,266 You either pay him or you pay the bank. 242 00:08:45,333 --> 00:08:48,233 But the bottom line here I still believe your defense is, 243 00:08:48,300 --> 00:08:49,900 people shouldn't be so nice. 244 00:08:49,967 --> 00:08:51,667 - [Marjorie] No, ma'am. That's not true. - Judge Levy? 245 00:08:51,734 --> 00:08:53,767 I want to pay my brother 246 00:08:53,834 --> 00:08:56,200 but I don't have the funds now to pay. 247 00:08:56,266 --> 00:08:58,767 I was paying the bank and then my-- 248 00:08:58,834 --> 00:09:01,934 the--I had to leave a job because it was outsourced. 249 00:09:02,000 --> 00:09:03,066 Well--hold on. 250 00:09:03,133 --> 00:09:05,266 Well, what you said was that you were employed 251 00:09:05,333 --> 00:09:09,000 up until two weeks before Thanksgiving of 2023. 252 00:09:09,066 --> 00:09:10,500 So you were working all the way up 253 00:09:10,567 --> 00:09:11,667 - through 2023... - Right. 254 00:09:11,734 --> 00:09:12,800 [Judge Levy] ... November, 255 00:09:12,867 --> 00:09:15,433 the accident occurred November 2021. 256 00:09:15,500 --> 00:09:16,567 That's two years. 257 00:09:16,633 --> 00:09:18,467 You've been working for the full two years. 258 00:09:18,533 --> 00:09:21,100 And after the car was involved in the accident, 259 00:09:21,166 --> 00:09:23,133 you paid him nothing back. 260 00:09:23,200 --> 00:09:25,000 So with that in mind, what is your defense? 261 00:09:25,066 --> 00:09:27,567 I was paying him payments when I could. 262 00:09:27,633 --> 00:09:29,166 I was paying him payments. 263 00:09:29,233 --> 00:09:30,734 So what I'm hearing is that 264 00:09:30,800 --> 00:09:35,600 you paid the bank $5,758, 265 00:09:35,667 --> 00:09:38,800 but that she was paying you payments 266 00:09:38,867 --> 00:09:41,100 along the way to whittle that down, 267 00:09:41,165 --> 00:09:42,433 - is that what you're saying? - Yes, sir. 268 00:09:42,500 --> 00:09:45,233 - [Judge Levy] Is that correct? - That is not correct. 269 00:09:45,300 --> 00:09:48,333 She paid two payments of $65 in two years. 270 00:09:48,400 --> 00:09:49,467 [Judge Levy] Show me the proof. 271 00:09:49,533 --> 00:09:52,600 I don't have any proof. I paid it to his bank 272 00:09:52,667 --> 00:09:54,367 - and I sent him a text message. - [Judge Levy] Okay. So you do realize 273 00:09:54,433 --> 00:09:56,300 you coming with no evidence, I'm telling you, 274 00:09:56,367 --> 00:09:57,967 how I'm gonna take that-- I'm disregarding what you said about that. 275 00:09:58,033 --> 00:10:01,200 - [Marjorie] I understand. - I don't find that credible, not one bit. 276 00:10:01,266 --> 00:10:03,100 I did pay--make payments to him. 277 00:10:03,166 --> 00:10:04,934 [Judge Levy] By the way, were you in violation 278 00:10:05,000 --> 00:10:06,533 - of the purchase agreement? - No. 279 00:10:06,600 --> 00:10:07,667 [Judge Levy] Are you sure about that? 280 00:10:07,734 --> 00:10:09,233 I was five months ahead of that purchase agreement. 281 00:10:09,300 --> 00:10:11,100 - You sure about that? - [Marjorie] Yes, sir. 282 00:10:11,166 --> 00:10:12,967 - I'm pretty sure that I was... - [Judge Levy] Great. Let's take a look 283 00:10:13,033 --> 00:10:14,200 at the purchase agreement. 284 00:10:14,266 --> 00:10:15,700 - This was provided by you, sir? - Yes, sir. 285 00:10:15,767 --> 00:10:17,767 - And you've had a copy of this, right? - [Marjorie] I've never seen that. 286 00:10:17,834 --> 00:10:18,900 - I might have... - Of course you've seen it. 287 00:10:18,967 --> 00:10:20,133 You have a copy of it. You signed it. 288 00:10:20,200 --> 00:10:22,166 [Marjorie] Oh, I thought you asked if I had this with me now. 289 00:10:22,233 --> 00:10:23,700 - Yes, I do. That's my signature. - [Judge Levy] All right. 290 00:10:23,767 --> 00:10:25,633 That--so that is the purchase agreement 291 00:10:25,700 --> 00:10:27,266 for the vehicle that you signed, 292 00:10:27,333 --> 00:10:29,900 and it's your testimony under oath here today 293 00:10:29,967 --> 00:10:31,633 that you did not violate the terms 294 00:10:31,700 --> 00:10:33,433 of that agreement in any way. 295 00:10:33,500 --> 00:10:35,300 I probably violated with it-- 296 00:10:35,367 --> 00:10:37,133 with--let my insurance lapse, yes. 297 00:10:37,200 --> 00:10:38,667 - Yeah, you did. - [Marjorie] Yes. 298 00:10:38,734 --> 00:10:40,900 - Yeah, you did. - I misunderstood what you said. 299 00:10:40,967 --> 00:10:42,033 - [Judge Levy] Yeah. - I apologize. 300 00:10:42,100 --> 00:10:43,700 [Judge Levy] You didn't misunderstand anything. 301 00:10:43,767 --> 00:10:47,233 There is a direction on this agreement that says 302 00:10:47,300 --> 00:10:50,567 you must insure the property. 303 00:10:50,633 --> 00:10:54,066 And you violated that term. 304 00:10:54,133 --> 00:10:56,867 And as a result of your violation, he's on the hook. 305 00:10:56,934 --> 00:11:01,066 His credit is going to be affected. 306 00:11:01,133 --> 00:11:03,734 By the way, you knew it had lapsed while you were driving 307 00:11:03,800 --> 00:11:05,767 and got in that accident, right? 308 00:11:05,834 --> 00:11:07,233 - Yeah. - [Judge Levy] Yeah, you did. 309 00:11:07,300 --> 00:11:08,834 Yeah, you did. And then you lied to the cops 310 00:11:08,900 --> 00:11:11,333 and you told them you had Progressive, right? 311 00:11:11,400 --> 00:11:13,333 - Do I have to show you that form too? - No. 312 00:11:13,400 --> 00:11:15,133 And you come in here, and what? 313 00:11:15,200 --> 00:11:17,166 You think that we weren't gonna figure that out? 314 00:11:17,233 --> 00:11:19,867 - No, I knew you would, and I know... - [Judge Levy laughs] 315 00:11:19,934 --> 00:11:21,200 No, you didn't. You didn't know we would. 316 00:11:21,266 --> 00:11:22,600 - [Marjorie] Sure I did. - No. 317 00:11:22,667 --> 00:11:24,367 No. What's your credit score? 318 00:11:24,433 --> 00:11:26,533 What's my credit score? It's not good. 319 00:11:26,600 --> 00:11:29,100 Yeah. First truthful thing you said all day today. 320 00:11:29,166 --> 00:11:30,667 [laughs] It's not so good. 321 00:11:30,734 --> 00:11:31,800 You're a smart lady. 322 00:11:31,867 --> 00:11:33,233 You consider yourself a smart lady? 323 00:11:33,300 --> 00:11:34,367 I'd like to think so. 324 00:11:34,433 --> 00:11:35,834 [Judge Levy] Right. So you knew, 325 00:11:35,900 --> 00:11:37,233 without driving with insurance, 326 00:11:37,300 --> 00:11:39,934 that if there was a crash and the insurance wouldn't pick it up, 327 00:11:40,000 --> 00:11:41,767 they can go after your brother 328 00:11:41,834 --> 00:11:44,367 as the registered owner of that vehicle 329 00:11:44,433 --> 00:11:45,767 and wipe him completely out. 330 00:11:45,834 --> 00:11:46,934 [Marjorie] I did know that, and that's why... 331 00:11:47,000 --> 00:11:48,667 And you just didn't care. 332 00:11:48,734 --> 00:11:51,633 The sad part is I could have added it to my insurance for $50 a month. 333 00:11:51,700 --> 00:11:54,133 [Judge Levy] Sure. So she's willing to take from you. 334 00:11:54,200 --> 00:11:55,433 Take, take, take. 335 00:11:55,500 --> 00:11:57,300 But she's not willing to give an inch. 336 00:11:57,367 --> 00:11:58,533 That's unfortunate. 337 00:11:58,600 --> 00:12:00,700 Not all siblings are created equal. 338 00:12:00,767 --> 00:12:02,734 - Judge Acker. - [Judge Acker] Thank you, Judge Levy. 339 00:12:02,800 --> 00:12:05,200 Let's rewind to the point in time 340 00:12:05,266 --> 00:12:07,033 where you have the accident. 341 00:12:07,100 --> 00:12:10,000 I thought I heard you say that at the time of the accident, 342 00:12:10,066 --> 00:12:11,900 you were five months ahead. 343 00:12:11,967 --> 00:12:13,166 I was five months ahead. 344 00:12:13,233 --> 00:12:15,567 - [Judge Acker] In November of 2021. - Yes, ma'am. 345 00:12:15,633 --> 00:12:17,467 Is that true, sir? 346 00:12:17,533 --> 00:12:18,934 I won't say yes or no 347 00:12:19,000 --> 00:12:21,567 because all I know is what the final bill was. 348 00:12:21,633 --> 00:12:23,433 I didn't ask about payments. 349 00:12:23,500 --> 00:12:25,200 I just knew what the final bill was when we walk... 350 00:12:25,266 --> 00:12:27,333 [Judge Acker] When did the bank contact you? 351 00:12:27,400 --> 00:12:30,400 The bank contacted me in March. 352 00:12:30,467 --> 00:12:32,967 [Judge Acker] March following the November of her accident? 353 00:12:33,033 --> 00:12:34,400 - Yes, ma'am. - [Judge Acker] So a few months. 354 00:12:34,467 --> 00:12:37,000 What was the substance of the communication with the bank? 355 00:12:37,066 --> 00:12:39,300 [Jonathan] The bank calls me and tells me they're calling the loan 356 00:12:39,367 --> 00:12:41,600 because the car's gone, so they have no guarantee 357 00:12:41,667 --> 00:12:43,133 - for their money... - [Judge Acker] So they were-- 358 00:12:43,200 --> 00:12:45,233 they were notified after the accident? 359 00:12:45,300 --> 00:12:47,500 Yes, the wrecker company notified, saying, 360 00:12:47,567 --> 00:12:48,767 "Hey, we're taking the car. 361 00:12:48,834 --> 00:12:51,233 We have this much owed on it. We're taking it." And I... 362 00:12:51,300 --> 00:12:52,800 - You understand that, right? - [Marjorie] Yes, ma'am. 363 00:12:52,867 --> 00:12:56,500 So that once the car is no longer available, 364 00:12:56,567 --> 00:12:58,700 the bank has nothing to secure the money 365 00:12:58,767 --> 00:13:00,467 that both of you signed for. 366 00:13:00,533 --> 00:13:04,000 Now, one thing that really stood out to me in your complaint 367 00:13:04,066 --> 00:13:07,834 was that you said that you cosigned for this car 368 00:13:07,900 --> 00:13:09,767 against your better judgment. 369 00:13:09,834 --> 00:13:11,734 Why was your judgment cautioning you 370 00:13:11,800 --> 00:13:13,900 against making this loan to your sister? 371 00:13:13,967 --> 00:13:16,834 Because we had had incidents before 372 00:13:16,900 --> 00:13:18,600 where she had had to borrow money. 373 00:13:18,667 --> 00:13:21,367 I know that she ran on a ragged edge all the time. 374 00:13:21,433 --> 00:13:22,633 And I sat in the car dealership 375 00:13:22,700 --> 00:13:24,600 and told her, my exact words, 376 00:13:24,667 --> 00:13:27,467 "I'm doing this against my better judgment." 377 00:13:27,533 --> 00:13:29,166 [Judge Acker] Did you have that conversation with your brother? 378 00:13:29,233 --> 00:13:31,367 I don't remember that conversation. 379 00:13:32,667 --> 00:13:35,333 [announcer] Coming up on Tribunal Justice. 380 00:13:35,400 --> 00:13:36,767 I've always loved my brother. 381 00:13:36,834 --> 00:13:38,266 He was my dad growing up. 382 00:13:38,333 --> 00:13:39,767 It's probably why he did this for you. 383 00:13:39,834 --> 00:13:41,100 I feel so disappointed in myself 384 00:13:41,165 --> 00:13:43,033 because I disappointed everybody in my life. 385 00:13:43,100 --> 00:13:44,800 [dramatic musical sting] 386 00:13:46,734 --> 00:13:48,500 [theme music plays] 387 00:13:48,567 --> 00:13:51,667 [announcer] Jonathan Bolin is suing his sister Marjorie Maxwell 388 00:13:51,734 --> 00:13:55,165 after she totaled a car he cosigned for. 389 00:13:55,233 --> 00:13:58,467 Marjorie claims her brother should never have paid off the loan 390 00:13:58,533 --> 00:14:01,533 because she had made payments in advance. 391 00:14:01,600 --> 00:14:03,133 When the bank came to you 392 00:14:03,200 --> 00:14:06,967 and said, "The collateral is gone. We're calling the loan," 393 00:14:07,033 --> 00:14:09,367 what were your communications to your sister? 394 00:14:09,433 --> 00:14:12,667 - Did you do that? - I contacted her several times, actually, 395 00:14:12,734 --> 00:14:15,834 and told her that the bank was calling the loan 396 00:14:15,900 --> 00:14:16,967 and what I was willing to do, 397 00:14:17,033 --> 00:14:19,266 would--I would go pay this loan off 398 00:14:19,333 --> 00:14:20,433 and lower her payments 399 00:14:20,500 --> 00:14:22,000 because I knew she had to have another car. 400 00:14:22,066 --> 00:14:23,367 And I would lower her payments 401 00:14:23,433 --> 00:14:25,533 and she could pay me directly at that point 402 00:14:25,600 --> 00:14:28,100 so she didn't have any interest or anything else on the loan. 403 00:14:28,166 --> 00:14:29,233 Just pay me. 404 00:14:29,300 --> 00:14:30,800 [Judge Acker] So Ms. Maxwell, 405 00:14:30,867 --> 00:14:33,000 I'm gonna give you a chance now to explain 406 00:14:33,066 --> 00:14:35,200 what do you think your obligations are. 407 00:14:35,266 --> 00:14:37,400 Well, I need to pay my brother back. 408 00:14:37,467 --> 00:14:41,165 And I--and I always--I have the best of intentions of doing that, but... 409 00:14:41,233 --> 00:14:44,834 So why did this end up causing such a big rift in your family? 410 00:14:44,900 --> 00:14:46,233 Did you ever say to him, 411 00:14:46,300 --> 00:14:49,266 "Hey, you know what, I'm really unemployed. 412 00:14:49,333 --> 00:14:51,467 I was underemployed before, 413 00:14:51,533 --> 00:14:53,767 - now I am unemployed." - I did. 414 00:14:53,834 --> 00:14:56,367 [Judge Acker] "So, I'm gonna give you what I can, 415 00:14:56,433 --> 00:14:58,567 you know, $50 a month, a hundred dollars a month." 416 00:14:58,633 --> 00:14:59,867 - I did. - [Judge Acker] Did you offer that? 417 00:14:59,934 --> 00:15:02,400 I offered $25 a week until I could find something. 418 00:15:02,467 --> 00:15:03,633 I did. 419 00:15:03,700 --> 00:15:05,667 And he said know at this point, 420 00:15:05,734 --> 00:15:08,367 and I guess understandably, know at this point, 421 00:15:08,433 --> 00:15:10,266 I'm gonna have to take it to court. 422 00:15:10,333 --> 00:15:11,834 [Judge Acker] Because he didn't trust you anymore. 423 00:15:11,900 --> 00:15:13,300 Absolutely. Yes, you're right. 424 00:15:13,367 --> 00:15:15,667 And you think he was right not to trust you anymore? 425 00:15:15,734 --> 00:15:16,800 I'm sure, yeah. 426 00:15:16,867 --> 00:15:17,934 [Judge Acker] Is that what happened? 427 00:15:18,000 --> 00:15:19,533 You didn't trust that she was gonna make 428 00:15:19,600 --> 00:15:20,767 even the smallest of payments? 429 00:15:20,834 --> 00:15:24,900 No, ma'am, because we had had three previous "I'll pay you" agreements. 430 00:15:24,967 --> 00:15:26,633 And as she stated, she was working 431 00:15:26,700 --> 00:15:30,333 and she even actually sent me a copy of her paycheck after I filed. 432 00:15:30,400 --> 00:15:31,533 [Judge Acker] Do you have anything you wanna say 433 00:15:31,600 --> 00:15:33,266 to your brother after all of this? 434 00:15:33,333 --> 00:15:35,433 Do you think you owe him an apology? 435 00:15:35,500 --> 00:15:37,467 I have told him I'm sorry. 436 00:15:37,533 --> 00:15:39,867 I told him on the phone the day he called me 437 00:15:39,934 --> 00:15:41,133 and told me he paid off the payment 438 00:15:41,200 --> 00:15:43,333 that I was sorry that I lied to him. 439 00:15:43,400 --> 00:15:45,333 I did. I love my brother. 440 00:15:45,400 --> 00:15:47,200 I've never wavered on that. 441 00:15:47,266 --> 00:15:48,867 I've always loved my brother. 442 00:15:48,934 --> 00:15:50,700 He was my dad growing up. 443 00:15:50,767 --> 00:15:53,867 He was the one I wanted to be with all the time when I was growing up. 444 00:15:53,934 --> 00:15:55,100 [Judge Acker] It's probably why he did this for you. 445 00:15:55,165 --> 00:15:57,100 I feel so disappointed in myself 446 00:15:57,165 --> 00:15:58,900 because I disappointed him. 447 00:15:58,967 --> 00:16:02,233 Except my kids, I've disappointed everybody in my life. 448 00:16:02,300 --> 00:16:04,533 But I never wanted to disappoint him. 449 00:16:04,600 --> 00:16:06,166 [Judge Acker] Well, I think now, I mean, 450 00:16:06,233 --> 00:16:10,066 it's perhaps a better use of your energy 451 00:16:10,133 --> 00:16:11,834 not to keep beating yourself up 452 00:16:11,900 --> 00:16:13,100 because that's not gonna help him, 453 00:16:13,166 --> 00:16:14,700 that's not gonna pay the bank. 454 00:16:14,767 --> 00:16:17,066 But I hope instead of talking 455 00:16:17,133 --> 00:16:18,633 about what a bad person you are, 456 00:16:18,700 --> 00:16:20,100 you'll think about how to do better. 457 00:16:20,166 --> 00:16:21,433 I have nothing further. 458 00:16:21,500 --> 00:16:22,633 [Judge DiMango] I just have a few things 459 00:16:22,700 --> 00:16:24,266 that I'd like to clear up for the record. 460 00:16:24,333 --> 00:16:26,233 When you had the conversation with her about, 461 00:16:26,300 --> 00:16:28,300 "Hey, listen, the bank called me. 462 00:16:28,367 --> 00:16:30,133 I'm gonna pay this loan off." 463 00:16:30,200 --> 00:16:31,667 What was her response to you? 464 00:16:31,734 --> 00:16:33,467 - Don't pay it? - [Jonathan] No. 465 00:16:33,533 --> 00:16:36,467 It was thank you because at that-- that's the exact time I told her, 466 00:16:36,533 --> 00:16:38,633 "I'll stop the interest and lower your payments 467 00:16:38,700 --> 00:16:40,767 so you can pay the payments on the new car you bought." 468 00:16:40,834 --> 00:16:42,800 So she did say to you, "Pay it off." 469 00:16:42,867 --> 00:16:43,934 That's the bottom line? 470 00:16:44,000 --> 00:16:45,200 - Did she say to you... - She--we were back 471 00:16:45,266 --> 00:16:46,567 - when I was paying it off, yeah. - [Judge DiMango] Great. 472 00:16:46,633 --> 00:16:48,467 So your defense here, which is, 473 00:16:48,533 --> 00:16:50,600 "He didn't talk to me about paying it off"? 474 00:16:51,133 --> 00:16:53,934 No, he called me and told me he paid it off and that... 475 00:16:54,000 --> 00:16:56,100 But he asked you first and you said, "Go do it." 476 00:16:56,165 --> 00:16:58,200 If I gotta believe anybody in this courtroom 477 00:16:58,266 --> 00:16:59,333 - between him and you... - I understand. 478 00:16:59,400 --> 00:17:01,567 ... who do you think it's gonna be? You've lied to everybody. 479 00:17:01,633 --> 00:17:03,500 You lied to the loan company, you lied to him, 480 00:17:03,567 --> 00:17:06,733 you lied to the police, you lied to everybody and us. 481 00:17:06,800 --> 00:17:08,633 I've never lied to you. 482 00:17:08,700 --> 00:17:09,900 [Judge DiMango] We're gonna retire to deliberate. 483 00:17:09,967 --> 00:17:11,900 - Thank you both. - [Byrd] Court now stands in recess. 484 00:17:11,967 --> 00:17:13,200 This case will be recalled. 485 00:17:13,266 --> 00:17:15,032 Parties are excused. 486 00:17:15,099 --> 00:17:17,300 [dramatic musical sting] 487 00:17:19,333 --> 00:17:22,066 Ooh, this case certainly gives meaning to the expression 488 00:17:22,133 --> 00:17:23,500 "No good deed goes unpunished." 489 00:17:23,567 --> 00:17:24,700 That's for sure. 490 00:17:24,767 --> 00:17:26,000 Because this man, I mean, 491 00:17:26,066 --> 00:17:28,567 he was credible from beginning to end. 492 00:17:28,633 --> 00:17:30,867 He was kindhearted from beginning to end. 493 00:17:30,934 --> 00:17:32,433 I think he did everything he could 494 00:17:32,500 --> 00:17:34,367 to help her keep herself above water. 495 00:17:34,433 --> 00:17:36,800 I don't think she recognizes her own limitations, 496 00:17:36,867 --> 00:17:39,834 although she speaks that she understands them. 497 00:17:39,900 --> 00:17:42,033 I'm not quite sure she gets the big picture. 498 00:17:42,100 --> 00:17:45,133 I don't see any reason why he should not get every penny 499 00:17:45,200 --> 00:17:47,500 of what he paid off basically in the end. 500 00:17:47,567 --> 00:17:50,300 Right. Her defense was no defense. 501 00:17:50,367 --> 00:17:52,900 We tried to extract it from her on three separate occasions. 502 00:17:52,967 --> 00:17:55,667 And by the end of the case, I think that she even recognized 503 00:17:55,734 --> 00:17:57,200 that there was no defense. 504 00:17:57,266 --> 00:17:58,934 She owes every penny of that. 505 00:17:59,000 --> 00:18:02,066 And I think that he was even conservative in his request. 506 00:18:02,133 --> 00:18:04,066 In some of those text messages, he said, 507 00:18:04,133 --> 00:18:05,467 "If you don't pay it off now, 508 00:18:05,533 --> 00:18:08,100 it's gonna balloon up to 6,000." 509 00:18:08,166 --> 00:18:09,233 He went above and beyond. 510 00:18:09,300 --> 00:18:10,800 It's an easy verdict for me. 511 00:18:10,867 --> 00:18:12,567 For me as well. So we're unanimous. 512 00:18:12,633 --> 00:18:13,734 Great. 513 00:18:13,800 --> 00:18:16,600 [dramatic musical sting] 514 00:18:16,667 --> 00:18:17,934 [Byrd] Court is back in session. 515 00:18:18,000 --> 00:18:19,667 Parties are reminded you're still under oath. 516 00:18:19,734 --> 00:18:20,800 - Thank you, Byrd. - Uh-hmm. 517 00:18:20,867 --> 00:18:22,433 Could you be my brother? 518 00:18:22,500 --> 00:18:23,800 [chuckles] 519 00:18:23,867 --> 00:18:25,367 I am my sister's keeper. 520 00:18:25,433 --> 00:18:27,934 [Judge DiMango] That text, it's funny. When I first looked at it, I said, 521 00:18:28,000 --> 00:18:29,367 "There's something amiss here." 522 00:18:29,433 --> 00:18:32,200 Why would this gentleman say to his sister, 523 00:18:32,266 --> 00:18:34,266 "I'm proud of you, keep up the payments?" 524 00:18:34,333 --> 00:18:36,400 And you know what? We saw why. 525 00:18:36,467 --> 00:18:40,767 You owe him $5,758 for paying off 526 00:18:40,834 --> 00:18:45,500 a loan that you should have done everything within your power 527 00:18:45,567 --> 00:18:47,467 to compensate him for. 528 00:18:47,533 --> 00:18:50,567 But instead, until this moment in this courtroom, 529 00:18:50,633 --> 00:18:54,000 with that self-righteous indignation that you demonstrated 530 00:18:54,066 --> 00:18:57,000 as to why you lied to everybody. 531 00:18:57,066 --> 00:18:59,500 And then you'll say, "I didn't lie to everybody." 532 00:19:00,333 --> 00:19:03,734 The one big lie, no insurance. 533 00:19:04,233 --> 00:19:06,400 And to continue to drive that way, 534 00:19:06,467 --> 00:19:08,633 knowing what was on the line. 535 00:19:08,700 --> 00:19:10,333 So sir, we are unanimous 536 00:19:10,400 --> 00:19:12,133 in awarding you the amount that you've asked for, 537 00:19:12,200 --> 00:19:14,800 and that's $5,758. 538 00:19:14,867 --> 00:19:16,233 That's the verdict of the court. 539 00:19:16,300 --> 00:19:17,700 Change your attitude 540 00:19:17,767 --> 00:19:20,900 and do something in return for what he's done for you 541 00:19:20,967 --> 00:19:23,266 rather than drag him into a courtroom. 542 00:19:23,333 --> 00:19:25,100 Do you have that much decency in you? 543 00:19:25,900 --> 00:19:27,233 - Maybe? - We'll have to see. 544 00:19:27,300 --> 00:19:28,967 You'll have to see. That's amazing. 545 00:19:29,033 --> 00:19:30,867 It's amazing. That's the verdict of the court. 546 00:19:30,934 --> 00:19:32,700 - Smarten up. - [gavel bangs] 547 00:19:32,767 --> 00:19:34,266 [Byrd] This case is now concluded. 548 00:19:34,333 --> 00:19:36,100 Parties are excused. You may step out. 549 00:19:36,166 --> 00:19:41,767 [theme music plays] 550 00:19:41,834 --> 00:19:43,400 I guess I learned a hard lesson. 551 00:19:43,467 --> 00:19:44,934 Uh, luckily she's alive. 552 00:19:45,000 --> 00:19:46,100 I mean, it looked bad. 553 00:19:46,166 --> 00:19:47,333 It couldn't have killed me. 554 00:19:47,400 --> 00:19:48,533 It's an emotional letdown. 555 00:19:48,600 --> 00:19:50,266 As far as I'm concerned, everything's fine. 556 00:19:50,333 --> 00:19:52,734 Hopefully we can get our family back together and start talking again. 557 00:19:52,800 --> 00:19:53,867 I love my brother. 558 00:19:53,934 --> 00:19:55,900 No matter what he thinks, no matter what anybody thinks, 559 00:19:55,967 --> 00:19:57,033 I love my brother. 560 00:19:57,100 --> 00:19:59,100 I want to cry, too. 561 00:19:59,166 --> 00:20:00,233 She is my sister. 562 00:20:00,300 --> 00:20:01,400 No more loans. 563 00:20:01,467 --> 00:20:02,533 I have four sisters, 564 00:20:02,600 --> 00:20:04,533 so I'm hoping I don't have to do it three more times. 565 00:20:04,600 --> 00:20:06,100 [announcer] Got family drama? 566 00:20:06,166 --> 00:20:09,300 Let Tribunal Justice decide your case. 567 00:20:09,367 --> 00:20:11,500 Find us on social media 568 00:20:11,567 --> 00:20:13,900 at Tribunal Justice. 569 00:20:13,967 --> 00:20:17,066 ["Ride of the Valkyries" plays]