1 00:00:06,567 --> 00:00:09,567 [Judge Acker] You are suing your aunt for wrongfully evicting you? 2 00:00:09,633 --> 00:00:12,467 I have been the Cinderella Man for my auntie 3 00:00:12,533 --> 00:00:16,065 doing the household chores and taking care of my grandfather. 4 00:00:16,133 --> 00:00:19,066 Me and my whole family have taken care of Chris all of his life. 5 00:00:19,133 --> 00:00:22,300 You threw him out on basically no notice with his son? 6 00:00:22,367 --> 00:00:25,867 She grabbed a phone cord and she began to hit me. 7 00:00:25,934 --> 00:00:28,600 [Judge DiMango] You threw his stuff on the street. 8 00:00:28,667 --> 00:00:30,333 What he--what he said is not true. 9 00:00:30,400 --> 00:00:31,700 And when I went out of town and came back, 10 00:00:31,767 --> 00:00:33,200 he had moved the girl into my house. 11 00:00:33,266 --> 00:00:36,066 [announcer] Now on Tribunal Justice. 12 00:00:36,133 --> 00:00:39,500 ["Ride of the Valkyries" plays] 13 00:00:57,867 --> 00:01:01,000 [announcer] Today's case was filed in Los Angeles, California. 14 00:01:01,834 --> 00:01:07,166 [Byrd] Judge, this is case number 2011A and 2011B, 15 00:01:07,233 --> 00:01:10,834 in the matter of Brown versus Best and Best versus Brown. 16 00:01:10,900 --> 00:01:12,166 - Thank you, Byrd. - You're welcome, Judge. 17 00:01:12,233 --> 00:01:14,867 Parties have been sworn in. You may be seated. 18 00:01:14,934 --> 00:01:18,166 [Judge Acker] Mr. Brown, the defendant is your aunt? 19 00:01:18,233 --> 00:01:21,166 - Yes. - [Judge Acker] And when your mother died 20 00:01:21,233 --> 00:01:24,567 about 15 years ago, you moved in with your grandparents 21 00:01:24,633 --> 00:01:27,200 and she also lived there with her children. 22 00:01:27,265 --> 00:01:30,400 You moved out a little bit after that and then you came back. 23 00:01:30,467 --> 00:01:31,767 - Yeah. - [Judge Acker] And that's what happened 24 00:01:31,834 --> 00:01:34,066 when you came back some years later 25 00:01:34,133 --> 00:01:36,767 that is what is at issue in this lawsuit 26 00:01:36,834 --> 00:01:40,133 because you are now suing your aunt for wrongfully evicting you… 27 00:01:40,200 --> 00:01:41,467 - Yes. - [Judge Acker] … causing damage 28 00:01:41,533 --> 00:01:42,900 - to your property. And the… - [Christopher] Right. 29 00:01:42,967 --> 00:01:45,200 [Judge Acker] … total amount of your claim is for $10,000. 30 00:01:45,265 --> 00:01:46,734 - Yes. - [Judge Acker] Ms. Best, 31 00:01:46,800 --> 00:01:50,133 you maintain that you do not owe your nephew any money. 32 00:01:50,200 --> 00:01:54,133 In fact, you have a claim against him for $4,400, 33 00:01:54,200 --> 00:01:57,400 because you maintain that he damaged the home where he was living. 34 00:01:57,467 --> 00:01:59,734 - Yes. - [Judge Acker] First off, Mr. Brown, 35 00:01:59,800 --> 00:02:03,367 how long were you in foster care before your late mother adopted you? 36 00:02:03,433 --> 00:02:05,567 [Christopher] Well, I was in foster care all my life. 37 00:02:05,633 --> 00:02:08,000 I was pretty much born in the system. 38 00:02:08,066 --> 00:02:11,567 My mother had me in the institution and that's where they took me from her. 39 00:02:11,633 --> 00:02:13,233 - Your birth mother? - My birth mother. 40 00:02:13,300 --> 00:02:15,867 [Judge Acker] Your mother adopted you out of foster care 41 00:02:15,934 --> 00:02:17,867 and then died right before her wedding. 42 00:02:17,934 --> 00:02:19,567 - Yes. - [Judge Acker] I'm so sorry to hear that. 43 00:02:19,633 --> 00:02:20,966 How old were you at the time? 44 00:02:21,033 --> 00:02:24,066 Well, at the time I had to have been about 10 or 11. 45 00:02:24,133 --> 00:02:27,567 And when she passed away, I went from having a mother's love 46 00:02:27,633 --> 00:02:29,700 to being left to fend for my own. 47 00:02:29,767 --> 00:02:30,767 What do you mean by that? 48 00:02:30,834 --> 00:02:33,300 [Christopher] Well, for the past 10 years plus, 49 00:02:33,367 --> 00:02:36,100 I have been the Cinderella Man for my auntie 50 00:02:36,166 --> 00:02:38,934 as far as doing the household chores, 51 00:02:39,000 --> 00:02:41,934 the backyard chores, and taking care of my grandfather. 52 00:02:42,000 --> 00:02:44,133 And ma'am, you had children as well in the home? 53 00:02:44,200 --> 00:02:45,300 - Yes. - [Judge Acker] At that time, 54 00:02:45,367 --> 00:02:47,166 - how many do you have? - I have three kids. 55 00:02:47,233 --> 00:02:49,500 [Judge Acker] Three kids. So Mr. Brown, 56 00:02:49,567 --> 00:02:53,567 when you were living at the home at that time approximately 15 years ago, 57 00:02:53,633 --> 00:02:57,066 what you say in your complaint is that when you were first at the home 58 00:02:57,133 --> 00:03:00,166 when you were younger, you were getting some sort of benefit check, 59 00:03:00,233 --> 00:03:02,600 but the family didn't let you keep that 60 00:03:02,667 --> 00:03:04,033 because they were looking after you, right? 61 00:03:04,100 --> 00:03:05,100 Right. Right. Right. 62 00:03:05,166 --> 00:03:06,266 [Judge Acker] So I mean, that kind of makes sense. 63 00:03:06,333 --> 00:03:08,467 If you're a minor and you're living with your grandparents, 64 00:03:08,533 --> 00:03:10,834 and you're getting some money from the government, 65 00:03:10,900 --> 00:03:13,900 that's really for your care and feeding that's provided by the adults. 66 00:03:13,967 --> 00:03:15,834 - [Christopher] Yes. - But you left at some point. 67 00:03:15,900 --> 00:03:16,934 - Yes, I--yes, I… - [Judge Acker] When you-- 68 00:03:17,000 --> 00:03:18,667 - when you were 18, you moved out? - Yes. 69 00:03:18,734 --> 00:03:22,533 I didn't have no choice but to move out because once I turned 18, 70 00:03:22,600 --> 00:03:25,333 I asked my grandmother if I could have access to those funds, 71 00:03:25,400 --> 00:03:28,166 and she said not while I lived up under her roof. 72 00:03:28,233 --> 00:03:30,300 So in order for me to get access to those funds, 73 00:03:30,367 --> 00:03:33,734 I have to leave the house, and then I eventually came back. 74 00:03:33,800 --> 00:03:35,033 Why did you come back? 75 00:03:35,100 --> 00:03:39,200 Well, because when I left, I wasn't prepared to leave. 76 00:03:39,266 --> 00:03:42,900 I didn't have no understanding about life and the, um, 77 00:03:42,966 --> 00:03:45,367 the streets weren't kind to me, so I had to come home. 78 00:03:45,433 --> 00:03:47,400 According to your papers, you were 21 at the time? 79 00:03:47,466 --> 00:03:49,133 - Yes. - [Judge Acker] So when you moved back, 80 00:03:49,200 --> 00:03:52,800 your grandparents were there, your aunt is there with her children, 81 00:03:52,867 --> 00:03:55,300 - and then your grandmother passes away. - Right. 82 00:03:55,367 --> 00:03:57,333 [Judge Acker] And then now we get to the part of the story 83 00:03:57,400 --> 00:04:02,133 where you described yourself as your aunt's Cinderella Man. 84 00:04:02,200 --> 00:04:03,900 [Christopher] Right. On top of paying rent, 85 00:04:03,967 --> 00:04:06,367 I also had to take care of my grandfather. 86 00:04:06,433 --> 00:04:08,800 That was a requirement of me staying there. 87 00:04:08,867 --> 00:04:12,433 And I did it with pride because I fell in love with my grandfather. 88 00:04:12,500 --> 00:04:14,133 He allowed me to be in his home. 89 00:04:14,200 --> 00:04:18,834 And we didn't start having a conflict until after my son was born. 90 00:04:18,899 --> 00:04:22,065 I requested more time so that I could be a father to my son. 91 00:04:22,132 --> 00:04:25,533 So I brought to my auntie's attention that, "Hey, auntie, you know, 92 00:04:25,600 --> 00:04:28,300 I would like to take my son to the park on my off days." 93 00:04:28,367 --> 00:04:30,233 She made that very clear that, no, 94 00:04:30,300 --> 00:04:32,734 I have to be there to take care of my grandfather. 95 00:04:32,800 --> 00:04:35,533 Ms. Best, is that your understanding of the arrangement? 96 00:04:35,600 --> 00:04:38,033 He was paying rent and also looking after your father? 97 00:04:38,100 --> 00:04:39,567 That's part of the arrangements. 98 00:04:39,633 --> 00:04:42,533 Um, I asked him, you know, as a part of him continuing staying there, 99 00:04:42,600 --> 00:04:45,332 that he needs to help me with my father so that his rent will only be $600, 100 00:04:45,400 --> 00:04:46,867 because I could charge more than that for the room. 101 00:04:46,933 --> 00:04:48,500 Are your three children living in the home as well? 102 00:04:48,567 --> 00:04:51,734 [Erchelle] No, um, I have one son living in the house. 103 00:04:51,800 --> 00:04:53,332 - [Judge Acker] Was he paying any rent? - [Erchelle] Yes. 104 00:04:53,400 --> 00:04:55,000 - How much? - [Erchelle] $600. 105 00:04:55,066 --> 00:04:57,600 [Judge Acker] Did he have any care responsibilities for your father? 106 00:04:57,667 --> 00:04:58,967 - [Erchelle] Yes. - [Judge Acker] Do you have any evidence 107 00:04:59,033 --> 00:05:01,467 that you were also charging your son rent? 108 00:05:01,533 --> 00:05:03,633 No, I didn't bring any evidence. No one asked me to. 109 00:05:03,700 --> 00:05:05,967 [Judge Acker] Mr. Brown, do you have any knowledge 110 00:05:06,033 --> 00:05:09,100 that your aunt was not requiring the same of her own son? 111 00:05:09,166 --> 00:05:10,367 - Yes, yes. - [Judge Acker] How do you know this? 112 00:05:10,433 --> 00:05:13,066 Well, he's made the statement verbally clear 113 00:05:13,133 --> 00:05:15,400 to come to my defense in certain arguments. 114 00:05:15,467 --> 00:05:18,300 He said it out his own mouth, "Chris is the only one paying rent here." 115 00:05:18,367 --> 00:05:24,033 What I wanna talk about is what led to your aunt asking you to leave, 116 00:05:24,100 --> 00:05:26,567 because as you describe it, ma'am, 117 00:05:26,633 --> 00:05:29,033 you learned that he had a girlfriend staying over 118 00:05:29,100 --> 00:05:31,133 - while you were in Lake Arrowhead? - Yes. 119 00:05:31,200 --> 00:05:32,367 [Judge Acker] And according to your answer, 120 00:05:32,433 --> 00:05:34,233 I'll give you a chance to respond. 121 00:05:34,300 --> 00:05:37,834 Now I don't care who he dates but the girl is from another country. 122 00:05:37,900 --> 00:05:40,600 She's probably only with him to get her papers. 123 00:05:40,667 --> 00:05:44,700 I asked him how many days she was here and he lied straight to my face. 124 00:05:44,767 --> 00:05:48,266 And then it was subsequent to that that you changed the locks. 125 00:05:48,332 --> 00:05:53,000 Help me understand why that was a basis for you changing the locks on him. 126 00:05:53,066 --> 00:05:58,033 [Erchelle] Okay. Well, Christopher Brown, I, um, I made it plain and clear, 127 00:05:58,100 --> 00:06:00,066 you know, because I've had past problems with him 128 00:06:00,133 --> 00:06:02,633 moving women into my home without my permission. 129 00:06:02,700 --> 00:06:05,867 And so I told him, "You have a new girlfriend, right? 130 00:06:05,934 --> 00:06:08,767 So I don't mind her coming over. She can stay over two nights a week. 131 00:06:08,834 --> 00:06:12,667 I have no problem with that, you know, but she cannot move into my house." Okay. 132 00:06:12,734 --> 00:06:15,467 When I went out of town and came back, he had moved the girl into my house. 133 00:06:15,533 --> 00:06:17,266 [Judge Acker] But that's not quite what you said in your answer. 134 00:06:17,332 --> 00:06:22,266 What you said is that he eventually admitted she stayed a week. 135 00:06:22,332 --> 00:06:24,734 Right. She stayed the whole week that I was going up on my vacation. 136 00:06:24,800 --> 00:06:28,433 [Judge Acker] Okay. But, ma'am, if she overstayed by three days, 137 00:06:28,500 --> 00:06:29,667 and I'm just taking your testimony on that… 138 00:06:29,734 --> 00:06:30,734 [Erchelle] I mean… 139 00:06:30,800 --> 00:06:31,800 … because there's no written lease, correct? 140 00:06:31,867 --> 00:06:34,332 - [Christopher] Right. - Was it ever explained to you, sir, 141 00:06:34,400 --> 00:06:38,066 that you were only allowed to have houseguests two nights a week? 142 00:06:38,133 --> 00:06:40,533 - [Christopher] No, no. Well… - And, uh, how old are you? 143 00:06:40,600 --> 00:06:41,967 - I'm 28--29. - [Judge Acker] 28. 144 00:06:42,033 --> 00:06:43,667 - You have your own room, I suppose? - Yes. 145 00:06:43,734 --> 00:06:45,567 [Judge Acker] And so when you have overnight guests, 146 00:06:45,633 --> 00:06:48,400 you, as a 28-year-old man, your overnight guests stay in your room. 147 00:06:48,467 --> 00:06:50,266 - Right. - [Judge Acker] What I'm interested also, 148 00:06:50,332 --> 00:06:54,433 um, Ms. Best, is that was there something about her immigration status 149 00:06:54,500 --> 00:06:56,633 that made you uncomfortable having her in the house? 150 00:06:56,700 --> 00:06:59,933 Yes. The fact that she's living in a woman shelter, she's homeless, 151 00:07:00,066 --> 00:07:03,266 so he was--he's bringing someone in off the streets to live in my house, you know. 152 00:07:03,333 --> 00:07:05,033 And based of the fact that I have a, you know, 153 00:07:05,100 --> 00:07:07,300 elderly gentleman staying in my house, I don't want that. 154 00:07:07,367 --> 00:07:09,967 [Judge Acker] So Mr. Brown, tell me what happened. 155 00:07:10,033 --> 00:07:11,166 Did the woman go home? Did you… 156 00:07:11,233 --> 00:07:12,867 [Christopher] Well, of course-- of course she went home. 157 00:07:12,934 --> 00:07:15,066 She actually has a home that she's in right now. 158 00:07:15,133 --> 00:07:18,800 [Judge Acker] Can we please put up Exhibit 504? 159 00:07:20,133 --> 00:07:25,000 So when you changed the locks, why did you leave his things outside? 160 00:07:25,066 --> 00:07:26,233 [Erchelle] Because I didn't want him back in my house… 161 00:07:26,300 --> 00:07:27,332 - [Judge Acker] Why? - [Erchelle] … okay? 162 00:07:27,400 --> 00:07:29,332 We had got into it in the house and I told him he had to leave 163 00:07:29,400 --> 00:07:30,600 and he said he wasn't going nowhere. 164 00:07:30,667 --> 00:07:31,767 He's gonna stay there as long as he wanted to. 165 00:07:31,834 --> 00:07:32,900 I said I didn't want him back in the house. 166 00:07:32,967 --> 00:07:33,967 - [Judge Acker] You're suggesting… - [Erchelle] He's been very disrespectful. 167 00:07:34,033 --> 00:07:35,133 [Judge Acker] … he was the problem in the house? 168 00:07:35,200 --> 00:07:37,133 - Yeah, he was. He was… - [Judge Acker] Now, he has alleged 169 00:07:37,200 --> 00:07:39,367 in his papers that you were the problem 170 00:07:39,433 --> 00:07:41,933 and that you actually physically assaulted him. 171 00:07:42,000 --> 00:07:45,200 Sir, you submitted pictures of what you've indicated 172 00:07:45,266 --> 00:07:49,166 were scratches to your arm by your aunt in some sort of altercation. 173 00:07:49,233 --> 00:07:50,700 How did this happen? 174 00:07:50,767 --> 00:07:53,166 [Christopher] Well, there was an argument about a piece of paper 175 00:07:53,233 --> 00:07:54,633 that was on the ground 176 00:07:54,700 --> 00:07:57,633 and she was yelling at me very profusely, very loudly. 177 00:07:57,700 --> 00:08:00,433 I didn't--I had my son in my hand. My son was crying. 178 00:08:00,500 --> 00:08:03,567 So while she was yelling at me, I attempted to go in the room, 179 00:08:03,633 --> 00:08:04,700 take my son in the room. 180 00:08:04,767 --> 00:08:07,533 As I closed the door, she began to break into the room. 181 00:08:07,600 --> 00:08:11,066 She grabbed a phone cord and she began to hit me 182 00:08:11,133 --> 00:08:13,200 with the phone cord while I have my son. 183 00:08:13,266 --> 00:08:16,967 I had to shield my arm like this and turn to protect my son 184 00:08:17,033 --> 00:08:18,867 so that he didn't get assaulted. 185 00:08:18,934 --> 00:08:20,500 - [Judge Acker] Ma'am, do you deny that? - [Erchelle] Yes. 186 00:08:20,567 --> 00:08:21,967 You had no physical contact with him, whatsoever? 187 00:08:22,033 --> 00:08:24,233 [Erchelle] None at all. The only thing I did that day 188 00:08:24,300 --> 00:08:26,367 was he has my TV in there and he made me mad, 189 00:08:26,433 --> 00:08:28,834 and I came in to get my TV and just took my TV out. 190 00:08:28,900 --> 00:08:32,866 [Judge Acker] I wanna just put up plaintiff's Exhibit 506A. 191 00:08:32,933 --> 00:08:34,834 Is that you, ma'am? 192 00:08:34,900 --> 00:08:36,734 That's me when I came-- went in to get my TV. 193 00:08:36,799 --> 00:08:38,100 [Judge Acker] And that's Mr. Brown's room? 194 00:08:38,165 --> 00:08:39,467 [Erchelle] That's how he kept the room. 195 00:08:39,533 --> 00:08:42,400 [Judge Acker] So he submitted evidence that you had access to the room. 196 00:08:42,467 --> 00:08:43,933 You've been in the room. 197 00:08:44,000 --> 00:08:47,000 When you want us to hold him liable for damages to the room, 198 00:08:47,066 --> 00:08:50,266 how are you going to prove that he caused the damage and not you? 199 00:08:51,867 --> 00:08:54,200 [announcer] Coming up on Tribunal Justice. 200 00:08:54,333 --> 00:08:56,367 [Erchelle] This is a letter that Chris has gave to me 201 00:08:56,433 --> 00:08:58,266 and asked me to give him $500. 202 00:08:58,333 --> 00:08:59,767 [Judge DiMango] Did you sign that agreement that said 203 00:08:59,834 --> 00:09:01,633 once you took back your $500, 204 00:09:01,734 --> 00:09:04,367 you were not gonna pursue this with regard to your aunt? 205 00:09:04,433 --> 00:09:05,734 [dramatic musical sting] 206 00:09:07,467 --> 00:09:09,166 [theme music plays] 207 00:09:09,233 --> 00:09:13,967 [announcer] Christopher Brown is suing his aunt, Erchelle Best, for $10,000. 208 00:09:14,033 --> 00:09:16,433 Christopher claims his aunt wrongfully evicted him 209 00:09:16,500 --> 00:09:19,767 and his toddler after he paid his rent. 210 00:09:19,834 --> 00:09:23,834 Erchelle is countersuing saying her nephew lied about moving his girlfriend 211 00:09:23,900 --> 00:09:27,567 into their home and damaged the room he was renting. 212 00:09:27,633 --> 00:09:29,967 He submitted evidence that you had access to the room. 213 00:09:30,033 --> 00:09:31,533 You've been in the room. 214 00:09:31,600 --> 00:09:34,600 When you want us to hold him liable for damages to the room, 215 00:09:34,667 --> 00:09:37,967 how are you going to prove that he caused the damage and not you? 216 00:09:38,033 --> 00:09:39,233 - Judge DiMango. - [Erchelle] First of all, 217 00:09:39,300 --> 00:09:40,767 what he said is not true. 218 00:09:40,834 --> 00:09:43,133 He's very disrespectful. He doesn't clean up. I feed him. I take… 219 00:09:43,200 --> 00:09:44,734 [Judge DiMango] I don't get any sense of him… 220 00:09:44,800 --> 00:09:46,900 [Erchelle] My whole fam--me and my whole family we have taken care of Chris 221 00:09:46,967 --> 00:09:49,133 all of his life, make sure he is fed. 222 00:09:49,200 --> 00:09:50,200 - I take him on vacations. - I don't see that. 223 00:09:50,266 --> 00:09:51,266 I'm gonna tell you. I don't see that here. 224 00:09:51,333 --> 00:09:52,433 [Erchelle] Like, well, I take him on vacations. 225 00:09:52,500 --> 00:09:53,500 - I feed him. - [Judge DiMango] He was… 226 00:09:53,567 --> 00:09:54,633 - I give him money. I've done all that. - [Judge DiMango] He… 227 00:09:54,700 --> 00:09:56,200 I paid some [indistinct] access. I gave him insurance. 228 00:09:56,266 --> 00:09:57,800 [Judge DiMango] Show us some proof of that. 229 00:09:57,867 --> 00:09:59,200 See, what I'm gonna tell you what bothers me. 230 00:09:59,266 --> 00:10:00,467 - [Erchelle] Okay. - [Judge DiMango] Is that the statement 231 00:10:00,533 --> 00:10:03,967 that you make in the papers, "I threw his food out. 232 00:10:04,033 --> 00:10:05,934 I threw his clothes out," 233 00:10:06,000 --> 00:10:08,700 what I'm seeing here on the main complaint. 234 00:10:08,767 --> 00:10:12,333 And the behavior that I'm seeing here is that indeed, 235 00:10:12,400 --> 00:10:17,667 he was treated as Cinderella and often a second class citizen, 236 00:10:17,734 --> 00:10:21,900 anything you could think of where a person is almost subhuman to you. 237 00:10:21,967 --> 00:10:27,266 You know, he was abandoned by your sister. Another sister took in his mother and him. 238 00:10:27,333 --> 00:10:28,333 Uh-hmm. 239 00:10:28,400 --> 00:10:29,834 [Judge DiMango] And you're now in the house. 240 00:10:29,900 --> 00:10:33,734 You're his aunt and he has to leave at age 18 241 00:10:33,800 --> 00:10:37,200 because he feels as though he's just been abandoned. 242 00:10:37,266 --> 00:10:40,033 - You threw his stuff on the street. - And I did my part… 243 00:10:40,100 --> 00:10:42,033 - And can I tell the truth, Your Honor? - [Judge DiMango] One second. What? 244 00:10:42,100 --> 00:10:44,266 I did my part while living in their house. 245 00:10:44,333 --> 00:10:48,667 Before my son was born, my work schedule was around Granddad. 246 00:10:48,734 --> 00:10:52,600 I took the swing shift just so I could get Granddaddy up, wash him up, 247 00:10:52,667 --> 00:10:54,834 and give him breakfast every morning before I went to work. 248 00:10:54,900 --> 00:10:56,233 So what do you do for a living? 249 00:10:56,300 --> 00:10:59,367 [Christopher] I do security five days out of the week and then when I come home, 250 00:10:59,433 --> 00:11:00,533 - I'm clocked in… - [Judge DiMango] So… 251 00:11:00,600 --> 00:11:02,233 - … as the live-in nurse. - [Erchelle] That's not true. 252 00:11:02,300 --> 00:11:03,300 [Judge DiMango] What do you do for a living? 253 00:11:03,367 --> 00:11:04,400 I work at the post office. 254 00:11:04,467 --> 00:11:05,934 [Judge DiMango] And what do you do when you get home? 255 00:11:06,000 --> 00:11:07,800 When I come home, I attend to my father. 256 00:11:07,867 --> 00:11:09,934 I take care of my father. I feed him. I cook dinner. 257 00:11:10,000 --> 00:11:11,834 And then I, um, put him in the bed. 258 00:11:11,900 --> 00:11:13,867 We share responsibilities and even with my father. 259 00:11:13,934 --> 00:11:16,533 [Judge DiMango] Well, the damages that you contend… 260 00:11:16,600 --> 00:11:18,066 let's see the pictures of the door. 261 00:11:19,100 --> 00:11:22,633 That, I mean, did you see him punch the door? 262 00:11:22,700 --> 00:11:23,934 - [Erchelle] No. - [Christopher] That's what she did. 263 00:11:24,000 --> 00:11:27,867 She actually used the cable box that she took out of my room 264 00:11:27,934 --> 00:11:29,467 to put that hole in the door. 265 00:11:29,533 --> 00:11:31,500 [Judge DiMango] Why would she take the cable box out of your room? 266 00:11:31,567 --> 00:11:33,133 - I didn't. - Because she woke up one day 267 00:11:33,200 --> 00:11:35,834 and decided that she don't want me and my son to have a TV, 268 00:11:35,900 --> 00:11:37,600 - so she felt like [indistinct]. - [Judge DiMango] Hold on. 269 00:11:37,667 --> 00:11:39,867 That makes sense. That's consistent with what she's saying. 270 00:11:39,934 --> 00:11:41,800 So if she's taking her TV out of the room, 271 00:11:41,867 --> 00:11:44,100 she certainly had to take the cable box with it. 272 00:11:44,165 --> 00:11:48,100 And in your situation, your case against him for $4,400 273 00:11:48,165 --> 00:11:50,834 for paint chips that looks as though was just normal… 274 00:11:50,900 --> 00:11:53,433 - [Erchelle] Your honor, may I ask… - … wear and tear from an old house. 275 00:11:53,500 --> 00:11:55,800 By the way, this is your parents' home. 276 00:11:55,867 --> 00:11:57,133 Yes. 277 00:11:57,200 --> 00:11:58,967 How old is the house? 278 00:11:59,033 --> 00:12:01,000 - [Erchelle] Um… - Approximately? 279 00:12:01,066 --> 00:12:02,700 … they moved in 1967. 280 00:12:02,767 --> 00:12:05,066 [Judge DiMango] So we're looking at a house that could be close 281 00:12:05,133 --> 00:12:07,467 to a hundred years old if it was built substantially 282 00:12:07,533 --> 00:12:09,934 - before that like in the late '20s? - I'd say about 70, 80 years old. 283 00:12:10,000 --> 00:12:12,867 [Judge DiMango] 80 years old. The damages that you contend 284 00:12:12,934 --> 00:12:18,133 caused by the plaintiff looked just due to age, the age of the place. 285 00:12:18,200 --> 00:12:20,900 - I mean, I know you're saying no. Um… - Can I say something, Your Honor? 286 00:12:20,967 --> 00:12:22,100 [Judge DiMango] You can say something about that. 287 00:12:22,166 --> 00:12:23,834 [Erchelle] Just before Chris moved into this room, 288 00:12:23,900 --> 00:12:25,133 we repainted the whole room. 289 00:12:25,200 --> 00:12:27,633 You can ask Chris that, before he even moved in, it was all brand new in there. 290 00:12:27,700 --> 00:12:28,834 Was this all new? 291 00:12:28,900 --> 00:12:30,533 [Christopher] Uh, the room wasn't painted properly. 292 00:12:30,600 --> 00:12:32,233 The people that came in and paint it, they didn't-- 293 00:12:32,300 --> 00:12:33,600 they didn't properly remove the paint that was there on the wall. 294 00:12:33,667 --> 00:12:34,667 [Judge DiMango] Yeah, that looks like there's… 295 00:12:34,734 --> 00:12:36,100 - This is not true. - … a white paint underneath this. 296 00:12:36,165 --> 00:12:37,233 - Ma'am, so… - Your Honor, this is the evidence 297 00:12:37,300 --> 00:12:38,867 I wanted to show you before we go any further with this. 298 00:12:38,934 --> 00:12:40,333 Can I please show you this? 299 00:12:40,400 --> 00:12:44,200 Um, this is a letter that Chris has gave to me and asked me, 300 00:12:44,266 --> 00:12:46,934 um, by September the 13th to give him $500. 301 00:12:47,000 --> 00:12:48,000 - [Judge DiMango] You did. - Okay. 302 00:12:48,066 --> 00:12:49,767 [Judge DiMango] I saw that he returned the $500. 303 00:12:49,834 --> 00:12:51,567 [Erchelle] And then I gave him a letter to sign, 304 00:12:51,633 --> 00:12:53,033 saying that we wouldn't go any further with this, 305 00:12:53,100 --> 00:12:55,767 and he signed and agreed to it, and I gave him the $500. 306 00:12:55,834 --> 00:12:57,834 Okay. So there's a second part and I'm gonna pass it. 307 00:12:57,900 --> 00:13:01,033 Did you sign that agreement that said once you took back your $500, 308 00:13:01,100 --> 00:13:03,667 you were not gonna pursue this with regard to aunt? 309 00:13:03,734 --> 00:13:06,700 Uh, yes, I did sign that, but when I signed that, 310 00:13:06,767 --> 00:13:09,033 I didn't have no choice but to sign that. 311 00:13:09,100 --> 00:13:12,100 I had spent enough time on the streets, I had ran out of money, my car… 312 00:13:12,166 --> 00:13:13,400 [Judge DiMango] How old were you at the time? 313 00:13:13,467 --> 00:13:17,667 Uh, that--I signed that a couple months ago because I needed shelter. 314 00:13:17,734 --> 00:13:21,467 My car had broke down. I lived in my car for weeks and weeks 315 00:13:21,533 --> 00:13:24,400 and weeks, and then I had put my car in the shop. 316 00:13:24,467 --> 00:13:25,734 [Judge DiMango] I think I have a picture here. 317 00:13:25,800 --> 00:13:27,300 I think I'm gonna let Judge Levy finish this up. 318 00:13:27,367 --> 00:13:28,433 I wanna see that letter. 319 00:13:29,800 --> 00:13:31,700 Who prepared that letter? 320 00:13:31,767 --> 00:13:33,633 [Erchelle] Uh, my daughter-in-law typed up it for me. 321 00:13:33,700 --> 00:13:35,333 Okay. In your statement, Ms. Best, 322 00:13:35,400 --> 00:13:38,633 you say that in June 2023, "I changed the locks on the house. 323 00:13:38,700 --> 00:13:40,934 I put Chris' stuff outside in the backyard." 324 00:13:41,000 --> 00:13:42,200 - Yes. - [Judge Levy] Right? 325 00:13:42,266 --> 00:13:47,967 How long had he been in the house paying you rent when you in June of 2023 326 00:13:48,033 --> 00:13:50,567 changed the locks and put his stuff outside? 327 00:13:50,633 --> 00:13:51,800 [Erchelle] I will say about--let's see, 328 00:13:51,867 --> 00:13:54,633 since my mother passed away and that was in 2017. 329 00:13:54,700 --> 00:13:57,300 - 2017. So we're talking like five years? - Yes. 330 00:13:57,367 --> 00:13:59,300 [Judge Levy] And five years, did he pay rent? 331 00:13:59,367 --> 00:14:00,700 Um, when he was working, he did. 332 00:14:00,767 --> 00:14:02,900 [Judge Levy] This letter that I'm looking at now, 333 00:14:02,967 --> 00:14:05,767 "Dear Christopher Brown, I, Ms. Best, 334 00:14:05,834 --> 00:14:10,200 agreed to pay $500 as requested by Chris Brown as settlement in full 335 00:14:10,266 --> 00:14:12,800 regarding the termination of his living arrangements. 336 00:14:12,867 --> 00:14:15,467 This agreement replaces any prior agreements 337 00:14:15,533 --> 00:14:19,033 and releases all parties from any past or future liability." 338 00:14:19,100 --> 00:14:20,700 You would agree that this also prevents you 339 00:14:20,767 --> 00:14:25,367 from suing him for $4,400 for counter damages, correct? 340 00:14:25,433 --> 00:14:26,567 No, I wasn't aware of that. 341 00:14:26,633 --> 00:14:27,633 - [Judge Levy] Well, that's what it says. - [Erchelle] Okay. 342 00:14:27,700 --> 00:14:29,400 It says, "Releases all parties from any… 343 00:14:29,467 --> 00:14:30,734 - [Erchelle] Okay. - "… past or future." 344 00:14:30,800 --> 00:14:32,567 - So there goes your counterclaim. - Okay. 345 00:14:32,633 --> 00:14:35,633 [Judge Levy] Just so you know, this piece of paper--you can give it back. 346 00:14:35,700 --> 00:14:38,000 It's unconscionable. It's not enforceable. 347 00:14:38,066 --> 00:14:39,600 - [Erchelle] Okay. - Right? 348 00:14:39,667 --> 00:14:42,400 And it's not enforceable because it's in violation of the law. 349 00:14:42,467 --> 00:14:44,800 Because he's a tenant in your home and tenants have rights, 350 00:14:44,867 --> 00:14:46,467 especially in California. 351 00:14:46,533 --> 00:14:50,100 Now one of the text messages that you sent to him said, 352 00:14:50,165 --> 00:14:54,066 "My locks have been changed and you have one week to get your stuff. 353 00:14:54,133 --> 00:14:56,066 After that, I have new locks for my gate. 354 00:14:56,133 --> 00:14:59,567 And next Friday, I will be putting them out of my yard, 355 00:14:59,633 --> 00:15:01,433 outside in the back behind the gate. 356 00:15:01,500 --> 00:15:03,834 You have no reason to come inside my house. 357 00:15:03,900 --> 00:15:06,767 Putting your food outside in five minutes." 358 00:15:06,834 --> 00:15:09,800 You threw him out on basically no notice. 359 00:15:09,867 --> 00:15:11,967 Where'd you think he was gonna go with his son? 360 00:15:12,033 --> 00:15:13,734 His son lives with his mother, okay? And so… 361 00:15:13,800 --> 00:15:16,633 Hmm, hmm, hmm, hmm, hmm. He has co-parenting time. 362 00:15:16,700 --> 00:15:18,567 - I don't call it "visitation." - [Christopher] Yes. 363 00:15:18,633 --> 00:15:21,166 Well, Chris had told me-- I have no idea where he was gonna go. 364 00:15:21,233 --> 00:15:22,433 [Judge Levy] So what--so where is he supposed to--where is he-- 365 00:15:22,500 --> 00:15:24,333 where is he supposed to--where is he supposed to co-parent when you… 366 00:15:24,400 --> 00:15:26,467 I have no idea because all I know is [indistinct]. 367 00:15:26,533 --> 00:15:28,433 - [Judge Levy] So you have no idea? - I have no idea. 368 00:15:28,500 --> 00:15:30,066 [Judge Levy] And the reason you have no idea 369 00:15:30,133 --> 00:15:31,467 is because you didn't care to find out. 370 00:15:31,533 --> 00:15:33,100 [Erchelle] I'd--you know what, the whole thing is Chris has been 371 00:15:33,165 --> 00:15:34,433 very disrespectful in the whole house, okay? 372 00:15:34,500 --> 00:15:35,867 [Judge Levy] I don't care about what happened in the past, ma'am. 373 00:15:35,934 --> 00:15:38,333 - Chris is a habitual liar. - [Judge Levy] Ms. Best, 374 00:15:38,400 --> 00:15:41,433 the problem is that you think that you control everything 375 00:15:41,500 --> 00:15:42,533 that goes on in that house. 376 00:15:42,600 --> 00:15:43,600 You make the rules. 377 00:15:43,667 --> 00:15:45,033 You're the queen. 378 00:15:45,100 --> 00:15:46,633 You know why that doesn't apply? 379 00:15:46,700 --> 00:15:48,767 It's because once you took money from him, 380 00:15:48,834 --> 00:15:51,934 you guaranteed him certain rights under the law. 381 00:15:52,000 --> 00:15:56,066 And you violated those rights when you threw him out 382 00:15:56,133 --> 00:16:00,867 and he's entitled to money from you, from an unlawful eviction. 383 00:16:00,934 --> 00:16:02,266 - You know that? - Yes. 384 00:16:02,333 --> 00:16:04,233 [Judge Levy] Yes, you do. And that's the reason 385 00:16:04,300 --> 00:16:06,367 you want him to sign that cockamamie letter. 386 00:16:06,433 --> 00:16:08,900 Because you thought it was gonna protect you. 387 00:16:08,967 --> 00:16:10,533 - I have nothing further. - [Judge Acker] I do. 388 00:16:10,600 --> 00:16:11,734 - Mr. Brown, whose… - [Christopher] Yes. 389 00:16:11,800 --> 00:16:14,333 … idea was it to start charging you rent? 390 00:16:16,033 --> 00:16:18,233 [announcer] Coming up on Tribunal Justice. 391 00:16:18,300 --> 00:16:20,767 When you put him out, you didn't have another person 392 00:16:20,834 --> 00:16:23,133 who wanted to rent that room for more money? 393 00:16:23,200 --> 00:16:24,400 - No. - [Christopher] Can I say something? 394 00:16:24,467 --> 00:16:27,333 As soon as she kicked me out, my cousin, her son, came back in. 395 00:16:27,400 --> 00:16:28,900 - They're in your room? - Right. 396 00:16:28,967 --> 00:16:30,367 [dramatic musical sting] 397 00:16:32,233 --> 00:16:34,165 [theme music plays] 398 00:16:34,233 --> 00:16:37,467 [announcer] Christopher Brown is suing his aunt, Erchelle Best, 399 00:16:37,533 --> 00:16:41,533 after he claims she kicked him and his toddler out of her home, 400 00:16:41,600 --> 00:16:44,300 then left their belongings out on the street. 401 00:16:44,367 --> 00:16:49,100 But Erchelle says her nephew is a habitual liar and even had the nerve 402 00:16:49,165 --> 00:16:52,934 to move his girlfriend into her home while she was away. 403 00:16:53,000 --> 00:16:54,233 - [Judge Acker] Mr. Brown? - [Christopher] Yes. 404 00:16:54,300 --> 00:16:56,834 [Judge Acker] Whose idea was it to start charging you rent? 405 00:16:56,900 --> 00:17:01,266 Well, um, it came from the elderly members of my family. 406 00:17:01,333 --> 00:17:04,133 - [Judge Acker] Your grandparents? - Yes. It came from my grandmother first. 407 00:17:04,200 --> 00:17:05,300 [Judge Acker] I also wanna be clear. 408 00:17:05,367 --> 00:17:07,800 This home, it's titled to your parents, correct? 409 00:17:07,867 --> 00:17:09,599 - [Erchelle] Yes. - Or now I guess your father. 410 00:17:09,666 --> 00:17:10,867 My father. 411 00:17:10,934 --> 00:17:12,165 [Judge Acker] Do you have power of attorney? 412 00:17:12,233 --> 00:17:13,433 Uh, my son do. My son. 413 00:17:13,500 --> 00:17:14,767 [Judge Acker] Your son has power of attorney? 414 00:17:14,834 --> 00:17:16,233 - You do not? - [Erchelle] I do not. 415 00:17:16,300 --> 00:17:20,066 [Judge Acker] Which means that your son is the person who is best situated 416 00:17:20,133 --> 00:17:24,467 to bring any claims relating to your father's assets or property. 417 00:17:24,532 --> 00:17:26,867 I just wanted to be clear on that. I have nothing further. 418 00:17:26,934 --> 00:17:28,867 [Judge DiMango] I'm sorry, but I do have something else. 419 00:17:28,934 --> 00:17:30,700 Do you put your place up for rent? 420 00:17:30,767 --> 00:17:32,400 Like, do you rent your rooms to anybody else? 421 00:17:32,467 --> 00:17:33,467 No. 422 00:17:33,533 --> 00:17:34,667 [Judge DiMango] Was anyone else interested 423 00:17:34,734 --> 00:17:36,700 in coming into the home and renting that room from you? 424 00:17:36,767 --> 00:17:37,900 No. 425 00:17:37,967 --> 00:17:39,100 [Judge DiMango] So when you put him out, 426 00:17:39,166 --> 00:17:42,834 you didn't have another person who wanted to rent that room for more money? 427 00:17:42,900 --> 00:17:44,166 - [Erchelle] No. - [Judge DiMango] Are you sure about that? 428 00:17:44,233 --> 00:17:45,400 I'm sure about that. 429 00:17:45,467 --> 00:17:46,767 - Can I say something? - Yes, sir. 430 00:17:46,834 --> 00:17:48,033 [Christopher] As soon as she kicked me out, 431 00:17:48,100 --> 00:17:50,500 my cousin, her son, came back in. 432 00:17:50,567 --> 00:17:53,000 - Your cousin, her other son? - Yeah, he's in my--he's in my room. 433 00:17:53,066 --> 00:17:54,066 [Judge DiMango] And they're in your room. 434 00:17:54,133 --> 00:17:55,133 - Right. - [Erchelle] So he's [indistinct]. 435 00:17:55,200 --> 00:17:56,266 - Thank you very much for that. - [Erchelle] Right there. 436 00:17:56,333 --> 00:17:57,333 - Ma'am, I… - [Erchelle] He--my son came in, 437 00:17:57,400 --> 00:17:59,000 but he went into the small room. 438 00:17:59,066 --> 00:18:00,300 [Judge DiMango] Ma'am, I've heard enough testimony. 439 00:18:00,367 --> 00:18:02,066 - Okay. Okay. - [Judge DiMango] Anybody else here? 440 00:18:02,133 --> 00:18:03,800 Thank you. We're gonna retire to deliberate. 441 00:18:03,867 --> 00:18:06,400 - Thank you. - [Byrd] Court now stands in recess. 442 00:18:06,467 --> 00:18:08,133 Parties are excused. 443 00:18:08,200 --> 00:18:11,300 [dramatic musical sting] 444 00:18:12,133 --> 00:18:16,100 Let me just sort of give you my broad brush of how I see the case. 445 00:18:16,166 --> 00:18:18,567 I'm gonna start with her claims against him. 446 00:18:18,633 --> 00:18:21,533 They should be dismissed. She doesn't have power of attorney. 447 00:18:21,600 --> 00:18:24,934 And it's for that same reason that I think that that settlement agreement 448 00:18:25,000 --> 00:18:28,867 is nonsense because she had no authority to evict him in the first place, 449 00:18:28,934 --> 00:18:31,333 and she has no authority to enter into settlements. 450 00:18:31,400 --> 00:18:33,333 Relating to the property, she doesn't have any right 451 00:18:33,400 --> 00:18:35,800 to the property, she doesn't have a right to kick people out, 452 00:18:35,867 --> 00:18:39,266 she doesn't have a right to resolve disputes regarding the property. 453 00:18:39,333 --> 00:18:42,600 So the settlement, to me, is completely invalid. 454 00:18:42,667 --> 00:18:44,667 Also to your point, unconscionable. 455 00:18:44,734 --> 00:18:49,800 I mean, you cannot throw people out on one week's notice in this jurisdiction. 456 00:18:49,867 --> 00:18:53,100 It's unconscionable the way that this all transpired. 457 00:18:53,166 --> 00:18:57,867 He did not submit receipts, but he did give us a very itemized list 458 00:18:57,934 --> 00:19:01,500 that's reasonable of the property one might acquire when you're living 459 00:19:01,567 --> 00:19:04,367 in a home for years, especially when there's a child. 460 00:19:04,433 --> 00:19:05,834 But I don't need receipts. 461 00:19:05,900 --> 00:19:09,100 I think that this is a case, really, of punitive damages. 462 00:19:09,166 --> 00:19:11,166 I think that she acted maliciously. 463 00:19:11,233 --> 00:19:14,200 I think she acted with conscious disregard of his rights, 464 00:19:14,266 --> 00:19:15,767 and I would award him $10,000. 465 00:19:15,834 --> 00:19:19,500 I would absolutely award him $10,000. I think the eviction was unlawful. 466 00:19:19,567 --> 00:19:22,834 And based on that alone, we can award him the $10,000 467 00:19:22,900 --> 00:19:26,734 without actually seeing direct proof of the value of the items. 468 00:19:26,800 --> 00:19:28,667 But I looked at the list as well. 469 00:19:28,734 --> 00:19:31,333 For their child, there was a carriage, there were children's clothing, 470 00:19:31,400 --> 00:19:34,266 his clothing, we saw the pile of things outside. 471 00:19:34,333 --> 00:19:37,567 So clearly he has met his burden with regard to both of that. 472 00:19:37,633 --> 00:19:41,667 He did not do anything, which in my view, would've warranted to be thrown out 473 00:19:41,734 --> 00:19:46,100 and let alone have his property just strewn about by garbage pails, 474 00:19:46,166 --> 00:19:48,667 and food, I mean, it's malicious to say, 475 00:19:48,734 --> 00:19:50,467 "I'm gonna throw your food out in five minutes." 476 00:19:50,533 --> 00:19:53,600 I mean, she really did treat him so poorly. 477 00:19:53,667 --> 00:19:58,333 That's the big picture I saw, and that letter that she had him sign. 478 00:19:58,400 --> 00:20:00,900 I truly believe that he was really under the gun. 479 00:20:00,967 --> 00:20:02,934 What was he going to do with his life? 480 00:20:03,000 --> 00:20:05,400 So technically it was a silent form of duress, 481 00:20:05,467 --> 00:20:08,266 and I have no reason to wanna award her a penny. 482 00:20:08,333 --> 00:20:11,100 Uh, so I completely agree with respect to the counterclaim. 483 00:20:11,166 --> 00:20:13,000 Hers, it should be dismissed. 484 00:20:13,066 --> 00:20:16,834 I believe that he has met his burden with respect to his request. 485 00:20:16,900 --> 00:20:18,600 The only issue is how much. 486 00:20:18,667 --> 00:20:22,433 In California, based upon her conduct, uh, which can be viewed as, 487 00:20:22,500 --> 00:20:24,700 in no other way than an unlawful eviction. 488 00:20:24,767 --> 00:20:27,100 According to a California code, 489 00:20:27,166 --> 00:20:30,367 he's entitled to $2,000 for an unlawful eviction. 490 00:20:30,433 --> 00:20:33,834 Then you have all of his clothes and the toys belonging to his son. 491 00:20:33,900 --> 00:20:38,500 What's the fair market value? I would say probably around $5,000 for all that stuff. 492 00:20:38,567 --> 00:20:41,100 At least that's what an economic report says 493 00:20:41,166 --> 00:20:43,667 that a family's clothing is worth, one person's. 494 00:20:43,734 --> 00:20:45,467 So we're up to $7,000. 495 00:20:45,533 --> 00:20:48,800 And then you have the duress of being thrown out with no place to go, 496 00:20:48,867 --> 00:20:50,200 trying to figure out what he's supposed to do 497 00:20:50,266 --> 00:20:51,934 with his co-parenting time with his son. 498 00:20:52,000 --> 00:20:53,667 You know what, I take it back, I think he's, uh… 499 00:20:53,734 --> 00:20:55,066 - You're up to the $10,000? - $10,000? 500 00:20:55,133 --> 00:20:56,600 - I'm up--I'm up to the $10,000. - [Judge DiMango] That's right. 501 00:20:56,667 --> 00:20:58,033 - And also, let me tell you. - [Judge Levy] And good for him. 502 00:20:58,100 --> 00:21:00,467 She wanted him out because she wanted to put her son in. 503 00:21:00,533 --> 00:21:01,967 You know, I asked the question. 504 00:21:02,033 --> 00:21:04,233 But I'm glad that he came back with an answer 505 00:21:04,300 --> 00:21:06,367 because I didn't turn to him, and he said, "Can I say something?" 506 00:21:06,433 --> 00:21:09,667 And that's, her son moved in immediately, 507 00:21:09,734 --> 00:21:11,767 - and that's really why I… - I think you're right. 508 00:21:11,834 --> 00:21:14,233 … think the $10,000 was exactly what he deserves here. 509 00:21:14,300 --> 00:21:15,734 - So we are unanimous. - Yup. 510 00:21:15,800 --> 00:21:17,033 Excellent. 511 00:21:18,367 --> 00:21:21,233 [dramatic musical sting] 512 00:21:21,300 --> 00:21:22,600 [Byrd] Court is back in session. 513 00:21:22,667 --> 00:21:24,567 Parties are reminded you're still under oath. 514 00:21:24,633 --> 00:21:26,233 - [Judge Acker] Thank you, Byrd. - Uh-hmm. 515 00:21:26,300 --> 00:21:29,667 We have deliberated and we've reached a unanimous verdict. 516 00:21:29,734 --> 00:21:34,066 I'm gonna start with your claim for $4,400 against your nephew. 517 00:21:34,133 --> 00:21:36,133 We are unanimous in dismissing that. 518 00:21:36,200 --> 00:21:38,667 You do not have power of attorney for the home. 519 00:21:38,734 --> 00:21:42,300 So anything that relates to your father's assets, damage, 520 00:21:42,367 --> 00:21:45,266 loss, theft, only your son can bring those claims… 521 00:21:45,333 --> 00:21:47,166 - Okay. - … because he has power of attorney. 522 00:21:47,233 --> 00:21:48,233 Okay. 523 00:21:48,300 --> 00:21:52,166 [Judge Acker] I am now going to turn to your claim, sir, against your aunt. 524 00:21:52,233 --> 00:21:56,033 For the same reason that your aunt had no right to evict you, 525 00:21:56,100 --> 00:21:58,967 she can't make any settlement relating to the property, 526 00:21:59,033 --> 00:22:00,500 because it's not her right. 527 00:22:00,567 --> 00:22:01,967 It is her son's right. 528 00:22:02,033 --> 00:22:05,066 So the settlement agreement that you signed is invalid. 529 00:22:05,133 --> 00:22:09,800 Also, as my colleagues pointed out, under California law, tenants have rights, 530 00:22:09,867 --> 00:22:12,800 and those rights cannot be disposed of when somebody dumps your property 531 00:22:12,867 --> 00:22:15,600 outside on the street after one day. 532 00:22:15,667 --> 00:22:18,133 You get more than $500 in that jurisdiction. 533 00:22:18,200 --> 00:22:21,133 It's an unconscionable agreement that you did not have the right 534 00:22:21,200 --> 00:22:23,000 to execute in the first instance. 535 00:22:23,066 --> 00:22:24,834 So that agreement means nothing. 536 00:22:24,900 --> 00:22:29,000 And I think the way that you handled this horrible traumatic experience 537 00:22:29,066 --> 00:22:32,066 really speaks volumes of where your future's gonna take you. 538 00:22:32,133 --> 00:22:35,367 And our unanimous verdict is in your favor for $10,000. 539 00:22:35,433 --> 00:22:36,867 - Good luck. - Thank you. 540 00:22:36,934 --> 00:22:39,100 [Byrd] This case is concluded. Parties are excused. 541 00:22:39,166 --> 00:22:40,800 You may step out. 542 00:22:40,867 --> 00:22:44,000 [theme music plays] 543 00:22:44,066 --> 00:22:45,834 [Erchelle] Chris is a habitual liar and he sounds really good 544 00:22:45,900 --> 00:22:46,900 and very convincing. 545 00:22:46,967 --> 00:22:49,700 That's just untrue. I'm just a child that lost his mother 546 00:22:49,767 --> 00:22:51,166 and that's just looking for a home. 547 00:22:51,233 --> 00:22:54,533 He's very disrespectful, he's [indistinct] he's tearing up my house. 548 00:22:54,600 --> 00:22:57,266 No matter--when somebody knocks me down, I get up with a smile. 549 00:22:57,333 --> 00:23:00,066 I'm just glad he's out of my house and now he's out of my life. 550 00:23:00,133 --> 00:23:04,000 Well, now I just hope that we have peace around Christmas and family dinners. 551 00:23:04,066 --> 00:23:05,967 I had invited him for Thanksgiving, but now that he-- 552 00:23:06,033 --> 00:23:08,900 and see how he did in this court, 553 00:23:08,967 --> 00:23:10,834 I don't wanna have nothing to do with him ever again in life. 554 00:23:10,900 --> 00:23:14,667 This right here closes the chapter and now a new chapter opens for me. 555 00:23:14,734 --> 00:23:16,200 I'mma leave him alone. 556 00:23:16,266 --> 00:23:18,633 [announcer] Did someone break an agreement? 557 00:23:18,700 --> 00:23:22,000 Let Tribunal Justice decide your case. 558 00:23:22,066 --> 00:23:24,700 Find us on social media. 559 00:23:24,767 --> 00:23:27,934 ["Ride of the Valkyries" plays]