1 00:00:06,266 --> 00:00:09,166 Let's see what the cabinets looked like when he was done. 2 00:00:10,200 --> 00:00:13,333 [Janice] This is wrong configuration totally, 3 00:00:13,400 --> 00:00:15,767 three cabinets without shelves. 4 00:00:15,834 --> 00:00:17,300 And that's what upset me. 5 00:00:17,367 --> 00:00:20,300 She was actually screaming in my face and being belligerent. 6 00:00:20,367 --> 00:00:22,333 The notion that somebody can take your money, 7 00:00:22,400 --> 00:00:23,967 do a bad job, and then say, 8 00:00:24,033 --> 00:00:26,266 "You didn't speak to me in a very nice way, 9 00:00:26,333 --> 00:00:29,100 so I'm not gonna finish," I think that's ridiculous. 10 00:00:29,166 --> 00:00:31,600 [announcer] Now on Tribunal Justice. 11 00:00:31,667 --> 00:00:35,100 ["Ride of the Valkyries" plays] 12 00:00:53,100 --> 00:00:56,166 [announcer] Today's case was filed in Pasadena, California. 13 00:00:57,000 --> 00:01:01,400 [Cassandra] Your Honor, this is case number 2042 Pitler versus Regalado. 14 00:01:01,467 --> 00:01:02,834 All parties have been sworn in. 15 00:01:02,900 --> 00:01:04,166 You may be seated. 16 00:01:04,233 --> 00:01:05,333 [Judge DiMango] Thank you, Cassandra. 17 00:01:05,400 --> 00:01:06,533 Ms. Pitler. 18 00:01:06,600 --> 00:01:08,033 - Hi. - [Judge DiMango] Hi. 19 00:01:08,100 --> 00:01:10,500 You were having some renovations done in your home, 20 00:01:10,567 --> 00:01:15,800 you hired general contractor and he subbed out the kitchen to you, sir. 21 00:01:15,867 --> 00:01:18,200 You say he did a shoddy job. 22 00:01:18,265 --> 00:01:20,100 You had to hire somebody else. 23 00:01:20,166 --> 00:01:23,767 So you're here suing him for $10,000. 24 00:01:23,834 --> 00:01:25,033 [Janice] Correct. 25 00:01:25,100 --> 00:01:27,433 [Judge DiMango] Sir, I just wanna make a point of saying, 26 00:01:27,500 --> 00:01:30,000 you submitted no evidence on your own behalf. 27 00:01:30,066 --> 00:01:32,033 - Is that correct? - Yeah, I didn't submit no evidence. 28 00:01:32,100 --> 00:01:34,400 - The evidence is already there, uh... - [Judge DiMango] Okay. 29 00:01:34,467 --> 00:01:36,433 - ... what we already established, so... - [Judge DiMango] Okay. 30 00:01:36,500 --> 00:01:39,166 So when did you decide to get your kitchen done? 31 00:01:39,233 --> 00:01:41,800 March 23rd of '23. 32 00:01:41,866 --> 00:01:45,633 And on the 23rd, it was when you agreed with the contractor to do the work. 33 00:01:45,700 --> 00:01:47,066 - Would that be correct? - Yes. 34 00:01:47,133 --> 00:01:50,734 [Judge DiMango] And after that conversation, what happened? 35 00:01:50,800 --> 00:01:54,567 Um, it was a gentleman that I had known for several years. 36 00:01:55,000 --> 00:01:57,500 Uh, he's not a licensed contractor. 37 00:01:57,567 --> 00:02:01,233 I thought that since I didn't have to have any walls moved or anything like that, 38 00:02:01,300 --> 00:02:03,800 it was purely cosmetic, that it's okay for him to do it. 39 00:02:03,867 --> 00:02:05,300 - Um... - [Judge DiMango] Let me pause you. 40 00:02:05,367 --> 00:02:07,700 How much did you agree with the contractor 41 00:02:07,767 --> 00:02:10,100 that you were going to pay for the entire job? 42 00:02:10,699 --> 00:02:13,600 $44,000, $46,000. 43 00:02:13,667 --> 00:02:15,300 [Judge DiMango] $46,000. 44 00:02:15,367 --> 00:02:20,433 And that $46,000 was going to include any expenses regarding the kitchen? 45 00:02:20,500 --> 00:02:22,233 - That included the 16,500. - [Judge DiMango] Okay. 46 00:02:22,300 --> 00:02:25,734 So now it's March 23rd. You speak with him. 47 00:02:25,800 --> 00:02:28,900 He's a friend and he tells you he'll do certain work, 48 00:02:28,966 --> 00:02:30,767 and he's gonna sub out the kitchen? 49 00:02:30,834 --> 00:02:33,000 He told me that it would be Orlando. 50 00:02:33,066 --> 00:02:36,734 I had met Orlando beforehand, um, but yes. 51 00:02:36,800 --> 00:02:39,300 Okay. Sir, are you a licensed contractor? 52 00:02:39,934 --> 00:02:42,567 Uh, no. I'm not a licensed contractor, but we--what we do, 53 00:02:42,633 --> 00:02:44,400 we do kitchen, uh, remodeling. 54 00:02:44,466 --> 00:02:46,466 Which doesn't necessarily require remodeling? 55 00:02:46,533 --> 00:02:48,100 So necessarily--yeah, no license or anything like that. 56 00:02:48,166 --> 00:02:49,200 - It's all cosmetic. - [Judge DiMango] Okay. 57 00:02:49,266 --> 00:02:52,934 Now on April 25th, because I'm gonna go through some of your messages, 58 00:02:53,000 --> 00:02:55,633 your demo was done on the kitchen and you wanted him to get started. 59 00:02:55,700 --> 00:02:58,800 - Is that correct? - It was beforehand, but yes. 60 00:02:58,867 --> 00:03:03,567 Okay. So now Orlando, you say you're gonna go by on Thursday, 61 00:03:03,633 --> 00:03:07,367 and she asks you what time and you say you're gonna meet up with her. 62 00:03:07,433 --> 00:03:08,834 - Yeah, I met up with her. - [Judge DiMango] But you don't go. 63 00:03:08,900 --> 00:03:09,900 I didn't go? 64 00:03:09,967 --> 00:03:11,467 [Judge DiMango] You basically want some pictures. 65 00:03:11,533 --> 00:03:13,533 You tell her the next day you're gonna go back. 66 00:03:13,600 --> 00:03:18,600 You see, the problem is they could write a script for contractors 67 00:03:18,667 --> 00:03:20,500 and people that work on your homes. 68 00:03:21,033 --> 00:03:22,867 You never call back. 69 00:03:22,934 --> 00:03:24,767 There's such a lack of respect. 70 00:03:24,834 --> 00:03:27,367 That--that's the thing that escalates. 71 00:03:27,433 --> 00:03:29,433 And that's clear through all 72 00:03:29,500 --> 00:03:30,567 - of these messages. - It was... 73 00:03:30,633 --> 00:03:32,266 [Judge DiMango] Where are you? Where are you? Where are you? 74 00:03:32,333 --> 00:03:33,767 - Every one of your messages. - [Orlando] Excuse me, Your Honor. 75 00:03:33,834 --> 00:03:35,567 The first time I ever got contact with it, 76 00:03:35,633 --> 00:03:37,367 it was because of the contractor outside of me. 77 00:03:37,433 --> 00:03:39,066 - [Judge DiMango] Right. Right. - It's not her. 78 00:03:39,133 --> 00:03:40,633 - [Judge DiMango] No. - So therefore, she had to come 79 00:03:40,700 --> 00:03:43,033 and met me at my shop, but it just... 80 00:03:43,100 --> 00:03:44,333 - Well, it doesn't seem... - [Orlando] That's how it... 81 00:03:44,400 --> 00:03:48,333 ... to be that way. It seems that these text messages are between the two of you. 82 00:03:48,400 --> 00:03:50,500 She says, "How long will it take with the cabinets? 83 00:03:50,567 --> 00:03:51,966 My floors are in." You say, 84 00:03:52,033 --> 00:03:53,400 "I'm anxious to have my kitchen back." 85 00:03:53,466 --> 00:03:57,000 And you say, "Send me a picture of the blind corner." 86 00:03:57,066 --> 00:03:59,767 And you're gonna take it, you're gonna go back, you're gonna see it. 87 00:03:59,834 --> 00:04:03,467 She has another conversation with you a few days after that, 88 00:04:03,533 --> 00:04:06,533 May 2nd, "There's a problem with the dog bowl." 89 00:04:06,600 --> 00:04:08,467 What was the problem with the dog bowl? 90 00:04:08,533 --> 00:04:09,867 There was a problem with a lot. 91 00:04:09,934 --> 00:04:11,633 He just didn't bring a lot of the stuff. 92 00:04:11,700 --> 00:04:14,934 So there was supposed to be a dog bowl that popped out. 93 00:04:15,000 --> 00:04:17,834 Um, that never happened. A lot of stuff never happened. 94 00:04:17,899 --> 00:04:20,166 [Judge DiMango] And so, then we go from there 95 00:04:20,233 --> 00:04:22,900 and we move along and we're on the 15th 96 00:04:22,967 --> 00:04:25,033 and you say, "Where's the cabinets?" 97 00:04:25,533 --> 00:04:28,066 [Orlando] Ma'am, she had to go through COVID as well 98 00:04:28,133 --> 00:04:30,233 and so it got postponed, all of that. 99 00:04:30,300 --> 00:04:33,700 But the thing is, prior to that, nobody was showing up 100 00:04:33,767 --> 00:04:35,533 to do what they were supposed to do, so... 101 00:04:35,600 --> 00:04:38,233 But that was because of the contractor that she had in line with him. 102 00:04:38,300 --> 00:04:39,433 - But she had conversation... - [Orlando] And so therefore, 103 00:04:39,500 --> 00:04:40,867 - my communication was with him. - Orlando... 104 00:04:40,933 --> 00:04:42,100 - [Orlando] Not with her. - ... are you telling me 105 00:04:42,166 --> 00:04:45,266 that she never had any conversations with you on text messages? 106 00:04:45,332 --> 00:04:46,767 - Yes, ma'am, but that was... - [Judge DiMango] Of course, she did. 107 00:04:46,834 --> 00:04:47,967 - But that was after. - [Judge DiMango] I have them-- 108 00:04:48,033 --> 00:04:49,133 I'm looking at them. 109 00:04:49,200 --> 00:04:52,600 Those are the ones I'm having--you think I'm making this up out of the sky? 110 00:04:52,667 --> 00:04:56,000 "Hi, Rolando. I'm confirming that you're gonna come to my house." 111 00:04:56,066 --> 00:04:58,867 You're gonna be there. You're getting everything ready. 112 00:04:58,933 --> 00:05:01,367 You're behind. Your father is ill. 113 00:05:01,433 --> 00:05:03,333 She's sorry to hear about your father. 114 00:05:03,400 --> 00:05:05,233 - This keeps going on and on. - [Orlando] Yeah, because... 115 00:05:05,300 --> 00:05:07,767 Now, who are you paying the money to for his work? 116 00:05:07,834 --> 00:05:10,500 Because part of this is really about you weren't getting any money. 117 00:05:10,967 --> 00:05:14,834 The general contractor, she believed was supposed to be paying you. 118 00:05:14,900 --> 00:05:16,767 And you said that she was going to pay you. 119 00:05:16,834 --> 00:05:17,967 [Orlando] Yeah, because they had the fall out. 120 00:05:18,033 --> 00:05:21,567 The contract--the pre--the first contract that I had was with a contractor. 121 00:05:22,100 --> 00:05:25,166 But then, that's what happened, that she had a fall out with him, 122 00:05:25,233 --> 00:05:27,266 so therefore, who's gonna pay me 123 00:05:27,332 --> 00:05:28,500 for the work that I'm gonna be doing at the house? 124 00:05:28,567 --> 00:05:30,166 And so you stopped working based on that? 125 00:05:30,233 --> 00:05:31,567 - [Orlando] I did not stop working. - You said, "I'm not gonna work 126 00:05:31,633 --> 00:05:33,332 until you make an agreement with me." 127 00:05:33,400 --> 00:05:34,667 - Yeah. - [Judge DiMango] So you renegotiate 128 00:05:34,734 --> 00:05:36,867 or you had another contract with him 129 00:05:36,933 --> 00:05:38,967 where you agreed that you were gonna pay him 130 00:05:39,033 --> 00:05:41,300 - directly $10,000... - Correct. 131 00:05:41,367 --> 00:05:43,133 [Judge DiMango] ... so that he would finish up your work--the work? 132 00:05:43,200 --> 00:05:44,667 - Correct. - And he did. 133 00:05:44,734 --> 00:05:46,834 After you signed that, finally, 134 00:05:46,900 --> 00:05:49,700 he did decide he was gonna come to your home, is that correct? 135 00:05:49,767 --> 00:05:50,967 Correct, until he stopped. 136 00:05:51,033 --> 00:05:54,300 [Judge DiMango] And so he comes to your home at that point, and that is? 137 00:05:54,367 --> 00:05:57,300 I believe it was June 16th, 138 00:05:57,367 --> 00:05:59,300 - something like that. - [Judge DiMango] June--maybe June 22nd? 139 00:05:59,367 --> 00:06:00,567 - Something like that. - [Judge DiMango] June 15th, June 22nd? 140 00:06:00,633 --> 00:06:02,400 Because again it kept on going on and on. 141 00:06:02,467 --> 00:06:05,333 [Judge DiMango] But meanwhile, initially, when the general contractor 142 00:06:05,400 --> 00:06:08,333 met with you in March, he said he was gonna come in April 143 00:06:08,400 --> 00:06:09,767 - and the cabinets would be in by... - [Janice] Correct. 144 00:06:09,834 --> 00:06:10,967 ... the beginning of May. 145 00:06:11,033 --> 00:06:12,400 Obviously, that didn't happen. 146 00:06:12,467 --> 00:06:15,800 Well, he was supposed to build them. 147 00:06:15,867 --> 00:06:18,433 And he did do half of the cabinets, 148 00:06:18,500 --> 00:06:21,600 but the first time he did come to install initially, 149 00:06:21,667 --> 00:06:24,533 he was supposed to come at 10:00. They didn't show up till 4:00. 150 00:06:24,600 --> 00:06:26,200 - You remember that? - [Orlando] I remember that. 151 00:06:26,266 --> 00:06:28,100 - And we were there at 11:00. - And what time did you get there? 152 00:06:28,166 --> 00:06:30,066 - 11:00. - No, no, you got there at 4:00. 153 00:06:30,133 --> 00:06:31,300 [Orlando] Because we have to be able-- to be able to work. 154 00:06:31,367 --> 00:06:33,400 How are we gonna be able to work from 4:00 and then... 155 00:06:33,467 --> 00:06:34,467 [Judge DiMango] That's what she's thinking. 156 00:06:34,533 --> 00:06:35,533 How are you gonna work 157 00:06:35,600 --> 00:06:36,600 - from four o'clock? - [Janice] Exactly. 158 00:06:36,667 --> 00:06:37,667 - [Orlando] Between 4:00 to 6:00... - Thank you for making a point. 159 00:06:37,734 --> 00:06:38,734 [Orlando] ... it doesn't make no sense. 160 00:06:38,800 --> 00:06:40,567 - But I got there at 11:00. - I have the text messages. 161 00:06:40,633 --> 00:06:42,767 "What time do you think you're gonna get to the house?" 162 00:06:43,367 --> 00:06:47,200 And this message comes in at about 2:34 p.m. 163 00:06:47,266 --> 00:06:49,900 And then at that time you text back, 164 00:06:49,967 --> 00:06:52,100 "40 minutes. I'm in traffic." 165 00:06:52,166 --> 00:06:53,667 So that's four o'clock. 166 00:06:54,233 --> 00:06:57,600 It doesn't make no sense because we weren't able to work that day. 167 00:06:57,667 --> 00:06:58,867 Should I show you this? 168 00:06:58,933 --> 00:07:01,400 I don't know where that text message is coming from. 169 00:07:01,467 --> 00:07:02,467 I don't know. 170 00:07:03,100 --> 00:07:05,867 All right. We're up to June. You're fixing cabinets. 171 00:07:05,934 --> 00:07:09,700 Let's see what the cabinets looked like when he was done. 172 00:07:11,033 --> 00:07:13,633 [announcer] Coming up on Tribunal Justice. 173 00:07:13,700 --> 00:07:16,500 I don't believe you because the people who come in here 174 00:07:16,567 --> 00:07:19,700 and testify are people who come in here and provide us with evidence. 175 00:07:19,767 --> 00:07:22,100 You provided us with absolutely zero. 176 00:07:22,166 --> 00:07:23,400 I got nothing to say to you. 177 00:07:23,467 --> 00:07:24,967 [dramatic musical sting] 178 00:07:26,800 --> 00:07:28,667 [theme music plays] 179 00:07:28,734 --> 00:07:34,567 [announcer] Janice Pitler is suing handyman Orlando Regalado for $10,000, 180 00:07:34,633 --> 00:07:37,633 claiming cabinets he built never fit in her kitchen. 181 00:07:37,700 --> 00:07:41,000 But Orlando says her beef is with the general contractor, 182 00:07:41,066 --> 00:07:42,533 not with him. 183 00:07:43,367 --> 00:07:46,834 Let's see what the cabinets looked like when he was done. 184 00:07:47,667 --> 00:07:52,266 That cabinet door doesn't open all the way because you have a stove there. 185 00:07:52,332 --> 00:07:53,332 [Janice] Correct. 186 00:07:53,400 --> 00:07:55,734 Oh, because that's where the limitation of the stove, 187 00:07:55,800 --> 00:07:57,567 like I was not gonna touch anything that-- 188 00:07:57,633 --> 00:08:01,000 from the construction of the building or anything like that. 189 00:08:01,066 --> 00:08:04,900 So everything is, uh, limited to where the hood vent is 190 00:08:04,967 --> 00:08:06,567 and where the stove is gonna be located. 191 00:08:06,633 --> 00:08:08,667 So the stove was previously installed? 192 00:08:08,734 --> 00:08:12,233 I gave him the dimensions of all of my appliances. 193 00:08:12,300 --> 00:08:15,633 And he had to build the cabinets around the dimensions that you gave? 194 00:08:15,700 --> 00:08:16,700 Correct. 195 00:08:16,767 --> 00:08:20,633 [Judge DiMango] So now, let's also look at plaintiff's photograph, page 17. 196 00:08:21,500 --> 00:08:23,867 Those are some holes, am I correct? 197 00:08:23,934 --> 00:08:24,934 [Janice] Correct. 198 00:08:25,000 --> 00:08:26,800 Those are upper cabinet 199 00:08:26,867 --> 00:08:28,400 that was supposed to be a corner cabinet 200 00:08:28,467 --> 00:08:30,467 and it was on the left side, 201 00:08:30,533 --> 00:08:33,900 and I guess they decided to put the door on the right side. 202 00:08:33,967 --> 00:08:36,400 Okay. So now, you have a video. 203 00:08:36,467 --> 00:08:37,734 Let's see the video. 204 00:08:39,100 --> 00:08:40,799 [Janice] With the shelving in, 205 00:08:41,366 --> 00:08:44,633 you can see that it's the wrong size 206 00:08:45,467 --> 00:08:47,500 and that they slip. 207 00:08:48,834 --> 00:08:52,000 So that means one cabinet without shelves, 208 00:08:53,400 --> 00:08:55,700 two cabinets without shelves. 209 00:08:57,934 --> 00:09:00,867 This is wrong configuration totally. 210 00:09:02,233 --> 00:09:04,500 Three cabinets without shelves. 211 00:09:05,467 --> 00:09:07,533 [Judge DiMango] Orlando, got an answer for that? 212 00:09:07,600 --> 00:09:10,633 [Orlando] Yes, because, uh, she has a soffit in her--in her home 213 00:09:10,700 --> 00:09:13,333 so it's like a duplex or a condominium, 214 00:09:13,400 --> 00:09:15,133 and you can't really tear the walls up, 215 00:09:15,200 --> 00:09:18,367 so what she wanted was like a corner cabinet 216 00:09:18,433 --> 00:09:19,700 but you cannot establish a corner cabinet... 217 00:09:19,767 --> 00:09:20,834 - [Judge DiMango] But you... - [Orlando] ... to make a blind corner. 218 00:09:20,900 --> 00:09:22,800 But listen to me, you are the man in the know here. 219 00:09:22,867 --> 00:09:24,000 You are the contractor. 220 00:09:24,066 --> 00:09:25,333 - You're doing the work. - [Orlando] Yes, ma'am. 221 00:09:25,400 --> 00:09:26,633 - She doesn't know. - Yeah. 222 00:09:26,700 --> 00:09:28,166 [Judge DiMango] That's why people hire you 223 00:09:28,233 --> 00:09:29,266 - or else they would have their... - And that's what I had with the... 224 00:09:29,333 --> 00:09:30,400 - [Judge DiMango] ... teenage sons... - ... previous contractor. 225 00:09:30,467 --> 00:09:31,800 - ... building their cabinets. - [Orlando] No, but that's why 226 00:09:31,867 --> 00:09:33,900 I had with my previous contractor, that I was gonna-- 227 00:09:33,967 --> 00:09:36,667 not gonna be able to put a corner cabinet that way. 228 00:09:36,734 --> 00:09:39,367 She was actually screaming in my face and being belligerent 229 00:09:39,433 --> 00:09:43,266 because of the way the blind corner was moving actually in the bottom. 230 00:09:43,333 --> 00:09:44,500 - I actually... - We have something 231 00:09:44,567 --> 00:09:46,433 - showing the blind corner? I think we do. - Yes, we do. 232 00:09:46,500 --> 00:09:48,333 I mean, that is a difficult thing to deal with. 233 00:09:48,400 --> 00:09:52,367 But nevertheless, you really have to be able to do your job properly. 234 00:09:52,967 --> 00:09:53,967 [Orlando] But I did... 235 00:09:54,033 --> 00:09:55,300 [Judge DiMango] Let's see the blind corner video. 236 00:09:56,066 --> 00:10:00,033 [Janice] This is supposed to be a pull-out wine corner bar. 237 00:10:02,834 --> 00:10:03,934 [Judge DiMango] That doesn't pull out? 238 00:10:04,333 --> 00:10:05,667 [Janice] It is stuck. 239 00:10:06,200 --> 00:10:09,500 Furthermore, if I pull it out, it gets stuck. 240 00:10:09,567 --> 00:10:11,133 [Orlando] The thing is that-- what she's not mentioning that 241 00:10:11,200 --> 00:10:15,633 she did not move her stove back because she had the gas line still there, 242 00:10:15,700 --> 00:10:17,266 and she had to move the stove back. 243 00:10:17,333 --> 00:10:20,567 And then, therefore--then, the pullout would've been able to open the door. 244 00:10:20,633 --> 00:10:21,633 You'd be able to pull it out. 245 00:10:21,700 --> 00:10:23,533 [Judge DiMango] So, why did you not go there 246 00:10:23,600 --> 00:10:25,233 while the measurements were being done? 247 00:10:25,300 --> 00:10:27,133 That's the problem with all of this work. 248 00:10:27,200 --> 00:10:29,000 Now, I don't know whether or not 249 00:10:29,066 --> 00:10:32,600 you didn't get $10,000 worth of work from him. 250 00:10:32,667 --> 00:10:34,433 I mean, he did do a lot of work to put in. 251 00:10:34,500 --> 00:10:35,934 How much did you actually pay him? 252 00:10:36,000 --> 00:10:39,934 - Was he paid? - So far, I've paid him 13,500. 253 00:10:40,000 --> 00:10:42,133 - [Judge DiMango] Correct? - No, it's only 10,000, 254 00:10:42,200 --> 00:10:43,734 and there was a balance of 3,000. 255 00:10:43,800 --> 00:10:45,633 That's the new contract that we established. 256 00:10:45,700 --> 00:10:47,233 - The new one that you did sign... - [Orlando] Yes. 257 00:10:47,300 --> 00:10:48,300 ... for 10,000. 258 00:10:48,367 --> 00:10:52,133 And his position is he did the full $10,000 worth of work. 259 00:10:52,200 --> 00:10:55,333 Your position is, "Take a look at these videos, judges." 260 00:10:55,400 --> 00:10:57,333 - And I'm gonna pass this to Judge Levy. - I--okay. 261 00:10:58,033 --> 00:11:00,700 Ms. Pitler, would you please take a look at exhibit five, 262 00:11:00,767 --> 00:11:04,033 email correspondence with the defendant, third paragraph. 263 00:11:04,100 --> 00:11:06,767 "It is up to the general contractor to pay his subs 264 00:11:06,834 --> 00:11:09,100 and not the responsibility of the client. 265 00:11:09,166 --> 00:11:11,900 I cannot help it if he does not pay his subcontractors. 266 00:11:11,967 --> 00:11:12,967 And as you said on the phone, 267 00:11:13,033 --> 00:11:16,000 your contract is with the general contractor 268 00:11:16,066 --> 00:11:17,600 - and not with me." - Correct. 269 00:11:17,667 --> 00:11:20,300 [Judge Levy] So the contract was between you and the general contractor? 270 00:11:20,367 --> 00:11:21,900 - Yes. - [Judge Levy] And you came in today 271 00:11:21,967 --> 00:11:24,300 without any paperwork, including the contract, nothing. 272 00:11:24,367 --> 00:11:25,667 - You just decided to come in... - No. 273 00:11:25,734 --> 00:11:26,900 ... and throw caution into the wind? 274 00:11:26,967 --> 00:11:28,667 - Great. Continue. - Yeah. 275 00:11:28,734 --> 00:11:31,700 Okay. So the total was 16,500. 276 00:11:31,767 --> 00:11:35,000 The other contractor gave him 6,500. 277 00:11:35,066 --> 00:11:37,165 That's why when I entered into a new contract... 278 00:11:37,233 --> 00:11:38,633 - They only gave me 3,000. - ... and it was only... 279 00:11:38,700 --> 00:11:39,700 - They only gave me... - It was only... 280 00:11:39,767 --> 00:11:42,233 Hold on. Hold on. Hold on. Hold on. I don't believe you. 281 00:11:42,300 --> 00:11:44,834 - [Orlando] No. They only gave me 3,000. - I don't believe you. 282 00:11:44,900 --> 00:11:46,300 And I don't wanna hear your talk anymore 283 00:11:46,367 --> 00:11:48,633 because the people who come in here and testify 284 00:11:48,700 --> 00:11:50,900 are people who come in here and provide us with evidence. 285 00:11:50,967 --> 00:11:53,500 You provided us with absolutely zero. 286 00:11:53,567 --> 00:11:55,533 So as far as I'm concerned, I got nothing to say to you. 287 00:11:55,600 --> 00:11:56,633 Go on. 288 00:11:56,700 --> 00:11:59,633 So finally, I wasn't getting a kitchen done. 289 00:11:59,700 --> 00:12:01,400 I was out of my place for five and a half months. 290 00:12:01,467 --> 00:12:02,467 [Judge Levy] I read that. 291 00:12:02,533 --> 00:12:05,600 So I said to him, listen-- and I called and texted 292 00:12:05,667 --> 00:12:08,900 maybe five or six times before I can finally get in touch with him. 293 00:12:08,967 --> 00:12:10,800 And I said, "I'll pay you out-of-pocket 294 00:12:10,867 --> 00:12:13,667 and deal with the other contractor on my own." 295 00:12:13,734 --> 00:12:15,233 - The reason I know... - [Judge Levy] So paying twice? 296 00:12:15,300 --> 00:12:18,367 [Janice] Exactly. The reason why I know he got the 6,500 297 00:12:18,433 --> 00:12:21,867 is that instead of $10,000 when we entered into the contract, 298 00:12:21,934 --> 00:12:24,500 it would have been $13,000. 299 00:12:24,567 --> 00:12:27,300 I'm horrible at math, but I know that much. 300 00:12:27,367 --> 00:12:29,567 And how do you come up with this clown? 301 00:12:29,633 --> 00:12:31,900 The other contractor came up with this clown. 302 00:12:31,967 --> 00:12:33,033 [Judge Levy] There you go. 303 00:12:33,100 --> 00:12:35,200 'Cause he and this clown are in cahoots. 304 00:12:35,266 --> 00:12:37,600 It's not the first time that they've done this. 305 00:12:37,667 --> 00:12:39,934 - Uh--no. That was the first time... - [Judge Levy] Yeah. I got nothing-- 306 00:12:40,000 --> 00:12:41,800 - I got--I got nothing to say to you. - ... I've ever met. 307 00:12:41,867 --> 00:12:46,633 So the contractor, he extracted as much as he knew he could outta you. 308 00:12:46,700 --> 00:12:49,567 And then when he knew he couldn't squeeze another nickel outta you, 309 00:12:49,633 --> 00:12:51,700 he contacts his buddy over here, 310 00:12:51,767 --> 00:12:53,600 who, by the way, is committing a crime 311 00:12:53,667 --> 00:12:56,667 by doing home improvements without a license. 312 00:12:56,734 --> 00:13:01,200 You need a home improvement license to do any work over $500 313 00:13:01,266 --> 00:13:04,667 except if it's just refacing cabinets. 314 00:13:04,734 --> 00:13:06,667 But what he did, when I was DA, 315 00:13:06,734 --> 00:13:09,400 I prosecuted people like him all the time. 316 00:13:09,467 --> 00:13:12,767 The DA in this county lets people like this run amok. 317 00:13:12,834 --> 00:13:15,300 No one goes to jail. No one. 318 00:13:15,367 --> 00:13:17,767 And as a result, you get people like this clown going around 319 00:13:17,834 --> 00:13:20,133 ripping people like you offer your money. 320 00:13:20,200 --> 00:13:21,300 It's sickening. 321 00:13:21,367 --> 00:13:23,900 You know what? I got enough. 322 00:13:23,967 --> 00:13:25,300 - Judge Acker. - [Janice] Okay. Thank you. 323 00:13:25,367 --> 00:13:30,934 Mr. Regalado, help me understand why there were unfilled holes. 324 00:13:31,000 --> 00:13:33,800 Can we go back to plaintiff's exhibit four? 325 00:13:33,867 --> 00:13:35,233 Why did you leave those like that? 326 00:13:35,300 --> 00:13:36,967 [Orlando] Oh, 'cause you could just turn the doors 327 00:13:37,033 --> 00:13:39,633 and be able to just fill 'em in and patch them up 328 00:13:39,700 --> 00:13:42,000 and everything like it just the doors depending on how-- 329 00:13:42,066 --> 00:13:43,133 what side they're gonna open up, 330 00:13:43,200 --> 00:13:45,467 we can switch 'em up 'cause they're all squared doors. 331 00:13:45,533 --> 00:13:47,400 But why didn't you do it? 332 00:13:47,467 --> 00:13:51,867 It's 'cause the thing is, when I was installing the blind corner basket, 333 00:13:51,934 --> 00:13:54,233 that day, she was screaming in my face, 334 00:13:54,300 --> 00:13:56,400 telling me everything, blaming me. 335 00:13:56,467 --> 00:13:57,467 - [Judge Acker] Uh... - [Orlando] It's just the way 336 00:13:57,533 --> 00:13:58,867 that she was just behaving like nobody wants... 337 00:13:58,934 --> 00:14:00,633 It's just the way that she was behaving? 338 00:14:00,700 --> 00:14:01,900 [Orlando] Yeah. Like she was screaming... 339 00:14:01,967 --> 00:14:03,867 So talk to me about her behavior 340 00:14:03,934 --> 00:14:07,367 because I need to understand from you what this woman did. 341 00:14:07,433 --> 00:14:09,633 The woman who paid you thousands of dollars 342 00:14:09,700 --> 00:14:12,834 that justified your saying, "I'm gonna leave your kitchen a hot mess." 343 00:14:12,900 --> 00:14:15,100 What did she do? Did she threaten you with violence? 344 00:14:15,166 --> 00:14:16,967 Well, I don't know. She was just screaming in my face. 345 00:14:17,033 --> 00:14:19,367 Like, she was just saying that this is not what I agree with. 346 00:14:19,433 --> 00:14:20,834 [Judge Acker] Was she animated when she said that? 347 00:14:20,900 --> 00:14:22,433 - [Orlando] Yeah. She was really... - You ever been animated 348 00:14:22,500 --> 00:14:24,700 when you spend thousands of dollars and somebody doesn't do 349 00:14:24,767 --> 00:14:26,100 - what they wanna do? - I would've been frustrated, yes. But... 350 00:14:26,166 --> 00:14:27,500 [Judge Acker] And you keep getting jerked around 351 00:14:27,567 --> 00:14:31,066 and someone says they're gonna be there at 10:00 but they show up at 4:00? 352 00:14:31,133 --> 00:14:33,433 No. Of course not. Nobody's gonna work at four o'clock 353 00:14:33,500 --> 00:14:34,500 - in the afternoon. - [Judge Acker] Right. 354 00:14:34,567 --> 00:14:37,233 I feel like I'm getting a little animated 'cause you keep suggesting 355 00:14:37,300 --> 00:14:40,133 that we just concocted evidence out of nowhere. 356 00:14:40,200 --> 00:14:43,066 You know, when you know that's not true. It is frustrating. 357 00:14:44,433 --> 00:14:47,000 [announcer] Coming up on Tribunal Justice. 358 00:14:47,066 --> 00:14:49,734 This is the layout I signed off on. 359 00:14:49,800 --> 00:14:53,200 These aren't the cabinets I ordered and that's what upset me. 360 00:14:53,266 --> 00:14:54,900 [dramatic musical sting] 361 00:14:56,700 --> 00:14:58,467 [theme music plays] 362 00:14:58,533 --> 00:15:02,567 [announcer] Janice Pitler said her dream kitchen was a nightmare 363 00:15:02,633 --> 00:15:05,834 after Orlando Regalado's shoddy cabinetry work. 364 00:15:05,900 --> 00:15:08,667 Orlando claims he had to flee the jobsite 365 00:15:08,734 --> 00:15:11,200 when Janice became belligerent. 366 00:15:11,266 --> 00:15:12,834 [Judge Acker] Let me ask you, Ms. Pitler. 367 00:15:12,900 --> 00:15:15,066 - Judge DiMango touched on this. - [Janice] Uh-hmm. 368 00:15:15,133 --> 00:15:18,133 And for me, it's really the heart of your case. 369 00:15:18,200 --> 00:15:20,600 I know that you had to spend money 370 00:15:20,667 --> 00:15:23,900 to get some of these botched items fixed. 371 00:15:23,967 --> 00:15:28,867 Explain to me why that new contractor 372 00:15:28,934 --> 00:15:31,233 didn't get some value from his work. 373 00:15:31,300 --> 00:15:33,633 I mean, it's not as if he had to start from scratch. 374 00:15:33,700 --> 00:15:37,333 And what I'm really asking you is why should you get everything back? 375 00:15:37,400 --> 00:15:39,033 You paid him $10,000. 376 00:15:39,100 --> 00:15:41,567 You know, maybe he did $5,000 worth of work. 377 00:15:41,633 --> 00:15:43,233 - I'll explain. Um... - [Judge Acker] Please. 378 00:15:43,300 --> 00:15:46,367 ... to finish it was approximately 8,000, 379 00:15:46,433 --> 00:15:49,967 if you go to--um, and the reason why I'm suing for the whole thing 380 00:15:50,033 --> 00:15:54,165 is if you go to exhibit eight, it's the kitchen design and layout. 381 00:15:54,233 --> 00:15:56,633 This is the layout I signed off on. 382 00:15:57,200 --> 00:15:59,834 So I was even saying to Orlando, 383 00:15:59,900 --> 00:16:04,133 "These aren't the cabinets I ordered. I was supposed to get a corner cabinet." 384 00:16:04,200 --> 00:16:05,867 - I mean, right now... - [Judge Acker] And these were cabinets 385 00:16:05,934 --> 00:16:07,266 that were going to be custom-made, correct? 386 00:16:07,333 --> 00:16:08,767 [Janice] That he was custom-making. 387 00:16:08,834 --> 00:16:12,367 And that's what upset me is that 388 00:16:12,433 --> 00:16:15,600 if he's changing the cabinets on me, 389 00:16:15,667 --> 00:16:19,667 I should have a change order to sign off on so I said, "Where's my change order? 390 00:16:19,734 --> 00:16:21,533 These are not my cabinets." 391 00:16:21,600 --> 00:16:24,000 And he says, "Well, the cabinets were already built." 392 00:16:24,066 --> 00:16:26,000 And I said, "Well, that's even worse 393 00:16:26,066 --> 00:16:29,300 that you already built the cabinets without the change order." 394 00:16:29,367 --> 00:16:33,266 So, you know, it was just a bunch of word salad from him. 395 00:16:33,333 --> 00:16:35,800 And I was accommodating in the sense where, 396 00:16:35,867 --> 00:16:39,800 - "Okay, I'm stuck with these cabinets"... - Ma'am, I read the text messages. 397 00:16:39,867 --> 00:16:42,133 I think that you were plenty accommodating. 398 00:16:42,200 --> 00:16:45,734 And I think that the notion that somebody can take your money, do a bad job, 399 00:16:45,800 --> 00:16:50,433 and then say, "You didn't speak to me in a very nice way after I took $10,000, 400 00:16:50,500 --> 00:16:52,934 so I'm not going to finish"-- I think that's ridiculous. 401 00:16:53,000 --> 00:16:55,200 - Judge DiMango. - [Judge DiMango] I just have a follow up. 402 00:16:55,266 --> 00:16:57,100 At what point did you realize 403 00:16:57,165 --> 00:16:59,100 that the cabinets were not those that you wanted? 404 00:16:59,165 --> 00:17:01,900 And why didn't you say something before they were installed? 405 00:17:02,433 --> 00:17:05,066 Well, I didn't know until they were installed 406 00:17:05,133 --> 00:17:06,867 that they weren't the right cabinets. 407 00:17:06,934 --> 00:17:08,433 [Judge DiMango] Okay. I've heard enough from you. 408 00:17:08,500 --> 00:17:11,266 Thank you very much. We're gonna retire to deliberate. 409 00:17:11,333 --> 00:17:14,066 [Cassandra] Court is now in recess. Parties may exit. 410 00:17:14,133 --> 00:17:17,266 [dramatic musical sting] 411 00:17:18,266 --> 00:17:20,800 Well, he did do a lot of work. I mean, he did make the cabinets. 412 00:17:20,867 --> 00:17:23,733 They don't open or close. They have no shelves. 413 00:17:23,800 --> 00:17:25,000 - They're not the ones that she wanted. - They-- 414 00:17:25,066 --> 00:17:26,467 They're not the ones that she was looking for. 415 00:17:26,967 --> 00:17:29,734 And he was paid. I'm sure that there's something. 416 00:17:29,800 --> 00:17:32,100 I mean, there's no way he just met this general contractor 417 00:17:32,166 --> 00:17:33,667 for the first time like he said. 418 00:17:33,734 --> 00:17:37,133 I think that she demonstrated that the work was shoddy, 419 00:17:37,200 --> 00:17:40,400 was incomplete, and she did lay out additional money 420 00:17:40,467 --> 00:17:43,266 for exactly the things that he didn't do properly. 421 00:17:43,333 --> 00:17:45,900 So I feel that she should be given something. 422 00:17:45,967 --> 00:17:48,100 I'm not sure whether or not we want to reduce her amount 423 00:17:48,166 --> 00:17:49,467 by anything that he's done. 424 00:17:49,533 --> 00:17:50,767 But I'm willing to hear you both. 425 00:17:50,834 --> 00:17:52,600 [Judge Levy] I most certainly don't wanna give him any credit 426 00:17:52,667 --> 00:17:53,667 for any work that he did. 427 00:17:53,734 --> 00:17:55,867 It was substandard. It wasn't what she asked for. 428 00:17:55,934 --> 00:17:59,400 And he was unlicensed. He lied to us. 429 00:17:59,467 --> 00:18:03,100 As so many others come in here and do, say, "You don't need a license for it." 430 00:18:03,166 --> 00:18:08,066 You absolutely need a license if you are charging more than $500 431 00:18:08,133 --> 00:18:11,533 and you're doing anything more in a kitchen besides refacing a cabinet. 432 00:18:11,600 --> 00:18:15,233 So I would be willing to give her every nickel that she's asked for. 433 00:18:15,300 --> 00:18:18,633 I think she presented a near perfect case, 434 00:18:18,700 --> 00:18:20,734 especially in a situation like this 435 00:18:20,800 --> 00:18:23,367 where we sometimes have a hard time figuring out 436 00:18:23,433 --> 00:18:26,500 what the old guy did, what the new person did. 437 00:18:26,567 --> 00:18:29,133 She really laid all that out very beautifully. 438 00:18:29,200 --> 00:18:31,600 And frankly, I think it was her precision that bothered him. 439 00:18:31,667 --> 00:18:34,533 You know, he kept trying to say, "She wasn't nice. She wasn't this." 440 00:18:34,600 --> 00:18:35,600 - I mean... - I think she just wanted 441 00:18:35,667 --> 00:18:37,900 - what she paid for. - [Judge DiMango] I mean the whole thing 442 00:18:37,967 --> 00:18:42,400 about these contractors is the--just the disregard for people, their time. 443 00:18:42,467 --> 00:18:46,200 I mean, this is replete with her, "Please call me. Please call me. 444 00:18:46,266 --> 00:18:47,934 I'm out of my home." And I think just on that alone... 445 00:18:48,000 --> 00:18:49,867 [Judge Acker] She was very accommodating and patient. 446 00:18:49,934 --> 00:18:51,333 ... I think that people should get the $10,000. 447 00:18:51,400 --> 00:18:54,266 I just want to know where did you get that text message, 448 00:18:54,333 --> 00:18:55,734 'cause the defendant had no idea... 449 00:18:55,800 --> 00:18:57,400 - Oh, I have... - ... where it came from. 450 00:18:57,467 --> 00:19:00,166 - I have something very... - Magical powers. 451 00:19:00,233 --> 00:19:02,867 ... tricky to put text messages on. 452 00:19:04,066 --> 00:19:07,567 [dramatic musical sting] 453 00:19:07,633 --> 00:19:08,934 [Cassandra] Court is back in session. 454 00:19:09,000 --> 00:19:11,467 All parties are reminded that you're still under oath. 455 00:19:11,533 --> 00:19:13,367 - Thank you, Cassandra. - You're welcome. 456 00:19:13,767 --> 00:19:16,033 This has to ring a bell to you. 457 00:19:16,100 --> 00:19:19,500 "Hi, Orlando. I never heard back from you." July 27th. 458 00:19:19,567 --> 00:19:23,467 The 28th, "Hi, Orlando. Please have the decency to call me back." 459 00:19:23,533 --> 00:19:27,600 July 29th, "Hi, Orlando. Please call or text me when you can." 460 00:19:27,667 --> 00:19:31,100 The 30th, "Hi, Orlando. This is the fifth day in a row. 461 00:19:31,166 --> 00:19:32,834 I have tried to contact you." 462 00:19:32,900 --> 00:19:34,467 Ma'am, I never received those text messages. 463 00:19:34,533 --> 00:19:35,767 - I never received those text... - [Judge DiMango] I know. 464 00:19:35,834 --> 00:19:38,266 That's the problem with your particular phone. 465 00:19:38,333 --> 00:19:40,667 It doesn't give you the messages from your client. 466 00:19:40,734 --> 00:19:42,266 - [Orlando] Well... - The bottom line is you got these. 467 00:19:42,333 --> 00:19:43,467 There's no doubt about it. 468 00:19:43,533 --> 00:19:45,633 The aggravation alone is worth $10,000. 469 00:19:45,700 --> 00:19:48,333 She's not living in her home for five and a half months. 470 00:19:48,400 --> 00:19:51,867 She has drawers that don't open, things that swing the wrong way. 471 00:19:51,934 --> 00:19:53,233 No shelves in the cabinets. 472 00:19:53,300 --> 00:19:55,500 She had to pay somebody else to finish the job. 473 00:19:55,567 --> 00:19:57,700 Nobody's saying you didn't do work you did. 474 00:19:57,767 --> 00:20:01,600 But what you didn't do was give her a working, usable kitchen. 475 00:20:01,667 --> 00:20:06,233 And for that she is entitled to the return of $10,000, 476 00:20:06,300 --> 00:20:09,233 which is what she needed to get it fixed. 477 00:20:09,300 --> 00:20:12,100 And that is the unanimous verdict of the court. 478 00:20:12,166 --> 00:20:14,400 Don't call us. We'll call you tomorrow. 479 00:20:14,467 --> 00:20:16,100 [gavel bangs] 480 00:20:16,166 --> 00:20:17,767 - Thank you. - [Cassandra] This case has concluded. 481 00:20:17,834 --> 00:20:19,600 All parties are excused. 482 00:20:19,667 --> 00:20:22,066 [theme music plays] 483 00:20:22,133 --> 00:20:24,600 Previous conversations, she's always been like very nice and all that, 484 00:20:24,667 --> 00:20:26,767 but that day, it was just like over the top. 485 00:20:26,834 --> 00:20:29,667 I was trying to encourage him to let's have a dialogue 486 00:20:29,734 --> 00:20:31,367 and let's try to fix this. 487 00:20:31,433 --> 00:20:33,233 Uh, she's just being belligerent in my face. 488 00:20:33,300 --> 00:20:34,767 That's the only thing I can describe it as. 489 00:20:34,834 --> 00:20:39,233 I was clearly upset. Um, but I was not being belligerent. 490 00:20:39,300 --> 00:20:41,033 Sometimes like you can't please everybody. 491 00:20:41,100 --> 00:20:45,300 I survived a renovation nightmare, and never again. 492 00:20:45,367 --> 00:20:47,033 [announcer] Have you been scammed? 493 00:20:47,100 --> 00:20:51,433 Let the majority rule in your favor on Tribunal Justice. 494 00:20:51,500 --> 00:20:53,800 Find us on social media. 495 00:20:53,867 --> 00:20:57,000 ["Ride of the Valkyries" plays]