1 00:00:06,367 --> 00:00:10,200 When you moved out, there was nothing but normal wear and tear. 2 00:00:10,266 --> 00:00:11,667 That's exactly the way it happened. 3 00:00:11,734 --> 00:00:14,533 The bathrooms were like nasty and filthy. 4 00:00:14,600 --> 00:00:16,133 There's a hole in the door, 5 00:00:16,200 --> 00:00:17,900 the carpet was dirty, 6 00:00:17,967 --> 00:00:20,266 - and there was a horrible smell. - Absolutely not. 7 00:00:20,333 --> 00:00:21,333 Oh, my God. 8 00:00:21,400 --> 00:00:22,734 Normal wear and tear? 9 00:00:22,800 --> 00:00:25,100 I mean, maybe if the house were located in hell. 10 00:00:25,166 --> 00:00:27,734 [announcer] Now on Tribunal Justice. 11 00:00:27,800 --> 00:00:30,800 ["Ride of the Valkyries" plays] 12 00:00:49,166 --> 00:00:52,934 [announcer] Today's case was filed in Kansas City, Missouri. 13 00:00:53,000 --> 00:00:56,834 Your Honor, this is case number 2062, Hamilton versus Shell. 14 00:00:56,900 --> 00:00:58,633 All parties have been sworn in. 15 00:00:58,700 --> 00:01:00,300 - Thank you, Cassandra. - You guys may be seated. 16 00:01:00,834 --> 00:01:02,834 Mr. Hamilton, you're a landlord. 17 00:01:02,900 --> 00:01:05,500 You rented your home to the defendant. 18 00:01:05,567 --> 00:01:09,834 And you're seeking $4,920 from him 19 00:01:09,900 --> 00:01:11,633 for breaking the lease 20 00:01:11,700 --> 00:01:15,300 and for causing excessive damage to your home. 21 00:01:15,367 --> 00:01:16,767 Yes, Your Honor, I am. 22 00:01:16,834 --> 00:01:19,300 And according to your answer, Mr. Shells, 23 00:01:19,367 --> 00:01:22,033 you gave proper notice before you left. 24 00:01:22,100 --> 00:01:24,300 You say that you hired a cleaning service. 25 00:01:24,367 --> 00:01:26,967 - I did. - [Judge Levy] And when you moved out, 26 00:01:27,033 --> 00:01:29,767 there was nothing but normal wear and tear. 27 00:01:29,834 --> 00:01:31,233 That's exactly the way it happened. 28 00:01:31,300 --> 00:01:33,333 [Judge Levy] And what we're gonna find out today, Mr. Shells, 29 00:01:33,400 --> 00:01:36,600 is whether your idea of normal wear and tear 30 00:01:36,667 --> 00:01:39,166 is like everybody else's idea of normal wear and tear. 31 00:01:39,633 --> 00:01:40,900 - Makes sense? - Makes sense. 32 00:01:40,967 --> 00:01:43,500 All right. So, Mr. Hamilton, why don't you tell us, 33 00:01:43,567 --> 00:01:44,667 how do you know the defendant? 34 00:01:44,734 --> 00:01:46,667 [Darren] I've been knowing him maybe ten years or so. 35 00:01:46,734 --> 00:01:47,734 He was a mechanic. 36 00:01:47,800 --> 00:01:51,366 He used to work on my vehicles at one point in time. 37 00:01:51,433 --> 00:01:54,300 I knew that he was--had-- was in a bad situation, 38 00:01:54,366 --> 00:01:57,300 staying in a hotel so I offered him my place. 39 00:01:57,366 --> 00:01:58,834 So I was trying to help him out. 40 00:01:58,900 --> 00:02:02,100 [Judge Levy] The place that you were gonna let him rent from you, where was it? 41 00:02:02,166 --> 00:02:04,166 [Darren] It's in Kansas City, Missouri. 42 00:02:04,233 --> 00:02:08,333 I stay across the street and he stays directly across the street from me. 43 00:02:08,400 --> 00:02:10,900 [Judge Levy] And what year was it that you rented the home to him? 44 00:02:10,967 --> 00:02:14,433 It was, uh, 2018, I believe. 45 00:02:14,500 --> 00:02:15,500 [Judge Levy] Is that correct? 46 00:02:15,567 --> 00:02:17,100 I think it was 2017. 47 00:02:17,166 --> 00:02:18,433 [Judge Levy] So just so we all know, 48 00:02:18,500 --> 00:02:19,767 before you guys came in, 49 00:02:19,834 --> 00:02:22,667 you were able to provide us with any evidence that you had to support 50 00:02:22,734 --> 00:02:25,233 - your case and you did that, correct? - Yes. 51 00:02:25,300 --> 00:02:29,066 And, Mr. Shells, you, however, did not have any evidence to present to us 52 00:02:29,133 --> 00:02:31,700 'cause you said what you had was on your phone and you lost your phone. 53 00:02:31,767 --> 00:02:34,066 - That is correct. - [Judge Levy] Luckily, we have a lease 54 00:02:34,133 --> 00:02:37,567 from Mr. Hamilton, and if you can please show that over to Mr. Shells. 55 00:02:38,900 --> 00:02:41,433 So, Mr. Hamilton, why don't you tell us what the terms and conditions 56 00:02:41,500 --> 00:02:42,700 of the lease were? 57 00:02:42,767 --> 00:02:45,300 The terms and conditions of the lease 58 00:02:45,367 --> 00:02:47,133 were it was a one-year lease 59 00:02:47,600 --> 00:02:49,200 and to break the lease, 60 00:02:49,266 --> 00:02:51,300 you have to give a 30-day notice 61 00:02:51,367 --> 00:02:54,367 or else the lease renews itself every year. 62 00:02:54,433 --> 00:02:56,700 [Judge Levy] That's correct. So it was an auto renewal. 63 00:02:56,767 --> 00:02:58,867 It was $650 a month, 64 00:02:58,934 --> 00:03:01,633 $650 security deposit that you took. 65 00:03:01,700 --> 00:03:03,633 - Yes, sir. - [Judge Levy] There was a $700 66 00:03:03,700 --> 00:03:07,967 termination fee and the tenant was required to pay damages 67 00:03:08,033 --> 00:03:10,700 beyond normal wear and tear. 68 00:03:10,767 --> 00:03:12,633 Yes, sir. That what it says. Uh-huh. 69 00:03:12,700 --> 00:03:14,200 [Judge Levy] And according to that lease, Mr. Shells, 70 00:03:14,266 --> 00:03:17,800 you also remember signing that you did agree to keep the property free 71 00:03:17,867 --> 00:03:21,533 - of trash and to mow the grass. - Absolutely. 72 00:03:21,600 --> 00:03:23,433 Now, would you please, Mr. Hamilton, 73 00:03:23,500 --> 00:03:25,567 tell us the condition of the house 74 00:03:25,633 --> 00:03:28,633 before Mr. Shells moved in in May of 2018. 75 00:03:28,700 --> 00:03:30,367 Oh, the condition of the house? 76 00:03:30,433 --> 00:03:32,166 It was in great condition. 77 00:03:32,233 --> 00:03:35,767 The carpet was clean, everything was in order, 78 00:03:35,834 --> 00:03:40,300 because The Salvation Army paid his deposit 79 00:03:40,367 --> 00:03:43,233 and maybe like ten months of his rent. 80 00:03:43,300 --> 00:03:45,834 They came in before they start paying 81 00:03:45,900 --> 00:03:48,166 and did their own inspection of the property... 82 00:03:48,233 --> 00:03:49,233 [Judge Levy] Do you recall that, Mr. Shells? 83 00:03:49,300 --> 00:03:50,367 - ... which it passed and everything. - I do recall that. 84 00:03:50,433 --> 00:03:53,100 Okay. By the way, you moved out November 10th, right? 85 00:03:53,166 --> 00:03:54,567 I moved out in October. 86 00:03:54,633 --> 00:03:56,734 [Judge Levy] It was October, but according to your complaint, 87 00:03:56,800 --> 00:03:59,100 Mr. Hamilton, you say it was November 10th 88 00:03:59,166 --> 00:04:00,834 'cause he still had an acquaintance of his living there. 89 00:04:00,900 --> 00:04:02,433 - Yes. - [Judge Levy] So November 10th, 90 00:04:02,500 --> 00:04:05,166 did you have someone that you were in acquaintance with stay there 91 00:04:05,233 --> 00:04:06,900 - even after they... - Not after October. 92 00:04:06,967 --> 00:04:08,200 [Judge Levy] No one there after October? 93 00:04:08,266 --> 00:04:09,700 - [Rickey] Absolutely not. - [Judge Levy] Okay. 94 00:04:09,767 --> 00:04:13,033 So tell us how much you paid to clean the house before you left. 95 00:04:14,300 --> 00:04:16,767 In the--in the amount of $400. 96 00:04:16,834 --> 00:04:19,834 It was through people that I work with at my shop. 97 00:04:20,300 --> 00:04:22,132 I paid those guys to clean... 98 00:04:22,200 --> 00:04:24,133 - [Judge Levy] Okay. - ... the house after I moved out. 99 00:04:24,200 --> 00:04:25,633 - $400? - [Rickey] Yes, sir. 100 00:04:25,700 --> 00:04:28,332 Okay. So, Mr. Hamilton, I want you to describe 101 00:04:28,400 --> 00:04:31,800 for us the way the house looked when he vacated the home. 102 00:04:31,867 --> 00:04:33,433 Oh, my God. 103 00:04:33,500 --> 00:04:35,100 Okay. We have-- 104 00:04:35,166 --> 00:04:40,200 every blind in the house was like torn, ripped, or broken. 105 00:04:40,266 --> 00:04:42,166 [Judge Levy] I think we have those photographs. 106 00:04:42,233 --> 00:04:43,233 [Darren] Yes, sir. 107 00:04:43,300 --> 00:04:46,633 That's where the front window-- they had a shooting in the house. 108 00:04:46,700 --> 00:04:49,033 He repaired the glass but never the blind 109 00:04:49,100 --> 00:04:51,300 and he just left everything like that, 110 00:04:51,367 --> 00:04:52,533 - you know? - [Judge Levy] Go ahead, Mr. Shells. 111 00:04:52,600 --> 00:04:53,767 You wanna say something about the shooting? 112 00:04:53,834 --> 00:04:54,933 - Go ahead. - [Rickey] Yeah, yeah, yeah. 113 00:04:55,000 --> 00:04:57,367 Because that stuff happened after I moved in there, 114 00:04:57,433 --> 00:04:59,567 about a year after I moved in there. 115 00:04:59,633 --> 00:05:03,233 And that happened, I believe, because of the tenants he had in there before I did. 116 00:05:03,300 --> 00:05:04,333 [Judge Levy] Listen, no one's blaming you 117 00:05:04,400 --> 00:05:06,166 for someone outside shooting in. 118 00:05:06,233 --> 00:05:07,900 - No one's blaming you for that, so stop. - Okay. 119 00:05:07,967 --> 00:05:10,100 [Judge Levy] So all I want you to continue with, please, Mr. Hamilton, 120 00:05:10,166 --> 00:05:12,433 is the way the house looked after he left. 121 00:05:12,500 --> 00:05:13,967 The carpet was dirty. 122 00:05:14,033 --> 00:05:16,867 Looked like it hadn't been cleaned in years. 123 00:05:16,934 --> 00:05:19,200 These are the stairs, is that right? That's the carpet going up the stairs. 124 00:05:19,266 --> 00:05:20,266 [Darren] That's the carpet. 125 00:05:20,332 --> 00:05:22,200 [Rickey] The carpet downstairs was in fair condition. 126 00:05:22,667 --> 00:05:26,266 Going up the stairs, there were already tears in it when I moved in there, 127 00:05:26,332 --> 00:05:27,700 - so... - I disagree with that. 128 00:05:27,767 --> 00:05:31,667 Before October of 2023, when you moved out, 129 00:05:31,734 --> 00:05:34,767 when was the time before that that you had the carpet cleaned? 130 00:05:34,834 --> 00:05:35,933 It'd been over a year. 131 00:05:36,400 --> 00:05:39,133 And after four years, almost five years, 132 00:05:39,200 --> 00:05:41,233 he want me to replace his carpet? 133 00:05:41,300 --> 00:05:43,166 So--just so we're clear, Mr. Shells, 134 00:05:43,233 --> 00:05:47,633 so it's your testimony that those stairs, ripped up as they are, 135 00:05:47,700 --> 00:05:51,633 that's the way that the carpet cleaning people came in a year before? 136 00:05:51,700 --> 00:05:55,367 Yup. Those two bottom tears that you see, they were already there in the beginning. 137 00:05:55,433 --> 00:05:56,500 [Judge Levy] And you would disagree with that? 138 00:05:56,567 --> 00:05:57,700 - I would disagree 'cause the... - [Judge Levy] I get it. 139 00:05:57,767 --> 00:05:59,000 What else? What about the bathrooms? 140 00:05:59,066 --> 00:06:00,166 Anything about the bathrooms 141 00:06:00,233 --> 00:06:01,233 - you wanna tell me about? - [Darren] Oh, yes. 142 00:06:01,300 --> 00:06:03,233 The bathrooms were like nasty and filthy. 143 00:06:03,300 --> 00:06:07,633 You can see the tub, it don't look like nobody took a bath in that tub. 144 00:06:07,700 --> 00:06:10,700 The sink was like filled up with water, 145 00:06:10,767 --> 00:06:13,500 just backed up and there was a horrible smell. 146 00:06:13,567 --> 00:06:14,567 - I mean, it was terrible. - That isn't true. 147 00:06:14,633 --> 00:06:17,867 [Judge Levy] Mr. Shells, is that the way you left the tub in the house 148 00:06:17,934 --> 00:06:21,233 - in October of 2023? - No. I wasn't there a year before. 149 00:06:21,300 --> 00:06:24,934 I moved out of--my ex-girlfriend was still staying in there 150 00:06:25,000 --> 00:06:26,700 but that was not like that. 151 00:06:26,767 --> 00:06:27,934 Now, that stuff right there... 152 00:06:28,000 --> 00:06:29,433 - She wasn't even on the lease. - [Rickey] ... on the side-- 153 00:06:29,500 --> 00:06:31,300 on the side, it was like that all along. 154 00:06:31,367 --> 00:06:32,834 I had that repaired once before. 155 00:06:32,900 --> 00:06:35,533 So you're saying that that was done after the cleaning company came? 156 00:06:35,600 --> 00:06:36,600 Absolutely, it was. 157 00:06:36,667 --> 00:06:37,900 [Judge Levy] Can you tell me how that happened? 158 00:06:37,967 --> 00:06:38,967 - I don't know. - [Judge Levy] Okay. 159 00:06:39,033 --> 00:06:40,633 What about outside? 160 00:06:40,700 --> 00:06:45,567 We have apartments behind the place where he lived and his dump is back there. 161 00:06:45,633 --> 00:06:48,300 He'd put his trash in their dumpsters. 162 00:06:48,367 --> 00:06:49,834 They called him. 163 00:06:49,900 --> 00:06:51,967 They removed the trash out of their dumpsters 164 00:06:52,033 --> 00:06:55,332 and threw all the trash back into my backyard. 165 00:06:55,400 --> 00:06:57,834 He told me that he had paid some guys 166 00:06:57,900 --> 00:07:00,400 to help him move out or whatever 167 00:07:00,467 --> 00:07:02,767 and he wasn't paying-- and he's not gonna pay them 168 00:07:02,834 --> 00:07:04,667 - anymore money to clean that. - [Judge Levy] Okay. Mr. Shells, 169 00:07:04,734 --> 00:07:06,367 I could see you out of the corner of my eye. 170 00:07:06,433 --> 00:07:08,133 - Yeah. - [Judge Levy] So is it your testimony 171 00:07:08,200 --> 00:07:09,700 that you complied with the terms of the lease 172 00:07:09,767 --> 00:07:12,300 by keeping the outside of the home well-kept? 173 00:07:12,367 --> 00:07:14,100 - That's exactly right. - [Judge Levy] Okay. Very good. 174 00:07:14,166 --> 00:07:15,400 Let's play the video. 175 00:07:15,467 --> 00:07:18,734 I think the video speaks for itself, Mr. Normal Wear And Tear. 176 00:07:19,734 --> 00:07:21,300 So tell us what's going on here, Mr. Hamilton. 177 00:07:21,367 --> 00:07:22,266 - [Darren] Okay. This is... - [Judge Levy] First of all, 178 00:07:22,500 --> 00:07:24,300 - what date is this? - [Darren] November 4th. 179 00:07:24,367 --> 00:07:25,433 - [Judge Levy] Okay. - [Darren] After they were supposed 180 00:07:25,500 --> 00:07:26,800 to be gone. 181 00:07:26,867 --> 00:07:29,066 And this is like the videos 182 00:07:29,133 --> 00:07:30,166 - I took of just... - [Rickey] That ain't true. 183 00:07:30,233 --> 00:07:31,767 [Darren] ... everything that was out there. 184 00:07:31,834 --> 00:07:36,300 Well, this is like in the basement, still things down there. 185 00:07:36,367 --> 00:07:38,266 Was there anyone still in the house at this time? 186 00:07:38,332 --> 00:07:39,367 - Yes. - Who? 187 00:07:39,433 --> 00:07:40,500 [Darren] His lady. 188 00:07:40,567 --> 00:07:42,567 - Okay. - That's how I got to get in the house 189 00:07:42,633 --> 00:07:44,000 because I seen the door open. 190 00:07:44,066 --> 00:07:45,066 I didn't have a key to... 191 00:07:45,133 --> 00:07:46,300 How about this? What are we looking at here? 192 00:07:46,367 --> 00:07:48,367 [Darren] Okay. Now, we're looking at the kitchen cabinets. 193 00:07:48,433 --> 00:07:49,700 The whole door is gone. 194 00:07:49,767 --> 00:07:52,633 He didn't even save the door so I could try to fix it... 195 00:07:52,700 --> 00:07:53,834 - What are we looking at now? - [Darren] ... you know? 196 00:07:53,900 --> 00:07:55,100 Now, we're going into the bath. 197 00:07:55,166 --> 00:07:57,767 There's a hole in the door like somebody punched it. 198 00:07:58,367 --> 00:08:02,967 Then we go in. That's the sliding glass shower door. 199 00:08:03,033 --> 00:08:05,033 He removed that, 200 00:08:05,100 --> 00:08:08,233 took it down, bent it up so bad I couldn't put it back up. 201 00:08:08,300 --> 00:08:09,667 The sink was clogged. 202 00:08:09,734 --> 00:08:11,500 The sink was clogged to death. 203 00:08:11,967 --> 00:08:14,834 It was just so funky and smelly, I threw it out. 204 00:08:14,900 --> 00:08:16,166 - It looked like water had been... - [Judge Levy] It wouldn't-- 205 00:08:16,233 --> 00:08:18,000 - it wouldn't go down the drain? - [Darren] ... sitting in there 206 00:08:18,066 --> 00:08:19,800 for I don't know how long. 207 00:08:19,867 --> 00:08:21,033 I remember seeing some bugs when I looked at... 208 00:08:21,100 --> 00:08:22,100 - [Darren] Oh, my God. - Hold on. 209 00:08:22,166 --> 00:08:23,233 [Darren] There was no roaches in the property. 210 00:08:23,300 --> 00:08:26,033 It was--there's roaches, kitchen, bathroom. 211 00:08:26,100 --> 00:08:28,100 I mean, I done bombed it twice 212 00:08:28,166 --> 00:08:29,233 and they're still there. 213 00:08:29,300 --> 00:08:31,033 I mean, I may have to do it one more time. 214 00:08:31,100 --> 00:08:32,299 [Judge Levy] All right, Mr. Hamilton. 215 00:08:32,366 --> 00:08:34,165 Normal wear and tear? Judge Acker. 216 00:08:34,232 --> 00:08:35,700 - [Rickey] He didn't... - Just-- 217 00:08:35,767 --> 00:08:36,834 - I'm so sorry. [laughs] - [Rickey] He didn't... 218 00:08:36,900 --> 00:08:38,232 - Hold on, sir. - [Rickey] ... pay nobody 219 00:08:38,299 --> 00:08:39,467 to get that stuff cleaned up. 220 00:08:39,533 --> 00:08:40,834 - [Judge Acker] Hold--no, no, no. - I paid to get all that stuff 221 00:08:40,900 --> 00:08:42,366 - cleaned out of there. - [Judge Acker] Stop, stop, stop. 222 00:08:42,433 --> 00:08:47,100 Because what we've established is that on November 4th, 223 00:08:47,165 --> 00:08:51,300 you left the property but your former partner or girlfriend 224 00:08:51,367 --> 00:08:53,500 - was still living there, yes? - She was not. 225 00:08:53,567 --> 00:08:55,233 Didn't you say that somebody was still in the house... 226 00:08:55,300 --> 00:08:58,367 I gave him the keys myself to the house in October. 227 00:08:58,433 --> 00:09:00,100 [dramatic musical sting] 228 00:09:00,166 --> 00:09:02,800 [announcer] Coming up on Tribunal Justice. 229 00:09:02,867 --> 00:09:07,033 How do we know that the shots didn't come from inside the house going out? 230 00:09:07,100 --> 00:09:08,100 Ask him. 231 00:09:08,166 --> 00:09:09,433 - [Judge DiMango] I'm not asking him. - He knows what... 232 00:09:09,500 --> 00:09:10,900 What--how would he know? Were you there during the shooting? 233 00:09:10,967 --> 00:09:14,233 If you ask me, it was another shooting where he came out shooting. 234 00:09:14,300 --> 00:09:15,734 [dramatic musical sting] 235 00:09:17,567 --> 00:09:19,367 [theme music plays] 236 00:09:19,433 --> 00:09:21,300 [announcer] Landlord Darren Hamilton 237 00:09:21,367 --> 00:09:23,834 is suing former tenant, Rickey Shells, 238 00:09:23,900 --> 00:09:28,600 for damages Darren says went well beyond normal wear and tear, 239 00:09:28,667 --> 00:09:32,934 but Rickey claims he left the house in perfect condition. 240 00:09:33,000 --> 00:09:35,667 You took all of your things out of the home in October? 241 00:09:35,734 --> 00:09:37,834 All of the stuff that I put in-- out of the house, I put them through... 242 00:09:37,900 --> 00:09:40,066 [Judge Acker] And there was no one living in the home 243 00:09:40,533 --> 00:09:42,033 - after you left? - After I left. No. 244 00:09:42,100 --> 00:09:43,900 - Mr. Hamilton... - [Darren] Yes. 245 00:09:43,967 --> 00:09:45,300 ... you say on November 4th, 246 00:09:45,367 --> 00:09:47,033 there was still somebody living there. 247 00:09:47,100 --> 00:09:48,100 - That... - [Judge Acker] Who was it? 248 00:09:48,165 --> 00:09:50,100 - It was his girlfriend? - [Darren] Yes, ma'am. 249 00:09:50,165 --> 00:09:51,400 When I seen the door open, 250 00:09:51,467 --> 00:09:54,165 I went in there and she was in there. 251 00:09:54,233 --> 00:09:58,467 And she was saying that like the mice put the holes in the wall and... 252 00:09:58,533 --> 00:09:59,900 - The mice? - [Darren] Yeah. And when... 253 00:09:59,967 --> 00:10:01,333 - I saw that. - [Darren] ... I went in the basement, 254 00:10:01,400 --> 00:10:04,300 I asked her, I said, "Well, is this all your stuff in the basement?" 255 00:10:04,367 --> 00:10:06,300 She was like, "No. That's Rick's stuff." 256 00:10:06,367 --> 00:10:08,300 So I disagree with what he's saying. 257 00:10:08,367 --> 00:10:11,200 Let me--I'd like to speak to your witness, please, 258 00:10:11,266 --> 00:10:13,500 because as I understand, your witness was there on the 4th? 259 00:10:13,567 --> 00:10:14,567 She was in--she went in also. 260 00:10:14,633 --> 00:10:16,567 [Judge Acker] Ma'am, would you take the stand? 261 00:10:16,633 --> 00:10:18,834 How do you know the plaintiff? What's your relationship? 262 00:10:18,900 --> 00:10:20,233 We're boyfriend and girlfriend. 263 00:10:20,300 --> 00:10:23,200 [Judge Acker] So you're not an unbiased witness? 264 00:10:23,266 --> 00:10:24,367 - Absolutely. - [Judge Acker] I have to take 265 00:10:24,433 --> 00:10:26,033 your testimony with a grain of salt. 266 00:10:26,100 --> 00:10:27,633 That doesn't mean that I think you're lying 267 00:10:27,700 --> 00:10:29,600 - but you have an interest in the case. - Right. Okay. 268 00:10:29,667 --> 00:10:31,734 Did you accompany the plaintiff to the property on November 4th? 269 00:10:31,800 --> 00:10:33,433 - Yes, ma'am, I did. - [Judge Acker] And did you see 270 00:10:33,500 --> 00:10:35,066 somebody else still in residence there? 271 00:10:35,133 --> 00:10:36,767 - Yes, Your Honor, I did. - [Judge Acker] Was the defendant 272 00:10:36,834 --> 00:10:38,767 - in residence there? - No, ma'am, he wasn't. 273 00:10:38,834 --> 00:10:42,233 Talk to me about these holes in the wall that were allegedly 274 00:10:42,300 --> 00:10:44,500 - created by the rodents? - It was a lot of holes in the wall. 275 00:10:44,567 --> 00:10:45,700 - One hole. - The main bedroom 276 00:10:45,767 --> 00:10:47,500 had a big old hole in the wall. 277 00:10:47,567 --> 00:10:51,500 He asked the defendant's girlfriend how did the hole get there. 278 00:10:51,567 --> 00:10:53,000 She said the mice did it. 279 00:10:53,834 --> 00:10:55,367 Those are some strong mice. 280 00:10:55,433 --> 00:10:58,433 Yeah, that's what we said too, so--yeah. 281 00:10:58,500 --> 00:11:02,500 Can we please put up exhibit two, the broken blinds? 282 00:11:02,567 --> 00:11:05,033 So, Mr. Shells, I just have to tell you. 283 00:11:05,100 --> 00:11:06,100 Normal wear and tear? 284 00:11:06,166 --> 00:11:09,266 I mean, maybe if the house were located in hell 285 00:11:09,333 --> 00:11:11,100 but this place is a mess. 286 00:11:11,166 --> 00:11:12,166 You're a grown man. 287 00:11:12,233 --> 00:11:13,567 - How does that happen? - [Rickey] That happened when the house 288 00:11:13,633 --> 00:11:14,834 got shot through the windows. 289 00:11:14,900 --> 00:11:19,000 And the blinds, I will agree that they are messed up. 290 00:11:19,066 --> 00:11:20,500 - I know. You should agree. - [Rickey] Somebody shot 291 00:11:20,567 --> 00:11:22,734 through the house from the outside. I don't know who did that. 292 00:11:22,800 --> 00:11:24,100 And I put those blinds up there. 293 00:11:24,166 --> 00:11:25,867 He--no blinds were in there in the beginning. 294 00:11:25,934 --> 00:11:26,934 [Judge Acker] Is that true, sir? 295 00:11:27,000 --> 00:11:28,734 - He put the blinds up? - No, ma'am. 296 00:11:29,200 --> 00:11:31,033 He did fix the glass. 297 00:11:31,100 --> 00:11:33,900 And then I asked him plenty of times about, "Hey, man, 298 00:11:33,967 --> 00:11:35,633 are you gonna fix the blind?" 299 00:11:35,700 --> 00:11:36,967 And it never got fixed. 300 00:11:37,033 --> 00:11:38,500 Let's go back to exhibit three. 301 00:11:38,567 --> 00:11:41,767 I wanna talk for a moment about the carpet because, Mr. Shells, 302 00:11:41,834 --> 00:11:45,066 you said that the damages on the bottom 303 00:11:45,133 --> 00:11:47,633 - two stairs were pre-existing? - [Rickey] Yeah. Yes. 304 00:11:47,700 --> 00:11:49,667 It was already pre-ripped, 305 00:11:49,734 --> 00:11:51,567 and I almost tripped and broke my neck on that. 306 00:11:51,633 --> 00:11:52,900 [Judge Acker] Now, here's a point for you, 307 00:11:52,967 --> 00:11:56,467 Mr. Hamilton, and I think this is something that you have to prove to us, 308 00:11:56,533 --> 00:11:58,767 - that he caused all of that. - [Darren] Well, they--like I said, 309 00:11:58,834 --> 00:12:00,166 The Salvation Army, 310 00:12:00,233 --> 00:12:01,834 they did an inspection. 311 00:12:01,900 --> 00:12:03,300 It's like a second-hand inspection. 312 00:12:03,367 --> 00:12:05,767 You can't have ripped carpet, 313 00:12:05,834 --> 00:12:09,400 holes in the wall, or any of that or it won't pass the inspection. 314 00:12:09,467 --> 00:12:12,300 [Judge Acker] Mr. Shells, you mentioned that the people 315 00:12:12,367 --> 00:12:15,734 who you hired to clean the home when you moved out... 316 00:12:15,800 --> 00:12:17,033 - Uh-hmm. - ... were from your shop. 317 00:12:17,100 --> 00:12:18,834 What sort of work do you do, sir? 318 00:12:18,900 --> 00:12:19,900 I own a mechanic-- 319 00:12:19,967 --> 00:12:20,967 - automotive repair shop. - [Judge Acker] Mechanic repair? 320 00:12:21,033 --> 00:12:22,567 - That's how you met the plaintiff? - Yes. 321 00:12:22,633 --> 00:12:25,767 [Judge Acker] Can we put up the picture of the bathtub again, exhibit four? 322 00:12:25,834 --> 00:12:27,700 Now, sir, you are a grown man. How does this happen? 323 00:12:27,767 --> 00:12:31,767 Well, listen, that bathtub was never operable really from the beginning. 324 00:12:31,834 --> 00:12:33,233 I only use the shower. 325 00:12:33,300 --> 00:12:35,033 I never used it. And that wood stuff-- 326 00:12:35,100 --> 00:12:36,667 - now, the shower... - [Judge Acker] Wait, wait, wait, wait. 327 00:12:36,734 --> 00:12:40,734 I gotta believe you didn't take a shower in a tub 328 00:12:40,800 --> 00:12:42,165 that look like that. I mean, that is just... 329 00:12:42,233 --> 00:12:43,500 - It did not. It did not. - [Judge Acker] You'll be dirtier 330 00:12:43,567 --> 00:12:45,600 after the shower than before. 331 00:12:45,667 --> 00:12:47,367 Yeah, well, it didn't look like that. 332 00:12:47,433 --> 00:12:52,066 Why would he just dirty up and sully his own home 333 00:12:52,133 --> 00:12:54,433 then come to court and try to make a little extra money off of you? 334 00:12:54,500 --> 00:12:57,633 I'm not saying that he did that, but, see, he had some roofers up there, 335 00:12:57,700 --> 00:12:59,900 and I even told him--you know, when they're banging on that roof, 336 00:12:59,967 --> 00:13:02,133 all that stuff was falling down in the restroom. 337 00:13:02,200 --> 00:13:04,967 But by that time, I was barely there. 338 00:13:05,033 --> 00:13:06,633 It sounds like a wild house, sir. 339 00:13:06,700 --> 00:13:08,266 - Just a wild place. - [Rickey] Wild-- 340 00:13:08,333 --> 00:13:09,867 - no, it was our wild place. - [Judge Acker] Judge DiMango? 341 00:13:09,934 --> 00:13:12,934 I have to tell you, Mr. Shells, I think there's truth in what you're saying 342 00:13:13,000 --> 00:13:15,033 - and there's truth in what you're saying. - [Darren] Uh-hmm. 343 00:13:15,100 --> 00:13:17,066 Because you see those pieces of wood in there? 344 00:13:17,133 --> 00:13:21,500 There's no way that he was standing in that tub for any purpose, 345 00:13:21,567 --> 00:13:23,700 even if he was willing to wash in filth, 346 00:13:23,767 --> 00:13:26,734 there was no way he was doing that with two pieces of wood in there. 347 00:13:26,800 --> 00:13:32,100 So that had to come in after he and/or his girlfriend left. 348 00:13:32,165 --> 00:13:34,567 Second thing is you lost your phone 349 00:13:34,633 --> 00:13:36,800 so there's evidence that you can't supply, correct? 350 00:13:37,333 --> 00:13:39,500 - Exactly, yes. - Okay. But the shooting-- 351 00:13:39,567 --> 00:13:41,567 obviously, the shooting, that was awful, 352 00:13:41,633 --> 00:13:43,100 - I would imagine, right? - It was very awful. 353 00:13:43,165 --> 00:13:45,300 [Judge DiMango] There were several bullet holes or one? 354 00:13:45,367 --> 00:13:47,100 Yeah. It was like five of them. 355 00:13:47,165 --> 00:13:48,500 - Five? - [Rickey] Yeah. 356 00:13:48,567 --> 00:13:50,467 - Where were the... - Two of them came through the door 357 00:13:50,533 --> 00:13:52,233 and right through the couch where I used to sleep. 358 00:13:52,300 --> 00:13:53,467 [Judge DiMango] You called the police? 359 00:13:53,533 --> 00:13:54,967 - I did. - [Judge DiMango] And they came, right? 360 00:13:55,033 --> 00:13:56,033 They came, yeah. 361 00:13:56,100 --> 00:13:57,100 [Judge DiMango] You didn't know who did it, right? 362 00:13:57,165 --> 00:13:58,800 - [Rickey] I have no idea. - But, you know what? 363 00:13:58,867 --> 00:14:01,967 You could've gotten that police report even without your phone. 364 00:14:02,033 --> 00:14:03,900 And so you don't have a police report, 365 00:14:03,967 --> 00:14:08,600 so how do we know that the shots didn't come from inside the house going out? 366 00:14:08,667 --> 00:14:10,467 - Ask him. - [Judge DiMango] I'm not asking him. 367 00:14:10,533 --> 00:14:11,734 What--how would he know? 368 00:14:11,800 --> 00:14:13,033 - Were you there during the shooting? - If you ask me, 369 00:14:13,100 --> 00:14:17,967 it was another shooting where he came out shooting after the first shooting. 370 00:14:18,033 --> 00:14:19,900 He said somebody was in there trying to rob him. 371 00:14:19,967 --> 00:14:21,967 [Judge DiMango] That's my point. You could have had documents 372 00:14:22,033 --> 00:14:23,734 to substantiate your position 373 00:14:23,800 --> 00:14:25,600 even though you didn't have a phone 374 00:14:25,667 --> 00:14:27,433 and yet you don't have them. 375 00:14:27,500 --> 00:14:31,000 So you leave before your girlfriend leaves--or your ex-girlfriend, correct? 376 00:14:31,066 --> 00:14:32,700 - Correct. - [Judge DiMango] And where do you go? 377 00:14:33,165 --> 00:14:36,800 I purchased another building across the street from one of the shops I own. 378 00:14:36,867 --> 00:14:38,867 - I'm sorry. What did you just say? - I purchased another building. 379 00:14:38,934 --> 00:14:39,934 [Judge DiMango] You purchased a building? 380 00:14:40,000 --> 00:14:42,100 - Yeah. And I turned it... - You said when you met him 381 00:14:42,165 --> 00:14:43,900 he was homeless living in hotels. 382 00:14:43,967 --> 00:14:46,500 You're telling me you had enough money to buy a building? 383 00:14:46,567 --> 00:14:47,934 - Yeah. - Two? Two buildings? 384 00:14:48,000 --> 00:14:49,000 - I saw the two go up. - [Rickey] No, I... 385 00:14:49,066 --> 00:14:50,633 Unless you're giving me the peace sign. Peace to you too. 386 00:14:50,700 --> 00:14:54,433 - [laughter] - Since I rented his place, 387 00:14:55,165 --> 00:14:57,900 I purchased the place where I started working at. 388 00:14:57,967 --> 00:15:01,700 And the guy passed away across the street, then I bought that place. 389 00:15:01,767 --> 00:15:03,967 - So now I have two places. - [Judge DiMango] So you have two places 390 00:15:04,033 --> 00:15:05,767 and you can't afford new blinds? 391 00:15:05,834 --> 00:15:07,467 - [Rickey] Yeah, I could. - [Judge DiMango] Yeah, you could. 392 00:15:07,533 --> 00:15:08,533 - Yeah. - [Judge DiMango] But you didn't, 393 00:15:08,600 --> 00:15:12,567 'cause the blinds, to me, are really a sign of wear and tear. 394 00:15:12,633 --> 00:15:14,767 The backyard, the filth, and the dirt, 395 00:15:14,834 --> 00:15:17,700 and the boxes, and the clothes, and the wood... 396 00:15:17,767 --> 00:15:18,967 [Rickey] I had it all cleaned. 397 00:15:19,033 --> 00:15:20,600 He took those pictures before I had it moved. 398 00:15:20,667 --> 00:15:21,667 [Joanna] Uh, no, ma'am. 399 00:15:21,734 --> 00:15:23,200 [Judge DiMango] One second. Would you like to step up? 400 00:15:24,767 --> 00:15:27,100 [Joanna] Yes. I can honestly say 401 00:15:27,166 --> 00:15:29,967 he did not have anyone to clean that trash up in the back. 402 00:15:30,033 --> 00:15:31,900 - We cleaned that trash up. - Me and her cleaned all that trash. 403 00:15:31,967 --> 00:15:33,834 Nobody is saying that you didn't clean it. 404 00:15:33,900 --> 00:15:35,667 What he's saying is that it wasn't his. 405 00:15:35,734 --> 00:15:39,367 But I'm aware that there was man boots out there, there was man underwear. 406 00:15:39,433 --> 00:15:42,500 Even his mail was out there, as well as his girlfriend's. 407 00:15:42,567 --> 00:15:44,165 Okay. So you can have a seat. 408 00:15:44,233 --> 00:15:47,333 - She was not my girlfriend at that time. - [Judge DiMango] Because you broke up. 409 00:15:47,400 --> 00:15:49,500 Yeah. I was helping her out because her house... 410 00:15:49,567 --> 00:15:51,000 So you leave her there. 411 00:15:51,066 --> 00:15:52,367 - That's the whole point. - [Rickey] Yes, I did. 412 00:15:52,433 --> 00:15:53,567 - You leave her there. - I did. 413 00:15:53,633 --> 00:15:56,500 [Judge DiMango] So maybe you can't testify to some of what happened 414 00:15:56,567 --> 00:15:59,700 but you certainly can see that that was how it was left. 415 00:15:59,767 --> 00:16:01,066 - Judge Levy. - [Rickey] Yeah. 416 00:16:01,133 --> 00:16:02,133 Yeah. Thank you. 417 00:16:02,600 --> 00:16:04,367 If I could, Mr. Hamilton, 418 00:16:04,433 --> 00:16:06,467 when we looked through that video, 419 00:16:06,533 --> 00:16:11,900 we saw the video of the way the house looked after November 4th. 420 00:16:11,967 --> 00:16:13,900 This is what we're talking about right here, right? 421 00:16:13,967 --> 00:16:18,233 [Darren] Right. Me and Joanna, we cleaned that up personally ourself. 422 00:16:18,300 --> 00:16:21,333 [Judge Levy] There was actually a summons that was issued. 423 00:16:21,400 --> 00:16:23,867 Do you recall getting summonses from the city about the trash 424 00:16:23,934 --> 00:16:25,367 - that was all over your property? - I do, yes. 425 00:16:25,433 --> 00:16:26,834 - I have them. - No. Never had a trash summon. 426 00:16:26,900 --> 00:16:28,166 [tense music playing] 427 00:16:28,233 --> 00:16:30,767 [announcer] Coming up on Tribunal Justice. 428 00:16:30,834 --> 00:16:34,467 You see, I have a video of how it looks after I got through cleaning it up. 429 00:16:34,533 --> 00:16:36,066 [Judge Levy] Let's go to the video now 430 00:16:36,133 --> 00:16:38,633 of what the place look like after you and your crew cleaned it. 431 00:16:38,700 --> 00:16:39,734 Okay. 432 00:16:39,800 --> 00:16:40,900 [dramatic musical sting] 433 00:16:42,333 --> 00:16:44,533 [theme music plays] 434 00:16:44,600 --> 00:16:46,567 [announcer] Landlord Darren Hamilton claims that former tenant, 435 00:16:46,633 --> 00:16:49,834 Rickey Shells, destroyed his house, 436 00:16:49,900 --> 00:16:53,033 but Rickey says the drug dealer living there before him 437 00:16:53,100 --> 00:16:56,033 is responsible for most of the bullet holes. 438 00:16:56,100 --> 00:16:59,000 Do you recall getting summonses from the city about the trash 439 00:16:59,066 --> 00:17:00,367 - that was all over your property? - I do, yes. I have them. 440 00:17:00,433 --> 00:17:01,834 No. Never had a trash summon. 441 00:17:01,900 --> 00:17:03,300 - See... - [Judge Levy] Hold on. Hold on. 442 00:17:03,367 --> 00:17:05,532 - I have them right here. - [Judge Levy] Hold on. I--I've seen that. 443 00:17:05,599 --> 00:17:08,300 - I turned them in to you guys. - It was June of 2022. 444 00:17:08,367 --> 00:17:10,066 It was $147. 445 00:17:10,133 --> 00:17:11,567 - You paid that. - Yes. 446 00:17:11,633 --> 00:17:14,133 [Judge Levy] Okay. And then you go back in 447 00:17:14,200 --> 00:17:16,032 - and you cleaned. - [Darren] Yes. 448 00:17:16,099 --> 00:17:17,300 [Judge Levy] We have a video of that? 449 00:17:17,367 --> 00:17:19,165 - We do. We sent out a video... - [Judge Levy] Of what... 450 00:17:19,233 --> 00:17:22,165 ... of how it looks after I got through cleaning it up. 451 00:17:22,233 --> 00:17:24,467 Let's go to the video now of what the place look like 452 00:17:24,532 --> 00:17:27,133 - after you and your crew cleaned it. - [Darren] Okay. 453 00:17:28,767 --> 00:17:30,367 That's---we're in the basement right now. 454 00:17:30,433 --> 00:17:32,233 I'm done with the doin' of the house. 455 00:17:32,300 --> 00:17:35,166 This is how it look. I just got to put that back up. 456 00:17:36,433 --> 00:17:37,834 [Judge Levy] That old washing machine was gone? 457 00:17:37,900 --> 00:17:39,433 [Darren] I took everything out of there. 458 00:17:39,500 --> 00:17:41,333 [Rickey] I put that hot water tank in there too. 459 00:17:41,400 --> 00:17:42,400 [Judge Levy] That cabinet is still broken. 460 00:17:42,467 --> 00:17:43,467 [Rickey] I paid for that out of my pocket. 461 00:17:43,533 --> 00:17:47,233 [Darren] They say it cost like $800 to fix the cabinets, 462 00:17:47,300 --> 00:17:49,700 but they won't really know till they get here. 463 00:17:49,767 --> 00:17:51,900 [Judge Levy] These are the front steps with the new carpeting? 464 00:17:51,967 --> 00:17:53,633 [Darren] Yes. Those are the steps upstairs. 465 00:17:53,700 --> 00:17:55,233 - That's the only thing I had retained. - [Judge Levy] Yeah, the front steps. 466 00:17:55,300 --> 00:17:57,433 [Darren] Now, you could see-- look at this carpet here. 467 00:17:57,500 --> 00:18:00,233 That's the same carpet that was in there already. 468 00:18:00,300 --> 00:18:01,633 It's still good. 469 00:18:01,700 --> 00:18:03,500 - Yeah, I kept it good. - [Darren] [indistinct]. 470 00:18:03,567 --> 00:18:04,834 No, you didn't keep it good. 471 00:18:04,900 --> 00:18:06,767 - Oh, yeah, we're not gonna... - [Darren] We got videos of you 472 00:18:06,834 --> 00:18:07,834 not keeping it good, sir. 473 00:18:07,900 --> 00:18:10,100 [Judge Levy] The hole in the wall that we saw before is now fixed. 474 00:18:10,166 --> 00:18:11,834 - [Darren] Blinds back up. - [Judge Levy] The blinds are back up. 475 00:18:12,834 --> 00:18:14,567 [Darren] Let me go in the bathroom. 476 00:18:14,633 --> 00:18:16,433 [Judge Levy] There's no more water in that sink. 477 00:18:17,433 --> 00:18:18,967 [Darren] That's the same tub. 478 00:18:19,033 --> 00:18:23,100 Three hours of scrubbing, maybe four, I got the tub--and it works. 479 00:18:23,166 --> 00:18:25,900 He said it didn't work but the tub still works. 480 00:18:26,967 --> 00:18:30,600 [Judge Levy] Okay. Now, you provided us with copies of receipts 481 00:18:30,667 --> 00:18:32,700 for the work that you had done, 482 00:18:32,767 --> 00:18:34,567 the materials that you bought. Is that right? 483 00:18:34,633 --> 00:18:36,166 - Yes. - [Judge Levy] So, in total, 484 00:18:36,233 --> 00:18:38,767 that was $4,550. 485 00:18:38,834 --> 00:18:41,900 - You have a $700 break lease fee. - Yes. 486 00:18:41,967 --> 00:18:44,700 [Judge Levy] And then you said you were looking for $500 487 00:18:44,767 --> 00:18:48,166 for half the rent of November since he left on November 10? 488 00:18:48,233 --> 00:18:49,300 [Darren] The 10th, yes. 489 00:18:49,367 --> 00:18:53,033 [Judge Levy] And then you got the $146 for the city citations. 490 00:18:53,100 --> 00:18:56,500 And then you subtracted the 650 security 491 00:18:56,567 --> 00:18:59,734 and that's how you got the 4,920, right? 492 00:18:59,800 --> 00:19:00,867 - [Darren] Yes. - [Judge Levy] Okay. 493 00:19:00,934 --> 00:19:02,133 I have nothing further. 494 00:19:02,200 --> 00:19:04,900 We're gonna retire to deliberate. Thank you both very much. 495 00:19:04,967 --> 00:19:06,900 - [Darren] Okay. Thank you. - [Cassandra] Court is now in recess. 496 00:19:06,967 --> 00:19:08,367 Parties are excused. 497 00:19:08,433 --> 00:19:11,600 [dramatic musical sting] 498 00:19:12,300 --> 00:19:15,500 All right. So let's end up where we started. 499 00:19:15,567 --> 00:19:20,367 I think that Mr. Shells' idea of what is normal wear and tear 500 00:19:20,433 --> 00:19:23,567 is different than what most other people's definition is. 501 00:19:23,633 --> 00:19:26,533 - [chuckles] - [Judge Levy] That video does justice 502 00:19:26,600 --> 00:19:27,967 to what that place looked like. 503 00:19:28,033 --> 00:19:31,166 The garbage outside was just indicative 504 00:19:31,233 --> 00:19:36,100 of how little Mr. Shells was prepared to take care of that property. 505 00:19:36,166 --> 00:19:39,166 And, quite frankly, I don't doubt for a second that there were rats the size 506 00:19:39,233 --> 00:19:41,166 of small dogs around there at all. 507 00:19:41,233 --> 00:19:42,233 If I was a rat, 508 00:19:42,300 --> 00:19:44,133 - that's the place I wanna live. - [laughs] 509 00:19:44,200 --> 00:19:46,367 It was like Disneyland for rats over there. 510 00:19:46,433 --> 00:19:49,100 So the issue is, whether or not it was normal wear and tear. 511 00:19:49,166 --> 00:19:50,500 I don't believe it was. 512 00:19:50,567 --> 00:19:51,834 Pat, you asked a good question. 513 00:19:51,900 --> 00:19:54,900 You know, how do we know what the place looked like before? 514 00:19:54,967 --> 00:19:57,934 How do we know that those stairs weren't like that before? 515 00:19:58,000 --> 00:19:59,000 There were no photographs. 516 00:19:59,066 --> 00:20:02,633 That's the best evidence of the way the place really did look. 517 00:20:02,700 --> 00:20:05,767 But based upon my credibility determination, 518 00:20:05,834 --> 00:20:08,633 I believe that the plaintiff's testimony 519 00:20:08,700 --> 00:20:11,100 was much more consistent with the evidence. 520 00:20:11,567 --> 00:20:15,567 I think the defendant was soft-shoeing a lot of his testimony, 521 00:20:15,633 --> 00:20:18,767 and so I would weigh the credibility of the plaintiff higher. 522 00:20:18,834 --> 00:20:22,967 And I don't believe that his request of $4,920 is unreasonable. 523 00:20:23,033 --> 00:20:24,767 That's what I would suggest we award him. 524 00:20:24,834 --> 00:20:26,233 I would join you in that. 525 00:20:26,300 --> 00:20:27,867 I also found him credible. 526 00:20:27,934 --> 00:20:30,800 I found the defendant--bless his heart-- 527 00:20:30,867 --> 00:20:35,100 you know, I don't think he is a bad person who was out to do intentional destruction. 528 00:20:35,166 --> 00:20:36,166 He was careless. 529 00:20:36,233 --> 00:20:38,700 Yeah, I think he was living at the shootout at the O.K. Corral. 530 00:20:38,767 --> 00:20:40,266 - [laughs] - I mean, five. 531 00:20:40,333 --> 00:20:42,300 You say two shots. He goes, "No. There were five. 532 00:20:42,367 --> 00:20:44,433 They were shooting from in and out." You know? So-- 533 00:20:44,500 --> 00:20:48,033 and I'm gonna go out on a limb also and say that not just most people 534 00:20:48,100 --> 00:20:50,567 wouldn't think that that was normal wear-- I'm gonna say I can't think 535 00:20:50,633 --> 00:20:52,000 of anybody who would think 536 00:20:52,066 --> 00:20:53,600 that that was normal wear and tear. 537 00:20:53,667 --> 00:20:56,133 I mean, he was doing anything he possibly could 538 00:20:56,200 --> 00:20:58,367 to kind of backpedal his way out, 539 00:20:58,433 --> 00:21:01,166 so I'm pretty sure that that damage was caused by him. 540 00:21:01,233 --> 00:21:03,900 But you're right, the plaintiff met his burden. 541 00:21:03,967 --> 00:21:05,500 - I'm with you. - Super. All right. 542 00:21:05,567 --> 00:21:09,367 [dramatic musical sting] 543 00:21:09,433 --> 00:21:10,633 Court is back in session. 544 00:21:10,700 --> 00:21:13,567 All parties are reminded that you're still under oath. 545 00:21:13,633 --> 00:21:14,633 Thank you. 546 00:21:14,700 --> 00:21:18,600 Mr. Hamilton, we credited your testimony and that of your witness. 547 00:21:18,667 --> 00:21:21,166 We believe that the way that you handled this matter, 548 00:21:21,233 --> 00:21:23,633 the way that you provided us with your evidence, 549 00:21:23,700 --> 00:21:27,100 the photographs, the video, the receipts, 550 00:21:27,166 --> 00:21:29,967 the work that you did to repair 551 00:21:30,033 --> 00:21:33,800 and to bring back that house was nothing short of incredible. 552 00:21:34,333 --> 00:21:36,200 - Thank you. - [Judge Levy] Mr. Shells, you know, 553 00:21:36,266 --> 00:21:38,500 that garbage that was outside the house, 554 00:21:38,567 --> 00:21:40,800 on the stairs going down to the basement, 555 00:21:40,867 --> 00:21:43,433 it was clear that it was an indication 556 00:21:43,500 --> 00:21:46,166 that you really didn't care too much about the property. 557 00:21:46,233 --> 00:21:48,133 You didn't care about your neighbors. 558 00:21:48,200 --> 00:21:52,367 You didn't care about the way that that property affected them. 559 00:21:52,433 --> 00:21:53,800 Forget about the inside. 560 00:21:54,266 --> 00:21:56,967 And we hope that you treat your own properties 561 00:21:57,433 --> 00:21:59,300 better than you treated that 562 00:21:59,367 --> 00:22:02,033 of your former friend, Mr. Hamilton. 563 00:22:02,100 --> 00:22:03,867 Having said all of that, Mr. Hamilton, 564 00:22:03,934 --> 00:22:06,033 that is the unanimous verdict of the court 565 00:22:06,100 --> 00:22:09,633 that you should be awarded $4,920. 566 00:22:09,700 --> 00:22:10,834 - Thank you both. - [gavel bangs] 567 00:22:11,500 --> 00:22:13,900 [Cassandra] This case has concluded. All parties are excused. 568 00:22:13,967 --> 00:22:18,300 [theme music plays] 569 00:22:18,367 --> 00:22:19,767 A lot of that is normal wear and tear 570 00:22:19,834 --> 00:22:21,834 but we couldn't come to an agreement on it, so, hey. 571 00:22:21,900 --> 00:22:25,166 Oh, I was [bleep] excuse my language, but I was hot. 572 00:22:25,233 --> 00:22:27,200 It didn't fall apart when I was living there. 573 00:22:27,266 --> 00:22:29,967 He came in here and told a bunch of lies. 574 00:22:30,033 --> 00:22:31,333 I think it was wrong. 575 00:22:31,400 --> 00:22:32,767 I'm fine. I'm not mad. 576 00:22:32,834 --> 00:22:35,767 I'm getting ready to rent my place out to somebody else and, hopefully, 577 00:22:35,834 --> 00:22:37,867 they'll take better care of it than he did. 578 00:22:37,934 --> 00:22:39,166 I'm just ready to move on. 579 00:22:39,233 --> 00:22:42,200 No good deed goes unpunished. 580 00:22:42,266 --> 00:22:43,900 [announcer] Have you been scammed? 581 00:22:43,967 --> 00:22:48,300 Let the majority rule in your favor on Tribunal Justice. 582 00:22:48,367 --> 00:22:51,567 Find us on social media. 583 00:22:51,633 --> 00:22:54,900 ["Ride of the Valkyries" plays]