1
00:00:02,333 --> 00:00:03,967
You decided to commit a hate crime.

2
00:00:04,033 --> 00:00:06,533
No. We're yellin'. He spits at me,
I spit back at him.

3
00:00:06,600 --> 00:00:09,300
-Felt really racially motivated.
-Did you ever threaten to kill him?

4
00:00:09,367 --> 00:00:10,600
-No.
-That's a lie.

5
00:00:14,233 --> 00:00:18,000
Two immature men
getting in each other's face.

6
00:00:18,066 --> 00:00:19,734
And that's the scary part.

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00:00:19,800 --> 00:00:22,400
[narrator]
Now, on Tribunal Justice...

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00:00:22,467 --> 00:00:24,000
[theme music playing]

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00:00:44,133 --> 00:00:47,800
[narrator] Today's case
was filed in Bridgeport, Connecticut.

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[Byrd] Your Honor, this is Case #3013
on the calendar

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00:00:50,567 --> 00:00:53,367
in the matter of
St. Raymond vs. Gonzalez.

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Parties have been sworn in.
You may be seated.

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-[Acker] Thank you, Byrd.
-[Byrd] Mm-hmm.

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00:00:57,567 --> 00:01:00,567
What a case. Or shall we call it
a cautionary tale?

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00:01:00,633 --> 00:01:03,467
Mr. St. Raymond,
you're suing Mr. Gonzalez

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00:01:03,533 --> 00:01:07,367
because you allege that he intentionally
crashed his vehicle into yours.

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00:01:07,433 --> 00:01:08,467
[Stephen]
Correct.

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00:01:08,533 --> 00:01:11,867
[Acker]
And your claim is for $4,931.

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00:01:11,934 --> 00:01:13,433
And that's for vehicle damage,

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00:01:13,500 --> 00:01:15,867
towing and storage fees,
and attorney's fees.

21
00:01:15,934 --> 00:01:17,000
Yep.

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00:01:17,066 --> 00:01:19,934
[Acker] Mr. Gonzalez, you say
that you owe the plaintiff nothing,

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and that he caused his own damage

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00:01:22,233 --> 00:01:24,700
after he engaged in a hate crime
against you.

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00:01:24,767 --> 00:01:25,834
Correct.

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00:01:25,900 --> 00:01:30,100
Mr. St. Raymond,
you say that before the collision

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00:01:30,166 --> 00:01:33,366
Mr. Gonzalez was trying
to run you off the road.

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00:01:33,433 --> 00:01:35,800
Can you go to the chart
and show us what happened?

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00:01:35,866 --> 00:01:38,000
You'll have a chance too, sir.

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00:01:38,066 --> 00:01:40,934
Well, King's Highway here
is a four lane highway.

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00:01:41,000 --> 00:01:45,066
It's two-way. These two lanes go this way.
These two lanes go that way.

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00:01:45,133 --> 00:01:50,300
Okay? And we were both on this side.

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00:01:50,366 --> 00:01:52,900
And the defendant...

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00:01:54,433 --> 00:01:57,200
crossed over,
almost backed me into this lane

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00:01:57,265 --> 00:01:58,967
where oncoming traffic was.

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00:01:59,033 --> 00:02:02,266
And I pulled back,
I put my brakes on and honked my horn.

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00:02:02,333 --> 00:02:04,467
We both ended up turning
and went up here.

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00:02:04,533 --> 00:02:06,700
[Acker] Okay,
I'm gonna pause you right there.

39
00:02:06,767 --> 00:02:10,734
Mr. Gonzalez, you say in your answer
that you were trying to get over,

40
00:02:10,800 --> 00:02:14,233
he gave you a dirty look
and did not want to let you over.

41
00:02:14,300 --> 00:02:16,066
-[Brayan] Yes.
-You show me what happened.

42
00:02:16,133 --> 00:02:17,266
[Brayan]
Absolutely.

43
00:02:19,367 --> 00:02:22,533
So, as our cars were headed
on King's Highway North,

44
00:02:22,600 --> 00:02:25,734
we were eventually going to take a left
on Villa Avenue.

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00:02:28,033 --> 00:02:32,966
The plaintiff was on the left-hand side,
ready to take a left turn as well.

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00:02:33,033 --> 00:02:36,600
I was on the right-hand side.
I needed to merge in.

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00:02:36,667 --> 00:02:39,333
He did not want me to merge,
so he essentially tried to speed up

48
00:02:39,400 --> 00:02:41,867
to prevent me
from essentially getting into that lane.

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00:02:41,934 --> 00:02:44,667
I'm gonna move these other vehicles
to illustrate

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00:02:44,734 --> 00:02:47,667
that St. Raymond is behind me.

51
00:02:47,734 --> 00:02:50,300
Now that I've been... uh...

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00:02:50,367 --> 00:02:53,000
Now that I was successfully able
to merge into his lane,

53
00:02:53,066 --> 00:02:55,834
uh, I take my left turn.

54
00:02:55,900 --> 00:02:59,133
Uh, St. Raymond is as well behind me,

55
00:02:59,200 --> 00:03:02,433
however, he instead
takes the left-hand turn

56
00:03:02,500 --> 00:03:05,000
giving the impression
that he's going to enter the plaza

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00:03:05,066 --> 00:03:07,367
that is on the left-hand side
of Villa Avenue.

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00:03:07,433 --> 00:03:09,266
He never had any intentions of entering...

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00:03:09,333 --> 00:03:11,000
I'm gonna stop you.
I don't think you know,

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00:03:11,066 --> 00:03:13,867
and there's no evidence in the record
as to what his intentions were.

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00:03:13,934 --> 00:03:16,533
I'll ask you to go back
to the podium, sir.

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00:03:16,600 --> 00:03:21,200
And I will note for the record,
the fact that you are aware of the fact

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00:03:21,266 --> 00:03:23,133
that he wasn't trying to let you over,

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00:03:23,200 --> 00:03:26,133
but you kinda said,
I'm gonna come over anyway,

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00:03:26,200 --> 00:03:28,700
is a little bit troubling.
So, Mr. St. Raymond,

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00:03:28,767 --> 00:03:31,033
he's gotten in front of you.
Why is it

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00:03:31,100 --> 00:03:34,466
that you went over in the next lane
instead of staying behind him?

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00:03:34,533 --> 00:03:38,834
Well, first of all, he was right...
I was ahead of him.

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00:03:38,900 --> 00:03:43,767
And he was trying to pass me.
And then he comes over like this.

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00:03:43,834 --> 00:03:45,133
And we ended up here.

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00:03:45,200 --> 00:03:48,033
At this point, the defendant and I
were having words.

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00:03:48,100 --> 00:03:49,667
[Acker]
You had a war of words.

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00:03:49,734 --> 00:03:52,033
[Stephen] Your Honor,
he was looking me right in the eye.

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00:03:52,100 --> 00:03:55,133
He turns the wheel, like this,
then slams on the accelerator

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00:03:55,200 --> 00:03:56,734
and then, bam!

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00:03:56,800 --> 00:03:59,500
Runs into my car
and does $5,000 worth of damage.

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00:03:59,567 --> 00:04:01,734
[Acker]
Very good. So, Mr. Gonzalez,

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00:04:01,800 --> 00:04:03,934
you maintain that the collision happened

79
00:04:04,000 --> 00:04:06,433
because you wanted to make sure
he didn't get away.

80
00:04:06,500 --> 00:04:08,300
-Yes.
-So, you go to the chart.

81
00:04:08,367 --> 00:04:11,533
And I'd like you to show me
your version of what happened.

82
00:04:11,600 --> 00:04:15,400
So, as both vehicles
are basically on Villa Ave.

83
00:04:15,467 --> 00:04:18,065
As he rolls his car
directly next to mine,

84
00:04:18,132 --> 00:04:20,700
he starts screaming.
I can't hear what he's saying,

85
00:04:20,767 --> 00:04:23,367
but I simply start laughing
because I know

86
00:04:23,433 --> 00:04:26,767
that he's visibly upset
that I overtook him in the lane.

87
00:04:26,834 --> 00:04:29,500
So, as I rolled my window down,
I can hear him screaming.

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00:04:29,567 --> 00:04:32,367
That's when he decides to spit in my face
from his vehicle into mine.

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00:04:32,433 --> 00:04:35,800
So, after he spits in my face,
uh, I essentially...

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00:04:36,967 --> 00:04:40,633
just park my vehicle in front,
left fender first.

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00:04:40,700 --> 00:04:44,066
However, my vehicle in no way,
shape or form touches his vehicle.

92
00:04:44,133 --> 00:04:47,233
The only reason his vehicle
ever makes contact with mine

93
00:04:47,300 --> 00:04:49,900
'cause he makes an attempt
to try to flee the scene.

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00:04:49,967 --> 00:04:52,133
I'll ask you to go back to the podium.

95
00:04:52,200 --> 00:04:55,467
And the police did in fact find you
at fault for the accident.

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00:04:55,533 --> 00:04:58,667
But that's not really the end of
the interaction between the two of you

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00:04:58,734 --> 00:05:00,834
because you called 911, sir,
did you not?

98
00:05:00,900 --> 00:05:03,133
-Yes.
-[Acker] Can we play the 911 tape please?

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00:05:27,066 --> 00:05:31,033
Mr. St. Raymond, that was your voice
saying, "He's about to kill me."

100
00:05:31,100 --> 00:05:34,300
But there was certainly no evidence
that he was trying to kill you.

101
00:05:34,367 --> 00:05:37,200
In fact, can we look
at video number two.

102
00:05:37,266 --> 00:05:39,500
Because the police showed up
on the scene,

103
00:05:39,567 --> 00:05:42,000
and they caught very good visuals.

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00:05:42,066 --> 00:05:45,734
And that's you, sir, is it not,
approaching the defendant Mr. Gonzalez?

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00:05:45,800 --> 00:05:48,500
[Stephen] Yes. And you can see
where his car has mine.

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00:05:48,567 --> 00:05:52,066
[Acker] And your car, Mr. Gonzalez,
you can see it is over the line.

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00:05:52,133 --> 00:05:55,066
[Brayan] Yes. At the time, he gave me
a sign that he was going to leave

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00:05:55,133 --> 00:05:56,800
as he was entering back into his car.

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00:05:56,867 --> 00:05:58,100
[Acker]
You have a cell phone.

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00:05:58,166 --> 00:06:02,800
I-I introduce this case
as a cautionary tale

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00:06:02,867 --> 00:06:06,133
because this happens all the time.

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00:06:06,200 --> 00:06:08,066
And sometimes, people get shot.

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00:06:08,133 --> 00:06:12,200
Sometimes, people are subject
to much greater damages

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00:06:12,266 --> 00:06:15,367
than either of the two of you had
with respect to your vehicles.

115
00:06:15,433 --> 00:06:17,300
Yes, I agree, Your Honor.

116
00:06:17,367 --> 00:06:20,233
When he hit me...
When he slammed into me intentionally,

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00:06:20,300 --> 00:06:22,800
yes, I kind of lost it. I was very mad.

118
00:06:22,867 --> 00:06:26,467
And where he lied, he said he...
He thought I was gonna get away?

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00:06:26,533 --> 00:06:29,800
I had to stand in front of his car
so he wouldn't drive away.

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00:06:29,867 --> 00:06:33,133
That's when I said
he was gonna kill me.

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00:06:33,200 --> 00:06:35,233
'Cause he was saying,
"I'll run you over."

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00:06:35,300 --> 00:06:39,300
[Acker] The defendant's position
is that that collision

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00:06:39,367 --> 00:06:42,734
occurred as part of an exchange
that you escalated.

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00:06:42,800 --> 00:06:47,100
Spitting on someone is an assault.
So, perhaps this was all a part

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00:06:47,166 --> 00:06:51,467
of an unfortunately violent exchange
that you are in some part responsible for.

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00:06:51,533 --> 00:06:54,867
And then, you were in fact
arrested by the police

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00:06:54,933 --> 00:06:58,233
and charged with a hate crime.
Because I note that among the damages

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00:06:58,300 --> 00:07:01,166
that you're seeking against the defendant
were towing fees.

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00:07:01,233 --> 00:07:04,200
But you were arrested.
Didn't the police tow your car?

130
00:07:04,266 --> 00:07:07,800
Can we please put up the body-cam video
of inside the police station?

131
00:07:07,867 --> 00:07:10,000
You were being booked.

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00:07:10,066 --> 00:07:12,533
[Stephen] My car was not driveable.
It had to be towed.

133
00:07:12,600 --> 00:07:14,633
I don't know if the car wasn't driveable,

134
00:07:14,700 --> 00:07:17,800
or if in fact the car was towed
into the police tow yard

135
00:07:17,867 --> 00:07:21,367
because you decided to spit on somebody
and commit a hate crime.

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00:07:21,433 --> 00:07:24,133
I spit on him after he spit on me.

137
00:07:24,200 --> 00:07:25,667
We both spit on each other.

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00:07:25,734 --> 00:07:28,900
[Acker] That wasn't in the police report.
Again, no evidence of that.

139
00:07:28,967 --> 00:07:31,900
But what I will entertain
are some of your damages.

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00:07:31,967 --> 00:07:34,767
-You submitted this $4,000 estimate.
-Yes.

141
00:07:34,834 --> 00:07:37,867
But when I looked at your damages,
one, there was no picture,

142
00:07:37,933 --> 00:07:40,133
and you didn't submit
any evidence of damage.

143
00:07:40,200 --> 00:07:43,533
You submitted an estimate
which refers to,

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00:07:43,600 --> 00:07:46,967
my goodness, a myriad of things,
including damage to the roof.

145
00:07:47,033 --> 00:07:49,900
Like, what did he do?
He used his super powers

146
00:07:49,967 --> 00:07:52,400
to evade your spit
and then jump on the roof

147
00:07:52,467 --> 00:07:54,033
and start jumping up and down?

148
00:07:54,100 --> 00:07:56,533
No, ma'am.
He slammed into my car.

149
00:07:56,600 --> 00:08:00,200
And a week after the accident, I brought
the car into my auto repair person

150
00:08:00,266 --> 00:08:01,867
and they came up with the estimate.

151
00:08:01,934 --> 00:08:04,633
How do you explain the claim
for damage on the roof?

152
00:08:04,700 --> 00:08:06,033
That was in your estimate.

153
00:08:06,100 --> 00:08:09,900
Uh, I don't know.
I just took the car in to my mechanic,

154
00:08:09,967 --> 00:08:11,533
my body shop man.

155
00:08:11,600 --> 00:08:14,033
Why didn't you submit any pictures
of the damage?

156
00:08:14,100 --> 00:08:15,900
You know, I wish I had taken pictures,

157
00:08:15,967 --> 00:08:18,300
but the put me in handcuffs,
I couldn't take pictures.

158
00:08:18,367 --> 00:08:19,500
[Acker]
Judge DiMango?

159
00:08:19,567 --> 00:08:21,800
Well, I have to say, the reality here is

160
00:08:21,867 --> 00:08:26,367
is that this incident on the street was
the confluence of two immature men

161
00:08:26,433 --> 00:08:27,967
getting in each other's face.

162
00:08:28,033 --> 00:08:31,834
And the reality here is
that if any one of you had a gun,

163
00:08:31,900 --> 00:08:34,933
you don't know
what would've happened next.

164
00:08:35,000 --> 00:08:38,133
And you didn't even have car insurance.
Did you?

165
00:08:38,200 --> 00:08:39,467
[dramatic music playing]

166
00:08:39,533 --> 00:08:41,866
[narrator]
Coming up on Tribunal Justice...

167
00:08:41,933 --> 00:08:43,767
How did his spit hit you in the face?

168
00:08:43,834 --> 00:08:46,567
I mean, you guys are like
a car-length apart.

169
00:08:50,133 --> 00:08:51,767
[theme music playing]

170
00:08:51,834 --> 00:08:55,000
[narrator] Stephen St. Raymond
claims Brayan Gonzalez

171
00:08:55,066 --> 00:08:57,500
intentionally slammed into his car.

172
00:08:57,567 --> 00:09:00,900
So, he's suing for nearly $5,000
in damages.

173
00:09:00,967 --> 00:09:04,200
But Brayan says Stephen is the one
who hit his car,

174
00:09:04,266 --> 00:09:06,934
then spat on him because of his race.

175
00:09:07,000 --> 00:09:10,600
The reality here is that
if any one of you had a gun,

176
00:09:10,667 --> 00:09:13,600
you don't know
what would've happened next.

177
00:09:13,667 --> 00:09:15,700
And that's the scary part.

178
00:09:15,767 --> 00:09:17,900
And you didn't even have car insurance.

179
00:09:17,967 --> 00:09:19,233
-Did you?
-No, I did.

180
00:09:19,300 --> 00:09:22,800
When an officer approaches my vehicle,
he asked me for my identification

181
00:09:22,867 --> 00:09:25,100
which included my license
and my insurance.

182
00:09:25,166 --> 00:09:27,767
Anybody can hand an insurance card over.

183
00:09:27,834 --> 00:09:32,165
I have insurance cards in my car that say
I'm insured 'til hell freezes over.

184
00:09:32,233 --> 00:09:35,000
But the reality is
when you call the insurance company,

185
00:09:35,066 --> 00:09:37,066
they'll say it's not always paid or not.

186
00:09:37,133 --> 00:09:39,600
I don't know if you have a letter
from your insurance company,

187
00:09:39,667 --> 00:09:42,600
but the point is,
just two people on the road

188
00:09:42,667 --> 00:09:45,500
doing what they shouldn't be doing,
and that's playing chickie, basically.

189
00:09:45,567 --> 00:09:48,400
So now, you're next to each other,
you're both stopped.

190
00:09:48,467 --> 00:09:50,333
You admit you spit.

191
00:09:50,400 --> 00:09:53,100
Now, how did his spit
hit you in the face?

192
00:09:53,165 --> 00:09:55,600
I mean, you guys
are like a car length apart.

193
00:09:55,667 --> 00:09:59,567
So, when he spits,
does he hit you in the face with the spit?

194
00:09:59,633 --> 00:10:01,734
-Yes.
-No. We're yellin'.

195
00:10:01,800 --> 00:10:03,300
He spits at me,
I spit back at him.

196
00:10:03,367 --> 00:10:06,066
All right. So now,
one of two things could happen.

197
00:10:06,133 --> 00:10:09,567
You could let him go,
take his license plate, call the police.

198
00:10:09,633 --> 00:10:12,400
What do you do instead of that?
You cut him off.

199
00:10:12,467 --> 00:10:15,533
Now, you already know he's hot
and agitated, right?

200
00:10:15,600 --> 00:10:16,600
Yeah.

201
00:10:16,667 --> 00:10:19,900
You are too, because you think it's funny
that he's hot and agitated.

202
00:10:19,967 --> 00:10:21,233
At the moment, absolutely.

203
00:10:21,300 --> 00:10:23,066
[DiMango]
You think it's funny.

204
00:10:23,133 --> 00:10:25,400
So now you're engaged...
This is what I'm saying.

205
00:10:25,467 --> 00:10:28,266
You're like two immature kids.
So now, you put your car in front of him.

206
00:10:28,333 --> 00:10:32,533
And now you fear is, I'm doing that
because God forbid he should get away.

207
00:10:32,600 --> 00:10:35,633
I did not try to get out of there.
That's incorrect, Your Honor.

208
00:10:35,700 --> 00:10:38,900
I got out of my car.
I was afraid he would drive off.

209
00:10:38,967 --> 00:10:40,433
And you heard me on the 911 call...

210
00:10:40,500 --> 00:10:42,600
[DiMango] Yeah,
you were a lunatic on the 911 call.

211
00:10:42,667 --> 00:10:45,200
'Cause he was yelling,
"I'm gonna run your ass over!"

212
00:10:45,266 --> 00:10:46,867
And yes, I was afraid.

213
00:10:46,934 --> 00:10:48,500
Did you at any point, Mr. Gonzalez,

214
00:10:48,567 --> 00:10:50,467
say, "I'm gonna run you over,
get out of the way?"

215
00:10:50,533 --> 00:10:51,533
-No.
-That's a lie.

216
00:10:51,600 --> 00:10:55,266
But there's a criminal act here
for which you were arrested and charged

217
00:10:55,333 --> 00:10:57,200
-with harassment...
-I'm not proud of it, yes.

218
00:10:57,266 --> 00:10:59,266
[DiMango]
You went to your diversionary program.

219
00:10:59,333 --> 00:11:01,400
With regard to you, Mr. Gonzalez,

220
00:11:01,467 --> 00:11:05,700
your incident where you
cut in front of him, your car is hit.

221
00:11:05,767 --> 00:11:09,567
And you're given a summons
for moving into the wrong lane.

222
00:11:09,633 --> 00:11:11,233
-Is that correct?
-Yes.

223
00:11:11,300 --> 00:11:15,000
By the way, sir, there's no request by you
for any damage to your vehicle.

224
00:11:15,066 --> 00:11:17,433
The insurance company
covered your damages, sir?

225
00:11:17,500 --> 00:11:22,300
For that incident, he actually had hit
the door and the mirror on that angle.

226
00:11:22,367 --> 00:11:25,700
But I did not file a claim for it
because I was simply gonna fix it myself.

227
00:11:25,767 --> 00:11:27,967
Or is that because
you didn't have insurance coverage on it?

228
00:11:28,033 --> 00:11:29,667
'Cause you could've sued
his insurance company.

229
00:11:29,734 --> 00:11:32,667
I could have, but I really wanted
to put this whole situation behind me

230
00:11:32,734 --> 00:11:34,333
because it was right after work.

231
00:11:34,400 --> 00:11:36,967
Did you have to pay a fine
for the traffic summons?

232
00:11:37,033 --> 00:11:39,233
No. I pleaded not guilty
and it was dismissed.

233
00:11:39,300 --> 00:11:42,433
You pled not guilty
to being in the wrong lane?

234
00:11:42,500 --> 00:11:43,700
Absolutely.

235
00:11:43,767 --> 00:11:46,767
[DiMango] You were in the wrong lane.
Judge Levy?

236
00:11:46,834 --> 00:11:51,300
When I first reviewed all this material,
because Mr. St. Raymond,

237
00:11:51,367 --> 00:11:54,266
that this whole story
about you spitting in his face

238
00:11:54,333 --> 00:11:55,500
was just not true.

239
00:11:55,567 --> 00:11:59,133
Unless you are a watermelon seed
spitting champion...

240
00:11:59,200 --> 00:12:01,633
Cars are about seven, eight feet wide.

241
00:12:01,700 --> 00:12:05,900
You gotta go through the entire vehicle,
between the two vehicles,

242
00:12:05,967 --> 00:12:10,834
and nail you with your little head
all the way in your car.

243
00:12:10,900 --> 00:12:14,967
And I thought to myself, number one,
there's no evidence you actually did spit.

244
00:12:15,033 --> 00:12:18,100
But now you admitted that you did.
Maybe you did hit him in the face.

245
00:12:18,166 --> 00:12:19,533
-[Stephen] May I comment?
-Yeah.

246
00:12:19,600 --> 00:12:22,734
Okay. Both spits didn't hit either person.

247
00:12:22,800 --> 00:12:25,767
His spit didn't hit me,
my spit didn't hit him.

248
00:12:25,834 --> 00:12:28,100
-But he's saying it hit him in the face.
-Yes.

249
00:12:28,166 --> 00:12:30,100
-[Stephen] He's lying.
-[Levy] It doesn't matter

250
00:12:30,166 --> 00:12:31,700
if he's lying,
'cause even if it's true,

251
00:12:31,767 --> 00:12:34,066
it gives him all the motive
to ram into your car.

252
00:12:34,133 --> 00:12:38,400
Anyone would be furious
if they got spit in the face.

253
00:12:38,467 --> 00:12:40,700
Let me ask you this, Mr. Gonzalez,

254
00:12:40,767 --> 00:12:44,767
did you ever threaten Mr. St. Raymond
prior to the police coming?

255
00:12:44,834 --> 00:12:47,165
-Did you ever threaten to kill him?
-No.

256
00:12:47,233 --> 00:12:49,133
[Levy]
What about before they arrived?

257
00:12:49,200 --> 00:12:52,934
Before they arrived, he was on my vehicle,
in front, banging on the hood of the car

258
00:12:53,000 --> 00:12:55,266
as the car was in neutral,
I put it in neutral.

259
00:12:55,333 --> 00:12:57,433
So, I said, do you want me to kill you,

260
00:12:57,500 --> 00:12:59,734
because he's in front of the car
and it's in neutral.

261
00:12:59,800 --> 00:13:01,900
I didn't say I was going to kill him.

262
00:13:01,967 --> 00:13:05,934
And you remember denying that
to the police when they interviewed you.

263
00:13:06,000 --> 00:13:07,333
-Right?
-Yes.

264
00:13:07,400 --> 00:13:10,667
So, you lied to the police
because you knew it'd make you look bad.

265
00:13:10,734 --> 00:13:13,166
-Right?
-I know how the cookie crumbles.

266
00:13:13,233 --> 00:13:17,467
I know you do. Let's listen to
that 911 clip again. Clip one.

267
00:13:43,533 --> 00:13:46,200
[Levy] "Do you want me to do it?"
"Do you want me to do it?"

268
00:13:46,266 --> 00:13:47,533
What were you gonna do?

269
00:13:47,600 --> 00:13:49,400
The car could've easily gone forward,

270
00:13:49,467 --> 00:13:51,500
or I could've in anger
accidentally pressed the gas pedal.

271
00:13:51,567 --> 00:13:54,667
He was in a dangerous position himself.
That is why I said what I said.

272
00:13:54,734 --> 00:13:58,667
[Levy] By the way, Mr. St. Raymond,
the issue of your request

273
00:13:58,734 --> 00:14:01,467
for towing fees and attorney's fees
is due in part

274
00:14:01,533 --> 00:14:05,300
because you claim that the defendant
did something that got you arrested.

275
00:14:05,367 --> 00:14:08,266
-Right?
-No. No, sir. I got myself arrested.

276
00:14:08,333 --> 00:14:09,533
You got yourself arrested.

277
00:14:09,600 --> 00:14:11,400
Let's see what you did
to get yourself arrested.

278
00:14:11,467 --> 00:14:12,800
[dramatic music playing]

279
00:14:12,867 --> 00:14:15,200
[narrator]
Coming up on Tribunal Justice...

280
00:14:24,700 --> 00:14:26,333
[theme music playing]

281
00:14:26,400 --> 00:14:29,500
[narrator] Stephen St. Raymond
is suing Brayan Gonzalez

282
00:14:29,567 --> 00:14:33,400
for nearly $5,000 in damages
after ramming his car

283
00:14:33,467 --> 00:14:35,333
then threatening to run him over.

284
00:14:35,400 --> 00:14:38,400
Brayan says Stephen hit his car
out of rage,

285
00:14:38,467 --> 00:14:40,767
committing a hate crime against him.

286
00:14:40,834 --> 00:14:42,867
Let's see what you did
to get yourself arrested.

287
00:15:01,467 --> 00:15:03,433
I'm down, thank you.

288
00:15:10,867 --> 00:15:12,867
[Brayan]
He smashed into my car, so...

289
00:15:37,600 --> 00:15:39,133
[officer] Come here for a second.

290
00:15:44,567 --> 00:15:48,400
[Levy] So we're clear, the police report
filed by the officer on the scene,

291
00:15:48,467 --> 00:15:51,834
the first one, put in that report
that you, sir,

292
00:15:51,900 --> 00:15:55,400
committed no action
that contributed to the accident.

293
00:15:55,467 --> 00:15:59,500
So, 1723 clip two.
Let's play the video.

294
00:16:02,767 --> 00:16:04,533
[officer] My name is Mike.

295
00:16:12,333 --> 00:16:13,600
[Levy]
Stop it right there.

296
00:16:13,667 --> 00:16:16,400
Just so we're clear, the police report,
they indicated

297
00:16:16,467 --> 00:16:19,834
there was no alcohol or drugs
that affected you in any way.

298
00:16:19,900 --> 00:16:21,633
You were not at fault at all.

299
00:16:21,700 --> 00:16:23,567
-Correct.
-[Levy] Keep going.

300
00:16:23,633 --> 00:16:25,166
This is where the problem...

301
00:16:25,233 --> 00:16:26,467
[Patty]
Look at him on the ground.

302
00:16:26,533 --> 00:16:27,967
[Levy]
There you are on the ground.

303
00:16:28,033 --> 00:16:30,667
Stop. That was you on the ground.

304
00:16:30,734 --> 00:16:33,400
-[Stephen] May I comment on that?
-[Levy] Yeah. How'd you get on the ground?

305
00:16:33,467 --> 00:16:36,433
I sat on the ground
because I realized I was out of control.

306
00:16:36,500 --> 00:16:39,767
and I figured I'd be better off
just sitting and being still.

307
00:16:39,834 --> 00:16:43,834
I never, ever implied or stated
that a police officer made me sit.

308
00:16:43,900 --> 00:16:45,600
Let's keep going.

309
00:17:17,733 --> 00:17:19,133
You're not cooperating.

310
00:17:19,767 --> 00:17:21,800
And there you go.
You did that yourself.

311
00:17:21,867 --> 00:17:23,733
-I was angry.
-[Levy] You were angry.

312
00:17:23,800 --> 00:17:25,967
So, those two,
towing and attorney's fees

313
00:17:26,032 --> 00:17:28,667
chances are, I'll speak to my colleagues,
not gonna make it.

314
00:17:28,734 --> 00:17:31,133
You said, Mr. Gonzalez
that one of the reasons

315
00:17:31,200 --> 00:17:33,100
why you don't think you owe
the plaintiff anything is

316
00:17:33,166 --> 00:17:38,367
because the plaintiff spit at you,
cut you off because of your race.

317
00:17:38,433 --> 00:17:40,467
Because that's a hate crime, right?

318
00:17:40,533 --> 00:17:44,000
After hearing the word...
used more than ten times,

319
00:17:44,066 --> 00:17:46,934
that's what made me believe
it felt really racially motivated.

320
00:17:47,000 --> 00:17:49,266
Do you remember giving a statement
to the police

321
00:17:49,333 --> 00:17:50,834
during their interview of you,

322
00:17:50,900 --> 00:17:53,667
when you said the reason
that he was so upset,

323
00:17:53,734 --> 00:17:56,300
you said it was
because you cut him off.

324
00:17:56,367 --> 00:17:58,533
You know what, don't answer that.
Let's play it.

325
00:17:58,600 --> 00:18:00,133
No, go for it.

326
00:18:11,600 --> 00:18:13,400
[Levy]
So, that's why he was infuriated.

327
00:18:13,467 --> 00:18:15,100
'Cause of how you drove prior.

328
00:18:15,166 --> 00:18:16,300
-Right?
-[Brayan] Right.

329
00:18:16,367 --> 00:18:18,166
-[Levy] Nothing to do with your skin.
-Right.

330
00:18:18,233 --> 00:18:19,233
-[Levy] Okay.
-Sure.

331
00:18:19,300 --> 00:18:23,166
So we're clear, the police report
found you to be the cause of the accident.

332
00:18:23,233 --> 00:18:27,467
And it also included a policy number
from Progressive Insurance

333
00:18:27,533 --> 00:18:30,000
that you provided the police with.
Correct?

334
00:18:30,066 --> 00:18:31,600
Yes, the digital card.

335
00:18:31,667 --> 00:18:34,066
Can you please, Cassandra,
show this to the plaintiff?

336
00:18:34,133 --> 00:18:36,934
This is the Progressive letter
with respect to the insurance claim

337
00:18:37,000 --> 00:18:39,533
that was filed by you
against the defendant.

338
00:18:39,600 --> 00:18:41,300
Read the highlighted portion.

339
00:18:41,367 --> 00:18:45,800
"The 2013 Volkswagon GTI
had no policy with any member

340
00:18:45,867 --> 00:18:49,233
of the Progressive Group of Insurance
Companies at the time of the accident."

341
00:18:49,300 --> 00:18:50,500
[Levy]
Thank you.

342
00:18:50,567 --> 00:18:53,100
That's the reason why you couldn't
get his insurance company

343
00:18:53,166 --> 00:18:55,467
to pay for the damage,
which is why you had to sue him.

344
00:18:55,533 --> 00:18:56,934
-Spot on. Yes, sir.
-[Levy] Got it.

345
00:18:57,000 --> 00:18:58,266
I have nothing further.

346
00:18:58,333 --> 00:19:01,467
We are going to retire to deliberate
at this time.

347
00:19:01,533 --> 00:19:02,734
We'll be back.

348
00:19:02,800 --> 00:19:04,667
Court now stands in recess.

349
00:19:04,734 --> 00:19:08,066
This case will be recalled.
Parties are excused.

350
00:19:08,133 --> 00:19:10,500
[theme music playing]

351
00:19:12,467 --> 00:19:15,200
[theme music playing]

352
00:19:15,266 --> 00:19:17,633
Candidly, I don't think the plaintiff
has made his case

353
00:19:17,700 --> 00:19:20,000
because I'm not at all convinced
of his damages.

354
00:19:20,066 --> 00:19:24,734
He included a damage estimate for $4,000
that included everything under the sun.

355
00:19:24,800 --> 00:19:27,967
When I asked him, for instance,
about the specific claim

356
00:19:28,033 --> 00:19:30,433
of damage to the roof...
I'm like, how do you support that?

357
00:19:30,500 --> 00:19:34,467
He was like, "Well, I just took the car in
and that's what they told me."

358
00:19:34,533 --> 00:19:39,700
We have not one picture of the car before.
Not one picture of the car afterward.

359
00:19:39,767 --> 00:19:44,033
So, to me, causation and liability
on the defendant is pretty clear.

360
00:19:44,100 --> 00:19:45,500
He caused the accident.

361
00:19:45,567 --> 00:19:47,500
But I'm not gonna make up
a damage number,

362
00:19:47,567 --> 00:19:50,967
particularly when the plaintiff himself
couldn't be troubled

363
00:19:51,033 --> 00:19:53,500
to submit a picture
of his damaged car.

364
00:19:53,567 --> 00:19:57,200
At least then, we would see
some correlation between the accident,

365
00:19:57,266 --> 00:19:59,667
between the repair estimate and the car.

366
00:19:59,734 --> 00:20:01,633
Right now, we have a repair estimate
and he says,

367
00:20:01,700 --> 00:20:04,367
"I just took it in and
they told me a bunch of stuff."

368
00:20:04,433 --> 00:20:06,200
I just don't find that at all persuasive.

369
00:20:06,266 --> 00:20:08,467
[DiMango]
Well, that was visible on the video.

370
00:20:08,533 --> 00:20:10,533
Here's the accident report.

371
00:20:10,600 --> 00:20:14,166
And the accident report,
it indicates...

372
00:20:14,233 --> 00:20:16,934
the motor vehicle damage, diagram,

373
00:20:17,000 --> 00:20:21,000
and what they're saying is
his vehicle was damaged at number two...

374
00:20:21,066 --> 00:20:23,467
-Which is under...
-...number three and number four.

375
00:20:23,533 --> 00:20:25,333
Correct. Which is on the passenger side.

376
00:20:25,400 --> 00:20:28,066
-over the right tire and along that way.
-Correct.

377
00:20:28,133 --> 00:20:32,400
Again, I still do not know
the extent of those damages.

378
00:20:32,467 --> 00:20:35,934
And I don't see how they corroborate.
I mean, the police report also said

379
00:20:36,000 --> 00:20:38,333
it was a minor side-swipe
and minor damage.

380
00:20:38,400 --> 00:20:41,100
The bottom line is,
assuming that we find the damages,

381
00:20:41,166 --> 00:20:44,233
assuming that we recognize
that the fault was with the defendant

382
00:20:44,300 --> 00:20:46,266
because it's pretty clear that it was.

383
00:20:46,333 --> 00:20:49,633
Where are we with regard
to other issues?

384
00:20:49,700 --> 00:20:53,533
I believe the statute of limitations
in this case has already run.

385
00:20:53,600 --> 00:20:56,300
The filing was 21 days late.

386
00:20:56,367 --> 00:20:58,667
[DiMango]
I mean, I don't see any way around that.

387
00:20:58,734 --> 00:21:01,266
I would say, but for
the statute of limitations,

388
00:21:01,333 --> 00:21:03,567
-I would've awarded him...
-Everything.

389
00:21:03,633 --> 00:21:06,033
Everything except for the tow fees
and for the legal fees.

390
00:21:06,100 --> 00:21:09,700
Because that was as a result of him
getting arrested for breach of peace.

391
00:21:09,767 --> 00:21:11,367
We wouldn't give him the legal fees.

392
00:21:11,433 --> 00:21:14,533
So, but for that,
I believed everything that he said.

393
00:21:14,600 --> 00:21:17,834
And I agree with you
about the statute of limitations.

394
00:21:17,900 --> 00:21:20,367
I think I'm on my own
with respect to a dismissal

395
00:21:20,433 --> 00:21:22,533
based on lack of evidence of damages.

396
00:21:22,600 --> 00:21:23,600
-Yeah.
-[Levy] Yeah.

397
00:21:23,667 --> 00:21:26,200
But we're unanimous
on dismissing his case.

398
00:21:26,266 --> 00:21:27,967
[DiMango]
Dismissed in its entirety.

399
00:21:28,033 --> 00:21:31,533
[theme music playing]

400
00:21:31,600 --> 00:21:35,066
Court is back in session. Parties
are reminded you're still under oath.

401
00:21:35,133 --> 00:21:36,333
-Thank you, Byrd.
-[Byrd] Mm-hmm.

402
00:21:36,400 --> 00:21:39,033
We've deliberated and
we've reached a unanimous verdict.

403
00:21:39,100 --> 00:21:43,133
I like the fact that
we don't have to escalate this case

404
00:21:43,200 --> 00:21:47,500
into a debate about racism
and tension...

405
00:21:47,567 --> 00:21:50,767
like, this case is far more simple
than that.

406
00:21:50,834 --> 00:21:54,033
You were found at fault
for the accident.

407
00:21:54,100 --> 00:21:59,233
But sir, I really had questions and
problems with your proof of damages.

408
00:21:59,300 --> 00:22:02,133
And I would've dismissed your case
on those grounds.

409
00:22:02,200 --> 00:22:06,133
Certainly, on the police report
there were some indications and notations

410
00:22:06,200 --> 00:22:09,133
about where minor damage
had been found on your car.

411
00:22:09,200 --> 00:22:13,300
It wasn't clear to me how much of that
was necessarily caused by the defendant.

412
00:22:13,367 --> 00:22:16,400
And your damage estimate
just wasn't corroborated

413
00:22:16,467 --> 00:22:19,533
by any independent evidence
that I was able to credit.

414
00:22:19,600 --> 00:22:21,834
My colleagues didn't feel the same way.

415
00:22:21,900 --> 00:22:24,567
They would've awarded you
everything you were asking for

416
00:22:24,633 --> 00:22:29,200
except for the towing fees,
and the storage and attorney's fees.

417
00:22:29,266 --> 00:22:31,700
They would've given you damages
for your vehicle,

418
00:22:31,767 --> 00:22:34,867
however, they found
that they cannot do that

419
00:22:34,934 --> 00:22:37,000
because you filed your case too late.

420
00:22:37,066 --> 00:22:40,867
You missed the statute of limitations
by 21 days.

421
00:22:40,934 --> 00:22:44,133
-I would also join in that assessment.
-[Stephen] That's not true.

422
00:22:44,200 --> 00:22:47,967
So, your case is dismissed.
It is dismissed with prejudice.

423
00:22:48,033 --> 00:22:50,867
And I must say, this case
doesn't need to be here, it really is.

424
00:22:50,934 --> 00:22:54,000
It's much ado about nothing,
and you all turned it into the civil war.

425
00:22:54,066 --> 00:22:56,834
Unnecessary.
Your case is dismissed, sir. Good luck.

426
00:22:56,900 --> 00:22:59,367
-I get no damages?
-[Byrd] This case is now concluded.

427
00:22:59,433 --> 00:23:01,567
Parties are excused.
You may step out.

428
00:23:01,633 --> 00:23:04,500
[triumphant music playing]

429
00:23:04,567 --> 00:23:07,467
Four thousand dollars of damage
to my car and he gets off scot-free.

430
00:23:07,533 --> 00:23:09,800
At the end of the day,
I still do feel there was some level

431
00:23:09,867 --> 00:23:12,033
of racially motivated hate
coming from the plaintiff.

432
00:23:12,100 --> 00:23:13,900
He lied repeatedly to the judges.

433
00:23:13,967 --> 00:23:15,967
I'll just accept the decision as a win.

434
00:23:16,033 --> 00:23:18,467
I was wrong to risk my life
to prevent him from driving off.

435
00:23:18,533 --> 00:23:20,266
You can tell he wasn't
in the right state of mind.

436
00:23:20,333 --> 00:23:23,200
We live in very woke times, and...

437
00:23:24,800 --> 00:23:28,233
people can hit your car
and have no insurance

438
00:23:28,300 --> 00:23:31,300
and that's fine with America.
God bless America.

439
00:23:31,367 --> 00:23:32,767
Just watch out for road rages

440
00:23:32,834 --> 00:23:35,166
and watch out for that plaintiff
in particular.

441
00:23:35,233 --> 00:23:37,100
[narrator]
Have you been scammed?

442
00:23:37,166 --> 00:23:41,333
Let the majority rule in your favor
on Tribunal Justice.

443
00:23:41,400 --> 00:23:43,367
Find us on social media.

444
00:23:44,600 --> 00:23:47,600
[theme music playing]