Doctors can't borrow money from patients.
I made some mistakes.
He had gotten involved with gambling.
Did you ask all of your patients for money?
Twenty-five.
-[DiMango] Were you in a 12-step program? -Yes.
Well, what'd you miss, step six and seven?
Just as good as you were at your chiropractic practice,
I'm just as good at finding liars and scammers and cheaters.
[narrator] Now, on Tribunal Justice...
[narrator] Today's case was filed in Long Beach, California.
Judge, this is Case #3012A in the matter of VanCouvering vs. Turner.
And for you, this is Case #3012B in the matter of Bijarchi vs. Turner.
-Thank you, Byrd. -You're welcome, Judge.
Parties have been sworn in. You may be seated.
[Acker] Thank you, Byrd.
As has been indicated, there are two cases.
I will be hearing the case involving this Plaintiff, Ms. VanCouvering.
And Judge DiMango will be hearing the case involving our second Plaintiff.
Ms. VanCouvering, you've known Dr. Turner for about 30 years.
-Yes. -Your kids went to school together.
In your words, you described him as a kind family man.
-[Linda] Mm-hmm. -So, that when he approached you,
asking you for a $10,000 loan to make some improvements to his business,
-you thought it wouldn't be a problem. -Correct.
-He paid you back some of the money. -[Linda] Mm-hmm.
-Borrowed some more money. -Mm-hmm.
[Acker] Then you didn't get paid back.
You then received a letter from his wife
indicating that the money was being used to fuel an addiction,
and that if you wanted to get it back, you need to bring him to court.
-So, here you are in court... -Exactly.
[Acker] ...suing the chiropractor who you knew for almost three decades
for $7,785.
Dr. Turner, it is your defense that this was an investment,
and that the business in which the plaintiff invested is now defunct.
And just like there's risk with any investment,
there was a risk with this one.
You maintain that while you did pay her back some money,
because the business has failed and is defunct,
that you don't owe her anything else.
Ms. VanCouvering, why in the heck do you give money to your chiropractor?
Did you know anything about his finances?
No, but he'd been in the same office, working with his wife who was still there
for almost 40 years.
Manipulating my neck and everything, I trusted him with the finances.
That was a big leap of faith. Dr. Turner,
now I actually have reviewed the ethical rules regarding chiropractic.
I know that it is not improper to have a layperson invest in your business,
as long as they're not making treating decisions.
But that's a far cry from asking money from your patients
with whom you have a fiduciary relationship.
So, explain to me why you thought it was appropriate.
I did have a good relationship. I knew her for a long time.
In chiropracting, you see people multiple times.
I saw Linda a long time. A hundred times, probably.
So, I--
Let's just cut to the chase.
I want you to tell me what you would define as a conflict of interest.
Uh, that wasn't.
I mean, just right off the bat before we get to anything else,
there are ethical rules that govern professionals
who are in professional relationships with clients.
So, word to the wise, lawyers can't borrow money from clients,
doctors can't borrow money from patients.
I mean, just right off the bat, it seems like a very odd thing to do.
Now, according to you and according to the plaintiff,
the money was for improvements, because you wanted to sell the business.
-Yes. -[Acker] Show me some evidence
of the improvements that you used the plaintiff's money for.
I don't have any.
[Acker] 'Cause you didn't use it for that, did you?
No, I did.
Did it occur to you to go to a bank, try to take out a small business loan?
Yes, it did.
[Acker] You were like, it's easier to go to my patients
-who trust me? -Yes.
Who gave you that idea?
I had a Realtor help me sell the practice.
He was suggesting I improve the practice. Carpeting, lighting...
Right, but you have no evidence, not one receipt,
not one estimate. Nothing from a contractor.
-Nothing showing any improvements. -[Dr. Turner] Correct.
[Acker] It's your testimony that that's how you used her money.
-Yes. -Allegedly. I find that hard to believe.
And you don't believe that, either, because you received a letter
from the defendant's wife telling you what, ma'am?
That he had an addiction issue and not to loan him any more money.
[Acker] Can we please put up Exhibit three?
And just so our timing is clear, you loaned him this money in May, correct?
-Correct. -What were the terms
under which you loaned him the money?
That he would pay me $700 of the loan
for four weeks.
He made one payment, half the amount.
[Acker] Then he asked for more money?
-He did, $2,000 more. -[Acker] When did he ask for that loan?
[Linda] In August.
-How much did he ask for the second... -[Linda] Two thousand dollars.
[Acker] When did you become concerned about being repaid?
When did you start to feel like something was amiss?
I texted him and asked him what was going on shortly after that.
'Cause he had promised at a certain time that I would be getting the money.
And in September, it was his birthday week.
-You sent him a very nice text. -[Linda] Mm-hmm.
[Acker] You're like, just a reminder you're supposed to pay me back tomorrow.
-But he did not. -No.
[Acker] So, when you received this letter,
-it was after you texted the defendant. -Yes.
The letter is from the defendant's wife and former business partner.
"It's with great sadness that I write this letter
to inform you that Dr. Chris Turner," that is the defendant in this case,
"has mismanaged" the funds from the business.
And then, she goes on, "please, do not lend or give money
to Chris Turner under any circumstances."
I have to ask you, what's going through your head when you receive this?
Oh, so many things. Just such disappointment in the defendant.
Just so much disappointment. I trusted him.
Did you try to reach out to him after you received the letter?
We did talk one more time.
[Acker] And what did he say?
[Linda] He kinda fessed up at that point
that he had gotten involved with gambling
and, um, there was a problem there.
Was it a gambling addiction, sir?
[narrator] Coming up on Tribunal Justice...
Did you ask all of your patients for money?
-No. -[DiMango] How did you select the suckers
that you thought would give you the money?
[narrator] Clients Linda VanCouvering and Bijan Bijarchi
are both claiming that chiropractor Chris Turner scammed them out of money.
But Chris claims they both invested in his business
and that Linda and Bijan knew the risks. He owes them nothing.
Was it a gambling addiction, sir?
Yes. And I did some improvements on the practice.
By the way, before I get to how you misused her money,
tell me what you do for a living.
Uh, I'm retired, but I was a registered nurse.
Ten thousand dollars is not chump change, really, to anybody.
And then you found out that actually your money was,
what, maybe being used for three square feet of carpet?
And the rest at the blackjack table?
Lighting.
How are you feeling about yourself?
Not very good.
I made some mistakes.
How many more of your patients did you borrow money from?
Twenty-five.
[Acker] Twenty-five people who trusted you.
Like, you borrowed money under improper purposes.
And you think you're gonna make it back at the tables
so you can give her her money back.
Was that kind of what was going on in your head?
Yes, kind of. I thought I could make money on other people's money,
and pay them back. But I would have to make money to do that.
The dice were gonna land just exactly the right way,
and she was gonna get her money back.
I assumed.
Do you want to apologize to her?
-[Dr. Turner] I have. -[Acker] Do it again.
I'm very, very sorry. And you know it's from my heart.
I love you, and I care about your harm. I'm sorry that you're here.
You know I care.
I accept it.
[Dr. Turner] I apologize.
[Acker] Judge DiMango.
[DiMango] Thank you, Judge Acker.
Ma'am, you may have a seat. I'm going to bring up Mr. Bijarchi,
who is also a Plaintiff in this matter.
Once again, 30 year or so relationship with the defendant as your chiropractor.
Came to you one day, said he was looking to make some cosmetic improvements
to the business so that he could sell the business.
Correct.
So, you gave him the $5,000 with a promise of interest.
You are here today suing him for that $5,000 plus $150 in interest.
You, sir, your answer to him was, you invested in my business,
it failed and closed, you're now out of luck.
So, let me get some information from you.
-Did you ever go to dinner with him? -[Bijan] No.
[DiMango] Ever socialize with him? Go for drinks?
No, nothing like that.
You didn't have any personal relationship with him at all,
other than this business professional relationship.
No. He's got a really charismatic personality.
Very easy to talk to. And we would talk about my work,
his work, you know, what's going on with his kids.
Am I misstating this, because you're not answering, sort of.
Was this a business or a personal relationship with him?
It's a business relationship, for sure.
Thank you. So, you have this relationship
and when he comes to you for the money, he says what to you?
I hadn't seen him for several months.
And I came in for some adjustments, 'cause my neck was bothering me.
And he was very animated that day, and he was like, hey, Bijan,
you know, I'm getting close to the end here.
I want to start thinking about semi-retirement.
And I want to, you know, spruce up the office.
I've got a broker that I'm working with to sell the practice.
And I related to that, because I'm, you know, around the same age.
I was in a good mood. I was going on vacation the following week
right before I saw him. I was feeling, you know, generous and--
Did you have any question as to why he would need to come to you
instead of going to a financial institution?
-I did ask him that. -[DiMango] What did he say?
He said all of his money was in the business,
and he wanted to make the books look as good as they could for the broker.
[DiMango] You gave him the money, the original money at what point, July?
Yes.
In fact, he sent you a signed promissory note, which we have.
And we could put that up on the screen. And it reads...
[Bijan] "This letter is to confirm the agreement with Bijan Bijarchi
for a personal loan of $5,000 to Chris Turner."
You signed that, and you gave him that, correct?
Correct. I was going to pay him back.
That's what addicts think. They think they're gonna get out of it.
Especially gambling addicts. They think, this is the big one.
You know, there's a drug addiction, there's sex addiction,
there's alcohol addiction. But of all of those addictions,
for the most part, the only person that can clean out an entire household
is the gambler. Take every penny they have
and put it on number seven. And they're done.
It's extreme.
Of course it's extreme, but the thrill is what keeps you going.
So, back to you, because now, you've gotten no money back at this point.
And in September, you get a voicemail.
Do we have that voicemail?
I have it on my phone.
[DiMango] Let's hear it.
[Dr. Turner on recording] Bijan, this is Chris Turner,
Dr. Turner, I'm calling on Sunday night.
My apologies for calling. Um, with great guilt
and stupidity, I'm calling to let you know I mismanaged the finances,
the money in my practice. We're gonna be closing the practice,
I think you're getting a letter. You might've already got the letter.
Um, give me a call, and I'll try to explain what's going on...
Okay. So, we can stop. So, basically you're telling him
you mismanaged your money, and you can't pay.
So now, I have a couple of questions of you,
because I'm always interested in some of this.
Did you ask all of your patients for money?
-No. -[DiMango] Okay.
How did you select the suckers that you thought would give you the money?
Suckers, poor term.
No, it's not a poor term, because you knew you had an addiction.
There's no way you did not know you had an addiction.
Were you in a 12-step program by any chance?
-Yes. -What'd you miss, step six and seven?
Because the bottom line is, you should be saying,
yes, I knew I had an addiction at some point. I knew it.
And that's why I say to you, how did you pick these suckers?
How did you pick them?
[Dr. Turner] They were the most kind-hearted of my patients.
And by the time I understood my mismanagement with Bijan--
[DiMango] It wasn't a mismanagement, for goodness' sake.
You stand up in front of your meetings and you say I mismanaged my money,
or you say, my name is X, and I am a gambler.
Which one is it?
I'm a gambler.
[DiMango] Okay, thank you.
[narrator] Coming up on Tribunal Justice...
Did you wire it to his business,
or did you wire it to his personal account?
I think it was his personal account.
This is where the scamming part comes in.
[narrator] Linda VanCouvering and Bijan Bijarchi
are both suing chiropractor Chris Turner
after they claim he scammed them out of money.
But Chris claims their money was spent upgrading his business.
They knew the risks, and it's their loss.
How many patients would you say you have in total?
Four hundred.
[DiMango] But you only went to 25.
[Dr. Turner] No, I went to more than that.
Some turned me down.
[DiMango] Some turned you down.
Do you pay back anybody?
Yes. Part of payback was to Linda, who's here now.
And ma'am, when he came to you for an additional amount,
you did give him an additional amount. Is that true?
-Two more thousand. -[DiMango] You did.
You have to know that borrowing money from patients,
as in any professional field, is really a very severe ethical violation.
I do now.
What are you doing in an attempt to repay people?
If at all.
Yeah, I'm bankrupting with reorganization.
Well, I want to know what person of these kind, intelligent people
says, I think I'm going to invest in a business that's going to close.
Because that's what you told them. Correct?
It couldn't have been a business loan, because you gave him a personal note,
saying I'll pay you back. So, your defense to me
defies logic and accountability. Judge Levy?
I'm gonna make this real clear. You think you're a good chiropractor?
-Yes. -[Levy] Thirty-eight years you did that?
-Yes. -[Levy] And you were good at it.
-Yes. -I want to make it clear to you,
just as good as you were at your chiropractic practice,
I'm just as good at find liars and scammers and cheaters.
-Do we understand each other? -Yes, thank you.
Good. We're gonna start off with the fact that a moment ago,
you said that your wife was your partner.
She's no longer your wife though, right?
No, she's still my partner and my wife.
She is. So, you're telling me that she didn't file a notice of entry
on October 28th, 2024 for a divorce?
No, I'm unaware of that.
-What?! -[Dr. Turner] I'm unaware of that.
Legal separation on October 18th, 2022. You don't know that?
I do not know that.
You don't know that there was a notice of entry filed
granting her that separation on October 28th, 2024?
You don't know that, either?
I haven't been served any notices of that.
[Adam chuckles] All right. I want to make it clear to myself
what your position is with respect to this personal loan
consistent with the promissory note,
or this nonsense that you keep spewing about a business loan.
You've been in business 38 years, and you understand
that you can run through your business certain capital improvements. Right?
-Correct. -And those capital improvements
include lighting, flooring, carpeting. Things that increase the value,
run through the business as an expense.
It washes all out in the taxes, right?
More or less.
[Levy] Yep, that's how it works.
Can I please speak to you for a quick moment, Ms. VanCouvering?
Yeah, please, step right up. Thank you, sir.
-You wired him money? -[Linda] I did.
Did you wire it to his business,
or did you wire it to his personal account?
I think it was his personal account.
[Levy] Yeah, so let's go through this.
I want to get the timeline right 'cause it's super important.
[Linda] Okay.
This is where the scamming part comes in. On May 10th, 2024,
you agree to the $10,000 loan
and agreed for the repayment in a month with the $750 interest.
-Right? -Correct.
And on May 13th is when you actually wired him personally that money.
-Correct? -[Linda] Yes.
[Levy] And on July 30th, 2024,
he repaid you, the defendant repaid you $5,000.
-[Linda] Correct. -Where'd you get that money?
From my practice.
[Levy] Your practice? Step up.
Why don't you tell us where he got that $5,000 from.
From my check.
[Levy] Wait a minute. So, he gave Ms. VanCouvering
$5,000 on July 30th.
-Ma'am. -[Linda] Yes.
Give it back to the defendant. When did you receive $5,000?
From Mr. Bijarchi?
July 24th.
[Levy] July 24th, takes your $5,000
and he gives you that same $5,000 six days later.
You get it? That's the pyramid. That's the Madoff.
You're not that smart when it comes to finances.
You were so stupid that you figured no one was gonna pick up on that.
-Thank you. -[Levy] You're welcome.
We're not even close to being done yet. Thank you. You can have a seat.
August 26th, 2024,
he asked for and you agreed to another loan of $2,000.
Yeah.
[Levy] On September 18th, 2024,
you provided us with text messages that you sent to him
and his wife, in which you said, happy birthday week, Dr. Turner.
Just a reminder that you have agreed to pay me
the remaining $7,750 by Wednesday.
And when you received that text from her,
you didn't say, what are you talking about.
This was a business loan. This was a business investment.
You never said that in a reply text, did you?
Because it was never a business investment.
It was going right in his pocket.
After you sent that September 18th, 2024 text to him and his wife,
that next day, September 19th,
is when his legally separated wife
sent you that letter in which she said, hey, he's got a problem.
[Linda] Yeah.
-[Levy] You know she did that, don't you? -Yes.
And it's your position that your only addiction was gambling, right?
-Correct. -[Levy] I've got nothing further.
-How many children do you have? -[Dr. Turner] Three.
How are they reacting to this?
[narrator] Coming up on Tribunal Justice...
I hope that you are sincere in getting the help that you clearly need.
You hurt a lot of people.
Cut me open, I'm as sincere as you can be.
But where does my sincerity go?
[narrator] Clients Linda VanCouvering and Bijan Bijarchi
are both claiming that chiropractor Chris Turner scammed them out of money,
but Chris claims they both invested in his business,
and that Linda and Bijan knew the risks. He owes them nothing.
-How many children do you have? -[Dr. Turner] Three.
How are they reacting to this?
You know, it's hard enough for a marriage to fall apart.
But to fall apart in such a public and brutal way.
Because of a problem you have, a sickness,
it doesn't let you off the hook. How are your kids doing?
They haven't disowned me.
But they are neutral in their response to me now.
I hope that you are sincere in getting the help that you clearly need.
You hurt a lot of people.
Cut me open, I'm as sincere as you can be.
But people call me a liar. So, where does my sincerity go?
-Is that entirely unwarranted? -[Dr. Turner] No.
-I mean, you can imagine... -Of course.
-you did do some lying. -Yes.
-You don't come here with clean hands. -Right.
I feel sorry for you. But I feel sorrier for Ms. VanCouvering and Mr. Bijarchi.
I have nothing further, Judge.
How much are you currently in debt to others at this point?
Probably $120,000.
[DiMango] A hundred and twenty thousand.
We're gonna retire to deliberate. Thank you both.
Court now stands in recess. This case will be recalled.
Parties are excused for the moment.
There's not much to deliberate.
He admits he did wrong. He admits he owes her the money.
Uh, it was shameful. I don't think that his shame is a defense.
But it is somewhat refreshing to see an addict
take such responsibility for behavior
that hurt and compromised people, as it did.
But this is one of the easiest cases I've seen in quite some time.
She's completely entitled to all of it, clearly.
There was no mixed message. They were not confused
as to what they were giving him the money for.
They clearly gave it to him personally. They knew he was closing the business,
so nobody invests in a business that's going to close.
Yeah, to some extent, I give him credit for coming in
and owning up to his problems,
although he kinda danced around them for the most part.
I'm not sure he's fully into the treatment program yet.
I think he's skipping a few steps here and there.
But nevertheless, it was good that he at least took this step,
so I'm willing to return of course all the money to both of them.
I don't give him any credit. Zero.
And I think he has a long way to go before he's truly helped and cured.
Tough crowd.
Yeah. Period.
I think she gets everything that she requested, as does...
-Mr. Bijarchi. -Yeah.
Okay. We're unanimous on both cases.
Indeed.
Court is back in session. I remind parties, you're still under oath.
-Thank you, Byrd. -[Byrd] Mm-hmm.
We've deliberated and we've reached a unanimous verdict.
Dr. Turner, I must believe that 30 years ago,
this is not where you thought you'd end up.
At least two of us up here applaud your efforts to take accountability.
Addiction is real. It's a real illness, it's a real sickness.
-And I hope you're getting the help. -[sniffles]
[Acker] 'Cause you've lost a lot. Not just potentially a family,
but a practice, and the trust of people who cared about you.
Yes.
The road to recovery for those things can sometimes be a long one.
Ms. VanCouvering and Mr. Bijarchi, you two have big hearts.
So, guard them more carefully, especially when your dollars are involved.
It's a lesson that people sometimes have to learn the hard way.
But we are unanimous. As to your matter, Ms. VanCouvering,
the judgment is in your favor for $7,785.
We are similarly unanimous in your matter, Mr. Bijarchi.
The judgment is in your favor for $5,150.
Good luck to you both.
And Dr. Turner, I hope you continue to get the help that you need.
-Thank you. -[gavel bangs]
[Bijan] Thank you.
This case is now concluded. Parties are excused, you may step out.
They got cheated.
By a guy they trusted.
We really feel sorry for Dr. Turner. He's really a good man.
And he made mistakes at the end of his career.
They understand my addiction.
He's a very conflicted person.
But I don't think he is evil, I just think he's troubled.
I want to beat this addiction before God and my family.
By all the people that trust me.
I hope he finds his way.
I'm at the end of myself.
We don't wish any ill will on him.
None at all.
I don't know.
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