1
00:00:00,200 --> 00:00:02,667
Doctors can't borrow money
from patients.

2
00:00:02,734 --> 00:00:04,033
I made some mistakes.

3
00:00:04,100 --> 00:00:06,934
He had gotten involved with gambling.

4
00:00:07,000 --> 00:00:09,367
Did you ask all of your patients
for money?

5
00:00:09,433 --> 00:00:10,300
Twenty-five.

6
00:00:10,367 --> 00:00:13,100
-[DiMango] Were you in a 12-step program?
-Yes.

7
00:00:13,166 --> 00:00:14,800
Well, what'd you miss,
step six and seven?

8
00:00:14,867 --> 00:00:18,600
Just as good as you were
at your chiropractic practice,

9
00:00:18,667 --> 00:00:22,367
I'm just as good at finding liars
and scammers and cheaters.

10
00:00:22,433 --> 00:00:25,100
[narrator]
Now, on Tribunal Justice...

11
00:00:46,800 --> 00:00:50,533
[narrator] Today's case
was filed in Long Beach, California.

12
00:00:50,600 --> 00:00:55,800
Judge, this is Case #3012A
in the matter of VanCouvering vs. Turner.

13
00:00:57,567 --> 00:01:02,600
And for you, this is Case #3012B
in the matter of Bijarchi vs. Turner.

14
00:01:02,667 --> 00:01:04,467
-Thank you, Byrd.
-You're welcome, Judge.

15
00:01:04,533 --> 00:01:07,300
Parties have been sworn in.
You may be seated.

16
00:01:07,367 --> 00:01:08,600
[Acker]
Thank you, Byrd.

17
00:01:08,667 --> 00:01:10,667
As has been indicated,
there are two cases.

18
00:01:10,734 --> 00:01:15,133
I will be hearing the case involving
this Plaintiff, Ms. VanCouvering.

19
00:01:15,200 --> 00:01:19,133
And Judge DiMango will be hearing
the case involving our second Plaintiff.

20
00:01:19,200 --> 00:01:23,433
Ms. VanCouvering, you've known Dr. Turner
for about 30 years.

21
00:01:23,500 --> 00:01:25,767
-Yes.
-Your kids went to school together.

22
00:01:25,834 --> 00:01:30,500
In your words, you described him
as a kind family man.

23
00:01:30,567 --> 00:01:33,033
-[Linda] Mm-hmm.
-So, that when he approached you,

24
00:01:33,100 --> 00:01:37,166
asking you for a $10,000 loan
to make some improvements to his business,

25
00:01:37,233 --> 00:01:39,500
-you thought it wouldn't be a problem.
-Correct.

26
00:01:39,567 --> 00:01:41,834
-He paid you back some of the money.
-[Linda] Mm-hmm.

27
00:01:41,900 --> 00:01:43,800
-Borrowed some more money.
-Mm-hmm.

28
00:01:43,866 --> 00:01:45,400
[Acker]
Then you didn't get paid back.

29
00:01:45,467 --> 00:01:48,233
You then received a letter
from his wife

30
00:01:48,300 --> 00:01:51,800
indicating that the money was being used
to fuel an addiction,

31
00:01:51,866 --> 00:01:55,000
and that if you wanted to get it back,
you need to bring him to court.

32
00:01:55,066 --> 00:01:57,333
-So, here you are in court...
-Exactly.

33
00:01:57,400 --> 00:02:00,633
[Acker] ...suing the chiropractor
who you knew for almost three decades

34
00:02:00,700 --> 00:02:02,266
for $7,785.

35
00:02:02,333 --> 00:02:05,367
Dr. Turner, it is your defense
that this was an investment,

36
00:02:05,433 --> 00:02:10,100
and that the business in which
the plaintiff invested is now defunct.

37
00:02:10,166 --> 00:02:12,967
And just like there's risk
with any investment,

38
00:02:13,033 --> 00:02:14,667
there was a risk with this one.

39
00:02:14,734 --> 00:02:17,200
You maintain that
while you did pay her back some money,

40
00:02:17,266 --> 00:02:19,734
because the business has failed
and is defunct,

41
00:02:19,800 --> 00:02:21,767
that you don't owe her anything else.

42
00:02:21,834 --> 00:02:26,300
Ms. VanCouvering, why in the heck
do you give money to your chiropractor?

43
00:02:26,367 --> 00:02:28,500
Did you know anything about his finances?

44
00:02:28,567 --> 00:02:33,667
No, but he'd been in the same office,
working with his wife who was still there

45
00:02:33,734 --> 00:02:36,133
for almost 40 years.

46
00:02:36,200 --> 00:02:39,800
Manipulating my neck and everything,
I trusted him with the finances.

47
00:02:39,867 --> 00:02:42,567
That was a big leap of faith.
Dr. Turner,

48
00:02:42,633 --> 00:02:47,000
now I actually have reviewed
the ethical rules regarding chiropractic.

49
00:02:47,066 --> 00:02:51,400
I know that it is not improper to have
a layperson invest in your business,

50
00:02:51,466 --> 00:02:54,367
as long as they're not
making treating decisions.

51
00:02:54,433 --> 00:02:58,767
But that's a far cry from asking money
from your patients

52
00:02:58,834 --> 00:03:01,066
with whom you have
a fiduciary relationship.

53
00:03:01,133 --> 00:03:03,600
So, explain to me
why you thought it was appropriate.

54
00:03:03,667 --> 00:03:07,400
I did have a good relationship.
I knew her for a long time.

55
00:03:07,467 --> 00:03:10,100
In chiropracting,
you see people multiple times.

56
00:03:10,166 --> 00:03:14,200
I saw Linda a long time.
A hundred times, probably.

57
00:03:14,266 --> 00:03:15,633
So, I--

58
00:03:15,700 --> 00:03:17,266
Let's just cut to the chase.

59
00:03:17,333 --> 00:03:21,700
I want you to tell me what you
would define as a conflict of interest.

60
00:03:21,767 --> 00:03:23,066
Uh, that wasn't.

61
00:03:23,133 --> 00:03:27,100
I mean, just right off the bat
before we get to anything else,

62
00:03:27,166 --> 00:03:30,700
there are ethical rules
that govern professionals

63
00:03:30,767 --> 00:03:34,000
who are in professional relationships
with clients.

64
00:03:34,066 --> 00:03:37,734
So, word to the wise,
lawyers can't borrow money from clients,

65
00:03:37,800 --> 00:03:40,266
doctors can't borrow money
from patients.

66
00:03:40,333 --> 00:03:44,533
I mean, just right off the bat,
it seems like a very odd thing to do.

67
00:03:44,600 --> 00:03:48,166
Now, according to you
and according to the plaintiff,

68
00:03:48,233 --> 00:03:52,900
the money was for improvements,
because you wanted to sell the business.

69
00:03:52,966 --> 00:03:54,767
-Yes.
-[Acker] Show me some evidence

70
00:03:54,834 --> 00:03:58,734
of the improvements
that you used the plaintiff's money for.

71
00:03:58,800 --> 00:03:59,934
I don't have any.

72
00:04:00,066 --> 00:04:01,867
[Acker] 'Cause you
didn't use it for that, did you?

73
00:04:01,934 --> 00:04:02,867
No, I did.

74
00:04:02,934 --> 00:04:06,867
Did it occur to you to go to a bank,
try to take out a small business loan?

75
00:04:06,934 --> 00:04:08,000
Yes, it did.

76
00:04:08,066 --> 00:04:10,500
[Acker] You were like,
it's easier to go to my patients

77
00:04:10,567 --> 00:04:11,967
-who trust me?
-Yes.

78
00:04:12,033 --> 00:04:13,934
Who gave you that idea?

79
00:04:14,000 --> 00:04:17,200
I had a Realtor help me
sell the practice.

80
00:04:17,266 --> 00:04:22,100
He was suggesting I improve the practice.
Carpeting, lighting...

81
00:04:22,166 --> 00:04:24,567
Right, but you have no evidence,
not one receipt,

82
00:04:24,633 --> 00:04:26,767
not one estimate.
Nothing from a contractor.

83
00:04:26,834 --> 00:04:28,967
-Nothing showing any improvements.
-[Dr. Turner] Correct.

84
00:04:29,033 --> 00:04:31,700
[Acker] It's your testimony
that that's how you used her money.

85
00:04:31,767 --> 00:04:34,166
-Yes.
-Allegedly. I find that hard to believe.

86
00:04:34,233 --> 00:04:37,467
And you don't believe that, either,
because you received a letter

87
00:04:37,533 --> 00:04:40,567
from the defendant's wife
telling you what, ma'am?

88
00:04:40,633 --> 00:04:44,533
That he had an addiction issue
and not to loan him any more money.

89
00:04:44,600 --> 00:04:46,700
[Acker]
Can we please put up Exhibit three?

90
00:04:46,767 --> 00:04:51,600
And just so our timing is clear,
you loaned him this money in May, correct?

91
00:04:51,667 --> 00:04:53,734
-Correct.
-What were the terms

92
00:04:53,800 --> 00:04:56,400
under which you loaned him the money?

93
00:04:56,467 --> 00:05:00,567
That he would pay me $700 of the loan

94
00:05:00,633 --> 00:05:03,467
for four weeks.

95
00:05:03,533 --> 00:05:07,367
He made one payment,
half the amount.

96
00:05:07,433 --> 00:05:08,900
[Acker]
Then he asked for more money?

97
00:05:08,967 --> 00:05:11,800
-He did, $2,000 more.
-[Acker] When did he ask for that loan?

98
00:05:11,867 --> 00:05:13,367
[Linda]
In August.

99
00:05:13,433 --> 00:05:16,367
-How much did he ask for the second...
-[Linda] Two thousand dollars.

100
00:05:16,433 --> 00:05:19,600
[Acker] When did you become concerned
about being repaid?

101
00:05:19,667 --> 00:05:22,600
When did you start to feel
like something was amiss?

102
00:05:22,667 --> 00:05:26,400
I texted him and asked him
what was going on shortly after that.

103
00:05:26,467 --> 00:05:30,500
'Cause he had promised at a certain time
that I would be getting the money.

104
00:05:30,567 --> 00:05:33,600
And in September,
it was his birthday week.

105
00:05:33,667 --> 00:05:36,166
-You sent him a very nice text.
-[Linda] Mm-hmm.

106
00:05:36,233 --> 00:05:39,533
[Acker] You're like, just a reminder
you're supposed to pay me back tomorrow.

107
00:05:39,600 --> 00:05:41,266
-But he did not.
-No.

108
00:05:41,332 --> 00:05:43,367
[Acker]
So, when you received this letter,

109
00:05:43,433 --> 00:05:46,200
-it was after you texted the defendant.
-Yes.

110
00:05:46,266 --> 00:05:51,033
The letter is from the defendant's wife
and former business partner.

111
00:05:51,100 --> 00:05:53,767
"It's with great sadness
that I write this letter

112
00:05:53,834 --> 00:05:58,400
to inform you that Dr. Chris Turner,"
that is the defendant in this case,

113
00:05:58,467 --> 00:06:01,633
"has mismanaged" the funds
from the business.

114
00:06:01,700 --> 00:06:05,834
And then, she goes on,
"please, do not lend or give money

115
00:06:05,900 --> 00:06:08,967
to Chris Turner under any circumstances."

116
00:06:09,033 --> 00:06:13,734
I have to ask you, what's going
through your head when you receive this?

117
00:06:13,800 --> 00:06:18,767
Oh, so many things.
Just such disappointment in the defendant.

118
00:06:18,834 --> 00:06:21,433
Just so much disappointment.
I trusted him.

119
00:06:21,500 --> 00:06:24,567
Did you try to reach out to him
after you received the letter?

120
00:06:24,633 --> 00:06:26,900
We did talk one more time.

121
00:06:26,967 --> 00:06:28,367
[Acker]
And what did he say?

122
00:06:28,433 --> 00:06:31,066
[Linda] He kinda fessed up
at that point

123
00:06:31,133 --> 00:06:34,367
that he had gotten involved
with gambling

124
00:06:34,433 --> 00:06:36,700
and, um, there was a problem there.

125
00:06:36,767 --> 00:06:38,400
Was it a gambling addiction, sir?

126
00:06:40,000 --> 00:06:42,600
[narrator]
Coming up on Tribunal Justice...

127
00:06:42,667 --> 00:06:45,133
Did you ask all of your patients
for money?

128
00:06:45,200 --> 00:06:47,734
-No.
-[DiMango] How did you select the suckers

129
00:06:47,800 --> 00:06:49,867
that you thought would give you the money?

130
00:06:54,033 --> 00:06:57,433
[narrator] Clients Linda VanCouvering
and Bijan Bijarchi

131
00:06:57,500 --> 00:07:01,200
are both claiming that chiropractor
Chris Turner scammed them out of money.

132
00:07:01,266 --> 00:07:03,867
But Chris claims they both invested
in his business

133
00:07:03,934 --> 00:07:07,967
and that Linda and Bijan knew the risks.
He owes them nothing.

134
00:07:08,033 --> 00:07:10,300
Was it a gambling addiction, sir?

135
00:07:10,367 --> 00:07:14,400
Yes. And I did some improvements
on the practice.

136
00:07:14,467 --> 00:07:18,133
By the way, before I get to
how you misused her money,

137
00:07:18,200 --> 00:07:20,000
tell me what you do for a living.

138
00:07:20,066 --> 00:07:23,332
Uh, I'm retired,
but I was a registered nurse.

139
00:07:23,400 --> 00:07:27,767
Ten thousand dollars is not chump change,
really, to anybody.

140
00:07:27,834 --> 00:07:31,000
And then you found out
that actually your money was,

141
00:07:31,066 --> 00:07:34,500
what, maybe being used
for three square feet of carpet?

142
00:07:34,567 --> 00:07:36,767
And the rest at the blackjack table?

143
00:07:36,834 --> 00:07:37,834
Lighting.

144
00:07:37,900 --> 00:07:41,700
Lighting.
How are you feeling about yourself?

145
00:07:41,767 --> 00:07:43,166
Not very good.

146
00:07:44,332 --> 00:07:45,567
I made some mistakes.

147
00:07:45,633 --> 00:07:48,166
How many more of your patients
did you borrow money from?

148
00:07:48,233 --> 00:07:49,200
Twenty-five.

149
00:07:49,266 --> 00:07:51,633
[Acker]
Twenty-five people who trusted you.

150
00:07:51,700 --> 00:07:55,667
Like, you borrowed money
under improper purposes.

151
00:07:55,734 --> 00:07:58,700
And you think you're gonna make it back
at the tables

152
00:07:58,767 --> 00:08:00,066
so you can give her her money back.

153
00:08:00,133 --> 00:08:02,033
Was that kind of what was
going on in your head?

154
00:08:02,100 --> 00:08:05,467
Yes, kind of. I thought I could make money
on other people's money,

155
00:08:05,533 --> 00:08:09,066
and pay them back.
But I would have to make money to do that.

156
00:08:09,133 --> 00:08:11,767
The dice were gonna land
just exactly the right way,

157
00:08:11,834 --> 00:08:13,700
and she was gonna get her money back.

158
00:08:14,600 --> 00:08:16,066
I assumed.

159
00:08:16,133 --> 00:08:17,700
Do you want to apologize to her?

160
00:08:17,767 --> 00:08:19,367
-[Dr. Turner] I have.
-[Acker] Do it again.

161
00:08:19,433 --> 00:08:22,400
I'm very, very sorry.
And you know it's from my heart.

162
00:08:22,467 --> 00:08:26,967
I love you, and I care about your harm.
I'm sorry that you're here.

163
00:08:27,033 --> 00:08:28,433
You know I care.

164
00:08:28,500 --> 00:08:29,567
I accept it.

165
00:08:29,633 --> 00:08:31,000
[Dr. Turner]
I apologize.

166
00:08:31,066 --> 00:08:32,265
[Acker]
Judge DiMango.

167
00:08:32,332 --> 00:08:33,600
[DiMango]
Thank you, Judge Acker.

168
00:08:33,667 --> 00:08:36,933
Ma'am, you may have a seat.
I'm going to bring up Mr. Bijarchi,

169
00:08:37,000 --> 00:08:40,200
who is also a Plaintiff in this matter.

170
00:08:40,265 --> 00:08:45,266
Once again, 30 year or so relationship
with the defendant as your chiropractor.

171
00:08:45,333 --> 00:08:48,266
Came to you one day, said he was looking
to make some cosmetic improvements

172
00:08:48,333 --> 00:08:51,467
to the business
so that he could sell the business.

173
00:08:51,533 --> 00:08:52,600
Correct.

174
00:08:52,667 --> 00:08:56,066
So, you gave him the $5,000
with a promise of interest.

175
00:08:56,133 --> 00:09:02,066
You are here today suing him
for that $5,000 plus $150 in interest.

176
00:09:02,133 --> 00:09:06,100
You, sir, your answer to him was,
you invested in my business,

177
00:09:06,166 --> 00:09:09,266
it failed and closed,
you're now out of luck.

178
00:09:09,333 --> 00:09:11,100
So, let me get some information
from you.

179
00:09:11,166 --> 00:09:13,333
-Did you ever go to dinner with him?
-[Bijan] No.

180
00:09:13,400 --> 00:09:15,700
[DiMango]
Ever socialize with him? Go for drinks?

181
00:09:15,767 --> 00:09:17,166
No, nothing like that.

182
00:09:17,233 --> 00:09:19,967
You didn't have any personal relationship
with him at all,

183
00:09:20,033 --> 00:09:22,533
other than
this business professional relationship.

184
00:09:22,600 --> 00:09:25,900
No. He's got
a really charismatic personality.

185
00:09:25,967 --> 00:09:29,633
Very easy to talk to.
And we would talk about my work,

186
00:09:29,700 --> 00:09:32,667
his work, you know,
what's going on with his kids.

187
00:09:32,734 --> 00:09:34,834
Am I misstating this,
because you're not answering, sort of.

188
00:09:34,900 --> 00:09:37,500
Was this a business
or a personal relationship with him?

189
00:09:37,567 --> 00:09:39,633
It's a business relationship, for sure.

190
00:09:39,700 --> 00:09:41,767
Thank you.
So, you have this relationship

191
00:09:41,834 --> 00:09:45,066
and when he comes to you for the money,
he says what to you?

192
00:09:45,133 --> 00:09:47,165
I hadn't seen him for several months.

193
00:09:47,233 --> 00:09:51,867
And I came in for some adjustments,
'cause my neck was bothering me.

194
00:09:51,934 --> 00:09:55,367
And he was very animated that day,
and he was like, hey, Bijan,

195
00:09:55,433 --> 00:09:57,333
you know, I'm getting close
to the end here.

196
00:09:57,400 --> 00:09:59,633
I want to start thinking
about semi-retirement.

197
00:09:59,700 --> 00:10:02,433
And I want to, you know,
spruce up the office.

198
00:10:02,500 --> 00:10:05,934
I've got a broker that I'm working with
to sell the practice.

199
00:10:06,000 --> 00:10:10,300
And I related to that, because I'm,
you know, around the same age.

200
00:10:10,367 --> 00:10:13,633
I was in a good mood. I was
going on vacation the following week

201
00:10:13,700 --> 00:10:17,700
right before I saw him.
I was feeling, you know, generous and--

202
00:10:17,767 --> 00:10:20,633
Did you have any question as
to why he would need to come to you

203
00:10:20,700 --> 00:10:23,100
instead of going
to a financial institution?

204
00:10:23,166 --> 00:10:24,867
-I did ask him that.
-[DiMango] What did he say?

205
00:10:24,934 --> 00:10:27,133
He said all of his money was
in the business,

206
00:10:27,200 --> 00:10:30,700
and he wanted to make the books
look as good as they could for the broker.

207
00:10:30,767 --> 00:10:34,300
[DiMango] You gave him the money,
the original money at what point, July?

208
00:10:34,367 --> 00:10:35,500
Yes.

209
00:10:35,567 --> 00:10:38,834
In fact, he sent you
a signed promissory note, which we have.

210
00:10:38,900 --> 00:10:42,800
And we could put that up on the screen.
And it reads...

211
00:10:42,867 --> 00:10:46,433
[Bijan] "This letter is to confirm
the agreement with Bijan Bijarchi

212
00:10:46,500 --> 00:10:49,367
for a personal loan
of $5,000 to Chris Turner."

213
00:10:49,433 --> 00:10:51,800
You signed that,
and you gave him that, correct?

214
00:10:51,867 --> 00:10:54,600
Correct. I was going to pay him back.

215
00:10:54,667 --> 00:10:57,734
That's what addicts think.
They think they're gonna get out of it.

216
00:10:57,800 --> 00:11:01,333
Especially gambling addicts.
They think, this is the big one.

217
00:11:01,400 --> 00:11:03,934
You know, there's a drug addiction,
there's sex addiction,

218
00:11:04,000 --> 00:11:07,166
there's alcohol addiction.
But of all of those addictions,

219
00:11:07,233 --> 00:11:10,934
for the most part, the only person
that can clean out an entire household

220
00:11:11,000 --> 00:11:14,100
is the gambler.
Take every penny they have

221
00:11:14,166 --> 00:11:17,133
and put it on number seven.
And they're done.

222
00:11:17,200 --> 00:11:18,367
It's extreme.

223
00:11:18,433 --> 00:11:21,533
Of course it's extreme,
but the thrill is what keeps you going.

224
00:11:21,600 --> 00:11:25,200
So, back to you, because now,
you've gotten no money back at this point.

225
00:11:25,266 --> 00:11:27,333
And in September,
you get a voicemail.

226
00:11:27,400 --> 00:11:29,633
Do we have that voicemail?

227
00:11:29,700 --> 00:11:31,533
I have it on my phone.

228
00:11:31,600 --> 00:11:32,800
[DiMango]
Let's hear it.

229
00:11:32,867 --> 00:11:35,033
[Dr. Turner on recording]
Bijan, this is Chris Turner,

230
00:11:35,100 --> 00:11:38,133
Dr. Turner, I'm calling on Sunday night.

231
00:11:38,200 --> 00:11:42,033
My apologies for calling.
Um, with great guilt

232
00:11:42,100 --> 00:11:47,066
and stupidity, I'm calling to let you know
I mismanaged the finances,

233
00:11:47,133 --> 00:11:51,100
the money in my practice.
We're gonna be closing the practice,

234
00:11:51,165 --> 00:11:54,100
I think you're getting a letter.
You might've already got the letter.

235
00:11:54,165 --> 00:11:57,467
Um, give me a call,
and I'll try to explain what's going on...

236
00:11:57,533 --> 00:12:00,900
Okay. So, we can stop.
So, basically you're telling him

237
00:12:00,967 --> 00:12:03,433
you mismanaged your money,
and you can't pay.

238
00:12:03,500 --> 00:12:05,200
So now, I have a couple of questions
of you,

239
00:12:05,266 --> 00:12:07,300
because I'm always interested
in some of this.

240
00:12:07,367 --> 00:12:10,100
Did you ask all of your patients
for money?

241
00:12:10,166 --> 00:12:11,567
-No.
-[DiMango] Okay.

242
00:12:11,633 --> 00:12:15,834
How did you select the suckers
that you thought would give you the money?

243
00:12:15,900 --> 00:12:17,800
Suckers, poor term.

244
00:12:17,867 --> 00:12:20,600
No, it's not a poor term,
because you knew you had an addiction.

245
00:12:20,667 --> 00:12:23,734
There's no way you did not know
you had an addiction.

246
00:12:23,800 --> 00:12:25,767
Were you in a 12-step program
by any chance?

247
00:12:25,834 --> 00:12:27,967
-Yes.
-What'd you miss, step six and seven?

248
00:12:28,033 --> 00:12:30,533
Because the bottom line is,
you should be saying,

249
00:12:30,600 --> 00:12:33,567
yes, I knew I had an addiction
at some point. I knew it.

250
00:12:33,633 --> 00:12:37,066
And that's why I say to you,
how did you pick these suckers?

251
00:12:37,133 --> 00:12:38,333
How did you pick them?

252
00:12:38,400 --> 00:12:40,500
[Dr. Turner] They were
the most kind-hearted of my patients.

253
00:12:40,567 --> 00:12:43,867
And by the time I understood
my mismanagement with Bijan--

254
00:12:43,934 --> 00:12:45,967
[DiMango] It wasn't a mismanagement,
for goodness' sake.

255
00:12:46,033 --> 00:12:49,567
You stand up in front of your meetings
and you say I mismanaged my money,

256
00:12:49,633 --> 00:12:53,333
or you say, my name is X,
and I am a gambler.

257
00:12:53,400 --> 00:12:54,467
Which one is it?

258
00:12:54,533 --> 00:12:55,567
I'm a gambler.

259
00:12:55,633 --> 00:12:56,800
[DiMango]
Okay, thank you.

260
00:12:58,233 --> 00:13:00,834
[narrator]
Coming up on Tribunal Justice...

261
00:13:00,900 --> 00:13:02,266
Did you wire it to his business,

262
00:13:02,333 --> 00:13:04,734
or did you wire it
to his personal account?

263
00:13:04,800 --> 00:13:06,266
I think it was his personal account.

264
00:13:06,333 --> 00:13:08,133
This is where the scamming part comes in.

265
00:13:12,767 --> 00:13:15,700
[narrator] Linda VanCouvering
and Bijan Bijarchi

266
00:13:15,767 --> 00:13:18,133
are both suing chiropractor
Chris Turner

267
00:13:18,200 --> 00:13:20,800
after they claim
he scammed them out of money.

268
00:13:20,867 --> 00:13:24,266
But Chris claims their money was spent
upgrading his business.

269
00:13:24,333 --> 00:13:26,700
They knew the risks,
and it's their loss.

270
00:13:26,767 --> 00:13:29,367
How many patients would you say
you have in total?

271
00:13:29,433 --> 00:13:30,500
Four hundred.

272
00:13:30,567 --> 00:13:32,400
[DiMango]
But you only went to 25.

273
00:13:32,467 --> 00:13:34,400
[Dr. Turner]
No, I went to more than that.

274
00:13:34,467 --> 00:13:35,567
Some turned me down.

275
00:13:35,633 --> 00:13:37,266
[DiMango]
Some turned you down.

276
00:13:37,333 --> 00:13:38,967
Do you pay back anybody?

277
00:13:39,033 --> 00:13:42,967
Yes. Part of payback was to Linda,
who's here now.

278
00:13:43,033 --> 00:13:45,300
And ma'am, when he came to you
for an additional amount,

279
00:13:45,367 --> 00:13:47,467
you did give him
an additional amount. Is that true?

280
00:13:47,533 --> 00:13:49,233
-Two more thousand.
-[DiMango] You did.

281
00:13:49,300 --> 00:13:51,934
You have to know
that borrowing money from patients,

282
00:13:52,000 --> 00:13:56,600
as in any professional field,
is really a very severe ethical violation.

283
00:13:56,667 --> 00:13:57,867
I do now.

284
00:13:57,934 --> 00:14:00,633
What are you doing
in an attempt to repay people?

285
00:14:00,700 --> 00:14:01,900
If at all.

286
00:14:01,967 --> 00:14:05,400
Yeah, I'm bankrupting
with reorganization.

287
00:14:05,467 --> 00:14:09,934
Well, I want to know what person
of these kind, intelligent people

288
00:14:10,000 --> 00:14:13,734
says, I think I'm going to invest
in a business that's going to close.

289
00:14:13,800 --> 00:14:16,200
Because that's what you told them.
Correct?

290
00:14:16,266 --> 00:14:19,934
It couldn't have been a business loan,
because you gave him a personal note,

291
00:14:20,000 --> 00:14:23,900
saying I'll pay you back.
So, your defense to me

292
00:14:23,967 --> 00:14:27,600
defies logic and accountability.
Judge Levy?

293
00:14:27,667 --> 00:14:31,000
I'm gonna make this real clear.
You think you're a good chiropractor?

294
00:14:31,066 --> 00:14:33,400
-Yes.
-[Levy] Thirty-eight years you did that?

295
00:14:33,467 --> 00:14:35,100
-Yes.
-[Levy] And you were good at it.

296
00:14:35,165 --> 00:14:36,934
-Yes.
-I want to make it clear to you,

297
00:14:37,000 --> 00:14:40,200
just as good as you were
at your chiropractic practice,

298
00:14:40,266 --> 00:14:43,600
I'm just as good at find liars
and scammers and cheaters.

299
00:14:43,667 --> 00:14:46,165
-Do we understand each other?
-Yes, thank you.

300
00:14:46,233 --> 00:14:48,500
Good. We're gonna start off
with the fact that a moment ago,

301
00:14:48,567 --> 00:14:50,233
you said that your wife was your partner.

302
00:14:50,300 --> 00:14:52,165
She's no longer your wife though, right?

303
00:14:52,233 --> 00:14:54,100
No, she's still my partner
and my wife.

304
00:14:54,165 --> 00:14:57,934
She is. So, you're telling me
that she didn't file a notice of entry

305
00:14:58,000 --> 00:15:01,867
on October 28th, 2024 for a divorce?

306
00:15:01,934 --> 00:15:03,800
No, I'm unaware of that.

307
00:15:03,867 --> 00:15:06,100
-What?!
-[Dr. Turner] I'm unaware of that.

308
00:15:06,166 --> 00:15:11,367
Legal separation on October 18th, 2022.
You don't know that?

309
00:15:11,433 --> 00:15:12,900
I do not know that.

310
00:15:12,967 --> 00:15:15,900
You don't know
that there was a notice of entry filed

311
00:15:15,967 --> 00:15:19,400
granting her that separation
on October 28th, 2024?

312
00:15:19,467 --> 00:15:20,633
You don't know that, either?

313
00:15:20,700 --> 00:15:22,867
I haven't been served any notices of that.

314
00:15:22,934 --> 00:15:26,433
[Adam chuckles] All right.
I want to make it clear to myself

315
00:15:26,500 --> 00:15:30,367
what your position is
with respect to this personal loan

316
00:15:30,433 --> 00:15:32,600
consistent with the promissory note,

317
00:15:32,667 --> 00:15:36,133
or this nonsense that you keep spewing
about a business loan.

318
00:15:36,200 --> 00:15:38,433
You've been in business 38 years,
and you understand

319
00:15:38,500 --> 00:15:42,600
that you can run through your business
certain capital improvements. Right?

320
00:15:42,667 --> 00:15:45,433
-Correct.
-And those capital improvements

321
00:15:45,500 --> 00:15:50,900
include lighting, flooring, carpeting.
Things that increase the value,

322
00:15:50,967 --> 00:15:53,533
run through the business
as an expense.

323
00:15:53,600 --> 00:15:55,667
It washes all out in the taxes, right?

324
00:15:55,734 --> 00:15:56,834
More or less.

325
00:15:56,900 --> 00:15:58,433
[Levy]
Yep, that's how it works.

326
00:15:58,500 --> 00:16:01,166
Can I please speak to you
for a quick moment, Ms. VanCouvering?

327
00:16:01,233 --> 00:16:03,767
Yeah, please, step right up.
Thank you, sir.

328
00:16:03,834 --> 00:16:06,066
-You wired him money?
-[Linda] I did.

329
00:16:06,133 --> 00:16:07,900
Did you wire it to his business,

330
00:16:07,967 --> 00:16:10,600
or did you wire it
to his personal account?

331
00:16:10,667 --> 00:16:12,767
I think it was his personal account.

332
00:16:12,834 --> 00:16:14,533
[Levy]
Yeah, so let's go through this.

333
00:16:14,600 --> 00:16:17,100
I want to get the timeline right
'cause it's super important.

334
00:16:17,166 --> 00:16:18,133
[Linda]
Okay.

335
00:16:18,200 --> 00:16:22,200
This is where the scamming part comes in.
On May 10th, 2024,

336
00:16:22,266 --> 00:16:24,967
you agree to the $10,000 loan

337
00:16:25,033 --> 00:16:29,200
and agreed for the repayment in a month
with the $750 interest.

338
00:16:29,266 --> 00:16:30,367
-Right?
-Correct.

339
00:16:30,433 --> 00:16:35,500
And on May 13th is when you
actually wired him personally that money.

340
00:16:35,567 --> 00:16:36,934
-Correct?
-[Linda] Yes.

341
00:16:37,000 --> 00:16:40,000
[Levy]
And on July 30th, 2024,

342
00:16:40,066 --> 00:16:42,867
he repaid you,
the defendant repaid you $5,000.

343
00:16:42,934 --> 00:16:44,734
-[Linda] Correct.
-Where'd you get that money?

344
00:16:44,800 --> 00:16:46,633
From my practice.

345
00:16:46,700 --> 00:16:48,467
[Levy]
Your practice? Step up.

346
00:16:49,867 --> 00:16:52,967
Why don't you tell us
where he got that $5,000 from.

347
00:16:53,033 --> 00:16:54,333
From my check.

348
00:16:54,400 --> 00:16:57,333
[Levy] Wait a minute.
So, he gave Ms. VanCouvering

349
00:16:57,400 --> 00:16:59,700
$5,000 on July 30th.

350
00:16:59,767 --> 00:17:01,300
-Ma'am.
-[Linda] Yes.

351
00:17:01,367 --> 00:17:06,233
Give it back to the defendant.
When did you receive $5,000?

352
00:17:06,300 --> 00:17:07,532
From Mr. Bijarchi?

353
00:17:07,599 --> 00:17:08,867
July 24th.

354
00:17:08,934 --> 00:17:12,000
[Levy]
July 24th, takes your $5,000

355
00:17:12,066 --> 00:17:16,900
and he gives you that same $5,000
six days later.

356
00:17:16,967 --> 00:17:20,000
You get it? That's the pyramid.
That's the Madoff.

357
00:17:20,066 --> 00:17:22,567
You're not that smart
when it comes to finances.

358
00:17:22,633 --> 00:17:26,233
You were so stupid that you figured
no one was gonna pick up on that.

359
00:17:26,300 --> 00:17:27,900
-Thank you.
-[Levy] You're welcome.

360
00:17:27,967 --> 00:17:31,600
We're not even close to being done yet.
Thank you. You can have a seat.

361
00:17:31,667 --> 00:17:34,900
August 26th, 2024,

362
00:17:34,967 --> 00:17:38,800
he asked for and you agreed
to another loan of $2,000.

363
00:17:38,867 --> 00:17:39,867
Yeah.

364
00:17:39,934 --> 00:17:42,633
[Levy]
On September 18th, 2024,

365
00:17:42,700 --> 00:17:47,200
you provided us with text messages
that you sent to him

366
00:17:47,266 --> 00:17:51,400
and his wife, in which you said,
happy birthday week, Dr. Turner.

367
00:17:51,467 --> 00:17:54,800
Just a reminder
that you have agreed to pay me

368
00:17:54,867 --> 00:17:57,800
the remaining $7,750 by Wednesday.

369
00:17:57,867 --> 00:18:00,266
And when you received that text from her,

370
00:18:00,333 --> 00:18:02,333
you didn't say,
what are you talking about.

371
00:18:02,400 --> 00:18:04,834
This was a business loan.
This was a business investment.

372
00:18:04,900 --> 00:18:07,166
You never said that
in a reply text, did you?

373
00:18:07,233 --> 00:18:09,500
Because it was never
a business investment.

374
00:18:09,567 --> 00:18:11,266
It was going right in his pocket.

375
00:18:11,333 --> 00:18:16,633
After you sent that September 18th, 2024
text to him and his wife,

376
00:18:16,700 --> 00:18:20,033
that next day, September 19th,

377
00:18:20,100 --> 00:18:23,000
is when his legally separated wife

378
00:18:23,066 --> 00:18:26,200
sent you that letter in which she said,
hey, he's got a problem.

379
00:18:26,266 --> 00:18:27,333
[Linda]
Yeah.

380
00:18:27,400 --> 00:18:29,767
-[Levy] You know she did that, don't you?
-Yes.

381
00:18:29,834 --> 00:18:33,734
And it's your position that
your only addiction was gambling, right?

382
00:18:33,800 --> 00:18:35,633
-Correct.
-[Levy] I've got nothing further.

383
00:18:35,700 --> 00:18:37,967
-How many children do you have?
-[Dr. Turner] Three.

384
00:18:38,033 --> 00:18:39,867
How are they reacting to this?

385
00:18:41,533 --> 00:18:44,133
[narrator]
Coming up on Tribunal Justice...

386
00:18:44,200 --> 00:18:48,233
I hope that you are sincere
in getting the help that you clearly need.

387
00:18:48,300 --> 00:18:49,767
You hurt a lot of people.

388
00:18:49,834 --> 00:18:53,033
Cut me open,
I'm as sincere as you can be.

389
00:18:53,100 --> 00:18:54,934
But where does my sincerity go?

390
00:18:59,767 --> 00:19:03,033
[narrator] Clients Linda VanCouvering
and Bijan Bijarchi

391
00:19:03,100 --> 00:19:06,867
are both claiming that chiropractor
Chris Turner scammed them out of money,

392
00:19:06,934 --> 00:19:09,600
but Chris claims they both
invested in his business,

393
00:19:09,667 --> 00:19:13,700
and that Linda and Bijan knew the risks.
He owes them nothing.

394
00:19:13,767 --> 00:19:16,200
-How many children do you have?
-[Dr. Turner] Three.

395
00:19:16,266 --> 00:19:18,000
How are they reacting to this?

396
00:19:19,066 --> 00:19:22,266
You know, it's hard enough
for a marriage to fall apart.

397
00:19:22,333 --> 00:19:25,667
But to fall apart in such a public
and brutal way.

398
00:19:25,734 --> 00:19:28,533
Because of a problem you have,
a sickness,

399
00:19:28,600 --> 00:19:31,500
it doesn't let you off the hook.
How are your kids doing?

400
00:19:31,567 --> 00:19:33,367
They haven't disowned me.

401
00:19:33,433 --> 00:19:36,066
But they are neutral
in their response to me now.

402
00:19:36,133 --> 00:19:40,700
I hope that you are sincere
in getting the help that you clearly need.

403
00:19:40,767 --> 00:19:42,233
You hurt a lot of people.

404
00:19:42,300 --> 00:19:45,834
Cut me open,
I'm as sincere as you can be.

405
00:19:45,900 --> 00:19:50,000
But people call me a liar.
So, where does my sincerity go?

406
00:19:50,066 --> 00:19:54,133
-Is that entirely unwarranted?
-[Dr. Turner] No.

407
00:19:54,200 --> 00:19:56,000
-I mean, you can imagine...
-Of course.

408
00:19:56,066 --> 00:19:57,834
-you did do some lying.
-Yes.

409
00:19:57,900 --> 00:20:00,567
-You don't come here with clean hands.
-Right.

410
00:20:00,633 --> 00:20:06,333
I feel sorry for you. But I feel sorrier
for Ms. VanCouvering and Mr. Bijarchi.

411
00:20:06,400 --> 00:20:07,967
I have nothing further, Judge.

412
00:20:08,033 --> 00:20:11,700
How much are you currently in debt
to others at this point?

413
00:20:11,767 --> 00:20:13,100
Probably $120,000.

414
00:20:13,166 --> 00:20:15,333
[DiMango]
A hundred and twenty thousand.

415
00:20:15,400 --> 00:20:17,800
We're gonna retire to deliberate.
Thank you both.

416
00:20:17,867 --> 00:20:20,734
Court now stands in recess.
This case will be recalled.

417
00:20:20,800 --> 00:20:22,800
Parties are excused for the moment.

418
00:20:26,000 --> 00:20:28,433
There's not much to deliberate.

419
00:20:28,500 --> 00:20:31,967
He admits he did wrong.
He admits he owes her the money.

420
00:20:32,033 --> 00:20:37,467
Uh, it was shameful.
I don't think that his shame is a defense.

421
00:20:37,533 --> 00:20:40,767
But it is somewhat refreshing
to see an addict

422
00:20:40,834 --> 00:20:42,767
take such responsibility for behavior

423
00:20:42,834 --> 00:20:45,233
that hurt and compromised people,
as it did.

424
00:20:45,300 --> 00:20:49,066
But this is one of the easiest cases
I've seen in quite some time.

425
00:20:49,133 --> 00:20:51,767
She's completely entitled to all of it,
clearly.

426
00:20:51,834 --> 00:20:54,567
There was no mixed message.
They were not confused

427
00:20:54,633 --> 00:20:56,900
as to what they were
giving him the money for.

428
00:20:56,967 --> 00:21:00,633
They clearly gave it to him personally.
They knew he was closing the business,

429
00:21:00,700 --> 00:21:03,000
so nobody invests in a business
that's going to close.

430
00:21:03,066 --> 00:21:05,567
Yeah, to some extent,
I give him credit for coming in

431
00:21:05,633 --> 00:21:07,500
and owning up to his problems,

432
00:21:07,567 --> 00:21:10,667
although he kinda danced around them
for the most part.

433
00:21:10,734 --> 00:21:12,867
I'm not sure he's fully
into the treatment program yet.

434
00:21:12,934 --> 00:21:15,166
I think he's skipping a few steps
here and there.

435
00:21:15,233 --> 00:21:18,467
But nevertheless, it was good
that he at least took this step,

436
00:21:18,533 --> 00:21:21,266
so I'm willing to return of course
all the money to both of them.

437
00:21:21,333 --> 00:21:23,600
I don't give him any credit. Zero.

438
00:21:23,667 --> 00:21:27,834
And I think he has a long way to go
before he's truly helped and cured.

439
00:21:27,900 --> 00:21:28,967
Tough crowd.

440
00:21:29,033 --> 00:21:30,600
Yeah. Period.

441
00:21:30,667 --> 00:21:34,367
I think she gets everything
that she requested, as does...

442
00:21:34,433 --> 00:21:36,100
-Mr. Bijarchi.
-Yeah.

443
00:21:36,166 --> 00:21:38,066
Okay. We're unanimous
on both cases.

444
00:21:38,133 --> 00:21:39,300
Indeed.

445
00:21:42,266 --> 00:21:45,433
Court is back in session.
I remind parties, you're still under oath.

446
00:21:45,500 --> 00:21:46,900
-Thank you, Byrd.
-[Byrd] Mm-hmm.

447
00:21:46,967 --> 00:21:49,600
We've deliberated and
we've reached a unanimous verdict.

448
00:21:49,667 --> 00:21:53,200
Dr. Turner, I must believe
that 30 years ago,

449
00:21:53,266 --> 00:21:55,633
this is not where you thought
you'd end up.

450
00:21:56,767 --> 00:22:01,900
At least two of us up here applaud
your efforts to take accountability.

451
00:22:01,967 --> 00:22:05,734
Addiction is real. It's a real illness,
it's a real sickness.

452
00:22:05,800 --> 00:22:08,066
-And I hope you're getting the help.
-[sniffles]

453
00:22:08,133 --> 00:22:11,533
[Acker] 'Cause you've lost a lot.
Not just potentially a family,

454
00:22:11,600 --> 00:22:15,467
but a practice, and the trust
of people who cared about you.

455
00:22:15,533 --> 00:22:16,867
Yes.

456
00:22:16,934 --> 00:22:20,533
The road to recovery for those things
can sometimes be a long one.

457
00:22:20,600 --> 00:22:24,333
Ms. VanCouvering and Mr. Bijarchi,
you two have big hearts.

458
00:22:24,400 --> 00:22:28,700
So, guard them more carefully,
especially when your dollars are involved.

459
00:22:28,767 --> 00:22:32,200
It's a lesson that people
sometimes have to learn the hard way.

460
00:22:32,266 --> 00:22:35,633
But we are unanimous.
As to your matter, Ms. VanCouvering,

461
00:22:35,700 --> 00:22:39,533
the judgment is in your favor
for $7,785.

462
00:22:39,600 --> 00:22:42,900
We are similarly unanimous
in your matter, Mr. Bijarchi.

463
00:22:42,967 --> 00:22:47,400
The judgment is in your favor
for $5,150.

464
00:22:47,467 --> 00:22:49,033
Good luck to you both.

465
00:22:49,100 --> 00:22:51,834
And Dr. Turner, I hope you continue
to get the help that you need.

466
00:22:51,900 --> 00:22:53,266
-Thank you.
-[gavel bangs]

467
00:22:53,333 --> 00:22:54,567
[Bijan]
Thank you.

468
00:22:54,633 --> 00:22:58,667
This case is now concluded.
Parties are excused, you may step out.

469
00:23:00,500 --> 00:23:02,266
They got cheated.

470
00:23:02,333 --> 00:23:04,033
By a guy they trusted.

471
00:23:04,100 --> 00:23:07,166
We really feel sorry for Dr. Turner.
He's really a good man.

472
00:23:07,233 --> 00:23:10,033
And he made mistakes
at the end of his career.

473
00:23:10,100 --> 00:23:13,400
They understand my addiction.

474
00:23:13,467 --> 00:23:15,500
He's a very conflicted person.

475
00:23:15,567 --> 00:23:19,100
But I don't think he is evil,
I just think he's troubled.

476
00:23:19,166 --> 00:23:23,200
I want to beat this addiction
before God and my family.

477
00:23:23,266 --> 00:23:25,633
By all the people that trust me.

478
00:23:25,700 --> 00:23:27,467
I hope he finds his way.

479
00:23:27,533 --> 00:23:30,033
I'm at the end of myself.

480
00:23:30,100 --> 00:23:31,800
We don't wish any ill will on him.

481
00:23:31,867 --> 00:23:32,867
None at all.

482
00:23:32,934 --> 00:23:34,266
I don't know.

483
00:23:34,333 --> 00:23:35,934
[narrator]
Got family drama?

484
00:23:36,000 --> 00:23:38,900
Let Tribunal Justice decide your case.

485
00:23:38,967 --> 00:23:43,633
Find us on social media
@TribunalJustice.

486
00:23:43,700 --> 00:23:45,700
[theme music playing]