1
00:00:00,266 --> 00:00:02,900
[narrator]
Now, on Tribunal Justice…

2
00:00:02,967 --> 00:00:06,800
It looks like you were in a relationship
for about 10 years.

3
00:00:06,867 --> 00:00:08,233
She took the car, she left.

4
00:00:08,300 --> 00:00:10,433
So then, pay for half the car
and we're done.

5
00:00:10,500 --> 00:00:13,233
Threats of wage garnishment,
I'm hiring a lawyer.

6
00:00:13,300 --> 00:00:15,834
The last email he sent
called me a liar and a thief.

7
00:00:15,900 --> 00:00:18,233
She sent me an email saying,
"I hid the car."

8
00:00:18,300 --> 00:00:20,433
Maybe because you were being
so overbearing.

9
00:00:20,500 --> 00:00:23,433
She didn't want to be with you anymore!
Get it through your head.

10
00:00:23,500 --> 00:00:27,867
So, one thing you did not provide us
was the Bill of Sale. Why?

11
00:00:29,367 --> 00:00:30,900
[theme music playing]

12
00:00:51,033 --> 00:00:55,033
[narrator] Today's case
was filed in Sacramento, California.

13
00:00:55,100 --> 00:00:59,266
Your Honor, this is Case #3096,
Duckett vs. Anderson.

14
00:00:59,333 --> 00:01:02,066
-All parties have been sworn in.
-Thank you, Cassandra.

15
00:01:02,133 --> 00:01:03,467
You may be seated.

16
00:01:03,533 --> 00:01:06,633
[Levy] Okay, Mr. Duckett,
it looks like you and the Defendant

17
00:01:06,700 --> 00:01:09,300
were in a relationship
for about 10 years.

18
00:01:09,367 --> 00:01:11,233
-And you lived together.
-Yes.

19
00:01:11,300 --> 00:01:14,133
According to your complaint,
in 2023,

20
00:01:14,200 --> 00:01:18,533
you jointly purchased a car,
and you each contributed half.

21
00:01:18,600 --> 00:01:21,433
-Yes.
-[Levy] After you broke up,

22
00:01:21,500 --> 00:01:24,767
the Defendant took the car,
and you're now suing her

23
00:01:24,834 --> 00:01:27,400
for your $7,000 contribution.

24
00:01:27,467 --> 00:01:31,100
Well, we didn't break up, she left.

25
00:01:31,166 --> 00:01:32,900
-[Levy] I get that. Ms. Anderson?
-Mm-hmm.

26
00:01:32,967 --> 00:01:36,467
[Levy] You claim the car is yours,
even though he contributed half,

27
00:01:36,533 --> 00:01:40,533
because he had crashed your car

28
00:01:40,600 --> 00:01:43,967
that resulted in the purchasing
of this newer one.

29
00:01:44,033 --> 00:01:45,366
-Right.
-[Levy] Okay.

30
00:01:45,433 --> 00:01:49,700
So, Mr. Duckett, why don't you tell us
the circumstances that led to the purchase

31
00:01:49,767 --> 00:01:52,433
of this car that we're now fighting about,
which is what type of car?

32
00:01:52,500 --> 00:01:54,400
A 2006 Toyota Matrix.

33
00:01:54,467 --> 00:01:57,734
[Levy] Let's take a look at that
so we know what we're talking about,

34
00:01:57,800 --> 00:01:59,066
#01, please.

35
00:01:59,133 --> 00:02:00,767
-Is that the vehicle?
-[Steven] It is.

36
00:02:00,834 --> 00:02:04,700
And you can actually see me and my dog
in the back of the picture.

37
00:02:04,767 --> 00:02:06,300
This is when I first found it.

38
00:02:06,367 --> 00:02:08,233
[Levy]
What's the name of the pooch?

39
00:02:08,300 --> 00:02:10,133
-[Steven] Tiger Five.
-[Levy] Tiger Five?

40
00:02:10,199 --> 00:02:14,133
Yeah. He was a good dog.
Unfortunately, he got cancer.

41
00:02:14,200 --> 00:02:16,567
-Mm.
-And I was having to take him

42
00:02:16,633 --> 00:02:19,300
-[Levy] Sorry about that.
-[Steven] and spent a lot of money

43
00:02:19,367 --> 00:02:22,367
on him at the vet. I needed a car
to haul him back and forth.

44
00:02:22,433 --> 00:02:27,100
Uh, I just want to correct one thing
on the accident in Linda's car.

45
00:02:27,166 --> 00:02:30,867
Linda was with me. We were at a red light,
sitting, and a lady rear-ended us.

46
00:02:30,934 --> 00:02:33,066
-[Levy] Is that right?
-I did not wreck her car.

47
00:02:33,133 --> 00:02:35,233
[Levy] All right. Well,
that was unclear to me.

48
00:02:35,300 --> 00:02:37,466
Let's put up that car.
Go to Eleven.

49
00:02:37,533 --> 00:02:39,667
-Ms. Anderson, this was your car?
-[Linda] Yes.

50
00:02:39,734 --> 00:02:41,567
[Levy]
It was an '05 what?

51
00:02:41,633 --> 00:02:44,300
Pontiac Sunfire.
And it did get totaled.

52
00:02:44,367 --> 00:02:46,800
Did you receive any money
as a result of this accident?

53
00:02:46,867 --> 00:02:49,800
I did, and I gave all the money
I received from that car to him.

54
00:02:49,867 --> 00:02:51,133
And how much was that?

55
00:02:51,200 --> 00:02:52,633
I think it was $5,000.

56
00:02:52,700 --> 00:02:54,700
[Levy]
It was $5,000 that you contributed

57
00:02:54,767 --> 00:02:57,500
directly from the proceeds
of the insurance claim?

58
00:02:57,567 --> 00:03:00,533
-Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.
-It was $1,000 from your savings.

59
00:03:00,600 --> 00:03:02,333
And $100 checks…

60
00:03:02,400 --> 00:03:03,567
For $1,500.

61
00:03:03,633 --> 00:03:06,567
Exactly, for $1,500.
Which represented your one-half share.

62
00:03:06,633 --> 00:03:07,800
-[Linda] Mm-hmm.
-Okay.

63
00:03:07,867 --> 00:03:10,033
-Now, back to you, Mr. Duckett.
-Yes, sir.

64
00:03:10,100 --> 00:03:12,633
Can we put up #03, please?

65
00:03:12,700 --> 00:03:16,934
That's your check, sir.
March 18th, $11,000, correct?

66
00:03:17,000 --> 00:03:21,800
Yes. And two days later I spent $2,400
at Les Schwab getting tires…

67
00:03:21,867 --> 00:03:24,533
everything making it as new as possible.

68
00:03:24,600 --> 00:03:28,233
[Levy] This is a document you prepared
for the purposes of this litigation?

69
00:03:28,300 --> 00:03:30,466
-Yes, sir.
-[Levy] And this just gives us an idea

70
00:03:30,533 --> 00:03:33,934
as to the items that you added
to the vehicle after its purchase, yes?

71
00:03:34,000 --> 00:03:35,233
[Steven]
Yes, sir.

72
00:03:35,300 --> 00:03:38,867
One thing you did not provide us with,
Mr. Duckett, was the Bill of Sale.

73
00:03:38,934 --> 00:03:41,834
Was there anything on that Bill of Sale
you didn't want us to see?

74
00:03:41,900 --> 00:03:43,867
No, sir. It was in her name.

75
00:03:43,934 --> 00:03:47,667
[Levy] So, you agree that the car,
after it was purchased on March 18th,

76
00:03:47,734 --> 00:03:49,767
was registered in the Defendant's name.

77
00:03:49,834 --> 00:03:51,700
-[Steven] Yes.
-[Levy] Why?

78
00:03:51,767 --> 00:03:55,934
We're both licensed insurance agents
in the state of California.

79
00:03:56,000 --> 00:03:58,300
So we understand the liability questions

80
00:03:58,367 --> 00:04:01,200
regarding people driving cars
and getting hit.

81
00:04:01,266 --> 00:04:03,667
I had recently inherited a little money.

82
00:04:03,734 --> 00:04:07,066
Uh, that was how I was able
to purchase this vehicle.

83
00:04:07,133 --> 00:04:11,266
And at the time, we agreed
that since I work from home,

84
00:04:11,333 --> 00:04:14,433
and I didn't need to drive to work,
she drove to work every day.

85
00:04:14,500 --> 00:04:17,065
If she got hit,
and we were both co-owners,

86
00:04:17,132 --> 00:04:19,433
they could then come after
my deeper pockets.

87
00:04:19,500 --> 00:04:22,266
The money that you got
from the inheritance,

88
00:04:22,332 --> 00:04:24,233
was it six figures or less?

89
00:04:24,300 --> 00:04:26,767
-[Steven] It was six figures.
-It was six figures. All right.

90
00:04:26,834 --> 00:04:29,500
So, at the time
we discussed the liability issue,

91
00:04:29,567 --> 00:04:33,266
I said, well, from here on, you will
pay taxes and insurance and upkeep,

92
00:04:33,332 --> 00:04:36,467
and we'll put it in your name
for the liability issue.

93
00:04:36,533 --> 00:04:38,734
[Levy] Yeah, but first of all,
is that correct, ma'am?

94
00:04:38,800 --> 00:04:41,933
He never said anything
about the liability purposes.

95
00:04:42,000 --> 00:04:45,066
He just said, we're gonna put it
in your name since you drive it to work.

96
00:04:45,133 --> 00:04:48,767
[Levy] Okay. Tell us the circumstances,
ma'am, of you moving out.

97
00:04:48,834 --> 00:04:53,967
Well, the place that we lived was just,
um, the electricity didn't work.

98
00:04:54,033 --> 00:04:57,033
I had to turn everything off
to blow dry my hair.

99
00:04:57,100 --> 00:05:01,033
Blow fuses, always having
to go and do fuses, and things like that.

100
00:05:01,100 --> 00:05:03,400
Um, he had inherited some money,

101
00:05:03,467 --> 00:05:07,133
but made no attempt
to try to improve our lifestyle at all.

102
00:05:07,200 --> 00:05:12,633
Um, the place was constantly cluttered.
So, I found this room to rent.

103
00:05:12,700 --> 00:05:15,967
And it's a really nice room.
And so, I moved out.

104
00:05:16,033 --> 00:05:18,200
But I was still driving him around
in the car.

105
00:05:18,266 --> 00:05:20,734
But he wasn't paying
for any of the fuel or anything.

106
00:05:20,800 --> 00:05:22,734
Is that consistent
with your understanding?

107
00:05:22,800 --> 00:05:26,667
Kinda. She was…
When Tiger, when I had to put him down,

108
00:05:26,734 --> 00:05:29,800
she told me at the time, she wasn't gonna
go through that with me again.

109
00:05:29,867 --> 00:05:33,800
I got a rescue dog, and ended up
having to spend $3,000 on him.

110
00:05:33,867 --> 00:05:35,900
And you used your inheritance to do that.

111
00:05:35,967 --> 00:05:39,233
And you weren't all that thrilled with him
using the inheritance in that way.

112
00:05:39,300 --> 00:05:40,834
-No.
-[Steven] I would like to say,

113
00:05:40,900 --> 00:05:43,834
that when she moved out,
she sent me pictures

114
00:05:43,900 --> 00:05:47,933
of the water bowls and the dog beds
and said my house was too cluttered.

115
00:05:48,000 --> 00:05:52,600
And she said to me, several times,
I like the dog hair-free zone.

116
00:05:52,667 --> 00:05:57,200
She's never been what I would call
a dog person. [laughs]

117
00:05:57,266 --> 00:05:59,967
Yeah. I just couldn't live in that house
anymore.

118
00:06:00,100 --> 00:06:02,033
-[Levy] Okay.
-It's a rental, by the way.

119
00:06:02,100 --> 00:06:06,133
I don't have the right to change anything.
So, [chuckles], anyhow…

120
00:06:06,200 --> 00:06:09,166
What I think Ms. Anderson is saying
is she was hoping for an upgrade.

121
00:06:09,233 --> 00:06:11,367
[Steven]
Well, what am I supposed to say?

122
00:06:11,433 --> 00:06:13,233
You know. "Oh, please, come back." No.

123
00:06:13,300 --> 00:06:17,800
So, I said, okay. So, she did.
And then, November 3rd,

124
00:06:17,867 --> 00:06:21,300
she texted me that hey,
she's at the airport,

125
00:06:21,367 --> 00:06:25,266
and she's going on a cruise to Jamaica,
and don't text or call her.

126
00:06:25,332 --> 00:06:28,332
And then, when she got back,
she emailed me.

127
00:06:28,400 --> 00:06:31,266
"I went on this trip,
I didn't tell you about it.

128
00:06:31,332 --> 00:06:35,367
I knew you'd be upset because," you know,
she's been coming around my house…

129
00:06:35,433 --> 00:06:37,066
That's okay. "I knew you'd be upset…"

130
00:06:37,133 --> 00:06:38,500
[Steven]
Because I've been feeding her.

131
00:06:38,567 --> 00:06:41,233
I felt sorry for her
'cause she's always got money problems.

132
00:06:41,300 --> 00:06:44,433
That's why she kept coming around.
I was feeding her and felt sorry for her.

133
00:06:44,500 --> 00:06:45,867
What about the car?

134
00:06:45,933 --> 00:06:48,734
Well, then she sent me an email
saying, "I hid the car."

135
00:06:48,800 --> 00:06:50,166
[dramatic music playing]

136
00:06:50,233 --> 00:06:52,600
[narrator]
Coming up on Tribunal Justice…

137
00:06:52,667 --> 00:06:55,667
This was the one that was name-calling.
And I kept saying, hey…

138
00:06:55,734 --> 00:06:57,467
[Acker] You got mad,
and I'm quoting you.

139
00:06:57,533 --> 00:06:59,800
"She never had any money.
I had to feed her."

140
00:06:59,867 --> 00:07:03,133
He makes you sound like you're
some kind of stray puppy he rescued.

141
00:07:06,033 --> 00:07:07,667
[theme music playing]

142
00:07:07,734 --> 00:07:11,033
[narrator] Steven Duckett is suing
ex-girlfriend Linda Anderson,

143
00:07:11,100 --> 00:07:14,633
claiming after they bought a car together,
she left him and took the car.

144
00:07:14,700 --> 00:07:18,867
He wants over $7,000,
his half of the car cost back.

145
00:07:18,934 --> 00:07:22,633
But Linda says they only bought the car
because Steven wrecked her car.

146
00:07:22,700 --> 00:07:24,367
So, she owes nothing.

147
00:07:24,433 --> 00:07:25,600
What about the car?

148
00:07:25,667 --> 00:07:28,900
[Steven] Well, then she sent me an email
saying, "I hid the car.

149
00:07:28,967 --> 00:07:31,100
I went and hid it
'cause I was afraid when I came back

150
00:07:31,166 --> 00:07:33,400
-you wouldn't give it back to me."
-[Levy] Is that right, ma'am?

151
00:07:33,467 --> 00:07:37,667
Well, partly. And partly because
the cars had been hit twice in that spot

152
00:07:37,734 --> 00:07:39,900
where we park it at his house.

153
00:07:39,967 --> 00:07:42,367
And I was worried somebody
was gonna hit it again.

154
00:07:42,433 --> 00:07:44,734
Okay. But you knew if he took it back…

155
00:07:44,800 --> 00:07:46,567
-I might not get it back.
-Exactly.

156
00:07:46,633 --> 00:07:48,600
-Thank you. Judge Acker.
-[Acker] Thank you, Judge.

157
00:07:48,667 --> 00:07:51,734
I'm not gonna hold my cards
too close to the vest.

158
00:07:51,800 --> 00:07:54,033
The title, to me, is somewhat dispositive.

159
00:07:54,100 --> 00:07:57,633
So, it's your burden to prove
that I should discount

160
00:07:57,700 --> 00:07:59,900
a document that says it's her car.

161
00:07:59,967 --> 00:08:04,233
I'd also ask you why the heck you think
you're entitled to the full value?

162
00:08:04,300 --> 00:08:05,867
I mean, cars depreciate.

163
00:08:05,934 --> 00:08:10,033
Okay. She sent me emails saying
that she owed me the $7,000.

164
00:08:10,100 --> 00:08:12,433
She agreed that was the price of the car.

165
00:08:12,500 --> 00:08:14,300
Maybe because you were being
so overbearing.

166
00:08:14,367 --> 00:08:16,900
I was not being overbearing.
I was very polite in those emails.

167
00:08:16,967 --> 00:08:19,567
As a matter of fact,
she was the one that was name-calling.

168
00:08:19,633 --> 00:08:21,033
And I kept saying, look…

169
00:08:21,100 --> 00:08:22,667
[Acker]
You got mad, and I'm quoting you.

170
00:08:22,734 --> 00:08:24,567
"She never had any money.
I had to feed her."

171
00:08:24,633 --> 00:08:27,667
He makes you sound like you're
some kind of stray puppy he rescued.

172
00:08:27,734 --> 00:08:30,800
But I noted, ma'am, that you indicated

173
00:08:30,867 --> 00:08:33,900
that you had some property
that you'd contributed to your…

174
00:08:33,967 --> 00:08:35,734
-Household?
-[Acker] …to your household,

175
00:08:35,799 --> 00:08:37,100
-that he still has.
-Yes.

176
00:08:37,165 --> 00:08:38,866
-The treadmill.
-The treadmill.

177
00:08:38,933 --> 00:08:40,799
I spent $1,000 on the treadmill.

178
00:08:40,866 --> 00:08:44,867
He thinks it's his
because it replaced an old broken one.

179
00:08:44,934 --> 00:08:47,165
-Uh, you bought the new one.
-[Linda] Mm-hmm.

180
00:08:47,233 --> 00:08:50,066
It actually worked.
She, we used it for two years.

181
00:08:50,133 --> 00:08:52,165
Then, when it broke,
she bought a new one.

182
00:08:52,233 --> 00:08:55,834
With her, "she never had any money,
and she was always having money problems."

183
00:08:55,900 --> 00:08:58,066
I put her through bankruptcy already once,
Your Honor.

184
00:08:58,133 --> 00:09:01,100
It seemed like you really want
to put her through that again

185
00:09:01,166 --> 00:09:04,700
with the threats of wage garnishment,
I'm hiring a lawyer.

186
00:09:04,767 --> 00:09:07,567
-I explained to her, I told her…
-[Acker] No, no…

187
00:09:07,633 --> 00:09:09,734
I said look,
could you please make payments…

188
00:09:09,800 --> 00:09:12,233
Sir, you didn't say,
could you please make payments.

189
00:09:12,300 --> 00:09:14,066
I'm gonna read your messages right now.

190
00:09:14,133 --> 00:09:17,533
"You will now need to pay me
$200 per month

191
00:09:17,600 --> 00:09:22,734
until you have paid the amount
of $7,000 for the 2006 Toyota Matrix,

192
00:09:22,800 --> 00:09:24,133
which you have taken!"

193
00:09:24,200 --> 00:09:25,567
Yeah.

194
00:09:25,633 --> 00:09:28,300
[Acker]
"I will be paying the attorney $2,000

195
00:09:28,367 --> 00:09:32,200
and a court filing fee of almost $1,000
to bring suit against you.

196
00:09:32,266 --> 00:09:36,200
If you do not pay me for my car,
I will include those charges

197
00:09:36,266 --> 00:09:38,867
and your debt will be $10,000."

198
00:09:38,934 --> 00:09:42,367
Now, does that sound like,
"Would you please, just contribute?"

199
00:09:42,433 --> 00:09:45,165
Why do you think that the car
should be appreciated

200
00:09:45,233 --> 00:09:47,834
at a value from several years ago?

201
00:09:47,900 --> 00:09:49,500
Cars depreciate.

202
00:09:49,567 --> 00:09:52,934
They do, but the loans
and the banks don't…

203
00:09:53,000 --> 00:09:56,133
You don't go to the bank
after you've bought a car a few years…

204
00:09:56,200 --> 00:09:58,100
-[Acker] You're not a bank.
-I was the bank.

205
00:09:58,165 --> 00:10:00,200
You're not a bank, you were her boyfriend.

206
00:10:00,266 --> 00:10:02,667
Some of the money to purchase the car
was hers, sir.

207
00:10:02,734 --> 00:10:05,667
-No, it wasn't.
-[Acker] Did you contribute $5,000?

208
00:10:05,734 --> 00:10:08,000
[Steven]
After I had purchased the car.

209
00:10:08,066 --> 00:10:11,567
She gave you $5,000 of her money.
Now you're being petty.

210
00:10:11,633 --> 00:10:16,867
I do not see how, even if you have
an ownership interest at this point,

211
00:10:16,934 --> 00:10:20,467
that we can value a car in the same way
we did two years ago.

212
00:10:20,533 --> 00:10:23,800
I know you'd like to see yourself standing
in the stead of a bank.

213
00:10:23,867 --> 00:10:27,100
And I have a legal document
that says whose car it is.

214
00:10:27,166 --> 00:10:29,433
That's why we have such legal documents.

215
00:10:29,500 --> 00:10:31,500
I don't have anything else.
Judge DiMango?

216
00:10:31,567 --> 00:10:33,133
When was the last time
you saw one another?

217
00:10:33,200 --> 00:10:35,200
The last time I talked to him,
when he,

218
00:10:35,266 --> 00:10:38,033
at the last email he sent
called me a liar and a thief.

219
00:10:38,100 --> 00:10:39,633
And I've not talked to him since.

220
00:10:39,700 --> 00:10:42,133
[DiMango] How long ago was that?
It's been awhile?

221
00:10:42,200 --> 00:10:43,433
Awhile ago. Yeah.

222
00:10:43,500 --> 00:10:45,700
I like to look at a big picture.
You're together 10 years.

223
00:10:45,767 --> 00:10:48,200
In the course of those 10 years,
you shared your life.

224
00:10:48,266 --> 00:10:50,600
Sometimes you paid more,
sometimes you paid more.

225
00:10:50,667 --> 00:10:52,100
Sometimes you didn't pay at all.

226
00:10:52,165 --> 00:10:54,433
But anyway, so now, you have this car.

227
00:10:54,500 --> 00:10:57,165
And you want to pay
the least amount of insurance.

228
00:10:57,233 --> 00:11:00,567
You both know what the insurance companies
are looking for.

229
00:11:00,633 --> 00:11:02,767
So, you put it in her name.

230
00:11:02,834 --> 00:11:07,233
Because she's judgment proof, basically.
You've got nothing.

231
00:11:07,300 --> 00:11:10,734
So, when Joe hits the back of your car

232
00:11:10,800 --> 00:11:13,800
and he thinks he's got a bad back
or whatever and he sues you,

233
00:11:13,867 --> 00:11:15,333
he gets nothing.

234
00:11:15,400 --> 00:11:18,667
If he sued you, he'd be looking
at a six-figure amount.

235
00:11:18,734 --> 00:11:21,567
-Yes, ma'am.
-You both wanted to protect yourselves.

236
00:11:21,633 --> 00:11:23,367
-Would I be right?
-[Steven] Yes, ma'am.

237
00:11:23,433 --> 00:11:26,033
-Would I be right?
-Yes. I just needed a car.

238
00:11:26,100 --> 00:11:28,166
So, you gave $7,000.

239
00:11:28,233 --> 00:11:31,367
You gave $5,600, plus $1,000,
plus some other money.

240
00:11:31,433 --> 00:11:34,066
-And you admit it was $7,000.
-Yes, ma'am.

241
00:11:34,133 --> 00:11:37,734
So, the vehicle cost $11,000,
and the $3,000 in extras.

242
00:11:37,800 --> 00:11:42,633
You paid $14,000. You paid for it.
You paid cash for it, right?

243
00:11:42,700 --> 00:11:45,133
-Yes, or no?
-Yes, I wrote a check.

244
00:11:45,200 --> 00:11:48,533
I would like to say, I didn't even ask her
for the money she owed me

245
00:11:48,600 --> 00:11:50,800
when she moved out
the beginning of the month.

246
00:11:50,867 --> 00:11:52,400
I didn't include any of that.

247
00:11:52,467 --> 00:11:54,033
She just left, and I didn't…

248
00:11:54,100 --> 00:11:56,867
She didn't want to be with you anymore.
Get it through your head!

249
00:11:56,934 --> 00:11:58,200
[dramatic music playing]

250
00:11:58,266 --> 00:12:00,633
[narrator]
Coming up on Tribunal Justice…

251
00:12:00,700 --> 00:12:03,967
You mentioned just now
that the car was involved in an accident

252
00:12:04,033 --> 00:12:05,867
and she paid for it.
Was she driving?

253
00:12:08,900 --> 00:12:10,533
[theme music playing]

254
00:12:10,600 --> 00:12:13,700
[narrator] Steven Duckett
says ex-girlfriend Linda Anderson

255
00:12:13,767 --> 00:12:16,667
left him one day
with the car they bought together.

256
00:12:16,734 --> 00:12:19,900
He's suing for the money he paid
plus rental costs

257
00:12:19,967 --> 00:12:22,567
totaling over $7,000.

258
00:12:22,633 --> 00:12:25,100
But Linda says Steven totaled her old car.

259
00:12:25,166 --> 00:12:28,033
The new one's hers,
and she's not paying anything.

260
00:12:28,100 --> 00:12:29,934
[DiMango]
She took the car, she left.

261
00:12:30,000 --> 00:12:33,033
She just wanted out because
she was not being fulfilled by you.

262
00:12:33,100 --> 00:12:34,767
You know that. Am I right?

263
00:12:34,834 --> 00:12:37,133
Right. So, pay me for half the car
and we're done.

264
00:12:37,200 --> 00:12:39,834
-That's all I ask for.
-[DiMango] That's the point we're making.

265
00:12:39,900 --> 00:12:42,100
What is that half value,
if you get it at all?

266
00:12:42,165 --> 00:12:45,900
She had major money problems,
and she was having billing problems.

267
00:12:45,967 --> 00:12:50,700
So, she told me she was gonna
save money by moving to this new place.

268
00:12:50,767 --> 00:12:53,800
She was lying to you.
She wanted to get away, okay.

269
00:12:53,867 --> 00:12:55,567
That's what made me mad, she lied.

270
00:12:55,633 --> 00:12:56,934
I never said that.

271
00:12:57,000 --> 00:12:59,934
But the reality is,
you both half-own this vehicle.

272
00:13:00,066 --> 00:13:03,166
So, when you take the whole car,
in my mind this is now.

273
00:13:03,233 --> 00:13:05,934
When you take the whole car,
he's entitled to something.

274
00:13:06,000 --> 00:13:08,600
But he's not entitled, in my view,
to $7,000.

275
00:13:08,667 --> 00:13:09,967
That was years ago.

276
00:13:10,033 --> 00:13:13,800
The value of that car today is
about $4,700.

277
00:13:13,867 --> 00:13:16,967
So, even if I were to think
that you would buy him out of the car…

278
00:13:17,033 --> 00:13:17,900
Mm-hmm.

279
00:13:17,967 --> 00:13:20,834
…you might only be selling that car
for $4,700.

280
00:13:20,900 --> 00:13:23,967
Now, for me, I just need to decide
how much it is,

281
00:13:24,033 --> 00:13:25,500
if you want to keep the car,

282
00:13:25,567 --> 00:13:29,000
how much it is
that he would be entitled to, if at all.

283
00:13:29,066 --> 00:13:31,533
And so, that's where my mind is
at this moment.

284
00:13:31,600 --> 00:13:32,734
I'm done.

285
00:13:32,800 --> 00:13:35,000
So, Mr. Duckett,
if I understand you correctly,

286
00:13:35,066 --> 00:13:38,367
in response to Judge DiMango,
you would say, "No, she owes me $7,000

287
00:13:38,433 --> 00:13:41,233
-because she agreed to $7,000."
-Yes, sir.

288
00:13:41,300 --> 00:13:45,934
And she agreed to $7,000
in an email on November 11th.

289
00:13:46,000 --> 00:13:47,133
[Steven]
Yes, sir.

290
00:13:47,200 --> 00:13:48,934
[Levy]
That's not what the email says.

291
00:13:49,000 --> 00:13:52,700
Let's put it up. It's really small,
but let me do this.

292
00:13:52,767 --> 00:13:55,100
So, on the top,
the Defendant is listing items

293
00:13:55,165 --> 00:13:57,567
that she paid for during the relationship.

294
00:13:57,633 --> 00:14:01,400
Treadmill, shed, lamp,
shelf, curio cabinet, dishes.

295
00:14:01,467 --> 00:14:05,834
She says, "I think it's interesting
that you want to sue me over $7,000

296
00:14:05,900 --> 00:14:08,066
when the car is registered to me.

297
00:14:08,133 --> 00:14:10,233
I was looking at getting a loan
to pay you,

298
00:14:10,300 --> 00:14:12,500
but you've gone
over the deep end again.

299
00:14:12,567 --> 00:14:16,000
And why still $7,000?

300
00:14:16,066 --> 00:14:19,266
You've had use of the car
for over a year."

301
00:14:19,333 --> 00:14:22,600
She's making the depreciation argument
right there.

302
00:14:22,667 --> 00:14:27,333
You would agree that up to that point,
there has been no agreement to $7,000.

303
00:14:27,400 --> 00:14:29,200
In that conversation, no.

304
00:14:29,266 --> 00:14:33,000
This is the only evidence of that
$7,000 agreement that you're relying on.

305
00:14:33,066 --> 00:14:34,934
And she paid me her half for $7,000.

306
00:14:35,000 --> 00:14:36,633
[Levy]
It doesn't make a difference.

307
00:14:36,700 --> 00:14:39,433
All I'm doing is showing you proof
that you provided us

308
00:14:39,500 --> 00:14:41,867
that contradicts that testimony.

309
00:14:41,934 --> 00:14:44,233
The amount was never agreed to, correct?

310
00:14:44,300 --> 00:14:45,300
Correct.

311
00:14:45,367 --> 00:14:48,200
When there's not a meeting of the minds,

312
00:14:48,266 --> 00:14:50,867
there can be no contract.

313
00:14:50,934 --> 00:14:52,700
-You agree with that?
-Yes.

314
00:14:52,767 --> 00:14:55,200
[Levy]
In addition, my question to you is

315
00:14:55,266 --> 00:14:59,266
was the vehicle, in November of 2024,

316
00:14:59,333 --> 00:15:04,700
in the exact same condition
as it was in March of 2023?

317
00:15:04,767 --> 00:15:06,033
No, it was better.

318
00:15:06,100 --> 00:15:07,100
It was better?

319
00:15:07,166 --> 00:15:10,300
I spent all that money
to make it a brand new vehicle.

320
00:15:10,367 --> 00:15:12,333
[Levy] What about an accident?
Was it in an accident?

321
00:15:12,400 --> 00:15:13,834
-It was.
-[Levy] It was in an accident.

322
00:15:13,900 --> 00:15:15,233
And she had to pay to fix it.

323
00:15:15,300 --> 00:15:16,834
[Levy]
It doesn't make a difference.

324
00:15:16,900 --> 00:15:19,433
Let me ask you this,
since you are in the insurance business.

325
00:15:19,500 --> 00:15:23,633
When a car is involved in an accident,
does it make its value higher or lower?

326
00:15:23,700 --> 00:15:25,433
-It depreciates.
-[Levy] There we go.

327
00:15:25,500 --> 00:15:27,533
You acknowledge the depreciation.

328
00:15:27,600 --> 00:15:32,033
And you acknowledge that the reason why
you put it in her name,

329
00:15:32,100 --> 00:15:35,834
and only her name,
was to protect yourself

330
00:15:35,900 --> 00:15:41,000
from anyone ever
coming after you and your inheritance.

331
00:15:41,066 --> 00:15:44,867
So, that means, that if the two of you
were together in the car,

332
00:15:44,934 --> 00:15:49,467
you were driving, and there's a crash,
and someone sues successfully.

333
00:15:49,533 --> 00:15:51,700
They sue the owner of the vehicle,
correct?

334
00:15:51,767 --> 00:15:52,767
Yes, sir.

335
00:15:52,834 --> 00:15:53,867
-[Levy] That's her.
-Right.

336
00:15:53,934 --> 00:15:57,133
[Levy] And because you're not listed
anywhere on the ownership paperwork,

337
00:15:57,200 --> 00:16:00,500
that person would have no way
to collect from you,

338
00:16:00,567 --> 00:16:04,700
but can go after her,
garnish wages from her.

339
00:16:04,767 --> 00:16:05,867
-Right?
-Mm-hmm.

340
00:16:05,934 --> 00:16:09,066
So, what you really did,
with all due respect,

341
00:16:09,133 --> 00:16:10,934
is shoot yourself in the foot.

342
00:16:11,000 --> 00:16:14,333
'Cause what you did was
by trying to absolve yourself

343
00:16:14,400 --> 00:16:16,800
of any and all future liability

344
00:16:16,867 --> 00:16:22,500
gave up all rights, title and interest
in that vehicle to her,

345
00:16:22,567 --> 00:16:26,300
so that any liability attaches to her
and protects yourself.

346
00:16:26,367 --> 00:16:29,200
No, that was the whole intention
of putting it in her name

347
00:16:29,266 --> 00:16:32,300
was to protect my money from that.

348
00:16:32,367 --> 00:16:34,066
It was our money, basically.

349
00:16:34,133 --> 00:16:35,467
-You know?
-[Levy] I got it.

350
00:16:35,533 --> 00:16:36,967
So, that was the whole point.

351
00:16:37,033 --> 00:16:38,533
[Acker]
Quick question for you, sir.

352
00:16:38,600 --> 00:16:41,533
You mentioned just now
that the car was involved in an accident,

353
00:16:41,600 --> 00:16:43,333
and she paid for it.
Was she driving?

354
00:16:43,400 --> 00:16:44,433
No, it was parked.

355
00:16:44,500 --> 00:16:45,934
-[Acker] It was parked.
-Somebody hit it.

356
00:16:46,000 --> 00:16:48,165
Somebody hit it,
and she paid for those damages.

357
00:16:48,233 --> 00:16:49,900
Yes. Her insurance paid for it.

358
00:16:49,967 --> 00:16:52,734
Your insurance.
So, it's a mark on your insurance?

359
00:16:52,800 --> 00:16:55,433
It was the second time my car got hit
in front of his house.

360
00:16:55,500 --> 00:16:56,467
[Acker]
Thank you.

361
00:16:56,533 --> 00:16:58,633
We're gonna retire to deliberate.
Thank you both.

362
00:16:58,700 --> 00:17:01,500
Court is now in recess.
All parties will be recalled.

363
00:17:01,567 --> 00:17:05,532
[theme music playing]

364
00:17:07,666 --> 00:17:10,099
[theme music playing]

365
00:17:10,165 --> 00:17:13,066
The way I see it,
he's arguing breach of contract.

366
00:17:13,133 --> 00:17:17,233
Breach of an oral contract
that she agreed to pay $7,000.

367
00:17:17,300 --> 00:17:20,333
And therefore, she should be held
to that agreement.

368
00:17:20,400 --> 00:17:24,000
I think we've all been through it.
There is no meeting of the minds.

369
00:17:24,066 --> 00:17:26,433
There was no agreement as to the $7,000.

370
00:17:26,500 --> 00:17:29,800
So, his breach of contract claim,
in my opinion, must fail.

371
00:17:29,867 --> 00:17:31,600
Then, there's unjust enrichment.

372
00:17:31,667 --> 00:17:36,633
That would she be unjustly enriched
by having exclusive use of this vehicle,

373
00:17:36,700 --> 00:17:40,500
despite the fact
that he made a substantial contribution.

374
00:17:40,567 --> 00:17:43,867
Well, no.
Because it's solely in her name,

375
00:17:43,934 --> 00:17:46,000
and he wanted it solely in her name,

376
00:17:46,066 --> 00:17:48,000
it was giving him a benefit.

377
00:17:48,066 --> 00:17:49,233
Both of them a benefit.

378
00:17:49,300 --> 00:17:51,867
Well, both of them,
but most certainly him a benefit

379
00:17:51,934 --> 00:17:54,533
because it was only him
who had inheritance money.

380
00:17:54,600 --> 00:17:59,000
The fact that he wanted her name,
and only her name,

381
00:17:59,066 --> 00:18:02,200
benefited on the title,
the insurance, all that,

382
00:18:02,266 --> 00:18:04,333
really only benefited him.

383
00:18:04,400 --> 00:18:09,233
And so, his unjust enrichment argument
so too, should fail.

384
00:18:09,300 --> 00:18:11,433
And while there are a lot of people
that may say,

385
00:18:11,500 --> 00:18:13,133
as you did,
you should give him something,

386
00:18:13,200 --> 00:18:15,133
because he contributed to it,

387
00:18:15,200 --> 00:18:19,333
I say, unless there's another
cause of action that I didn't think about,

388
00:18:19,400 --> 00:18:21,734
-I don't think that that applies.
-Mm-hmm.

389
00:18:21,800 --> 00:18:25,133
When he put her name on everything,
he was thinking right there.

390
00:18:25,200 --> 00:18:28,934
And he wasn't considering
what was gonna happen if they split up.

391
00:18:29,000 --> 00:18:31,867
'Cause he didn't see that happening.
Well, that happens.

392
00:18:31,934 --> 00:18:34,166
And so, as a result of all of that,

393
00:18:34,233 --> 00:18:37,533
I believe that his lawsuit
should be dismissed.

394
00:18:37,600 --> 00:18:40,467
I'm right there with you.
I think that the decision

395
00:18:40,533 --> 00:18:44,867
to put her name solely on the title,
I don't think those were like shenanigans,

396
00:18:44,934 --> 00:18:47,500
or they're playing fast and loose,
I think it was a choice.

397
00:18:47,567 --> 00:18:50,433
She would be on the hook
for potential liabilities,

398
00:18:50,500 --> 00:18:53,600
and the flip side of that is
that it is her car.

399
00:18:53,667 --> 00:18:55,000
So, I'm with Adam.

400
00:18:55,066 --> 00:18:57,033
I think they did it both for themselves.

401
00:18:57,100 --> 00:18:59,800
I think it was a benefit that was going
to inure both of them.

402
00:18:59,867 --> 00:19:01,867
I think they didn't count on breaking up.
So therefore,

403
00:19:01,934 --> 00:19:03,800
his several hundred thousand dollars

404
00:19:03,867 --> 00:19:06,734
was going to be in a pot
that they were all going to use.

405
00:19:06,800 --> 00:19:09,800
She had nothing,
so they were gonna be living off of that.

406
00:19:09,867 --> 00:19:13,667
I think that she made it clear
that she was willing to give him

407
00:19:13,734 --> 00:19:15,967
some of the money that he contributed.

408
00:19:16,033 --> 00:19:19,433
I think she made it clear
it wasn't gonna be $7,000.

409
00:19:19,500 --> 00:19:21,967
And I think that he is entitled
to something.

410
00:19:22,033 --> 00:19:25,233
He's basically selling her
his portion of the vehicle

411
00:19:25,300 --> 00:19:29,233
that's valued at today's value.
And so, I feel very comfortable

412
00:19:29,300 --> 00:19:32,734
giving him a buyout amount
that would reflect that sale.

413
00:19:32,800 --> 00:19:34,700
Do you think she offered
to pay him something?

414
00:19:34,767 --> 00:19:37,600
But I think that those were offers
to try to settle a dispute.

415
00:19:37,667 --> 00:19:39,266
I wouldn't bind her to those.

416
00:19:39,333 --> 00:19:41,200
I don't think he has
any legal entitlement.

417
00:19:41,266 --> 00:19:43,033
And just to put a further pin on it,

418
00:19:43,100 --> 00:19:45,600
as we just established
before we left the bench,

419
00:19:45,667 --> 00:19:48,800
there was an accident.
She's bearing the burden of that accident,

420
00:19:48,867 --> 00:19:50,333
it's on her insurance.

421
00:19:50,400 --> 00:19:53,400
So, he just wants to like, get
all of the benefits of owning something

422
00:19:53,467 --> 00:19:55,533
without really having to step up
on the other side.

423
00:19:55,600 --> 00:19:58,533
I agree with that.
And also, Pat, to your point,

424
00:19:58,600 --> 00:20:00,400
about this was an agreement that they had.

425
00:20:00,467 --> 00:20:03,100
The car was gonna be put in her name
and they were both gonna use it.

426
00:20:03,166 --> 00:20:06,433
And she was gonna benefit by
the additional monies that he had from…

427
00:20:06,500 --> 00:20:08,934
That they were protecting
in case of something.

428
00:20:09,000 --> 00:20:10,600
But at the same time,
what she was expecting

429
00:20:10,667 --> 00:20:14,500
was a little better lifestyle.
She was expecting a bit of a better place.

430
00:20:14,567 --> 00:20:16,266
They both screwed each other
in the relationship,

431
00:20:16,333 --> 00:20:18,533
but that has nothing to do
with the legal aspect of the case.

432
00:20:18,600 --> 00:20:20,900
She had dog hair and no electricity.

433
00:20:20,967 --> 00:20:22,300
She hated that.

434
00:20:22,367 --> 00:20:25,467
Listen, I understand your position,
and I disagree, that's all.

435
00:20:25,533 --> 00:20:27,800
Okay. So, I am willing
to give him back something.

436
00:20:27,867 --> 00:20:30,834
The car is valued right now at $4,700.

437
00:20:30,900 --> 00:20:33,667
I'm willing to give him about $2,350.

438
00:20:33,734 --> 00:20:34,967
-I'm at zero.
-I'm at zero.

439
00:20:35,033 --> 00:20:36,867
-Okay, I'm willing to do that.
-[Levy] Okay.

440
00:20:36,934 --> 00:20:39,100
Twenty-three and zero.

441
00:20:39,166 --> 00:20:41,166
Zero. Got it.

442
00:20:41,233 --> 00:20:42,600
Go away.

443
00:20:46,033 --> 00:20:47,500
Court is back in session.

444
00:20:47,567 --> 00:20:49,500
All parties are reminded
you're still under oath.

445
00:20:49,567 --> 00:20:53,100
All right. Well, we have deliberated,
and we have reached a decision,

446
00:20:53,166 --> 00:20:55,100
but it is not unanimous.

447
00:20:55,166 --> 00:20:56,934
I have two things I want to mention.

448
00:20:57,000 --> 00:20:59,767
One, I'd like to put up
on the monitor please, #02.

449
00:20:59,834 --> 00:21:03,600
Just want to put that photograph up
and say, rest in peace, Tiger Five.

450
00:21:03,667 --> 00:21:05,567
-[Steven] Yeah. Thank you.
-[Levy] All right.

451
00:21:05,633 --> 00:21:07,567
[Levy]
You're welcome. I know it's tough.

452
00:21:07,633 --> 00:21:10,567
The other thing I wanted to mention,
Mr. Duckett,

453
00:21:10,633 --> 00:21:14,633
we've been asked by Ms. Anderson,
to send a very polite message

454
00:21:14,700 --> 00:21:16,533
that right now, she would much prefer

455
00:21:16,600 --> 00:21:19,233
to have no further communication
at this time.

456
00:21:19,300 --> 00:21:21,600
And if there is gonna
be further communication in the future,

457
00:21:21,667 --> 00:21:22,700
let it come from her.

458
00:21:22,767 --> 00:21:23,900
-Great.
-[Levy] Fair?

459
00:21:23,967 --> 00:21:25,633
-Mm-hmm.
-[Levy] Thank you.

460
00:21:25,700 --> 00:21:27,400
Now, back to the case.

461
00:21:27,467 --> 00:21:32,600
Judge DiMango's position,
taking depreciation into consideration,

462
00:21:32,667 --> 00:21:36,867
she would award you $2,350.

463
00:21:36,934 --> 00:21:41,200
And that it would in effect be unjust
for you, Ms. Anderson,

464
00:21:41,266 --> 00:21:45,500
to take full 100% control of a vehicle
that's been fully paid off

465
00:21:45,567 --> 00:21:47,500
that he contributed money to.

466
00:21:47,567 --> 00:21:51,133
However, the majority
between Judge Acker and myself,

467
00:21:51,200 --> 00:21:55,433
we discussed the email, and
we now know she never agreed to $7,000.

468
00:21:55,500 --> 00:21:57,133
So, there was no meeting of the minds.

469
00:21:57,200 --> 00:21:59,900
Then that last issue then
becomes one of unjust enrichment.

470
00:21:59,967 --> 00:22:03,233
Is she being unjustly enriched
by getting a car

471
00:22:03,300 --> 00:22:05,300
that you contributed half to?

472
00:22:05,367 --> 00:22:09,266
Part of your burden
under an unjust enrichment claim is

473
00:22:09,333 --> 00:22:14,533
to prove that the circumstances
surrounding all of this

474
00:22:14,600 --> 00:22:18,567
are unjust. And that she in fact,
had the benefit

475
00:22:18,633 --> 00:22:20,700
by getting possession of this vehicle.

476
00:22:20,767 --> 00:22:25,667
But the benefit that you were receiving
was that you were liability free

477
00:22:25,734 --> 00:22:30,200
and that she was assuming all liability
for future accidents.

478
00:22:30,266 --> 00:22:33,433
And so, your unjust enrichment claim
cannot succeed.

479
00:22:33,500 --> 00:22:38,667
You agreed to have the vehicle
put solely in the Defendant's name

480
00:22:38,734 --> 00:22:41,166
to protect you from any and all liability.

481
00:22:41,233 --> 00:22:45,367
Therefore, the judgment of the court is
that your claim

482
00:22:45,433 --> 00:22:49,433
for $7,000, denied.
And your lawsuit, sir, is dismissed.

483
00:22:49,500 --> 00:22:51,066
-Thank you.
-[gavel bangs]

484
00:22:51,133 --> 00:22:53,900
This case has concluded.
All parties are excused.

485
00:22:53,967 --> 00:22:57,467
[triumphant music playing]

486
00:22:57,533 --> 00:23:00,400
Basically, I get nothin'
for a car that I bought.

487
00:23:00,467 --> 00:23:02,367
He thought I was robbing him.

488
00:23:02,433 --> 00:23:05,467
Yeah, she'd been taking stuff
out of the house and I noticed.

489
00:23:05,533 --> 00:23:07,333
And then, she just left.

490
00:23:07,400 --> 00:23:10,600
There were dog beds everywhere.
There were clothes everywhere, piled.

491
00:23:10,667 --> 00:23:14,800
I would clean the kitchen,
and then it would be cluttered again.

492
00:23:14,867 --> 00:23:16,900
I offered to take her to dinner
last night, and said,

493
00:23:16,967 --> 00:23:20,033
we won't talk about anything,
we'll just have a friendly dinner.

494
00:23:20,100 --> 00:23:21,500
She didn't want to do that.

495
00:23:21,567 --> 00:23:24,500
Because we're broke up.
And he's suing me.

496
00:23:24,567 --> 00:23:27,433
She doesn't like me now
because I asked for my money.

497
00:23:27,500 --> 00:23:28,934
I don't ever want to see him again.

498
00:23:29,000 --> 00:23:31,233
Life goes on, and I'm pretty unhappy.

499
00:23:31,300 --> 00:23:34,467
[narrator] Did a bad breakup
cost you more than a broken heart?

500
00:23:34,533 --> 00:23:37,867
Commit to letting Tribunal Justice
make it right.

501
00:23:37,934 --> 00:23:40,600
Find us on social media.

502
00:23:40,667 --> 00:23:43,533
[theme music playing]