1
00:00:00,033 --> 00:00:03,233
She was throwing rocks at my car,
screaming.

2
00:00:03,300 --> 00:00:04,934
-[shouts on video]
-Seriously?

3
00:00:05,000 --> 00:00:07,033
-That's how you behave?
-Mm-hmm.

4
00:00:07,100 --> 00:00:10,367
I woulda come in this courtroom if
I were you with a paper bag over my head.

5
00:00:10,433 --> 00:00:12,767
Then your 18-year-old daughter
gets involved.

6
00:00:12,834 --> 00:00:15,066
They both come running out
in front of the garage,

7
00:00:15,133 --> 00:00:17,633
her daughter just immediately
starts punching me in the face.

8
00:00:17,700 --> 00:00:18,867
What was your endgame?

9
00:00:18,934 --> 00:00:20,233
I'm not proud of what I did.

10
00:00:20,300 --> 00:00:23,533
You shoulda just paid her
instead of having everyone in the world

11
00:00:23,600 --> 00:00:26,266
see just how crazy of a person you were.

12
00:00:26,333 --> 00:00:29,166
[narrator]
Now, on Tribunal Justice...

13
00:00:50,867 --> 00:00:53,600
[narrator] Today's case
was filed in Duluth, Minnesota.

14
00:00:54,734 --> 00:00:58,934
Your Honor, this is case 3014,
Bergren vs. Chepelnik.

15
00:00:59,000 --> 00:01:01,333
Parties have been sworn in.
You may be seated.

16
00:01:01,400 --> 00:01:03,100
-[Levy] Thank you, Cassandra.
-[Britt] You're welcome.

17
00:01:03,166 --> 00:01:06,233
Ms. Bergren, according to your complaint,
you and the defendant

18
00:01:06,300 --> 00:01:08,066
-were former neighbors.
-Correct.

19
00:01:08,133 --> 00:01:11,133
[Levy] And you're suing her for damages
that she caused your car.

20
00:01:11,200 --> 00:01:14,934
And moving expenses
that you claim were necessitated

21
00:01:15,000 --> 00:01:17,000
by the defendant's conduct,

22
00:01:17,066 --> 00:01:19,467
which made you
and your family feel unsafe.

23
00:01:19,533 --> 00:01:20,834
That's correct, Your Honor.

24
00:01:20,900 --> 00:01:23,333
And Ms. Chepelnik,
according to your answer,

25
00:01:23,400 --> 00:01:27,166
you do not deny
damaging the plaintiff's car,

26
00:01:27,233 --> 00:01:29,333
but you claim
that you don't owe her anything,

27
00:01:29,400 --> 00:01:32,934
because the car was totaled,
and in fact, in your answer,

28
00:01:33,000 --> 00:01:36,400
you accuse the plaintiff
of engaging in conduct

29
00:01:36,467 --> 00:01:39,300
that was designed
to make you feel unsafe.

30
00:01:39,366 --> 00:01:44,300
Specifically a time when she
and her adult daughter assaulted you

31
00:01:44,366 --> 00:01:47,467
and caused you over $700 worth
of hospital bills.

32
00:01:47,533 --> 00:01:50,366
And basically, what your answer said
is you guys are even.

33
00:01:50,433 --> 00:01:51,500
Yes, Your Honor.

34
00:01:51,567 --> 00:01:52,834
[Levy]
Ms. Bergren, tell us,

35
00:01:52,900 --> 00:01:54,967
when did you and the defendant
become neighbors?

36
00:01:55,033 --> 00:01:59,000
Um, I want to say that it was 2022,

37
00:01:59,066 --> 00:02:03,333
sometime in the late summer,
I want to say maybe around August.

38
00:02:03,400 --> 00:02:05,400
Okay. Is that about right,
Ms. Chepelnik?

39
00:02:05,467 --> 00:02:06,467
-Yes.
-[Levy] All right.

40
00:02:06,533 --> 00:02:08,333
Why don't you tell us how it was

41
00:02:08,400 --> 00:02:11,032
when you and the defendant
first became neighbors.

42
00:02:11,100 --> 00:02:13,767
We never, Your Honor,
got along.

43
00:02:13,834 --> 00:02:17,166
Um, from the start, um,

44
00:02:17,233 --> 00:02:21,133
she was dating the property manager
at the time.

45
00:02:21,200 --> 00:02:25,100
And therefore, she thought
that she had every right

46
00:02:25,166 --> 00:02:28,466
to just be in control of everything.

47
00:02:28,533 --> 00:02:31,166
How long had you been there
in this apartment complex

48
00:02:31,233 --> 00:02:32,867
prior to the defendant moving in?

49
00:02:32,934 --> 00:02:35,066
Between a year and a year and a half.

50
00:02:35,133 --> 00:02:37,934
[Levy] Let's take a look at 04.
Do you see this?

51
00:02:38,000 --> 00:02:39,133
Yes, Your Honor.

52
00:02:39,200 --> 00:02:41,567
So, in this photograph,
where is it that you lived?

53
00:02:41,633 --> 00:02:45,734
I lived, um, my windows
are up on the top there.

54
00:02:45,800 --> 00:02:48,533
Okay. And what about the defendant?
Where is her apartment?

55
00:02:48,600 --> 00:02:52,567
Hers are directly below
my living room sliding door.

56
00:02:52,633 --> 00:02:54,767
-So, her two windows are right here?
-[Stevie] Yeah.

57
00:02:54,834 --> 00:02:57,033
-[Levy] Is that correct, Ms. Chepelnik?
-[Maria] Yeah.

58
00:02:57,100 --> 00:02:59,333
[Levy] Who were you living with
in your apartment?

59
00:02:59,400 --> 00:03:01,467
Um, mainly, I was there myself.

60
00:03:01,533 --> 00:03:06,400
Now, Ms. Bergren, I'm gonna direct
your attention to August 12th, 2024.

61
00:03:06,467 --> 00:03:09,066
Do you recall an accident
with your vehicle at that time?

62
00:03:09,133 --> 00:03:11,266
-Yes, Your Honor.
-[Levy] Tell me what happened.

63
00:03:11,333 --> 00:03:14,633
Me and my son were driving home
from Subway,

64
00:03:14,700 --> 00:03:17,200
and we were going down
a very dark road.

65
00:03:17,266 --> 00:03:19,934
It's one of the darkest roads
in Duluth, Minnesota,

66
00:03:20,000 --> 00:03:22,667
and we hit a deer.

67
00:03:22,734 --> 00:03:26,233
It did cause me to go into the ditch.

68
00:03:26,300 --> 00:03:29,934
Passenger side tires
came off of the rim.

69
00:03:30,000 --> 00:03:34,734
The front bumper was hanging.
I had to get a tow.

70
00:03:34,800 --> 00:03:39,200
And towed it back to my house,
because I couldn't drive it with no tires.

71
00:03:39,266 --> 00:03:43,533
The car was still drivable
after fixing the tires

72
00:03:43,600 --> 00:03:45,934
and getting the bumper attached back on.

73
00:03:46,000 --> 00:03:47,400
So, there was nothing wrong
with the engine?

74
00:03:47,466 --> 00:03:48,800
There was nothing wrong with it.

75
00:03:48,867 --> 00:03:50,000
[Levy]
What type of car was it?

76
00:03:50,066 --> 00:03:52,466
It's an '01 Toyota Camry.

77
00:03:52,533 --> 00:03:54,433
[Levy]
Did you have that vehicle fixed?

78
00:03:54,500 --> 00:03:57,133
[Stevie]
I did not have the tires put on yet.

79
00:03:57,200 --> 00:04:00,700
Because I was driving... I have
a motorcycle that I drive, Your Honor.

80
00:04:00,767 --> 00:04:04,166
I was using my motorcycle
back and forth to work.

81
00:04:04,233 --> 00:04:06,633
Okay. Now, to you, Ms. Chepelnik.

82
00:04:06,700 --> 00:04:09,133
Can you describe the vehicle
after the accident?

83
00:04:09,200 --> 00:04:11,533
The vehicle was in rough shape.

84
00:04:11,600 --> 00:04:13,433
-[Levy] Okay.
-It looked like [bleep].

85
00:04:13,500 --> 00:04:14,533
Okay.

86
00:04:14,600 --> 00:04:16,800
[Maria]
The thing wasn't gonna drive down a road.

87
00:04:16,867 --> 00:04:20,700
I mean, it sat right outside my windows
for weeks, basically.

88
00:04:20,767 --> 00:04:22,767
Just sittin' there,
right off the main drag.

89
00:04:22,834 --> 00:04:24,233
Not even legal.

90
00:04:24,300 --> 00:04:27,400
Doesn't even have plates on it,
no tabs on it.

91
00:04:27,467 --> 00:04:28,834
Needs to go to the junkyard.

92
00:04:28,900 --> 00:04:31,233
Need to pay money to get that towed
back to the junkyard,

93
00:04:31,300 --> 00:04:33,233
out of the yard and off the property.

94
00:04:33,300 --> 00:04:36,367
You were not happy that this vehicle
was sitting there outside your...

95
00:04:36,433 --> 00:04:37,834
I had a bad Monday,

96
00:04:37,900 --> 00:04:40,533
and I was sick of seeing
that pile of [bleep] sit there, so.

97
00:04:40,600 --> 00:04:43,000
[Levy] We're not there yet, ma'am.
We're gonna get there.

98
00:04:43,066 --> 00:04:45,500
Can we take a look, please, at 01?

99
00:04:45,567 --> 00:04:47,567
Ms. Bergen, did you take that photograph?

100
00:04:47,633 --> 00:04:48,700
Yes, Your Honor, I did.

101
00:04:48,767 --> 00:04:50,367
[Levy]
And when was that photo taken?

102
00:04:50,433 --> 00:04:54,066
[Stevie] That photograph was taken
two days after I had went in the ditch.

103
00:04:54,133 --> 00:04:56,967
So, there was nothing wrong
with the front windshield, correct?

104
00:04:57,033 --> 00:04:58,800
Correct. There was no marks,
no cracks.

105
00:04:58,867 --> 00:05:00,867
[Levy] There was
nothing wrong with the back windshield.

106
00:05:00,934 --> 00:05:03,066
-That's correct.
-[Levy] Is that right, Ms. Chepelnik?

107
00:05:03,133 --> 00:05:05,800
That's the way the vehicle looked
after this incident on--

108
00:05:05,867 --> 00:05:08,600
It looked worse than those pictures
later on, but...

109
00:05:08,667 --> 00:05:10,133
yeah, that's the vehicle.

110
00:05:10,200 --> 00:05:15,300
Yeah. Why don't you tell us, Ms. Bergren,
what happened on the 26th of August, 2024?

111
00:05:15,367 --> 00:05:18,900
Okay, so, I was at work
when I got a ping on my phone.

112
00:05:18,967 --> 00:05:21,467
'Cause I had the Wyze Camera app
on my phone.

113
00:05:21,533 --> 00:05:25,066
And it pinged me saying that there was
something going on.

114
00:05:25,133 --> 00:05:30,033
And came across video
of Ms. Chepelnik

115
00:05:30,100 --> 00:05:32,233
damaging my vehicle even more.

116
00:05:32,300 --> 00:05:33,800
[Levy]
What, exactly, was she doing?

117
00:05:33,867 --> 00:05:37,133
She was throwing rocks and bricks
at my car.

118
00:05:37,200 --> 00:05:42,200
Screaming, saying to get
my piece of [bleep] off of her property.

119
00:05:42,266 --> 00:05:44,200
Number one, it's not her property.

120
00:05:44,266 --> 00:05:47,100
Number two, that was
my assigned parking spot

121
00:05:47,166 --> 00:05:50,433
by the landlord.
That's the only place I had to park.

122
00:05:50,500 --> 00:05:53,266
Is that correct, Ms. Chepelnik?
Was that the assigned spot?

123
00:05:53,332 --> 00:05:54,700
That is her assigned spot.

124
00:05:54,767 --> 00:05:57,700
[Levy] Okay. You know what,
let's go right to that video footage.

125
00:05:57,767 --> 00:05:59,500
I want you to take a look at them.

126
00:06:05,767 --> 00:06:06,767
[thuds]

127
00:06:06,834 --> 00:06:09,033
[Levy] Was that you
just throwing a rock at that car?

128
00:06:09,100 --> 00:06:10,233
Yes, it was.

129
00:06:17,934 --> 00:06:19,734
[Maria chuckles dryly]

130
00:06:23,967 --> 00:06:25,533
[thuds]

131
00:06:32,834 --> 00:06:34,667
[crashing]

132
00:06:36,567 --> 00:06:39,100
Let's take a look at 03.

133
00:06:39,166 --> 00:06:40,933
Ms. Bergren, do you recognize that?

134
00:06:41,000 --> 00:06:43,800
Yes. My car without a back window.

135
00:06:43,867 --> 00:06:46,467
That's right. Ms. Chepelnik,
that's what you did, right?

136
00:06:46,533 --> 00:06:47,600
Yes, Your Honor.

137
00:06:47,667 --> 00:06:49,667
What are we looking at here, Ms. Bergren?

138
00:06:49,734 --> 00:06:52,967
What was once a windshield
of my car.

139
00:06:53,033 --> 00:06:54,800
[Levy]
And on top of the car?

140
00:06:54,867 --> 00:06:56,066
[Stevie]
A brick.

141
00:06:56,133 --> 00:06:58,467
Ms. Chepelnik,
you know how that brick got there?

142
00:06:58,533 --> 00:07:00,800
Probably me, but I'm not sure
how I left it--

143
00:07:00,867 --> 00:07:03,100
Time out. Do you
have any reason to believe

144
00:07:03,166 --> 00:07:06,033
that that brick was put there
by somebody else but you?

145
00:07:06,100 --> 00:07:08,400
-It's me. I'll just...
-[Levy] There you go.

146
00:07:08,467 --> 00:07:11,033
Why don't you just tell us
why it was

147
00:07:11,100 --> 00:07:13,834
that you were in such a bad mood
this day?

148
00:07:13,900 --> 00:07:17,133
One of those days when it
just overflows too much all at one time.

149
00:07:17,200 --> 00:07:20,600
This particular day was bad.
And I'm here to say I made a mistake.

150
00:07:20,667 --> 00:07:24,200
I did do that. And all I can do
is try to move forward from it

151
00:07:24,266 --> 00:07:26,200
-and put this behind me.
-Great. Judge Acker?

152
00:07:26,266 --> 00:07:27,300
Were you drunk?

153
00:07:27,367 --> 00:07:28,900
-Were you drinking?
-No, Your Honor.

154
00:07:28,967 --> 00:07:32,500
Seriously? That's how you behave
perfectly sober?

155
00:07:32,567 --> 00:07:34,967
My goodness.
I don't want to be near you

156
00:07:35,033 --> 00:07:37,266
when you wake up
on the wrong side of the bed.

157
00:07:39,233 --> 00:07:41,834
[narrator]
Coming up on Tribunal Justice...

158
00:07:41,900 --> 00:07:44,500
I think you would feel much better

159
00:07:44,567 --> 00:07:47,433
if you didn't come off
looking like some out of control idiot

160
00:07:47,500 --> 00:07:49,767
who throws stuff, jumps out of windows,

161
00:07:49,834 --> 00:07:51,900
and then says, "You know what,
it's all even."

162
00:07:51,967 --> 00:07:53,734
Like, are you in therapy?

163
00:07:58,767 --> 00:08:01,767
[narrator] Steve-Marie Bergren
says neighbor Maria Chepelnik

164
00:08:01,834 --> 00:08:04,567
owes her $6,000
for vandalizing her car

165
00:08:04,633 --> 00:08:08,233
and forcing her family to move
to escape Maria's fits of rage.

166
00:08:08,300 --> 00:08:11,834
Maria claims the car was already a wreck
and the real violence happened

167
00:08:11,900 --> 00:08:14,633
when Stevie-Marie's daughter
sucker-punched her.

168
00:08:14,700 --> 00:08:18,000
Really, the crux of this case for me,
Ms. Bergren,

169
00:08:18,066 --> 00:08:21,633
you know, you're suing
for $2,000 worth of property damage.

170
00:08:21,700 --> 00:08:24,400
Can we put Exhibit One
back up on the screen, please?

171
00:08:24,467 --> 00:08:28,700
I mean, I'm kind of like,
this car is barely worth $500.

172
00:08:28,767 --> 00:08:33,232
So, how on earth could I justify
an award of $2,000 in damages?

173
00:08:33,299 --> 00:08:34,767
Help me explain that.

174
00:08:34,834 --> 00:08:38,332
So, Your Honor, just because
the car doesn't look pretty...

175
00:08:38,400 --> 00:08:39,967
-It doesn't.
-[Stevie] It doesn't.

176
00:08:40,033 --> 00:08:41,467
-Not by no means.
-It's a hot mess.

177
00:08:41,533 --> 00:08:45,033
The estimate came out to be that much
because they had to pull the glass.

178
00:08:45,100 --> 00:08:47,934
-[Acker] Mm-hmm.
-[Stevie] They had to put new...

179
00:08:48,000 --> 00:08:51,900
I mean, you could end up with
a brand-spanking-new beautiful windshield

180
00:08:51,967 --> 00:08:55,834
and a car that looks like
it's certainly seen better days.

181
00:08:55,900 --> 00:09:00,166
Let's put a pin in that,
because the other portion of your claim

182
00:09:00,233 --> 00:09:02,033
relates to you being afraid of her.

183
00:09:02,100 --> 00:09:05,133
My question to you is
whether or not you were truly afraid.

184
00:09:05,200 --> 00:09:08,633
Because when you saw that video,
why would you confront her

185
00:09:08,700 --> 00:09:12,000
rather than simply calling the authorities
directly? Why do that?

186
00:09:12,066 --> 00:09:15,066
Um, I did call the police.
I called them right when I found out...

187
00:09:15,133 --> 00:09:17,033
If you're so afraid, stay in the house.

188
00:09:17,100 --> 00:09:19,300
I'd be afraid of somebody like that,
frankly.

189
00:09:19,367 --> 00:09:22,767
Because I'm more afraid for my children.

190
00:09:22,834 --> 00:09:25,867
Not really. Then your 18-year-old daughter
gets involved,

191
00:09:25,934 --> 00:09:28,133
and then there's some brawl
between the two of you.

192
00:09:28,200 --> 00:09:31,934
She came out, because
I have an aneurism in my head,

193
00:09:32,000 --> 00:09:33,967
and my daughter heard her screaming.

194
00:09:34,033 --> 00:09:37,567
So, why were you there?
Why did you put yourself in this space?

195
00:09:37,633 --> 00:09:41,066
Even according to your own complaint,
you say that like,

196
00:09:41,133 --> 00:09:44,100
she jumps out the window.
Do you not have doors in your apartment?

197
00:09:44,165 --> 00:09:46,433
-What's this jumping through the window?
-I do.

198
00:09:46,500 --> 00:09:50,834
I have to go all the way to the other side
of the building and open the garage...

199
00:09:50,900 --> 00:09:53,200
[Acker]
You don't have a front door in your house?

200
00:09:53,266 --> 00:09:55,165
-No.
-[Acker] So, you confront her.

201
00:09:55,233 --> 00:09:56,500
Your daughter comes over,

202
00:09:56,567 --> 00:09:58,867
she jumps out the window
and they start brawling.

203
00:09:58,934 --> 00:10:03,600
So, my daughter heard her screaming,
saying she was gonna kick my ass.

204
00:10:03,667 --> 00:10:08,367
And I had surgery.
I had a brain aneurism three years ago.

205
00:10:08,433 --> 00:10:09,867
I had coils put in my brain.

206
00:10:09,934 --> 00:10:13,033
I'm not gonna try
to go fight with anybody,

207
00:10:13,100 --> 00:10:16,500
because that literally could end my life.

208
00:10:16,567 --> 00:10:19,400
And all my daughter did was
push her away from us.

209
00:10:19,467 --> 00:10:22,533
And then, I grabbed my daughter
and said, "Get in the house."

210
00:10:22,600 --> 00:10:24,533
Can you put up Exhibit Five, please?

211
00:10:24,600 --> 00:10:28,967
Ms. Chepelnik, your defense in this case
is essentially, we're even.

212
00:10:29,033 --> 00:10:31,100
'Cause they busted me up
pretty badly.

213
00:10:31,166 --> 00:10:36,165
I'd like you to describe what happened
after you jumped out the window.

214
00:10:36,233 --> 00:10:40,066
Um, I went walkin' over
towards in front of the garage.

215
00:10:40,133 --> 00:10:42,767
Um, they both come runnin' out
to in front of the garage.

216
00:10:42,834 --> 00:10:45,667
Her daughter just immediately
starts punching me in the face.

217
00:10:45,734 --> 00:10:47,633
She grabbed my hair,
was holding me down.

218
00:10:47,700 --> 00:10:49,400
I was in the fetal position.

219
00:10:49,467 --> 00:10:52,633
Our neighbor was outside
with her three and her five year old.

220
00:10:52,700 --> 00:10:54,400
And you did it in front of them.

221
00:10:54,467 --> 00:10:57,333
[Acker] Now, let's talk
about the injuries that you maintain

222
00:10:57,400 --> 00:11:00,400
offset whatever damage
you may have caused to her car.

223
00:11:00,467 --> 00:11:03,600
Exhibit Five, you submitted
to show your injuries.

224
00:11:03,667 --> 00:11:04,767
I'm not seeing them.

225
00:11:04,834 --> 00:11:07,867
Well, that's about two weeks old,
because I got arrested

226
00:11:07,934 --> 00:11:10,600
off of a warrant
when the police were called for--

227
00:11:10,667 --> 00:11:13,734
When the police came,
they arrested you on a warrant--

228
00:11:13,800 --> 00:11:16,667
Because of the warrant in Florida,
which my attorney was working on.

229
00:11:16,734 --> 00:11:18,500
-An unrelated matter.
-Correct, unrelated matter.

230
00:11:18,567 --> 00:11:20,667
And then, you were extradited to Florida?

231
00:11:20,734 --> 00:11:22,300
Yeah, and it cost me $10,000.

232
00:11:22,367 --> 00:11:24,200
You say that like we should care.

233
00:11:24,266 --> 00:11:27,467
Wait-wait. You say it cost you $10,000

234
00:11:27,533 --> 00:11:29,900
like that's anybody's problem or fault
but yours.

235
00:11:29,967 --> 00:11:31,000
It is my fault.

236
00:11:31,066 --> 00:11:35,165
I think you would feel much better
moving forward

237
00:11:35,233 --> 00:11:38,100
if you didn't come off looking like
some out of control idiot

238
00:11:38,165 --> 00:11:40,333
who throws stuff,
jumps out of windows,

239
00:11:40,400 --> 00:11:42,900
and then says,
"You know what, it's all even."

240
00:11:42,967 --> 00:11:45,600
Like, are you in therapy?

241
00:11:45,667 --> 00:11:47,467
Yes, I do work on myself.

242
00:11:47,533 --> 00:11:49,900
I-I... You need
to do a lot of work on yourself.

243
00:11:49,967 --> 00:11:54,200
'Cause you know what, one day,
somebody's gonna hurt you back very badly,

244
00:11:54,266 --> 00:11:56,734
or you're gonna end up
in a different type of courtroom,

245
00:11:56,800 --> 00:11:59,233
where the consequences will be
far more severe.

246
00:11:59,300 --> 00:12:00,400
Judge DiMango?

247
00:12:00,467 --> 00:12:02,033
[DiMango]
I've come to trust my judgment.

248
00:12:02,100 --> 00:12:05,367
And you're either drunk or mentally ill.

249
00:12:05,433 --> 00:12:10,700
But you're not a regular sane,
walking the street, normal person.

250
00:12:10,767 --> 00:12:12,333
Especially in that video.

251
00:12:12,400 --> 00:12:15,333
What were you hoping was gonna happen
after you threw the bricks,

252
00:12:15,400 --> 00:12:17,867
after you started screaming and cursing?

253
00:12:17,934 --> 00:12:19,333
What was your endgame?

254
00:12:19,400 --> 00:12:22,600
It was... no endgame.
There was no good endgame.

255
00:12:22,667 --> 00:12:25,800
True sign of a problem person.
What were the charges in Florida?

256
00:12:25,867 --> 00:12:28,500
-The charge in Florida?
-[DiMango] Yeah. What'd you do?

257
00:12:28,567 --> 00:12:31,600
-Violation of probation.
-I'm sorry. What was it?

258
00:12:31,667 --> 00:12:33,000
[Maria]
Violation of probation.

259
00:12:33,066 --> 00:12:34,700
What were you on probation for?

260
00:12:34,767 --> 00:12:36,700
Probation for, um...

261
00:12:36,767 --> 00:12:38,266
[DiMango]
You would believe me...

262
00:12:38,333 --> 00:12:40,367
Something completely unrelated
to this case...

263
00:12:40,433 --> 00:12:44,667
What? Because you are presenting someone

264
00:12:44,734 --> 00:12:47,700
who has basically
rehabilitated themselves,

265
00:12:47,767 --> 00:12:50,333
working on themselves and all,
and the bottom line is

266
00:12:50,400 --> 00:12:52,633
you can't take care of anything
about your life.

267
00:12:52,700 --> 00:12:55,867
I would've come in this courtroom if
I were you with a paper bag over my head.

268
00:12:55,934 --> 00:12:59,165
But for you, you have a different burden.
Your burden is

269
00:12:59,233 --> 00:13:01,900
not to show she's a fool,
but to show your damages.

270
00:13:01,967 --> 00:13:04,567
So, with regard to your damages,
show me some proof

271
00:13:04,633 --> 00:13:06,900
that this is actually
going to your windshields,

272
00:13:06,967 --> 00:13:08,967
-the money you're asking for.
-The reason, Your Honor,

273
00:13:09,033 --> 00:13:12,400
that I have not replaced the windshield
and rear window is

274
00:13:12,467 --> 00:13:17,333
because of the money.
I don't have $2,000 to pull out--

275
00:13:17,400 --> 00:13:19,200
What did it cost you to do the other?

276
00:13:19,266 --> 00:13:21,900
To repair the tires,
to pull out the dents. What--

277
00:13:21,967 --> 00:13:24,533
-It didn't cost me anything.
-[DiMango] How did that happen?

278
00:13:24,600 --> 00:13:27,867
Because my brother, he knows cars.

279
00:13:27,934 --> 00:13:29,934
-He pulled the dents out for me.
-Uh-huh.

280
00:13:30,000 --> 00:13:34,033
He took zip-ties, granted it's not
probably the safest way

281
00:13:34,100 --> 00:13:38,066
to go about putting a bumper back on,
but it wasn't totally broken.

282
00:13:38,133 --> 00:13:40,433
Were you living in the apartment
pursuant to a lease?

283
00:13:40,500 --> 00:13:41,600
Yes.

284
00:13:41,667 --> 00:13:43,800
What was term of your lease
when you first got there?

285
00:13:43,867 --> 00:13:46,867
When I first moved into my lease,
it was a year lease.

286
00:13:46,934 --> 00:13:49,533
-[DiMango] Mm-hmm.
-Um, and then, after a year,

287
00:13:49,600 --> 00:13:51,700
we went to month-to-month lease.

288
00:13:51,767 --> 00:13:54,967
I wasn't planning on moving
out of that place anytime soon.

289
00:13:55,033 --> 00:13:56,467
I liked my location.

290
00:13:56,533 --> 00:14:00,200
Why would she want to live where you are?
You knew you were pushing her out.

291
00:14:01,834 --> 00:14:04,433
[narrator]
Coming up on Tribunal Justice...

292
00:14:04,500 --> 00:14:06,200
I'm looking for
violation of probation here.

293
00:14:06,266 --> 00:14:07,667
And I don't see it anywhere.

294
00:14:07,734 --> 00:14:08,900
I see stalking.

295
00:14:08,967 --> 00:14:11,967
That's the charge.
You were stalking someone, right?

296
00:14:16,600 --> 00:14:19,633
[narrator] Stevie-Marie Bergren
caught neighbor Maria Chepelnik

297
00:14:19,700 --> 00:14:23,200
smashing her car windows and
claims her family moved for their safety.

298
00:14:23,266 --> 00:14:27,333
She's suing for $6,000 in damages
and moving expenses.

299
00:14:27,400 --> 00:14:29,367
But Maria claims they're even

300
00:14:29,433 --> 00:14:32,500
after Stevie-Marie and her daughter
brutally attacked her.

301
00:14:32,567 --> 00:14:34,367
You knew you were pushing her out.

302
00:14:34,433 --> 00:14:36,000
I wanted the car out of there, that's all.

303
00:14:36,066 --> 00:14:37,567
What if she was having a bad day?

304
00:14:37,633 --> 00:14:40,867
You're justifying your behavior
by saying it was a bad day for me.

305
00:14:40,934 --> 00:14:43,066
Have you seen what the yard looks like?

306
00:14:43,133 --> 00:14:47,934
[DiMango] You cannot defend that behavior
by saying, "I can do that."

307
00:14:48,000 --> 00:14:51,266
It's not right, what I did.
I'm not proud of what I did.

308
00:14:51,333 --> 00:14:53,734
Proud? I mean,
that's like even stretching it.

309
00:14:53,800 --> 00:14:56,033
If I could go back,
I wouldn't have done what I did.

310
00:14:56,100 --> 00:14:59,500
But you did it in this courtroom.
The first words out of your mouth were,

311
00:14:59,567 --> 00:15:02,133
"It's a piece of [bleep]." Really?

312
00:15:02,200 --> 00:15:05,867
And so, that's how you've decided
to change your behavior.

313
00:15:05,934 --> 00:15:07,333
That's the better you?

314
00:15:07,400 --> 00:15:09,667
No, I've been working on it
for quite a while...

315
00:15:09,734 --> 00:15:11,333
Well, work a little harder,

316
00:15:11,400 --> 00:15:13,834
because you should be in heavy counseling.

317
00:15:13,900 --> 00:15:16,300
Believe me. That behavior is absurd.

318
00:15:16,367 --> 00:15:18,767
I want to ask you another question
about the damages here.

319
00:15:18,834 --> 00:15:22,200
There's no way I would stay in a place
with this lunatic living next to me.

320
00:15:22,266 --> 00:15:25,567
So, for your purposes,
you want to move.

321
00:15:25,633 --> 00:15:28,533
You have to pay your first month's rent.
You really weren't ready to do that.

322
00:15:28,600 --> 00:15:30,900
My real concern is with the money
you're asking for,

323
00:15:30,967 --> 00:15:34,200
which would be your security deposit,
$3,300.

324
00:15:34,266 --> 00:15:37,100
And the reason why
I have a real problem with that is

325
00:15:37,165 --> 00:15:38,967
because that's an anticipated loss.

326
00:15:39,033 --> 00:15:41,934
If you took care of your premises
and you moved,

327
00:15:42,000 --> 00:15:44,367
they would give you back your $3,300.

328
00:15:44,433 --> 00:15:46,934
So, if I were to say,
"Okay, we'll give you $3,300,"

329
00:15:47,000 --> 00:15:49,433
you'd be getting a windfall,
should you choose to move.

330
00:15:49,500 --> 00:15:53,000
Granted, yes, it is a deposit,
and I am liable to get it back.

331
00:15:53,066 --> 00:15:56,800
But I also had to borrow money
from family to move out of that place.

332
00:15:56,867 --> 00:15:59,867
I mean, I get that. But ultimately,
they will be paid back.

333
00:15:59,934 --> 00:16:02,166
That's the way it goes
when you borrow money.

334
00:16:02,233 --> 00:16:03,800
I don't have any other questions.

335
00:16:03,867 --> 00:16:07,533
I do. Ms. Chepelnik, what do you do
to support yourself?

336
00:16:07,600 --> 00:16:09,467
I'm a real estate investor.

337
00:16:09,533 --> 00:16:11,166
How long you been doin' that?

338
00:16:11,233 --> 00:16:12,633
A couple years now.

339
00:16:12,700 --> 00:16:14,500
What's your portfolio look like?

340
00:16:14,567 --> 00:16:17,900
It's personal.
I don't publicize my stuff.

341
00:16:17,967 --> 00:16:20,333
Got it. You know,
you did mention this assault

342
00:16:20,400 --> 00:16:22,033
that you claim to have suffered

343
00:16:22,100 --> 00:16:25,400
at the hands of the plaintiff
and her daughter.

344
00:16:25,467 --> 00:16:29,500
Viciously and violently assaulted
by the two of them, right?

345
00:16:29,567 --> 00:16:30,567
Yeah.

346
00:16:30,633 --> 00:16:34,533
Now the police show up.
What did you do when the police arrived?

347
00:16:34,600 --> 00:16:38,066
I went and laid down curled up in a ball
next to my bed,

348
00:16:38,133 --> 00:16:40,467
waited to get picked up.
That's what I did.

349
00:16:40,533 --> 00:16:42,900
[Levy] You weren't hiding
from the police, were you?

350
00:16:42,967 --> 00:16:45,400
No, I wasn't.
I have cameras all over my apartment, too.

351
00:16:45,467 --> 00:16:47,967
Because you would have no reason
to lie to the police,

352
00:16:48,033 --> 00:16:51,767
because you were the victim here.
You were physically assaulted, right?

353
00:16:51,834 --> 00:16:53,165
Yeah, I was assaulted.

354
00:16:53,233 --> 00:16:55,266
[Levy] Okay. You said
the police came into your home?

355
00:16:55,333 --> 00:16:56,400
[Maria]
Yes.

356
00:16:56,467 --> 00:16:58,867
[Levy] Did you let them in
or did they let themselves in?

357
00:16:58,934 --> 00:17:00,266
Uh, the door was open.

358
00:17:00,333 --> 00:17:03,667
Do you know there's a warrant
outstanding for your arrest in Florida...

359
00:17:03,734 --> 00:17:05,300
-Yes.
-[Levy] You did know.

360
00:17:05,367 --> 00:17:07,666
Yes, my attorneys were working on it.
Absolutely.

361
00:17:07,733 --> 00:17:12,200
And you say that it cost you $10,000
for that. Are you sure about that?

362
00:17:12,266 --> 00:17:13,700
Yeah, five and five.

363
00:17:13,767 --> 00:17:15,165
-[Levy] Five and five.
-Mm-hmm.

364
00:17:15,233 --> 00:17:17,200
Fifty thousand and fifty thousand.
A hundred thousand.

365
00:17:17,266 --> 00:17:18,733
-That's $10,000.
-That's two charges.

366
00:17:18,800 --> 00:17:20,599
You said it was a violation of probation.

367
00:17:20,666 --> 00:17:22,233
What other charge did you have?

368
00:17:22,300 --> 00:17:23,800
Um...

369
00:17:23,867 --> 00:17:26,934
I don't know what the other charge is.

370
00:17:27,000 --> 00:17:31,166
Hand this over, please, Cassandra.
Hand this over to the defendant.

371
00:17:31,233 --> 00:17:33,266
Show her that document.
It's the warrant.

372
00:17:33,333 --> 00:17:35,867
And it's the bail receipt
from the state of Florida.

373
00:17:35,934 --> 00:17:39,533
Let's see if that helps refresh your
recollection as to how much your bail was.

374
00:17:39,600 --> 00:17:41,734
'Cause I'm looking
for violation of probation here,

375
00:17:41,800 --> 00:17:44,333
and I don't see it anywhere.
I see stalking.

376
00:17:44,400 --> 00:17:47,734
That's the charge.
You were stalking someone. Right?

377
00:17:47,800 --> 00:17:50,266
That's a charge, but it's not...

378
00:17:50,333 --> 00:17:51,867
[Levy]
Oh, you remember now.

379
00:17:51,934 --> 00:17:54,600
There's too many things even
to be going on with this.

380
00:17:54,667 --> 00:17:56,800
[Levy] Listen,
let's understand something, ma'am.

381
00:17:56,867 --> 00:17:58,200
The reason you're here is

382
00:17:58,266 --> 00:18:02,100
because besides your big real estate
portfolio that you have,

383
00:18:02,166 --> 00:18:06,133
you didn't have enough money
to fix what you damaged.

384
00:18:06,200 --> 00:18:07,867
That's why you're here.

385
00:18:07,934 --> 00:18:10,633
And the other charge,
before I go by the way,

386
00:18:10,700 --> 00:18:12,900
it's a D.W.I. and a V.O.P.

387
00:18:12,967 --> 00:18:15,467
That's what you had in your record, right?

388
00:18:15,533 --> 00:18:16,633
Yes, Your Honor.

389
00:18:16,700 --> 00:18:19,867
With respect to the injuries
that you claim the plaintiff

390
00:18:19,934 --> 00:18:23,066
and her daughter
caused you on the 26th,

391
00:18:23,133 --> 00:18:26,233
you provided us with a police report,
didn't you, of this incident?

392
00:18:26,300 --> 00:18:28,033
-Mm-hmm.
-[Levy] You did. Great.

393
00:18:28,100 --> 00:18:32,467
What the police said in that report
that they went inside

394
00:18:32,533 --> 00:18:35,734
and "Chepelnik saw me."
That's the police officer.

395
00:18:35,800 --> 00:18:38,367
"Chepelnik ran to the back of the house."

396
00:18:38,433 --> 00:18:42,000
That officer and another officer
"entered the bedroom

397
00:18:42,066 --> 00:18:47,633
where Chepelnik had ran,
and she was found hiding under a bed

398
00:18:47,700 --> 00:18:50,967
and remained motionless
in a ball on the floor.

399
00:18:51,033 --> 00:18:54,900
She was placed in handcuffs
and advised she was under arrest

400
00:18:54,967 --> 00:18:58,467
for a warrant. Chepelnik was placed
in a squad car

401
00:18:58,533 --> 00:19:01,000
while the warrant was being confirmed."

402
00:19:01,066 --> 00:19:05,266
Why don't you tell us what you did
to yourself in the squad car?

403
00:19:05,333 --> 00:19:07,233
Oh, I was upset in the squad car.

404
00:19:07,300 --> 00:19:10,166
And I hit my head again
on top of already being hit.

405
00:19:10,233 --> 00:19:12,967
There we go.
Chepelnik at one point

406
00:19:13,033 --> 00:19:15,467
hit her head on my partition.

407
00:19:15,533 --> 00:19:18,066
So, you're handcuffed,
and you're banging your head.

408
00:19:18,133 --> 00:19:21,133
And you were told to stop or what?

409
00:19:21,200 --> 00:19:23,934
What did the police say
they were gonna do to you?

410
00:19:24,000 --> 00:19:25,300
Hobble you.

411
00:19:25,367 --> 00:19:26,800
What's hobble mean?

412
00:19:26,867 --> 00:19:29,400
Kind of like when you put a steer over
and you tie their arms...

413
00:19:29,467 --> 00:19:31,700
-A steer?
-Yep, and their legs together

414
00:19:31,767 --> 00:19:33,633
-and you put 'em on their stomach.
-Mm-hmm.

415
00:19:33,700 --> 00:19:35,066
So they don't move around.

416
00:19:35,133 --> 00:19:37,233
-[Britt] Yeah, hog-tie basically.
-[Levy] Hog-tie.

417
00:19:37,300 --> 00:19:40,567
Yeah. That's what the told you
they were gonna do to you

418
00:19:40,633 --> 00:19:43,233
-Yeah.
-if you stopped acting all crazy on them.

419
00:19:43,300 --> 00:19:45,333
And then, they took you to the hospital

420
00:19:45,400 --> 00:19:47,834
because of you banging your head
against the partition.

421
00:19:47,900 --> 00:19:50,867
And that's why you went to the hospital
and it cost you $700.

422
00:19:50,934 --> 00:19:53,100
You should've just paid her.
And by the way,

423
00:19:53,166 --> 00:19:56,100
if I were you, I'd have taken my kids
and moved out of there, too,

424
00:19:56,166 --> 00:19:57,867
and sued her for the moving expenses.

425
00:19:57,934 --> 00:20:00,066
-I got nothing further.
-That's what I'm trying to do.

426
00:20:00,133 --> 00:20:01,233
Nothing from me, Judge.

427
00:20:01,300 --> 00:20:04,266
Then we're going to retire to deliberate
at this time. Thank you.

428
00:20:04,333 --> 00:20:07,233
Court is now in recess.
Parties will be recalled.

429
00:20:14,600 --> 00:20:18,367
I think we can all agree
it was an unprovoked attack

430
00:20:18,433 --> 00:20:20,066
against the plaintiff's property.

431
00:20:20,133 --> 00:20:23,667
The defendant, as she is
so unable to control herself

432
00:20:23,734 --> 00:20:26,700
on the 26th of August
and is damaging the vehicle,

433
00:20:26,767 --> 00:20:30,800
she's also cursing and screaming.
But she's not directing her words

434
00:20:30,867 --> 00:20:33,967
only at the plaintiff,
but at her children, too.

435
00:20:34,033 --> 00:20:37,867
I think the testimony is clear,
as is the evidence,

436
00:20:37,934 --> 00:20:40,667
that the defendant caused the damage
to the windshield.

437
00:20:40,734 --> 00:20:45,400
And sure, the cost to repair it
is probably more than the car's worth.

438
00:20:45,467 --> 00:20:49,100
But the car's worth more to the plaintiff,
'cause she needs it to go to work.

439
00:20:49,166 --> 00:20:52,033
And she can't drive that car
without those windshields.

440
00:20:52,100 --> 00:20:56,233
The defendant, in my opinion,
she owes that $2,007.

441
00:20:56,300 --> 00:21:00,734
As far as the moving expenses, listen,
I know there's some speculation involved

442
00:21:00,800 --> 00:21:03,700
and there's issues
with respect to security deposits

443
00:21:03,767 --> 00:21:05,533
and whether she's gonna get that back.

444
00:21:05,600 --> 00:21:08,667
But at the end of the day, she clearly
doesn't have the disposable income,

445
00:21:08,734 --> 00:21:11,467
and she shouldn't have to borrow it
from her parents or her friends

446
00:21:11,533 --> 00:21:13,834
to put down security deposits,
first and last month's rent.

447
00:21:13,900 --> 00:21:18,367
Not when the reason for her moving
is because of that.

448
00:21:18,433 --> 00:21:21,100
That conduct. And she's a violent person.

449
00:21:21,166 --> 00:21:23,467
I think that the plaintiff
did the only thing

450
00:21:23,533 --> 00:21:25,967
that a responsible parent would've
done at that time,

451
00:21:26,033 --> 00:21:27,934
which was get the hell out of Dodge.

452
00:21:28,000 --> 00:21:31,100
I think it's reasonable and
I would give her everything she asked for.

453
00:21:31,166 --> 00:21:35,767
Candidly, if she'd brought a claim for...
let's just say the car's worth $500.

454
00:21:35,834 --> 00:21:39,467
If she brought a $500 claim
for property damage

455
00:21:39,533 --> 00:21:43,266
and then asked for $5,500
in emotional distress,

456
00:21:43,333 --> 00:21:46,300
I'd give it to her.
You know, there are so many ways

457
00:21:46,367 --> 00:21:49,734
in which these injuries
add up to $6,000.

458
00:21:49,800 --> 00:21:52,667
If she had a lawyer whispering in her ear,
somebody would say,

459
00:21:52,734 --> 00:21:54,967
"Don't call it moving expenses,

460
00:21:55,033 --> 00:21:57,800
you're moving because you are
emotionally distressed.

461
00:21:57,867 --> 00:22:01,600
Call it emotional distress damages."
I mean, the defendant's out of control.

462
00:22:01,667 --> 00:22:04,266
So I have no problem giving her
everything she's asked for.

463
00:22:04,333 --> 00:22:05,967
This is how this all pans out for me.

464
00:22:06,033 --> 00:22:08,533
The fact that this woman
was throwing rocks,

465
00:22:08,600 --> 00:22:10,767
there's no defense in criminal mischief,
number one.

466
00:22:10,834 --> 00:22:14,533
Number two, for that vehicle
to be drivable, and it was drivable,

467
00:22:14,600 --> 00:22:18,700
she needed to replace those windows.
So I have no problem with all the damage.

468
00:22:18,767 --> 00:22:22,000
I was just curious as to
why she was doing certain things.

469
00:22:22,066 --> 00:22:25,667
But clearly, I had no dispute
as to the cost of those windows

470
00:22:25,734 --> 00:22:26,967
and the cost to repair them.

471
00:22:27,033 --> 00:22:31,100
And that's the only way that vehicle
could go back to being driven.

472
00:22:31,166 --> 00:22:33,600
So, I was looking at the damages

473
00:22:33,667 --> 00:22:37,033
with regard to the $3,300
as punitive damages

474
00:22:37,100 --> 00:22:39,700
-for her aggressive, agitated behavior.
-Mm-hmm.

475
00:22:39,767 --> 00:22:42,467
And she moved out immediately
for fear of her safety.

476
00:22:42,533 --> 00:22:45,934
It was provoked and prompted
by the defendant's egregious behavior.

477
00:22:46,000 --> 00:22:47,700
So, for all those reasons,

478
00:22:47,767 --> 00:22:50,700
I'm willing to give the plaintiff
everything she's asked for.

479
00:22:50,767 --> 00:22:52,533
-Super. Unanimous.
-Mm-hmm.

480
00:22:56,266 --> 00:22:57,467
Court is back in session.

481
00:22:57,533 --> 00:22:59,667
Parties are reminded
that you're under oath still.

482
00:22:59,734 --> 00:23:03,033
Thank you. Ms. Bergren,
you came in here suing the defendant

483
00:23:03,100 --> 00:23:05,433
and seeking $6,000 in damages.

484
00:23:05,500 --> 00:23:08,967
Two thousand for the vehicle
and $4,000 for moving expenses.

485
00:23:09,033 --> 00:23:10,100
Correct.

486
00:23:10,166 --> 00:23:12,834
The $2,000 is easy. The video proved it.

487
00:23:12,900 --> 00:23:15,233
The moving expenses,
a little more difficult,

488
00:23:15,300 --> 00:23:18,500
but it doesn't make a difference.
As Judge Acker indicated,

489
00:23:18,567 --> 00:23:22,433
this conduct on the part
of the defendant was so outrageous,

490
00:23:22,500 --> 00:23:24,867
it could either be considered
punitive damages

491
00:23:24,934 --> 00:23:27,266
or emotional distress that she caused you.

492
00:23:27,333 --> 00:23:29,867
So, whether or not
it's emotional distress,

493
00:23:29,934 --> 00:23:32,934
punitive, or actual compensatory damages

494
00:23:33,000 --> 00:23:35,867
for having to borrow money
from someone else

495
00:23:35,934 --> 00:23:38,834
to put down a first month's,
last month's and security.

496
00:23:38,900 --> 00:23:41,133
The unanimous verdict of the court is

497
00:23:41,200 --> 00:23:45,100
that you get every penny
you are asking for, $6,000 in your favor.

498
00:23:45,166 --> 00:23:46,900
Good luck. And to you too, ma'am.

499
00:23:46,967 --> 00:23:48,400
-Thank you, Your Honor.
-[gavel bangs]

500
00:23:48,467 --> 00:23:50,967
This case has concluded.
All parties are excused.

501
00:23:54,633 --> 00:23:57,767
Man, she was already a problem
before I even was in there.

502
00:23:57,834 --> 00:24:01,767
The lies that she told
I guess were kinda humorous.

503
00:24:01,834 --> 00:24:03,066
No.

504
00:24:03,133 --> 00:24:07,367
I think, honestly, that she was
under the influence of something.

505
00:24:07,433 --> 00:24:09,000
Everybody has bad days sometimes.

506
00:24:09,066 --> 00:24:10,867
Always look out for cameras.

507
00:24:10,934 --> 00:24:12,633
I already knew I was on camera.

508
00:24:12,700 --> 00:24:14,934
[narrator]
Did someone destroy your property?

509
00:24:15,000 --> 00:24:17,967
Let Tribunal Justice decide your case.

510
00:24:18,033 --> 00:24:22,000
Find us on social media
@TribunalJustice.