Judge Judy [Episode 11961] [Part 1] Best Amazing Cases Season 2O24 Full Episodes HD_2

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Transcript

00:00:00I'm not finished yet.

00:00:01Okay.

00:00:02Why would you feel comfortable about leaving your own children with your sister

00:00:06if you felt that she neglected her own children?

00:00:09This is Judy Justice.

00:00:12Is suing her sister, Tiffany Acuna, for rent and property damage.

00:00:17We're coming to order. All rise.

00:00:20Have a seat, please.

00:00:21Kevin.

00:00:23Case 2109, Noble versus Acuna.

00:00:26You're welcome.

00:00:27Miss Noble, this is your sister.

00:00:29Yes, ma'am.

00:00:30Older or younger?

00:00:31Younger.

00:00:32Any other siblings?

00:00:33Many.

00:00:33How many?

00:00:34I have five sisters and four brothers.

00:00:37And you have kids. How many children do you have?

00:00:39I have three daughters.

00:00:40How old are they?

00:00:4118, 15, and almost 12.

00:00:44And you?

00:00:44I have three children, and they are 10, 5, and 2.

00:00:50There came a time when that was in August of 2021, according to your complaint,

00:00:55that you were having some housing difficulties with your children.

00:00:58No, that's not true.

00:01:00Well, Miss Noble, what led you to believe that your sister was having some housing difficulty?

00:01:05Because you start your complaint by indicating that she was about to become homeless.

00:01:10Her house that she was living in was being put up for sale.

00:01:13So the house that you had been renting.

00:01:17Correct.

00:01:18For how long?

00:01:19About two years.

00:01:19I'm not really sure.

00:01:20It was well over here.

00:01:21It was being sold.

00:01:22Well, I didn't know that until I gave her my notice after I'd already previously asked

00:01:26my sister if we should move in.

00:01:27So you approached her about you moving in with her.

00:01:32Yes, correct.

00:01:32And do you own your own home, Miss Noble?

00:01:34I do.

00:01:34Where you were living, you were living there alone with your three children.

00:01:39Yes.

00:01:39Okay.

00:01:40And how much rent were you paying?

00:01:41$750.

00:01:41Now, when you decided to move in with your sister, what rent was discussed?

00:01:46Well, she had told me about $400 is what she wanted.

00:01:49Okay.

00:01:50So she said the rent was $400 per month.

00:01:53And that was starting August 1st?

00:01:56Right.

00:01:57So this is what part of this case is about.

00:01:59Part of the case is about rent.

00:02:01You lived with your sister from August 1st, 2021, to a date in 2022 when you finally removed

00:02:08all of your property.

00:02:09Kind of.

00:02:10I did not remove all of my property, but I removed what she allowed me to do.

00:02:14To remove on what date?

00:02:15I'm going to say it was mid-May, but I'm not sure.

00:02:19May of 2022.

00:02:21Mm-hmm.

00:02:21So we have August, September, October, November, December, January, February, March, April,

00:02:27May.

00:02:28So between nine and ten months.

00:02:30For the nine or ten months that you were there, how many times did you pay her $400 in rent?

00:02:37She's going to have a list.

00:02:39And I have a list, too, of our...

00:02:40And you have a list.

00:02:41So why don't you take a look at it and give me the exact number of months?

00:02:44The time I paid her $400 was, I think, only one time.

00:02:48And there was other times I paid her different amounts.

00:02:50But our agreement was because I bought all the groceries, we just kept track on this app,

00:02:54which has a list.

00:02:55I paid way over $400 in total.

00:02:58Well...

00:02:59So our agreement had changed.

00:03:00Just a second.

00:03:01Okay.

00:03:01You have an app, ten months.

00:03:03Mm-hmm.

00:03:04How much did you spend on that app?

00:03:07$12,000-something is right in here on the list.

00:03:10Take a look, because you're going to show it to me.

00:03:12I paid total $10,411.

00:03:15Okay.

00:03:16And she?

00:03:17She total was $11,291.

00:03:21And that was to cover groceries, food, gas money.

00:03:26Her phone was under mine.

00:03:27This is something that I'm going to have to simplify.

00:03:30There came a time when there were issues with regard to you not paying her $400 a month rent.

00:03:36And you discussed it with her, correct?

00:03:39And in what month was that?

00:03:41April.

00:03:42It was before April.

00:03:43It was before I had gone on vacation.

00:03:45What month and year?

00:03:47December of 2021.

00:03:49So what I'm reading, in December of 2021, you had a dispute about how much you were spending, how much you weren't spending, and that $400 was not being forthcoming just for rent.

00:04:04You see, I can understand that the two of you decided to split bills, everything other than the $400 rent.

00:04:11You each have three children.

00:04:13You're two adults.

00:04:14Let's get to December.

00:04:15Is it the beginning or middle of December that you had this discussion about just pay $400 a month and we'll deal with it?

00:04:21Maybe the middle.

00:04:22Okay.

00:04:22So we have January, February, March, April, and you moved out in May.

00:04:27Correct.

00:04:27I was kicked out illegally.

00:04:29In May.

00:04:29Yep.

00:04:30Left in May.

00:04:30So that's five months.

00:04:31It was suggested by your landlord that just give me $400 a month and we'll split groceries.

00:04:38In April, I have the proof of the text.

00:04:39Just a second.

00:04:40So we have January, February, March, and April, four months.

00:04:45Did you give her $400 a month for those four months?

00:04:48No, but it was never discussed before.

00:04:50Then I have the proof that it was discussed in April.

00:04:52I'd like to see it.

00:04:54It was discussed in April again.

00:04:57Okay.

00:04:57Just a second.

00:04:57I just want to see the proof.

00:04:58Well, show me if you have proof of an earlier conversation.

00:05:02I don't.

00:05:02I believe that there was an earlier conversation.

00:05:04Let me see the one that occurred in April.

00:05:06It was mainly the receipts.

00:05:08I'm not getting involved with that at all.

00:05:09Right now, you had a place to live with your three children for much less than the $750 a month that you were paying at another residence.

00:05:18Right.

00:05:18And I spent way more on groceries.

00:05:20I did all the groceries.

00:05:21Whatever.

00:05:21Your children didn't eat more.

00:05:23Right.

00:05:23And my children didn't live there the full time.

00:05:25I don't care.

00:05:26Okay.

00:05:26I'm sorry.

00:05:27Can I look on my phone?

00:05:28It might be faster.

00:05:29Is that okay if I show you the text?

00:05:31I don't care where you show it to me.

00:05:32Just show it to me.

00:05:33I'm sorry.

00:05:35Oh, yeah.

00:05:35So I apologize.

00:05:37Okay.

00:05:38I apologize.

00:05:39Sorry.

00:05:40Tiffany hands her phone to Kevin.

00:05:42On April 24th.

00:05:43And then you can scroll down because she kind of keeps for a couple days.

00:05:48Kevin brings the phone to Judy, who reviews it.

00:05:57Oh, that wasn't an agreement, madam.

00:05:59These were final acts of desperation to get you to pay $400 a month.

00:06:03Here.

00:06:04That was the first time I'd heard, yeah, about her.

00:06:06Oh, no, no, no, no.

00:06:07That wasn't the first time you heard about it.

00:06:09Right.

00:06:09Because the first line is, $400 better be under my door.

00:06:13Right.

00:06:14So that's not the first time you heard about it.

00:06:17Right.

00:06:17That's an act of desperation.

00:06:19Okay.

00:06:20So you had this conversation with her in December, and she was there until May.

00:06:25And according to you, you've only paid $400 once.

00:06:28That's $2,000.

00:06:30By the way, how are your children supported?

00:06:32I work.

00:06:33Well, I work, yes.

00:06:34Is that a full-time job or a part-time job?

00:06:37It was part-time.

00:06:37Well, you don't support yourself and your three children with a part-time job.

00:06:41Do you get any child support for them?

00:06:43I did get child support for two of them, yes.

00:06:45For two of them?

00:06:46Mm-hmm.

00:06:46How much child support do you receive?

00:06:48$300.

00:06:48$300 a what?

00:06:50A month.

00:06:50Do you get any other assistance?

00:06:52Yes, I had food stamps.

00:06:54Mm-hmm.

00:06:54Do you still have food stamps?

00:06:56Yes.

00:06:56How much a month?

00:06:58Four or something.

00:06:59I'm not exactly sure.

00:07:00And when you bought food for the household, you used the food stamps as well as your other

00:07:05money from your part-time job and you got it, $400.

00:07:08So far, you owe your sister $2,000.

00:07:11That's for back rent.

00:07:12Now, you want to go through the damages that you allege that your sister caused?

00:07:17Yes.

00:07:17So, I had two couches and those went away.

00:07:23What do you mean both went away?

00:07:24What does that mean?

00:07:25She got rid of them.

00:07:27While she was living there?

00:07:28Mm-hmm.

00:07:29And you knew about it.

00:07:30In what month?

00:07:31It was when I came back from vacation.

00:07:33My things were gone.

00:07:35I'm not following.

00:07:36You were supposed to be gone for two weeks, according to her.

00:07:38No, I was gone for three and a half weeks.

00:07:40You were gone for almost a month.

00:07:41She was babysitting for your children.

00:07:44They don't really need babysat.

00:07:45They're older.

00:07:46Well, your 12-year-old can't live by herself without a mother for a month.

00:07:52No.

00:07:52Okay.

00:07:53And your 18-year-old does what?

00:07:55She works at a hotel.

00:07:56So, she works during the day or at night?

00:07:58She didn't at the time.

00:07:59She was at 17 at the time.

00:08:01You're not going to leave a 17 or 14 and an 11-year-old alone for a month?

00:08:05Of course not.

00:08:05Okay.

00:08:06So, they were home with your sister.

00:08:08Yes.

00:08:08Let's get back to the initial question.

00:08:10I forgot what my question was before I went off on this tangent.

00:08:13Couches.

00:08:14The couches.

00:08:15That's where we're at.

00:08:16Yes.

00:08:16So, you went away for a month.

00:08:18Mm-hmm.

00:08:18And when you came back, couches were gone.

00:08:20Couches.

00:08:21Like, the whole house had transformed into basically her house.

00:08:27I don't care.

00:08:27Basically, her house.

00:08:28I want to know what was missing.

00:08:30So, the couches were missing.

00:08:31Okay.

00:08:31Which couches?

00:08:32Couches from where to where?

00:08:33So, the couch from the living room.

00:08:34It was a sectional and the couch from the basement.

00:08:36Living room and basement.

00:08:37What happened to those couches?

00:08:39Oh, they were gone a long time before.

00:08:40And I can prove you a text of her saying that they were gone before I even moved in, actually, in August.

00:08:44She knew.

00:08:45And her daughter and her boyfriend helped me load them up and take them to the dump.

00:08:48She, in fact, told me she was getting rid of a lot of old furniture she did not care about.

00:08:53I have pictures.

00:08:53Just a second.

00:08:54What you have is proof that those two items were disposed of before she went away on vacation.

00:09:01Wait, before I moved in.

00:09:03Okay.

00:09:03Now, Ms. Noble, your sister says that she has proof that those two couches were disposed of well before you went away on vacation.

00:09:12If she does, I'm not going to be happy with you.

00:09:15Do you understand?

00:09:16Mm-hmm.

00:09:16Were those two couches gone before you went on vacation?

00:09:20I can't recall, but I believe she wanted to make room for her furniture.

00:09:25Just a second.

00:09:26Were those two couches gone before you went on vacation for a month?

00:09:33I know the basement couch wasn't.

00:09:34Okay.

00:09:35I think you're full of baloney.

00:09:37Caption coming up.

00:09:39She started giving my niece video games, movies, my food storage containers.

00:09:43She was just giving my things away.

00:09:45Okay.

00:09:45I went to graduate school after I finished with high school for nine years.

00:09:49I'm not dealing with Tupperware.

00:09:55A courthouse.

00:09:56The Judy Justice logo appears.

00:09:58In the courtroom, Lucinda and Tiffany.

00:10:02Lucinda Noble claims her sister, Tiffany Acuna, owes for rent in property damage.

00:10:08Tiffany is countersuing for an illegal lockout and filing a false CPS report.

00:10:13Okay, let's go.

00:10:16Property taken without permission.

00:10:17What property did she take without your permission?

00:10:20Okay, so the...

00:10:21What part she owes you for rent?

00:10:22The TV stand, she broke it and threw it under the trampoline.

00:10:27What's next?

00:10:28The weed trimmer, she took that.

00:10:30She started giving my niece my belongings while I was gone.

00:10:33She started giving my niece video games, movies, my food storage containers.

00:10:38She was just giving my things away.

00:10:39Okay, she owes you for rent.

00:10:40I went to graduate school after I finished with high school for nine years.

00:10:45I'm not dealing with Tupperware.

00:10:46So far, she owes you $2,000 for rent.

00:10:49Okay, and then there was also the wall damage, the windows, the blinds, the carpet.

00:10:53Well, just a second.

00:10:54Just a second.

00:10:55What wall damage and where?

00:10:57The wall damage is from the room that she was staying in and the room that her boys were staying in.

00:11:01May I see the damage that you're referring to?

00:11:04Lucinda produces photos, then hands them to Kevin.

00:11:06Here's the one more of that, and then here's the blinds, and this was damages from her cat.

00:11:16Kevin brings the photos to Judy, who reviews them.

00:11:23Well, this I can't see at all.

00:11:25Okay, so that I can't see at all.

00:11:26And if you're talking about nail holes, I'm not interested in nail holes, where there were pictures.

00:11:32Putty them up.

00:11:33I don't know what this is a picture of.

00:11:34Tell me.

00:11:35That's where her cat clawed up the carpet to get into her room.

00:11:39Did you replace the carpet?

00:11:40Not yet.

00:11:41Do you have an estimate for replacing or patching that carpet?

00:11:44They don't make that carpet anymore.

00:11:46Okay.

00:11:47I don't know, doctor.

00:11:48How did these blinds get broken?

00:11:49I'm not sure.

00:11:50Are those the ones that were in my bedroom or the kids' bedroom?

00:11:54I really don't know, to be honest.

00:11:56But I do feel like I remember them being broken, but I just don't remember if they were broken when I already moved in or not.

00:12:02I really don't know, ma'am.

00:12:03I mean, honestly, I knew they were broken.

00:12:05It's like I'm remembering, but the house, like I said, was not in a good condition when I moved in.

00:12:10Okay.

00:12:10I'm not talking about the rest of the house.

00:12:12My daughter is actually, Tiffany told her that she knew.

00:12:16She doesn't remember.

00:12:18You tell me that these blinds were in good condition before she and her family moved in.

00:12:23Yes.

00:12:23If she says she doesn't remember, I have to rely on what you say to me, because that's not ordinary wear and tear.

00:12:30No.

00:12:30Do you have a bill for new blinds?

00:12:32From Lowe's, I have the estimate of what it will cost to replace them.

00:12:38Okay.

00:12:39I'd like to see it.

00:12:40Lucinda hands a document to Kevin.

00:12:42You do have a cat?

00:12:44Yes, I have one cat.

00:12:46Okay.

00:12:46She has multiple.

00:12:47Kevin hands the document to Judy, who reviews it.

00:12:50So we're talking about $47.98.

00:12:53Times two.

00:12:54Okay.

00:12:55Anything else?

00:12:56Any other...

00:12:56For two blinds.

00:12:57I only see one.

00:12:59No, those are two different windows.

00:13:00Oh.

00:13:01Times two.

00:13:02You're right.

00:13:03Anything else?

00:13:04I have to remove the junk that she left at my house.

00:13:06I was not allowed at her house.

00:13:08What else?

00:13:08That's...

00:13:09Okay.

00:13:09If you have to think that hard, then we're finished.

00:13:11We're moving over to the countersuit.

00:13:13Okay.

00:13:13Counterclaim is for an illegal lockout.

00:13:16Okay.

00:13:16Let me run through this illegal lockout and dispose of it quickly.

00:13:20The illegal lockout that you're referring to happened when your sister, who shouldn't have, took the door off your bedroom.

00:13:29Correct.

00:13:29She says she took the door off your bedroom because you weren't paying close enough attention to your children.

00:13:36Correct.

00:13:37And I assume she's talking about the two-year-old.

00:13:40Correct.

00:13:41And when she took the door off your bedroom, you called the police.

00:13:45Right.

00:13:46Yep.

00:13:46I called the police.

00:13:47I have the internet report.

00:13:47Yep.

00:13:48Yes.

00:13:48You called the police.

00:13:49Mm-hmm.

00:13:49And the police came.

00:13:51And when the police came on...

00:13:52Do we have the date?

00:13:5326.

00:13:5426.

00:13:54April.

00:13:55The police arrived, and they told her she couldn't lock the door, and you were let in.

00:13:59Correct.

00:14:00Okay.

00:14:01So, not egregious enough for me to have to deal with two sisters fighting.

00:14:05But the other part of your claim is that your sister filed a false CPS report.

00:14:11Right.

00:14:12And first, how do you know a CPS report was called in?

00:14:16Well, they called me.

00:14:19Child Protective Services.

00:14:21Right.

00:14:21They did call me.

00:14:22But first, I actually had the phone call from my sister, my witness, who is here right

00:14:26now, because she had pre-warned me, because she had gotten the phone call from the sister

00:14:30saying, Lucy is going to call on you.

00:14:32Okay.

00:14:33Do you want to step up?

00:14:34Sure.

00:14:34Tell me your name.

00:14:35My name's Stephanie Aslett.

00:14:36I'm the older sister for these two.

00:14:39Yeah.

00:14:39When did you have a conversation with Ms. Noble about the defendant's children?

00:14:46The same night that the cops were called.

00:14:48Tiffany had called me because Lucy's daughter had crawled through the window and opened the

00:14:52door.

00:14:52So, you spoke to Lucinda?

00:14:54Yes.

00:14:55On April 26th.

00:14:56Yes.

00:14:57Did you call her or did she call you?

00:14:58She had called me because she wanted to let me know that the cops had been called.

00:15:02Do you recall that conversation?

00:15:03Yes, I do.

00:15:04Okay.

00:15:04Tell me about the conversation.

00:15:06She called to let me know that she was letting me know that since I was the only one probably

00:15:10capable or in this position to take on a child if CPS was involved, because the two-year-old

00:15:15would not be able to go to his father.

00:15:17He was in prison at the time.

00:15:18And I was like, why are you calling and telling me this?

00:15:21Tiffany's a good mom.

00:15:22What's going on?

00:15:22And she goes, no, she's not.

00:15:24I've already called CPS and forewarned them that this is happening.

00:15:27She needs to be taken care of.

00:15:29What's happening?

00:15:30Apparently, there was lice on her daughter when she was at her father's house.

00:15:33And the two-year-old, apparently, he was running around with a wet diaper.

00:15:36Who was taken to their father's house?

00:15:38The daughter that had the lice was...

00:15:41The daughter was the five-year-old?

00:15:42Yes.

00:15:43Okay, not the two-year-old.

00:15:44Yeah.

00:15:45She supposedly had lice while she was at her dad's.

00:15:47Went to her father's.

00:15:49And that was sometime in April.

00:15:51Is that correct?

00:15:51Yes.

00:15:52And got head lice.

00:15:54Well, he had told me.

00:15:55I wasn't for sure, but I'd let my sister know just in case that she may have lice.

00:15:59Let's check the girls.

00:16:00Okay.

00:16:00And your sister was home at the time?

00:16:02Well, no, she was never home.

00:16:04Everything was over text message because...

00:16:06Just a second.

00:16:06Was that when she was away?

00:16:08She was not staying at the house.

00:16:10Hmm?

00:16:10She was not at the residence.

00:16:11She was staying at her boyfriend's house that was there.

00:16:13Lucinda was staying at her boyfriend's house?

00:16:15Yes.

00:16:16Okay.

00:16:16And that's on the 26th?

00:16:18Yes.

00:16:18Is that after the police were called?

00:16:20That was prior to.

00:16:21Supposedly, the lice was prior to, and that's why she had called them prior to that night.

00:16:25And she was letting me know that she had called them and that I needed to be prepared to take on a two-year-old.

00:16:30What did you tell her?

00:16:31I asked her why she would call them and what was going on.

00:16:34And I said, this is ridiculous.

00:16:36You know that this is ridiculous.

00:16:37And she goes, no, it's justified.

00:16:40And I said, I don't understand.

00:16:42Stan, did she tell you why?

00:16:43Yeah.

00:16:44She tried to tell me that...

00:16:45Well, tell me exactly what she said to you.

00:16:47Why is this justified?

00:16:48I had a comment that Tiffany has not been there.

00:16:50Okay.

00:16:51You had to ask her why.

00:16:52My words to her were, how do you know this when you're never there?

00:16:55And she said?

00:16:56I just know.

00:16:57And gave you no more specifics?

00:16:58No.

00:16:59Okay.

00:16:59Do you want to tell me about that conversation?

00:17:01I never said I was calling CPS.

00:17:04I said someone will.

00:17:05I know the person who did.

00:17:07It wasn't me.

00:17:08Okay.

00:17:09Well...

00:17:09But I knew it was going to be happening.

00:17:11Okay.

00:17:12Stephanie, let's get clear.

00:17:14Okay.

00:17:15When you spoke to Lucinda and she said to you, in effect, are you prepared to take on

00:17:21a two-year-old, did she tell you that someone was calling CPS?

00:17:26No, she did not.

00:17:27She said that she would be the one calling and that she has already contacted them because

00:17:30of the situation at her home.

00:17:32Okay.

00:17:32Now, assuming you and your sister lived alone together, whether you spent time with your

00:17:37boyfriend, I know you have old kids, but you were away.

00:17:40When you were away for that month, were you staying with your boyfriend?

00:17:43Yes.

00:17:43Okay.

00:17:43And you left your kids alone, correct?

00:17:46With my sister.

00:17:47With your sister?

00:17:48Oh.

00:17:49Yeah.

00:17:49Why would you feel comfortable about leaving your own children with your sister if you felt

00:17:54that she neglected her own children?

00:17:56They didn't need the amount of care that a two-year-old does.

00:18:00Are you telling me that a 15-year-old doesn't need a lot of care and watching these days?

00:18:06Or a 12-year-old or an 11-year-old doesn't need a lot of watching and supervising?

00:18:14Is that what you're suggesting to me?

00:18:16Not as much as a two-year-old.

00:18:17Well, one is a physical watching to make sure that it eats and drinks and is bathed periodically.

00:18:25The other two are far more difficult.

00:18:28You've got to have eyes all over the place to watch a 15-year-old and an 11-year-old.

00:18:34You've got to have your eyes on their computer.

00:18:36You've got to have your eyes on their iPad.

00:18:38You have to have your eyes on their schooling, on their homework, on their everything else.

00:18:42You take a month to go off with your boyfriend, that, to me, is not participating with your children,

00:18:47especially since you suggest that your sister, with whom you left your children, was neglecting her own children.

00:18:55Your Honor, I would just like to say that I was reaching out to her a lot of the time, too,

00:19:00where I would get one week, there was nothing.

00:19:02She said, sorry, I had no Wi-Fi.

00:19:04Her children were skipping school.

00:19:06They were not listening to me.

00:19:07They would not do their chores.

00:19:08Do I need you to reinforce what I just said?

00:19:11Right.

00:19:11I don't need you to reinforce what I just said.

00:19:15Caption coming up.

00:19:17You would have had a history with methamphetamines.

00:19:20You refused to meet with caseworkers according to the report you gave me.

00:19:23I have other reports, too, if I may, please.

00:19:26Just, I'm not finished.

00:19:33A courthouse.

00:19:34The Judy Justice logo appears.

00:19:37In the courtroom, Lucinda and Tiffany.

00:19:39Lucinda Noble is accusing her sister, Tiffany Acuna, of refusing to pay for rent.

00:19:47Tiffany claims Lucinda wrongfully reported her to Child Protective Services.

00:19:52Now, do you have something you want to say?

00:19:54Many things, actually.

00:19:56Well, many things.

00:19:57I don't want many things.

00:19:58What I want...

00:19:59Stand up.

00:20:00What I want to know is you're her daughter.

00:20:02Yes.

00:20:03Your first name?

00:20:04Anna Noble.

00:20:05Anna, what do you do?

00:20:06I work front desk at a hotel.

00:20:07Graduated from high school?

00:20:09No.

00:20:09Why?

00:20:10I was pulled out and moved to Missouri.

00:20:13Pulled out by whom?

00:20:14By your mother?

00:20:14Yeah.

00:20:15And when your mother pulled you out, how old were you?

00:20:1817.

00:20:19Had you been going to school before?

00:20:20Yes.

00:20:21In what jurisdiction?

00:20:23It was an alternative school.

00:20:24When you say an alternative school, what kind of an alternative school?

00:20:27For troubled youth.

00:20:29Tell me about your trouble.

00:20:30Was it behavior trouble?

00:20:32It was many things.

00:20:34I was a very wild teenager.

00:20:38I...

00:20:38Until when were you a wild teenager?

00:20:41Until I sent her to live with her dad.

00:20:42I didn't ask you any questions.

00:20:44So now you can sit down.

00:20:46Okay.

00:20:46I'm not going into anything else.

00:20:48Lucinda, so, so far you went away for a month with your boyfriend, leaving your three children,

00:20:54who you say don't need supervision.

00:20:56How long were you home before you took the door off her bedroom?

00:21:00I got back from vacation in February, early February, and the door was removed in April for a few hours.

00:21:06Okay.

00:21:07Do you have any proof other than this conversation that the plaintiff called CPS?

00:21:11I believe it is proof just the thing that was reported is something she would only know.

00:21:16Would that be considered proof?

00:21:18Well, let me hear what was reported.

00:21:21It was reported that I would not treat my child with lice.

00:21:24That was what the CPS report was, and it was unsubstantiated, and I have that all proved.

00:21:29Okay, when your five-year-old went to her father, she went to visit with her father, and children do get head lice.

00:21:36It happens periodically.

00:21:37Lots of children who go to school, who interact with other children, come home, and they get head lice.

00:21:42I've had a lot of children, a lot of grandchildren, and it happens, and you usually treat it.

00:21:47I assume that her father did not treat it.

00:21:49Oh, he did treat it.

00:21:50He told me.

00:21:51He did.

00:21:51He told me immediately.

00:21:52So he treated it.

00:21:53Mm-hmm.

00:21:54So how do you know that the head lice was the nature of the complaint?

00:21:58That's what was on the report.

00:21:59May I see it?

00:22:00Your children weren't removed except for your boy.

00:22:03My one son, uh-huh, and then that lady.

00:22:06And then returned.

00:22:07All three of you.

00:22:08Oh, yeah.

00:22:08All three kids were taken.

00:22:09That's it.

00:22:10Okay.

00:22:13Okay.

00:22:14There you go, sir.

00:22:16Tiffany hands a document to Kevin, who brings it to Judy.

00:22:20She reviews it.

00:22:21Okay.

00:22:24You had a prior history with Child Protective Services.

00:22:27Which I was unaware.

00:22:27That's either a yes or a no.

00:22:29Yep, yes.

00:22:30And during the course of those prior proceedings, which were relatively current Child Protective

00:22:35Proceedings, because that was in 2021, you were clearly drug tested by the Department

00:22:41of Social Services or Child Protective Services.

00:22:43In 2018 or 19.

00:22:45This was at my doctor's prior when I was, and they reported it, that I had killed one of my

00:22:50And at that time, you had an open case, and you tested positive for serious drugs.

00:22:56Right.

00:22:56Very serious drugs.

00:22:58And this says that while under the influence of those drugs, you drove your children to

00:23:03the doctor's office while under the influence.

00:23:05Right.

00:23:06That's the report.

00:23:07Right.

00:23:07Okay.

00:23:08These reports all seem to indicate that they tried and tried to see you, but you kept canceling

00:23:12appointments with them and were a no-show.

00:23:15Well-

00:23:15Okay.

00:23:15That's what this report says.

00:23:17You gave me the report.

00:23:18Right.

00:23:19So let me understand this.

00:23:21After coming in and making an assessment, Child Protective Services determined to file a

00:23:27petition on behalf of your youngest child.

00:23:30Yes, they did.

00:23:31Okay, yeah.

00:23:32Well, after everything I read there, I think that that was probably a good idea.

00:23:36I don't know what happened with that.

00:23:38I assume that the petition was ultimately dismissed if you have your children back with you.

00:23:42Right.

00:23:42Right away.

00:23:42Do you have your children back with you?

00:23:44Yeah, right away.

00:23:44As soon as I went to court that day.

00:23:46That's okay.

00:23:46They determined, after they spoke to you, and irrespective of either her motivation or

00:23:54anybody acting on her behalf or somebody that she knew or her, call Child Protective Services.

00:24:00The question that I'm presented with, was there a basis for concern about your children?

00:24:08No.

00:24:08And based upon the reports that I've read here, and those are reports that you gave me,

00:24:15Right.

00:24:16That those serious questions about what was going on with the young children in your house

00:24:21deserved a second look.

00:24:23You would have had a history with methamphetamines.

00:24:26You had a serious weight loss.

00:24:28You refused to meet with caseworkers according to the report you gave me.

00:24:31I have other reports, too, if I may, please.

00:24:34Just, I'm not, I'm not finished.

00:24:37Okay, good.

00:24:37Because if you've been in family court, as I was for 25 years, often incidents are called

00:24:43in of suspected child abuse and neglect.

00:24:46A caseworker goes out, takes a look, and says, you know, I'll continue to watch it, but I don't

00:24:51have to file a case.

00:24:52It hasn't reached the level where I think that I should file a case and remove a child.

00:24:59In this case, Child Protective Services came and tried to do an investigation, which, according

00:25:05to the worker, you evaded.

00:25:07You missed appointments.

00:25:08You rescheduled.

00:25:09You didn't show up.

00:25:09One time.

00:25:10And then, not one time, they also had a history, a prior history of you involving drugs, involving

00:25:17driving your children under the influence of drugs.

00:25:20Recent history.

00:25:20Didn't happen 20 years ago.

00:25:22If it happened 2019, this says 21.

00:25:25If it happened 2019 or 2020, that's still recent history.

00:25:30So whoever called, it was worth, according to this caseworker, they had sufficient information

00:25:37based upon what they saw and what they knew to remove the two-year-old.

00:25:42So that part of your case is dismissed, which is the only part of the counterclaim

00:25:45that I was really entertaining.

00:25:47You owe your sister $2,096, $2,000 for rent, and $48 for, I forget what it was, blinds.

00:25:57We're done.

00:25:58This court is adjourned.

00:25:59We're done.

00:26:00Tiffany.

00:26:00I had drug tested every month during the time that this happened, and it was like an oopsie

00:26:06under my doctor's supervision.

00:26:07I just helped her and helped her, and she takes advantage and takes advantage.

00:26:10You don't call CPS on your sister when you're the one that took off to Africa for three weeks,

00:26:14four weeks.

00:26:15And this whole thing wasn't about money.

00:26:16It's just I needed someone to tell her, look, you can't take advantage of people anymore.

00:26:21She's still the outcast that everyone's upset with.

00:26:24I'm not the outcast, though, but I'm definitely not helping her anymore.

00:26:27Sarah and Judy.

00:26:28So we've seen it a lot here, claims for unsubstantiated CPS reports being filed and

00:26:35people seeking damages for that.

00:26:37So I'm just wondering, do you think there was a basis?

00:26:39Is that why, obviously, you didn't rule in her favor on the claim of the false CPS report?

00:26:44So there must have been something in there that...

00:26:46You know, when people use Child Protective Services as a retaliation for other behavior,

00:26:52that's always abhorrent.

00:26:53But there are some situations where CPS may be called because someone knows that there is

00:27:00an abuse or neglect and has not done it until the other person irritates them.

00:27:05Well, that's not a false CPS report.

00:27:08It may be motivated by something else, but that's not a false report.

00:27:11And so, in this case, the defendant had a history with CPS, current history with CPS

00:27:17that was relatively serious.

00:27:18Well, then it was a good thing that CPS went.

00:27:21Because that would be basis itself for the claim.

00:27:23It's basis itself.

00:27:24Yeah, basis itself.

00:27:25That alone.

00:27:25And just because she was cleared at the end of the day and has her children back now

00:27:28doesn't mean that it was an unsubstantiated claim.

00:27:31Oh, no.

00:27:31They're watching.

00:27:32Yeah.

00:27:33They're watching.

00:27:34And they should be watching.

00:27:35I don't think any of them are bargains.

00:27:36The 18-year-old daughter who was here, who was a troubled child, according to her,

00:27:42and never graduated from high school, although she's working,

00:27:45because her mother moved her around also a lot,

00:27:49was certainly an inadequate caretaker for the other two younger children.

00:27:52She goes off for a month with her boyfriend.

00:27:54It's amazing how some children just grow up by themselves.

00:27:58Sometimes it works out okay.

00:27:59I don't know, somehow I felt sorry for all of those kids

00:28:04that they're not getting all the loving and nurturing that they should.

00:28:08Hopefully, maybe after today she turns it around.

00:28:11Maybe.

00:28:12Title, Judy Justice.

00:28:13Are you having a family dispute?

00:28:15Go to Judy Justice.

00:28:16You're suing your parents for money that you put into a truck.

00:28:21I'm about to put all my money into it.

00:28:23I want the truck.

00:28:24No, no, no, no.

00:28:25I worked all my life with that truck.

00:28:27I want you to stop it.

00:28:30It's on my work, blood, sweat, and tears.

00:28:32I can't.

00:28:33I need a break.

00:28:34This is Judy Justice.

00:28:37His parents, Dabry and Nathan Celestine,

00:28:40for the repair costs of an 18-wheeler truck.

00:28:44Court, come to order.

00:28:44All rise.

00:28:45Judge Judy enters.

00:28:47Have a seat, please.

00:28:50Hello, Judge.

00:28:50How are you?

00:28:51Case number 2032, Shaw v. Celestine.

00:28:55You're welcome.

00:28:57Mr. Shaw, these are your parents, is that right?

00:28:59Yes, they are.

00:28:59How old are you?

00:29:00I'm 26.

00:29:01Just the very broad framework of this case,

00:29:05you're suing your parents for money that you put into a truck that belongs to them.

00:29:10Correct.

00:29:11And they are counterclaiming for money that they say you owe them

00:29:16for a balance of a dog they purchased for you.

00:29:19Mm-hmm.

00:29:19The truck that you fixed belonged to your parents.

00:29:24Yes, the agreement was it belonged to them.

00:29:26No, the truck that you fixed belonged to your parents.

00:29:28Correct.

00:29:28And what I gather is that you would come into some money.

00:29:32Mm-hmm.

00:29:32Mm-hmm is not an answer.

00:29:33Oh, yes, ma'am.

00:29:34And when did you come into that money?

00:29:36I never came into any money from them after I fixed the truck.

00:29:39Not from them.

00:29:39I didn't say from them that you came into some money.

00:29:43Uh-huh.

00:29:43Uh-huh is not an answer.

00:29:45I'm sorry.

00:29:45Yes, ma'am.

00:29:45I came into some money in October.

00:29:46So I want you to...

00:29:48In October...

00:29:49Mm-hmm.

00:29:49You were not employed.

00:29:51I was employed.

00:29:52By whom?

00:29:53Trucking.

00:29:54Is that their company?

00:29:55No.

00:29:56I was working with them and their brother.

00:29:58So you were working with the family?

00:30:00Yes.

00:30:00Okay.

00:30:01That was in October.

00:30:02Yes, ma'am.

00:30:02October of 2021.

00:30:04Mm-hmm.

00:30:04Uh-huh is not an answer.

00:30:05I mean, yes, ma'am.

00:30:06Yes is an answer.

00:30:06I'm sorry.

00:30:07And how much did you come into?

00:30:09About $10,000 for the month of September and October.

00:30:12And then your father said to you, I assume,

00:30:14you should take some of that money and buy a 16-wheeler truck so that...

00:30:18No, ma'am.

00:30:19Well, how did that happen, sir, that you got possession of your parents' truck?

00:30:24So it...

00:30:24Did you try to buy a truck on your own?

00:30:26Yes, ma'am, I did.

00:30:27Okay.

00:30:28In what month...

00:30:28Just a second.

00:30:30In what month did you try to buy a truck for yourself?

00:30:33January.

00:30:34January of 2022?

00:30:36Yes, ma'am.

00:30:37And tried to buy a truck so that you could have your own truck for long hauling and business.

00:30:43Yes, ma'am.

00:30:44And you went to a dealer and you found a truck that you liked, but you didn't qualify for financing.

00:30:50Yes, ma'am.

00:30:50And how much is a new truck?

00:30:52That truck, it wasn't new.

00:30:53It was a 2015 and they priced it at $60,000.

00:30:56$60,000?

00:30:57Yes, ma'am.

00:30:58And you told your parents about that?

00:31:00Yes, ma'am.

00:31:00And there was a discussion that they had an older truck that wasn't running.

00:31:05It needed minor work.

00:31:06It needed...

00:31:07That was told to me.

00:31:07Okay.

00:31:08So they said to you it needs minor work.

00:31:10Was it running?

00:31:11It was running, but the diamond seal was cracked.

00:31:14So eventually the truck was just going to break down completely.

00:31:18Okay.

00:31:18So you took that truck with the understanding that you were going to repair the truck and

00:31:24then what?

00:31:25To make money.

00:31:26But one...

00:31:27So you would repair the truck and then use it?

00:31:29Yes, ma'am.

00:31:30And you would keep most of the profits from using that truck?

00:31:34I mean, I'm trying to understand what the agreement was.

00:31:36Well, the agreement was my dad, Nathan, told me that the truck was only going to be worth

00:31:40$4,000 to fix, which was a diamond seal.

00:31:43It needs some bushings.

00:31:44It needs something for the exhaust pipe.

00:31:46And I was like, okay.

00:31:47But when the dude kept calling me for the truck and he was like, okay, this needs to be done.

00:31:53But you took the truck into a mechanic?

00:31:54Yes, ma'am.

00:31:55And did they give you an estimate?

00:31:57Yes, ma'am.

00:31:58Okay.

00:31:58Before or after they did the work?

00:32:00They gave me one before, but I don't have that estimate.

00:32:03But I have the one for after.

00:32:05You mean after they completed the work, they sent you a bill?

00:32:08Yes, ma'am.

00:32:09Well, that's not an estimate.

00:32:10An estimate, sir, is when you go in and say, here is a truck.

00:32:13I want you to give me an estimate of what it is to have it fixed.

00:32:17Mm-hmm.

00:32:17And they give you an estimate, and then you determine whether or not you want them to do any or all of that work, right?

00:32:24Yes, ma'am.

00:32:25Okay.

00:32:25I would never bring a truck in to any mechanic or to any dealership mechanic and say, fix it.

00:32:32When they was calling me, telling me additional problems that was wrong, I would call them, which I have my phone records that show that I was also calling them once the dealership called me to fix the truck.

00:32:41Well, just a second.

00:32:42Because some stuff on the truck wasn't able, like, it needed a new gear, it needed new transmission was messed up on the truck.

00:32:49Just a second.

00:32:49All I want is what you're telling me that your father told you to go ahead and fix those things each time you got a call?

00:32:57Yes.

00:32:57Okay, so you would call them in, and your father would not say to you, well, how much is that to fix?

00:33:01Well, yeah, he was, but I had already had a set of amount that I told him that I was willing to spend, which was $10,000.

00:33:07Well, did you spend $10,000?

00:33:09The truck was actually over $10,000.

00:33:11I understand to fix it, but you actually spent the $10,000.

00:33:16$10,900 to the exact.

00:33:18Okay, to fix the truck?

00:33:19Yes, ma'am.

00:33:20And you have the truck?

00:33:22Yes, ma'am.

00:33:22And I think the truck was $13,000 to fix.

00:33:26Yes, ma'am.

00:33:26So you paid the additional $3,000.

00:33:28Yes, ma'am.

00:33:29Now the truck is running?

00:33:30Yes, ma'am, it's running.

00:33:31It was running before, your honor.

00:33:32But it's running now better because there are...

00:33:35Yes, ma'am.

00:33:35Because...

00:33:35We're not using it.

00:33:36Just a second.

00:33:37I can only hear from one of you.

00:33:38He said the truck is in use.

00:33:39You said no.

00:33:40It's not used.

00:33:41Is the truck...

00:33:42No, your honor, I misunderstood what you said.

00:33:43I thought you was talking about the repair.

00:33:45You're saying is the truck operable now?

00:33:47Yes, it's operable, but it's not on the road.

00:33:50It's not on the road?

00:33:50Who cares if it's not on the road?

00:33:52Oh, yes, ma'am.

00:33:52The idea was he was supposed to fix the truck and supposed to be able to use the truck.

00:33:58Yes, ma'am.

00:33:58Is he able to use the truck?

00:34:00Yes, he's able to use the truck.

00:34:02Okay, great.

00:34:03When was the last time he tried to use the truck?

00:34:05He never tried to use the truck after it was fixed.

00:34:08He said that he no longer wanted to be a part of the deal to give him his money back.

00:34:12Okay.

00:34:13I have something.

00:34:14Now, when the truck originally got fixed in February, my dad came into town multiple times.

00:34:19It was one more piece that needed to be fixed, which was the ABS module, which if you get pulled over, they're going to stop you and shut you down completely.

00:34:26I don't know that.

00:34:27And I told him, hey, we need to get that fixed.

00:34:29He came into town three times, and I asked him, hey, is you going to take the truck to the shop?

00:34:33Hey, is you going to take the truck to the shop?

00:34:35He said no.

00:34:36And he's like, well, it don't have any insurance.

00:34:38And it was just a whole bunch of excuses why he couldn't take the truck to the shop.

00:34:42Whether he can or he can't, he says, and your mother says you're able to use the truck.

00:34:46But I don't have a CDL, so I'm not able to drive it.

00:34:49Well, you didn't have that when you took it in anyway to be fixed.

00:34:52But I didn't take the truck over there.

00:34:54He drove the truck to the mechanic shop.

00:34:56Whatever.

00:34:56I don't care who drove it there, but your agreement with him was you tried to buy a new truck.

00:35:00It was much too expensive.

00:35:01Your agreement with your parents was that you would take an older truck of theirs that

00:35:06needed a lot of work, and you took it into a mechanic, and the mechanic was going to fix

00:35:11the truck, make it operable, so that you would have an opportunity to use it and make money.

00:35:16Yes, ma'am.

00:35:17And so I'm asking you, now the truck is fixed to the tune of $13,000.

00:35:21When was the last time that you asked to use the truck that your parents said you can't?

00:35:26Well, I asked him, can I have his dad take the truck to get the additional piece put

00:35:31on, and he told me no, just to wait till he come into town.

00:35:34Okay.

00:35:34Caption, coming up.

00:35:37After the agreement that your son was going to pay the money, fix the truck, was your agreement

00:35:43with him that he could use it at will?

00:35:45I gave him a specific time.

00:35:47I'd like to hear what the specific times were.

00:35:49The specific time was...

00:35:50Let's make it up as we go.

00:35:52No, no, ma'am.

00:35:52I'm thinking straight to you.

00:35:53I'm going to tell you, just like it actually is.

00:35:56A courthouse.

00:36:01The Judy Justice logo appears.

00:36:03In the courtroom, Levi, Davery, and Nathan.

00:36:07Levi Shaw claims his parents, Davery and Nathan Celeste, owe for the repairs of an 18-wheeler

00:36:13truck.

00:36:15Levi's parents are countersuing for the balance of an English bulldog.

00:36:19Was the additional piece put on the truck that he's talking about?

00:36:22No, ma'am.

00:36:23It didn't actually need that addition.

00:36:25It was an ABS modulator, which on that particular model was a 1995 FLD Classic.

00:36:31On that particular model, you don't need that to reset the ABS light.

00:36:35All you need is a sensor that goes in the hub of the wheel.

00:36:37What I'm asking you is, your son said that you needed this one part.

00:36:41This is your business.

00:36:43Yes, ma'am.

00:36:43How much is that one part?

00:36:45This is a part that I never researched, so I can't tell you that.

00:36:48But according to him.

00:36:49So perhaps, I didn't ask you anything.

00:36:51Perhaps you can tell me.

00:36:53The part was $900.

00:36:54That was returned back.

00:36:55It was never returned because they wouldn't let me return it because it's dealing with

00:36:59wires.

00:37:00So when I asked them, can I return it?

00:37:02They said no.

00:37:03And I had a text where I text her and I said, hey, they will not let me return this piece.

00:37:07You return what piece?

00:37:08The ABS module.

00:37:10They will not let me return it because it's electrical and they do not accept returns on

00:37:14electric pieces.

00:37:14So is what you're telling me that you bought this piece for $900?

00:37:18Yes, ma'am.

00:37:19Okay.

00:37:19And that it wasn't necessary.

00:37:21You didn't buy it from him.

00:37:23No, but I don't know if it was necessary, but what the mechanic told me and what the mechanic...

00:37:27You can't tell me what the mechanic told you.

00:37:28Well, I'm just saying the mechanic...

00:37:30No, you can't tell me what the mechanic told you.

00:37:33All I'm telling you, Mr. Shaw, is you had an agreement with your parents to fix a truck and

00:37:39then to be able to use it.

00:37:40And I want to know whether they have ever denied you the right, because that was the

00:37:45contract that you made.

00:37:46You never made a contract with them that you would take a truck to the mechanic and they

00:37:50would pay for the repairs.

00:37:51You never made that contract with them.

00:37:53You want me to say that that was your contract with them.

00:37:56They say the truck is operable now and that you can use it.

00:37:59When do you want to use it?

00:38:01Well, if they're willing to let me use it, then I want to use it as soon as possible.

00:38:05Okay.

00:38:05And you can drive the truck?

00:38:07No, I was going to hire a driver.

00:38:09Okay.

00:38:09And the truck now is not on the road.

00:38:11Is that correct?

00:38:12That's correct.

00:38:13Yes, ma'am.

00:38:14That's right.

00:38:15That's right.

00:38:16The truck is not on the road.

00:38:17No, ma'am.

00:38:18It's not.

00:38:18Is what you said.

00:38:19But operable.

00:38:20Yes, it's not operable.

00:38:20Okay.

00:38:21And after the agreement that your son was going to pay the money, fix the truck, and then

00:38:26be able to work at it so that he's getting some benefit from what he put into the truck...

00:38:32Yes, ma'am.

00:38:33Did you have an...

00:38:33I wanted to ask...

00:38:35I'm not looking at you.

00:38:36Okay.

00:38:37Did you have a discussion with him about how much of the time he would be able to utilize

00:38:43the truck, or was your agreement with him that he could use it at will?

00:38:47I gave him a specific time.

00:38:49Yes, ma'am.

00:38:50I'd like to hear what the specific times were.

00:38:52The specific time was...

00:38:53Let's make it up as we go.

00:38:54No, no, ma'am.

00:38:55I'm thinking straight to you.

00:38:56I'm going to tell you just like it actually is.

00:38:58I gave him a specifically, according to him, about three months of when he probably needed

00:39:03it, you know, to get himself together.

00:39:05No, just a second.

00:39:06You mean he was going to spend $10,000 on fixing the truck and you were going to let

00:39:10him use it for three months?

00:39:11Well...

00:39:12Put your hand down.

00:39:12I'm not talking to you.

00:39:13Well, as long as he needed it.

00:39:14I'm going to put it that way.

00:39:15As long as he needed the truck.

00:39:16Okay.

00:39:17So now that's better.

00:39:18Yes, ma'am.

00:39:19So that he can use the truck whenever he needs it and he's going to get a driver.

00:39:23I just want to know because we're going to have to memorialize all this in an order.

00:39:27What do you want?

00:39:28We had a driver.

00:39:29My brother was the driver.

00:39:30I don't care whether your brother was the driver or not.

00:39:33That was not the agreement that your husband said he made with his son.

00:39:37Yes, ma'am.

00:39:38He says he made an agreement with him that if he paid to have it fixed, he could use the

00:39:41truck whenever he wanted to.

00:39:43That's what your father says.

00:39:45No, that is not true.

00:39:46Okay.

00:39:46So when did you ask to use the truck?

00:39:48So in January, when I was getting the truck fixed, they told me $4,000.

00:39:53But as the mechanic kept calling me, adding on stuff, I said, hey, I'm not about to

00:39:57pay all this money and y'all telling me I could just use it.

00:40:00If I'm about to put all my money into it, I want the truck.

00:40:03And my mom was like, okay, you can do that.

00:40:05Because in January, they didn't make any money.

00:40:08Just a second.

00:40:09So what you're telling me is what you said to your mother, I'm not going to put in all

00:40:13this money unless the truck belongs to me.

00:40:16Correct.

00:40:16Well, that's not unreasonable, Mr. Shaw.

00:40:19I can actually see that.

00:40:20You're spending $10,000 of your money, and you want to be able to use the truck.

00:40:25Mm-hmm.

00:40:25And you want it to be able to not have it on a whim of somebody else.

00:40:29Yes, ma'am.

00:40:29How old is this truck?

00:40:31This truck is exactly 22 years old.

00:40:35How long have you owned it?

00:40:36I've owned it since I was 23 years old.

00:40:38Okay.

00:40:38So you've owned it since it was new.

00:40:40Yes, ma'am.

00:40:41Did you make a living from it?

00:40:42Yes, ma'am, I did.

00:40:43Good.

00:40:43Do you have other trucks now?

00:40:45Yes, ma'am, I do.

00:40:45How many others?

00:40:46Just one other.

00:40:47I'm not no big-scale company.

00:40:49I just got one other truck, yes, ma'am.

00:40:51Can I see the title to the truck, please?

00:40:53To the truck we're talking about?

00:40:55Yes.

00:40:55I don't have that title with me.

00:40:56Why not?

00:40:57I was under the impression that I didn't need to bring it.

00:41:01Okay.

00:41:02And according to you, the truck's not on the road now?

00:41:04No, ma'am, it's not on the road.

00:41:05Do you remember having a conversation with your son about,

00:41:08I'm not going to spend all this money unless the truck is mine?

00:41:11Yes, ma'am, I do remember that conversation.

00:41:13Do you remember where it took place?

00:41:15He was driving and I was at home.

00:41:17So it was over the phone?

00:41:18Yes, ma'am.

00:41:18Remember what month that was?

00:41:20January.

00:41:21January of 2022?

00:41:22Correct.

00:41:23Tell me what you said to him and what he said to you.

00:41:25I told him, I totally understand what you're saying.

00:41:27I said, let me talk to your daddy and we'll see what we can do.

00:41:31Great.

00:41:31As a parent, that sounds perfectly reasonable.

00:41:33And did you speak to your husband?

00:41:35Yes, I did.

00:41:35Did the two of you own the truck?

00:41:37He owns the truck.

00:41:38It's in his name and Nathan's name.

00:41:40So you said, okay, that sounds okay.

00:41:42Let me talk to your daddy.

00:41:43You have to talk to the owner of the truck because now you're seeking to change the agreement.

00:41:48Do you understand?

00:41:49Yes, ma'am.

00:41:50Okay.

00:41:51And after you spoke to your mother, did you have a conversation with your father about the ownership of the truck?

00:41:57Yes, we did.

00:41:58And tell me when that was and what was discussed.

00:42:00It was in January as well and when I told him that, he said he totally agreed with me that if I put in the majority of the money, that I can have the truck.

00:42:09Okay.

00:42:10I want to tell you certain things sort of ring true to me.

00:42:14If I were a young person and spending all my money for a business because this is the business that he was going to be in, he was going to hire a driver and he was going to take a certain amount to the profits.

00:42:23I could understand him saying to his parents, who now have a truck that they're not using because it's not on the road, I'm going to spend all my savings, it looks like, because the initial estimate was $4,000, but it kept going up and up and up and up and up.

00:42:38So if I'm going to spend all this, put your hand down, if I'm going to spend all this money, I'd like to own the truck.

00:42:44And in response to that, his mother said and acknowledges that she said, it sounds right to me, I'm going to speak to your father.

00:42:51And according to you, you spoke to your father and your father said, sounds okay.

00:42:55Yes, ma'am.

00:42:56So you went ahead and spent the money.

00:42:59Yes, ma'am.

00:42:59Okay.

00:43:00Caption.

00:43:01Coming up.

00:43:03Put your hand down.

00:43:04This is not a...

00:43:05Your Honor, I don't understand.

00:43:05This is not...

00:43:05I care.

00:43:06I done made over a million dollars with the truck.

00:43:08That's ridiculous.

00:43:09I want you to stop it.

00:43:10Say, ma'am.

00:43:11Hey, ma'am.

00:43:11How can you tell me to stop on something like worth blood?

00:43:14Sweating tears on.

00:43:15He's going to take it.

00:43:20A courthouse.

00:43:22The Judy Justice logo appears.

00:43:24In the courtroom, Levi, Davery, and Nathan.

00:43:27Levi Shaw says his parents, Davery and Nathan Celeste, owe for the cost of repairs to an 18-wheeler truck.

00:43:35Levi's parents say he never used the truck, and it is still not fixed.

00:43:40I'd like to see the bills for the truck.

00:43:43Oh, I have it on my phone.

00:43:44Well, what is that?

00:43:45These was the bank statements because at first they was countersuing for insurance as well.

00:43:50So I was showing bank statements where I had sent them money.

00:43:53So that's what this was for.

00:43:55But I have it on my phone, but I don't have it in these statements.

00:43:58Well, I need it.

00:44:00Levi produces his phone, then hands it to Kevin.

00:44:04Here we go.

00:44:05Is that the one final invoice?

00:44:07Yes, ma'am.

00:44:08I'd like to see it.

00:44:09And it also has it at the bottom where it says it needs the ABS module.

00:44:13Judy examines the document on the phone.

00:44:17Your Honor, can I see that as well?

00:44:20Yes.

00:44:23So the entire amount is $13,000.

00:44:25$13,000 and some change.

00:44:29And your father paid three?

00:44:31Yes, ma'am.

00:44:31This is not the correct invoice.

00:44:34What?

00:44:35I have the original invoice.

00:44:37Fine, I'll take a look at yours.

00:44:38This is the invoice that was sent to me via, so by their email, which I could pull up their email as well.

00:44:44And it shows that it's paid on the back.

00:44:47Just a second.

00:44:48Yes, ma'am.

00:44:49It's the same thing as he showed me.

00:44:51But it has our name on it.

00:44:52Who cares?

00:44:53The ones that he showed you, it changed since then.

00:44:56But let me ask you a question.

00:44:59No.

00:44:59Unless I'm missing something.

00:45:01No, no, no, no.

00:45:01You're not questioning the fact that he paid $10,000 to fix the truck out of the $13,000 that the truck was.

00:45:08Are you questioning that?

00:45:10No, I'm not questioning that.

00:45:10Okay.

00:45:11Then I don't know what we're talking about.

00:45:13Okay.

00:45:13Let's go over this one more time.

00:45:16When your son said to you, you know, if I'm going to spend all this money, I want to own the truck.

00:45:21And your wife had the same conversation with you, right?

00:45:23She said, I got a call from Levi.

00:45:25Levi said if he's going to spend all this money, he really wants the truck.

00:45:28And she actually thought it was okay.

00:45:30And what did you say, sir?

00:45:32I said that I'm not going to sell you the truck.

00:45:35Why?

00:45:35I will let you use the truck.

00:45:37No, no.

00:45:37When did you say that?

00:45:38Because I have other children.

00:45:39Oh, no.

00:45:40But your other children didn't put any money into the truck.

00:45:42No, no.

00:45:42I know what you're saying.

00:45:43No, just a second.

00:45:43Your other children didn't put any money into the truck.

00:45:45Hand down.

00:45:47He didn't ask me to buy the truck.

00:45:49Okay.

00:45:49He asked, could he use it?

00:45:50Just a second.

00:45:51He was going to sell it to my uncle because when the repairs got done, they actually didn't

00:45:55have enough money because I had $8,000 saved up.

00:45:58They took $4,000 of my $8,000.

00:46:00But you got paid back.

00:46:01Yes, but they didn't have the money, so when they, you just bought $4,000 to me.

00:46:05Mr. Shaw, Mr. Shaw, I don't expect you to talk to each other.

00:46:09I don't expect you to talk to them.

00:46:10Yes, ma'am, I understand.

00:46:11Very easy.

00:46:12I believe that you changed the contract with your son from a contract where he would pay

00:46:17for the repairs, which was supposed to be $4,000, and then you have the use of the truck

00:46:22to the fact that he was going to spend $10,000, which was all of his money.

00:46:27Put your hand down.

00:46:28I'm not, this 22-year-old truck that you've had since it was new was going to be his.

00:46:34And I am going to craft an order to the Department of Motor Vehicles to reissue a title in the

00:46:40truck to him.

00:46:41Do you understand?

00:46:43He's going to take that order.

00:46:44He's going to get a new registration for the car and a new ownership.

00:46:48Unless you want, put your hand down.

00:46:50This is, this is not, this is not, this is not, I don't understand that.

00:46:54I got other children.

00:46:56I got five other kids.

00:46:57Do you want me, do you want me to say it's lower?

00:46:59And he's four, Your Honor.

00:47:00And I say, what about the $3,500 that we put into it?

00:47:03You're absolutely right.

00:47:04Okay.

00:47:05But it wasn't $4,500, it was $3,500.

00:47:07$3,500.

00:47:08I'm sorry if you didn't hear me well.

00:47:10Man.

00:47:10You are absolutely entitled to that.

00:47:13I believe you are entitled to that.

00:47:15He put in $10,000.

00:47:16That's his truck.

00:47:16I made, Your Honor, I worked all my life with that truck.

00:47:20I don't care.

00:47:20I worked all my, I care.

00:47:22He's not going to spend his $10,000 to fix your truck.

00:47:26That's ridiculous.

00:47:27I want you to stop it.

00:47:28Say, man.

00:47:29Hey, man.

00:47:29How can you tell me to stop on something I've worked blood, sweat, and tears on he's going

00:47:33to take?

00:47:33I need a break.

00:47:34That's the judgment.

00:47:35I'm not entertaining your counterclaim.

00:47:36That's the judgment of the court.

00:47:38You get title to the truck.

00:47:39You can retrieve it as soon as you change the registration of the truck.

00:47:42However, in order to do that, you have to give your parents the $3,500 that they put

00:47:47into the truck.

00:47:48Do you understand?

00:47:49Yes, ma'am.

00:47:49Your Honor, what about this dog?

00:47:51We're done.

00:47:52This court is adjourned.

00:47:53We're done.

00:47:53I have a question.

00:47:54No, we're done.

00:47:55It's over.

00:47:55Okay.

00:47:56We're paying for this dog, and he's not giving us nothing.

00:47:59Let me explain something to you.

00:48:00It's not.

00:48:01The reason.

00:48:02Let me explain something to you.

00:48:03The reason that I'm not hearing your counterclaim is because the two of you were disrespectful

00:48:08and didn't listen to me.

00:48:10Oh, yes, you did.

00:48:11That's it.

00:48:12We're done.

00:48:13My actions of my response to what she was saying is with nothing being disrespectful

00:48:18towards her.

00:48:19I'm very glad she ruled in my favor.

00:48:22It was the initial, you know, the thought of giving up my hard-earned possessions.

00:48:28It was because I did try to work it out before we came to court, and they was like,

00:48:33no, we're not going to pay you nothing.

00:48:34I never would have thought in a million years to sue my parents, even though they, you know,

00:48:38my parents with my butt.

00:48:39That was just something you had to go through back then.

00:48:41It sad to me.

00:48:42I'm in disbelief that my parents did that to me.

00:48:44I didn't think that they would do that.

00:48:46I mean, I'm not sure.

00:48:47I don't know his plans.

00:48:49I can't talk that.

00:48:50If you do business with family, make sure you get contracts.

00:48:54You know, I sympathize with the plaintiff's position on this because modifications of

00:48:58contracts are supposed to be allowed when there's a change in circumstance.

00:49:02So it's not like he was attempting to change the contract every Friday or for no reason.

00:49:07He thought that it was going to be $4,000.

00:49:09It turned out to be $10,000 to fix the truck.

00:49:12And as such, he wanted the bargain for exchange.

00:49:14That's a lot more money than he initially intended.

00:49:17So that conversation makes sense to me, that conversation between his parents that,

00:49:22I know we had agreed to this, but now with this new information, this is what I'm comfortable

00:49:26with.

00:49:26Is that OK?

00:49:27I think so.

00:49:28I think that is a common sense interpretation of what happened.

00:49:31For a truck that cost $60,000 20 years ago, to put in $10,000 to it is not nothing.

00:49:37That's a big investment.

00:49:38It probably isn't worth more than that.

00:49:40And the condition that it was in before he had it repaired, their position was unreasonable

00:49:44because now they have a fixed truck.

00:49:48That their child paid for?

00:49:49That their child paid for.

00:49:50And with the animus between them, it doesn't seem to me as if he's going to get any benefit

00:49:55from the bargain.

00:49:56So the modification of their original oral contract, which I think happened.

00:50:01Court come to order.

00:50:02All rise.

00:50:03Judge Judy enters.

00:50:04Have a seat, please.

00:50:05Kevin approaches the bench.

00:50:06Case 2128, Hall v. Benadam.

00:50:10You're welcome.

00:50:12Mr. Hall, you and the defendant are neighbors.

00:50:15Yes, ma'am.

00:50:16And your houses are right next to each other.

00:50:18Hers is on the corner and mine is right next to her.

00:50:21Got it.

00:50:22What your complaint is that I see where those two, the truck and the vehicle behind it.

00:50:28The trailer, yes, ma'am.

00:50:29The trailer.

00:50:30The property to the left of that is your house.

00:50:34Yes, ma'am.

00:50:35And the property to the right of that is the defendant's house.

00:50:38Yes, ma'am.

00:50:39And it is your claim that the defendant, in writing, agreed to sell you that little piece

00:50:45of property that looks like it's been carved out of her property.

00:50:49Yes, ma'am.

00:50:50Because you had a narrow driveway, you wanted to park these two vehicles.

00:50:54Yes, ma'am.

00:50:54Based upon that agreement, you went ahead and did some work on that piece of property.

00:51:01Yes, ma'am.

00:51:01You put down gravel, you planted flowers, all to make it look as if that piece of property

00:51:08was part of your house.

00:51:09Not so much to make it look like it's part of my house so I can get in it, because the

00:51:12agreement was that there was three pine trees there prior to her telling me that I could

00:51:17buy the property.

00:51:18No, no, no.

00:51:19The three trees that are there had nothing to do with this except that they were taken

00:51:23down.

00:51:24And were they taken down and the removal of the trees was paid for by you or by her?

00:51:29By both of us.

00:51:30By both.

00:51:31Okay, so you asked to have the trees removed and you both paid to have the trees removed.

00:51:37Okay.

00:51:37Not only did you cut the trees down, but you took that property and made it look like yours.

00:51:41You say that there was an agreement in writing for her to sell you that piece of property.

00:51:46So I'd like to see that agreement.

00:51:47Yes, ma'am.

00:51:48There's no agreement in writing.

00:51:50Don't say anything.

00:51:53The very top line.

00:51:54Just a second.

00:51:56Kevin hands a document to Judy, who reviews it.

00:51:58This is not a contract, sir, to sell land.

00:52:05I have a lot more.

00:52:06Shh.

00:52:07Not a contract to sell land.

00:52:09I see what she says to you.

00:52:10I am agreeing to sell you the property you are currently parked on for $1,000 plus costs.

00:52:16Let's get this in motion ASAP.

00:52:18And then she doesn't hear from you, and that's the 18th of May.

00:52:23And then she writes you again a little bit later, and she says her offer will expire at the end of today's business day, 5-19.

00:52:32And on 5-19, at 10 o'clock at night, you write to her, hey, Stacey, I've started working on things this morning.

00:52:40I have already been to the city of Akron, and once they are done and I get a surveyor and so on, I will keep you updated if that's okay.

00:52:49Last, everything is time sensitive, and I'm working as fast as I can to get the approvals.

00:52:54Just now seeing your texts.

00:52:56Right.

00:52:56Okay, so that's what you're relying on as a contract to purchase property.

00:53:02Well, the fact that she said that she was selling it to me, and I started all the motions like she said to do.

00:53:06I started all the motions, got the surveyor done, got the fees done, I got everything done.

00:53:11All right, that was 5-19, 2021.

00:53:15So show me what you did based on this and what you spent based on your belief that she had agreed to sell you the property and you had an agreement for sale.

00:53:26Which is like a contract, a sale of property.

00:53:28Most people know that when you sell a piece of property, you get a survey, you put it in the contract, you have a contract.

00:53:37When the property is going to be transferred, that property would have to be surveyed because clearly you're carving a piece of property out of her property.

00:53:45I want to see what you did and what you spent.

00:53:48Because if you spent money based on this, I may consider that as part of your lawsuit.

00:53:53Because then it turned out she didn't want to sell you the property.

00:53:55By the way, I wouldn't sell him the property either.

00:53:58It makes your property look ridiculous.

00:53:59It does.

00:54:02We never agreed to sell the property.

00:54:05Did you write, I am agreeing to sell you the property you are currently parked on for $1,000 plus costs?

00:54:12Yes, I never agreed to sell the property until I told him he was no longer allowed to park there.

00:54:16It was never discussed.

00:54:17What is this?

00:54:17Depending on the stipulation that my mortgage company requires, which is an appraisal, they had to approve the selling of the property.

00:54:24All I'm interested in is this one line.

00:54:29The other ifs fall after that.

00:54:32It says, I'm agreeing to sell you the property you are currently parked on for $1,000 plus costs.

00:54:37Yes.

00:54:37Okay, so you did that.

00:54:39Yes.

00:54:39I want to see the things that you started to do right after May 19th.

00:54:43You said, I've already started working on things this morning.

00:54:46This is May 19th.

00:54:48I've already been to the city of Akron.

00:54:50Yes.

00:54:50This is a receipt showing the $800 from the surveyor.

00:54:54Okay, may I see that, please?

00:54:55There's that one.

00:54:57This is a receipt from the attorney where I had the deed paperwork done.

00:55:01I'm looking for a date on this, sir.

00:55:04I'm looking for dates on these things.

00:55:06Here's a note.

00:55:06You can look at this one, too.

00:55:07Okay.

00:55:07June 15th.

00:55:09What is this?

00:55:10That's actually when I paid to have the three deeds made up.

00:55:13That's the $450 that I had to pay to the attorney for him to make the three deeds up.

00:55:17The only thing Stacey had to do was sign them.

00:55:18And that was June 15th.

00:55:20That was not quite a month later.

00:55:22Right.

00:55:23I started the next day.

00:55:24Okay.

00:55:25And this is so far what you spent in reliance on her statement that I'll sell you the property for $1,000.

00:55:32This is a breakdown that I have, that I wrote down.

00:55:36You can show her that.

00:55:37Of everything, the timeline and...

00:55:39I don't need a breakdown of the timeline, sir.

00:55:41I need the bills for this, not what you wrote.

00:55:42Okay.

00:55:43I need the bills for six tons of gravel.

00:55:46That was in July.

00:55:48Here's one of your seats right here.

00:55:50There you go.

00:55:51Julian produces documents.

00:55:53Did he ever give you $1,000?

00:55:55He never paid me.

00:55:57Caption coming up.

00:55:59I'm a common sense person and a property owner.

00:56:02It was overreaching to think that you could buy a piece of that land for $1,000.

00:56:08Overreaching.

00:56:09A courthouse.

00:56:15The Judy Justice logo appears.

00:56:17In the courtroom, Julian and Stacey.

00:56:20Julian Hall claims his neighbor, Stacey Benidum, owes for building costs and attorney fees.

00:56:27Stacey is countersuing, claiming Julian was illegally parking on her property.

00:56:32Okay.

00:56:32So far, all I have that you paid was $450 for the deeds, $800 for the survey, and gravel to be delivered.

00:56:41I got the gravel in there.

00:56:42I also have the concrete that I had laid, flowers and stuff that I put in.

00:56:46Did he pay part of having the tree stumps removed?

00:56:49We split the cost and the labor of removing the debris of the trees.

00:56:52No, ma'am.

00:56:53That's not true.

00:56:53Who wanted the trees removed?

00:56:55I never had a problem with the trees.

00:56:57I like the trees.

00:56:58Don't speak.

00:56:59He wanted the trees cut down so he could have more space.

00:57:02He was already parking underneath the trees with a smaller trailer, just not his truck.

00:57:06He wanted more space, so he came to me and said,

00:57:08Hey, what if I split the cost of the cutting of the trees?

00:57:12I said, That's fine.

00:57:13I'll split the cost.

00:57:14That's fine with me.

00:57:15And then I agreed to let him continue to park there, as long as there was no tire marks.

00:57:18That's what it was.

00:57:20And then he built this thing.

00:57:21Well, he formalized parking there.

00:57:24Mm-hmm.

00:57:24Okay.

00:57:25At what point did Miss Benetton tell you that she was not going to sell you the property?

00:57:30This actually started on 4-3 of 18.

00:57:34I'm not interested.

00:57:36I'm interested in the beginning of these texts.

00:57:40Okay.

00:57:40Where you clearly had discussions.

00:57:42Trees were removed.

00:57:44I don't quite understand why she allowed you to remove the trees,

00:57:47and I don't understand the whole transaction.

00:57:49Because it wasn't my choice.

00:57:50Being a nice neighbor.

00:57:51Just a second.

00:57:51It was your choice.

00:57:52You wanted to park there.

00:57:54That's what you wanted.

00:57:55But the trees was dying.

00:57:56Just a second.

00:57:56I don't care if they were dying.

00:57:58I don't care if they were shriveled up.

00:57:59I don't care.

00:58:00You carved out a piece of property.

00:58:02Now, if you carved out a piece of property that belongs to her,

00:58:06and you didn't have an appropriate agreement in writing, which it has to be,

00:58:09then I believe, based upon her statement that you acted on,

00:58:15you're entitled to whatever you spent to renovate that property.

00:58:19Do you understand?

00:58:20You're not entitled to the property.

00:58:21No, I understand.

00:58:22You're not entitled to the property.

00:58:23You're entitled to what you spent to renovate the property.

00:58:26So now I want you to tell me, on what date did she tell you that she was not going to sell you the property?

00:58:33That was 7-20 of 21.

00:58:37After I'd got everything done and called her and asked her, could she meet me at the bank?

00:58:41She said, no, I'm not selling to you for $1,000.

00:58:44But it goes deeper than that.

00:58:45That's what I'm trying to explain to you.

00:58:47It goes deeper than that because when it came to the trees, I didn't approach her with the trees.

00:58:51She came to me and said, since the tree was done, I said, well, I'll go in half with you.

00:58:55At that point, I said, when can I use the property?

00:58:57She said, you can use it as long as you need it.

00:58:59So that's when I started investing all this money into the property.

00:59:03So what?

00:59:04I don't care.

00:59:05She said to you, you can use it as long as you want.

00:59:07Yes, ma'am.

00:59:08Okay.

00:59:08I said nothing permanent.

00:59:09She said, as long as I need it.

00:59:11That's why I invested the gravel.

00:59:13What I'm telling you, sir, is the purchase and sale of property has to be with a certain formality.

00:59:18If you dealt with an attorney, the attorney would tell you that it had to be in the formality,

00:59:22signed by her, signed by you, the contract that provided for sale when it took place,

00:59:27what the survey was, whether her bank would agree to let her sell off a piece of the property

00:59:32because you have a mortgage, all of those things.

00:59:35That's why agreements to sell real property, which is land, have to be in accordance with

00:59:41a certain set of rules.

00:59:42This doesn't make it.

00:59:44However, if you relied on her statement in order to improve the property, to make it comfortable

00:59:50for you based upon her text message, I believe that you are entitled, based upon the text message,

00:59:57to what you spent to improve it.

01:00:00But you have to understand, she's not going to let you park there anymore.

01:00:03And I'm okay with that.

01:00:04Just a second.

01:00:05Are you still parking there?

01:00:07No, ma'am.

01:00:08Since when?

01:00:08I would say September of 2022.

01:00:12So you were parked there in July of 21, August of 21, September of 21, October of 21, November

01:00:21of 21, December of 21, January of 22, all the way up to September.

01:00:26You were parking there.

01:00:27This is because we had...

01:00:28Don't give me a because.

01:00:30No, I'm not.

01:00:30That's either a yes or a no.

01:00:31I was parked there, but we also had a civil case, too.

01:00:34Which he dismissed two days before.

01:00:35We had a civil case.

01:00:37She called the police.

01:00:38He called the police on me twice.

01:00:40Just, the question was, when did she tell you she wasn't going to sell you the property?

01:00:44September, when she agreed not to meet me at the bank.

01:00:47That's when she told me she wasn't going to sell.

01:00:49Christelle, September of 2022?

01:00:51Yes, ma'am.

01:00:52I never knew we were meeting at a bank.

01:00:53Just a second.

01:00:55I can do better than that.

01:00:56So in September of 2022, she advised you...

01:01:00No.

01:01:01I'm sorry.

01:01:02It was August of 2021.

01:01:04Well, show me in August of 2021 that you told him you weren't selling him the property.

01:01:08Here's...

01:01:10Okay.

01:01:11I'll take both, Kevin.

01:01:12Julian and Stacey hand documents to Kevin.

01:01:15He brings them to Judy, who reviews them.

01:01:18And this was after she agreed...

01:01:20Shh!

01:01:23Okay.

01:01:25I'm just looking for the date on this.

01:01:27Yeah, there's not a date on there.

01:01:28I'm sorry.

01:01:28But that was after May 18th of 2021.

01:01:31That was maybe July or August of 2021 when I told him, since he didn't meet all the requirements,

01:01:39that I no longer want to sell him.

01:01:40What requirements?

01:01:41He never met the requirements of paying me the money or getting the land appraised.

01:01:46The only thing he didn't do that my mortgage required is the appraisal.

01:01:49Ma'am, that wasn't true because I did everything that the city of Akron told me to do who deal with this on a regular...

01:01:53Shh!

01:01:54Did you get an appraisal?

01:01:56I got the land surveyed.

01:01:57She didn't tell me about an appraisal until after I got everything done.

01:02:00That's why you have a contract in writing for the sale of property, sir.

01:02:04I don't think you did anything intentionally wrong, but there was an appraisal that was necessary.

01:02:08Clearly, if she has a mortgage and a bank is giving her a certain amount of money on a parcel of property

01:02:14and she wants to sell off a piece of that property,

01:02:17the bank is going to want to know how much that the value of the property has diminished by her selling it to you.

01:02:24So you have to have an appraisal.

01:02:26Do you understand?

01:02:27I understand that.

01:02:28Okay.

01:02:28And you didn't have an appraisal.

01:02:30I'm not going to tell it to you again.

01:02:31And all I want to know is when she first told you that you didn't have a deal.

01:02:36So once she told you that you didn't have a deal,

01:02:39whatever else you invested in this property was on you.

01:02:43No, and I didn't invest anything else other than getting an attorney and paying everything I needed to pay him.

01:02:49Once she told you that she wasn't selling the property to you, what did you need an attorney for?

01:02:54Caption coming up.

01:02:55You're not the aggrieved party here.

01:02:57You've got to park for free because she was a good soul.

01:03:00I would have had your trailer and your truck towed to an impound on day two.

01:03:06A courthouse.

01:03:13The Judy Justice logo appears.

01:03:15In the courtroom, Julian and Stacey.

01:03:18Julian Hall has accused his neighbor, Stacey Benedum, of breaking their agreement.

01:03:24Stacey claims there was never an agreement and is countersuing for parking fees.

01:03:29Once she told you that she wasn't selling the property to you, what did you need an attorney for?

01:03:33Because I had already had an investment after she said she was going to sell it to me.

01:03:36Once the attorney got involved, he told me to dismiss the case.

01:03:40Then after that, like three days later, I moved off the property.

01:03:43Just a minute.

01:03:43So who brought a civil case?

01:03:46I did.

01:03:47When?

01:03:48Last year of 21.

01:03:49And what happened with that case?

01:03:51It was dismissed.

01:03:52What did you bring a case against her for?

01:03:54For breach of contract.

01:03:56It was dismissed because there was no contract.

01:04:01Your Honor, can I say something?

01:04:02What?

01:04:02He made all these improvements in 2018 before we ever discussed selling the property.

01:04:07You mean he put the gravel in?

01:04:09Yeah.

01:04:09Well, how could he put the gravel in over trees?

01:04:12The trees were cut down in 2018.

01:04:14Is that right, sir?

01:04:15Just, just, hey.

01:04:16That was, that's correct.

01:04:17The trees that were cut down in 2018, well before this.

01:04:21Yes.

01:04:21So you did use it.

01:04:22You used it for how many years?

01:04:23You used it 18, 19, 20, and 21.

01:04:26You used it.

01:04:27You used it.

01:04:28You had value from it.

01:04:29You had value from somebody else's property.

01:04:31You used her property for you to park on.

01:04:33You can't.

01:04:33You know, I wouldn't have done none of this if she would have told me no.

01:04:36Every move that I made, I asked her first.

01:04:39I got a different text message.

01:04:40I asked her, can I do this?

01:04:42Can I do this?

01:04:42Can I?

01:04:42She said, yeah, go ahead and do it.

01:04:44If she would have said no, I wouldn't have done none of it.

01:04:47I wouldn't have put a dime into the property.

01:04:48I'm not going back to 2018, sir.

01:04:50If you made these improvements in the property in 2018 or 2019, before there was any hint

01:04:56of a writing that she was going to sell you property.

01:04:59She had a verbal that I can park there as long as I wanted to.

01:05:01Okay, your case is dismissed, Mr. Hall.

01:05:03You don't have a case.

01:05:04You did park there until she told you not to park there anymore.

01:05:07And you had the benefit of parking there for at least three years.

01:05:10I got money invested that she told me.

01:05:12You had the benefit of parking your things there for at least three years.

01:05:15Are they gone now?

01:05:16His truck and trailer are, but the gravel's still there.

01:05:19And we have to clean up, you know, get rid of that stuff.

01:05:22It was a huge mistake.

01:05:24So you're going to have to take care of that yourself.

01:05:27Okay.

01:05:27And I would take care of that because that looks ridiculous.

01:05:30I will.

01:05:30That looks ridiculous.

01:05:32You have a counterclaim.

01:05:34Yes.

01:05:34For parking.

01:05:36Forget it.

01:05:37But listen, I told him he couldn't park there back in May of 2021.

01:05:40He continued to park there till...

01:05:42So you should have been more vigilant.

01:05:43My attorney didn't notify him till May of this year of 2022 that if he continues to park there,

01:05:49we'll charge him $75 a day.

01:05:51And he continued to park there until the case was dismissed in August of 2022.

01:05:55So I'm only suing him for May of 2022 to August of 2022.

01:06:01And did he move it?

01:06:02He did.

01:06:02Okay.

01:06:03You're still living there?

01:06:04Yes.

01:06:04Do you talk to him?

01:06:05No.

01:06:06Had you talked to him previously?

01:06:07Yeah.

01:06:08We had a good relationship.

01:06:09I'm a common sense person and a property owner.

01:06:11It was overreaching to think that you could buy a piece of that land for $1,000.

01:06:18Overreaching.

01:06:19And if she had it appraised and if it's something that you want and she had,

01:06:23I guarantee you that that little piece of property would be appraised at a far higher cost than $1,000.

01:06:31Guaranteed.

01:06:32And I guarantee you that her bank would say, you can't let him buy that piece of property for $1,000.

01:06:38How much of a mortgage are you carrying?

01:06:40$76,000.

01:06:41Not going to let her sell off that piece of property.

01:06:43You had the benefit of that piece of property for several years.

01:06:47I have to tell you that I really think that it's much nicer to look at plain grass than it is to look at a trailer and a truck from her backyard.

01:06:55Your Honor, I wouldn't have done none of it if you would have said do it.

01:06:58Do you know what your attorney said to you?

01:07:00I can't help you.

01:07:01You don't have a contract.

01:07:03And Mr. Hall, that's what I'm telling you.

01:07:05I can't help you.

01:07:07You don't have a contract.

01:07:08And from what I know now, this all started in 2018 before there was any discussion of buying the property that you can prove to me.

01:07:17Because the thing that you gave me was in 2021.

01:07:20I have to tell you, you never had a problem because she was a good neighbor.

01:07:23If she let you park on her property.

01:07:25So if you think you're the one who's been aggrieved here.

01:07:28Truth of the matter is, I don't think that you're the one who was aggrieved here.

01:07:31She let you park on her property.

01:07:33I have to tell you, I wouldn't have let that happen.

01:07:36I had a neighbor who had an easement.

01:07:39And I said, all I want from you when I bought the house was I want you to say that you will never try to claim this property

01:07:45by adverse possession and that you understand that it's my property.

01:07:50And then you can use it because it was a place that looked like it was part of his driveway.

01:07:54And he said, I'm not signing that.

01:07:57I said, if you don't sign it, I'm going to put a fence right in the middle of your front lawn,

01:08:01which is where my property line is.

01:08:04I don't hear from him.

01:08:05I said, you have 24 hours to sign the paper or I'm putting a fence right in the middle of your front lawn

01:08:12because that's my property and you have an easement.

01:08:14And he didn't sign it.

01:08:16He would have lived with the fence until today because it's still there.

01:08:19Now his children are living with the fence because he's gone.

01:08:22You're not the aggrieved party here.

01:08:23You got to park for free for four years.

01:08:26For free.

01:08:27Because she was a good soul.

01:08:28She's not a bad guy.

01:08:30She was a good soul.

01:08:31I would have had your trailer and your truck towed to an impound on day two.

01:08:38She let you park there for four years.

01:08:40I wouldn't have been there.

01:08:41Goodbye.

01:08:42We're done.

01:08:43This court is adjourned.

01:08:45Outside the courtroom, Julian then Stacey.

01:08:48She knew what type of work I did, so she said as long as I needed it.

01:08:51It was just a tough lesson of being nice to the wrong person.

01:08:54It did look like it was part of my yard, so I get that part.

01:08:57I hope we can be cordial and just move on with our life.

01:08:59It is what it is.

01:09:00Sarah and Judy.

01:09:01This is a great example of the statute of frauds and why it exists.

01:09:05So all writings for the sale of land, real estate, have to be in writing and signed by both parties.

01:09:10I'm sure it was created for situations just like these.

01:09:13There's a lot of moving parts.

01:09:15There's mortgages.

01:09:16There's banks involved a lot of the times.

01:09:18There are easements.

01:09:19There are water rights.

01:09:20Exactly.

01:09:20There are all kinds of things.

01:09:21Legally, they're some of the most complex documents that get drawn up.

01:09:24So it can't be a text message for $1,000 to sell off a piece of land without all the boxes being ticked.

01:09:31Right.

01:09:32After May of 2021, when she wrote that piece.

01:09:36For his detrimental reliance on the statement.

01:09:38For his reliance on that statement to his own detriment by putting in gravel and other stuff.

01:09:46But then it came out.

01:09:47It was way before.

01:09:48Put down in 18 before she ever said anything about selling it.

01:09:52Just took it upon himself.

01:09:53Yeah.

01:09:54That would be on him.

01:09:55Yeah.

01:09:55And I don't feel badly for him because he got to park on property that wasn't.

01:10:19So thank you.

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