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00:0023-year-old Emily Stewart is suing her ex-boyfriend, 24-year-old Ernie Murkey, for the return of furniture.
00:08All rise, fight in the courtroom. Hello.
00:13Yeah, this is case number 537 on the calendar in the matter of Stewart v. Murkey.
00:17Parties have been sworn in, Judge. You're welcome. Folks, have a seat, please.
00:20Ms. Stewart, the defendant was your boyfriend. You have a child together.
00:24Yes, ma'am.
00:24Mr. Murkey?
00:25Yes, ma'am.
00:26You have custody of your son, is that right?
00:28Yes, ma'am.
00:28How old is your son?
00:30Two years old.
00:30How long have you had primary custody?
00:33Since, I'd say, around last June.
00:36June of 08?
00:37Yeah.
00:37Why?
00:38He does not have custody. He was granted interim custody when I was in the hospital in June.
00:42Does the child live with him on a full-time basis?
00:44No, we have shared parenting.
00:45That has not been passed.
00:46Just a second.
00:47That has not been passed through court yet, ma'am. She actually has been doing better.
00:50We have agreed on a shared parenting because I'm not trying to keep my son from his mother.
00:55That was not my intentions at all. But we don't go back to court until April.
00:59Is that correct?
01:00Oh, we do go back to court in April, but...
01:01Is it correct that until April, he has primary custody of this boy?
01:05He has interim custody, yes.
01:06And prior to June of 2008, did the child live with you?
01:10Yes.
01:10So I assume something happened in June of 2008, which required his father to take custody of him?
01:16Yes, I was hospitalized for a week.
01:18I assume you were having troubles at that point. If you were hospitalized for a week, that means when you get out of the hospital, he comes back to live with you, unless you were having some difficulty in your life.
01:28Right. He filed for the interim custody while I was in the hospital.
01:31Ms. Stewart, your case is about the following. You say that at some point you came back to live with him, and you had furniture.
01:38And the furniture was given to you by your father, and he threw you out because, according to Mr. Merkey, he found that you had been sending money to an old boyfriend in prison, and you want your furniture back, and your television.
01:50Mr. Merkey says that the furniture was given to him by your father. It was used furniture, with the exception of the television, which was, in fact, yours.
01:58Now, if this is your father, I'm going to make the following statement. Are you your father?
02:02Yes, ma'am.
02:03Why don't you stand up? Is your last name Stewart?
02:05Yes, ma'am.
02:06Mr. Stewart, I want you to listen to me very carefully, sir, before you say anything. Are we understanding each other?
02:11Yes.
02:12I worked and developed my skills in family court over 25 years. There isn't a story I haven't heard in one form or another. Are we understanding each other?
02:23I understand.
02:23Now, I gather from reading these papers that at the time that your daughter was incapable of parenting her child, that Mr. Merkey, who appears to be a rather responsible young man, took over that role. Would that be a fair statement?
02:37Yes.
02:37Now, it appears to me as if your daughter is probably doing better. Is that a fair statement?
02:43She's doing very well.
02:45She's doing very well. That doesn't mean that she's the more responsible parent. Do you understand what I'm saying, Mr. Stewart?
02:53I understand.
02:53I want you to listen to me very carefully. Because she's doing better doesn't automatically mean that she should have custody of her child. Do you understand me?
03:03Yes.
03:04Were you a good father?
03:05I tried to be.
03:07Did you live with her mother?
03:09Yes.
03:09Was her mother a good mother?
03:11Yes.
03:12Did you feel as if her mother was a better parent than you were?
03:16Probably she was.
03:18He's a better parent than your daughter?
03:20That's not true.
03:21Yes, Mr. Stewart. Right now, in your grandson's short life, he has been the one who's been responsible for him when your daughter was incapable because of whatever messing up she was doing, she was messing up.
03:33So I want you to listen to me very carefully before I ask you these questions, Mr. Stewart.
03:37Before you alienate him, who very well may be the primary caretaker of your grandson for a long time, before you alienate him by telling something that's not true, I want you to think about it.
03:51And the best thing that you can do is just say, I have nothing to say, because Mr. Merkey said to me in his answer that you came to him at work and said, I've just bought some new furniture.
04:01And if you can find a way to get the furniture over to your house, you can have my old stuff.
04:06That is not true.
04:06And I don't believe you.
04:08Why would I give him furniture and not my daughter?
04:10Why? Why would you give him furniture?
04:12And not my daughter.
04:13On what date did the furniture move into your house, sir?
04:16August, September, October. What date?
04:19The middle of November. It was after my birthday. My dad gave it to me for my birthday.
04:22Were you in rehab? Let's understand what we're talking about. Were you in rehab in June?
04:26I've never been in rehab.
04:27What kind of hospital were you in in June?
04:29I was at University Hospital. I was having seizures where I was blacking out, and I wasn't remembering chunks of time.
04:35Mom, had you been involved with drugs or alcohol prior to that time?
04:38No, ma'am.
04:39Go ahead.
04:40She was having problems. She was doing some things. I'm not quite sure what she was doing.
04:47She was running them up, but she was hospitalized for those drugs.
04:50That's a very nice thing for you to do.
04:53So the reason you would give him the furniture, your daughter was then living with him.
04:58He had been caring for your grandson alone since June.
05:02That's not true.
05:03What do you mean it's not true?
05:04I helped with the grandson. Me and my wife helped, and my family helped. It just wasn't all on him.
05:10As it should be. Just a second. You're the grandfather, so if you and your wife helped out, that's fine.
05:16That's what you should do.
05:17That's what we did.
05:18That's what you should do.
05:19He didn't say to you, listen, I'm just the father. I can't take care of a two-year-old.
05:24He said, I'm coming in. I'm going to take over. She can't take care of the child now.
05:30And if you helped, that's what you're supposed to do. You're the grandfather.
05:34Sit down, Mr. Stewart. You're not being smart. You have her television set?
05:38Yes, I do.
05:39All right. She gets back her TV because you acknowledge that the TV is hers.
05:43Yes, ma'am.
05:43Was all the furniture that went to his house, all used furniture that came from your father's house?
05:49Yes, it was by December 2006. I have the receipt here if you'd like to see that.
05:52That's fine. Staying in his house. Do we have to deal with anything else?
05:56Yes, ma'am.
05:57Okay, you have a nonsense counterclaim, Mr. Murky. Your nonsense counterclaim is for half your rent.
06:02I understand.
06:03Because when she moved in, she was unemployed, right?
06:05Yes, ma'am.
06:06So, how was she supposed to pay you half the rent?
06:08I understand.
06:09You understand?
06:10Yes, ma'am.
06:10That's why I said it's a nonsense counterclaim.
06:16Real cases. Real people.
06:18Judge Judy.
06:20Emily Stewart says the father of her child, Ernie Murky, owes for the return of furniture.
06:26Ernie is countersuing for unpaid rent and a cell phone bill.
06:30Okay, so you were in the hospital in June. When you got out of the hospital, where did you go?
06:34To my apartment.
06:35To your apartment alone. You didn't go to your parents' house.
06:38No, I had my boyfriend that lived with me.
06:40Which is now in prison, is the reason why.
06:42Just a second.
06:43So, you left the hospital and went to your apartment with a boyfriend who's now incarcerated.
06:49Is that what you're telling me?
06:50Yes, ma'am.
06:51And you lived with this incarcerated boyfriend until when?
06:54We moved out August 1st.
06:56And where did you go?
06:57From there, I went to go stay with a friend.
06:59And where did he go?
07:00I don't...
07:01To jail.
07:01Which isn't my problem. He did not go to jail. He went and lived with his parents.
07:04When did he go to jail?
07:05I... October, November, maybe November.
07:10And what evidence did you find, Mr. Murky, that she sent money to him?
07:14I found receipts showing, plain as day, that she was dropping the money off.
07:19Not sending it.
07:20She actually took it down there to him.
07:22His mother paid me to take the money.
07:24It was her money.
07:24She paid me to drive it down there.
07:26So at the time you were living with the father of your child, you were doing errands for your former boyfriend's mother by taking money to the jail for him.
07:36Yes, ma'am.
07:37Do you understand what I'm saying, Mr. Stewart?
07:39Yes.
07:40You get what I'm saying to you?
07:41Don't cut him off.
07:43Her judgment is south.
07:46Don't cut him off.
07:47You never can tell.
07:48Do you understand?
07:49I understand.
07:50That's why I didn't let you testify.
07:51You get back your television.
07:52Period.
07:53How about the yes?
07:54I actually have another counterclaim.
07:56We have a cell phone bill that went into collections that is for 969.82.
08:02I have the last bill that was sent out and the collection letter showing that they're coming after me because I was the primary account holder.
08:09When you gave her this cell phone, was she working?
08:12Am is not an answer.
08:14Yes, ma'am.
08:14Where?
08:15She was working for PNC at the time.
08:17I worked at U.S. Bank, ma'am.
08:19When?
08:20Before we split up the first time, it was probably two summers ago.
08:23Oh, forget it, Mr. Murky.
08:25Forget it.
08:25I don't go into ancient history, sir.
08:27You get back your television.
08:29Period.
08:29That's it.
08:30Goodbye.
08:30I have a whole laundry list.
08:31Goodbye.
08:32I don't care about your laundry list.
08:33That's what you get back.
08:34You have very poor judgment.
08:36How do I have poor judgment?
08:42I can ask your father to tell you how you have poor judgment.
08:45Because I had a medical issue?
08:46I was not in rehab.
08:47I didn't have a problem with drugs or alcohol.
08:49Listen to me very carefully, madam.
08:51This is your problem.
08:52First of all, you had poor judgment in hooking up with somebody that ended up in prison.
08:56You had poor judgment in why you were living with the father of your child who was supporting
09:01you.
09:01You were doing errands for this person who was in prison by delivering him money.
09:05That's poor judgment.
09:07Now, do you understand?
09:09So, poor judgment cost me $3,000.
09:09Your father understands.
09:11That's all.
09:11Step out.
09:13By the way, Mr. Murky, I wouldn't be so fast to give her shared parenting.
09:18I wouldn't be so quick to do that.
09:20Do you understand?
09:21Yes, ma'am.
09:21You have to think about your child.
09:23You shouldn't cut her off from her child.
09:25I understand.
09:26She should see him.
09:27She should be with him.
09:28She should spend time with him.
09:29But you make sure that you're perfectly satisfied that this woman can exercise the judgment to
09:36share parenting with you.
09:38Do you understand that?
09:39Yes, ma'am.
09:39Good.
09:40Why does that excuse you to step out?
09:42I don't understand why she thinks I'm such a bad mother.
09:45I've pretty much had completely enough.
09:47Ernie gave me a hard time about not having any income, even though he wanted me to stay
09:50home with our son.
09:51She was offered money to do it.
09:53She offered me $40 to drive 20 minutes away.
09:55There was no reason for her to be needing that money that bad.
09:58I just think he's bitter.
09:58Watch your back.
10:00And now, the next case.
10:01All parties in the matter of Didas versus Danka.
10:04Step forward.
10:05Victoria Didas is suing her former tenant, 32-year-old Tammy Danka,
10:11for damage to her rental property.
10:13Ms. Didas, you rented your house to the defendant, and you claim that she moved out,
10:17and she caused extensive damage.
10:19Okay.
10:20Over $5,000 worth of damage.
10:22Ms. Danka says no such thing.
10:24She left the house in fine shape.
10:26There was nothing wrong when she left the house.
10:28She says that you actually owe her her security deposit back, and some damages because she says
10:33you've been bad-mouthing her around town and to her new landlord.
10:37When did you move into her house?
10:39On October 1st, 2007, Your Honor.
10:41What was your rent?
10:42It was $1,650.
10:44Do you have proof of payment of the security deposit?
10:47I do not have proof of that because it was all included in the first month's rent.
10:51Well, show me the first month's rent check.
10:54I don't have that.
10:54Well, then, I'm not entertaining your counterclaim for security deposit.
10:58She says you never paid her any security deposit.
11:00That's ridiculous.
11:02No, it's not ridiculous.
11:03All you had to do was bring me the check.
11:04Well, I have in the lease that it shows that it's $1,650 plus the deposit on there.
11:09Yes, she says that she never gave her the security deposit, and all you had to do was bring
11:12me the check.
11:13I didn't have the check because that was so long ago.
11:15I didn't think there'd be...
11:15It wasn't so long ago.
11:16It's not so long ago.
11:17I didn't think it would be a problem.
11:17It's a year and a half ago.
11:18What?
11:19I didn't think it would be a problem to save that rent check.
11:21You have to bring proof.
11:22This is court.
11:23Right.
11:23Why don't you think you were coming today?
11:24I bought proof of a lot of other things, Your Honor.
11:26Well, but the main part of your counterclaim is for...
11:28Correct.
11:29...security.
11:29Then you bring me the check that says rent and security.
11:33Correct.
11:34Right.
11:34Okay.
11:35Let me see pictures of the house before and after.
11:39All right.
11:40The before ones.
11:42I have my own after pictures as well.
11:44I want to see them too.
11:46Before.
11:47Before.
11:50These are my photos, and these are her photos currently available online to show the difference
11:55there in the painting that she had me pay for.
11:57Just a second.
11:58I just want to see the pictures.
12:00Can I see the before pictures?
12:03These are before.
12:08Fine.
12:10I have more too.
12:13When was this picture taken?
12:15That was two years ago.
12:17Three years ago.
12:18Prior to her moving in?
12:19Yes.
12:20Okay.
12:20Now let me see your after pictures when she left.
12:24When day did you move out?
12:25I moved out on the 30th of June.
12:28There are some.
12:29I have more.
12:31Also, please note that the water was left running in the pool to damage the pump.
12:39Shh.
12:40Just a second.
12:41This is dirt.
12:44That's just stuff.
12:47The stove is dirt.
12:50And this, I assume, is to show me that she left dishes in the dishwasher.
12:53Yes.
12:54And this is to show me that she left a dirty refrigerator.
12:56Yes.
12:57Okay.
12:57There are more.
12:58And this is to show me that she left stuff there.
13:00Yes.
13:00We needed to know what she was going to do with this.
13:02Well, I don't know what she's going to do with it.
13:03So far, I don't see $5,000 worth of damage.
13:06I see a lot of dirt and schmutz.
13:07There were holes in the walls.
13:09All I want you to do is show me.
13:11So far, I don't see anything.
13:12That's it.
13:12The garage doors were broken.
13:14The locks were damaged.
13:16Just don't tell me anything.
13:18Show me.
13:18I actually had a company come out while I lived in the home to give me an estimate because
13:23it was broken prior to us moving in.
13:25And I used a stick.
13:26And I have a five-year-old little girl with a pool in that backyard.
13:28And she provided me no locks.
13:30And I had the company come out.
13:31Just a second.
13:31Is what you're telling me that you put locks here?
13:34She never provided it.
13:35It was already broken.
13:36I'm asking you if you put locks in.
13:38I tried.
13:39Yes.
13:40What do you mean you tried?
13:40I had a friend come over because I had added an estimate.
13:43And she wouldn't pay for it.
13:44She said it was too much money.
13:45So I had a friend in fear of my daughter drowning to put a semi-lock on it to try to get it to
13:50lock.
13:51But the door was broken to begin with.
13:52So there was no repairing.
13:53So what you're telling me is you lived in a house with a pool with a child.
13:56And you didn't have a lock put on the door?
13:57I tried.
13:58Yes, I did.
13:58You can't try.
13:59Well, it just broke again.
14:01Listen to me.
14:02Yes.
14:02When your daughter is laying face down in the pool, you tell her that you tried to put
14:08a lock on the door.
14:09Don't you realize how stupid that is?
14:11Well, I had to fix it.
14:12It's not her child.
14:14I understand that.
14:14I'm not excusing the fact.
14:15I understand that.
14:16You're trying to talk over me.
14:17That's not going to happen.
14:19I'm not excusing the fact if it's true that there was no lock on the door.
14:22What I'm telling you is you're the mother.
14:24Right.
14:24You're not supposed to say I tried.
14:26Right.
14:26You're supposed to say I took care of it.
14:28Right.
14:30What else?
14:30I don't see $5,000 worth of damage, madam.
14:33These are the state.
14:33I'm not interested in that.
14:35I couldn't be less interested in your bills.
14:37Okay.
14:38I can only be interested in photographs of damage.
14:41So far, all you've shown me is a lot of trash and somebody who didn't clean well before
14:46they left.
14:47That's all I saw there.
14:48No, that's the door alone.
14:51This had a lock in it.
14:53Listen to me, madam.
14:53I see the door.
14:55I see the hole in it.
14:56I don't see $7,000 worth of damage, and I'm not looking at your bills.
15:01If you decided to renovate your house, that's your business.
15:04If you took pictures of the damage, listen to me very carefully.
15:07If you took pictures of a dirty toilet, then you should have taken pictures of holes in walls, ripped up carpet, banged out windows.
15:18But if you take pictures of a dirty toilet and a dirty refrigerator, and that's all you're showing me, then that's cleanup.
15:26For that, you get compensated.
15:28I mean, if you spent $300 to clean up the apartment, that's fine.
15:32But you don't get $7,000 for doing a renovation.
15:37Do we understand each other?
15:39Now, show me the pictures of the damage.
15:41I don't see any.
15:43There's the dirty carpets that had human urine in them and feces on the carpet.
15:48They had to be removed.
15:49Show me.
15:49They're here.
15:49I'll show you.
15:50Show me.
15:51Let me justify human urine.
15:52Show me.
15:53Yeah, you know what that is.
15:54Here's the carpets.
15:55These were pale Berber carpets, very expensive.
15:58All of these are documented.
16:00I'm not interested in your bills.
16:02I see trash on the floor.
16:04Those are...
16:05No, there were dirty carpets.
16:07They destroyed the place.
16:08There were locks broken.
16:09These are honest people in Palm Springs that provided the services that will explain it.
16:13Listen to me very carefully, madam.
16:15She's not renovating your house.
16:18She's not.
16:18If you took pictures of a couple of cups...
16:21Listen to me.
16:21Stop looking through.
16:22If you took pictures of a couple of cups on the floor and you took pictures of a dirty
16:27toilet, then you take pictures of actual damage that I can see.
16:31I can see no damage on this carpet except for a cup and a bottle and some trash.
16:38Do we understand each other?
16:40Now, if you have a bill for cleaning the house, I'll see it.
16:45The carpets were not clean.
16:46If you have bills for cleaning up the trash, if you hired a firm to come and clean up the
16:52trash that you say was outside, like here, or to clean the inside of the stove, or to
17:03clean up this mess, then I'll see a bill for cleanup.
17:08Do you understand?
17:09Yes.
17:09Do you have that bill?
17:11Well, I'm under oath, and I can tell you that there were rocks and marbles down my garbage
17:16to spoil the house.
17:16Your case is dismissed.
17:17Your counterclaim is likewise.
17:19Dismissed, madam.
17:20You don't have any proof that you paid any security deposit.
17:23Bodies are excused.
17:25You may step out.
17:25Dismissed, madam.
17:46Dismissed, madam.
17:49In the blind
17:54In the blind
18:02Stand, don't you hurt me?
18:05Try to cry, can you not stop me?
18:08Don't do a fight, don't forgive me
18:12In the blind, blind, blind, blind
18:16I shall fall like the slaughter of myself
18:21In the water, I'll be so mild
18:25In the case of my heart
18:28I will see it
18:30Got my soul
18:33So I don't know what you feel
18:41I will speak to you, don't worry
18:45I'll kill them
18:47But I pick up all
18:49They kill the whore
18:52Now I will find you
18:54To my little one
18:56I think it's phenomenal, perfect
18:58Couldn't have asked for anything better
18:59It's bull
19:00Because the door was stripped and broken down
19:03It cost thousands
19:04She got what she deserved
19:05I'm not remodeling her house for her
19:07There was humanurity in the carpets
19:09They had to be replaced
19:10And I have no compensation for them
19:12I did leave her with $1400 of security deposit
19:14Which is more than enough
19:15For her to have somebody come and clean
19:16The house had to be painted
19:17These are honest people that provided services
19:19She came to my work
19:21She came to attack me
19:22She still, this last October
19:23Was the last time she came in contact with me
19:25She repeatedly calls me
19:26Bull
19:27I wish I never came here
19:28She's just a vicious, vicious woman
19:30I wish I never rented to her
19:31Bull
19:32Friend, no friend
19:33Never again
19:34Not doing it, I'm out of here
19:35Love Judge Judy, thank you
19:37Thank you
19:38Thank you
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