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00:00Your mother forged your name to a lease.
00:03Yes, Your Honor.
00:04And then you breached the lease.
00:07Yeah.
00:07There was also property damage.
00:09But that's because of the vandalism.
00:12Did you vandalize the property?
00:14I was stressed out.
00:15You're an adult.
00:16The whole thing is kind of outrageous.
00:18This is Judy Justice.
00:30Sorelle Jones is suing his mother, Lakeisha Williams, for forging his name to an apartment lease that ruined his credit.
00:48Court come to order?
00:49All rise.
00:51Have a seat, please.
00:54Judge, case 4003, Jones v. Williams.
00:59You're welcome.
01:00Mr. Jones, this is your mother.
01:02Yes.
01:03It is your claim that your mother forged your name to a lease.
01:06Yes, Your Honor.
01:07And then breached the lease, and you're stuck with a bill, and your credit score has been negatively impacted?
01:15Yes, Your Honor.
01:16That you had no knowledge of this lease?
01:18That you were signatory to the lease?
01:20Yes.
01:21And that you want to be able to clear this from your credit score?
01:25Yes, Your Honor.
01:26Great.
01:27You're now?
01:2821.
01:29You were signed when you were how old?
01:3117 years old.
01:32And how do you know that?
01:33When I went to check my credit report, it had the date which was around 2021, edging into 2022, the end of 2021.
01:40You went and checked your credit score.
01:42Where were you living when you were 17?
01:45I was actually staying with my witness, my brother.
01:48Okay.
01:49So you were living with your brother?
01:51Yes.
01:52How old were you when you went to live with your brother?
01:5317.
01:54How long did you live with your brother?
01:56It was over the course of a year, but I was in and out of his house, a friend's, and my aunt's for about a year.
02:01Where do you get your mail?
02:02Usually most of my mail gets sent to the old address that I previously lived at with her.
02:07Most of the time I'd have to pick it up from like UPS or a carrier.
02:11If it gets sent to your mother's address where you were living, where the lease was, you had to go there to pick up your mail.
02:18Right, because it would get...
02:19Just a second.
02:20Sorry.
02:21You had to go there to pick up your mail.
02:22Okay.
02:23Okay.
02:24Now, at some point, Mr. Jones, you were notified, not by checking your score, but you were notified that this judgment was against you.
02:35How were you notified?
02:36Let me see the letter.
02:37I never got a letter of a notification.
02:40I wasn't notified of the judgment until I checked my credit.
02:44I had no inclination.
02:45Okay.
02:46Let me see the letter that you received.
02:47Yeah.
02:48This would be the entire...
02:53No, don't.
02:54Sorry.
02:55You know how old I am.
02:56I can...
02:57Just show me what I asked for.
02:59Okay.
03:00The letter that you got indicating how much money you owed after you checked your credit score.
03:06Okay.
03:07These two pages would be it.
03:17Okay.
03:18Okay.
03:19Now, do you have a copy of the lease?
03:23That's a simple thing.
03:24That's what you should have.
03:25A copy of the lease.
03:26No.
03:27Do you have a copy of the lease?
03:28Yes.
03:29Do you get a copy of the lease?
03:30Yes.
03:31I'd like to see it, please.
03:32Here's the lease.
03:34What's your date of birth, sir?
03:432003.
03:44This lease began December 1st, 2022.
03:49Oh, okay.
03:50Okay.
03:51Okay.
03:52Let's start with, it's true that you were living in this address and you were living there shortly
03:59after you were released from prison.
04:00Yes.
04:01How long were you in prison?
04:03Eight years.
04:04In what month and year were you released?
04:072021, July 2021.
04:12Where did you live immediately after your release? Were you in a halfway house?
04:16Yeah.
04:17For a couple months.
04:18I want you to tell me the circumstances. You tell me the circumstances surrounding your son signing this lease because that's what you allege.
04:26Yeah.
04:27Look at me. Don't look there.
04:29Okay.
04:30So, um...
04:33We're in prison for eight years. Your children took care of themselves. He was a young teenager when you went to prison.
04:39Yes.
04:40You get out of prison, you go to a halfway house. You probably had some sort of a job because you're supposed to have some sort of a job.
04:48Yeah, and I save money to get an apartment.
04:50Oh, okay.
04:51Great. I want you to look at me and tell me the circumstances surrounding your son signing the lease.
04:58So I asked him to help me because I couldn't do it on my own.
05:02How old was he when you asked him to help you?
05:04He was going at 18 or 18.
05:07Well, was he 17 or 18?
05:09Um...
05:10I think he was 17.
05:1117 or 18.
05:12Okay, he was 17. And I asked him if he would help me because, um...
05:15Okay, you understand that at 17, he cannot sign a contract. You were 17 at the time.
05:22Yes.
05:23And I asked him if he would help me because considering I raised him and three children on my own prior...
05:28You didn't raise him. You were in jail for eight years. If you got out when he was 17, you went into jail when he was nine years old. Who raised him?
05:36My sister.
05:37Okay, well, that's your sister who raised him.
05:39So I asked him to help me and he said he would. And so because I couldn't do it on my own and he said he would help me.
05:47Well, you have an older son. Why didn't you ask your older son?
05:49Because we didn't get along. Because I didn't raise him. So...
05:53You didn't raise him either. But he was a kid. He was only 17. He can't even enter into a contract.
05:58But Sorrell was nicer. Sorrell got along with me better when I got out than the other two. Like...
06:04So?
06:05So, I mean, you knew he was 17. He said he would help.
06:07You knew he was 17.
06:08Yeah.
06:09I mean, everybody knows that you can't sign a contract when you're 17 that's binding.
06:18It says that you pled guilty telephonically, which means somebody called you because it was probably during COVID or whatever.
06:25And they were doing these things telephonically and it was easy. You said, I plead guilty.
06:29Yeah, and so...
06:30Great. How much money did you pay them back?
06:34Pay who?
06:45Sorrell Jones claims his mother, Lakeisha Williams, forged his name to an apartment lease, ruining his credit and defamed him.
06:54Now, you showed him a driver's license. Whose driver's license?
06:58I showed him mine and then they, um, and they sent me the lease over, like, electronic.
07:03And I signed it with my name and then I asked him to sign it with his name and he signed it.
07:08Electronically how?
07:09Um, because...
07:11Let's go. Electronically how? It came to you on your tablet or whatever and you do that sign thing that she helps me with?
07:21Yeah.
07:22Because I'm unable to do it myself.
07:24And he, um...
07:25And he was, he was there.
07:27Yeah.
07:28He was there and he signed it electronically. You know, you can't even tell me that story with a straight face.
07:33In any event, so now you have a 17-year-old son who you haven't raised, who you've gotten involved in a scam, and then you breached the lease.
07:44And as a result of breaching the lease, you were served with a copy of the default judgment.
07:49Because it says you were. It says that you pled guilty telephonically.
07:54Which means somebody called you because it was probably during COVID or whatever and they were doing these things telephonically.
08:01And it was easy. You said, I plead guilty.
08:03Yeah, and so...
08:04Great! How much money did you pay them back?
08:07Pay who?
08:08The landlord.
08:09No, I already paid rent up to 11 months.
08:13And then on the last month I couldn't pay it because I didn't have the funds.
08:18And so then I had talked to the judge and I asked the judge if he could give me a little time, but it wasn't enough time.
08:26And so I left from there and that's what happened.
08:29Why don't you have a seat for a moment, please?
08:32You have your driver's license with you?
08:34Yes.
08:35May I have it, please?
08:36Yes.
08:37Well, I should say something.
08:39Because, like, I keep all my children's information and things like that.
08:43And so I might have used it when I was, like, filling out the application.
08:49Just some copies.
08:50So I just wanted to say that.
08:52I understand that.
08:53But with his permission, though.
08:55It doesn't make any difference.
08:57Yeah.
08:58He was 17 years old, my dear.
09:00If he was 17 years old, he is unable...
09:02But he knew that I was having a hard time.
09:03He is unable to sign a contract.
09:07A binding contract.
09:08He knew I was having a hard time.
09:09I don't care what he knew.
09:10I'm doing eight years in prison.
09:11I don't care what he knew.
09:13If he's 17 years old, he's unable to sign a contract.
09:16Yeah.
09:17I'm going to go and see if I can save you some trouble, sir.
09:20See if I can have a conversation with this law firm.
09:26Look at the papers.
09:27Well, I got into it with the law firm because they were trying to say that about his age.
09:33And I was telling them that...
09:35I knew this was going to get better.
09:37So you called the law firm and you said, he can't be held responsible.
09:42He was only 17.
09:43Yeah.
09:44And I said, then you need to take him off.
09:46And?
09:47And they didn't do it.
09:48And I said, but that's not right.
09:50That I should...
09:51Just a second.
09:52So you did have a conversation with someone at the law firm.
09:55I did.
09:56Tell me who you had a conversation with.
09:58With the guy that's over the law firm that runs the law firm.
10:00Name.
10:01Name.
10:02I can't remember his name, but I know he's the one.
10:04I said, Sorrel allowed me to do it and that his name needs to come off of there.
10:11Because he was only 17.
10:12Yes.
10:13Okay.
10:14Good.
10:15Could you stand up?
10:16Yeah.
10:17Okay.
10:18The judgment, $3,805.
10:20Is that correct?
10:21The judgment on my credit?
10:23Yeah.
10:24No.
10:25The judgment should have been for $9,980.
10:29Can I see that please?
10:31Because all I have here is...
10:32Yes.
10:33Do you think that's the non-payment of rent?
10:34Yes.
10:35Because there was also property damage.
10:36I don't see that.
10:38Well, I have pictures.
10:39No, no.
10:40I don't want to see pictures.
10:41I want to see...
10:42This is the only letter that I have.
10:43Okay.
10:44That indicates that the amount of $3,805 was entered as a judgment.
10:49Do you have any other documentation that the judgment was more extensive than that?
10:54Yes.
10:55I have the credit check with the judgment on there.
11:04This doesn't do anything for me.
11:06Okay.
11:07This doesn't do anything for me.
11:08This is the only thing that says that this is what this law firm is trying to collect from
11:13you on this matter, which is $3,805.
11:17I don't know what else you have with your mother.
11:19This is the balance that they put with all the entire judgment with this.
11:24Did you negotiate a lower rate with them?
11:27No.
11:28Well, I tried to, but I couldn't pay it, so...
11:33Okay.
11:34Sarah, call them and tell them they're going to be happy because on behalf of their client,
11:39they're going to get this amount.
11:41Just want to make sure that that's the amount of the judgment.
11:44Would you do that for me?
11:45Sure.
11:46Yeah.
11:49While Sarah's making that call, when did you decide to start getting involved and start
11:54doing the right thing with regard to your child?
11:57After this whole situation.
11:58Well, when?
11:59What whole situation?
12:01I don't know what you mean.
12:02Well, you moved out of the apartment, and you didn't pay the last month's rent,
12:06and the landlord must have sent you communication, which you received.
12:11And when the case went to court, you called in telephonically...
12:16Yeah, because I was...
12:17...and pled guilty.
12:18Yeah.
12:19To what?
12:20Owing the money.
12:21Owing what money?
12:23That was from the apartment.
12:25How much?
12:26It was $9,000-something, but that's because of the vandalism.
12:31Did you vandalize the property?
12:33We both did.
12:34Why?
12:35Because I was stressed out.
12:36Well, if you were stressed out, then you vandalized the property.
12:39No, I mean, we did it, but I was stressed out because of everything that was going on.
12:44Me and the property management didn't get along, and...
12:48Did you live there with your mother?
12:50No.
12:51I didn't vandalize any property.
12:53I don't know where we is coming from, but...
12:55Your brother talked to your mother?
12:57He's had...
12:58He's had conversations with her.
12:59Happy conversations?
13:00Had conversations with her about...
13:03Tell me your name.
13:06Xavier Williams.
13:07I'm the brother of Sorrell.
13:09How old are you?
13:10I'm 24.
13:11When your mother was living in this apartment, where was your brother living?
13:13He was actually bouncing out of my house, sometimes maybe a month.
13:17And I believe one of his friends, and I know my aunt for sure.
13:21But I didn't actually want to pressure him or question him too much on the matter.
13:26I just kind of heard what I heard and kind of like...
13:29Just very disappointing and just sad in a total.
13:35But Sorrell is like a good stand-up guy.
13:39Never been like this type of person.
13:41Even all the vandalism and the stuff I've seen is just insane.
13:44I would never see that from him.
13:46So even hearing that again is just kind of outrageous, so...
13:50Yeah, the whole thing is kind of outrageous.
13:52Yeah.
13:53Great, thank you so much.
13:54Can I have a seat?
13:55Yes, ma'am.
13:56Well, people go through things and they get emotional.
13:58And everyone makes mistakes, though.
14:00I don't think anyone is perfect.
14:01Well, I don't think anyone's perfect, Miss Williams.
14:04Your son who's just starting his life is starting his life with a mark that's going to be very, very difficult for him.
14:16But that wasn't my intention.
14:17Whether it's your intention or not, you have the capacity to fix it.
14:21You're an adult.
14:22You work.
14:33Sorrell Jones is accusing his mother, Lakeisha Williams, of forging his name to an apartment lease that ruined his credit.
14:41I know no one is perfect, but what parents try to do is usually shield their children from trouble.
14:48They don't try to inflict problems on their children and try to excuse their behavior because they were stressed.
14:56The one thing that you try not to do is impose that stress on your children.
15:00That's why I called the law firm and asked them to take him off of it.
15:03Why don't you stop paying them?
15:05It was only one month.
15:06Why don't you start paying the law firm?
15:09No, because...
15:10That would satisfy...
15:11You pled guilty to the judgment.
15:14That's what you did.
15:15You acknowledged that it says so in the documentation.
15:18That telephonically you pled guilty to breaching your lease.
15:24So my question to you is, if you work, why don't you say to the law firm, or didn't you say to them a year or more ago when this whole thing happened,
15:34I will pay you $50 a month.
15:37I'll pay you $100 a month until all of this is paid off.
15:42Can we come up with a figure?
15:45Instead, you just ignored it.
15:47And because you just ignored it, your son, who's just starting his life, is starting his life with a mark that's going to be very, very difficult for him.
15:56But that wasn't my intention.
15:57Whether it's your intention or not, you have the capacity to fix it. You're an adult. You work.
16:02I don't make good money at my job, so I make enough to pay my bills. Like, I don't have extra money for that.
16:08Well, do you have an apartment?
16:10Yeah, and I have...
16:11Just a second. You pay rent to your apartment?
16:13Yes.
16:14What kind of work do you do?
16:15A call center.
16:17You work on a call center. Do you have to travel to get to work?
16:20Yes.
16:21How do you get there?
16:22Sometimes I catch an Uber. Sometimes I share a ride with a co-worker.
16:26So you have money to pay an Uber to get you to work?
16:28Yeah, because I have to work in order to pay bills.
16:30Of course. Public transportation's not an option for you.
16:33Well, I don't know what that look means. I don't know what that look means.
16:38You have Uber and you have public transportation.
16:41What I'm saying to you is you didn't make an effort to say to the company,
16:46I will pay you. I don't care what I do. I'll get an extra job at night for the next year
16:52so that I don't encumber my son's credit since he's just starting out in life.
16:58Does that make sense to you?
17:00Definitely.
17:01What kind of work do you do, Mr. Jones?
17:02I'm a custom control panel builder, so I build control panels for fans,
17:06for, like, big car washes.
17:08How were you skilled in that job?
17:10Yeah, I went to college at Carrington College in Arizona.
17:13Yeah, and I helped him through college.
17:15I helped pay for his college.
17:18I did an undergrad program at Carrington College,
17:20and I graduated, got my certification, and then got hired through Carrington.
17:24Good for you.
17:25Yeah, thank you.
17:26Did they attach your wages?
17:27No, I don't think so.
17:28It's not taken out?
17:29Yeah, I don't...
17:30Not yet.
17:31Okay.
17:32We'll see if we can forestall that happening.
17:34Yes.
17:35Great.
17:36Thank you so much for all your help.
17:37I really appreciate it.
17:38Have a good day.
17:39Bye.
17:40Okay, so he said the 3805 listed in this letter was the initial judgment for the eviction,
17:55and that was the judgment, but after that there was the legal and late fees, the cleaning,
18:00and they had not inspected the property yet, so any damages, which there were, is how we got
18:05to the $9,931.60, which is what he's on the hook for, and his credit is going to be affected
18:11if that is not paid.
18:12There was a collection fee that was, in addition, a collection fee.
18:16I asked him to break down what that $9,931 entailed.
18:21From the lease, in the lease agreement, there's a fee for if it has to go to collections, it's
18:25a set fee.
18:26$2,837 and change was the collection fee.
18:30In addition to the 3805, that was just the initial number of what they were charging her
18:34for the eviction, which got increased after they did the walkthrough of the apartment,
18:38and saw damage, cleaning, repairs, legal and late fee.
18:42So all in, it's $9,931.60, and if that gets paid, plaintiff is clear in his credit.
18:51And we can pay that directly to this firm?
18:54I did not ask that question.
18:55Well, let's find out.
18:56Okay.
18:57Be right back.
18:59Sort of outrageous problem, Mr. Jones, is that I really don't think it's appropriate
19:07for me, for the court or even my clerk, to negotiate with the collection agency,
19:13because you can usually negotiate with them to reduce the amount if you pay it up front.
19:18Right.
19:19But I don't think it's appropriate for me to do that.
19:21If the amount that would be satisfied by the judgment is $9,931,
19:26court will issue the check directly to them on your behalf.
19:29Do you understand that?
19:30Yes, Your Honor.
19:31Okay.
19:32Is that satisfactory to you?
19:33Yes.
19:34Just go back and check for me, would you?
19:35That was $9,931.60?
19:38Yep.
19:39Yep.
19:40That's pretty persuasive, Sarah.
19:41Yes.
19:42So what did you work out, Ms. Rose?
19:47You can either send a check directly to this address at the bottom, or they could do a card or check by phone.
19:5393160 will clear there.
19:5493160 will clear his credit.
19:55Yes.
19:56And it will be wiped from his history.
19:57Judgement for the plaintiff.
19:58We'll take care of your credit.
19:59Okay.
20:00Thanks.
20:01You're welcome.
20:02This court is adjourned.
20:03I think it was a really fair decision.
20:04For them to bring me and sue me when he agreed to help me.
20:06I'm very excited about it being removed off my credit.
20:08You know, how much I've done for them and how ungrateful they are for what I've done for them.
20:24She just came in later and used me for the situation to try to get a leg up.
20:29It's divided our family.
20:31Eventually, maybe I'll be able to mend it, but I don't think so.
20:34I want to get my family back.
20:36Thank you, Judy Justice.
20:39So, I don't think debt collection offices get calls very often of,
20:43I'd like to pay this in full.
20:45He was very helpful.
20:46And when I said, this is Sarah Rose.
20:48I'm a law clerk for Judge Judy Scheinland.
20:50He goes, the Judge Judy?
20:52As in, this is going to be on TV.
20:54This is awesome.
20:55And I'm going to get paid.
20:56This is the best day ever.
20:57And so, he was having a great day.
20:59So, I'm just glad.
21:01I did feel bad for the plaintiff.
21:02You know, your own mother takes advantage of you and your credit is forever affected.
21:07And at 21, that's a tough thing.
21:08How many works?
21:09Any dental school?
21:10Yeah.
21:11Seems like an upstanding guy.
21:12And so, I'm glad we were able to clear the debt.
21:14And I also confirmed that once this gets paid, it'll be taken off his record.
21:17It won't be a lingering factor in his life any longer.
21:19Well, we'll make sure of that.
21:20Make sure of that.
21:21Yeah.
21:22So, the right thing.
21:23Great.
21:24Are you having a family dispute?
21:27Go to JudyJustice.tv.
21:29Go to Judy extreme.
21:32Go in,lara.
21:33Go water, go gap.
21:34Go Green.
21:46Go, man.
21:47Woo.
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