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00:00Sorelle Jones is suing his mother, Lakeisha Williams, for forging his name to an apartment
00:09lease that ruined his credit. Court come to order. All rise. Have a seat, please.
00:19Judge, case 4003, Jones v. Williams. Thank you. You're welcome.
00:24Mr. Jones, this is your mother. Yes.
00:26It is your claim that your mother forged your name to a lease.
00:30Yes, Your Honor.
00:31And then breached the lease, and you're stuck with a bill, and your credit score has been negatively impacted.
00:39Yes, Your Honor.
00:39That you had no knowledge of this lease, that you were signatory to the lease.
00:44Yes.
00:45And that you want to be able to clear this from your credit score.
00:49Yes, Your Honor.
00:50Great. You're now...
00:5121.
00:52This lease was signed when you were how old?
00:5417 years old.
00:55And how do you know that?
00:56When I went to check my credit report, it had the date, which was around 2021, edging into 2022, the end of 2021.
01:04You went and checked your credit score. Where were you living when you were 17?
01:09I was actually staying with my witness, my brother, and...
01:12Okay. So you were living with your brother?
01:15Yes.
01:15How old were you when you went to live with your brother?
01:1717.
01:18How long did you live with your brother?
01:20It 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, so...
01:26Where do you get your mail?
01:27Usually, most of my mail gets sent to the old address that I previously lived at with her.
01:32Most of the time, I'd have to pick it up from, like, UPS or a carrier.
01:35If...
01:36If it gets sent to your mother's address where you were living, where the lease was...
01:40Yeah.
01:41You had to go there to pick up your mail.
01:43Right, because it would get...
01:44Just a second.
01:44Sorry.
01:45You had to go there to pick up your mail.
01:47Okay.
01:47Okay.
01:48Now, at some point, Mr. Jones, you were notified, not by checking your score, but you were notified
01:56that this judgment was against you.
01:59How were you notified?
02:00Let me see the letter.
02:01I never got a letter of a notification.
02:04I wasn't notified of the judgment until I checked my credit.
02:08I had no inclination.
02:09Okay.
02:10Let me see the letter that you received.
02:12Yeah.
02:14This would be the entire...
02:17No, don't.
02:19Sorry.
02:20You know how old I am.
02:21I can...
02:22Just show me what I asked for.
02:23Okay.
02:24The letter that you got indicating how much money you owed after you checked your credit score.
02:30Okay.
02:31These two pages would be it.
02:39Okay.
02:45Now, do you have a copy of the lease?
02:48That's a simple thing.
02:49That's what you should have, a copy of the lease.
02:52No.
02:52Do you have a copy of the lease?
02:53Yes.
02:53Did you get a copy of the lease?
02:54I'd like to see it, please.
02:55Here's the lease.
03:06What's your date of birth, sir?
03:082003.
03:09This lease began December 1st, 2022.
03:14Oh, okay.
03:15Okay.
03:15Let's start with, it's true that you were living in this address, and you were living there
03:22shortly after you were released from prison.
03:25Yes.
03:25How long were you in prison?
03:27Eight years.
03:29In what month and year were you released?
03:322021, July 2021.
03:36Where did you live immediately after your release?
03:39Were you in a halfway house?
03:40Yeah, for a couple months.
03:43I want you to tell me the circumstances.
03:45You tell me the circumstances surrounding your son signing this lease, because that's what you allege.
03:50Yeah.
03:51Look at me.
03:52Don't look there.
03:53Okay.
03:53Right here.
03:53So, um...
03:57We're in prison for eight years.
03:59Your children took care of themselves.
04:01He was a young teenager when you went to prison.
04:04You get out of prison, you go to a halfway house.
04:07You probably had some sort of a job, because you're supposed to have some sort of a job.
04:12Yeah, and I save money to get an apartment.
04:15Great.
04:15I want you to look at me and tell me the circumstances surrounding your son signing the lease.
04:22So I asked him to help me because I couldn't do it on my own.
04:26How old was he when you asked him to help you?
04:29He was going on 18 or 18.
04:32Well, was he 17 or 18?
04:34Um, I think he was 17.
04:3517 or 18?
04:36Okay, he was 17.
04:37And I asked him if he would help me because, um...
04:40Okay, you understand that at 17, he cannot sign a contract.
04:45You were 17 at the time.
04:47Yes, ma'am.
04:48And I asked him if he would help me because, considering I raised him and three children
04:52on my own prior...
04:53You didn't raise him.
04:54You were in jail for eight years.
04:56If you got out when he was 17, you went into jail when he was nine years old.
05:00Who raised him?
05:01My sister.
05:02Okay, well, that's your sister who raised him.
05:04So I asked him to help me, and he said he would.
05:08And so, because I couldn't do it on my own, and he said he would help me...
05:11Well, you have an older son.
05:12Why didn't you ask your older son?
05:14Because we didn't get along.
05:15Because I didn't raise him, so...
05:17You didn't raise him either, but he was a kid.
05:20He was only 17.
05:21He can't even enter into a contract.
05:23Sorrell got along with me better when I got out than the other two.
05:28So?
05:29So, I mean, you knew he was 17.
05:30He said he would help me.
05:31You knew he was 17.
05:32Yeah.
05:33I mean, everybody knows that you can't sign a contract when you're 17 that's binding.
05:36It says that you pled guilty telephonically, which means somebody called you because it
05:47was probably during COVID or whatever, and they were doing these things telephonically,
05:51and it was easy.
05:52You said, I plead guilty.
05:53Yeah, and so...
05:54Great.
05:55How much money did you pay them back?
05:58Pay who?
05:59Sorelle Jones claims his mother, Lakeisha Williams, forged his name to an apartment lease,
06:16ruining his credit, and defamed him.
06:19Now, you showed him a driver's license.
06:21Whose driver's license?
06:22I showed him mine, and then they sent me the lease over, like, electronic, and I signed
06:28it with my name, and then I asked him to sign it with his name, and he signed it.
06:33Electronically how?
06:34Um, because...
06:36Let's go.
06:38Electronically how?
06:39It came to you on your tablet or whatever, and you do that sign thing that she helps me
06:46with?
06:46Yeah.
06:47Because I'm unable to do it myself.
06:48And he, um...
06:50And he was there?
06:51Yeah.
06:52He was there, and he signed it electronically?
06:54You know, you can't even tell me that story with a straight face.
06:57In any event, so now you have a 17-year-old son who you haven't raised, who you've gotten
07:04involved in a scam, and then you breached the lease, and as a result of breaching the
07:10lease, you were served with a copy of the default judgment, because it says you were.
07:15It says that you pled guilty telephonically, which means somebody called you because it
07:20was probably during COVID or whatever, and they were doing these things telephonically,
07:25and it was easy.
07:26You said, I plead guilty.
07:27Yeah, and so...
07:29How much money did you pay them back?
07:32Pay who?
07:33The landlord.
07:34No, I already paid rent up to 11 months.
07:38And then on the last month, I couldn't pay it because I didn't have the funds.
07:43And so then I had talked to the judge, and I asked the judge if he could give me a little
07:48time, but it wasn't enough time.
07:51And so I left from there, and that's what happened.
07:53Why don't you have a seat for a moment, please?
07:57You have your driver's license with you?
07:59Yes.
07:59May I have it, please?
08:00Yes.
08:02Well, I should say something, because, like, I keep all my children's information and things
08:07like that, and so I might have used it when I was, like, filling out the application, just
08:14some copies, so I just wanted to say that.
08:17I understand that...
08:18But with his permission, though.
08:20It doesn't make any difference.
08:21Yeah, he gave me permission.
08:22If he was 17 years old, my dear, if he was 17 years old, he is unable, he is unable to
08:29sign a contract, a binding contract.
08:32But he knew I was having a hard time.
08:33I don't care what he knew.
08:34I've been doing eight years in prison.
08:36I don't care what he knew.
08:37If he's 17 years old, he's unable to sign a contract.
08:41Yeah.
08:41I'm going to go and see if I can save you some trouble, sir.
08:44See if I can have a conversation with this law firm, have them look at the papers.
08:52I got into it with the law firm because they were trying to say that about his age, and
08:57I was telling them that...
08:59I knew this was going to get better.
09:01So you called the law firm and you said, he can't be held responsible.
09:06He was only 17.
09:08Yeah.
09:08And I said, then you need to take him off.
09:10And?
09:11And they didn't do it.
09:12And I said, but that's not right, that I should only be responsible.
09:16Just a second.
09:16So you did have a conversation with someone at the law firm?
09:19I did.
09:20Tell me who you had a conversation with.
09:22With the guy that's over the law firm that runs the law firm.
09:25Name.
09:26I can't remember his name, but I know he's the one.
09:28I said, Sorrell allowed me to do it and that his name needs to come off of there.
09:34Because he was only 17?
09:36Yes.
09:36Okay, good.
09:38Could you stand up?
09:39Yeah.
09:39Okay.
09:40The judgment, $3,805.
09:44Is that correct?
09:45The judgment on my credit?
09:47Yeah.
09:48No, the judgment should have been for $9,980.
09:54Can I see that, please?
09:55Because all I have here is.
09:56I think that's the non-payment of rent.
09:58Yes, because there was also property damage.
10:01I don't see that.
10:02Well, I have pictures.
10:03No, no, I don't want to see pictures.
10:04This is the only letter that I have.
10:07Okay.
10:07That indicates that the amount of $3,805 was entered as a judgment.
10:13Do you have any other documentation that the judgment was more extensive than that?
10:18Yes.
10:19I have the credit check with the judgment on there.
10:23This doesn't do anything for me.
10:30Okay.
10:31This doesn't do anything for me.
10:32This is the only thing that says that this is what this law firm is trying to collect from
10:37you on this matter, which is $3,805.
10:41I don't know what else you have with your mother.
10:43This is the balance that they put with all the entire judgment with this.
10:48Did you negotiate a lower rate with them?
10:51No.
10:52Well, I tried to, but I couldn't pay it, so...
10:57Okay.
10:58Sarah, call them and tell them they're going to be happy because on behalf of their client,
11:03they're going to get this amount.
11:05Just want to make sure that that's the amount of the judgment.
11:08Would you do that for me?
11:09Sure.
11:09Can I see his driver's license, too?
11:11Yeah.
11:11While Sarah's making that call, when did you decide to start getting involved and start
11:18doing the right thing with regard to your child?
11:21After this whole situation.
11:23Well, when?
11:23What whole situation?
11:25I don't know what you mean.
11:27Well, you moved out of the apartment, and you didn't pay the last month's rent, and the
11:31landlord must have sent you communication, which you received.
11:35And when the case went to court, you called in telephonically...
11:41Yeah, because I was...
11:42...and pled guilty.
11:43Yeah.
11:43To what?
11:44Owing the money.
11:46Owing what money?
11:48That was from the apartment.
11:49How much?
11:50It was $9,000-something, but that's because of the vandalism.
11:55Did you vandalize the property?
11:58We both did.
11:59Why?
11:59Because I was stressed out.
12:01Well, if you were stressed out, then you vandalized the property.
12:03No, I mean, we did it, but I was stressed out because of everything that was going on.
12:09Me and the property management didn't get along, and...
12:13Did you live there with your mother?
12:14No.
12:15I didn't vandalize any property.
12:17I don't know where we is coming from, but...
12:19Your brother talked to your mother?
12:21He's had conversations with her.
12:23Happy conversations?
12:25Had conversations with her about...
12:27Tell me your name.
12:31Xavier Williams.
12:32I'm the brother of Sorrel.
12:33How old are you?
12:34I'm 24.
12:35When your mother was living in this apartment, where was your brother living?
12:37He was actually bouncing out of my house, sometimes maybe a month, and I believe one of his friends,
12:43and I know my aunt for sure, but I didn't actually want to pressure him or question him too much on the matter.
12:50I just kind of heard what I heard and kind of, like, just very disappointing and, like, just sad in a total, but Sorrel is, like, a good stand-up guy.
13:03It's never been, like, this type of person.
13:05Even all the vandalism and the stuff I've seen is just insane.
13:08I would never see that from him, so even hearing that again is just kind of outrageous, so...
13:14Yeah, the whole thing is kind of outrageous.
13:16Yeah.
13:16Great. Thank you so much.
13:17Can I have a seat?
13:18Yes, ma'am.
13:18Okay.
13:19Well, people go through things, and they get emotional, and everyone makes mistakes, so I don't think anyone is perfect.
13:25Well, I don't think anyone's perfect, Miss Williams.
13:32Your son, who's just starting his life, is starting his life with a mark that's going to be very, very difficult for him.
13:40But that wasn't my intention.
13:41Whether it's your intention or not, you have the capacity to fix it.
13:45You're an adult.
13:46You work.
13:49I know no one is perfect, but what parents try to do is usually shield their children from trouble.
14:12They don't try to inflict problems on their children and try to excuse their behavior.
14:19Because they were stressed.
14:20The one thing that you try not to do is impose that stress on your children.
14:24That's why I called the law firm and asked them to take him off of it.
14:28Why don't you stop paying them?
14:29It was only one month.
14:30Why don't you start paying the law firm?
14:33No, because...
14:33That would satisfy...
14:35You pled guilty to the judgment.
14:38That's what you did.
14:39You acknowledged that it says so in the documentation, that telephonically you pled guilty to breaching your lease.
14:47So 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, I will pay you $50 a month.
15:01I'll pay you $100 a month until all of this is paid off.
15:07Can we come up with a figure?
15:09Instead, you just ignored it.
15:11And 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.
15:20But that wasn't my intention.
15:21Whether it's your intention or not, you have the capacity to fix it.
15:25You're an adult.
15:26You work.
15:27I 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.
15:32Well, do you have an apartment?
15:34Yeah, and I have...
15:35Just a second. You pay rent to your apartment?
15:38Yes.
15:38What kind of work do you do?
15:40A call center.
15:41You work on a call center. Do you have to travel to get to work?
15:44Yes.
15:45How do you get there?
15:46Sometimes I catch an Uber. Sometimes I share a ride with a co-worker.
15:50So you have money to pay an Uber to get you to work.
15:53Yeah, because I have to work in order to pay bills.
15:54Of course.
15:54Sometimes public transportation is not an option for you.
15:59Well, I don't know what that look means.
16:01I don't know what that look means. You have Uber and you have public transportation.
16:05What I'm saying to you is you didn't make an effort to say to the company,
16:10I will pay you. I don't care what I do.
16:13I'll get an extra job at night for the next year so that I don't encumber my son's credit
16:20since he's just starting out in life. Does that make sense to you?
16:24Definitely.
16:25What kind of work do you do, Mr. Jones?
16:26I'm a custom control panel builder. So I build control panels for fans for like big car washes.
16:33How were you skilled in that job?
16:34Yeah, I went to college at Carrington College in Arizona and did an undergrad for-
16:38Yeah, and I helped him through college.
16:40I helped pay for his college.
16:42I did an undergrad program at Carrington College and I graduated, got my certification and then got hired through Carrington.
16:48Good for you.
16:49Yeah, thank you.
16:50Did they attach your wages?
16:51No, I don't think so.
16:52It's not taken out.
16:53Yeah, I don't-
16:53Not yet.
16:54Yeah.
16:54Okay, we'll see if we can forestall that happening.
16:58Yes.
17:00Great. Thank you so much for all your help. I really appreciate it. Have a good day. Bye.
17:04Okay, so he said the 3805 listed in this letter was the initial judgment for the eviction and that was the judgment.
17:20But after that, there was the legal and late fees, the cleaning, and they had not inspected the property yet.
17:26So any damages, which there were, is how we got to the $9,931.60, which is what he's on the hook for and his credit is going to be affected if that is not paid.
17:36There was a collection fee that was in addition-
17:39A what?
17:39A collection fee.
17:41I asked him to break down what that $9,931 entailed from the lease.
17:46In the lease agreement, there's a fee for if it has to go to collections, it's a set fee, $2,837 and change was the collection fee.
17:54In addition to the 3805, that was just the initial number of what they were charging her for the eviction, which got increased after they did the walkthrough of the apartment and saw damage, cleaning, repairs, legal and late fee.
18:06So all in, it's $9,931.60.
18:10And if that gets paid, plaintiff is clear in his credit.
18:15And we can pay that directly to this firm.
18:18I did not ask that question.
18:19Well, let's find out.
18:20Okay.
18:22Be right back.
18:25Sort of outrageous problem, Mr. Jones, is that I really don't think it's appropriate for me, for the court or even my clerk, to negotiate with the collection agency,
18:37because you can usually negotiate with them to reduce the amount if you pay it up front.
18:42Right.
18:42But I don't think it's appropriate for me to do that.
18:45If the amount that would be satisfied by the judgment is $9,931, the court will issue the check directly to them on your behalf.
18:53Do you understand that?
18:54Yes, Your Honor.
18:55Okay.
18:55Is that satisfactory to you?
18:57Just go back and check for me, will you?
18:59That was $9,931.60?
19:03Yep.
19:03She's pretty persuasive, Sarah.
19:06Yes.
19:06So what did you work out, Ms. Rose?
19:11You can either send a check directly to this address at the bottom, or they could do a card or check by phone.
19:17$9,931.60 will clear their...
19:20$9,931.60 will clear his credit.
19:22Will clear his credit.
19:22Yes.
19:23And it'll be wiped from his history.
19:24Judgment for the plaintiff.
19:25We'll take care of your credit.
19:27Okay.
19:28Thanks.
19:28You're welcome.
19:29This court is adjourned.
19:30I think it was a really fair decision.
19:35For them to bring me and sue me when he agreed to help me.
19:41I'm very excited about it being removed off my credit.
19:43You know, how much I've done for them and how ungrateful they are for what I've done for them.
19:48She just came in later and used me for the situation to try to get a leg up.
19:53It's divided our family.
19:55Eventually, maybe I'll be able to mend it, but I don't think so.
19:58I want to get my family back.
20:00Thank you, Judy Justice.
20:03So, I don't think debt collection offices get calls very often of,
20:07I'd like to pay this in full.
20:09He was very helpful.
20:10And when I said, this is Sarah Rose, I'm a law clerk for Judge Judy Shineland,
20:14he goes, the Judge Judy?
20:16As in, this is going to be on TV?
20:18This is awesome.
20:18And I'm going to get paid?
20:20This is the best day ever.
20:21And so, he was having a great day.
20:23So, I'm just glad.
20:25I did feel bad for the plaintiff.
20:26You know, your own mother takes advantage of you and your credit is forever affected.
20:32And at 21, that's a tough thing.
20:33And he works?
20:34And he went to school?
20:35Yeah, seems like an upstanding guy.
20:36And so, I'm glad we were able to clear the debt.
20:38And I also confirmed that once this gets paid, it'll be taken off his record.
20:41It won't be a lingering factor in his life any longer.
20:43Well, we'll make sure of that.
20:45Yeah, so, the right thing.
20:46Great.
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