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00:00Your sister moved into your home?
00:02Yes.
00:03The house was completely wrecked.
00:05Well, who punched the holes in the walls?
00:08I don't know. Maybe she did.
00:10She's moving back there with her six children.
00:13She is not going to destroy the house.
00:16This is Judy Justice.
00:36Juanita Perryman is suing her sister, Sherry Small, for vandalizing her property.
00:43Court, come to order. All rise.
00:47Have a seat, please.
00:48Judge, case 40-06, Perryman v. Small.
00:51You're welcome.
00:53Ms. Perryman, the defendant is your sister?
00:56Yes.
00:56Older sister, younger sister?
00:58Older.
00:58You have children?
00:59Yes.
01:00How many?
01:00Three.
01:01How old are they?
01:0320, 22, and 16.
01:06Do any of them live with you?
01:07Yes, one.
01:08The 16-year-old?
01:09Yes.
01:09You have kids?
01:10Yes.
01:10How many?
01:11Six.
01:12How old are they?
01:13I have twins that are 18, 16, 15, 12, and two.
01:19Busy?
01:20Yes.
01:22Do they live with you?
01:23Yes.
01:23This is what I gather from your papers.
01:26Your husband passed away recently.
01:29Tell me when.
01:30Yeah, in February of last year.
01:32Was it a sudden illness?
01:34Yeah, he had an asthma attack.
01:36How old was he?
01:3739.
01:38Did he have the asthma attack at work or was he?
01:40At home.
01:40What I gather from your papers is you were not comfortable, which is perfectly understandable,
01:45with going back into the house for a while.
01:48At about the same time, your sister was in a relationship with somebody.
01:53Yes.
01:53And that wasn't going well.
01:55Yes.
01:55Your 16-year-old was, in fact, living with you.
01:58Yes.
01:59And this gentleman.
02:00Yes.
02:00And so you needed a place to live.
02:03Yes.
02:03According to your papers, you and your sister made an arrangement that she would move into
02:08your house.
02:09Yes.
02:10And according to you, take care of the bills.
02:12And you were going to be going where with your children?
02:15We had a family member.
02:16An aunt was renting a place, and I moved in there for a short time.
02:20From when to when?
02:21I moved in March of 2023, and...
02:25So right after your husband's death.
02:27Yes.
02:27And how long were you there?
02:28I stayed until August of 2023.
02:33And then where did you go?
02:34I went back to my house.
02:37Yes.
02:37Now, did you and your husband own that house?
02:39Yes.
02:40Did you make an arrangement with her for rent?
02:42Yes.
02:43And what was the rent?
02:44Um, she was supposed to pay the $14.50 per month for rent, and utilities about $170 per
02:51month.
02:52Did you have a mortgage on the house?
02:54Yes.
02:54And did that $14.50 cover the mortgage and taxes?
02:57Now, when you were living with your male friend, were you living in his apartment?
03:02Yes.
03:03Who was paying the rent?
03:04He was.
03:05Do you work?
03:06Yes.
03:07What kind of work do you do?
03:08I'm a home health aide.
03:09Okay.
03:09Well, it seems that the situation seemed to deteriorate, according to the papers, after
03:15your sister moved into your home.
03:17Yes.
03:17And your lawsuit seeks damages for damages you allege that she caused to your home.
03:25Yes.
03:26And also non-payment of rent?
03:29Yes.
03:29Okay.
03:30So, tell me, when did she move in?
03:32In March?
03:32Yes.
03:33Of 2023?
03:34Yes.
03:34And tell me about the rent.
03:36She lived there for how many months?
03:37So, she moved in in March, and she left in June.
03:44When she first moved in, she paid $1,000 versus the $1,450, and she said she was going to
03:52pay
03:53the remaining the next month, in April.
03:56She said that her check had been short.
03:57She had been shorted some hours with her client.
04:00And I said that was fine.
04:01She could just, you know, make up the next month.
04:03In April, it was the same thing.
04:05She said that her hours had been cut at work.
04:09She didn't have the full amount.
04:11Well, how much did she pay you in April?
04:12So, let's...
04:13In April, she paid $900.
04:15And in May?
04:15She didn't pay anything.
04:16And in June, she left?
04:18Yes.
04:18Okay.
04:19The issue started when?
04:20Towards the end of March.
04:22Like, my neighbors and stuff, like, people were familiar with me.
04:25They would kind of call and be like, hey...
04:27You can't tell me what happened.
04:28You got called from neighbors.
04:29Yeah.
04:30Ms. Small, when you and your boyfriend separated back in February or March,
04:35there was anger and acrimony.
04:37Yeah.
04:38Now, when you left the apartment, it was because he told you to leave?
04:41Yes.
04:41Were the police involved?
04:43Um...
04:44That's something you don't have to think about.
04:46Were the police involved?
04:47I didn't make a report, no.
04:48He made a report on her.
04:50Let's answer the question.
04:51Okay.
04:51I don't need her to tell me the truth.
04:54You're supposed to do that.
04:55Tell me how the police were involved.
04:57He called the police to ask him to remove me from his home because I did not want to leave.
05:03And they had to come get me to take me to remove me from the home.
05:06Now, did you let him, when you moved into your sister's house, did you let him come to your house?
05:13Yes.
05:13The answer was yes.
05:15Yes.
05:15Sometimes I didn't.
05:16How did I know that?
05:17Why?
05:17Because I was still emotionally tied to him.
05:20I wasn't ready to be over with him because we invested so much time.
05:24We was together for four years.
05:26That may be okay, but there was a lot of fighting there when he came over.
05:29Mm-hmm.
05:30True.
05:31And it wasn't quiet fighting.
05:32It was loud fighting.
05:34Mm-hmm.
05:34Yes.
05:35Did either you, he, or the neighbors call the police?
05:38Um, the neighbors, she had nosy neighbors, so I assumed they called.
05:42Okay.
05:43So the police were called while he was there.
05:46Yes.
05:46Now, you agree that you gave her $1,000 when you moved in?
05:51Yes.
05:51That was in March?
05:52Mm-hmm.
05:53And that you gave her $900 in April?
05:56Yes.
05:56So there was clearly a rental agreement, an agreement that you were supposed to pay rent.
06:01Not...
06:02However, you did in fact pay $1,000 one month and $900 the next.
06:08I was actually trying to do her a favor and help her out.
06:10She really did never ask me for no rent.
06:12Well, you weren't helping her out.
06:14She was helping you out.
06:15You had no place to go.
06:18Ms. Small, was there ever a time when the boyfriend was staying over at the house?
06:22Um, he always visited me, but he also went home at the same time, too.
06:26You're being vague with me.
06:29I distrust vague.
06:30And later today...
06:32Why do you think you're not responsible for half of this fee?
06:35Because we both agreed to stay through the lease the whole time, regardless.
06:38She left first, like, without me, of knowledge of me.
06:41I have more clarity if you'd like to hear my side.
06:43I don't need any more clarity.
06:44I'm as clear as a bell.
06:45All you're going to do is muck it up.
06:56Juanita Perryman claims her sister, Sherry Small, vandalized her home, causing thousands of dollars in damages.
07:04OK. So you did pay $1,000 and $900. What did you say to her when you gave her the
07:12$900, if you remember, in April?
07:15To be honest, I told my sister, this is what I have. I can help you out with this. But
07:21I'm having problems at my workplace, and I'll pick up later when I pick up a new client.
07:25OK. So then, I have to believe what your sister told me, that you had an agreement to cover the
07:30mortgage and taxes, and you were supposed to pay her $1,450 a month. And for two months, you paid
07:36less. In May, you paid nothing.
07:39So, at what point did you decide to put a notice on her door to vacate the apartment? You would
07:46have conversations with her.
07:47So, when she didn't pay in May, she completely, like, ceased contact with me. Like, when I would call, she
07:54got her number changed. I would come over. I would see a car in the driveway, and she wouldn't open
08:00the door.
08:01I would be outside knocking, calling. She wouldn't answer. I was trying to contact her through other family members.
08:07She completely just stopped responding to me at all. So, in June, I put a three-day notice on her
08:13door. And it was kind of more so because I figured that would make her, you know, reach out and
08:18give me a call, and we can kind of, like, see what was going on.
08:21But she didn't. So, mid-June, I was talking to her sister, and she was like, look, you're going to
08:27be really, really upset.
08:28Just as a result of the conversation, did you go over to the house?
08:32Yes.
08:32And this was after you would put the three-day notice to quit on the door?
08:37Yes.
08:37Okay. And what did you find when you got there?
08:40The house was completely wrecked. She had bust-out windows.
08:46You have photographs for me?
08:47Yes.
08:48I'd like to take a look.
08:51Ms. Small, was there ever a time when the boyfriend was staying over at the house?
08:56He always visited me, but he also went home at the same time, too, as we were.
09:00You're being vague with me, and when you're vague, I distrust vague, okay?
09:08Was he staying with you at any point in June?
09:11Yes.
09:11Was he there when the three-day notice to quit was on the door?
09:16After the three-day notice was on the door, how long did it take you to move out?
09:21It took me two days.
09:23In those two days, was he there?
09:25I asked him, can he help me take me, remove me from my sister?
09:28So what did he do? Did he come and help you?
09:31Yes, he came and help me.
09:31Oh, okay. So he did come and help you. Who made this mess in your sister's house?
09:35I don't know. Maybe she did it.
09:37Oh, no. Never happened. Never happened that she did this in her house.
09:40So let's rethink that. I mean, I read your answer. Your answer was crystal clear.
09:45You said you were pretty angry when you saw the three-day notice to quit.
09:49To quote you, you said, I got a little heated.
09:51Yes.
09:52Well, what did you do when you got a little heated? And was the boyfriend there when you got heated?
09:56I just called my boyfriend up to come get me to take my clothes to remove me out of her
10:00home
10:00because she didn't even let me move things inside the home for her to want me to pay rent.
10:04Did you move back into the house?
10:06Yes.
10:07When?
10:07The end of July, after I got everything.
10:10Kevin, I want you to show this picture to the defendant. And I want you to listen carefully
10:16because you're an intelligent gal. And I'm also an intelligent gal. If you and your six
10:22children are planning to move back into this house because you own it, could you think of
10:28any other reason than being either psychotic or angry to do this to the property? Just take
10:36a look at it. And I'm going to show you some more. Do you understand what I mean?
10:44Yes.
10:45Okay. Was your 16-year-old there with you?
10:48No, he wasn't. He was over at a friend's house.
10:51Well, who punched the holes in the walls?
10:53I don't know. Maybe she had someone do it.
10:55No, no, no, no. You did this. Either you, your boyfriend, your 16-year-old. There's no question.
11:00She's moving back there with her six children.
11:02She is not going to destroy the house that she owns, that she's moving back to with her
11:07six children. That's ridiculous.
11:09Okay. You want to tell me anything else?
11:11Not to mention, she says we didn't have any agreement to pay rent. I have a rental agreement
11:17that we both agreed to with the amount and everything.
11:21So that was just a lie.
11:28Well, this is certainly your signature, Ms. Smalls. Kevin, would you show her this document?
11:40That's my signature?
11:42It sure is. I've compared it to your answer. That was a sworn deposition. Okay. Did you
11:48have a contract to help you?
11:49Yes.
11:49Do you have the final bill from the contractor?
11:51I think I have some of it in that already, and this was for...
12:00And the maximum of your small claims court is $6,000?
12:04Yes. The damages exceeded that amount.
12:07I see the damage exceed.
12:07House money got nice.
12:09What?
12:09She said the house wasn't that nice.
12:12House wasn't that nice, but it had windows, and it had walls, and it had mirrors, and had
12:18glass, and it didn't have any of those things when you left. Okay. Between the rent that
12:23you owe, based upon your lease, and the damages that you, or your son, or your boyfriend, or
12:31a combination of all three of you did to the house, the damages have far and exceed the
12:37$6,000, which is the limit of your small claims court. Judgment for the plaintiff in the amount
12:42of $6,000. We're finished. Thank you very much.
12:44This court is adjourned.
12:52What she was saying made no sense. I would have never done that to my own property.
12:56I really didn't like the decision at all, because I feel like I didn't do all them damages.
13:01I was already still grieving months into a very big loss, and to see our house destroyed like
13:06that was horrible. To be honest, I probably damaged some things, but I didn't damage all
13:12them things. She has a lot of misplaced anger at just the wrong people, I think. I still can't
13:17believe just she brought me to this show to sue me. I hope we can kind of move forward and
13:22be in a
13:23place where we can at least, you know, be family again. I would never speak to her again.
13:29So what's your takeaway?
13:30I know your philosophy has always been, don't be a landlord if you can avoid it.
13:35And I think family members make that more challenging because of the personal relationship.
13:40But also being a landlord, you may vet your tenant as well as you can. Make sure they're a good
13:46person. Make sure they're not violent. Make sure they have no criminal record. But you never know
13:50who they're bringing into the fold of your home. You can't control everyone's personalities and
13:55everyone's outbursts all of the time. And I felt bad for the plaintiff because, you know,
13:59she was already going through a hard time by losing her husband, just wanted some time away
14:03from the place that it happened. And, you know, she came back to a huge mess that, unfortunately,
14:08because of jurisdictional limits, we weren't able to fully compensate her for. But at least
14:12she got what we were able to give.
14:14Did I convince you about being a landlord?
14:17I'm getting there. I'm getting there.
14:20Case number 4009, Heidenrich versus O'Quinn. All parties, please come forward.
14:25Wendy Heidenrich is suing her ex-boyfriend, Jamal O'Quinn, for the fees to break their lease,
14:33moving costs, and utilities.
14:35Mr. O'Quinn, I'm going to start with you, sir.
14:37Yes.
14:38You have an eight-year-old son?
14:40Yes.
14:40You have custody of him?
14:42Full custody.
14:42And you met the plaintiff when?
14:45Probably last year sometime.
14:47And you became a couple?
14:49Kind of, yeah.
14:50You became a couple?
14:51Yeah, of course.
14:54This is what you said in your answer. I endured mistreatment when I couldn't stand it any longer.
15:00I packed up and left with my son. That's what you said in your answer.
15:03That is this whole mumbo-jumbo that you started to tell me before.
15:16Wendy Heidenrich claims her ex-boyfriend, Jamal O'Quinn, owes for the fees to break their lease
15:24and moving costs. Jamal is countersuing for emotional distress and abuse.
15:30Okay, you lived in an inconvenient place.
15:32It was geographically unsuitable. So according to the plaintiff,
15:36it was decided that you get an apartment together.
15:39And you were going to take your hands out of your pockets.
15:41And you were moving there with your eight-year-old son moving in.
15:44When did you move in, into this apartment?
15:46In the house, it was in August of 2023.
15:51Okay.
15:52And we signed a year lease.
15:53Okay, and you signed the lease?
15:55Yes.
15:55By the time Christmas time came, or even before,
15:59both of you found that this wasn't working out. That be a fair statement?
16:03A little before.
16:04Before?
16:05Yeah.
16:05Sometime between August and December.
16:07Yeah.
16:08And you decided to go your separate ways, right?
16:12Yes.
16:13Were you working, Mr. Oakley?
16:15Always, yes.
16:15Okay, so you have a job.
16:17Yes.
16:17And when you signed this lease together with a plaintiff in August, in September,
16:23you weren't paying rent anywhere else, right?
16:26Yes.
16:27Were you paying rent on this apartment?
16:29In September?
16:29Yes.
16:30Yes.
16:31Yes.
16:31How much were you paying?
16:32I was paying half the rent.
16:34So it was probably around, I don't know, $1,800, if I'm not mistaken.
16:38Okay, so you were paying half the rent.
16:40Yeah.
16:40Was he paying half the rent?
16:42Yes.
16:42Yeah, great.
16:44And did he pay half the rent September, October, November, and December?
16:48Yes.
16:49Okay, and then you decided to go your separate ways.
16:52I'm going to make this case very, very simple for me, especially for Sarah.
16:57The lease was terminated in January?
17:00The lease was terminated December 28th.
17:02Okay.
17:0323.
17:03And you moved someplace else?
17:05In January, I moved somewhere else.
17:08Okay.
17:09And you as well?
17:11Yes.
17:12Can I clarify something now?
17:13No.
17:14Okay.
17:14That involved breaking the lease because you had a year's lease, correct?
17:19Yes.
17:20Yes.
17:20Yes.
17:21And you negotiated with the landlord a break-lease fee that you're going to be able to prove to me,
17:28right?
17:29Yes.
17:29And what was that fee that you negotiated?
17:32The break-lease fee was $1,499.
17:35The property went unrented for three months, which accumulated to $11,400.
17:40I negotiated that $11,400 down after they took the deposit.
17:46I'm asking you, what did you negotiate it down to?
17:51You have to have proof of it.
17:52Just show it to me.
17:53Yes, I certainly do.
17:54Well, tell me what it was.
17:55Give me the figure.
17:55So the break-lease fee was $1,499.
17:58No, no, no.
17:59And the final settlement was $3,560.
18:02I asked you a question.
18:03You negotiated with the landlord a fee that made the lease go away.
18:11$3,560 was the fee that I paid in addition to the $1,499.
18:15In addition to the $1,499.
18:18Correct.
18:18And you want him to pay half of that.
18:20Correct.
18:21Okay.
18:22Does that sound fair to you, sir?
18:24Uh, no.
18:25Why?
18:25Uh, because I thought we agreed.
18:28We agreed before.
18:29We were like, when we wasn't dating, we were fine.
18:32We're cool.
18:33Like, staying.
18:34I don't want you to make yourself appear stupid.
18:36No, I'm not.
18:37Do you understand?
18:37Totally.
18:38Do you understand?
18:38You paid rent according to her.
18:40September, October, November, December.
18:42Which means that you shared the lease and you shared the expense.
18:45Now, according to both of you, it wasn't working out.
18:48You especially because you have some ridiculous counterclaim,
18:51which I will get to in a moment, but not take me very long.
18:54Okay.
18:54What I'm asking you is, if you both found that it wasn't working out,
18:58since you were on the lease, paid half the rent, left just like she did,
19:03why do you think you're not responsible for half of this fee?
19:06Because we both agreed to stay through the lease the whole time, regardless.
19:10Because she left first, like, without me, of knowledge of me even leaving.
19:14Like, on the 22nd of December, where I was told that...
19:17Just a second.
19:18You can't tell me what you were told, and that's not what you say in your answer.
19:21I have more clarity if you'd like to hear my side.
19:23I don't need any more clarity.
19:24I'm clear as a bell.
19:25All you're going to do is muck it up.
19:27Okay.
19:28This is what you said in your answer.
19:30I endured mistreatment because she expected certain favors from you,
19:35which is what you're complaining about.
19:37When I couldn't stand it any longer,
19:39I told her I couldn't participate in this type of relationship anymore.
19:43I packed up and left with my son.
19:45That's what you said in your answer.
19:46That is this whole mumbo-jumbo that you started to tell me before.
19:50Gotcha.
19:51Gotcha.
19:51Good.
19:52Very good.
19:53And that was on December 27th.
19:55Don't speak to me.
19:56All right.
19:56Okay.
19:56Sarah, add up $35.60 and $14.99 and cut it in half.
20:04$2,574.50.
20:06Okay.
20:07Now, and that you're absolutely entitled to.
20:10That you're absolutely entitled to half the fees that you paid to terminate the lease.
20:13Because whether he left or you left first, it really doesn't make any difference.
20:18You both decided this relationship was over and you shouldn't stay together,
20:21which is probably a very good idea.
20:23The deposit on the house, I put down myself at $43.50.
20:26That's all right.
20:26Show me proof that he agreed to pay you back for that.
20:28I mean, he signed the lease.
20:31Show me proof that he intended to pay you back for that.
20:33That's not what he says.
20:34He says he was living someplace.
20:35He moved in with you because you wanted to be together.
20:37Show me proof that he agreed to pay you back half the move-in fee,
20:40which you didn't collect September, October, November, or December, correct?
20:45He didn't pay you back anything.
20:47Correct.
20:47He did not pay me anything during that time.
20:49Right.
20:50He didn't have the resources.
20:51I understand.
20:52Well, he has the same resources now.
20:54He didn't pay you back then.
20:56You're absolutely entitled to half of the move-out fee.
20:58He did leave me to pay the January rent myself.
21:01$25.74.
21:03Okay.
21:03Now we're going to get to this ridiculous countersuit that you have, sir.
21:07You want to, in 30 seconds, tell me what that is?
21:09Well, you just want to withdraw it and leave yourself not looking foolish.
21:13Yes, I withdraw.
21:15I don't want to look foolish for you, Judge Judy.
21:16That sounds like a really good idea.
21:18Thank you so much.
21:20Really good idea.
21:21Judgment for the plaintiff in the amount of $25.74.
21:24Thank you very much.
21:25Amazing. Thank you so much.
21:25This court is adjourned.
21:31I'm totally happy with the decision, and I think this will serve.
21:34I am a little disappointed with the outcome.
21:37I think it's a scorn heart.
21:39I think because I kind of went the other way.
21:41I kind of told the truth about it.
21:42Like, when the kind of, like, the film's not there, blah, blah, blah.
21:45You can edit a bad book, but not a blank page.
21:48So I was happy to have the experience.
21:50Just do the right thing all the time and follow your heart.
21:53Watch out for the red flags.
21:55My only takeaway from that case was how smart that defendant was, because his counterclaim,
22:02as you know, said that he wanted $10,000 because he felt as if he was being used by
22:07the plaintiff and intimidated during the six months that they were together.
22:11And then he was going to have to explain that.
22:14In detail.
22:14And I thought his smile was charming when he said, no, I'll withdraw it.
22:21Yeah.
22:22We wish they all were that smart.
22:26Are you a victim of a scam?
22:28Go to judyjustice.tv
22:58To be continued...
22:59Yeah.
22:59Bye.
23:01Bye.
23:02Bye.
23:03Bye.
23:05Bye.
23:07Bye.
23:07Bye.
23:07Bye.
23:08Bye.
23:11Bye.
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