Mover SUES Boss After Working FREE With NO PAYCHECK! — PROMISED Big Money Later!

Hinzugefügt: 2026-05-20

[00:00:00]We never had an agreement.

[00:00:02]>> It's bigger than just me. There's other people that were relying on her.

[00:00:05]>> You knew he was working.

[00:00:06]>> He never worked for me.

[00:00:07]>> I don't believe you.

[00:00:08]>> I'm telling the truth, your honor.

[00:00:10]>> A little bit slippery. I think you're slip. M. And Sanderson, you own a staging business. Now, I know what that is. I'm not sure if everybody else knows what that is. Let me make it simple and tell me if I'm mistaken. You have a property that you want to sell that is either unfernished or has furniture that's not great. Somebody hires your company, you have rental places where you go to fill up that house, office, whatever to make it as goodlooking as possible in order to have somebody either rent it or buy it.

[00:00:45]>> Yes.

[00:00:45]>> And you're paid for your service. It's a staging business. Did I get that close?

[00:00:51]>> Yes, your honor.

[00:00:52]>> Okay. How long have you had the staging business?

[00:00:55]>> Almost four years.

[00:00:57]>> Do you have any employees? I do not have employees. I have independent contractors.

[00:01:02]>> Well, when you say you have independent contractors, Miss Sanderson, you know, I'm an old person. And I know why people have independent contractors rather than having employees because that means they can pay him in cash, they can pay him in mum, they can pay him in lera, they can pay him in whatever. Sometimes they 1099 them and sometimes they don't. These people who are independent contractors, what do they do for you?

[00:01:33]>> Whenever we get hired for a job, we I >> Who's we?

[00:01:37]>> My company. Whenever my company is contracted >> and just a second.

[00:01:41]>> Mhm.

[00:01:41]>> Your your company according to you.

[00:01:44]>> Yes.

[00:01:45]>> Period.

[00:01:46]>> So whenever you get hired to do a job and you protect yourself by being incorporated, I assume you are incorporated. I know what staging companies do. What I want to know is what your independent contractors do for you.

[00:02:05]>> They move furniture for me. They're glorified movers.

[00:02:08]>> Are they companies or are they individuals?

[00:02:11]>> Sometimes companies, sometimes individuals that we hire.

[00:02:15]>> Who's the we?

[00:02:17]>> Me >> that you hire. Sometimes individuals.

[00:02:20]You see this gentleman over here sitting over here in the black shirt? I do.

[00:02:25]>> Do you know him?

[00:02:26]>> I do.

[00:02:27]>> Who is he?

[00:02:27]>> That's Justin Bage.

[00:02:29]>> And what does Justin do for you?

[00:02:32]>> Justin no longer works with me.

[00:02:34]>> What did he do for you?

[00:02:37]>> He was an independent contractor. That >> just a second. He was an independent contractor.

[00:02:42]>> Mhm.

[00:02:43]>> Did he have a company?

[00:02:45]>> Look at me. Did he have a company?

[00:02:47]>> No, not to my knowledge.

[00:02:49]>> How did you pay him? My company paid him via Venmo or cash or >> in >> cash app.

[00:02:57]>> In cash, not a check.

[00:03:00]>> Not a check, but sources that can be tracked by tax purposes.

[00:03:05]>> Very good. And since he did not have a company and worked for you, did you 1099 him?

[00:03:13]>> I attempted to.

[00:03:13]>> Just a second. Did you 1099 him or did you not 1099 him? I did not.

[00:03:21]>> And how many years or months did you do moving for the defendant?

[00:03:28]>> Uh started in uh end of May uh May. End of May.

[00:03:32]>> I like when people stand up when they talk to me. It makes me more comfortable.

[00:03:36]>> Yeah, me too. Um I started like the end of May and end of May of 2023 and then uh was done at the end of November.

[00:03:44]>> How much were you paid?

[00:03:45]>> $25 an hour.

[00:03:46]>> Venmo or >> Yeah, however she could pay me. like it would be sporadic.

[00:03:51]>> Now, the time has long passed for 1099s.

[00:03:54]Did you receive a 1099 from Miss Sanderson?

[00:03:58]>> And how much money did she pay you in total from May through November?

[00:04:02]>> Like I said, sporadic because I would send her my hours and depends. Sometimes she would send me like two cash apps of $500 each or a cash app of, you know, maybe a thousand, something like that or even smaller amounts. So like probably total I don't know um probably around maybe two 3,000 maybe.

[00:04:22]>> Did she have anyone else moving for her?

[00:04:25]>> Yes. Joe >> other than him?

[00:04:28]>> Uh she did sometimes have a a couple that would work for her. I never met them.

[00:04:34]>> Do they still do work for you?

[00:04:36]>> He does.

[00:04:37]>> What does he do?

[00:04:38]>> He's an independent contractor. He does moving. And I assume you paid him the same way as you paid this gentleman.

[00:04:45]>> Yes.

[00:04:45]>> Did you $1099 them?

[00:04:47]>> Yes.

[00:04:48]>> How much did you say they earned last year?

[00:04:50]>> Uh, one earned, I think, $9,500 and the other one earned, I think, $4,500 thereabouts. I'd have to go back and look.

[00:04:59]>> Did you 1099 anyone else?

[00:05:01]>> I attempted to contact Justin and he did not return any phone calls, emails, or messages. Well, when you hired him, you're supposed to get his information, social security number, address, etc. >> Yes, he was collecting unemployment >> and 99. Anyone else?

[00:05:17]>> I attempted to contact Justin and he did not return any phone calls, emails, or messages.

[00:05:22]>> Well, when you hired him, you're supposed to get his information, social security number, address, etc. >> Yes, he was collecting unemployment. So, he was working for me while collecting unemployment. And you?

[00:05:37]>> No, I wasn't.

[00:05:37]>> I just I'm just asking. That's something that you knew.

[00:05:42]>> Yes.

[00:05:42]>> Okay. And that's the reason why you didn't 1099 him.

[00:05:48]>> No, I did attempt to 1099 him.

[00:05:50]>> Well, why would you attempt to 1099 him, Miss Sanderson? I haven't started on you yet.

[00:05:56]Why would you attempt to 1099 him if you already knew that he was collecting unemployment and one of the conditions of his employment was he was going to get paid in cash unreported. I mean that was the agreement. You're a smart gal. I can tell you're a business person. So you're a smart gal. You understood that.

[00:06:12]>> Okie do. Good. Now Mr. Kendro.

[00:06:17]>> Yes.

[00:06:18]>> How old are you?

[00:06:18]>> 39 years old.

[00:06:20]>> What do you do for a living?

[00:06:21]>> A financial consultant.

[00:06:22]>> What training do you have to be a financial consultant? I have a sema analyst designation. I work uh >> slowly slowly because Sarah doesn't take shortorthhand.

[00:06:32]>> Yeah, >> she's a professional. She's a lawyer.

[00:06:34]Lawyers don't know how to do important things like take shortorthhand or type or anything else like that. So, don't try to confuse Sarah. That would be hard for you.

[00:06:45]>> You have a what in the who?

[00:06:48]>> Uh your honor, I went to college. Uh >> you went to college?

[00:06:52]>> Yes, ma'am.

[00:06:52]>> That was a long time ago. That was a fair long time ago.

[00:06:55]>> And what was your major?

[00:06:56]>> Finance.

[00:06:58]>> Did you graduate?

[00:06:59]>> Yes, ma'am.

[00:06:59]>> Okay. And so you have a degree, >> a bachelor's degree with a major in finance.

[00:07:05]>> Yes, ma'am.

[00:07:05]>> Other than that, >> secondary education >> like what?

[00:07:09]>> It is a sem analyst designation.

[00:07:12]>> For whom?

[00:07:13]>> I started at Meil Lynch and worked on Wall Street for 10 years. And since that sh >> Just a second. Meil Lynch for 10 years.

[00:07:19]Well, that's a start. How did you end up moving furniture?

[00:07:24]>> Well, I >> just think about what you're going to say to me now. You have family.

[00:07:29]>> Do you have family?

[00:07:30]>> No, ma'am.

[00:07:31]>> Okay. So, you have friends?

[00:07:33]>> Yes.

[00:07:33]>> Okay. So, think of what you're going to say to me. You worked for me Lynch for 10 years, you could sit as an analyst.

[00:07:41]>> Yeah.

[00:07:42]>> And then what?

[00:07:43]>> Uh, and I moved to St. Pete uh approximately two years ago. And from where?

[00:07:49]>> From Cleveland, Ohio.

[00:07:51]And >> why?

[00:07:52]>> I was ready for a new start. COVID had had just happened and I was living in a residential neighborhood. St. Petersburg offered a lot of things that Cleveland didn't. And I was ready for a new beginning.

[00:08:02]>> You mean St. Petersburg, Florida?

[00:08:04]>> Yes, ma'am.

[00:08:04]>> A lot of things, including better weather.

[00:08:06]>> Yes, ma'am.

[00:08:08]>> Did you have a job there when you moved?

[00:08:10]>> No.

[00:08:11]>> Who did you move in with?

[00:08:12]>> I lived by myself.

[00:08:14]>> Living off savings, I assume.

[00:08:16]>> Some savings. and I did some independent financial consulting for a company that was located in Cincinnati.

[00:08:22]>> How did you get into furniture moving and staging?

[00:08:25]>> I had met the gentleman Justin and there was another gentleman who was also moving furniture for Natasha that wasn't mentioned. Do >> you know that person?

[00:08:33]>> Yes.

[00:08:33]>> Yeah. Did he move furniture for you >> twice or three times maybe?

[00:08:36]>> Well, then the answer is yes. How did you pay him?

[00:08:39]>> Same way. Venmo, Cash App, PayPal.

[00:08:42]>> Go ahead.

[00:08:43]I met these gentlemen and I, as you mentioned, I'm single and they had some I had an opportunity weekends working part-time and I just said, I'm going to do this as an extra source of income to have good habits >> and to take advantage of the opportunity to start working with them.

[00:09:00]>> That doesn't tell me how you met her.

[00:09:01]That tells me how you met him.

[00:09:03]>> Justin was working for her. He called me up, said I had opportunity.

[00:09:06]>> Justin was working for her, not a lot.

[00:09:08]According to Justin, according to Justin, he was working for her a little bit. Maybe he earned $2 or $3,000. That is what you told me, right?

[00:09:16]>> So, he wasn't working.

[00:09:18]>> That's what he was paid. Just a >> That's what I was. You said I was paid.

[00:09:21]I was paid.

[00:09:23]>> I worked a lot more than that.

[00:09:24]>> Well, then that makes you an idiot.

[00:09:27]>> You want to fess up to being an idiot?

[00:09:30]>> No, it's a lot more complicated than that. But yes, >> I think that you are. I heard you. So, you're not an idiot, >> right? And unless there's some other favors going on around here, you work for $2 or $3,000.

[00:09:42]>> Well, we were promised money constantly.

[00:09:46]Listen, the doctor promised my mother that I'd be 56. You know how successful that was. And you don't look like the kind of man that works off promises. Put your hand down. I don't need you.

[00:09:59]You're suing her for $8,000. So you say she failed to pay you money that you actually work for moving furniture moving furniture. So you actually worked a lot more than he did because he only worked $2,000 worth. You moved stuff for her and paid bills for her over $8,000.

[00:10:20]That's what you said right here.

[00:10:22]>> Yes, your honor.

[00:10:24]>> I'm going to ask you a couple of questions. I better get an honest answer from you because you understand this will not be good for you if you don't.

[00:10:30]>> Absolutely. He did move stuff for you.

[00:10:33]>> Yes.

[00:10:34]>> Yes. And he moved for you. You know, this other person, whoever he was, that only worked a little bit. He moved things for you at the same time that Justin moved things for you or at different times?

[00:10:48]>> Different times.

[00:10:49]>> And how would you reach him?

[00:10:51]>> Text messages.

[00:10:52]>> Do you have some?

[00:10:53]>> I do.

[00:10:54]>> I'd like to take a look at them.

[00:11:04]I know what this is. I'm at Coolage.

[00:11:07]Pics are in four minutes. Then I need to go home and sleep or at least shower before we unload Brandon. Who wrote that?

[00:11:14]>> That was likely me.

[00:11:16]>> That was likely me.

[00:11:18]>> I need to go home and sleep or at least shower before we unload Brandon. Now that you're sending to him >> there. Uhhuh. Is a yes. There. Uhhuh. Is a yes.

[00:11:26]>> Yes.

[00:11:27]and he says, "You need sleep. I'm searching for help to unload the truck."

[00:11:33]And then you send him a number.

[00:11:35]>> Yes.

[00:11:36]>> I just texted her. And then you write an address. He says, "Got it." And then you say to him, "Don't forget the stuff in the garage, please."

[00:11:49]There's a warehouse in and then there's a place, Brandon. So clearly in July he's doing things for you.

[00:11:59]>> Yes.

[00:12:00]>> Do you pay him?

[00:12:01]>> Yes.

[00:12:01]>> How much?

[00:12:02]>> I believe that's also there with you.

[00:12:04]>> Okay.

[00:12:05]>> All the payments are there.

[00:12:10]>> Well, let's see. Also furnishing.

[00:12:13]Nothing broke. I don't sending out those invoices. Collect that money. Here's my hours for the last month to yesterday.

[00:12:21]87.5 hours. And then you say, "Break them down for me, please." Right? And he does. He breaks them down for you. You get 91 hours, not including the hours calling, reaching me out to realtor, social media. I do that on my own. And then you send him $1,800. Is that right?

[00:12:41]>> Correct.

[00:12:42]>> You don't tell me in your complaint that she sent you $1,800.

[00:12:46]>> She's I would love a 1099 for that, your honor, because I never got that money.

[00:12:49]And that's not to me, >> your honor. That's me. She's texting me that. See, I worked as many hours as you do. Oh, sorry.

[00:12:56]>> Yeah, >> that's not >> just stand up. Are these >> that those are my text messages? Yeah.

[00:13:02]Uh, >> these are your text messages.

[00:13:03]>> So, all the hours he worked, I was working with him the same time cuz I was driving the truck every time. So, all the hours he worked I worked. She would pay me sparingly because I didn't have any other like, you know, I had some harshness with my job before. Sorry. So, I needed to get paid for rent and stuff like that.

[00:13:16]>> Listen, you said that she paid you for your work.

[00:13:20]>> Yes. two to $3,000.

[00:13:23]>> Just a second.

[00:13:24]>> That's what you say to me. You don't look like a foolish man. You're not suing her for any more money.

[00:13:30]>> Nope.

[00:13:30]>> Right.

[00:13:31]>> Your friend who you say worked with you.

[00:13:35]He your friend. That's him.

[00:13:37]>> Worked with you.

[00:13:38]>> Mhm.

[00:13:39]>> That's what he did. He was on the truck with you.

[00:13:42]>> Yes.

[00:13:43]>> He's suing her for $8,000.

[00:13:47]>> Yes. He didn't get paid a scent.

[00:13:49]>> Well, just a minute. But you only got paid two to three,000 and you said he worked with you. He's suing up for 8,000.

[00:13:55]>> Well, so you two or three. So all my I had the same hours as him.

[00:13:59]>> Just a second.

[00:14:00]>> Go ahead.

[00:14:01]>> I'm talking about what you >> Yeah.

[00:14:04]>> told me >> you told me that you made between two and $3,000.

[00:14:12]>> And that's what you told me. You made between two and $3,000.

[00:14:18]That was his job. you drove. He rode on the truck with you.

[00:14:22]>> Mhm.

[00:14:22]>> As far as you know, did he ride on a truck with anyone else?

[00:14:28]>> No.

[00:14:29]>> So that at mo, just pay attention to me.

[00:14:33]>> So that at most if she paid you $2 to $3,000 by the hour, she would owe him $2 to $3,000 for working with you. Don't anyone else speak but you.

[00:14:47]>> Okay? I mean, I'm a simple girl, you know? I'm a country girl. Simple. But if you, who look like a big, strong, strapping guy who gets a chance to work out and be in the sun, accepted $2 to $3,000 for the work that you did, and your buddy who you met, said, "Come with me. We're going to move furniture." And he only worked with you. And you took at most $3,000. I'm trying to figure out where the $8,000 comes from.

[00:15:12]>> Very simple. Well, so I would always text her, "I need the money for rent."

[00:15:16]Cuz I needed it. So she would send me, like I said, she was cash app me a couple cash apps of 500, 500, 200, something like that, so I could pay rent. She would not cash app him. Now, he actually put money into the business.

[00:15:27]He would pay some people, do stuff like that.

[00:15:29]>> Oh, well, I have to see that. Just >> Yeah, we have that. He actually he actually one time paid me a,000 for the work I did. I thought it was from her, but it was actually his own pocket. He >> Well, then he's then he's ridiculous.

[00:15:40]>> He's a good friend.

[00:15:40]>> Just a second. He's not a good friend of hers. He just >> friend of mine.

[00:15:44]>> He just met her. And if you did work for which you didn't get paid, then I'm sorry, sir. That makes you an idiot.

[00:15:50]Unless there's something else that's going on here that I don't understand.

[00:15:53]Which is all well very possible because if I wasn't getting paid, I wouldn't work anymore.

[00:16:01]Yeah, I understand where you're coming from. But we were promised a lot. Like we were promised one that one house had a lean on it for like 15,000. So money was going to come in. That never happened. I just continued to work >> and we did an Airbnb, him and I, together and we didn't get paid for that. I mean, we heard that she was paying these other two couple and we got mad and we left one of the sites. We were mad cuz we weren't getting paid.

[00:16:23]>> Good idea.

[00:16:24]>> Mhm. So, we stopped that's why we stopped working because we weren't getting paid.

[00:16:27]>> Great. Okay, now you can sit.

[00:16:29]>> Thank you. So, the next part of your claim, other than for these hours that you didn't get paid, and by the way, you have proof that you sent him this money and not Justin.

[00:16:41]>> Do you have proof that you sent the plaintiff this money through Cash App and not Your name is Justin, right?

[00:16:48]>> Yes. Not Justin.

[00:16:50]>> No, I sent to Justin, not to Joseph.

[00:16:53]>> You sent it to Justin?

[00:16:55]>> Yes.

[00:16:55]>> Well, then what did you show this to me for? because it shows where Justin brought Joseph to work for the first time. Not me asking for anybody to come to work. It was Justin was to come to work and he brought his friend to work >> and I wasn't there. I went home to take a shower and go to bed.

[00:17:13]>> How many times did he bring his friend to work?

[00:17:15]>> Several.

[00:17:16]>> Several. You have any communications with the plaintiff by text message? Is he going to be able to show me any text messages from you?

[00:17:24]>> Sure. There ended up being a group message. Right. So that you knew he was working with him on your behalf.

[00:17:33]>> Sure.

[00:17:34]>> That's not sure. We're not in a playground. The answer is yes.

[00:17:38]>> Yes.

[00:17:38]>> The answer is yes. And it would be fair to say based upon this that you showed me that has nothing to do with the plaintiff that you paid him nothing.

[00:17:48]>> Well, he was helping Justin. I I never >> Excuse me.

[00:17:51]>> Sorry.

[00:17:53]>> That's a question. Would it be a fair statement that you paid the plaintiff nothing?

[00:17:57]>> Yes, correct. I didn't hire him.

[00:18:01]>> Do you know that I don't believe you?

[00:18:02]Now, do you have any text messages as it relates to the work you did?

[00:18:06]>> Unfortunately, we were getting 75 to 100 messages a day. I I do have plenty of other evidence that supports it, but I didn't I didn't like what >> starting with my hours broken down.

[00:18:15]>> No, I don't want I don't want to see your So, that's not happening.

[00:18:18]>> We took she had us go and take a group photo pictures and and I was on the website. So, for somebody that didn't want to hire me, >> just a second. You have a website. Is there a website? Give Sarah the name of the website.

[00:18:28]>> Um, if Justin can look it up or I can find it on my phone.

[00:18:31]>> Find it on your phone. I want to see that on your phone. I want Sarah to look it up.

[00:18:34]>> Okay. And we also have >> No, no, no. That's what I want right now.

[00:18:38]>> Yes, ma'am. I don't know that I have it readily available this second, but I I have it.

[00:18:42]>> You're supposed to have it readily available this second. I have all the time in the world. It's on Instagram.

[00:18:46]Have unlimited phones in airplane mode.

[00:18:48]You get it.

[00:18:49]>> What is the name of her company? LLC.

[00:18:52]And >> did you understand a word he said?

[00:18:54]>> Yeah, I got it.

[00:18:57]>> What? Did you understand what he said?

[00:18:59]>> It was a little fast. Justin, >> is the website on here?

[00:19:02]>> It's Go to the Instagram.

[00:19:03]>> I'm on there.

[00:19:04]>> While Sarah was looking up your website, did you in fact post a picture of yourself and these two gentlemen on your website?

[00:19:12]>> I >> The answer is either yes or no. Before she looks it up, which she's very good at, you saw the photograph that he wanted to show me.

[00:19:21]Did you in fact put that on your website?

[00:19:25]>> I either a yes or no.

[00:19:26]>> No.

[00:19:27]>> Is it on your website?

[00:19:29]>> I have no idea. I don't look at my website.

[00:19:31]>> Justin, stand up. Move over. Can I It's actually not It's actually on the Instagram. I took over the Instagram for her cuz I was posting pictures of all the stuff we staged. I was reaching out to realtors. I was doing all that stuff.

[00:19:43]So, I can show you the whole Instagram, everything.

[00:19:45]>> I'd like to see.

[00:19:45]>> Um, and it has our pictures on there. It even has it at his apartment complex after these pictures. Sure.

[00:19:50]>> I don't care what you posted on Instagram. I want to know what she posted on Instagram.

[00:19:56]>> Everything that we posted on there, she knew about cuz she has access to it.

[00:20:00]>> I don't care whether she had access to it or not. Sir, one thing about being on her website, don't come over here.

[00:20:06]>> Oh, sorry.

[00:20:08]>> Got excited.

[00:20:10]That was at his apartment, your honor.

[00:20:13]And then we did this photo shoot like a week later.

[00:20:17]>> Oh, yes. That would be you. So, you did photograph yourself in sort of a gl unfold the arms.

[00:20:24]>> Sorry.

[00:20:25]>> You did in fact photograph yourself in a glam shot at your apartment.

[00:20:31]>> Yes, sir.

[00:20:32]>> At your apartment.

[00:20:33]>> Excuse me, your honor.

[00:20:34]>> With the two of them.

[00:20:35]>> Yes.

[00:20:36]>> And introducing a team at best casual team picture. Guess Who's Brains and Guess Who's Brawn? Tell me that you've never seen that. I have not seen that actually. I I've seen the picture. I did not see that post.

[00:20:53]>> They didn't photoshop you into this picture.

[00:20:56]>> No, I sat there. Yes.

[00:20:57]>> You sat there. So, you know who he is?

[00:21:00]>> Of course I know who he is.

[00:21:01]>> Of course. And you knew that he was working. You knew he was working.

[00:21:06]>> Justin. Yes.

[00:21:07]>> No.

[00:21:08]>> Joseph, >> the plaintiff. You knew he was working.

[00:21:12]>> I went to lunch with him that day. That wasn't a work day.

[00:21:15]>> Oh, no. I don't believe you.

[00:21:17]I don't believe you. Your friend, according to you, paid $2 to $3,000 from her. I'm going to split the difference.

[00:21:26]2500.

[00:21:27]Probably she owed you more if you worked with her, but let's say 2500. We're going to split the difference. Did your friend Joseph work with you the entire time you worked for her?

[00:21:41]>> Work for you the entire time? So, all the time that you were working, delivering for her, etc. Your friend was with you in the truck.

[00:21:49]>> Yes, ma'am. And also, um, he actually worked with her by herself a couple times, too, when I couldn't work.

[00:21:55]>> And I actually brought him in and she knew I was bringing him in.

[00:21:57]>> Is that two times?

[00:21:59]>> What? Those those two? Yeah.

[00:22:01]>> Multiple times they would work and I'd meet them in my own car. He would actually drive the truck or maybe she would. And I'd met them in my own car a couple times.

[00:22:07]>> Okay. Now, what arrangement? Now, you can sit down for the time being, Justin.

[00:22:13]Mr. Kendra, what financial arrangement did you have with the defendant?

[00:22:18]>> Yeah, >> because clearly you were there for several months and clearly there was no money forthcoming to you. You have with the defendant because clearly you were there for several months and clearly there was no money forthcoming to you.

[00:22:31]>> Yes, your honor.

[00:22:32]>> Okay, let me hear.

[00:22:33]>> The first was verbal contract.

[00:22:35]>> No, no, tell me what it was. Don't >> delineate as to what it is. $25 an hour initially >> starting for just moving furniture. Our relationship grew and she wanted me to do financial consulting with them in addition to that. So, the relationship grew. I have access to all their tax returns, their website, the bank. And as it proceeded, she was crying on my shoulder about her temporary financial emergency situation and that Justin wasn't going to get paid. She had just hired another employee or an independent contractor who has a family responsibilities and he quit his other job to come work for her on one of her job sites. He was going to leave after a week or two because he wasn't getting paid. It's bigger than just me. There's other people that were relying on her. So for me, I had already put in I put in 230 hours and I was trying to do the right thing.

[00:23:23]>> And if I didn't put in at least a little bit of money to try to finish these contracts and it's a simple business.

[00:23:28]You take the furniture that's paid off, you set it up, you bill. For me, I felt trapped and that was tough. But then I ended this and this is the hardest part for me was when we went to her house and we found out that she's neglecting and abusing a dog that was left in a cage all day every day. And Justin will tell it it at that point I said enough is enough. And I had I severed the relationship.

[00:23:55]>> I want to see what expenses you paid for the business.

[00:23:58]>> Yes, ma'am.

[00:24:01]And I did find her LLC. It was it was filed in 2020. And >> when was the last time she filed tax returns? Do you know >> under the FBI or the EIN number? It says applied for, but there's no date or EIN number. So, I'm not sure.

[00:24:16]>> So, she never got an EIN number >> according to this. No, it says that the status is active. Um, and it has a document number, but um >> but she never got a tax identification number.

[00:24:26]>> Not according to >> Did you file tax returns in March?

[00:24:28]>> I file them every year.

[00:24:30]Did you file tax returns by March 15th of this year?

[00:24:33]>> Not this year yet. We filed an extension.

[00:24:37]>> Give me the name of your accountant.

[00:24:39]>> I don't have it readily available right now.

[00:24:41]>> Just a second. Give me the name of your accountant. Get it. It's in your phone.

[00:24:44]>> I don't. Actually, I don't have it. My business partner has it.

[00:24:48]>> I thought you own the business yourself.

[00:24:51]>> Who are you?

[00:24:52]>> I am Paula Hecenist. I met her doing hair and makeup.

[00:24:57]>> Do you work for her?

[00:24:59]Yes.

[00:25:00]>> Stand.

[00:25:03]>> Spell your last name.

[00:25:05]>> H E C K E N A S T.

[00:25:09]>> First name >> Paula.

[00:25:11]>> When did you start to work for Miss Sanderson and doing what?

[00:25:16]>> About a year ago, she hired my company, City Lights Beauty Agency, to do her hair and makeup for a wedding. and I have been her hair and makeup artist for various events and photo shoots since and I've been around for all of this nonsense.

[00:25:33]>> I'm curious. So, you don't work for her.

[00:25:37]You do her hair >> and makeup. Yes.

[00:25:39]>> And makeup, >> correct?

[00:25:42]>> I have a lot of people that have been doing that job for years. As you see, no one terribly effectively because look at this.

[00:25:51]>> You can always hire me.

[00:25:53]I wouldn't do that on a bet.

[00:25:57]I want to know how she pays you.

[00:26:00]>> Cash.

[00:26:01]>> How much did she pay you in the last year in cash?

[00:26:05]>> It's about $300 a pop. So, maybe 3,000.

[00:26:09]>> Did she $10.99 you in January?

[00:26:12]>> No, >> of course not. Now, you can sit down.

[00:26:16]>> Okay.

[00:26:19]So, you don't have a tax ID number so that you can't file tax returns without a tax identification number.

[00:26:26]>> I do have one.

[00:26:27]>> Give it to Sarah.

[00:26:29]>> This page was only updated January 18th of this year. So, if it came sometime after that, it's >> January 18th of this year. Is that when you got a tax ID number?

[00:26:38]>> Negative.

[00:26:39]>> Okay.

[00:26:40]>> The date is January 13th of 2021.

[00:26:43]>> Did you file tax returns for 2022?

[00:26:46]>> Yes.

[00:26:46]>> How much did you earn in 2022? I don't have that information available right now.

[00:26:51]>> Generally, this is your only source of income. Is that right?

[00:26:54]>> I don't take a paycheck.

[00:26:56]>> How do you support yourself?

[00:26:57]>> I have alimony.

[00:27:00]>> Do you know that? I don't believe you.

[00:27:01]You do understand that.

[00:27:02]>> I'm telling the truth, your honor.

[00:27:04]>> Yeah. You paid Justin August 3rd $1,400.

[00:27:07]You paid Justin $1,000. You paid Justin $330.

[00:27:12]You paid Justin $2,000.

[00:27:14]That's according to pay request. Now, my question to you, Justin, is 14, 24, 34,44.

[00:27:22]She paid you about $5,000.

[00:27:25]>> That sound familiar to you?

[00:27:27]>> Yeah, it's better. Yep.

[00:27:28]>> Not two or three, >> right? Okay.

[00:27:30]>> Is that correct?

[00:27:31]>> Plus another 2,000 that he took.

[00:27:34]>> 2,000 he took from where?

[00:27:35]>> From a job that he sold. He took the check from the client.

[00:27:40]>> No, no, it was 1,500 that I did.

[00:27:42]>> Just a second. Was it anything, Justin, in addition to the 5,000? Did you take another check from a client?

[00:27:50]>> It was the 1,500 that I that the stage that I sold that I called in I got >> and use whatever it is. How much an hour were you earning, Justin?

[00:27:58]>> 25 an hour. And there's And your honor, there's no way. Oh, sorry.

[00:28:02]>> There's no way. What?

[00:28:03]>> There's I I needed his help. I mean, we were doing >> Just a second. I didn't ask you. You were mistaken as to the amount because according to this, this is PayPal requests. That's how much it adds up to.

[00:28:15]$5,000.

[00:28:16]>> Makes sense.

[00:28:17]>> Which you probably owe taxes on. Maybe not if that's your only source of income. You paid Justin $5,000. And Justin says that the plaintiff worked with him on the truck for the entire time. He worked for you with you as an independent contractor. 5,000 And Justin says that the plaintiff worked with him on the truck for the entire time. He worked for you with you as an independent contractor. You were aware of the fact that he worked on the truck with him. He was earning $25 an hour. So for $50 an hour, you were getting a mover and a driver to move your stuff.

[00:28:59]>> Only I didn't hire Joseph. Well, that certainly is a nice picture of you with the team.

[00:29:08]>> That wasn't us working that day. I wouldn't be dressed in heels or a dress staging a home.

[00:29:12]>> Madam, because you don't declare any money from this business that's clearly run cash. You don't think that I think that you work for nothing for the last three years.

[00:29:20]>> You don't think that I think that you work for nothing? Cuz if I was in a business and I didn't earn any money, I would close the business and I would say this is clearly not for me. So either you're not very smart or not very talented. But I haven't figured out which one. I know. I know that there's a certain lack of honesty about what you're telling me because you handed this to me as proof that you paid him when this was not for him. It was for his friend.

[00:29:44]>> Your honor, I can explain it very well.

[00:29:46]>> Then I'm all ears.

[00:29:48]>> Every penny that the business has earned has gone right back into purchasing more furniture, more inventory. I own a box truck. I own a ton of furniture. We can stage up to 19 homes at one time. And all of that >> If you're not making any money, I would close the business. If you're not making any money since 2021, I would close the business.

[00:30:05]>> Well, I made it a promise to myself that if I could do this, because my alimony expires from the time I got divorced until 5 years, that I would put every penny back into the business so that I could grow. So that way, when I got to the end of the 5-year period, I could take the paycheck that would be the equivalent of what I was making in my alimony.

[00:30:24]>> Nice. You didn't pay him anything.

[00:30:28]>> We never had an agreement.

[00:30:31]Okay. What other expenses did you pay for her?

[00:30:34]>> Uh-huh.

[00:30:34]>> You tell me.

[00:30:35]>> Uh, you have the f you have the the one sheet and and these the other those are >> talking about the U-Haul and everything.

[00:30:42]>> Yeah, things like the U-Haul things. Uh, business launches. I have it even categorized.

[00:30:47]>> She was in the U-Haul.

[00:30:47]>> They're a little easier. But, um, my unpaid labor doesn't do it for me. Doesn't do it for me. Joseph, your hours do it for me.

[00:31:06]Working for her does it for me. Going out to a restaurant to arrange for a telemarketing conference doesn't do it for me. Papy Hour doesn't do it for me.

[00:31:16]>> I have videos from that day as well.

[00:31:19]>> Out.

[00:31:21]Out.

[00:31:23]>> What is that? Kevin, wake up. I put her out.

[00:31:28]>> This way, please.

[00:31:29]>> Okay.

[00:31:36]These don't do it for me, sir. You understand?

[00:31:40]But I think that you worked for her. I think she knew you worked for her. I think she knew that that was the team. I think she advertised it. I think she certainly knew that you were with Justin on the truck because it's hard to park and move. In any event, I believe she knew you were working for her. I also believe that the defendant is a little bit slippery.

[00:32:06]Who's >> is a handyman. He owns his own business.

[00:32:10]>> Did he work for you for a while?

[00:32:12]>> He never worked for me. He was hired by the homeowners.

[00:32:15]>> What homeowners? the homeowners of the homes that needed work on them.

[00:32:19]>> I think you're slick. When does your alimony stop?

[00:32:24]>> Three more years.

[00:32:25]>> Oh, well. So, you're going to go three more years without drawing any money from this company? That's a real problem. Who's your partner? Is he a financial partner or is he a working partner?

[00:32:34]>> He's a silent partner.

[00:32:35]>> He's a silent partner because >> he put in money in the beginning.

[00:32:40]>> How much did you put in?

[00:32:42]>> I did not put any in. How much of the LLC do you own?

[00:32:46]>> Um, I own 75%, he owns 25.

[00:32:49]>> Yeah. Good. Judgment for the plaintiff in the amount of $5,000. We're finished here. Thank you very much. We're done.

[00:32:54]>> The judge was hard on me.

[00:32:55]>> The cases are real, the people are real, and the rulings are final. It's great.

[00:32:59]>> If if that's the way it ends, that's the way it ends. I >> I I mean, this is a good start.

[00:33:03]>> He was never hired.

[00:33:05]>> Pay your bills.

[00:33:06]>> He was happy working for me. I don't know. Um, I couldn't really tell you.

[00:33:11]>> Take care of people. I never authorized any of those expenses.

[00:33:14]>> You do the right things and uh that's all this is.

[00:33:17]>> He kept showing up to work.

[00:33:18]>> What else is she going to say?

[00:33:19]>> We are not friends and he keeps contacting my friends and my family.

[00:33:24]>> She's slippery.

[00:33:25]>> He's extorting me.

[00:33:26]>> It's laughable. Uh what do I think about it? I mean, counter summing extortion. It'll get handled in court.

[00:33:34]>> He's telling them to pay them $30,000 and he'll be quiet.

[00:33:37]>> Meaning we clearly work for her. Why do I I can I can show you all her tax returns. She has me on the truck. She had me doing financial consulting. She has nothing. There's no other evidence.

[00:33:46]There's no other answer she could possibly give than to just deny that.

[00:33:49]>> He's saying that he can go to the IRS on me.

[00:33:52]>> And at the end of the day, we were just trying to do the best we could to help her business.

[00:33:56]>> I wish I never had him around.

[00:33:57]>> Pay your bills, do the right things, and I'm I'm glad part of this is behind me.

[00:34:01]>> I sort of got the feeling that they were three slicksters.

[00:34:04]>> Mhm.

[00:34:05]>> But there was no question that the plaintiff did in fact work for her.

[00:34:11]worked for her with Justin.

[00:34:16]>> She clearly knew that he was working with Justin.

[00:34:21]>> He's not a charity.

[00:34:23]>> Yep.

[00:34:23]>> Of the three of them, I think she's slicker than those two brains maybe put together. And on paper, maybe we thought it was all three of them, but by the end of it, the plaintiff and his witness seemed more out credible, but more outrage by what she was doing to not only them and their other employees, but also this kind of dog that was in the mix. That was they most offended by by their treatment of that by her treatment of of the animal. But I did think they were credible. He obviously did the work. I agreed with you about, you know, some of the dinners. Things are a little slippery there. But he admitted to that.

[00:34:56]He said, "Okay, fine." And he he and he just wanted what he was owed for his labor, which I think he was 100% entitled to.

[00:35:03]>> So today's Judy Justice case was absolute chaos. This one had everything.

[00:35:08]Cash payments, fake independent contractor setups, unpaid wages, broken promises, unemployment fraud accusations, and even dog neglect allegations at the end. And honestly, the more this case went on, the worse Natasha looked. So the plaintiff here is Joseph Kendrew. This guy used to work in finance. He actually worked for Meil Lynch for like 10 years before moving to Florida for a fresh start. Somehow through a friend named Justin, he ends up helping this woman Natasha with her homestaging business. Now, if you don't know what a staging business is, it's basically when somebody decorates a house with rented furniture so the house looks more attractive to buyers. And Natasha keeps saying, "I don't have employees. I only use independent contractors." The second judge, Judy, heard that, she already knew what time it was. Because, let's be real, a lot of businesses use the phrase independent contractor so they can avoid taxes, avoid benefits, avoid paperwork, and just pay people through cash app or Venmo under the table. And that's exactly what was happening here. Justin admits he got paid through cash app, PayPal, Venmo, sometimes cash, and Natasha never properly 1099 him. Then it gets even worse. Judge Judy finds out Justin was collecting unemployment while secretly working moving furniture for Natasha. So now the judge is basically sitting there like, "Okay, everybody here is doing shady stuff." But Joseph's main claim was simple. He says Natasha owed him around $8,000 for unpaid work and business expenses. Now, here's where the case gets frustrating. Joseph kept working for months without getting paid properly. And Judge Judy could not understand why. She literally roasted him and said, "The doctor promised my mother I'd be 56." You know how successful that was? That line killed me because Joseph kept saying, "Well, she promised payment was coming. She said a house sale would close. She said money was on the way." And Judge Judy's point was a promise means nothing if money never actually shows up. Now Natasha tried to play this game where she claimed, "Oh, I never hired Joseph directly. He was just helping Justin."

[00:37:21]But then the text came out, then the group messages came out, then the Instagram posts came out, and suddenly Joseph was clearly part of the staging team. At one point, Judge Judy straight up looked at Natasha and basically said, "I don't believe you." And honestly, I didn't either because you can't have somebody unloading trucks, staging homes, contacting realtors, helping your business for months, and then suddenly pretend you barely know them. Then the case took another weird turn. Joseph said Natasha was neglecting a dog. He claimed there was a dog being left in a cage all day long and that discovering that situation was one of the reasons they finally stopped working for her completely. Now, that wasn't the main legal issue in the case, but it definitely made the whole situation feel even uglier. And honestly, the saddest part here is Joseph kind of got manipulated by false hope. You could tell he kept believing next payment is coming, next job will pay, next client will fix everything. Meanwhile, Natasha kept the business running while everybody around her waited for money.

[00:38:24]That's why Judge Judy kept calling him foolish. Not because he didn't work, but because he kept working without securing payment. And that's a lesson a lot of people learn the hard way. Never keep doing business off promises alone.

[00:38:36]Especially when someone keeps paying everybody through random cash apps and avoiding paperwork. In the end, Judge Judy ruled in Joseph's favor. He wanted about $8,000, but Judge Judy only awarded him $5,000 because she believed he did work. Natasha absolutely knew he worked, but she also felt Joseph exaggerated parts of the amount and made terrible business decisions himself. And honestly, that verdict felt fair because Natasha definitely looked dishonest, but Joseph also ignored every red flag imaginable. Anyway, if you enjoyed this breakdown and want more crazy courtroom drama cases like this, make sure you support the channel, hit the like button, subscribe, and turn on notifications so you don't miss the next One.