He Called It an 'Investment' to Avoid Paying Her Back! | Judge Faith

Added: 2026-05-05

[00:00:15]Today on Judge Faith, killer canine or out of control owners.

[00:00:21]>> She should be responsible when her dog was attacking me. She shouldn't have just sat there.

[00:00:24]>> As soon as I heard him growling, I jumped up to grab him. But it was already too late. She got what she deserved. She got what she deserved. She does. Really? I would expect to see more attitude from the 21-year-old in front of me. Not you.

[00:00:36]>> And later, a catering company with a twist.

[00:00:40]>> I've done business ventures. And he wanted to do a business venture. So, I said, "I'll help you."

[00:00:45]>> She said, "Well, get a proposal together. I might know some people that might be interested in investing."

[00:00:51]>> Adrian told me to come up to the club and meet Mr. Lease.

[00:00:54]>> Why would you set up the meeting at the Swingers Club? You know what goes on there.

[00:00:58]Faith Jenkins. Her distinguished legal career began when she graduated first in her law school class. She quickly became a tough New York City prosecutor and then a preeminent legal analyst on cable news. And now she's the judge in her own courtroom. Her cases are real and her rulings are final. She is Judge Faith.

[00:01:21]Plaintiff Shelby Smith says her roommate's dog attacked her for no reason, causing serious injuries. She's suing for missed work. Defendant Susan Leftwitch says Shelby provoked her sweet, loving dog to attack and got what she deserved. She's counter suing for dog quarantine fees.

[00:01:41]>> All rise. Court is in session. The Honorable Judge Faith Jenkins presiding.

[00:01:49]Please be seated. Your honor, the litigants have been sworn in. This is the case of Smith versus Lewwich.

[00:01:54]>> Thank you. Honor >> Shelby Smith.

[00:01:57]>> Yes.

[00:01:58]>> You are suing the defendant Susan Lewitch.

[00:02:00]>> Yes.

[00:02:01]>> For $120 for missed work.

[00:02:03]>> Yes.

[00:02:03]>> And you are counter suing ma'am for $95 for dog quarantine fees.

[00:02:07]>> Yes.

[00:02:08]>> Okay. I'll start with you, Miss Smith.

[00:02:09]Tell me what's going on here. How do you know Miss Leftwitch?

[00:02:12]>> Um well, she uh moved into the house that we rent. Uh they're roommates. We all rent a room and she moved in six months ago.

[00:02:23]>> Um she when I >> So you live in a you you live in a in a house?

[00:02:28]>> Yeah.

[00:02:28]>> With other roommates. How many people live in the house?

[00:02:31]>> Like six.

[00:02:32]>> All right. Go ahead.

[00:02:33]>> Um when I first met her, she >> rubbed me the wrong way. Um she is just very about herself.

[00:02:42]>> Why do you say she's all about herself or selfish?

[00:02:44]>> Because she still hasn't taken responsibility for her dog's actions.

[00:02:47]like she should be responsible when her dog was attacking me. She shouldn't have just sat there. She should have got >> What kind of dog do you have, ma'am?

[00:02:54]>> He is a little shih Tzu. Weighs about 13 lbs. And as soon as I heard him growling, I was making potato salad. As soon as I got heard him growling, I jumped up to grab him, but it was already too late. She got what she deserved cuz she obviously did something to him.

[00:03:08]>> She did.

[00:03:09]>> Why do you say Why do you say she got what she deserved?

[00:03:10]>> Because she admitted she went into my room one day. I wasn't home. Nobody was home but my dog. And she knew my dog was in there. She told she she said she went in my room and I don't know what she did to him. He doesn't react like that to anybody anybody else but her.

[00:03:22]>> Tell me about the day that the dog bit you. What do you say happened?

[00:03:26]>> Um I had went to work. I work at Walmart. I went to work and um we just have a new outfit thing that we have to wear a colored shirt. So I had left my colored shirt at home and my son was asleep in the room. So I went through the back so I can go through the back door >> and she was in the back with her dog.

[00:03:42]Um, I just walked by, went to my door and all of a sudden her dog is like his arms around one of my foot attacking my other one and the dog brought me to tears. When I was done crying, I went and I told my mom, I think I should go to the doctor. Did she Was she Were you out there? Did you see this?

[00:03:58]>> Yes. I grabbed my dog as soon as he started growling.

[00:04:00]>> So you Well, so you saw You actually saw the dog run and bite her?

[00:04:04]>> Yes.

[00:04:04]>> Okay. Yes.

[00:04:05]>> Your uh Let me see a picture of the dog.

[00:04:08]>> What's the dog's name?

[00:04:09]>> Guess. So, she didn't do anything. The dog ran up and bit her, right?

[00:04:13]>> Who knows what she did to her before?

[00:04:16]>> The day this happened? No, >> she didn't do anything. She was just walking and your dog ran over and bit her.

[00:04:21]>> Yes.

[00:04:22]>> Coming up, how much damage did the dog bite cause?

[00:04:25]>> A half hour after this happened. Okay.

[00:04:27]She was in so much pain, but yet she went and got a pedicure.

[00:04:29]>> Do you see the the photos of her injuries? I see it.

[00:04:33]>> Do you see the photos of her injuries?

[00:04:34]So, clearly, she's not lying about the injuries, right? She was injured as a result of your dog biting her, >> right? and leader. Was the money a loan or an investment?

[00:04:44]>> You write and you're testifying today that you were doing all of these things for his business. You hadn't worked with him before, right?

[00:04:50]>> No.

[00:04:50]>> So, you were doing all of that for no money?

[00:04:52]>> No money. No.

[00:04:59]>> Pliff Shelby Smith says she was unable to work for 3 days because of the dog bites. She's suing for missed work.

[00:05:07]Defendant Susan Leftwitch says Shelby provoked the attack. She's counter suing for dog quarantine fees.

[00:05:16]>> How were you injured?

[00:05:17]>> Um my uh left foot was swollen and puncture wounds. Um it turned purple and um >> let me see the photos of your injuries.

[00:05:28]>> That is my left foot.

[00:05:31]>> I still have the mark today. I mean got that's a pretty sign I mean that's a puncture wound in in her foot.

[00:05:37]>> Yes. From his tooth. I'm not >> You don't care. She got what she deserved.

[00:05:40]>> She did.

[00:05:41]>> Really?

[00:05:41]>> A half hour after this happened. Okay.

[00:05:43]She was in so much pain, but yet she went and got a pedicure.

[00:05:46]>> Do you see the the photos of her injuries?

[00:05:48]>> I see it.

[00:05:49]>> Do you see the photos of her injury? So clearly she's not lying about the injuries, right? She was injured as a result of your dog biting her, >> right?

[00:05:55]>> Okay. So she's asking for you missed work. Yes.

[00:05:59]>> What proof do you have that you missed work? Um, I have my doctor's note saying that I couldn't go to work and um, like if I go to my work and ask him for the days that I missed those two days.

[00:06:08]>> Let me see your evidence. This is what you're suing for. You have to have the evidence in court with you.

[00:06:12]>> Your honor, she worked two jobs at the time. And she was rushing me out of the bathroom at on the 17th, the day she left this note on my car. Um, on the 17th because she had to get ready for work.

[00:06:23]>> What note?

[00:06:24]>> This note that she left on my car that I owe her $120 cuz my dog bid her two days before that. If she missed two days of work, she wouldn't be going out to work on the 17th. She rushed me out of the bathroom on the 17th so she can get in the shower to get ready to go to her first job.

[00:06:38]>> Okay. So, were you still going to work?

[00:06:40]>> Um, after the second day, I did go back to work because um I have a three-year-old son that I have to >> Okay. And this happened on on March 15th.

[00:06:48]>> Yes.

[00:06:48]>> So, why haven't you you don't think you owe damages? Because you saw your dog run up and bite her.

[00:06:54]>> All right.

[00:06:55]>> I have a picture of my other foot.

[00:06:57]>> Okay. Let me see that. which he did not break skin on that one.

[00:07:00]>> Okay. That's the one he his claws were holding my foot.

[00:07:04]>> Did you call animal control?

[00:07:05]>> No, I did not.

[00:07:07]>> Someone did.

[00:07:08]>> I had went to my doctor. They had asked me if the doc if the dog had shots. Um I couldn't give them an answer. I didn't know.

[00:07:14]>> So, I said I didn't know. And um they called animal control.

[00:07:19]>> And where's the dog now?

[00:07:20]>> At my house.

[00:07:21]>> What happened? You're suing a counter suit for home quarantine. What's that about?

[00:07:25]>> Uh the animal control came out. They checked his registration tags. They were fine. They checked his chip. They checked his shot records. Everything was good. They still made me home quarantine him.

[00:07:34]>> Right. Because by law, they're required to do that when your dog bites a a human being. Has he bitten anyone before?

[00:07:39]>> Never.

[00:07:40]>> You admit that your dog ran over to her unprovoked and and bit her. Um, you almost seem to take pleasure out of it happening, >> which is so odd to me.

[00:07:51]>> But the thing is, dogs do not forget what happened to them. Obviously, something happened. You have, but you can't come in and say something happened prior to this that caused my dog to run over and bite her. That's not the way the law works. If your dog bites someone in your state, you are strictly liable unless you can prove at the time of the bite they did something to provoke the dog. And you just testified before me today that she didn't do anything. She was just walking.

[00:08:16]>> Okay. When her dog was attacking me, I screamed and everybody in the house came out.

[00:08:22]>> How old are you?

[00:08:23]>> 21.

[00:08:24]>> How old are you? 51. I would expect to see more attitude from the 21-year-old in front of me, not you.

[00:08:30]>> I'm defending my dog who did nothing.

[00:08:33]Your dog bit her in both of her feet.

[00:08:36]You're lucky she's not coming after you for more. Most of the time I see these cases, they're involving thousands of dollars in pain and suffering. She's suing you for $120 for work that she didn't miss. She went to work.

[00:08:47]>> Here's here's what we're going to do.

[00:08:48]Your counter claim is dismissed. I'm actually going to order you to pay her punitive damages in the amount of $500.

[00:09:04]>> I feel that Judge Face was correct and that um everything worked out perfect.

[00:09:11]>> She did something to my dog to provoke this attack because every time he she he hears her voice, he goes ballistic. cuz she's the only one that he reacts to like that ever.

[00:09:24]>> Plaintiff Yolanda Moore says her former friend borrowed money to open a soul food restaurant, then refused to pay her back. She's suing for an unpaid loan.

[00:09:34]She's accompanied in court today by Adrien Peebles. Defendant Derek Lacazi senior says he doesn't know because the money was an investment and the business never opened.

[00:09:46]>> Yolanda Moore.

[00:09:47]>> Yes. You were suing the defendant Derek Lacazi.

[00:09:50]>> Yes, ma'am.

[00:09:51]>> For $3,000. 2,000 of that for an unpaid loan and $1,000 in interest.

[00:09:56]>> Yes, ma'am.

[00:09:56]>> Okay. We'll start with you, ma'am. Tell me what's going on here.

[00:09:59]>> Well, um I met Mr. Lease um through my ex-husband who's my witness here today.

[00:10:05]They were co-partners at a swingers club.

[00:10:09]>> At a what?

[00:10:10]>> Swingers club.

[00:10:11]>> Okay.

[00:10:12]>> And um Mr. Le, >> the two of you owned a swingers club in Dallas? No, they were um he worked there as a manager. I was a promoter. He was a promoter. Oh, you were a promoter. Okay.

[00:10:21]>> He was looking for football players for his football team and I have big >> You had a football team, too?

[00:10:26]>> Yes, ma'am.

[00:10:27]>> What kind of team?

[00:10:28]>> Um youth 5 to 12.

[00:10:31]>> You're promoting at a swinger club and you're working with the youth, too?

[00:10:35]>> I'm promoting an event. I'm a promoter.

[00:10:37]I promote all type of events. Uh concerts, you name it.

[00:10:41]>> What do you do for a living?

[00:10:42]>> I'm a counselor. I'm a counselor and a a caterer. Who do you counsel?

[00:10:47]>> Youth.

[00:10:49]>> Okay, go ahead.

[00:10:50]>> Okay, so they got to talking football and I have big boys and so I was also looking for a football team and so Adrian told me to come up to the club and meet Mr. Leay so my boys can start playing football for him.

[00:11:05]>> So you met him at the swingers club?

[00:11:07]>> Yes.

[00:11:09]Yes. That's where I met him. Talked to him about my son playing football.

[00:11:12]Couldn't stay very long cuz I didn't like the action there. So talked to him about the football and then >> why would you set up the meeting at the swingers club? You know what goes on there?

[00:11:20]>> Actually, I didn't. I've never been to one.

[00:11:22]>> I've never been to one either, but I know what happens.

[00:11:26]>> In the name of Jesus. I've never been I I never even knew what it was about.

[00:11:31]>> Okay. Now, what And you say you're a caterer now as well as a counselor. Yes, ma'am. So, you know that he's catering?

[00:11:37]>> Yes. I've even purchased food from him from like Thanksgiving and Christmas. He would make peach cobblers, banana puddings, different things like that.

[00:11:44]You cooking the food?

[00:11:45]>> Yes.

[00:11:45]>> Was it good?

[00:11:46]>> Yes, it was good.

[00:11:47]>> Okay. So, then you hear that he wants to open up a restaurant. So, you think he's a good cook? Yes.

[00:11:51]>> And what's the conversation the two of you have?

[00:11:53]>> Um, we talked because I I've done business ventures and he wanted to do a business venture. So, I said I'll help you.

[00:11:59]>> What kind of business venture do you say he wanted to >> the catering business?

[00:12:02]>> What was the agreement? Not that him and I had an agreement to open up this catering business, but as far as doing like his licensing, getting set up with the state, doing different getting his EIN, different things.

[00:12:14]>> You were doing all of that.

[00:12:15]>> I helped him do that.

[00:12:16]>> Why would you do that?

[00:12:17]>> Because he's saying that the money you're talking about is an investment because you wanted to be a part of the business. So you write and you're testifying today that you were >> doing all of these things for his business. You hadn't worked with him before, right? No. You hadn't had a business or relationship before. And then you say you also helped him look for a location and acquire equipment. So why are you doing all of that if you don't see yourself as a partner in this venture?

[00:12:39]>> Because he said he didn't know how to and I knew how to because I have a business so I knew how to do.

[00:12:45]>> So you were doing all of that for no money.

[00:12:47]>> No money.

[00:12:47]>> No investment interest whatsoever.

[00:12:50]>> None whatsoever. I admired Mr. Derek because he worked with the youth. He volunteered. Even my other son's football team was going to come and help his football team do volunteer work. So, what was the discussion about the $2,000?

[00:13:02]>> The $2,000 came off in the into the uh to the picture when I was uh looking for a building because the catering was going so well that I decided that, you know, I want to get into a building because I have so so many customers. I was like, well, I'm I'm I don't have the funds right now to even get started as far as what I what I want. I have some, but I don't have >> uh what I need. So, she said, well, get a proposal together. I might know some people that might be interested in investing. So that's >> what about the $2,000 that she gave you?

[00:13:34]What was the exact conversation about that $2,000?

[00:13:37]>> The $2,000 came to effect after all of that had went back and forth. She was like, "Well, okay, I can invest up to 2,000." And my deal was I, you know, I could on the return I could double that 2,000.

[00:13:51]>> So you agreed that she would give you 2,000 and based on what would you be able to double the money? I just was basing on the simple fact that the amount of customers that I had is the amount of money that I was um >> So, you would double the return on her investment, right? Did he agree to pay you back $4,000, double your money?

[00:14:06]>> Yes. I I have it in text messages where he agreed to. And I said, Derek, that's not how you do business. You're going to waste money trying to pay me back.

[00:14:14]>> But you want him to pay you 50% in interest, $2,000 a loan and $1,000 in interest.

[00:14:18]>> Okay, that's what I'm going to get to.

[00:14:20]He agreed. He >> That's not how you do business either.

[00:14:22]That's that's AGAINST USUALLY LAW.

[00:14:26]COMING UP ON JUDGE FAITH, the guys bump heads.

[00:14:30]>> What did you use the $2,000 for?

[00:14:32]>> Uh to to to do the um the the this the >> He lying. He's stuttering.

[00:14:36]>> See now I I don't even know why he's here.

[00:14:46]If Yolanda Moore says Derek borrowed money, then refused to pay her back.

[00:14:51]She's suing for an unpaid loan.

[00:14:54]Defendant Derek Lacazi senior says he doesn't owe because the money was an investment.

[00:15:01]>> Do you have a copy of the check you gave him?

[00:15:02]>> I sure can see it.

[00:15:04]>> And so what happens to the restaurant?

[00:15:05]Did Did you ever open it?

[00:15:07]>> I I I >> What are you handing me?

[00:15:10]>> The the I actually got the the location.

[00:15:14]>> Okay.

[00:15:15]>> Did you open the restaurant?

[00:15:16]>> I did not open the restaurant.

[00:15:17]>> Okay. So, what happened to the money?

[00:15:19]What did you use the $2,000 for? I to to to do the um the the this >> he lying. He's stuttering.

[00:15:26]>> See now I don't even know why he's here for the first place.

[00:15:30]>> Who are you?

[00:15:31]>> Because because I get I'm her ex-husband.

[00:15:34]>> He's her ex-husband. He was no way in the >> Okay, hold on a second. I asked him who he cheated on.

[00:15:40]>> She asked me to get involved because he wasn't paying her back. So, we started Facebook and messaging back and forth and he even missed that it was a loan.

[00:15:47]>> Okay. But I actually didn't get an answer to my question. My question to you received, >> Hold on a second. My question to you is, what did you do with the $2,000?

[00:15:56]>> I bought equipment to go inside of the restaurant.

[00:15:59]>> What happened to the equipment?

[00:16:01]>> I still have it.

[00:16:02]>> Okay. And the I'm looking at the check and on the memo line it says investment >> to be repaid.

[00:16:09]>> Yes.

[00:16:10]>> So, is this an investment? Are you investing in the company and you expect to get repaid from the profit of the company or are you loaning him money?

[00:16:17]>> I was loaning him money.

[00:16:18]>> You're walking it. You're walking that thin line.

[00:16:20]>> Yeah, because you know what? When we were outside, >> it really is an oxymoron. What do you have to say, sir? What do you have?

[00:16:25]>> The money is is that he states that he borrowed the money and he has every intentions on paying her back.

[00:16:31]>> Proof right here.

[00:16:32]>> Let me see the text messages. So, the two of you then had a conversation.

[00:16:35]>> We did have a conversation. Three month long conversation.

[00:16:38]>> Three months.

[00:16:39]>> Three months. Look at the dates.

[00:16:41]You do say I have every intention of paying her, but I right now am out of pocket and over $21,000. What are you talking about?

[00:16:50]>> See see if if if they're the same because these are emails that that was between me and him. The conversation, >> right? But I just actually I'm looking at your evidence that you submitted to court. I looked at his and now I'm looking at yours.

[00:17:02]>> Okay. Yes, ma'am. and you submitted evidence where you tell him and her, I guess this is a Facebook message, >> that you have every intention on paying, but you're facing right now a court case and and you've spent over $21,000. What are you talking about?

[00:17:16]>> That's true. I had a I I was dealing with a a case, but >> look at me, sir. You're looking all around. I want you to look at me.

[00:17:22]>> I was dealing with a case. My >> is that an open case?

[00:17:25]>> It's closed. Everything is is done.

[00:17:27]>> You told her here that it the money was an investment and that you both took a loss on it. It it seems that you go back and forth with promising to pay and then going and saying it's an investment that you both took a loss on. All right. What happens next?

[00:17:40]>> She started talking to me about, you know, possibly taking them to court. And I said, "Well, you're probably not going to get your money, like I told you before, not to do business with him. He doesn't pay people back." I said, "He even owes me money."

[00:17:51]>> And he decided to stop coming to the club and promoting the club.

[00:17:54]>> And what's your position at the club?

[00:17:55]>> I was a manager.

[00:17:56]>> You're managing. Okay.

[00:17:57]>> Not a participant. Just want to make that clear.

[00:18:01]I'm not here to pass judgment, sir. I'm just here to listen to the case.

[00:18:05]>> Coming up, Judge Faith rules.

[00:18:16]And now, Judge Faith rules.

[00:18:19]>> Here's what I'm going to do. Here's what I'm going to do because I've looked at I've looked at enough evidence now. I think that legally you walked a very thin line with this money in terms of whether it's an investment that you just lost or whether this was a straight loan because when I put the money to the side and I just look at your actions, it looks like this is someone that you're trying to go into business with.

[00:18:40]>> But when I look at all of the messages between the two of you and he had lengthy conversations with you over a long period of time, I mean, this was now going on a couple of years. and the messages that you had uh with her, it looks like from the very beginning, you told her that you would definitely pay her this money back from day one. So, in the interest of justice, I think that she did give you this money with the expectation from the very beginning that she would be paid back and and so you can call it an investment on your check, but I do think that the intent of the parties with was that this money was a loan and that she expected to be paid back. I'm not going to order him to pay you $1,000 in interest. By law, I can't order that. But I'm going to order you to pay the $2,000 that I think you borrowed, sir. Just before the play of $2,000.

[00:19:39]>> All right. What I take from it is the fact that um communication, better communication when doing business.

[00:19:47]>> I'll never go to a swingers club again.

[00:19:51]Today on Judge Faith, a classic car is caught in an unfortunate fender bender.

[00:19:56]>> I've been looking for this car for years. This is a classic car. I don't want to hook it up. I just want to get it back to the point where I had it.

[00:20:02]>> I just had bad luck that day and that's why I didn't leave without giving them my information. So, you put more work in the car than what the car is worth.

[00:20:09]>> And later, totally opposite work schedules creates tension between tenants.

[00:20:14]>> Around 3:00 or 4 in the morning is when she would come home. She would wear high heels and it would be loud. We would obviously like, "Hey, can you keep it down?" What time go out? What time coming? I don't know what's go what wrong with them.

[00:20:27]>> May I see that one before you translate?

[00:20:29]>> Pay what you owe, you rat.

[00:20:31]>> The two of you had several words back and forth. You would move out 5 days after you moved in. Wow. You wasted no time.

[00:20:37]>> Faith Jenkins. Her distinguished legal career began when she graduated first in her law school class. She quickly became a tough New York City prosecutor and then a preeminent legal analyst on cable news. And now she's the judge in her own courtroom. Her cases are real and her rulings are final. She is Judge Faith.

[00:21:00]Plaintiff Darnell Walker says he was away on a camping trip when the defendant smashed into his parked classic car and caused major damage.

[00:21:08]He's suing for car damages. He's accompanied in court today by DeAndre Cobb.

[00:21:15]Defendant Ariana Moors says she doesn't owe any money because another driver who fled the scene pushed her car into Darnell's vehicle. She's counter suing for emotional distress. She's accompanied in court today by Adrienne Moore.

[00:21:29]>> All rise. Court is in session. The Honorable Judge Faith Jenkins presiding.

[00:21:39]Please be seated. Your honor, the litigants have been sworn in. This is the case of Walker versus Moore.

[00:21:43]>> Thank you, Juan.

[00:21:45]>> Darnell Walker.

[00:21:46]>> That's me.

[00:21:47]>> You are suing the defendant Ariana Moore.

[00:21:49]>> Yes.

[00:21:50]>> For $3,600.

[00:21:53]You say she owes you for a car accident.

[00:21:55]>> Correct.

[00:21:55]>> Okay. You're counter suing ma'am for $600 for emotional distress?

[00:21:59]>> Yes.

[00:21:59]>> Okay. I'll start with you, Mr. Walker.

[00:22:01]Tell me about the accident. What happened?

[00:22:02]>> Okay. So, January 17th, 2015, I was on a uh camping trip with a group of friends.

[00:22:07]I received a call from DeAndre who was housesitting for me that weekend saying that my car was parked on the corner where I left it before I left on the trip and that it was just hit by a car.

[00:22:16]>> You were there at the at his apartment.

[00:22:18]>> Yes, that's correct.

[00:22:19]>> And tell me what you heard or what you observed.

[00:22:20]>> Uh like you said, I was housesitting and I was sitting in the living room. I heard a crash. Then I heard uh some people arguing >> about what time was this?

[00:22:28]>> Uh this was maybe like 2:30 in the afternoon.

[00:22:30]>> Okay. So broad daylight.

[00:22:31]>> Yeah, broad daylight.

[00:22:32]>> Okay. And so did you go out and talk to the defendant and whoever else was there? Um, I went out and tried to talk to the defendant. Um, but she was upset and um, hysterical crying. So, the mother stepped up and ended up talking to me.

[00:22:44]>> Okay. So, what do you say happened?

[00:22:46]>> I'm following her because I have no license, no registration on the car. I'm following her. The guy tries to get over and cuts me off. So, I'm trying to stop.

[00:22:54]I have no horn. I can't get his attention. So, I hit one car, which was not his car. I hit one car. I knocked my mirror off and my tires off. I can't roll no more. I throw my car in park.

[00:23:03]So, this car on your left side tries to merge.

[00:23:06]>> Yes.

[00:23:07]>> And then you try to get out of the way.

[00:23:09]>> Yes.

[00:23:10]>> Okay. And but was the car parked?

[00:23:12]>> The car I hit was parked. Mirror was off.

[00:23:15]>> Okay. So, you hit a parked car on the street.

[00:23:17]>> Yes.

[00:23:18]>> And you say, but it was not his car.

[00:23:20]>> It was not his car.

[00:23:20]>> Okay. And how do you know that?

[00:23:22]>> Because I hit a silver. It was a silver van. The mirror was off cuz my mirror was off and my tire was off because I hit that car.

[00:23:29]>> So, you say you hit the car behind him.

[00:23:31]So, you left a note. What did you do?

[00:23:32]>> Yes, she left a note on that car.

[00:23:34]>> Okay. Did they contact you?

[00:23:35]>> No, they didn't bother. I was not bothered. They contacted me. So, what happened when the police show up?

[00:23:40]>> I had left already.

[00:23:42]>> Oh, you I had left. I had left already because I had work. But my how it works.

[00:23:47]That's not how it works.

[00:23:48]>> Okay. I understand that.

[00:23:49]>> No, I don't think you do.

[00:23:50]>> Okay.

[00:23:51]>> Because you're driving with no license or registration.

[00:23:54]>> Ma'am, you want to stand up, please?

[00:23:55]You're driving with no license or registration.

[00:23:57]>> Yes.

[00:23:58]>> So, there's that. First of all, >> okay, >> you hit a parked car.

[00:24:02]>> Sure did.

[00:24:03]>> You say you leave a note. I don't know if you did, but the you don't wait for the police to come. You just leave because you have to go.

[00:24:08]>> No, we didn't say that. We just started to get information and we never got information. But you got pictures of my talking over each other.

[00:24:15]>> I don't know how you're talking right now.

[00:24:20]>> All right, let me see. Let me look at the photos.

[00:24:22]>> So, this is it's a 87 Capri classic.

[00:24:25]I've been trying to find it for like eight years. So the car was >> So just tell me about the damaging.

[00:24:29]>> I'm sorry. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Uh so she hit right the car behind me. The car hit uh my rim. Of course, my rim is blown out of all the entire driver's side. All this damage here. And then it it hit my rim here and bent the rim in which knocked off my steering column. I mean >> Okay. All right. Thank you, sir.

[00:24:47]>> Whose car is this?

[00:24:48]>> Mine.

[00:24:49]>> Okay. That's the damage to the right side of your car.

[00:24:54]>> Both of you were interviewed by the police, right?

[00:24:56]>> No. No.

[00:24:57]>> No.

[00:24:57]>> So, >> so you never spoke to the police about this incident? No.

[00:24:59]>> They called you when the police arrived and you came back.

[00:25:02]>> I received a text.

[00:25:03]>> You said that you came back to the scene when the police were there. So, you never spoke to the police when you went back to the scene. What was the purpose of going back there?

[00:25:08]>> I did.

[00:25:08]>> Okay. So, that's that's that was my original question. Did you speak to the police about the accident? Absolutely.

[00:25:13]So, you did speak to them?

[00:25:14]>> Yes.

[00:25:15]>> This report was taken at 3:40 in the afternoon on the 17th, the date of the accident. And what happens according to the police after speaking to the witnesses, you ma'am are in one lane on the right and there's a car to your left. This car merges over and then you merge over and hit vehicle number three which is the plaintiff's vehicle.

[00:25:39]There's no indication according to the police report that there were any other cars. Um in terms of identifying the parties, they said the first individual involved, no information or ID was obtained because they fled the scene.

[00:25:50]Party number two, referring to you provided her information to you and then fled at the scene. You did not have a driver's license or registration >> nor insurance.

[00:26:03]>> Nor insurance. Nothing.

[00:26:06]>> Are you proud of that? Cuz you're smiling when you say >> I'm smiling because I'm not in denial about what I didn't have. I just got the car. So I just had bad luck that day going to the get my smog and then on the way back get cut off car accident. I don't have anything. That's why I didn't leave without giving them my information. I didn't have no the proper things.

[00:26:24]>> I don't think you understand that you you shouldn't be driving.

[00:26:27]>> No, I understand that. I UNDERSTAND THAT. I UNDERSTAND.

[00:26:31]>> It's not It's not bad luck.

[00:26:34]>> She was instructed by individuals at AAA to do that. They told her, "You need to do this, this, and this before you can get the car registered." And that's the reason why I was there because I felt that those instructions were given to her erroneously.

[00:26:45]>> I agreed with her. I never reacted. Oh, let me ask you. Let me ask you something. What happened? They got that information from We should talk about what you got from Listen, did TripleA tell you to come in this courthouse and be disrespectful? Keep it down. Keep it down. All right.

[00:27:02]>> See, y'all get Wan upset. Now, Juan never gets upset. You know, you know when my my nerves are easily worked, but when you work on Juan's nerves, you know something's going on.

[00:27:11]>> Coming up, were the constant calls harassment or just handling business?

[00:27:16]Who would be stressed out in that situation? Someone >> I'm not stressed. I'm stressed out. He kept pressing me for the money for the car. What are you so pressed about?

[00:27:23]>> And later, was the apartment full of problems or did the tenant just have a bad attitude?

[00:27:29]>> There was a lot of noise 3 or 4 in the morning.

[00:27:32]>> They are like security guard or something.

[00:27:40]>> Pliff Darnell Walker says Ariana crashed into his parked classic car. He's suing for car damages. Defendant Ariana Moore says she doesn't owe because another driver pushed her car into Darnell's vehicle. She's counter suing for emotional distress.

[00:27:57]>> The value of the car is in good condition is only $2,300 $25. So why are you Oh, I get that.

[00:28:03]>> Why are you asking her to pay for damages over the value of the car?

[00:28:06]>> Because my one my car is a is a Caprice Classic. So I don't know I don't know if you know about Caprice Classics, but this is a classic car. I mean, a great automobile.

[00:28:14]>> That car I just >> I put so much work. Yeah. Yeah, that car. Not now because my steering columns off, but I put so much work in the car.

[00:28:22]Uh, new engine, new tire. Just I just come back what, a week before from Seattle driving my car.

[00:28:27]>> So, you put more work in the car than what the car is worth. That's the choice that you made.

[00:28:30]>> Right. Right. That's the choice I made, but I would like to restore it to that.

[00:28:33]I don't want to I don't want to hook it up. I just want to get it back to the point where I had it.

[00:28:37]>> Your insurance company wouldn't even give you that amount. search. You're asking her to pay almost twice the value of the car >> cuz it's a reasonable. Yes, I I do.

[00:28:45]>> And so when when you told the insurance company it was a classic, they said, "Here's your check for $1,200.

[00:28:51]>> Here's what we're going to do.

[00:28:54]What is your counter claim about for emotional distress? Do I even want to know the answer to this?"

[00:28:58]>> Okay. Okay. So, after the car accident, I explained to him, "I have no insurance. I have no license. I don't what you want me to do." when he's like, "Well, um, >> so who would be stressed out in that situation?" Someone >> I'm not stressed.

[00:29:11]>> Well, but you're suing for emotional distress.

[00:29:13]>> No, I'm saying I'm not stressed out. I'm shut out. He kept pressing me for the money for the car >> one because one >> you hear HIM SAYING HOW MUCH HIS car mean to him. How much he want to put? He asked for double the money to get back in the car. I need to handle this. But you got this money from the insurance company. So what are you so pressed about?

[00:29:30]>> They gave me 1281 in April. This the accident happened.

[00:29:33]>> Oh, so you were committed. So I I live one, I live in Los Angeles. Two, I'm a single father in Los Angeles. I need a car. I've been taking Uber.

[00:29:40]>> You could you can drive your car.

[00:29:41]>> No, my car is not drivable. I can't get around. So this is money that I get. So if anybody has emotional distress, guys, >> I call this to all y'all for emotional distress.

[00:29:54]>> Okay, here's what here's what we're going to do. I do find you responsible for the damages to his car. I don't think that there was this other maybe you hit more than one car, but I think you hit his car, too, >> based on everything that I've heard today. Um, so on the question of liability, I do find you responsible that the the other question is how much is she going to pay? And I'm certainly not going to order her pay what you're asking for. And I know I know I know what you're saying. My car was parked mind in its own business.

[00:30:19]>> That's it.

[00:30:19]>> And now I end up going through all of this. I know it sucks. I know it does.

[00:30:24]>> Caprice, >> the value of the car in good condition is 2325. When I subtract from that the 1281 that your insurance company paid to you, I'm going to order her to pay the remainder of the value, which is $1,44.

[00:30:38]Judgement for the plaintiff, $1,44. Your counter claim for emotional distress is dismissed. Good luck.

[00:30:48]>> I didn't anticipate her knowing the value of a Caprice Classic. This was a very important car to me. I've been looking for it for years and years.

[00:30:55]>> We know that's called a G- Ride in the hood. That's a gangster car. That ain't That ain't nothing.

[00:30:59]>> Ain't nothing at all.

[00:31:00]>> Okay.

[00:31:02]>> Plaintiff Christian Santiago says he and his mother were forced to move out of the defendant's apartment because of her loud lifestyle. He's suing for a security deposit.

[00:31:12]Defendant Galilea Campusano says she doesn't owe any money because Christian's mother spied on her while they were neighbors and sent her rude text messages.

[00:31:21]>> Christian Santiago.

[00:31:22]>> Yes, sir.

[00:31:23]>> You were suing the defendant Galilea Campusano. Yes, I am honor.

[00:31:27]>> For $1,200 for the return of your security deposit.

[00:31:30]>> Yes, your honor. That is correct.

[00:31:31]>> Why don't we start from the beginning?

[00:31:32]You tell me what happened.

[00:31:34]>> Me and my mom were living separately at the time. I moved out when I was 18 and we wanted to save some money, you know, move in together. We just walking down the street like we saw a rent sign and we decided to call. She seemed nice over the phone. We we talked. We ended up getting the place.

[00:31:48]>> And is this a an apartment that you own?

[00:31:51]>> Yes.

[00:31:52]>> Okay. And is do you live in this building or is it a separate? Uh, it's a house. It's a two units. It's together.

[00:31:58]So, I live in one and I rented another one.

[00:32:01]>> Okay. So, did you did the two of you enter into a written lease agreement?

[00:32:05]>> There was going to be a lease agreement later on. But >> how much did you give for the deposit?

[00:32:10]>> It was 1,200 plus 100 for the pet deposit, which I'm not disputing for.

[00:32:14]That's just >> Okay. And how much for the rent?

[00:32:16]>> 1,200.

[00:32:17]>> 1,200 for rent as well. So, you gave a total of $2,500. Did he give you $2,500?

[00:32:22]1,200 for a security deposit, 1,200 for rent, and $100 for a pet deposit.

[00:32:26]>> Say give me two.

[00:32:27]>> Okay. And what month was this, sir? Did you move in?

[00:32:29]>> Uh, we moved in in June. June.

[00:32:31]>> June 2015. When did you move out?

[00:32:34]>> July 1st.

[00:32:35]>> July. Oh, so you were only there for one month. What happened?

[00:32:38]>> There was a lot of noise. Around 3:00 or 4 in the morning is when she would come home. That's obviously none of my business, but she would hear high heels and it would be loud and we would obviously like, "Hey, can you keep it down?" Um I I I don't like to be noisy and I don't because I I study and I I work.

[00:32:55]>> Were you doing that?

[00:32:56]>> Of course I came three or one or two because I'm working all night. So I'm starting to work like 10 to >> What kind of work do you do?

[00:33:05]>> I'm in the table dance.

[00:33:07]>> Okay.

[00:33:08]>> So this is my business. So Well, so >> so you work night hours?

[00:33:14]>> I work.

[00:33:15]>> Okay. So that's the house. So you live on one side on the other.

[00:33:18]>> Yeah. This is my house. Supposedly they lived in the right sign. I live in the left side. But I don't understand probably they are like security guard or something. They checking me all what I do, what kind what I go out, what I'm coming. I don't know what's what wrong with it. You made a choice. Yeah.

[00:33:36]>> You saw the apartment.

[00:33:37]>> Yes.

[00:33:38]>> For whatever was advertised. You walked in it and you physically saw with your own eyes and decided to rent it, right?

[00:33:43]Was there a problem? Um later on um I I became infested with bed bugs.

[00:33:51]>> Coming up on Judge Faith, did the text messages cross the line?

[00:33:55]>> It says, "You're ugly. You're a thief.

[00:33:58]You're going to end up on the news cuz you're horrible."

[00:34:08]Pliff Christian Santiago says he and his mother were forced to move because of Galilea's loud lifestyle. He's suing for a security deposit. Defendant Galilea Capozano says she doesn't owe because she doesn't return money to people who are rude to her.

[00:34:25]>> How long after you lived there did you get bed bugs?

[00:34:27]>> It was like towards the middle of the month.

[00:34:30]>> Okay. Did you know about that? Did I see the photos? Juan, >> they tell me that, but I don't understand.

[00:34:36]>> Had you ever had a complaint about bed bugs before?

[00:34:39]>> She told me no. Never.

[00:34:41]>> Mm- >> Did you bring the bed bugs with you?

[00:34:43]>> No.

[00:34:44]>> How do you know that?

[00:34:45]>> I'd never been bitten by a bed bug before in my life until I moved in there.

[00:34:49]>> God, that's big.

[00:34:50]>> That's an actual bed bug that I took a picture of on my bed.

[00:34:52]>> How did you get rid of the bed bugs?

[00:34:54]>> Um, I had to throw out all my furniture in my bed.

[00:34:57]>> That's basically what you have to do.

[00:34:59]Um, and so you move out. Do you agree to let them out of of the lease?

[00:35:03]>> Let me tell you something. I'm waiting for her and I explain what's going on with you. I You need to fill it out the agreement. You need to sign it, >> ma'am. But my question to you is because you you say you're having problems getting them to sign a lease. According to you, usually that takes place before you ever accept money from someone, before you give them a key to your place. That's when you say, "Sign this lease and then I'll give you the key and I'll accept your security deposit." But you didn't require that.

[00:35:27]>> No, I didn't.

[00:35:28]>> Okay. Let me see the letter you want me.

[00:35:29]What is this you want to show me?

[00:35:30]>> Well, my mom and her were at each other's throats and we wanted I wanted to leave and she wanted us out. So, we had her write out an agreement that she was going to give us back the deposit if we moved out on the first, which we did.

[00:35:40]>> Okay. You wrote this agreement. You want to see it?

[00:35:42]>> It's her writing.

[00:35:43]>> Oh, yeah. I think I did.

[00:35:45]>> Okay. You want to just take a look at it to be sure?

[00:35:47]>> Let me see.

[00:35:47]>> Is that your handwriting?

[00:35:49]>> Okay. May I see that?

[00:35:51]>> And this is dated June 5th. So 5 days after you moved in, the two of you had an agreement that you would move out at the end of the month.

[00:35:58]>> Wow. You wasted no time whatsoever.

[00:36:01]Okay, this is in Spanish. Can you translate that for me? One. It >> says June 5th, 2015. I, Gala Campuso, agree that Adela Santiago will move out on July 1st, 2015 at noon. Their deposit will be returned within 21 days as long as everything is in good condition.

[00:36:18]Sincerely, Galilea.

[00:36:21]>> Okay. So, did you return the deposit within 21 days?

[00:36:24]>> I didn't go give you back because they don't left the keys when they move. So, I need to went to the hard store.

[00:36:32]>> So, they didn't leave the key. So, you had to change the locks. How much did that cost? $50.

[00:36:36]>> No, $190.

[00:36:38]>> Okay. $190. Where's the rest of the $1,200? Why didn't you return that?

[00:36:42]>> Because um the mom, she started to bad uh bad grow with me.

[00:36:47]>> Okay. So, so but that's after the 21 days. I read your answer. After the 21 days is up, she starts texting you asking you about the money.

[00:36:56]>> Yes.

[00:36:56]>> Okay. She would not have been texting you had you sent her the rest of the security deposit, right?

[00:37:01]>> Mhm.

[00:37:02]>> What happened after 21 days? She starts texting you. What does she say to you?

[00:37:06]>> Um, she's saying me bad words and Spanish.

[00:37:10]>> Juan, you want to get the phone?

[00:37:12]>> Okay.

[00:37:14]>> May May I see that one before you translate?

[00:37:16]>> I like your phone case, by the way.

[00:37:18]>> Thank you.

[00:37:20]I like to shine.

[00:37:25]>> So funny.

[00:37:28]>> Okay. Can you read these four text messages?

[00:37:31]>> It says, uh, "You're ugly and apart from that, you're a thief. Pay what you owe, you rat. You're going to end up on the news. The next person to be with you has to be blind cuz you're horrible."

[00:37:47]Coming up, Judge Faith rules.

[00:37:57]>> And now, Judge Faith rules.

[00:38:01]>> The two of you had several words back and forth. Yes.

[00:38:04]>> Clearly. But >> she was upset because you had not returned the security deposit, which you promised. You let them out of the lease.

[00:38:12]You told them you would return the security deposit and you didn't. She was upset. The text messages aren't very nice. The two of you are going back and forth. However, >> that's not a valid defense to you not returning the money because she upset you and you don't like her anymore.

[00:38:26]Yeah, >> that's that's not the agreement for the security deposit. Just because you don't like someone doesn't mean you don't owe them the money for the security deposit.

[00:38:33]Okay. Now, I'm going to subtract the money for the locks that she had to pay.

[00:38:39]How much was that?

[00:38:40]>> I have my evidence with me. Let me see evidence for the lock that you had to change.

[00:38:44]>> I have my receipt.

[00:38:46]>> The receipt will be sufficient.

[00:38:50]>> Okay. So, $1,200 security deposit. I'm subtracting $190 for the fee she paid to change the locks. Judgment in this case for the plane of $1,10. Good luck.

[00:39:10]In the future, I'll try to pay more attention to who I'm moving in with, have more time to analyze the situation and not settle.

[00:39:17]>> I don't need a security guard in my house. She looks lying all the time, sit down in the living room washing me. I don't know.

[00:39:26]>> Today on Judge Faith, a Sunday funday ends in a bloody brawl.

[00:39:32]>> I go to stand up and leave because this is insane. I get up and turn around and I get hit in the face with a hammer.

[00:39:38]>> He has jumped on my balcony, went in my apartment. They're fighting again. And this time it's getting worse because blood's on my white leather.

[00:39:47]>> Is this all made up? Is there any truth to what he just said?

[00:39:51]>> And later, two drivers destinies collide at a dangerous intersection.

[00:39:56]>> She said she was at fault. She admitted it. She didn't change the whole damn story since we got to court. When the ambulance came, they told him he was fine, that he did not have to go to the doctor. Can you tell me about your background and experience in the medical field that would qualify you to make that statement?

[00:40:10]>> Faith Jenkins. Her distinguished legal career began when she graduated first in her law school class. She quickly became a tough New York City prosecutor and then a preeminent legal analyst on cable news. And now she's the judge in her own courtroom. Her cases are real and her rulings are final. She is Judge Faith.

[00:40:33]Plaintiff Dominique Allen says a defendant's outofcontrol behavior caused him to be evicted from his apartment.

[00:40:40]He's suing for a damaged door and pain and suffering. Defendant Stefan Neil Wash says he doesn't owe because Dominique's neighbor started the fight and he was only defending himself. He's counter suing for his cell phone, lost wages, medical bills, and pain and suffering.

[00:40:57]>> All rise. Court is in session. The honorable Judge Faith Jenkins presiding.

[00:41:07]>> Please be seated. Your honor, the litigants have been sworn in. This is the case of Allen versus Neil Wash.

[00:41:12]>> Thank you, >> Dominique Allen.

[00:41:17]>> Yes, ma'am. You are suing the defendant Stefan Neilwash for $2,900 for the cost of a damaged door in pain and suffering.

[00:41:26]>> Correct.

[00:41:26]>> And you are counter suing, sir, for $3,819 for the replacement of a cell phone, lost wages, medical bills, and pain and suffering.

[00:41:36]>> Yes, your honor.

[00:41:37]>> Okay. Why don't we start from the very beginning, Mr. Allen? Tell me what's going on here.

[00:41:41]>> Okay. Well, first I met Stefan through a mutual friend. Uh, seemed like a nice guy, you know, seemed like he had his head on, right? He had some goals and so we got along. He came over to my place one day inebriated because I guess him and uh some other friends were hanging out before they actually made it to my house.

[00:42:07]>> Was this the day of the incident?

[00:42:09]>> Yes.

[00:42:09]>> Okay. Prior to that, how many times had the two of you been hanging out?

[00:42:13]>> Maybe twice.

[00:42:15]>> How did the two of you meet?

[00:42:16]>> We met at a gas station through one of my old friends who I knew from when I was younger. He was there with Dominic.

[00:42:21]I then found out later on that apparently this was Dominic's nephew or something of the sort. And at that point, I let him know I was a physical therapist. He said, "Oh, do you do private massage on the side?" I said, "You know, from time to time, maybe."

[00:42:31]After that, we had exchanged phone numbers. And he continuously contacted me trying to get private massages. At that point, I had to let him know, I am not a massage therapist and that's not the type of work that I generally do.

[00:42:42]Please cease contact.

[00:42:43]>> So, how do you end up at his house on this day in question?

[00:42:46]>> I was actually out in my area and I had seen a couple of people around my age who I've seen beforehand. Uh, male and female around my age. They said, "Hey, you want to hang out, etc., etc." I was like, "Okay, sure."

[00:42:55]>> You saw them where?

[00:42:56]>> Uh, actually in the same area over by the gas station >> because they're around your age and decide that you're just going to hang out with them that day.

[00:43:02]>> Uh, trying to make new friends. Yes, your honor.

[00:43:04]>> Okay. And so and they end up taking you to the plaintiff's house.

[00:43:08]>> Yes. Which I wasn't aware where we going. So we end up there and we walk in and I go, >> is that is that's a coincidence, you think?

[00:43:13]>> Yeah.

[00:43:14]>> Had you been to his house before?

[00:43:15]>> No, >> it's not true.

[00:43:17]>> This was the same gas station where you met the plaintiff as you claim.

[00:43:23]>> Sounds like a pretty social gas station.

[00:43:25]>> Yeah, apparently. So, your honor, >> I just want to make sure I understand this.

[00:43:32]>> If it was the truth, you might. What?

[00:43:34]What? I mean, what do you say the truth is?

[00:43:36]>> The truth is he had come over my house before with uh a friend of mine who I refer to as a nephew. That's how I initially met him.

[00:43:46]>> What happens when they come to the apartment, sir? What happens?

[00:43:48]>> So, we're all sitting down having a good time, having a couple drinks, and he's smooching up on my friend's girlfriend.

[00:43:56]>> What do you mean by smooching? Kissing >> like trying to, you know, get her trying to get her.

[00:43:59]>> Trying to come on to her.

[00:44:01]>> Yeah. Were you doing that? Here's what the situation was. The guy's gone just a few minutes and Dominic goes to me. Oh, are you trying to get on that? Wait, what? Oh, yeah. Right there. He's going to be gone for a little bit. It's $120.

[00:44:14]Are you trying to get on that right there? I'm thinking this is some kind of joke cuz I don't know these people.

[00:44:18]Okay.

[00:44:18]>> He's trying to pimp out this woman to you while her while her boyfriend's at the store.

[00:44:22]>> Yes. Yes, sir.

[00:44:23]>> Did you do that?

[00:44:24]>> No, ma'am. Absolutely not.

[00:44:26]>> Do you know any So, is this is this all made up?

[00:44:29]>> Yeah, that's made up. Is there any truth to what he just said?

[00:44:33]>> No.

[00:44:34]>> What happened? Why did you bring this lawsuit? Tell me what happened in the apartment that night.

[00:44:38]>> Now, it got kind of late and I was like, "Well, you know, guys, I want to go to sleep, so it's time to go." He comes back because he couldn't find his phone.

[00:44:48]>> Did you let him in?

[00:44:49]>> Yeah. So, when he was following me to my room, I said, "No, dude. Have a seat.

[00:44:54]I'll take care of it." I come out the room, him and my other guests are at it fighting. They were in a full-fledged fight. I got him out at a house, closed the door, locked the door. Okay, so we're sitting down maybe another 10 minutes, and all of a sudden, I just hear this clump onto my balcony. He has jumped on my balcony, went in my apartment. By the time I get in there, uh, they're fighting again, and this time it's getting worse because blood's on my white leather and stuff like that.

[00:45:28]Coming up, it's hammer time.

[00:45:30]>> I go, "Did you just hit me with a hammer?" And he's standing there like, >> "Looks like hammer marks to me."

[00:45:35]>> And it wasn't me.

[00:45:36]>> I I didn't say it was you, but someone did.

[00:45:39]>> And later, sudden stop or senior moment.

[00:45:43]>> The airbags went off. When I come to I heard everybody saying, "Uh, get out the car. Get out the car. Get out the car."

[00:45:49]And >> quickly turns into this opposite lane right here.

[00:45:53]>> Well, are you saying he went through a red light?

[00:45:55]>> Absolutely.

[00:46:02]Plative Dominique Allen says Stefan caused him to be evicted from his apartment. He's suing for a damaged door and pain and suffering. Defendant Stefan Neil Wash says he doesn't owe because after he was hit with a hammer, he was no longer thinking clearly. He's counter suing for his cell phone, lost wages, medical bills, and pain and suffering.

[00:46:24]So I'm trying to pull him up, but this time I guess he just took a can of spinach and he just seemed so heavy.

[00:46:31]>> So then we got him out. You pushed him out.

[00:46:33]>> Okay. Okay. You get him out a second time. What do you say happened here?

[00:46:38]>> So coming back to the situation with the male and the female and the pimping that was going on.

[00:46:42]>> You all left. You all left, right?

[00:46:44]>> We were still there.

[00:46:45]>> Okay.

[00:46:46]>> So what ended up happening was the guy starts screaming at Dominic. Okay. Then they start yelling back and forth at each other. After a few minutes, Dominic turns around verbatim and goes, "You know what? I'm going to blow you out the water. I pay you to have sex with you, so you got no place to speak." At that point, the girlfriend starts freaking out and goes, "What? My boyfriend's gay?" Yes. Dominic said that he was having sex with the other individual for pay. Okay. So, at this point now, they've all gotten into this big crazy mess where they're screaming and yelling all this. I go to stand up and leave because this is insane. That point is when Dominic had told me, "Sit down.

[00:47:20]This is true to Dominic's story.

[00:47:21]>> What happens?

[00:47:22]>> I end up getting up. I go to leave.

[00:47:24]Dominic tells me again to sit down. I said, "You guys are insane. I'm leaving." Boom. I get hit. And then I get hit several more times in the back, but then I get another one of these blacking out hits to my head. I get up and turn around and then I get hit in the face with a hammer by Dominic who's holding it. And at that point, I look at him because he didn't drop me with a hammer hit. And I go, "Did you just hit me with a hammer?"

[00:47:44]>> Did you or anyone else hit him with a hammer?

[00:47:46]>> No, I did not hit him. I did not. Did anyone else?

[00:47:49]>> Him and I had no issues.

[00:47:50]>> Let me see the photos.

[00:47:51]>> Okay, that's where I got hit in the face with a hammer and then there was multiple hits to the back. And you can't see the ones on the back of my head because of my hair.

[00:47:58]>> Looks like hammer marks to me. So, someone hit him in the back with a hammer >> and it wasn't me.

[00:48:03]>> I I didn't say it was you, but someone did.

[00:48:06]>> It only would have had to be the guy that he was fighting with.

[00:48:09]>> Did you witness that?

[00:48:11]>> I didn't witness them. I witnessed them fighting.

[00:48:13]>> Did you break into Excuse me, Spider-Man? I mean, I'm sorry, Mr. Did you jump onto the second floor balcony?

[00:48:21]>> I don't know how, but I was on the balcony. I had a concussion after being hit with a hammer multiple times. Your honor, >> you're saying that he was the reason why you had to be evicted, this incident, because the police showed up.

[00:48:31]>> Correct. Okay. Here's what your eviction paperwork says. Numerous tenants have complained about you fighting with them, sir. You >> No. In general, they find that you have intimidated other residents to the point that they cannot have unfettered peaceful enjoyment of your of the premises.

[00:48:49]>> So clearly, let me say this.

[00:48:51]>> No, I don't want you to talk anymore.

[00:48:52]Clearly, this incident was the straw that broke the camel's back for your landlord. And that's the reason why you were evicted, not because of just what happened here.

[00:49:01]>> Well, well, no.

[00:49:03]>> No. No. You got to stop talking. You got to stop talking. And I'm going to tell you right now, both of you have told me some tales in here today. And I don't know who to believe. What is your counter claim about?

[00:49:12]>> I had to go to work as a physical therapist all beat up. I had to get treatment on myself. I had a black eye dealing with my patients. So, I mean, if you want to talk about, you know, stress and all these other types of things, emotional hardship.

[00:49:23]>> You want to counter sue for lost wages, medical bills, and pain and suffering.

[00:49:27]But all those tales you told me, >> the lost wages were because I was I was incarcerated.

[00:49:31]>> You're suing for $400 for the door, but really the crux of your case is $2,500 in pain and suffering. I don't feel that you've met your burden for that. You're counter suing for cell phone, lost wages, medical bills, and pain and suffering. You haven't met your burden for that either. As a result, I will not make a decision and I can't make a decision based on testimony that I think is not forthcoming and based on evidence that I think has not been presented properly in this case. Both of your cases are dismissed.

[00:50:03]>> I will not be randomly going to anyone's houses anymore. uh especially if I don't know them in any way, shape, or form.

[00:50:10]>> I want to say Stefan needs to take his responsibility and fix that door. He knows he broke it, man. He should take responsibility.

[00:50:20]>> Plaintiff Dominic Matoyer says when the defendant crashed into his car, both airbags deployed and hit him in his chest, causing him to black out. He's suing for car damage and pain and suffering. Defendant Khalila Elely says she doesn't owe any money because Dominic was speeding to beat a yellow light and the accident was his fault.

[00:50:41]She's counter suing for damages and a car rental fee.

[00:50:45]>> Dominique Matoyer.

[00:50:46]>> Yes, ma'am.

[00:50:47]>> You were suing the defendant Khalila Elely.

[00:50:49]>> Yes, ma'am.

[00:50:50]>> For $5,000, $3,360 for damages to your car you say she caused in an accident?

[00:50:57]>> Yes, sir.

[00:50:57]>> And also $1640 in pain and suffering.

[00:51:00]>> Yes, sir. And you're counter suing, ma'am, for $7,539 for damages to your car and rental car fees.

[00:51:08]>> Yes, ma'am.

[00:51:08]>> Okay. We'll start with you, Mr. Matoy.

[00:51:10]Why don't you tell me what happened here?

[00:51:12]>> Okay. On August 11th at 11:30 a.m., I had an accident with Miss Kayla.

[00:51:21]Uh, she made a left turn and and I hit her. I wasn't going but like 25 miles an hour but she stopped right in the middle of her turn. She she just panicked.

[00:51:31]That's what she told me.

[00:51:32]>> And what happened?

[00:51:33]>> And she stopped and I hit her brought on the right side.

[00:51:36]>> Mhm.

[00:51:36]>> And the airbags went off and I knocked me out and I when I come to I heard everybody saying, "Uh, get out the car.

[00:51:44]Get out the car. Get out the car."

[00:51:46]>> So the airbags went >> both of them deployed.

[00:51:48]>> They deployed. They hit you and sort of knocked you unconscious.

[00:51:51]>> Yeah. It hit me in the chest and in the head and it knocked me back and and I was just blacked out for a minute.

[00:51:57]>> Okay. What kind of injuries did you suffer?

[00:51:58]>> In my chest and uh my head was hurting and my neck >> Were you there? Did the police respond and were you there?

[00:52:05]>> No, they didn't come. They didn't come.

[00:52:07]>> Oh. Did you go to the hospital?

[00:52:09]>> Okay. You left. Okay. Why don't you tell me what happened?

[00:52:10]>> Yes, ma'am. Um I was traveling northbound on Normandy. Um approaching >> a map of this location. Can we pull it up, please? Why don't you walk over and just point to me? Tell me what happened as you testify.

[00:52:22]>> So, I am believing I'm traveling here.

[00:52:26]This is northbound. And then I was had >> stop here to make a left. Um and so as I'm waiting, waiting, waiting. The light has turned yellow by this time.

[00:52:35]>> The light that you're looking at is turning yellow.

[00:52:37]>> Yes, ma'am.

[00:52:38]>> You were turning this way.

[00:52:39]>> I'm turning Yes. Turning left.

[00:52:41]>> And he's coming down this street this direction. Correct.

[00:52:43]>> Yes. He's traveling southbound.

[00:52:45]>> So, did you see him before you turned?

[00:52:47]>> Not at all.

[00:52:48]>> Okay. So, what happens when you make the turn?

[00:52:50]>> So, as I'm inching and I'm inching, I'm inching. I didn't see anything. And as I'm coming out finally and he's coming from right behind this truck and he quickly turns into this opposite lane right here.

[00:53:01]>> You mean he switches lanes?

[00:53:02]>> Switches lanes. And then that's when he's trying to cope through the actual intersection. And at that time, >> you saying he went through a red light?

[00:53:08]>> By that time it had turned red.

[00:53:09]Absolutely.

[00:53:09]>> So, you're saying he ran a red light?

[00:53:11]>> Absolutely.

[00:53:11]>> And Okay.

[00:53:12]>> And he was doing way over the speed limit.

[00:53:14]>> Thank you. Do you have a police report that would were you ticketed at all, sir?

[00:53:17]>> No, ma'am. Did the police respond while you were there?

[00:53:19]>> No, I waited for about two hours. Okay.

[00:53:21]So, they didn't show up. And what do you want to say, sir?

[00:53:24]>> She's lying. Y >> Mr. May I go to the diagram? May I show you?

[00:53:31]>> Yes, please.

[00:53:34]>> Coming up on Judge Faith, covered or caught.

[00:53:37]>> Did you have insurance at the time?

[00:53:38]>> Yes, ma'am. I did. No, you did. Why? Why do you say she didn't?

[00:53:48]Plaintiff Dominic Matoyer says Kala crashed into his car. He's suing for damages and pain and suffering.

[00:53:56]Defendant Kala Elely says the accident was not her fault. She's counter suing for damages and a rental car fee.

[00:54:04]>> Okay, this is her coming this way. There's a truck here.

[00:54:10]>> Well, actually, no. You You're coming the way I That's where I'm at here.

[00:54:15]>> No.

[00:54:15]>> Okay.

[00:54:16]>> Okay. Hold on a second. Let me just step down here.

[00:54:20]>> All right. So, as I understand it, you're traveling on what street?

[00:54:24]>> I'm on Normandy.

[00:54:25]>> So, you're coming down Normandy this way. This is you coming down Normandy about to go through the intersection.

[00:54:30]She is coming here and about to make a left turn on the 83rd. So, why don't you go from there?

[00:54:34]>> Okay. There was a truck in this lane.

[00:54:37]She cuts in front of this truck. The light was green and she when she cuts in front of the truck, she sees me and she panics. She tells me, >> "Did you say that to him?"

[00:54:47]>> I panicked. Meaning when I saw him coming, I pressed the gas to get out of the way.

[00:54:50]>> Okay. Go ahead, sir.

[00:54:51]>> She hit the brakes, y'all. Okay. When she saw me, it was 10 ft apart and I and I hit her cuz I didn't have enough distance to stop.

[00:55:00]>> Thank you, sir. You can step back over to the left. What was your conversation with her at the scene?

[00:55:04]>> Okay. At the scene, like I said, she was concerned.

[00:55:07]>> What did she say about the accident? She said she was at fault. She admitted it.

[00:55:10]She done changed a whole different story since we got to court.

[00:55:13]>> What? What did she What exactly?

[00:55:14]>> She was so concerned, right? I said, "Do you have insurance?" She said, "Yeah, I got insurance and and here's my uh number." She gave me this number and uh the the number was was not right.

[00:55:26]>> Did you have insurance at the time?

[00:55:27]>> Yes, ma'am. I did.

[00:55:28]>> No, you didn't.

[00:55:29]>> Why do you say she didn't?

[00:55:30]>> The the lawyer I Ma'am, >> here's what I want to know. Did you ever contact his the insurance agency for this car to try to get cover? And what what happened?

[00:55:40]>> Um what happened with my insurance is on that uh day they switched my insurance over and I have that >> also they switched my insurance over um that moment to a better deal that they told me I can get. Um and that is what they gave me at the time.

[00:55:56]>> Actually, I'm not sure that you actually had insurance at the time of of this accident. He may be right because according to this letter, they denied coverage for you because they said the date of this accident, it occurred outside of your policy period.

[00:56:08]>> Yes.

[00:56:11]>> And if you see there, they said it my policy kicked in at 12:29 and the accident happened at 12:00, >> 11:30.

[00:56:18]>> Well, I'm there. This is >> this is from my insurance company directly. And so, >> okay. So, so this is from your insurance company directly. So, ma'am, >> when I ask you did you have insurance at the time, the answer is no. Well, the answer is no. Okay.

[00:56:30]>> You did not.

[00:56:35]>> What injuries do you say you suffered, sir? You're suing for pain and suffering.

[00:56:39]>> I had to have a hard valve replaced cuz I'm thinking the impact that clotted my heart valve and and the blood went to my spine and paralyzed my spine. I was at Cedar's Hospital for 50 days. I had two operations, a hard bear and a spine.

[00:56:59]>> This was prior to the accident, right?

[00:57:01]Okay. And you're saying that because of this accident, it aggravated the injury.

[00:57:05]>> That's what I'm thinking. Okay.

[00:57:06]>> We were going to court on that until we found out she didn't have insurance.

[00:57:10]>> And judge, can I say something? Um, when the ambulance came, they told him he was fine, that he did not have to go to the to the to the doctor, but he insisted to go.

[00:57:20]>> Okay. And you say he was in pretty good condition. Can you tell me about your background and experience in the medical field that would qualify you?

[00:57:25]>> Not at all. Not at all. Not at all. Not at all.

[00:57:28]>> Okay.

[00:57:28]>> Not at all.

[00:57:29]>> Because because I mean I I would understand if I had open heart surgery, which is what happens when you have a heart valve replacement and you and a airbag has been deployed. I wouldn't want to go to the hospital to get somebody to just take a second look and make sure. So what you just discussed is really a non-issue for me.

[00:57:50]Coming up, Judge Faith rules.

[00:58:01]>> And now, Judge Faith rules.

[00:58:05]>> I am not going to award you the amount you're asking for in terms of damages because the car just isn't worth that much >> for your pain and suffering. I'm also going to order the defendant to pay you an additional $500 because I can understand how that experience would cause you pain and suffering after just having open heart surgery. Your counter claim is dismissed. One, you do not have insurance at the time of the accident.

[00:58:26]I'm not going to award damages to a person who drives with no insurance.

[00:58:30]That's the risk and the chance you take when you have insurance. Two, I do find you liable for the accident. So, for those reasons, your counter claim is dismissed. Judge before the plaintiff, $2,191.

[00:58:41]Good luck. Thank you.

[00:58:41]>> THANK YOU.

[00:58:49]HOLY SPIRIT DIDN'T TELL HER TO SAY WHAT SHE SAID. It's all I got to say to her.

[00:58:53]I pray for her.

[00:58:54]>> Uh the judge's ruling was uh fair and decent. I understand what she said about the insurance issue, but I do not feel that I was at fault.