1
00:00:00,500 --> 00:00:01,567
You bought a car.
2
00:00:01,633 --> 00:00:02,633
Yes.
3
00:00:02,700 --> 00:00:04,200
I made the payment for him.
4
00:00:04,266 --> 00:00:06,500
In your view, it was a loan.
5
00:00:06,567 --> 00:00:08,467
She offered. It was a gift for me.
6
00:00:08,533 --> 00:00:10,900
You're doing a dance around my question.
7
00:00:10,967 --> 00:00:12,467
Tell me why you stopped paying her back.
8
00:00:12,533 --> 00:00:13,633
Things got sour.
9
00:00:13,700 --> 00:00:15,367
Things got sour with the relationship.
10
00:00:15,433 --> 00:00:17,033
- I guess you could say that.
- I just did.
11
00:00:17,500 --> 00:00:19,500
[Narrator]
This is Judy Justice.
12
00:00:36,700 --> 00:00:37,934
{\an8}Annabel Barone
13
00:00:38,000 --> 00:00:41,734
{\an8}is suing her ex-boyfriend,
Azael Arteaga,
14
00:00:41,800 --> 00:00:43,233
{\an8}for a loan.
15
00:00:43,300 --> 00:00:44,333
[Bailiff]
Court comes to order.
16
00:00:44,400 --> 00:00:48,066
- All rise.
- Have a seat, please.
17
00:00:48,166 --> 00:00:51,633
Hello Judge, case number 2060,
Barone vs. Arteaga.
18
00:00:51,700 --> 00:00:52,700
- Thank you.
- You're welcome.
19
00:00:53,567 --> 00:00:56,433
Ms. Barone,
case is not a very difficult one.
20
00:00:56,500 --> 00:00:58,500
You've met Mr. Arteaga--
21
00:00:58,567 --> 00:00:59,567
Arteaga.
22
00:00:59,633 --> 00:01:01,600
Take your hands out of your pockets.
23
00:01:01,667 --> 00:01:02,967
- At a bar?
- Yes.
24
00:01:03,033 --> 00:01:05,967
- When?
- Back in June of 2021.
25
00:01:06,033 --> 00:01:07,834
- Did you ever live together?
- Uh, no.
26
00:01:07,900 --> 00:01:10,233
You always maintained your
own residence, and he his?
27
00:01:10,300 --> 00:01:13,033
Yes, the apartment I owned was
always underneath my name.
28
00:01:13,133 --> 00:01:14,467
- But he never lived there?
- No.
29
00:01:14,567 --> 00:01:15,567
Good.
30
00:01:15,633 --> 00:01:17,567
- But, you bought a car.
- Yes.
31
00:01:17,667 --> 00:01:19,567
In what month and year
did you buy a car?
32
00:01:19,633 --> 00:01:24,400
I ordered a Tesla back in,
if I'm not mistaken, May, and I--
33
00:01:24,467 --> 00:01:26,900
- May of what year?
- May of 2021.
34
00:01:26,967 --> 00:01:29,033
- Was it a new car?
- Yes.
35
00:01:29,100 --> 00:01:31,166
Give me a rough number--
how much was it?
36
00:01:31,233 --> 00:01:33,300
Out the door, $72,000.
37
00:01:33,367 --> 00:01:35,667
- And what color did you order?
- Black.
38
00:01:35,734 --> 00:01:37,834
This is what the case is about,
and it's going to take me
39
00:01:37,900 --> 00:01:40,233
very, very little time
to resolve the case.
40
00:01:40,300 --> 00:01:43,166
{\an8}You ordered the $72,000 car in black
41
00:01:43,233 --> 00:01:48,300
{\an8}and because of whatever strange
reason you wanted the car wrapped.
42
00:01:48,367 --> 00:01:51,066
Now, I think most people
know what that means
43
00:01:51,133 --> 00:01:52,166
and I think I know what that means.
44
00:01:52,233 --> 00:01:56,967
That means you take a perfectly good car
and you put a different finish on it.
45
00:01:57,033 --> 00:01:58,633
- Is that what it means?
- Yes.
46
00:01:58,700 --> 00:02:01,867
You buy a car that has a nice
shiny finish and looks clean,
47
00:02:01,934 --> 00:02:04,800
and then you put something
on it that, I don't know,
48
00:02:04,867 --> 00:02:07,100
looks like it's been sitting
out under a volcano.
49
00:02:09,000 --> 00:02:10,700
- I guess you could say that.
- What?
50
00:02:10,767 --> 00:02:12,567
- I guess you could say that.
- I just did.
51
00:02:14,133 --> 00:02:16,233
And that costs money.
52
00:02:16,300 --> 00:02:20,934
Costs an additional, I think according
to the papers that I read, $3,800.
53
00:02:21,000 --> 00:02:23,200
{\an8}No, it's $3,950.
54
00:02:23,266 --> 00:02:25,133
- {\an8}-
- How much?
- $3,950.
55
00:02:25,200 --> 00:02:31,100
And you had some of that money,
but you gave him-- transferred to him--
56
00:02:31,166 --> 00:02:33,433
{\an8}$1,800 on your credit card.
57
00:02:33,500 --> 00:02:36,433
- {\an8}-
- Yes, it was an agreement made between--
- No, no. I didn't ask you.
58
00:02:36,500 --> 00:02:38,533
- Mm-hmm.
- I didn't--
59
00:02:38,834 --> 00:02:44,700
You transferred to him $1,800
towards this wrap on his car.
60
00:02:44,767 --> 00:02:46,967
I made the payment for him.
61
00:02:47,033 --> 00:02:49,300
You made the payment
for him on a credit card.
62
00:02:49,367 --> 00:02:50,367
Yes.
63
00:02:50,433 --> 00:02:52,934
And according to you, your arrangement
was that he would pay you back
64
00:02:53,000 --> 00:02:55,166
- monthly a hundred bucks.
- Correct.
65
00:02:55,233 --> 00:02:57,367
- You don't dispute that.
- She offered.
66
00:02:57,433 --> 00:03:01,834
Yeah she offered, and you did
in fact, on three separate months,
67
00:03:01,900 --> 00:03:04,233
- pay her back one hundred dollars.
- Yes.
68
00:03:04,300 --> 00:03:08,333
{\an8}And that means that in your view,
it was a loan.
69
00:03:08,400 --> 00:03:09,800
{\an8}Well, it was more of a gift.
70
00:03:09,867 --> 00:03:14,734
{\an8}Well, then why would you pay her back
a hundred dollars a month, Mr. Arteaga?
71
00:03:14,800 --> 00:03:16,900
Because our finances are much different.
72
00:03:16,967 --> 00:03:18,667
- What do you mean?
- She knew I was getting a car.
73
00:03:18,734 --> 00:03:21,333
I ordered a car, so it was a gift for me.
74
00:03:21,400 --> 00:03:23,934
Because she already knew
that I was looking for a PPF,
75
00:03:24,000 --> 00:03:25,533
which is a Paint Protection Film.
76
00:03:25,600 --> 00:03:27,266
- So I'm more--
- Listen to me.
77
00:03:27,333 --> 00:03:29,100
{\an8}You're not answering my question.
78
00:03:29,166 --> 00:03:31,133
You're doing a dance
around my question.
79
00:03:31,200 --> 00:03:37,200
If it was a gift to you, this $1,800
towards the wrap for your car,
80
00:03:38,000 --> 00:03:41,967
- why did you pay her back $300?
- To help her out.
81
00:03:42,033 --> 00:03:46,333
Yeah, and then you stopped.
Because that sounds ridiculous.
82
00:03:46,400 --> 00:03:48,800
- You still have the Tesla?
- I still do.
83
00:03:48,867 --> 00:03:51,033
- Yes. You making payments on it?
- Yes, ma'am.
84
00:03:51,100 --> 00:03:54,367
- Good. What kind of work do you do?
- I'm an electrical superintendent.
85
00:03:54,433 --> 00:03:56,967
- Expensive car.
- Indeed it is.
86
00:03:57,033 --> 00:03:59,066
- You're a single guy?
- Yes.
87
00:03:59,166 --> 00:04:01,200
That's what single guys
do with their money.
88
00:04:01,266 --> 00:04:04,600
Tell me why you stopped
paying her back Mr. Arteaga?
89
00:04:04,667 --> 00:04:06,266
Things got sour very quick.
90
00:04:06,333 --> 00:04:09,166
- So things got sour with the relationship.
- Yes.
91
00:04:09,233 --> 00:04:11,800
- And is that when you stopped paying her?
- Yes.
92
00:04:11,967 --> 00:04:16,734
Good. Judgment for the Plaintiff in the
amount of $1,500 is what he owes you
93
00:04:16,800 --> 00:04:17,800
for the balance of the loan.
94
00:04:17,867 --> 00:04:19,000
Thank you. We're done.
95
00:04:19,266 --> 00:04:20,300
[Bailiff]
This court is adjourned.
96
00:04:21,867 --> 00:04:23,633
{\an8}We broke up. It was a nasty breakup.
97
00:04:23,700 --> 00:04:26,400
{\an8}There was bad feelings,
intentions between the both of us.
98
00:04:26,467 --> 00:04:29,467
{\an8}It was a bad breakup yes,
but there is a lot more details to it.
99
00:04:29,533 --> 00:04:31,533
{\an8}It was just out of pettiness
at the end of the day.
100
00:04:31,600 --> 00:04:33,367
{\an8}Because she caused a lot of rift.
101
00:04:33,433 --> 00:04:37,200
{\an8}I'm just not gonna loan out money
to just anyone from here on out.
102
00:04:37,266 --> 00:04:38,266
{\an8}I'm glad it's over.
103
00:04:38,333 --> 00:04:40,934
{\an8}And I'm really happy I get my $1,500 back.
104
00:04:42,266 --> 00:04:43,900
Now that we've been
here for a little while
105
00:04:43,967 --> 00:04:46,967
and I've been learning from you
and all these cases that we've seen...
106
00:04:47,033 --> 00:04:50,166
Still, rule number one:
never give a boyfriend money
107
00:04:50,233 --> 00:04:52,000
and expect to ever see it again.
108
00:04:52,066 --> 00:04:55,967
You will never see it again.
It gets messy, it gets entangled.
109
00:04:56,033 --> 00:05:00,567
And we see it time and time again,
so it just hits even harder at home.
110
00:05:00,633 --> 00:05:06,066
Have you noticed, Sarah,
that it's probably an eighty-twenty
111
00:05:06,166 --> 00:05:10,000
that women give money to boyfriends?
112
00:05:10,066 --> 00:05:11,200
At least what we've seen here, yes.
113
00:05:11,266 --> 00:05:14,533
So if-- you know, if this is
a microcosm of the world,
114
00:05:14,600 --> 00:05:17,100
and I don't know what it is,
I haven't been able to figure it out.
115
00:05:17,166 --> 00:05:22,133
I've been doing this kind of business
for 30 years and I can't figure out why.
116
00:05:22,200 --> 00:05:27,800
A perfectly lovely young woman--
guy's buying a $72,000 car
117
00:05:27,867 --> 00:05:31,233
and says, "Hey babe, I'm short $1,800."
118
00:05:31,300 --> 00:05:34,133
Well, if you're short $1,800,
buy a cheaper car.
119
00:05:34,200 --> 00:05:35,533
- Yeah.
- You know there are cars that
120
00:05:35,600 --> 00:05:38,367
cost less than $72,000.
Anyway...
121
00:05:38,433 --> 00:05:39,800
But women should be smarter
122
00:05:39,867 --> 00:05:41,367
- and not agree to do that.
- Smarter, there you go.
123
00:05:41,433 --> 00:05:44,266
We ought to make mandatory
watching these cases
124
00:05:44,333 --> 00:05:48,066
- as part of a growing-up process.
- A lot of great life lessons for sure.
125
00:05:48,567 --> 00:05:53,166
Case 2073, Joseph vs. Williams.
All parties, please step forward.
126
00:05:53,233 --> 00:05:56,900
{\an8}[Narrator] Donnell Joseph,
is suing his niece, Tina Williams,
127
00:05:56,967 --> 00:06:00,600
{\an8}and his sister, Martha Williams,
for personal property.
128
00:06:00,667 --> 00:06:04,133
Mr. Joseph,
these two ladies are your half-sisters?
129
00:06:04,200 --> 00:06:06,300
My half-sister and her daughter, my niece.
130
00:06:06,367 --> 00:06:09,667
- So what's your first name?
- Martha Williams.
131
00:06:09,734 --> 00:06:11,900
- Martha is your half-sister.
- Yes.
132
00:06:11,967 --> 00:06:13,533
- And your first name?
- Tina.
133
00:06:13,600 --> 00:06:15,467
- Tina is your niece.
- Yes.
134
00:06:15,533 --> 00:06:18,667
- And you and Martha have the same mother.
- Yes.
135
00:06:18,734 --> 00:06:21,433
Your mother had a house.
The house was in her name.
136
00:06:21,500 --> 00:06:23,500
Your mother passed away
in the early seventies.
137
00:06:23,567 --> 00:06:24,567
Yes.
138
00:06:24,667 --> 00:06:27,467
At that time she was
married to your father.
139
00:06:27,633 --> 00:06:28,800
Not your father.
140
00:06:28,867 --> 00:06:29,900
Correct?
141
00:06:29,967 --> 00:06:33,367
And your father
lived in the house until he died.
142
00:06:33,433 --> 00:06:34,433
Yes.
143
00:06:34,533 --> 00:06:37,133
- And he died in what year?
- 2018.
144
00:06:37,200 --> 00:06:40,367
Somehow the house,
which had been in your mother's name,
145
00:06:40,533 --> 00:06:42,967
never went through a probate process.
146
00:06:43,033 --> 00:06:47,100
So, as far as the law was concerned,
the house remained in her name.
147
00:06:47,166 --> 00:06:52,900
It never went to her surviving spouse
or her children when she passed away
148
00:06:52,967 --> 00:06:54,266
in the early seventies.
149
00:06:54,333 --> 00:06:59,233
What I'm reading is
when your father passed away in 2018,
150
00:06:59,300 --> 00:07:03,000
the house sorta remained
vacant for a while.
151
00:07:03,066 --> 00:07:06,033
- For how long?
- Since he passed away.
152
00:07:06,100 --> 00:07:08,000
- So nobody's lived there.
- Correct.
153
00:07:08,066 --> 00:07:10,000
And you knew your father passed away,
I assume.
154
00:07:10,066 --> 00:07:11,066
Yes.
155
00:07:11,133 --> 00:07:13,600
- And you knew your mother passed away.
- Yes.
156
00:07:13,667 --> 00:07:19,033
And after your mother passed away--
she passed away in 1971 or 1972?
157
00:07:19,100 --> 00:07:22,100
Did you ever visit with
your father in that house?
158
00:07:22,166 --> 00:07:24,233
I visited with my father.
I lived in the house.
159
00:07:24,300 --> 00:07:25,333
From when to when?
160
00:07:25,400 --> 00:07:31,400
{\an8}Well, I lived in the house in 1963
until like '72 when I started moving out.
161
00:07:31,667 --> 00:07:33,600
But, I would still go back
to the house because...
162
00:07:33,667 --> 00:07:34,667
- No, no, no.
- ...it's my family home.
163
00:07:34,834 --> 00:07:40,533
I want to know the last time,
Mr. Joseph, you lived in the house.
164
00:07:40,600 --> 00:07:42,200
1993.
165
00:07:42,266 --> 00:07:46,567
So, almost 30 years ago.
And where have you been the last 30 years?
166
00:07:46,633 --> 00:07:49,734
I been in New York.
I been incarcerated.
167
00:07:49,800 --> 00:07:51,467
You've been incarcerated
from when to when?
168
00:07:51,533 --> 00:07:53,867
'93 to 2012.
169
00:07:53,934 --> 00:07:57,734
So, 1993 is when you
last lived in the house.
170
00:07:57,800 --> 00:07:58,800
Correct.
171
00:07:58,867 --> 00:08:01,567
But, you were released
from prison in 2012.
172
00:08:01,633 --> 00:08:02,633
Yes.
173
00:08:02,700 --> 00:08:06,000
So for the last ten years,
you have not been back to the house.
174
00:08:06,066 --> 00:08:09,233
I've been back to the house,
but not living there as a residence.
175
00:08:09,300 --> 00:08:11,166
- So for ten years...
- Right.
176
00:08:11,233 --> 00:08:14,166
- As an adult-- how old are you?
- I'm 64.
177
00:08:14,233 --> 00:08:19,867
As an adult, from age 54 to 64,
you had access to the house,
178
00:08:19,934 --> 00:08:22,033
- visited your father in the house.
- Right.
179
00:08:22,100 --> 00:08:23,834
- Not before then.
- Right.
180
00:08:23,900 --> 00:08:27,133
Okay, and you haven't lived
there full-time in decades.
181
00:08:27,200 --> 00:08:28,367
Correct.
182
00:08:28,433 --> 00:08:30,333
This is what your lawsuit wants.
183
00:08:32,967 --> 00:08:35,967
{\an8}You had ten years after you
were released from prison
184
00:08:36,033 --> 00:08:37,700
{\an8}to go and get these treasures,
185
00:08:37,767 --> 00:08:38,767
{\an8}and you didn't do it.
186
00:08:38,900 --> 00:08:43,333
{\an8}Because my father's house was like the
treasure of all his children's property.
187
00:08:43,400 --> 00:08:44,400
{\an8}As long as he has--
188
00:08:44,533 --> 00:08:47,000
{\an8}As long as he had
a bicycle or a Boy Scout book.
189
00:08:47,066 --> 00:08:48,900
- Let's start being real.
- Okay.
190
00:09:00,100 --> 00:09:03,367
{\an8}[Narrator] Donnell Joseph
claims his niece, Tina Williams,
191
00:09:03,433 --> 00:09:07,667
{\an8}and his sister, Martha Williams,
threw away his personal belongings.
192
00:09:07,734 --> 00:09:11,667
Tina and Martha are countersuing
for the cost of a cleaning crew.
193
00:09:11,734 --> 00:09:16,467
- {\an8}-
- Your lawsuit is seeking $10,000.
- Yes.
194
00:09:16,533 --> 00:09:20,667
{\an8}Because according to you,
the defendants disposed
195
00:09:20,734 --> 00:09:23,967
of your property
that was invaluable.
196
00:09:24,033 --> 00:09:27,934
{\an8}And I'm going to describe the property
that you say was invaluable.
197
00:09:28,700 --> 00:09:32,000
- A 1911 Boy Scout handbook.
- Yes.
198
00:09:32,066 --> 00:09:34,033
- That you treasure.
- Yes.
199
00:09:34,100 --> 00:09:38,033
You should've taken it out of the house
in 30 years if you treasured it.
200
00:09:38,100 --> 00:09:41,367
A mountain bike
purchased in what year?
201
00:09:41,433 --> 00:09:44,600
'71 or '72, around there.
202
00:09:44,667 --> 00:09:49,500
I know it was a Free Spirit ten-speed
I got, that was in 1970, and a Univega.
203
00:09:49,567 --> 00:09:52,667
You wanted it,
this 50-year-old mountain bike,
204
00:09:52,734 --> 00:09:55,633
you should've taken it
over the last ten years.
205
00:09:56,700 --> 00:10:00,567
- A vintage reel-to-reel tape player.
- Yes.
206
00:10:00,633 --> 00:10:03,233
You know how many of
those I threw in the trash?
207
00:10:03,667 --> 00:10:06,867
Do you have any idea
how many of those I threw in the trash?
208
00:10:07,100 --> 00:10:10,133
You got those a half a century ago.
209
00:10:10,200 --> 00:10:13,400
Oh, my God, I remember them--
big reels and how excited we were.
210
00:10:13,467 --> 00:10:17,834
You could talk into a microphone and then
you could hear your voice come back.
211
00:10:17,900 --> 00:10:20,100
And then all of a sudden you
got a phone. You can do that.
212
00:10:20,166 --> 00:10:24,166
The same thing. So, everybody took
these things and they couldn't find
213
00:10:24,233 --> 00:10:26,600
enough places to dispose of them.
214
00:10:26,667 --> 00:10:30,667
It's not vintage anything.
It's a piece of trash.
215
00:10:30,734 --> 00:10:31,967
Can I speak your Honor?
216
00:10:32,033 --> 00:10:33,033
About what?
217
00:10:33,166 --> 00:10:37,200
Okay, the reel-to-reel tapes, right?
Some of the tapes had speakings
218
00:10:37,266 --> 00:10:39,800
of my brother and Martha's daughter--
219
00:10:39,867 --> 00:10:42,500
Then you should've taken
them with you in 40 years.
220
00:10:42,567 --> 00:10:46,900
If they were treasures of yours, Sir,
and you're 64 years old,
221
00:10:46,967 --> 00:10:49,200
I would want those
treasures around me.
222
00:10:49,266 --> 00:10:52,333
And you had ten years after
you were released from prison
223
00:10:52,400 --> 00:10:54,100
to go and get these treasures.
224
00:10:54,166 --> 00:10:55,166
And you didn't do it.
225
00:10:55,233 --> 00:10:57,600
You just left them in your father's house.
226
00:10:57,667 --> 00:11:00,300
Because my father's house
was like the treasure
227
00:11:00,367 --> 00:11:02,500
of all his children's property.
228
00:11:02,567 --> 00:11:06,033
This is how we connected to our father,
because everybody has left,
229
00:11:06,100 --> 00:11:08,300
everybody has died.
So, as long as he has--
230
00:11:08,367 --> 00:11:09,700
As long as he had a bicycle.
231
00:11:09,767 --> 00:11:12,133
As long as he had a bicycle
or a Boy Scout book.
232
00:11:12,266 --> 00:11:15,667
The Boy Scout book was
handed down to me from my father.
233
00:11:15,800 --> 00:11:17,433
- Let's start being real.
- Okay.
234
00:11:17,500 --> 00:11:19,867
- Okay, let's start being real.
- Okay.
235
00:11:20,000 --> 00:11:23,734
And the first draft to buy
published manuscript.
236
00:11:23,867 --> 00:11:25,200
Yes.
237
00:11:25,333 --> 00:11:26,667
Why didn't you take that with you?
238
00:11:26,734 --> 00:11:29,467
{\an8}For safe keepings,
I let my father hold it because he--
239
00:11:29,533 --> 00:11:31,133
{\an8}That's not a good idea, Sir.
240
00:11:31,266 --> 00:11:33,033
How old was your father
when he passed away?
241
00:11:33,100 --> 00:11:37,200
He was 88, but my father's mind
was sharp as a tack.
242
00:11:37,266 --> 00:11:38,367
He kept everything.
243
00:11:38,433 --> 00:11:42,567
If you wanted it-- your father passed
in 2018. Is that what you're telling me?
244
00:11:42,633 --> 00:11:44,800
I couldn't get nothing
out of the house so--
245
00:11:44,867 --> 00:11:46,567
I don't know whether you could
or whether you couldn't.
246
00:11:46,633 --> 00:11:48,200
When did you make an--
Just a second.
247
00:11:48,333 --> 00:11:50,967
When did you make an effort
to remove your man--
248
00:11:51,033 --> 00:11:54,066
Forget about the bike,
forget about reel-to-reel tape recorders,
249
00:11:54,200 --> 00:11:56,133
- Okay.
- Forget about the nonsense.
250
00:11:56,266 --> 00:11:59,767
Your manuscript.
When did you write this manuscript?
251
00:11:59,834 --> 00:12:02,567
- I write it a couple of years--
- No, no, no.
252
00:12:02,633 --> 00:12:03,934
It's the first draft of this book.
253
00:12:04,000 --> 00:12:06,633
- It's the first draft of that book?
- This book.
254
00:12:06,700 --> 00:12:09,567
- Well, now you have the book and--
- But I needed the draft that--
255
00:12:09,633 --> 00:12:12,367
Because the other draft
that I'm working on the second book
256
00:12:12,433 --> 00:12:16,166
that goes along with this book, I don't
have certain notes and things that I had.
257
00:12:16,233 --> 00:12:18,500
- It doesn't exist anymore.
- Yes, it doesn't.
258
00:12:18,567 --> 00:12:19,834
It doesn't exist anymore.
259
00:12:19,900 --> 00:12:22,033
And if you wanted it,
you should've gotten it.
260
00:12:22,100 --> 00:12:25,700
{\an8}In 2018, when your father died,
you were out of prison.
261
00:12:25,767 --> 00:12:27,934
- Where were you living?
- I was living in New York.
262
00:12:28,000 --> 00:12:30,467
- And where did your father live?
- He lived in Los Angeles.
263
00:12:30,533 --> 00:12:35,033
Between 2012 and 2018, how many trips
did you make to visit with our father?
264
00:12:35,100 --> 00:12:36,100
About 3.
265
00:12:36,166 --> 00:12:39,066
- And when did you publish that book?
- 2015.
266
00:12:39,133 --> 00:12:41,934
So you published that book
during your father's lifetime.
267
00:12:42,000 --> 00:12:43,000
Yes.
268
00:12:43,066 --> 00:12:45,700
And if you needed the manuscript,
you came to visit your father.
269
00:12:45,767 --> 00:12:49,500
A manuscript-- it's this big.
That's how big a manuscript is.
270
00:12:49,567 --> 00:12:50,567
Yes.
271
00:12:50,633 --> 00:12:52,934
- Where were you living in New York?
- In Albany.
272
00:12:53,000 --> 00:12:54,400
You have your own apartment
or your own home?
273
00:12:54,467 --> 00:12:55,467
House.
274
00:12:55,533 --> 00:12:57,266
- Do you own or rent?
- Own.
275
00:12:57,333 --> 00:12:58,533
When did you purchase it?
276
00:12:58,600 --> 00:13:01,667
My wife, we bought it together,
it was in 2009.
277
00:13:01,734 --> 00:13:03,567
- So you're married?
- Yes.
278
00:13:03,633 --> 00:13:05,033
- Have children?
- No.
279
00:13:05,100 --> 00:13:07,900
So, you and your wife
purchased a home in 2009.
280
00:13:07,967 --> 00:13:10,633
- And how much did you pay for the house?
- $109,000.
281
00:13:10,700 --> 00:13:12,233
- Are you still living there?
- Yes.
282
00:13:12,300 --> 00:13:14,166
So you had plenty of room in the house?
283
00:13:14,233 --> 00:13:17,767
You had plenty of room
for a manuscript, tapes.
284
00:13:17,834 --> 00:13:19,300
A manuscript that you were working on.
285
00:13:19,367 --> 00:13:22,233
You weren't working on
the manuscript long distance.
286
00:13:22,300 --> 00:13:25,967
What I'm telling you, Mr. Joseph, is the
things that you're suing for are nonsense.
287
00:13:26,033 --> 00:13:28,033
- Okay--
- If things that you wanted
288
00:13:28,100 --> 00:13:32,433
that a grown-up man, 64 years old,
gets if he wants them.
289
00:13:32,500 --> 00:13:36,800
It's not that you were homeless. You have
a home-- a home that you purchased.
290
00:13:36,867 --> 00:13:39,934
You went to visit your father three times.
Anything of value--
291
00:13:40,000 --> 00:13:43,400
we're not talking about furniture,
and antiques, and a grandfather clock.
292
00:13:43,467 --> 00:13:46,567
We're talking about things
that can fit in a tissue box.
293
00:13:46,633 --> 00:13:47,633
Yes.
294
00:13:47,700 --> 00:13:51,367
You put them in your suitcase and
take them with you if they're valuable.
295
00:13:51,433 --> 00:13:55,633
{\an8}I couldn't visit California before that
because of the conditions of my parole.
296
00:13:55,700 --> 00:13:58,800
{\an8}So, the times that I could go,
I could go out there and had to have--
297
00:13:58,867 --> 00:14:00,500
{\an8}You told me you
went out there three times.
298
00:14:00,567 --> 00:14:02,033
- Yes.
- When your father was alive.
299
00:14:02,100 --> 00:14:03,300
When I had permission to go.
300
00:14:03,367 --> 00:14:07,000
So, I couldn't after my father passed away
I couldn't go in the house because
301
00:14:07,066 --> 00:14:09,900
that would violate the probate thing.
So I had permission to...
302
00:14:09,967 --> 00:14:11,367
- No, you're not...
- ...to go in the house.
303
00:14:11,433 --> 00:14:13,667
- ...understanding me, Mr. Joseph.
- Okay.
304
00:14:13,734 --> 00:14:15,367
You're not understanding me.
305
00:14:15,433 --> 00:14:20,133
You went there three times
after you were out of prison,
306
00:14:20,200 --> 00:14:24,767
after you had a home,
after you were married.
307
00:14:24,834 --> 00:14:28,300
When you went there with a suitcase,
don't tell me violating your parole,
308
00:14:28,367 --> 00:14:29,900
- unless you told me--
- Right.
309
00:14:29,967 --> 00:14:35,867
In the suitcase, should've been, when
you returned from California to New York,
310
00:14:35,934 --> 00:14:41,467
small things of value that you say
were invaluable to you,
311
00:14:41,533 --> 00:14:43,800
including a manuscript.
312
00:14:43,867 --> 00:14:47,500
Forget the bicycle, forget the
tape to tape reel to reel recorder.
313
00:14:47,567 --> 00:14:52,000
The tapes that you say were
precious to you, if they belonged to you,
314
00:14:52,066 --> 00:14:53,600
put them in a suitcase, so...
315
00:14:53,667 --> 00:14:57,467
There's a lot more about this
that I don't quite understand.
316
00:14:57,533 --> 00:14:58,533
Your Honor.
317
00:14:58,600 --> 00:15:00,233
There's a lot about this
that I don't quite understand.
318
00:15:00,300 --> 00:15:02,200
And when your father passed away,
who got the house?
319
00:15:02,266 --> 00:15:04,433
- The house is--
- Shh!
320
00:15:04,500 --> 00:15:06,834
Your father passed away.
What happened to the house?
321
00:15:06,900 --> 00:15:09,133
- The house is still in probate.
- Oh.
322
00:15:09,200 --> 00:15:12,000
So during the probate thing,
I had to have permission
323
00:15:12,066 --> 00:15:14,767
- to take anything out of the house--
- Forget-- I'm telling you the--
324
00:15:14,834 --> 00:15:16,133
- I'm telling... I've--
- Okay.
325
00:15:16,200 --> 00:15:18,233
- I've answered your lawsuit, Sir.
- Okay.
326
00:15:18,300 --> 00:15:20,033
I've answered your lawsuit.
327
00:15:20,100 --> 00:15:22,934
- Okay.
- That you're a 64-year-old man,
328
00:15:23,000 --> 00:15:26,266
and if something that could fit in a
tissue box was that precious to you,
329
00:15:26,333 --> 00:15:29,333
when you visit your father
and you had a home,
330
00:15:29,400 --> 00:15:31,800
you would've taken it with you
when you left.
331
00:15:31,867 --> 00:15:34,633
- Certain things I couldn't take--
- This is not a tea dance.
332
00:15:37,033 --> 00:15:40,734
{\an8}The property, a loss as it is,
but I lost a sister in this process.
333
00:15:40,800 --> 00:15:42,166
- {\an8}-
- He said he was--
- Shh!
334
00:15:42,233 --> 00:15:44,633
{\an8}And it makes no difference
of how this go, I lost a sister.
335
00:15:44,700 --> 00:15:46,500
{\an8}This isn't the probate court.
336
00:15:46,567 --> 00:15:50,133
{\an8}So, I would suggest that you all
take a deep breath,
337
00:15:50,200 --> 00:15:54,200
{\an8}and say, "Whatever it is,
let it be finished."
338
00:16:06,633 --> 00:16:10,000
{\an8}[Narrator] Donnell Joseph claims
his niece, Tina Williams,
339
00:16:10,066 --> 00:16:14,300
{\an8}and his sister, Martha Williams,
threw away his personal belongings.
340
00:16:14,367 --> 00:16:18,400
Tina and Martha are countersuing
for the cost of a cleaning crew.
341
00:16:18,467 --> 00:16:21,734
I asked you if the house was
still in probate, which is unfortunate,
342
00:16:21,800 --> 00:16:24,200
because people can
take care of the business.
343
00:16:24,266 --> 00:16:27,266
Who are the beneficiaries
of the sale of the house?
344
00:16:27,333 --> 00:16:32,500
Me, my sister, Lawanda,
my half-brother, Justin Joseph,
345
00:16:32,567 --> 00:16:35,200
- my sister Sherice, two sons--
- Okay.
346
00:16:35,266 --> 00:16:39,000
Let's try to clarify this--
are you the executor of the Will?
347
00:16:39,066 --> 00:16:43,000
{\an8}There's no Will. My mom is
the administrator of the probate.
348
00:16:43,066 --> 00:16:46,467
And I just got to be administrator.
We had to go back and forth to court.
349
00:16:46,533 --> 00:16:50,934
{\an8}We had no way of getting in and out
of the house because we had no keys.
350
00:16:51,000 --> 00:16:54,266
Okay, and your father,
I assume, had no Will.
351
00:16:54,333 --> 00:16:55,333
He had no Will.
352
00:16:55,400 --> 00:16:58,600
- What's the value of the house?
- We don't know because since Martha
353
00:16:58,667 --> 00:16:59,834
- became the administrator we have--
- Just a second.
354
00:16:59,900 --> 00:17:04,166
- What's the address of the house?
- My mom had the house appraised
355
00:17:04,233 --> 00:17:07,166
- at 250.
- She's going to tell me.
356
00:17:08,600 --> 00:17:13,500
So, the off-market says
it's approximating $464,000.
357
00:17:13,567 --> 00:17:16,633
It's a three bed, one bath,
858 square feet.
358
00:17:16,700 --> 00:17:20,266
- And the estimate?
- The range is between 400 and 515.
359
00:17:20,333 --> 00:17:23,367
Ooh well, the family has a valuable asset.
360
00:17:23,433 --> 00:17:25,667
And has yet to be divided
after all this time.
361
00:17:25,734 --> 00:17:27,834
It's a good lesson
for everybody out there.
362
00:17:27,900 --> 00:17:29,333
Make a Will.
363
00:17:30,500 --> 00:17:32,367
- Now you can tell me.
- Thank you.
364
00:17:32,433 --> 00:17:36,066
My grandma, which is their mother,
she bought the house on her own
365
00:17:36,133 --> 00:17:40,467
with my mom's last name,
which is her dad-- Statement.
366
00:17:40,533 --> 00:17:43,633
{\an8}It's her maiden name, which is married to.
We don't know if they were married.
367
00:17:43,700 --> 00:17:46,734
That's what we're going through
in probate. It's a process.
368
00:17:46,800 --> 00:17:52,800
{\an8}But the beneficiaries would be Donnell, my
mom, and two heirs of a deceased sibling.
369
00:17:53,066 --> 00:17:57,066
Donnell has also been
in jail for most of my life.
370
00:17:57,133 --> 00:18:00,900
He hasn't been to California at all.
So, I wanted to back that up as well.
371
00:18:00,967 --> 00:18:02,467
Well, he's not entitled to anything.
372
00:18:02,533 --> 00:18:05,233
If he wanted these items
that were valuable to him,
373
00:18:05,300 --> 00:18:07,700
he should've taken them
during his 64 years.
374
00:18:07,767 --> 00:18:10,233
The most safest place that I ever had
in the world for my valuable--
375
00:18:10,300 --> 00:18:14,133
Well, that's too bad if you own a home
in New York, with your wife,
376
00:18:14,200 --> 00:18:16,934
and you had an opportunity
to take these valuable things.
377
00:18:17,000 --> 00:18:21,767
Because you said you visited your father
after 2009, and you should've taken them.
378
00:18:21,834 --> 00:18:24,533
And don't tell me it was
the safest place because--
379
00:18:24,600 --> 00:18:28,467
Not only the safest thing,
but my father, he lost two sons--
380
00:18:28,533 --> 00:18:31,100
- Zero.
- The only thing he had in this house,
381
00:18:31,166 --> 00:18:33,266
the things that was
left over from his children.
382
00:18:33,333 --> 00:18:36,300
And to take anything that was
of value away from his children,
383
00:18:36,367 --> 00:18:39,166
would've hurt my father.
So, the safest place for all our--
384
00:18:39,233 --> 00:18:42,266
Mr. Joseph, you don't think
going to prison hurt your father?
385
00:18:42,333 --> 00:18:43,567
- Yes.
- Okay.
386
00:18:43,633 --> 00:18:46,233
- That's why I changed my life around.
- Let's get real, let's get real... okay.
387
00:18:46,300 --> 00:18:48,100
- You're not getting any money here.
- Okay.
388
00:18:48,166 --> 00:18:51,200
You're going to wait for probate,
and in the probate procedure,
389
00:18:51,266 --> 00:18:53,400
which hopefully won't take forever--
390
00:18:53,467 --> 00:18:57,433
but it clearly can because people are
irresponsible and don't create a Will--
391
00:18:57,500 --> 00:19:01,300
it is likely that you will have
part of the proceeds of this house.
392
00:19:01,367 --> 00:19:04,533
Likely.
Only because if your mother passed away,
393
00:19:04,600 --> 00:19:09,300
and if she was in fact married to
your father, or lived with him
394
00:19:09,367 --> 00:19:13,000
at that time in California. If there was
a common law relationship
395
00:19:13,066 --> 00:19:16,800
and they did have children together,
then you, as an offspring,
396
00:19:16,867 --> 00:19:20,667
would be entitled, if there was no Will,
as part of the proceeds of this house.
397
00:19:20,734 --> 00:19:21,734
- Yes.
- That's all.
398
00:19:21,800 --> 00:19:24,800
When she bought the house she bought it as
a married woman so when she--
399
00:19:24,867 --> 00:19:25,967
You don't have to-- listen.
400
00:19:26,033 --> 00:19:28,467
That's something, Mr. Joseph,
you don't have to convince me.
401
00:19:28,533 --> 00:19:31,734
- You have to convince the Probate Judge.
- Okay.
402
00:19:31,800 --> 00:19:34,700
You also have a counterclaim that's
ridiculous, and I'm not entertaining it.
403
00:19:34,767 --> 00:19:37,300
It's really just stupid.
Stay with Probate.
404
00:19:37,367 --> 00:19:39,867
When is the Probate proceeding
supposed to be finished?
405
00:19:39,934 --> 00:19:43,633
Well, we're going through
mandatory settlement.
406
00:19:43,700 --> 00:19:45,166
One thing I want to say, Your Honor.
407
00:19:45,233 --> 00:19:47,934
However this Probate is,
I want you to know
408
00:19:48,000 --> 00:19:51,600
the property, as a loss as it is,
but I lost a sister in this process.
409
00:19:51,667 --> 00:19:52,667
- He said he wasn't--
- Shh!
410
00:19:52,767 --> 00:19:56,867
It makes no difference of how this goes,
I lost a sister. My niece, she something--
411
00:19:56,934 --> 00:20:00,567
- This isn't the Probate Court.
- I love my sister.
412
00:20:00,633 --> 00:20:03,066
This is not the Probate Court, Mr. Joseph,
413
00:20:03,133 --> 00:20:06,266
and I suggest that
if you love your sister--
414
00:20:06,333 --> 00:20:07,633
- She knows I love her.
- Just a second.
415
00:20:07,700 --> 00:20:10,233
If you love your sister
and you're 64 years old--
416
00:20:10,300 --> 00:20:12,066
How could you do this to me
when you know we love you?
417
00:20:12,133 --> 00:20:15,066
Shh, Mr. Joseph.
Mr. Joseph--
418
00:20:15,133 --> 00:20:17,100
- Yes.
- I know you can get emotional
419
00:20:17,166 --> 00:20:21,867
in situations where family is involved,
and your sister clearly is sick
420
00:20:21,934 --> 00:20:23,800
- because she's using oxygen.
- I'm sick.
421
00:20:23,867 --> 00:20:27,867
- I just had liver surgery.
- Mr. Joseph, what I'm telling you is
422
00:20:27,934 --> 00:20:31,400
if you have an opportunity
in the Probate Court--
423
00:20:31,467 --> 00:20:34,734
I'm actually telling this to
both you and Ms. Williams--
424
00:20:34,800 --> 00:20:39,300
if you have an opportunity,
at your age, at your stage,
425
00:20:39,367 --> 00:20:43,967
to settle for something that
gives each of you something.
426
00:20:44,033 --> 00:20:47,467
Maybe less than you would get
if somebody was disinherited,
427
00:20:47,533 --> 00:20:52,033
but at this stage in life at 64 years old,
somebody who just had liver surgery and
428
00:20:52,100 --> 00:20:55,633
someone who must rely on
oxygen in order to breathe...
429
00:20:55,700 --> 00:21:00,433
My common sense tells me that what you do
is not to give the whole thing away
430
00:21:00,500 --> 00:21:05,800
to lawyers who are there sucking up
whatever profits there are going to be
431
00:21:05,867 --> 00:21:09,000
in this house. Because if
the house is worth $200,000,
432
00:21:09,066 --> 00:21:14,867
you're going to get a bill for $140,000,
for the probate administrator,
433
00:21:14,934 --> 00:21:19,166
for the lawyers, and you're going
to wind up with zippity do dah.
434
00:21:19,233 --> 00:21:22,900
So I would suggest that you all
take a deep breath,
435
00:21:22,967 --> 00:21:27,567
and say, "Whatever it is,
let it be finished."
436
00:21:27,633 --> 00:21:30,233
You have no case, Mr. Joseph.
Rely on the probate system.
437
00:21:30,300 --> 00:21:31,734
I wish you good luck.
438
00:21:31,800 --> 00:21:34,033
I said your countersuit is ridiculous,
and I'm dismissing--
439
00:21:34,100 --> 00:21:35,100
Oh, I have proof.
440
00:21:35,166 --> 00:21:37,600
I want to tell you something.
Your countersuit for having to rehire
441
00:21:37,667 --> 00:21:39,700
somebody to move is ridiculous.
442
00:21:39,767 --> 00:21:43,033
I'm telling you,
rely on the Probate Court.
443
00:21:43,100 --> 00:21:45,166
- We are done here.
- Would you please let me
444
00:21:45,233 --> 00:21:47,467
- present my countersuit?
- No, I read it.
445
00:21:47,533 --> 00:21:50,133
I read it. I'm dismissing it on its face.
We're done.
446
00:21:50,200 --> 00:21:51,667
[Bailiff]
This court is adjourned.
447
00:21:54,233 --> 00:21:57,333
{\an8}All I can say is
I love my sister.
448
00:21:57,400 --> 00:21:59,600
{\an8}Just the same thing
that's happening... nothing.
449
00:21:59,667 --> 00:22:03,300
{\an8}Whether it's a Probate thing or not,
that ain't gonna never change.
450
00:22:03,367 --> 00:22:04,600
{\an8}I don't want to hear anything else.
451
00:22:04,667 --> 00:22:06,667
{\an8}I'm always loving,
because that's my sister.
452
00:22:06,734 --> 00:22:08,834
Let the Probate court decide.
453
00:22:10,166 --> 00:22:13,533
You know at 25,
after doing Season One of this show,
454
00:22:13,600 --> 00:22:17,867
I created and executed a Will,
because this is the situation we've seen
455
00:22:17,934 --> 00:22:20,633
far too many times and it's so
unfortunate to see the breakdown
456
00:22:20,700 --> 00:22:23,333
of a family over something
that could've been prevented
457
00:22:23,400 --> 00:22:27,233
had the mother or father, grandfather,
grandmother created a Will
458
00:22:27,300 --> 00:22:30,767
when they were alive to tell the rest
of us how they'd prefer their property
459
00:22:30,834 --> 00:22:31,900
to be disposed of.
460
00:22:31,967 --> 00:22:37,834
It's fascinating to me
that their mother is gone for 50 years,
461
00:22:37,967 --> 00:22:41,500
and for 50 years that title
to that house, which is a--
462
00:22:41,567 --> 00:22:45,100
- Never red-flagged, never was--
- Nobody ever thought about it.
463
00:22:45,166 --> 00:22:48,133
And the father lived there for 40 years.
464
00:22:48,200 --> 00:22:50,900
Must've at least paid the taxes
and maintenance on it.
465
00:22:50,967 --> 00:22:51,967
Absolutely.
466
00:22:52,033 --> 00:22:56,100
And then he's gone and everybody
is in this awful state of limbo.
467
00:22:56,166 --> 00:22:59,100
And you know what it is?
With all those siblings and half-siblings
468
00:22:59,166 --> 00:23:02,133
and grandchildren and whatever...
Even if the house--
469
00:23:02,200 --> 00:23:06,467
she says she had it appraised for 250.
You looked it up, and the estimate--
470
00:23:06,533 --> 00:23:08,033
- It was much more, but it's hard to tell.
- $450,000.
471
00:23:08,100 --> 00:23:13,100
But even if it is and it has
to be divided with six people,
472
00:23:13,166 --> 00:23:17,000
that's a substantial chunk of money.
But it doesn't look like,
473
00:23:17,066 --> 00:23:19,900
for either one of them,
it's life-altering money.
474
00:23:19,967 --> 00:23:24,533
He lives in a home, he has a wife,
he looks as if he's okay
475
00:23:24,600 --> 00:23:28,467
since he's been released from prison,
but he has health issues.
476
00:23:28,533 --> 00:23:32,934
His sister has health issues,
and they're going to spend
477
00:23:33,000 --> 00:23:35,967
- the last years of their--
- Stressed.
478
00:23:36,033 --> 00:23:38,934
- Stressed, angry--
- Worried about this Probate.
479
00:23:39,000 --> 00:23:42,867
I mean I saw how emotional Mr. Joseph got.
"I love my sister."
480
00:23:42,934 --> 00:23:44,667
Well, if you love your sister, then--
481
00:23:44,734 --> 00:23:46,934
if you love your sister,
then you don't sue her!
482
00:23:47,000 --> 00:23:48,800
Yeah.
483
00:23:48,867 --> 00:23:53,667
I don't understand it. Anyway, your advice
is solid and sound, and I support it.
484
00:23:55,266 --> 00:23:59,400
{\an8}[Narrator] Want justice?
Go to JudyJustice.tv.