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{\an8}- You're a musician.
- That is correct.
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You make music videos.
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Yes, I have a video production company.
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Do you advertise making videos?
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Absolutely not. I haven't done
a music video in almost ten years.
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I still don't understand
how you make a living.
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This is Judy Justice.
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{\an8}Edmond Haye is suing
videographer, Ramsey Hill,
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{\an8}for breach of contract.
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Court, come to order. All rise.
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Have a seat, please.
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{\an8}Hello, Judge. Case #2057,
Haye versus Hill.
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{\an8}- Thank you.
- You're welcome.
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Mr. Haye, you're a musician.
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I'm a songwriter and I sing song.
I don't play the instrument, Your Honor.
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That's music.
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Yes, ma'am.
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Mr. Hill, you make music videos.
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Yes, I have a video production company.
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For how long, sir?
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Since 2006.
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You have employees?
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No.
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- Just you.
- Yes, ma'am.
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Do you have a place of business?
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Yes, I work at my home.
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- So, your place of business...
- Is the residence.
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You have a studio in the residence?
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No, we do not.
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Where do you record this music?
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Most of the time we do it on location,
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but I haven't done a music video
in almost ten years.
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When you say you have a video business,
you haven't done music videos.
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Right, yes.
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You have done what kind of videos?
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Well, we've done a small film.
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We have a 3D full-length
original animation that we do.
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We also have a network
that we show podcasts on.
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We have a health and fitness show.
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{\an8}And we was working on a reality TV show
and an entertainment news show.
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I still don't understand
how you make a living.
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Working on, you know, thinking about,
being in this business myself,
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that doesn't produce any income.
How do you earn a regular income?
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Oh, I have a regular nine-to-five job.
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Oh, okay, now that's where we go.
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- Yeah.
- So, your nine-to-five job is what?
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Right now, I'm an insurance agent.
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Do you advertise making videos?
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Absolutely not. The only reason I did this
was as a favor...
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Just... Well, you didn't do it for a favor
because you were charging him.
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No, the only reason
I accepted to do the video,
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was because a friend asked me
to meet with him.
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I understand that.
But you weren't doing him a favor,
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{\an8}because you were charging him.
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{\an8}No, I was doing the friend a favor.
I wasn't doing him a favor.
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Right.
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Mr. Hill...
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If somebody says, listen, I have a friend
who wants to make a video.
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I know you've got a set up in your house
where you could do that,
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or you do it on location. Would you
like to be introduced to him?
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And you say, sure. That doesn't mean
you're doing him a favor.
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So, you haven't made a music video
in ten years, you're an insurance agent.
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And you met with Mr. Haye on what date?
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I'm not really sure...
- On what date, Mr. Haye?
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{\an8}We met sometime in early April,
late March.
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{\an8}- Did you have a written contract?
- Yes, ma'am.
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And that was to make certain videos.
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I'd like to see the written contract, please.
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This lawsuit seeks a refund of
the money that you gave to him
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because the entire contract was not
fulfilled. That's what the case is about.
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That is correct.
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Okay. So, there is a full
and complete agreement.
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Is this the only agreement
there was in writing?
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- That's the one for that one.
- That's the one for what...
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For that particular item.
There's another one here.
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Well, that's what I wanted to know.
There's one to produce three videos.
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- That is correct.
- Okay.
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Is there another written contract?
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He said this is not a contract.
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Well, but I'm asking you.
Is there another written contract
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that you're relying on, because he
was supposed to make three videos.
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And the cost of the three videos
was $1,500?
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Three thousand dollars.
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And then there was
an additional agreement...
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For the live performance,
of which he demand $1,500 from me
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Okay. Ssh, just a second.
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That's not correct.
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Just a second. So, it is your claim
that in addition to the $3,000,
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$1,500 of which you paid to him. Correct?
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Yes, ma'am.
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There was a subsequent contract afterwards
for an additional item.
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I'd like to see that.
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For the live performance on May 1st.
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Okay. You wanted to do something live
on one of his radio stations or...
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Mr. Hill...
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No, I'm gonna read this.
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Okay, ma'am.
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Okay. Let's deal with the easier one, first.
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Did you receive the $1,500
for this contract?
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Yes.
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And that was for a live performance
on one of your outlets.
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Right.
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And that was to take place
on May 1st.
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May 1st.
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And did it, in fact, take place?
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No.
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Did it, in fact, take place?
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Not at all.
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Well, so then,
he gets his $1,500 back. That's one.
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Thank you, Your Honor.
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I'm not asking you anything.
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There's nothing else that you
have to tell me about that. Right?
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{\an8}- Yes. Yes, ma'am.
- You paid him $1,500.
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{\an8}You didn't do a live performance,
so you get your $1,500 back.
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Yes, ma'am.
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Now, with regard to the three videos.
You've given him a total now of $3,000?
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Fifteen hundred, Your Honor.
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How much did you pay him on this?
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- For the videos?
- Yes.
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I gave him $500 up front,
to start off on that project.
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And then... That's on the 21st.
And then, I gave him $1,000
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by the 27th, I think,
for the three videos, that's $1,500.
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So, you gave him... The three videos
were supposed to be $3,000.
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And then, you gave him $1,500.
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Yes, ma'am.
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Okay. How many videos
were produced for you?
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One.
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Is it accurate that one video was produced
for Mr. Haye?
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Yes.
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And it was done on a particular date.
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Right.
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- And you gave him that video.
- Yes.
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On what date did you give him that video?
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It was a week before the 31st.
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Did you do any work
on the other two videos?
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No.
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Okay. Each video
was supposed to cost $1,000.
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Yes.
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Dollars.
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And you received one video.
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Yes, ma'am.
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And you paid him $1,500, so far,
as down payment on three.
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So, you have $1,500
that you believe is coming back to you
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from that amount of money,
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in addition to the $1,500
that I've already given you.
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No, the $1,500 covered the first video.
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It wasn't a breakdown like he's
trying to make it, into three videos.
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{\an8}No, the $1,500 was the cost,
was the full cost for the first video.
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Does it say that in here?
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- He's not giving you more money back.
- No.
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He's not giving you more money
than you gave him.
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Do you understand? He's giving...
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Your Honor, may I say this, please?
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You can say whatever you want to say.
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And later today...
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Well, you have a defense for
not paying rent for those three months,
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which you clearly occupied her premises.
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Who wants to tell me
why you didn't pay rent?
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{\an8}Edmond Haye
claims videographer, Ramsey Hill,
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breached their music video contract.
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Kevin, would you please ask Mr. Hill
to show me where, in this contract,
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and I may have missed it, that $3,000
was to be paid for three videos,
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Right.
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but the first one cost half, cost $1,500.
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All I want you to do is to show me,
in that contract, where it says that.
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If it says that, then Mr. Haye
gets back the $1,500
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from live music performance that...
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The music video production one, $1,500.
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Just a second. Can I see it, please?
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Yes, it does. Mr. Haye,
that's exactly what it says.
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It says music video, the first production
is $1,500.
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Okay, ma'am.
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And you got one produced video. Correct?
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Correct, ma'am.
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Well. And you're absolutely right.
What?
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So, the reason why I'm suing for the extra
$1,000, Your Honor,
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is for the live performance
that he didn't perform.
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I had to hire two other persons...
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That's not his problem.
He didn't perfom...
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He didn't do the live performance.
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- You're getting your money back.
- First of all...
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He's not giving you more money back.
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He's not giving you more money
than you gave him.
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- Do you understand?
- Your Honor. Your Honor.
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May I say this, please?
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You can say whatever you want to say.
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He's not paying for you to do another live
performance with other people.
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He didn't perform
pursuant to the contract.
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And you're getting your money back
because he didn't perform that contract.
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With regard to this contract,
he performed pursuant to this contract.
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You get nothing. It's easy.
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For the music, correct?
For the videos, correct?
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For the videos. He produced one,
and one was $1,500.
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That's what this contract says.
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00:09:10,633 --> 00:09:12,967
The contract is about making three videos,
Your Honor.
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If you want to look at it?
Do you want to see it?
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Have it shown it to you?
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No, I'm asking pertaining to what he says.
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00:09:18,834 --> 00:09:21,567
He says it's pertaining to just one
for the $1,500.
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It says, it's clear,
201
00:09:23,367 --> 00:09:27,400
"Music video number one
production $1,500."
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00:09:27,467 --> 00:09:29,967
{\an8}Number one, which means,
there's two more need to be done.
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00:09:30,033 --> 00:09:32,066
{\an8}Correct. But the first one...
Just a second.
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00:09:32,133 --> 00:09:34,867
{\an8}The first one was $1,500.
He could have very easily said,
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00:09:34,934 --> 00:09:39,400
Mr. Haye, "production number one, $1,000,
production number two..."
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00:09:39,467 --> 00:09:43,100
He explained it like you just said to me,
and he wrote that in words.
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00:09:43,166 --> 00:09:44,033
for that purpose.
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00:09:44,100 --> 00:09:46,633
This is what the court is bound by, sir.
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00:09:46,700 --> 00:09:51,500
Not what he may have explained to you,
because you cannot modify,
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00:09:51,567 --> 00:09:56,266
in the law, a written contract
by oral communications
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00:09:56,333 --> 00:09:58,600
between the parties. It's in writing.
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00:09:58,667 --> 00:10:02,900
If you wanted him to write
"production one, $1,000,"
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00:10:02,967 --> 00:10:05,900
then you would've said write
production one,
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00:10:05,967 --> 00:10:09,734
- that each video was $1,000.
- But Your Honor, I...
215
00:10:09,800 --> 00:10:12,600
- This is not an argument, sir.
- I'm not arguing, Your Honor.
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00:10:12,667 --> 00:10:14,066
Good, because that's what it says.
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00:10:14,133 --> 00:10:16,767
The contract speaks for itself.
On the initial contract,
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00:10:16,834 --> 00:10:20,500
he has to give you a refund of $1,500.
On this contract,
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00:10:20,567 --> 00:10:24,266
he produced number one video
for which you paid him $1,500.
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00:10:24,333 --> 00:10:27,567
That's what the contract calls for.
We're done here, thank you very much.
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00:10:27,633 --> 00:10:29,266
This court is adjourned.
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00:10:29,333 --> 00:10:30,667
{\an8}Well, it's a fair decision.
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00:10:30,734 --> 00:10:32,867
{\an8}There was no breaching
on my end of the contract.
224
00:10:32,934 --> 00:10:35,834
{\an8}It would never have been any money
if he'd have kept things on course.
225
00:10:35,900 --> 00:10:39,166
{\an8}How did I breach the contract when
I'm here getting money for the contract?
226
00:10:39,233 --> 00:10:41,500
{\an8}I'm not working with anybody like that anymore.
227
00:10:42,300 --> 00:10:45,934
You cannot have an oral modification
of a written contract.
228
00:10:46,000 --> 00:10:49,400
So, I think it's a good lesson
for people signing written contracts,
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00:10:49,467 --> 00:10:52,166
that if you don't agree,
or you have a different understanding
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00:10:52,233 --> 00:10:54,300
than something that's listed
in the contract,
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00:10:54,367 --> 00:10:57,734
don't let the other person
just explain it away in the moment.
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00:10:57,800 --> 00:11:00,467
Because as we've seen,
that doesn't hold up in court.
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00:11:00,533 --> 00:11:03,033
And your rights are gonna be
really limited
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00:11:03,100 --> 00:11:05,767
to what's in that written agreement.
So, it's important.
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00:11:05,834 --> 00:11:07,500
- People should know that.
- Yeah.
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Case #2053, Johnson versus Blue.
All parties, please, come forward.
237
00:11:12,300 --> 00:11:16,266
{\an8}Roshell Johnson
is suing her sister-in-law, Monique Blue,
238
00:11:16,333 --> 00:11:21,900
{\an8}and her brother, Antonio Blue,
for unpaid rent and window blinds.
239
00:11:21,967 --> 00:11:25,233
Miss Johnson, the Defendant
is your brother.
240
00:11:25,300 --> 00:11:26,166
That is correct.
241
00:11:26,233 --> 00:11:28,233
- And as Co-
- Defendant, your brother's wife.
242
00:11:28,300 --> 00:11:30,533
You had a home that was located
in what state?
243
00:11:30,600 --> 00:11:31,467
California.
244
00:11:31,533 --> 00:11:35,633
Several years ago, you decided
to move out of state. I think, to Arizona?
245
00:11:35,700 --> 00:11:36,600
Yes.
246
00:11:36,667 --> 00:11:39,266
And at that time, you discussed with
your brother and his wife
247
00:11:39,333 --> 00:11:42,467
renting your home.
You entered into a lease with them.
248
00:11:42,533 --> 00:11:44,333
- Was it a two-year lease?
- Yes, ma'am.
249
00:11:44,400 --> 00:11:46,166
- And it was a written lease.
- Yes.
250
00:11:46,233 --> 00:11:47,900
- Do you have a copy of that lease?
- I do.
251
00:11:47,967 --> 00:11:49,800
I'd like to see it, please.
252
00:11:50,734 --> 00:11:53,000
That's the two year,
and I also have a six month.
253
00:11:53,066 --> 00:11:55,700
- You want the... Okay.
- No. Just the first lease first,
254
00:11:55,767 --> 00:11:59,734
'cause I'm old and I can only absorb
a certain amount of facts at one time.
255
00:12:07,834 --> 00:12:12,600
It's a pretty straightforward lease.
It's a lease for 24 months,
256
00:12:12,667 --> 00:12:18,066
starting the first of July, 2019 and
terminating on July 1st, 2021.
257
00:12:18,133 --> 00:12:21,834
$1,600 a month rent.
There's a small security deposit,
258
00:12:21,900 --> 00:12:24,433
and all the other terms and conditions
are rather standard.
259
00:12:24,500 --> 00:12:27,767
Your complaint says that when you went
to the state of Arizona,
260
00:12:27,834 --> 00:12:30,467
ultimately, you ascertained
that your health coverage,
261
00:12:30,533 --> 00:12:34,333
your lifetime health coverage
was not covered in the state of Arizona.
262
00:12:34,400 --> 00:12:36,633
You decided you wanted to
move back to California.
263
00:12:36,700 --> 00:12:40,066
You don't even have to give a reason why
you want to move back to California.
264
00:12:40,133 --> 00:12:45,433
You can move back to California,
into your house on July 1, 2021.
265
00:12:45,500 --> 00:12:46,734
You understand that.
266
00:12:46,800 --> 00:12:47,667
Yes.
267
00:12:47,734 --> 00:12:51,900
Great. And you came back
to California on what date?
268
00:12:51,967 --> 00:12:56,667
I don't recall the exact date,
but I also extended a six month.
269
00:12:56,734 --> 00:13:00,600
{\an8}I understand. When did you
come back to California? In March?
270
00:13:00,667 --> 00:13:02,567
{\an8}That's what you said here,
I think, in March.
271
00:13:02,633 --> 00:13:04,200
{\an8}Okay, right now, I don't recall...
272
00:13:04,266 --> 00:13:07,100
{\an8}I think in March of 2022,
is when you ultimately came back
273
00:13:07,166 --> 00:13:09,900
because they vacated
sometime in the beginning of March.
274
00:13:09,967 --> 00:13:10,834
- Yes.
- No.
275
00:13:10,900 --> 00:13:14,467
I came back prior to that.
I stayed with my son for a year, until...
276
00:13:14,533 --> 00:13:16,233
- Until the lease was up.
- Yes, ma'am.
277
00:13:16,300 --> 00:13:19,100
- Your son lives in California?
- Yes, Beaumont, California.
278
00:13:19,166 --> 00:13:22,934
Now, I'd like to see
the extension of the lease for six months.
279
00:13:32,600 --> 00:13:35,500
Okay, so, you acknowledge, Mr. and
Mrs. Blue,
280
00:13:35,567 --> 00:13:38,300
that the six month extension
that you both signed,
281
00:13:38,367 --> 00:13:40,967
- terminated on December 31st.
- Yes.
282
00:13:41,033 --> 00:13:43,100
{\an8}Did you vacate the house on December 31st?
283
00:13:43,166 --> 00:13:44,633
{\an8}No, we hadn't found a place yet.
284
00:13:44,700 --> 00:13:47,066
{\an8}That's not her problem,
that would be your problem.
285
00:13:47,133 --> 00:13:50,300
Did she give you permission to stay
beyond December 31st?
286
00:13:53,600 --> 00:13:57,066
On what date, sir, did you close
on that property?
287
00:13:57,133 --> 00:13:58,600
I can't remember, offhand.
288
00:13:58,667 --> 00:14:00,667
We're not talking about so long ago.
289
00:14:00,734 --> 00:14:04,300
February 7th is listed
as the closing date.
290
00:14:04,367 --> 00:14:06,133
That sound familiar? That's what it says.
291
00:14:06,200 --> 00:14:07,066
Yes.
292
00:14:07,133 --> 00:14:09,300
Well then, you had three weeks to move in.
293
00:14:20,700 --> 00:14:24,800
{\an8}Roshell Johnson
claims her sister-in-law, Monique Blue,
294
00:14:24,867 --> 00:14:29,800
{\an8}and her brother, Antonio Blue,
owe for unpaid rent and window blinds.
295
00:14:29,867 --> 00:14:34,400
Monique and Antonio are countersuing
for harassment and invasion of privacy.
296
00:14:34,467 --> 00:14:38,400
Okay. Did she give you permission
to stay beyond December 31st?
297
00:14:38,467 --> 00:14:39,467
No.
298
00:14:39,533 --> 00:14:43,100
So, you stayed beyond December 31st.
Were you there in January?
299
00:14:43,166 --> 00:14:44,033
Mm-hmm.
300
00:14:44,100 --> 00:14:45,600
- Uh-huh is not an answer.
- Yes.
301
00:14:45,667 --> 00:14:47,633
- Were you there in February?
- Yes.
302
00:14:47,700 --> 00:14:49,934
- Were you there on March 1st?
- Yes.
303
00:14:50,000 --> 00:14:51,567
- On March 2nd?
- Yes.
304
00:14:51,633 --> 00:14:53,433
- On March 3rd?
- Yes.
305
00:14:53,500 --> 00:14:55,233
What day in March did you move out?
306
00:14:55,300 --> 00:14:56,166
March 5th.
307
00:14:56,233 --> 00:14:59,600
Did you pay rent in the month of January?
308
00:14:59,667 --> 00:15:01,367
- No.
- February?
309
00:15:01,433 --> 00:15:02,600
- No.
- March?
310
00:15:02,667 --> 00:15:04,133
- No.
- Okay.
311
00:15:04,200 --> 00:15:06,200
- That's what she's suing for.
- Right.
312
00:15:06,266 --> 00:15:10,500
{\an8}Well, you have a defense for not
paying rent for those three months,
313
00:15:10,567 --> 00:15:13,533
{\an8}which you clearly occupied her premises.
314
00:15:13,600 --> 00:15:15,767
Who wants to tell me
why you didn't pay rent?
315
00:15:15,834 --> 00:15:19,033
She told us in the beginning...
We were supposed to buy the house.
316
00:15:19,100 --> 00:15:23,734
We did numerous renovations to her house,
we cleaned it up.
317
00:15:23,800 --> 00:15:28,333
And when we first moved in, July 1st,
it wasn't move-in ready.
318
00:15:28,400 --> 00:15:30,800
I don't care.
Not only did you live there,
319
00:15:30,867 --> 00:15:33,266
you executed a second lease
for another six months.
320
00:15:33,333 --> 00:15:38,333
You lived there from the beginning of the
lease up until March 5th.
321
00:15:38,400 --> 00:15:42,300
Which is three months beyond
when you were supposed to be there.
322
00:15:42,367 --> 00:15:45,900
I'm waiting for a defense
for not paying rent.
323
00:15:45,967 --> 00:15:51,433
For July, 2019, when we first moved in,
the house was hideous.
324
00:15:51,500 --> 00:15:55,467
She had stuff in every room.
We weren't able to move our stuff in.
325
00:15:55,533 --> 00:15:58,433
- Did you live there?
- Yes, we had nowhere else to go.
326
00:15:58,500 --> 00:16:02,700
I don't care. You had a choice.
If the house wasn't in move-in condition,
327
00:16:02,767 --> 00:16:05,600
you break your lease, but you don't say
at the end of the lease,
328
00:16:05,667 --> 00:16:08,400
by the way, when we were there
two-and-a-half years ago,
329
00:16:08,467 --> 00:16:12,266
{\an8}the house wasn't ready for us to move in,
it wasn't in condition that we like.
330
00:16:12,333 --> 00:16:14,934
{\an8}We lived there anyway.
So, that's not an excuse
331
00:16:15,000 --> 00:16:18,333
{\an8}for not paying rent at the other end.
Anything else?
332
00:16:18,400 --> 00:16:23,734
Yes. She offered to give us the last month
rent that we were there for free.
333
00:16:23,800 --> 00:16:26,600
- The last month?
- Right, and I have the papers.
334
00:16:26,667 --> 00:16:29,700
I'd like to take a look at that.
But you owe three months.
335
00:16:29,767 --> 00:16:31,433
Three months? We moved out March fifth.
336
00:16:31,500 --> 00:16:34,633
I don't care, you were there March first.
That's the month.
337
00:16:34,700 --> 00:16:35,567
Okay.
338
00:16:35,633 --> 00:16:39,200
Did you indicate to them that you
would give them a month off the rent?
339
00:16:39,266 --> 00:16:41,066
- No, ma'am.
- She says that you did.
340
00:16:41,133 --> 00:16:44,100
- I would like to see her evidence...
- No-no, ssh!
341
00:16:53,100 --> 00:16:56,767
No, she agreed to waive
the final month's rent
342
00:16:56,834 --> 00:17:01,467
for the period of April 1st, 2022
343
00:17:01,533 --> 00:17:06,367
to May 2nd, 2022. You were gone in March.
344
00:17:06,433 --> 00:17:07,300
Right.
345
00:17:07,367 --> 00:17:12,500
And your lease, for some reason,
she agreed to waive rent
346
00:17:12,567 --> 00:17:16,867
for a month that you weren't there. She
didn't waive January, February or March.
347
00:17:16,934 --> 00:17:21,533
She agreed to waive it April 1, 2022
to May 2, 2022.
348
00:17:21,600 --> 00:17:23,834
That's no evidence
that she waived any rent.
349
00:17:23,900 --> 00:17:27,300
We moved out on March 5th,
why do we still owe her for March?
350
00:17:27,367 --> 00:17:28,800
Because you were there in March.
351
00:17:28,867 --> 00:17:29,800
Okay.
352
00:17:29,867 --> 00:17:33,500
{\an8}If she was using the premises
as a rental premises,
353
00:17:33,567 --> 00:17:36,967
{\an8}and you were leaving
at the end of February,
354
00:17:37,033 --> 00:17:42,867
then she would have been able to
rent her premises beginning March 1st.
355
00:17:42,934 --> 00:17:47,100
You don't move out until March 5th,
the beginning of March,
356
00:17:47,166 --> 00:17:50,166
that means she needs a couple of days,
or any landlord would need
357
00:17:50,233 --> 00:17:52,500
a couple of days to put the place in order
and re-rent it.
358
00:17:52,567 --> 00:17:55,166
They wouldn't be able to re-rent
until April. So you were there.
359
00:17:55,233 --> 00:17:59,133
Is there any reason you stayed
until March 5th... Just a second.
360
00:17:59,200 --> 00:18:02,000
You didn't let me finish the question.
Is there any reason why
361
00:18:02,066 --> 00:18:06,934
you didn't move out the last day
in February and instead stayed into March?
362
00:18:07,000 --> 00:18:08,734
'Cause our house wasn't ready yet.
363
00:18:08,800 --> 00:18:10,266
What do you mean, it wasn't ready?
364
00:18:10,333 --> 00:18:12,200
It wasn't ready to move in there yet.
365
00:18:12,266 --> 00:18:13,934
What was wrong with it?
Where did you move?
366
00:18:14,000 --> 00:18:15,233
Victorville, California.
367
00:18:15,300 --> 00:18:16,533
To what kind of property?
368
00:18:16,600 --> 00:18:18,100
We bought a house.
369
00:18:18,166 --> 00:18:19,767
Okay. When did you buy the house?
370
00:18:19,834 --> 00:18:22,033
It closed January something.
371
00:18:22,100 --> 00:18:23,900
So, you bought the house in January.
372
00:18:23,967 --> 00:18:26,467
When you inspected the house
that you bought,
373
00:18:26,533 --> 00:18:28,400
did you buy it furnished or unfurnished?
374
00:18:28,467 --> 00:18:29,400
Unfurnished.
375
00:18:29,467 --> 00:18:31,800
Did you have furniture
in the Plaintiff's house?
376
00:18:31,867 --> 00:18:32,734
Yes.
377
00:18:32,800 --> 00:18:34,900
You'll give her the address
so she can check.
378
00:18:34,967 --> 00:18:36,300
- Yes.
- Great.
379
00:18:36,367 --> 00:18:38,633
Sarah, just look it up for me, please?
380
00:18:38,700 --> 00:18:41,800
On what date did you close
on that property?
381
00:18:41,867 --> 00:18:43,133
February?
382
00:18:43,200 --> 00:18:44,367
No, don't...
383
00:18:44,433 --> 00:18:48,233
On what date, sir, did you close
on that property?
384
00:18:48,300 --> 00:18:50,066
{\an8}It's probably in the record.
385
00:18:50,133 --> 00:18:51,567
{\an8}I can't remember offhand.
386
00:18:51,633 --> 00:18:53,767
We're not talking about so long ago.
387
00:18:53,834 --> 00:18:54,700
Is there an address?
388
00:18:54,767 --> 00:18:58,133
February 7th is listed
as the closing date.
389
00:18:58,200 --> 00:19:02,266
Two-seven. So, the house became yours
on February 7th.
390
00:19:02,333 --> 00:19:04,033
That sound familiar?
That's what it says.
391
00:19:04,100 --> 00:19:04,967
Yes.
392
00:19:05,033 --> 00:19:08,467
Well then, you had three weeks to move in,
to get it ready.
393
00:19:08,533 --> 00:19:11,066
- Yeah. Mm-hmm.
- Okay.
394
00:19:11,133 --> 00:19:15,200
All right, fine. So, you owe her
three months rent at $1,600 a month.
395
00:19:15,266 --> 00:19:17,600
What about the renovations
we did to her house?
396
00:19:17,667 --> 00:19:19,266
Who cares?
397
00:19:19,333 --> 00:19:23,734
I live in a place for a couple of years
and I make changes to the place
398
00:19:23,800 --> 00:19:27,834
that I find make it more comfortable.
There's nothing in this lease agreement
399
00:19:27,900 --> 00:19:31,300
that says that she has to reimburse you
for things that you did.
400
00:19:31,367 --> 00:19:35,066
And this is not a rent-to-buy agreement,
this is a straight tenancy agreement.
401
00:19:35,133 --> 00:19:36,934
We were supposed to buy her house.
402
00:19:37,000 --> 00:19:42,033
There are agreements that are rent-to-buy,
that list what the rental is,
403
00:19:42,100 --> 00:19:44,533
and what the ultimate purchase price
will be,
404
00:19:44,600 --> 00:19:47,533
and whether or not you can deduct the rent
that you've paid,
405
00:19:47,600 --> 00:19:50,033
or a percentage of it
from the total purchase price,
406
00:19:50,100 --> 00:19:52,600
or whether you cannot.
This is a straight rental agreement.
407
00:19:52,667 --> 00:19:55,967
So, if you made improvements in the house,
if you painted it,
408
00:19:56,033 --> 00:19:59,033
if you put in new carpeting to make it
more comfortable for yourself,
409
00:19:59,100 --> 00:20:02,500
you don't get reimbursed for that
because there's nothing in your lease
410
00:20:02,567 --> 00:20:06,934
that requires her to reimburse you for any
improvements that you make in the house.
411
00:20:07,000 --> 00:20:10,967
You're bound by the four corners
of the contract that you signed.
412
00:20:11,033 --> 00:20:14,100
Well, what about how the conditions that
we moved in?
413
00:20:14,166 --> 00:20:17,967
- That...
- Well... Yes, by living there
414
00:20:18,033 --> 00:20:21,533
for two-and-a-half years
without, I assume,
415
00:20:21,600 --> 00:20:24,400
unless you can show me,
without, I assume,
416
00:20:24,467 --> 00:20:27,433
a written complaint to her.
Do you have that?
417
00:20:27,500 --> 00:20:29,300
- Do you have a written...
- She was...
418
00:20:29,367 --> 00:20:31,667
- No-no-no. I asked you...
- I have pictures.
419
00:20:31,734 --> 00:20:34,066
$4,800, judgment for the Plaintiff.
We're finished.
420
00:20:34,133 --> 00:20:37,066
Thank you. Your counterclaim's dismissed,
it's ridiculous.
421
00:20:40,166 --> 00:20:45,166
{\an8}My mother's deceased. It would actually
hurt my mother to see us in court today.
422
00:20:45,233 --> 00:20:47,834
{\an8}And that's my only regret,
that I had to do that.
423
00:20:47,900 --> 00:20:48,834
{\an8}We're done.
424
00:20:48,900 --> 00:20:51,000
{\an8}The bottom line is, I am back in my house.
425
00:20:51,800 --> 00:20:55,500
So, I have a thought about that case,
because going through college,
426
00:20:55,567 --> 00:20:58,867
I think the first time I saw a lease
was my sophomore year.
427
00:20:58,934 --> 00:21:02,333
So, when I moved off campus,
and my dad, luckily enough, was there
428
00:21:02,400 --> 00:21:05,500
to help me look over it and
sort-of teach me what a lease was,
429
00:21:05,567 --> 00:21:09,066
what the different sections meant,
what I should really be looking out for.
430
00:21:09,133 --> 00:21:12,300
So, in my mind, it would make sense
for colleges to offer
431
00:21:12,367 --> 00:21:15,934
a basic life-skills course
to teach young, incoming freshmen
432
00:21:16,000 --> 00:21:18,834
how to read a lease,
how to negotiate on your behalf.
433
00:21:18,900 --> 00:21:22,133
Did they off that class at all
to undergraduates?
434
00:21:22,200 --> 00:21:27,133
It seemed specified to business students
or closed off to certain majors.
435
00:21:27,200 --> 00:21:29,934
Just to have some guidance
would have been, I think, really helpful.
436
00:21:30,000 --> 00:21:31,166
I think it's a smart idea.
437
00:21:32,700 --> 00:21:36,467
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