1 00:00:00,533 --> 00:00:03,667 Before you could move into the house, you had to upgrade the electric. 2 00:00:03,734 --> 00:00:04,734 Correct. 3 00:00:04,800 --> 00:00:06,834 You were dissatisfied with the company? 4 00:00:06,900 --> 00:00:08,333 I had it signed off. 5 00:00:08,400 --> 00:00:11,934 But it was signed off when the job was half done. 6 00:00:12,000 --> 00:00:12,867 That's your problem. 7 00:00:12,934 --> 00:00:15,266 You want to sign off when something's half done, fine. 8 00:00:15,333 --> 00:00:17,934 I wouldn't sign off when my hair was half dry. 9 00:00:18,000 --> 00:00:20,066 [narrator] This is Judy Justice. 10 00:00:20,133 --> 00:00:23,233 ♪ 11 00:00:37,266 --> 00:00:41,200 {\an8}[narrator] John and Cynthia Frazee are suing John's former clients, 12 00:00:41,266 --> 00:00:44,467 {\an8}Cynthia Booth and her fiancee Dwayne Burnley, 13 00:00:44,533 --> 00:00:47,166 for posting damaging reviews. 14 00:00:47,233 --> 00:00:49,033 [bailiff] Court come to order. All, rise. 15 00:00:49,100 --> 00:00:50,233 Be seated, please. 16 00:00:52,133 --> 00:00:53,367 - Hello, Judge. - How are you? 17 00:00:53,433 --> 00:00:56,533 - Case 2079, Frazee versus Burnley Booth. - Thank you. 18 00:00:56,600 --> 00:00:57,467 [bailiff] You're welcome. 19 00:00:57,533 --> 00:00:59,900 [Judy] Mr. Frazee, you are an electrician by trade? 20 00:00:59,967 --> 00:01:01,000 Correct. 21 00:01:01,066 --> 00:01:03,700 And how long have you been in that business, sir? 22 00:01:03,867 --> 00:01:07,000 Since 1986 as a licensed 23 00:01:07,066 --> 00:01:10,567 and 1978 as an electrician. 24 00:01:10,633 --> 00:01:12,233 Now, maybe a decade ago, 25 00:01:12,300 --> 00:01:15,867 you're going to give me the exact year, month and year, 26 00:01:15,934 --> 00:01:19,100 you were called to do a job for this lady. 27 00:01:19,166 --> 00:01:20,867 - Your last name is--? - Booth. 28 00:01:20,934 --> 00:01:24,667 Ms. Booth. And you did an electrical job for her? 29 00:01:24,734 --> 00:01:27,300 {\an8}We'll go into it more fully in a minute. 30 00:01:27,367 --> 00:01:30,266 {\an8}When you were doing that job, you brought in a helper, 31 00:01:30,333 --> 00:01:33,967 - this gentleman whose name is Mr. Burnley? - That's correct. 32 00:01:34,033 --> 00:01:38,433 And before you brought in Mr. Burnley, I gather from the papers, 33 00:01:38,500 --> 00:01:43,033 {\an8}Mr. Burnley did not know Ms. Booth. Would that be a fair statement? 34 00:01:43,100 --> 00:01:45,633 {\an8}That's a fair statement, but he did not bring me in. 35 00:01:45,700 --> 00:01:49,934 {\an8}I was actually just driving down the street and I'm new to Mountain, 36 00:01:50,000 --> 00:01:52,700 and I drove by and saw Mr. Frazee there and I was-- 37 00:01:52,767 --> 00:01:54,934 Listen, this is not Gone With the Wind. 38 00:01:55,000 --> 00:01:58,100 This is not War and Peace. I asked you a simple question. 39 00:01:58,166 --> 00:02:01,000 - Before you were brought in on the job, - [Dwayne] Okay. 40 00:02:01,066 --> 00:02:03,033 you didn't know Ms. Booth? 41 00:02:03,100 --> 00:02:07,066 - That's correct. - Right. And that was about ten years ago? 42 00:02:07,133 --> 00:02:08,000 Correct. 43 00:02:08,066 --> 00:02:11,066 [Judy] Since that time, since you were brought in on the job, 44 00:02:11,133 --> 00:02:14,667 you and Ms. Booth have gotten to know each other a lot better. 45 00:02:14,734 --> 00:02:15,567 Correct. 46 00:02:15,633 --> 00:02:20,433 And I assume that "by a lot better" that the two of you live together. 47 00:02:20,500 --> 00:02:21,333 Correct. 48 00:02:21,400 --> 00:02:23,533 [Judy] And you've been living together for how long? 49 00:02:23,600 --> 00:02:26,300 - Since November. - Of this last year, 50 00:02:26,367 --> 00:02:28,266 - Yes. - [Judy] November of 2021. 51 00:02:28,333 --> 00:02:31,600 But prior to that, you were social friends? 52 00:02:31,667 --> 00:02:34,500 - Correct. - And that social friendship started 53 00:02:34,567 --> 00:02:38,567 when first introduced to her at this job. 54 00:02:38,633 --> 00:02:40,166 - Uh, no. - It's the first time you met her. 55 00:02:40,233 --> 00:02:41,567 Oh, that's the first time I met her, correct. 56 00:02:41,633 --> 00:02:43,567 Correct. This is your problem 57 00:02:43,633 --> 00:02:45,066 and this is the nature of your lawsuit. 58 00:02:45,133 --> 00:02:48,166 {\an8}You allege that you did a job for Ms. Booth, 59 00:02:48,233 --> 00:02:51,767 {\an8}almost a decade ago, and you came to ascertain 60 00:02:51,834 --> 00:02:54,633 that Ms. Booth, and or Mr. Burnley, 61 00:02:54,700 --> 00:02:58,300 had written some negative reviews about your company, 62 00:02:58,367 --> 00:03:01,934 currently wrote negative reviews about your company 63 00:03:02,000 --> 00:03:04,800 based on work that you did ten years ago? 64 00:03:04,867 --> 00:03:06,600 - Yes. - That's your complaint. 65 00:03:06,667 --> 00:03:08,567 [Judy] And you asked them to take them down. 66 00:03:08,633 --> 00:03:10,333 First they did, then they didn't. 67 00:03:10,400 --> 00:03:13,467 You found other ones posted in different areas. 68 00:03:13,533 --> 00:03:16,867 Now, Mr. Burnley, are you a working man, sir? 69 00:03:16,934 --> 00:03:18,500 - Yes. - [Judy] What kind of work do you do? 70 00:03:18,567 --> 00:03:20,400 {\an8}I'm an electrical contractor. 71 00:03:20,467 --> 00:03:24,834 {\an8}Okay. Now, at the time that you first met Mr. Frazee, 72 00:03:24,900 --> 00:03:27,166 - did you have your own company? - Yes. 73 00:03:27,233 --> 00:03:29,400 - [Judy] You had your own company? - Yes. 74 00:03:29,467 --> 00:03:32,834 [Judy] In what year did you do Ms. Booth's job? 75 00:03:32,900 --> 00:03:36,266 I did it on April 30th, 2013. 76 00:03:36,333 --> 00:03:37,834 - That's not correct. - That's not correct. 77 00:03:37,900 --> 00:03:38,800 [Judy] Shh! 78 00:03:38,867 --> 00:03:42,200 Month and year you say you did the job. 79 00:03:42,266 --> 00:03:45,900 The job was done on May 9th of 2013. 80 00:03:45,967 --> 00:03:50,066 Okay, so we're off by a month, is that right? I don't care. 81 00:03:50,133 --> 00:03:52,533 - You were talking about nine years ago. - Correct. 82 00:03:52,600 --> 00:03:54,500 Now tell me something about the job. 83 00:03:54,567 --> 00:03:57,266 What was the nature of the electrical job that you were doing? 84 00:03:57,333 --> 00:04:02,467 An older home needs to have at least a minimum of a 100-amp service. 85 00:04:02,533 --> 00:04:06,000 Ms. Booth's home had a 70-amp service at the time. 86 00:04:06,066 --> 00:04:08,767 She was purchasing it and that came up 87 00:04:08,834 --> 00:04:11,333 on the inspection report to replace that, 88 00:04:11,400 --> 00:04:13,567 which I was engaged to do. 89 00:04:13,633 --> 00:04:15,133 - [Judy] So far, correct? - No. 90 00:04:15,200 --> 00:04:16,934 Well, now I'll have your version. 91 00:04:17,000 --> 00:04:18,367 Did you have to upgrade the electrical? 92 00:04:18,433 --> 00:04:21,233 I had to upgrade due to a homeowner's insurance. 93 00:04:21,300 --> 00:04:23,467 - [Judy] Okay. Well, the home-- - That's what they required. 94 00:04:23,533 --> 00:04:26,266 What's the difference in what he said? He said that you had to have 95 00:04:26,333 --> 00:04:29,066 - your electricity upgraded. - Mm-hmm. 96 00:04:29,133 --> 00:04:30,734 {\an8}[Judy] And it came up in the inspection report. 97 00:04:30,800 --> 00:04:33,166 {\an8}It did not come in the inspection report. 98 00:04:33,233 --> 00:04:35,633 {\an8}Well, then how did they find out-- who found about it? 99 00:04:35,700 --> 00:04:37,533 {\an8}I was honest with my policy. 100 00:04:37,600 --> 00:04:39,200 [Judy] What do you mean you were honest with your policy? 101 00:04:39,266 --> 00:04:41,367 Well, they asked me what year the house was 102 00:04:41,433 --> 00:04:45,667 and what, um, amperage it had, and I said 75. 103 00:04:45,734 --> 00:04:50,300 And your insurance company said to you it has to be 110. 104 00:04:50,367 --> 00:04:51,967 - 100. - [Judy] Oh, 100. 105 00:04:52,033 --> 00:04:52,900 Yes. 106 00:04:52,967 --> 00:04:55,834 Before you could move into the house, for one reason or another, 107 00:04:55,900 --> 00:04:58,166 - you had to upgrade the electric. - Correct. 108 00:04:58,233 --> 00:05:00,900 Okay. And you hired Mr. Frazee to do that. 109 00:05:00,967 --> 00:05:02,200 Yes, he was one of my friends. 110 00:05:02,266 --> 00:05:03,400 I don't care whether he was your friend or not. 111 00:05:03,467 --> 00:05:05,400 If he was your friend and he was a vet, 112 00:05:05,467 --> 00:05:06,934 you wouldn't have hired him to do your electrical work. 113 00:05:07,000 --> 00:05:08,633 {\an8}[laughs] No, of course not. 114 00:05:08,700 --> 00:05:10,467 {\an8}[Judy] He was your friend and he was an electrical contractor. 115 00:05:10,533 --> 00:05:11,633 {\an8}Right. Correct. 116 00:05:11,700 --> 00:05:14,400 {\an8}[Judy] And when he came to your house to look at the job, 117 00:05:14,467 --> 00:05:17,133 - did he come alone or with a helper? - Alone. 118 00:05:17,200 --> 00:05:20,166 [Judy] Once you change the ampage in a house, 119 00:05:20,233 --> 00:05:22,000 do you have to get somebody 120 00:05:22,066 --> 00:05:24,967 from either the county or the city where you live 121 00:05:25,033 --> 00:05:27,567 to sign off on it? That's either a yes or a no. 122 00:05:27,633 --> 00:05:30,800 - Yes. - [Judy] And once Mr. Frazee did that, 123 00:05:30,867 --> 00:05:34,066 modified the ampage, did you have an inspection? 124 00:05:34,133 --> 00:05:36,900 - Yes, Your Honor. - [Judy] Do you have that inspection? 125 00:05:36,967 --> 00:05:38,633 - Yes. - I'd like to take a look at it. 126 00:05:38,700 --> 00:05:41,300 - And the job was not-- - I didn't ask you anything. 127 00:05:41,367 --> 00:05:42,233 Okay. 128 00:05:42,300 --> 00:05:44,500 That al-also includes Mr. Burnley's inspection. 129 00:05:44,567 --> 00:05:45,900 Just a second. Just a second. 130 00:05:46,633 --> 00:05:47,467 I'm sorry. 131 00:05:47,533 --> 00:05:49,700 Don't volunteer. I'm old. I get confused. 132 00:05:49,767 --> 00:05:51,934 I try to keep these things very linear 133 00:05:52,000 --> 00:05:54,066 so even I understand them. 134 00:05:55,600 --> 00:05:58,633 This is the inspection sign off 135 00:05:58,700 --> 00:06:02,600 on the work that you did in two thousand and...? 136 00:06:02,667 --> 00:06:04,033 - Thirteen. - [Judy] Thirteen. 137 00:06:04,100 --> 00:06:06,367 Have you seen it? Yes, of course, you have. 138 00:06:06,433 --> 00:06:08,967 - No. - [Judy] Well, show it to them. 139 00:06:09,033 --> 00:06:12,200 You do remember that you have to have an inspection afterwards? 140 00:06:12,266 --> 00:06:14,800 - Of course. - Okay. It's just common sense. 141 00:06:14,867 --> 00:06:18,567 If you didn't have the work done and you said to your insurance company, 142 00:06:18,633 --> 00:06:21,400 "I had the work done," the insurance company would say to you, 143 00:06:21,467 --> 00:06:23,100 "Show me proof that you had the work done." 144 00:06:23,166 --> 00:06:24,400 - [Booth] Correct. - Otherwise we're not giving you insurance. 145 00:06:24,467 --> 00:06:26,600 - Correct. - [Judy] So, you know you had an inspection 146 00:06:26,667 --> 00:06:28,800 after he completed the work. 147 00:06:28,867 --> 00:06:30,166 It wasn't after the work. 148 00:06:30,233 --> 00:06:32,700 - The work was never-- This is-- - Shh! Shh! 149 00:06:32,767 --> 00:06:34,633 - I didn't ask you anything. - Okay. 150 00:06:34,700 --> 00:06:36,467 - But I will answer for you, Your Honor. - She wasn't-- 151 00:06:36,533 --> 00:06:37,667 - [Judy] You can. - Okay. 152 00:06:37,734 --> 00:06:41,200 You can. So the insurance company accepted your word 153 00:06:41,266 --> 00:06:43,033 - that the work was done? - Yes. 154 00:06:43,100 --> 00:06:45,200 [chuckles] Okay. Can I have that back, please? 155 00:06:45,266 --> 00:06:49,734 - And I-- - I did tell them I had it signed off, but it was signed off 156 00:06:49,800 --> 00:06:51,533 when the job was half done. 157 00:06:51,600 --> 00:06:52,767 That's your problem. 158 00:06:52,834 --> 00:06:55,700 You want to sign off when something's half done, fine. 159 00:06:55,767 --> 00:06:58,333 I wouldn't sign off when my hair was half dry. 160 00:06:58,400 --> 00:07:00,166 ♪ 161 00:07:00,233 --> 00:07:04,000 {\an8}I'm saying to you that it was nasty and malicious. 162 00:07:04,066 --> 00:07:07,166 {\an8}And it wasn't until the two of you were coochy-coochying 163 00:07:07,233 --> 00:07:09,734 {\an8}that all of a sudden, we got negative reviews 164 00:07:09,800 --> 00:07:12,033 {\an8}about a job they did nine years before. 165 00:07:12,100 --> 00:07:14,967 That's ridiculous. It's mean spirited. 166 00:07:15,033 --> 00:07:16,533 ♪ 167 00:07:20,467 --> 00:07:24,100 {\an8}♪ 168 00:07:26,400 --> 00:07:30,000 {\an8}[narrator] John and Cynthia Frazee blame John's former client, 169 00:07:30,066 --> 00:07:32,834 {\an8}Cynthia Booth and her fiancee, Dwayne Burnley, 170 00:07:32,900 --> 00:07:34,300 {\an8}slandered their business. 171 00:07:34,700 --> 00:07:37,700 Dwayne is countersuing for filing a wrongful lawsuit. 172 00:07:37,767 --> 00:07:42,934 Now, my next question to you is, after 2013, 173 00:07:43,000 --> 00:07:48,133 did you perform electrical work for Ms. Booth in her house? 174 00:07:48,200 --> 00:07:50,266 - That's either a yes or a no. - Yes. 175 00:07:50,333 --> 00:07:53,467 Now, I'm going to ask you, what was the nature? 176 00:07:53,533 --> 00:07:54,700 {\an8}I don't know. 177 00:07:54,767 --> 00:07:55,700 {\an8}[Judy] What do you mean you don't know? 178 00:07:55,767 --> 00:07:57,800 - {\an8}- - I don't remember. - [Judy] You mean-- just a second. 179 00:07:57,867 --> 00:08:00,767 You remember the work that you did 180 00:08:00,834 --> 00:08:04,467 when Mr. Frazee was there in 2013, 181 00:08:04,533 --> 00:08:07,200 when you were with him, but you don't remember 182 00:08:07,266 --> 00:08:11,400 the nature of the work that you did for your girlfriend in 2018? 183 00:08:11,467 --> 00:08:14,100 - I'm pretty sure it was a panel upgrade. - [Judy] Just a second. 184 00:08:14,166 --> 00:08:15,800 I want you to think. 185 00:08:16,400 --> 00:08:22,033 What kind of work did you do for Ms. Booth in 2018? 186 00:08:22,100 --> 00:08:26,166 It must have been the panel upgrade that I did at her house. 187 00:08:26,233 --> 00:08:28,467 I changed the 100 amp out to a 200. 188 00:08:28,533 --> 00:08:30,300 - Sh-- Look at me. Look at me. - [Dwayne] 'Cause that would be-- 189 00:08:30,367 --> 00:08:31,233 I'm sorry. 190 00:08:31,767 --> 00:08:35,266 So you changed the 100 amp-- Shh! 191 00:08:35,333 --> 00:08:38,300 This is not my strong suit. And I have to tell you something. 192 00:08:38,367 --> 00:08:40,633 Of the 100 million people who are watching this, 193 00:08:40,700 --> 00:08:42,800 they're going out to get a cup of coffee right now. 194 00:08:42,867 --> 00:08:43,967 [chuckles] 195 00:08:44,033 --> 00:08:49,400 You changed the 100 amp that he had done in 2013 196 00:08:49,467 --> 00:08:53,700 to a 200 amp you upgraded it in 2018. 197 00:08:53,767 --> 00:08:57,000 - {\an8}- - And put a surge protection system. - [Judy] And a surge protection. 198 00:08:57,066 --> 00:08:59,333 - {\an8}- - Yeah, that-- now I do recall. - [Judy] Okay. Great. 199 00:08:59,400 --> 00:09:02,934 When was the first negative review 200 00:09:03,000 --> 00:09:06,967 that you can show me written about your company? 201 00:09:07,033 --> 00:09:08,567 Now we got what's going on. 202 00:09:08,633 --> 00:09:10,100 - Now I have it clear. - [Dwayne] 2019, Your Honor. 203 00:09:10,166 --> 00:09:11,400 Do you have it clear? 204 00:09:11,467 --> 00:09:13,900 I think a--a little bit more fuzzy than you, but clear enough. 205 00:09:13,967 --> 00:09:16,633 - Do you have it clear? - I have it clear now. 206 00:09:16,700 --> 00:09:19,900 Do you have it clear? Well, just to make it crystal clear, 207 00:09:19,967 --> 00:09:24,333 Mr. Frazee did work at Ms. Booth's home in 2013. 208 00:09:24,400 --> 00:09:25,934 It was electrical work. 209 00:09:26,000 --> 00:09:30,567 It was electrical work performed by him with the help of Mr. Burnley, 210 00:09:30,633 --> 00:09:34,533 because in order to get a homeowner's policy on her new house, 211 00:09:34,600 --> 00:09:38,767 she had to upgrade to satisfy, according to only insurance-- 212 00:09:38,834 --> 00:09:40,233 - Correct. - [Judy] That's what you say. 213 00:09:40,300 --> 00:09:43,166 - From 70 to 100 amps. - Yes. 214 00:09:43,233 --> 00:09:45,400 Whole new thing at my age I'm learning. 215 00:09:45,467 --> 00:09:50,433 Now. Evidently, they liked what they saw in 2013 216 00:09:50,500 --> 00:09:52,800 and that materialized into a romance. 217 00:09:52,867 --> 00:09:53,967 Good for you. 218 00:09:54,734 --> 00:09:58,233 And in 2018, I assume he was living there. 219 00:09:58,300 --> 00:10:00,000 - No. - When did he move in? 220 00:10:00,066 --> 00:10:01,533 - [Dwayne] November of... - Shh! 221 00:10:01,600 --> 00:10:02,967 - [Booth] November-- - November of last year. 222 00:10:03,033 --> 00:10:06,066 - [Booth] Yes. - Okay. But you were dating in 2018? 223 00:10:06,133 --> 00:10:07,066 - Yes. - [Judy] Yes. 224 00:10:07,133 --> 00:10:11,600 In 2018, Mr. Burnley, not with the help of the plaintiff, 225 00:10:11,667 --> 00:10:16,266 replaced and upgraded the 100 amp to 200 amp, 226 00:10:16,333 --> 00:10:19,500 which is much better, because I know that I have 200. That's-- 227 00:10:19,567 --> 00:10:23,066 You have to plug things in. It's 110, 220, right? 228 00:10:23,133 --> 00:10:24,800 - Yes. - [Judy] 110, 220. 229 00:10:24,867 --> 00:10:26,667 And he put in a surge protector. 230 00:10:26,734 --> 00:10:29,066 Now, even I know what a surge protector is. 231 00:10:29,133 --> 00:10:30,266 Correct me if I mistaken. 232 00:10:30,333 --> 00:10:34,333 That means if there's an overload, a lightning strike, whatever it is, 233 00:10:34,400 --> 00:10:38,900 it protects it so the whole board doesn't fry and everything turns off, 234 00:10:38,967 --> 00:10:42,300 and then you have to replace all the ele-- the wires go [buzzes] 235 00:10:42,367 --> 00:10:43,734 Am I right? Right. 236 00:10:43,800 --> 00:10:47,834 So he upgraded the system and touch of necessity, 237 00:10:47,900 --> 00:10:50,900 what Mr. Frazee did in 2013, 238 00:10:50,967 --> 00:10:52,767 no question, had to do that. 239 00:10:52,834 --> 00:10:55,367 Now, I'd like to see the negative reviews. 240 00:10:55,767 --> 00:10:56,900 And when they started. 241 00:10:58,433 --> 00:11:01,333 The first one we found, it was in 2019, Your Honor. 242 00:11:01,400 --> 00:11:03,166 Well, are these in order? This was-- 243 00:11:03,233 --> 00:11:07,400 {\an8}That's the most current one that was in February of 2022. 244 00:11:07,467 --> 00:11:09,700 {\an8}Did you write this? "Frazee Electric, 245 00:11:09,767 --> 00:11:13,367 He was supposed to do a panel change and never put rods in 246 00:11:13,433 --> 00:11:17,100 and fried my electronics in my home and garage opener. 247 00:11:17,166 --> 00:11:19,333 Left such a mess and never cleans up." 248 00:11:19,400 --> 00:11:20,767 - That's correct. - [Judy] Did you write that? 249 00:11:20,834 --> 00:11:22,967 - {\an8}- - Yes, I did. - [Judy] When? In what year? 250 00:11:23,033 --> 00:11:24,133 {\an8}Uh... 251 00:11:24,200 --> 00:11:26,400 - {\an8}- - About three years ago. - Three years ago? 252 00:11:26,467 --> 00:11:28,600 - 2018. - Approximately. 253 00:11:28,667 --> 00:11:30,734 About when he changed the electrical system. 254 00:11:30,800 --> 00:11:32,133 - [Booth] Yes, uh-- um-- - Just a second. 255 00:11:32,200 --> 00:11:34,233 About when he changed the electrical system. 256 00:11:34,300 --> 00:11:36,767 All right. Then you wrote something, 257 00:11:36,834 --> 00:11:39,800 "I will not even write this company one star, 258 00:11:39,867 --> 00:11:43,567 due to the unprofessionalism in completion of work. 259 00:11:43,633 --> 00:11:47,033 Hired this electrician to do a 100 watt panel. 260 00:11:47,100 --> 00:11:49,967 {\an8}Never grounded, never finished, and left a mess. 261 00:11:50,033 --> 00:11:51,867 {\an8}He's known for not cleaning up, 262 00:11:51,934 --> 00:11:56,233 {\an8}had to hire another electrical contractor that was most professional..." 263 00:11:56,300 --> 00:11:58,266 Now, when did you write that review? 264 00:11:58,333 --> 00:11:59,266 About the same time. 265 00:11:59,333 --> 00:12:02,667 - [Judy] 2018? - Yes, on a different review. 266 00:12:02,734 --> 00:12:04,000 Okay, now, that was a different one. 267 00:12:04,066 --> 00:12:07,867 And you said that you had to hire another electrical contractor? 268 00:12:07,934 --> 00:12:09,266 - Yes, I did. - [Judy] To finish the job. 269 00:12:09,333 --> 00:12:11,467 - And who was that? - That was DMB electric. 270 00:12:11,533 --> 00:12:13,033 - That was him? - -[Booth] Yes. I-- - I called-- 271 00:12:13,100 --> 00:12:14,500 - Just a second-- - to come back. 272 00:12:14,567 --> 00:12:17,633 Just a second. In what year did you call them? 273 00:12:17,700 --> 00:12:20,834 Oh, this was-- - [Judy] No, in what year did you call him? 274 00:12:20,900 --> 00:12:24,233 2013. After he left, you called them? 275 00:12:24,300 --> 00:12:26,834 - I called two other contractors. - [Judy] Just a second. 276 00:12:26,900 --> 00:12:29,834 - Did you end up using Mr. Burnley? - Yes, I did. 277 00:12:29,900 --> 00:12:33,166 [Judy] Okay, so back in 2013, 278 00:12:33,233 --> 00:12:36,367 - you were dissatisfied with this company? - [Booth] Yes. 279 00:12:36,433 --> 00:12:37,467 [Judy] Let me follow this. 280 00:12:37,533 --> 00:12:41,100 2013, you were dissatisfied with the company. 281 00:12:41,166 --> 00:12:44,533 - You called another company-- - Two other companies. 282 00:12:44,600 --> 00:12:46,600 [Judy] Just a second. You called another company, 283 00:12:46,667 --> 00:12:48,667 but the county had signed off on your job. 284 00:12:48,734 --> 00:12:50,934 - Yes. - [Judy] But you say and your answer is 285 00:12:51,000 --> 00:12:54,400 that they signed off erroneously on the job. 286 00:12:54,467 --> 00:12:57,567 - Well, I have to take on face value - Yes. 287 00:12:57,633 --> 00:12:59,700 their signing-off that the job was completed. 288 00:12:59,767 --> 00:13:03,467 And I assume you got your homeowner's insurance. 289 00:13:03,533 --> 00:13:04,567 {\an8}Yes, I did. 290 00:13:04,633 --> 00:13:07,633 {\an8}[Judy] After he left and after you had the county sign off? 291 00:13:07,700 --> 00:13:09,266 - {\an8}- - Yes. - Yes. 292 00:13:09,333 --> 00:13:11,066 - [Booth] But they-- - Okay, now just a second. 293 00:13:11,133 --> 00:13:13,166 - Don't tell me a "but--but..." - No. 294 00:13:13,233 --> 00:13:16,834 Now, five years later, because this was written in 2018, 295 00:13:16,900 --> 00:13:17,767 Correct. 296 00:13:17,834 --> 00:13:21,233 Five years later, you're now dating Mr. Burnley. 297 00:13:21,300 --> 00:13:23,300 - Correct. - [Judy] Who is now living with you. 298 00:13:23,367 --> 00:13:24,400 - No. - [Judy] Who had-- 299 00:13:24,467 --> 00:13:27,133 Well, you say you moved in in 2021. 300 00:13:27,200 --> 00:13:28,066 - Oh, 21, I thought you meant 18. - Yes. 301 00:13:28,133 --> 00:13:29,567 - Yeah. Who's now living with you. - [Booth] Yeah. 302 00:13:29,633 --> 00:13:32,266 - You began dating in 2018. - That's correct. 303 00:13:32,333 --> 00:13:36,600 [Judy] And Mr. Burnley, who is now living with you, and in 2018, 304 00:13:36,667 --> 00:13:39,000 you woke up one morning and said, 305 00:13:39,066 --> 00:13:41,033 who now has his own electrical company, 306 00:13:41,100 --> 00:13:45,266 woke up and said, "Five years ago, Mr. Frazee's company. 307 00:13:45,333 --> 00:13:49,533 And he did not do a professional job in my panel." 308 00:13:49,600 --> 00:13:50,900 And now we're dating. 309 00:13:50,967 --> 00:13:55,667 And now all these negative reviews come, not in 2013, when we-- 310 00:13:55,734 --> 00:13:59,567 Sarah, you have Yelp and all those things in 2013? 311 00:13:59,633 --> 00:14:01,967 I'm not sure if I can get back that far, but I could search. 312 00:14:02,033 --> 00:14:04,233 - And I wasn't aware of Yelp. - [Judy] Just a-- 313 00:14:04,300 --> 00:14:06,233 - I don't care what you were aware of. - [Booth] Okay. 314 00:14:06,300 --> 00:14:08,800 You mean-- you woke up in 2019 315 00:14:08,867 --> 00:14:12,100 and found out that you could give a star or review-- 316 00:14:12,166 --> 00:14:14,400 That's the first time you found that out. I don't believe you. 317 00:14:14,467 --> 00:14:16,100 - The review-- 2018... - I don't believe you. 318 00:14:16,166 --> 00:14:17,834 - Well, it's true. - [Judy] I just want to tell you something. 319 00:14:17,900 --> 00:14:20,700 I don't believe you. I don't believe that when you want to go to a restaurant, 320 00:14:20,767 --> 00:14:22,533 Ms. Booth, and it's a new restaurant, 321 00:14:22,600 --> 00:14:24,567 you don't take a look on your computer 322 00:14:24,633 --> 00:14:26,767 and say, "I wonder how many stars it got." 323 00:14:26,834 --> 00:14:28,900 "I wonder if there are any reviews on this resort." 324 00:14:28,967 --> 00:14:29,834 [Booth] Yes. 325 00:14:29,900 --> 00:14:31,700 [Judy] Well, then you were smart enough to do this. 326 00:14:31,767 --> 00:14:33,700 My sons are in IT, 327 00:14:33,767 --> 00:14:35,133 - so they told me-- - [Judy] I want to tell you something. 328 00:14:35,200 --> 00:14:37,166 - I don't believe you. - [Booth] Okay. 329 00:14:37,233 --> 00:14:40,533 Because I'm older than you are, and I know about this, 330 00:14:40,600 --> 00:14:43,200 and she can tell you I'm an idiot on the machine. 331 00:14:43,266 --> 00:14:45,000 - -[Booth] Well, I-- - I'm the-- - [Judy] So I-- So I-- 332 00:14:45,066 --> 00:14:47,700 I don't buy it. And I don't buy actually... 333 00:14:48,900 --> 00:14:49,934 Yeah, it is. 334 00:14:50,000 --> 00:14:51,600 - I can't see any of the reviews. - [Booth] Your Honor... 335 00:14:51,667 --> 00:14:52,533 - [Dwayne] But, Your Honor-- - No. 336 00:14:52,600 --> 00:14:56,233 But there are reviews on Yelp of his business that all are very positive. 337 00:14:56,300 --> 00:14:57,900 [Cynthia Frazee] I have them if you'd like to see 'em. 338 00:14:57,967 --> 00:14:58,934 I will look at them-- 339 00:14:59,000 --> 00:15:01,767 And I have negative reviews of-- that says the exact same thing. 340 00:15:01,834 --> 00:15:03,600 - What Cindy posted. - [Judy] Just a second. 341 00:15:03,667 --> 00:15:06,066 You don't understand what I'm saying to you, Mr. Burnley. 342 00:15:06,133 --> 00:15:10,066 I'm saying to you that it was nasty and malicious, 343 00:15:10,133 --> 00:15:13,367 because if she was unhappy with the service, 344 00:15:13,433 --> 00:15:16,066 - it would have been posted in 2013. - [Booth] I did-- 345 00:15:16,133 --> 00:15:19,834 Fourteen, fifteen, sixteen, seventeen. 346 00:15:19,900 --> 00:15:22,967 And it wasn't until the two of you were coochy-coochying 347 00:15:23,033 --> 00:15:25,600 that all of a sudden, we got negative reviews 348 00:15:25,667 --> 00:15:28,400 about a job they did nine years before. 349 00:15:28,467 --> 00:15:31,400 That's ridiculous. It's mean spirited. 350 00:15:31,467 --> 00:15:33,734 ♪ 351 00:15:33,800 --> 00:15:36,166 {\an8}All those positive reviews that you posted, 352 00:15:36,233 --> 00:15:38,967 {\an8}did any of them have to do with people that you're sleeping with? 353 00:15:39,033 --> 00:15:40,433 {\an8}- [chuckles] - [Judy] That's the question. 354 00:15:40,500 --> 00:15:42,300 - {\an8}- - No, of course not. - [Judy] No, of course not. 355 00:15:42,367 --> 00:15:43,867 - {\an8}- - I'm not that kind of girl. - [Judy] Okay. 356 00:15:43,934 --> 00:15:45,233 ♪ 357 00:15:49,000 --> 00:15:51,133 ♪ 358 00:15:55,300 --> 00:15:57,567 {\an8}[narrator] Electrician John Frazee 359 00:15:57,633 --> 00:16:00,333 {\an8}has accused his former client, Cynthia Booth, 360 00:16:00,400 --> 00:16:04,300 of posting damaging reviews years after the job was completed. 361 00:16:04,367 --> 00:16:06,300 - It's mean spirited. - [Booth] That's not correct. 362 00:16:06,367 --> 00:16:08,367 [Judy] Just a second. You say it's not correct. 363 00:16:08,433 --> 00:16:09,734 - Well, I'm just saying-- - [Judy] I'm looking at the timeline. 364 00:16:09,800 --> 00:16:12,533 - I'm looking at an inspector's report. - Right. 365 00:16:12,600 --> 00:16:15,000 - Who is a disinterested party - Mm-hmm. 366 00:16:15,066 --> 00:16:17,300 who signed off on an electrical work. 367 00:16:17,367 --> 00:16:20,633 I'm listening to Mr. Burnley, who five years later, 368 00:16:20,700 --> 00:16:23,200 did work that replaced his work 369 00:16:23,266 --> 00:16:27,000 from 100 amps to 200 amps with a surge protector, 370 00:16:27,066 --> 00:16:29,200 and all of a sudden, you start writing 371 00:16:29,266 --> 00:16:31,367 negative reviews about their company. 372 00:16:31,433 --> 00:16:32,533 That's the timeline. 373 00:16:32,600 --> 00:16:34,433 And if you want to try to fill me in 374 00:16:34,500 --> 00:16:36,567 and make me feel as if I made a mistake, 375 00:16:36,633 --> 00:16:38,200 I'll give you 30 seconds to do it. 376 00:16:38,266 --> 00:16:42,000 Okay. Yes. We started seeing each other in 2014, 377 00:16:42,066 --> 00:16:45,500 and my sons are in IT administration, 378 00:16:45,567 --> 00:16:48,066 and they had told me, "Mom, you don't know-- 379 00:16:48,133 --> 00:16:49,800 [Judy] Don't tell me what your sons-- 380 00:16:49,867 --> 00:16:51,467 - [Booth] Okay. - Don't tell me what your son told you. 381 00:16:51,533 --> 00:16:54,233 Okay, I didn't know about Yelp or Google reviews. 382 00:16:54,300 --> 00:16:56,667 - And... back at that time... - Back then. 383 00:16:56,734 --> 00:16:58,500 because I'm not computer savvy. 384 00:16:58,567 --> 00:17:01,166 You want to know something? [whispers] I don't believe you. 385 00:17:01,233 --> 00:17:03,400 - I don't believe you. - Okay. 386 00:17:03,467 --> 00:17:06,333 I'm almost 80 years old, a lot older than you are. 387 00:17:06,400 --> 00:17:08,900 And I know that if I want to look something up, 388 00:17:08,967 --> 00:17:10,633 which I do, occasionally, 389 00:17:10,700 --> 00:17:12,066 I look something up and I say, 390 00:17:12,133 --> 00:17:14,100 "Did so and so eat at this fish restaurant? 391 00:17:14,166 --> 00:17:15,467 It's a new place, it's a new town. 392 00:17:15,533 --> 00:17:17,166 I'm going to go there and take a look at it." 393 00:17:17,233 --> 00:17:18,533 I know how to do that. 394 00:17:18,600 --> 00:17:20,400 - [Booth] I know. - And I'm an idiot. And I'm an idiot. 395 00:17:20,467 --> 00:17:22,667 And if you just found it out, 396 00:17:22,734 --> 00:17:24,567 - if you just found out how to do it, - [Booth] I did. I'm old school. 397 00:17:24,633 --> 00:17:27,700 {\an8}then there was no reason for your first review 398 00:17:27,767 --> 00:17:29,200 {\an8}to be about his company, 399 00:17:29,266 --> 00:17:30,667 {\an8}- about a job that was done-- - No. 400 00:17:30,734 --> 00:17:32,700 {\an8}There was 91 other reviews I posted. 401 00:17:32,767 --> 00:17:35,166 - Just a second. Positive or negative? - Positive. 402 00:17:35,233 --> 00:17:37,467 Are you sleeping with any other electrician? 403 00:17:37,533 --> 00:17:39,834 - No, I'm not. - [Judy] Just a second. That's the end. 404 00:17:39,900 --> 00:17:42,066 All those positive reviews that you posted, 405 00:17:42,133 --> 00:17:44,967 did any of them have to do with people that you're sleeping with? 406 00:17:45,033 --> 00:17:46,767 - [chuckles] - That's the question. 407 00:17:46,834 --> 00:17:48,333 - No, of course not. - [Judy] Of course not. 408 00:17:48,400 --> 00:17:49,900 - I'm not that kind of girl. - [Judy] Okay. 409 00:17:49,967 --> 00:17:52,834 What I'm telling you is the timeline doesn't make sense. 410 00:17:52,900 --> 00:17:58,133 {\an8}These nasty reviews written about a job that started nine years before, 411 00:17:58,200 --> 00:18:02,266 {\an8}in this case, six years before, now, that you are... 412 00:18:02,333 --> 00:18:05,500 sleeping with a head of an electrical company, 413 00:18:05,567 --> 00:18:07,433 don't make sense. 414 00:18:07,500 --> 00:18:11,333 And my nose tells me if it doesn't make sense, it's not true. 415 00:18:11,400 --> 00:18:15,367 Now, when you came back a month later, what else did you do? 416 00:18:15,433 --> 00:18:17,433 - Didn't clean up a mess. - A-at that time. 417 00:18:17,500 --> 00:18:19,533 Just a second. Didn't clean up a mess. 418 00:18:19,600 --> 00:18:21,266 Yes, I cleaned up the mess. 419 00:18:21,333 --> 00:18:22,867 - [Judy] You cleaned up what mess? - My mess. 420 00:18:22,934 --> 00:18:24,600 - He needs to clean up his mess. - [Judy] Oh his mess. 421 00:18:24,667 --> 00:18:26,767 Well, you didn't-- That's what she told you. 422 00:18:26,834 --> 00:18:30,767 No, I have other reviews of other people on the internet that posted that-- 423 00:18:30,834 --> 00:18:34,600 I'm asking you a question. You didn't clean up his mess? 424 00:18:34,667 --> 00:18:36,233 - I didn't clean up his mess. - [Booth] No. 425 00:18:36,300 --> 00:18:37,433 - [Judy] Right. - I misunderstood you. 426 00:18:37,500 --> 00:18:38,600 - [Judy] Okay, well, that's what I said. - I'm sorry. 427 00:18:38,667 --> 00:18:40,333 You didn't clean up his mess. 428 00:18:40,567 --> 00:18:42,133 No, I cleaned up his mess. 429 00:18:42,200 --> 00:18:43,700 And didn't write a review. 430 00:18:43,767 --> 00:18:45,300 Well, I didn't know about it at all. 431 00:18:45,367 --> 00:18:48,266 B-baloney. I'm telling you, you can say it until the cows come home. 432 00:18:48,333 --> 00:18:49,400 - I don't believe you. - [Dwayne] That's not true, Your Honor. 433 00:18:49,467 --> 00:18:51,667 - [Judy] I don't believe you. - [scoffs] 434 00:18:51,734 --> 00:18:55,433 And I don't believe that the first year that you found out to write a review 435 00:18:55,500 --> 00:18:58,166 is when you and Mr. Burnley started a relationship. 436 00:18:58,233 --> 00:18:59,767 - I just don't believe it. - [Booth] No, I-- 437 00:18:59,834 --> 00:19:01,266 And I think it's mean spirited. 438 00:19:01,333 --> 00:19:04,133 {\an8}You have to know, Ms. Booth, I think it's mean spirited. 439 00:19:04,200 --> 00:19:07,533 {\an8}But we were seeing each other in 2014. 440 00:19:07,600 --> 00:19:09,166 [whispering] Oh, oh. 441 00:19:09,233 --> 00:19:11,633 - You were seeing each other in 2014? - Yes. 442 00:19:11,700 --> 00:19:13,367 You have a company, sir? 443 00:19:13,433 --> 00:19:15,033 - Yes, I do. - Do you have a company? 444 00:19:15,100 --> 00:19:16,200 - Yes. - Are you licensed? 445 00:19:16,266 --> 00:19:18,000 - Yes. - What's the name of your company? 446 00:19:18,066 --> 00:19:19,800 [Dwayne] DMB Electric, Inc. - [Judy] Just a-- 447 00:19:19,867 --> 00:19:21,633 - Would you take a look at that, Sarah? - Mm-hmm. 448 00:19:21,700 --> 00:19:23,133 - It'll be under DMB-- - Shh! 449 00:19:23,200 --> 00:19:24,900 ...Electric Services, Inc. 450 00:19:24,967 --> 00:19:26,967 And in what year was your company formed? 451 00:19:27,033 --> 00:19:28,100 - Uh, this one-- - Shh! This-- 452 00:19:28,166 --> 00:19:29,867 This one, 2013. 453 00:19:29,934 --> 00:19:31,300 - We had a prior one. - [Judy] Shh! 454 00:19:31,367 --> 00:19:33,200 - We had a prior one. - [Judy] 2013? 455 00:19:33,266 --> 00:19:34,133 [Dwayne] Yes, Your Honor. 456 00:19:34,200 --> 00:19:37,734 Was that before or after you did her job with him? 457 00:19:37,800 --> 00:19:40,300 - Before or after? - I had the license before. 458 00:19:40,367 --> 00:19:42,834 No, the company. I said was the company formed--? 459 00:19:42,900 --> 00:19:44,066 - The company was established-- - Shh! 460 00:19:44,133 --> 00:19:46,800 Careful, because she's a whiz with the computer. 461 00:19:46,867 --> 00:19:47,834 - [Dwayne] No, that's-- - [Booth] No. That's good. 462 00:19:47,900 --> 00:19:51,367 - [Judy] Was your company formed before...? - Yes, Your Honor. 463 00:19:51,433 --> 00:19:53,500 [Judy] Before you did the job with him? 464 00:19:53,567 --> 00:19:54,734 Yes. 465 00:19:54,800 --> 00:19:57,533 Okay. And what month in 2013? 466 00:19:57,600 --> 00:20:00,200 - I'm-- I don't know about the date. - [Judy] Are you guessing? 467 00:20:00,266 --> 00:20:02,200 - Yeah, I'm gonna guess-- January-- Yes. - [Judy] Are you guessing? 468 00:20:02,266 --> 00:20:05,533 Was it before or after... 469 00:20:05,600 --> 00:20:08,367 you did the job with the plaintiff? 470 00:20:08,433 --> 00:20:10,734 If you don't know the answer, say, "I don't remember." 471 00:20:10,800 --> 00:20:12,767 - I don't remember. - Okay. Now. 472 00:20:12,834 --> 00:20:16,667 The business was incorporated March 20th of 2013. 473 00:20:16,734 --> 00:20:18,066 [Judy] Does it have any reviews? 474 00:20:18,133 --> 00:20:22,300 Only four from the past two years on Yelp, all positive. 475 00:20:22,367 --> 00:20:24,533 By the way, did you ever write a review for him? 476 00:20:24,600 --> 00:20:26,700 - For? - [Judy] Did you ever write a review 477 00:20:26,767 --> 00:20:28,367 - for Mr. Burnley's company? - Uh... 478 00:20:28,433 --> 00:20:29,834 "Uh" is not an answer. 479 00:20:29,900 --> 00:20:33,367 Did you ever write a review for Mr. Burnley's company? 480 00:20:33,433 --> 00:20:35,533 Stop shaking your head, Mr. Burnley. 481 00:20:35,600 --> 00:20:39,266 Did you ever write a review for Mr. Burnley's company? 482 00:20:39,333 --> 00:20:40,600 - Uh... - No. 483 00:20:40,667 --> 00:20:41,533 [Judy] Okay. 484 00:20:41,600 --> 00:20:44,333 I don't know what it is that you didn't understand, sir. 485 00:20:44,400 --> 00:20:47,166 You didn't say much. You don't have to say much. 486 00:20:47,233 --> 00:20:50,100 I got what went on here, and I think it was mean spirited. 487 00:20:50,166 --> 00:20:53,133 - And you're suing for $10,000. - [Dwayne] That's right. 488 00:20:53,200 --> 00:20:55,133 I think that their reviews 489 00:20:55,200 --> 00:20:58,467 and the abuse of the critique of your business 490 00:20:58,533 --> 00:21:01,734 warrants the award of $10,000. 491 00:21:01,800 --> 00:21:04,667 You have a counterclaim. Which one of you has a counterclaim? 492 00:21:04,734 --> 00:21:06,166 - I do. - [Judy] Yeah. 493 00:21:06,233 --> 00:21:08,767 I want to tell you something. Your counterclaim is dismissed. 494 00:21:08,834 --> 00:21:11,300 I think that you were a co-conspirator in her writing these reviews. 495 00:21:11,367 --> 00:21:13,567 - I was not. - [Judy] Counterclaim is dismissed. 496 00:21:13,633 --> 00:21:15,967 Judgment for the plaintiff in the amount of $10,000. 497 00:21:16,033 --> 00:21:17,600 - We've finished here. Thank you very much. - [Booth] Your Honor-- 498 00:21:17,667 --> 00:21:19,066 - [bailiff] This court is adjourned. - We're done. 499 00:21:19,133 --> 00:21:21,500 ♪ 500 00:21:21,567 --> 00:21:25,433 {\an8}During the COVID shutdown, when nobody had any work 501 00:21:25,500 --> 00:21:28,567 {\an8}in a small community of 5,500 people, 502 00:21:28,633 --> 00:21:30,400 {\an8}that's what they chose to do. 503 00:21:30,467 --> 00:21:32,600 {\an8}Hey, I'm glad it's behind me, man. That's all I can say. 504 00:21:32,667 --> 00:21:35,133 {\an8}He was just getting his license, and I helped him 505 00:21:35,200 --> 00:21:37,934 {\an8}begin his business, and this is how he serves me. 506 00:21:39,266 --> 00:21:42,233 I agree with the judgment, but why $10,000? 507 00:21:42,300 --> 00:21:43,700 That seemed a little high for me. 508 00:21:43,767 --> 00:21:48,200 You can permanently hurt somebody's business, 509 00:21:48,266 --> 00:21:51,767 their livelihood, if you write a negative review, 510 00:21:51,834 --> 00:21:53,533 because people more and more 511 00:21:53,600 --> 00:21:56,433 rely on the internet when they seek a service, 512 00:21:56,500 --> 00:21:58,066 rely on somebody else to say, 513 00:21:58,133 --> 00:22:00,834 "I've had a good experience or I've had a bad experience." 514 00:22:00,900 --> 00:22:03,734 I believe, based upon the timeline that we heard, 515 00:22:03,800 --> 00:22:06,867 - Mm-hmm - that the defendants wrote these reviews 516 00:22:06,934 --> 00:22:10,467 for a reason other than bad electrical work. 517 00:22:10,533 --> 00:22:12,433 Because if there was bad electrical work, 518 00:22:12,500 --> 00:22:18,000 that would have shown itself between 2013 and 2018 519 00:22:18,066 --> 00:22:20,900 when her fiancé redid the whole system. 520 00:22:20,967 --> 00:22:22,767 Or it wouldn't have passed the inspection. 521 00:22:22,834 --> 00:22:24,633 [Judy] Or it wouldn't have passed the inspection. 522 00:22:24,700 --> 00:22:28,000 - So that, to me, is malicious. - Mm-hmm. 523 00:22:28,066 --> 00:22:31,300 I think you have to get a real wake-up call, 524 00:22:31,367 --> 00:22:34,734 - and to me, $500 doesn't do it. - No. 525 00:22:34,800 --> 00:22:38,467 It's malicious and I don't think he has to show any real damages 526 00:22:38,533 --> 00:22:40,867 other than the reputation of his business 527 00:22:40,934 --> 00:22:43,734 has been sullied by someone for malicious reasons 528 00:22:43,800 --> 00:22:47,100 having nothing to do with work that was performed nine years before. 529 00:22:47,166 --> 00:22:49,800 And I'm perfectly comfortable with that judgment. 530 00:22:49,867 --> 00:22:51,467 ♪ 531 00:22:51,533 --> 00:22:52,867 [narrator] Have you been cheated? 532 00:22:52,934 --> 00:22:54,967 {\an8}Go to JudyJustice.tv. 533 00:22:59,867 --> 00:23:02,767 [closing theme plays]