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{\an8}[Judge Judy] After she purchased
all this product,
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she said, "My God,
what did I do?"
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She signed
a "no refunds" agreement.
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There were previous incidents
involving your store.
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You're aware of that?
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- I honestly, I can't recall.
- [laughing]
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Sounds like such a Ponzi scheme.
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[Announcer]
This is Judy Justice.
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[opening theme music]
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[Announcer]
Previously, on Judy Justice...
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{\an8}He aggressively coaxed you
into the chair,
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{\an8}- Mm-hmm.
- [Judge Judy] is what you're telling me,
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{\an8}by complimenting you.
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{\an8}I mean, he didn't physically
drag you into the store,
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{\an8}- you walked in by yourself.
- Right.
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{\an8}So, you must be very good.
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{\an8}She asked for something
that would actually help her
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{\an8}look more youthful.
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{\an8}The medical devices
that we actually retail,
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{\an8}we demonstrate them on the clients,
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{\an8}and then, typically, clients,
when they see a difference,
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{\an8}they're like, [gasps] "wow!"
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{\an8}I, listen, you're not selling me, sir.
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{\an8}I want to know
how the sale came about.
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{\an8}And the next thing I knew,
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{\an8}Eric was practically on top of me.
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{\an8}[Linda] Well, I didn't feel
that I was going to be able
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{\an8}to leave the store.
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{\an8}I've been held against my will before
and kidnapped.
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{\an8}Who hired you?
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{\an8}It wasn't a hire.
I was... I was in business with him.
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{\an8}Okay. Well, it's getting more interesting.
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{\an8}- I'm sorry.
- And who leases the store where you...
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{\an8}Don't look up in the air.
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{\an8}It, it's gonna get only worse.
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[Announcer]
And now, the conclusion.
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{\an8}Linda Bernardasci is suing
salesman, Eric West,
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{\an8}for deceptively selling her
skin care products she never wanted.
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[Judge Judy]
You know, I'm not sure
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she's entitled to a refund
on all the products that she bought.
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I'm not thoroughly convinced yet,
that this was a situation
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where she was held against her will.
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But I've always been fascinated
by these stores
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that want me to pop in,
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and they give me
a little white plastic thing,
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and they stand outside,
try this product,
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and you know, you pass by, and you say,
"No, thank you, I'm not interested,"
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"No! You're beautiful, you know,
this could take away the wrinkles
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in your face," I say,
"I make my money
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with my wrinkles in my face."
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[laughter]
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Right? And I don't want
to take them away, I want them to stay.
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So, that's what it is.
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So, I've always been fascinated
as to the business aspect of it.
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And I digress for a moment,
because there was some scam company
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that was all over the internet,
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that said I had created a skin line,
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years ago.
Couldn't find them.
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And they had all kinds of accolades,
and it looked like it was sold
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through major companies online
and endorsed.
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They had pictures all over,
it was a scam.
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And they'd done the same thing
to numerous other people
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And it's all scam.
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And you can't find them
because they're on telephone banks
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someplace, here and here,
and as soon as the federal authorities
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get one, they close down one,
and they go someplace else,
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sometimes offshore.
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So, we were actually,
we were unable to find them,
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so all you could do is get on the horn
and say to people,
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"I don't own a skin care line.
I've never endorsed a skin care line.
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Don't buy products that say
that they're mine."
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So I've always wanted to know
about these guys,
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who stand in front and try
to get you into the store
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with a little packet of freebies.
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- So now, it's your joint business?
- Yes.
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[Judge Judy]
How much did you put up?
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I... I honestly, I can't recall.
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You can't recall how much money
you put up?
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You've only been there three years.
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I know. I don't remember how much
the initial investment was.
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Well, give me an idea.
Was it $5,000?
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- Five hundred dollars?
- A lot more than that.
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[Judge Judy]
Well, if it's a lot more than that,
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you want to tell me how much
your contribution was?
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- [Eric] A couple hundred thousand.
- [Judge Judy] It was a couple
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of hundred thousand?
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That was your contribution to the store?
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{\an8}- Mm-hmm.
- [Judge Judy] "Uh-huh" is not an answer.
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{\an8}- Yes, Your Honor.
- Where did you get the $200,000 from?
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[Eric]
I worked for it.
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- [Judge Judy] For whom?
- I worked different jobs.
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- [Judge Judy] How old are you?
- Thirty-seven.
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And you had $200,000, you said
a couple of hundred thousand,
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that's two, you had $200,000,
so that you could invest that.
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{\an8}- Mm-hmm.
- [Judge Judy] Is that correct?
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{\an8}Yes, and prior
before having a skin business,
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{\an8}I had a grocery store
on the ExxonMobil campus
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{\an8}- in Spring, Texas.
- Okay.
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We generated some revenue,
and so I thought to open a spa
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and do products, sell products,
and go that route,
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and I really do
pride myself in integrity.
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I... every client that walks in,
and I'm not just saying that, that was...
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Well if you pride yourself in integrity,
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and within a few days
of being in your store,
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and selling this lady,
who had absolutely no intention
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of going shopping that day,
an $8,000 beauty wand
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that's going to make her
look like she's 30.
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She says, "Listen,
I made a big mistake.
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I don't want this product,
I want to bring it back.
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Let's say I keep the creams,
but this was $8,000,
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and I don't have that."
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Why didn't you take it back?
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- Your Honor?
- [Judge Judy] That's a question,
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- Mr. West.
- I'm explaining...
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If you pride yourself on integrity.
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I...I'm explaining.
She came back way past
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the allotted time.
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[Judge Judy]
What's the allotted time?
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{\an8}We have a 14-day in-store
exchange-only for in-store credit policy.
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{\an8}When you purchase a product.
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{\an8}She told me that she was using
her husband's credit card.
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Now, it's... I'm coming to find out
that it's her roommate,
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or a guy that she's living with.
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I don't know the whole story,
but I can tell you that
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{\an8}the whole interaction with her
was extremely professional.
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{\an8}I just asked you why,
now, you have a lady
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- who I've met, actually...
- Yes.
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[Judge Judy]
...just here, and she gets home,
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and she said, "My God, what did I do?
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How did I get, there's a lot
of fast talking here,
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and a lot going on,
and now I'm walking out
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with almost $10,000 worth of product.
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And I was going to buy a lipstick."
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And she says to you,
"I want to return this wand thing,"
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whatever it is, "For $8,000."
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And if what you're saying is,
you run a reputable business,
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and you're busy,
and you had enough money
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to put down $200,000
in this business...
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By the way, you do file taxes
every year, don't you?
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- Yes.
- [Judge Judy] When was the last time
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you filed income tax returns?
What year?
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- This year.
- [Judge Judy] How much did you earn?
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- A hundred and seventy-three thousand.
- [Judge Judy] From this business?
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From different businesses, but yes.
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Are you in this location all the time?
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Yes, typically in that location, yes.
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And when you're typically
not in that location, where are you?
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- Florida.
- [Judge Judy] Where?
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- Miami.
- [Judge Judy] What do you do in Miami?
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What most people do,
sit on the beach.
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Well, how often do you work?
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Pretty much almost every month,
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and I take my weekends,
and I'll fly and spend three days,
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- and then work.
- In Miami?
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- [Eric] Yeah.
- [Judge Judy] You go from California
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- Miami.
- to Miami? Great.
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And she paid how much for all that stuff?
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Nothing.
She only bought one eye cream.
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- That was, that was the initial...
- [Judge Judy] Just a second.
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How much was the eye cream?
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It was 600, I believe.
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I have never, ever, in my life,
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spent $600 on eye cream.
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{\an8}[theme music playing]
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{\an8}[Announcer]
Defendant Eric West
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{\an8}claims the plaintiff,
Linda Bernardasci,
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{\an8}purchased products
with a no-refund policy.
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Linda felt she could not leave
unless she bought the items.
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[Judge Judy] So, you still
haven't answered my question.
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She comes into you
within a relatively short period of time
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after she purchased all this product,
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she said, "I don't have the money,
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I... I have to return this piece
of equipment," and you told...
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- [Eric] I'm sorry.
- Go ahead.
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She said that she found the products
cheaper online a week and a half
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to two weeks later.
She was upset...
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[Judge Judy]
Oh, just a second.
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Did you call and say
you found the products cheaper online?
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{\an8}Uh, yes, but it wasn't that,
it wasn't two weeks later.
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- [Judge Judy] How much later?
- A week at the most.
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[Judge Judy] Oh.
Which products did you find cheaper?
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[Linda] The wand.
I couldn't find the other products at all.
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- Okay, but you said you'd found the wand
- [Linda] Yes.
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- cheaper. Is that what you told him?
- Yes.
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[Judge Judy]
Now, you looked for the wand?
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- You had to go on...
- Yes.
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- [Judge Judy] ...like Sarah does?
- Uh-huh.
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- [Judge Judy] On the machine.
- Right.
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[Judge Judy]
And look for it.
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And now I have to assume,
Ms. Bernardasci,
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I have to assume that if you went online
to look at it,
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you tried it, because that makes sense.
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I want you to be very careful
with your answer,
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{\an8}and not give me an answer
that you think is gonna help your case.
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{\an8}But if I took the trouble to go online
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{\an8}to try to find something,
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it would mean 'cause I liked the product,
so I would have tried it.
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- No.
- [Judge Judy] Did you use the wand?
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No, I have not.
It's still in its original packaging.
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There's no way it could be opened
and sealed back up, there's no way.
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I...I looked online because I wanted
to see how much I got ripped off for.
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[Judge Judy]
Okay. And when you went online,
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how much did you find it for?
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Five hundred and ninety-seven dollars,
I believe.
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The same thing?
Can I see what you found for $597?
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Do you know what she's talking about?
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I know that when you go, and you buy
a Cartier ring from Cartier,
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you can get it online for a cheaper price.
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Listen to me, sir.
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- That's not what I'm talking about.
- Oh, okay.
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- Sorry. My apologies.
- Mr. West.
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[Sarah] I see what she's talking about.
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It's a very similar-looking device
listed for $575 from a different store.
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- [Judge Judy] May I see it?
- Yeah.
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This is the initial one that I showed you,
for that amount.
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That's what the defendant
handed us a copy of.
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This for this price is the same,
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I just copied and pasted
the name of the machine into Google,
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and this came up, so it looks
a little bit different, but...
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- [Judge Judy] Okay.
- [Sarah] Same concept.
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Would you go back to the other one,
please, Sarah, the first one?
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And I want you to show me the comments
that gave it a five-star rating.
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Two reviews.
Just want to look at it.
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Looks like one from 2019.
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Okay, let me see the next one, please?
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[Sarah] And now that I'm reading it,
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this looks as if
it's for a different device.
228
00:09:52,867 --> 00:09:54,533
This says "electrobionic."
229
00:09:54,533 --> 00:09:57,300
- So the review...
- That's listed here
230
00:09:57,300 --> 00:10:00,367
- looks to be for a different device.
- Different product.
231
00:10:00,367 --> 00:10:01,300
- Yeah.
- Okay.
232
00:10:01,300 --> 00:10:03,166
- Oh, she found it.
- Okay.
233
00:10:03,166 --> 00:10:04,500
- [Judge Judy] She found it for me.
- Sorry.
234
00:10:04,500 --> 00:10:06,467
She found it for me.
Different color, whatever.
235
00:10:06,467 --> 00:10:09,400
Anyway, so you called him
about a week later.
236
00:10:09,400 --> 00:10:10,567
- Yes.
- [Judge Judy] You called him
237
00:10:10,567 --> 00:10:12,967
about a week later and said,
"I found it cheaper."
238
00:10:12,967 --> 00:10:15,166
- [Linda] Yes.
- [Judge Judy] And what did he say to you?
239
00:10:15,166 --> 00:10:17,800
He said,
"Well, I can't give you a refund."
240
00:10:17,800 --> 00:10:20,433
He said, "That would have to be
up to corporate,
241
00:10:20,433 --> 00:10:23,533
so I'll have to get a hold of them
and get back with you."
242
00:10:23,533 --> 00:10:25,567
Well, he never did.
243
00:10:25,567 --> 00:10:27,734
[Judge Judy] Taking what you say is true,
you called him
244
00:10:27,734 --> 00:10:31,834
a week later and said,
"I found this very expensive product,"
245
00:10:31,834 --> 00:10:35,600
the other things were facial creams
and potions and lotions, whatever.
246
00:10:35,600 --> 00:10:40,600
I'm not so concerned about those.
I'm concerned about this $8,000 item.
247
00:10:40,600 --> 00:10:44,000
So you called and said to him,
with regard to the $8,000 item,
248
00:10:44,000 --> 00:10:47,333
- "I found it cheaper."
- I don't think I told him that, no.
249
00:10:47,333 --> 00:10:50,500
[Judge Judy]
Okay. Now let me read the police report.
250
00:10:56,000 --> 00:10:58,133
Okay. Have you seen
the police report, sir?
251
00:10:58,133 --> 00:10:59,567
- [Eric] No, I have not.
- Okay.
252
00:10:59,567 --> 00:11:04,133
So, this is a police report
by an officer who you don't know.
253
00:11:04,133 --> 00:11:05,700
And doesn't know you.
254
00:11:05,700 --> 00:11:08,300
And what happened was,
on the 8th of March,
255
00:11:08,300 --> 00:11:11,734
he received a dispatch to go
to the location,
256
00:11:11,734 --> 00:11:14,567
{\an8}because the plaintiff had complained
257
00:11:14,567 --> 00:11:17,767
{\an8}that she felt, on the 21st of February,
258
00:11:17,767 --> 00:11:20,100
{\an8}that she couldn't leave the store,
259
00:11:20,100 --> 00:11:22,734
{\an8}and she spent over $9,000
at the store.
260
00:11:22,734 --> 00:11:26,900
So he went to see her, because the case
was a false imprisonment case.
261
00:11:26,900 --> 00:11:28,500
- Interesting.
- [Judge Judy] And it said,
262
00:11:28,500 --> 00:11:32,367
while officer was en route,
he asked his dispatch
263
00:11:32,367 --> 00:11:34,934
if there was any history
involving your location,
264
00:11:34,934 --> 00:11:38,567
and it said there were
two previous incidents
265
00:11:38,567 --> 00:11:40,934
involving your store.
You're aware of that?
266
00:11:40,934 --> 00:11:42,100
- Yes, Your Honor.
- [Judge Judy] Yes!
267
00:11:42,100 --> 00:11:45,734
And he read the papers of the events,
there were two different complaints,
268
00:11:45,734 --> 00:11:49,200
two different complainants,
that were very similar,
269
00:11:49,200 --> 00:11:51,333
that were reported by this plaintiff.
270
00:11:51,333 --> 00:11:54,667
It said that the other two victims
were lured into the store,
271
00:11:54,667 --> 00:11:57,934
and they felt as if
they were not able to leave
272
00:11:57,934 --> 00:12:01,166
until they purchased products.
One of the reports stated
273
00:12:01,166 --> 00:12:04,433
that the victim had spent over $100,000
274
00:12:04,433 --> 00:12:08,433
on reoccurring charges and products
that she didn't want."
275
00:12:08,433 --> 00:12:13,066
So, similarly,
there's a little history there.
276
00:12:13,066 --> 00:12:17,066
I'm just... I'm reading you
what the complaints are, sir.
277
00:12:17,066 --> 00:12:19,000
- Do you understand?
- Absolutely.
278
00:12:19,000 --> 00:12:20,533
[Judge Judy]
Okay. Let me finish.
279
00:12:22,633 --> 00:12:26,166
Okay, so, the next day,
on February 22nd,
280
00:12:26,166 --> 00:12:30,033
you said you wanted a refund
for the device.
281
00:12:30,033 --> 00:12:32,133
This is what you say,
not for the creams,
282
00:12:32,133 --> 00:12:33,600
not for anything else,
just for the device.
283
00:12:33,600 --> 00:12:34,600
- Yes.
- [Judge Judy] Okay.
284
00:12:34,600 --> 00:12:36,600
Your Honor, she didn't pay
for the creams.
285
00:12:36,600 --> 00:12:38,700
She paid for one cream
out of all the creams that she got.
286
00:12:38,700 --> 00:12:40,367
- Whatever.
- [Eric] Okay.
287
00:12:40,367 --> 00:12:41,734
That's not where you made your money.
288
00:12:41,734 --> 00:12:43,300
- No, I know, it's on the machine.
- [Judge Judy chuckling]
289
00:12:43,300 --> 00:12:46,000
That's not where you made your monies,
on the lotions and potions.
290
00:12:46,633 --> 00:12:50,033
Okay. "Suspect 2," that was you, "told her
he was unable to give her a refund,
291
00:12:50,033 --> 00:12:51,600
and it would have to be done
by corporate."
292
00:12:51,600 --> 00:12:53,333
Were you the one who told her that?
293
00:12:53,333 --> 00:12:55,934
- I spoke to...
- J--! That's either a yes or a no.
294
00:12:55,934 --> 00:12:57,233
{\an8}No, I did not say that.
295
00:12:57,233 --> 00:12:58,467
{\an8}[Judge Judy]
Tell me what you said.
296
00:12:58,467 --> 00:13:01,000
{\an8}I told her that she signed
a no-refunds agreement,
297
00:13:01,000 --> 00:13:03,300
and she understood that she purchased
298
00:13:03,300 --> 00:13:05,700
the sale, that it was a final sale,
because she got,
299
00:13:05,700 --> 00:13:07,700
- what she received...
- What did she receive?
300
00:13:07,700 --> 00:13:10,066
She received six months' worth
of services that she did not want,
301
00:13:10,066 --> 00:13:11,467
which were complimentary.
302
00:13:11,467 --> 00:13:14,367
She also received
a full-skin regimen,
303
00:13:14,367 --> 00:13:15,667
day cream, night cream, cleanser,
304
00:13:15,667 --> 00:13:18,567
toner, eye serum, eye cream,
peeling gel.
305
00:13:18,567 --> 00:13:20,767
And she paid how much
for all that stuff?
306
00:13:20,767 --> 00:13:24,400
Nothing. She only bought
one eye cream, and that was the initial...
307
00:13:24,400 --> 00:13:26,767
Just a second.
How much was the eye cream?
308
00:13:26,767 --> 00:13:31,633
- It was 600, I believe.
- [laughing]
309
00:13:31,633 --> 00:13:33,333
[audience laughing]
310
00:13:34,734 --> 00:13:38,633
Do you still run that place
when you're not sunning in Miami?
311
00:13:38,633 --> 00:13:41,567
- No, and those are the only...
- Just a second.
312
00:13:41,567 --> 00:13:43,400
It takes an awful lot for somebody
313
00:13:43,400 --> 00:13:45,433
who feels as if
they've been taken advantage of
314
00:13:45,433 --> 00:13:47,734
to actually
go to the police and say,
315
00:13:47,734 --> 00:13:49,500
"I was duped by this dope,"
316
00:13:49,500 --> 00:13:52,433
or "a dope that was duped
by this dope."
317
00:13:52,433 --> 00:13:53,433
[Linda chuckles]
318
00:13:56,500 --> 00:13:58,033
[theme music playing]
319
00:14:03,567 --> 00:14:05,266
{\an8}[Announcer]
Defendant Eric West
320
00:14:05,266 --> 00:14:07,734
{\an8}claims the plaintiff,
Linda Bernardasci,
321
00:14:07,734 --> 00:14:10,934
{\an8}purchased products
with a no-refund policy.
322
00:14:10,934 --> 00:14:15,100
Linda felt she could not leave
unless she bought the items.
323
00:14:15,100 --> 00:14:17,934
The eye cream was $600.
Okay.
324
00:14:17,934 --> 00:14:20,967
All right. Mr. West,
I'm not gonna waste any more time
325
00:14:20,967 --> 00:14:22,133
with this case.
326
00:14:22,133 --> 00:14:26,667
You're going to get your $8,000 back
when Mr. West gets back
327
00:14:26,667 --> 00:14:29,166
his sealed wand.
328
00:14:29,166 --> 00:14:31,000
- Do you understand?
- Yes.
329
00:14:31,000 --> 00:14:32,967
- [Judge Judy] If it's been opened...
- It hasn't.
330
00:14:32,967 --> 00:14:34,533
[Judge Judy]
If it's been opened,
331
00:14:34,533 --> 00:14:37,333
it belongs to you.
Do you understand?
332
00:14:37,333 --> 00:14:39,133
- Yes.
- [Judge Judy] If it's been opened,
333
00:14:39,133 --> 00:14:41,000
and it came in a sealed package,
334
00:14:41,000 --> 00:14:42,700
it belongs to you.
335
00:14:42,700 --> 00:14:46,066
As soon as Mr. West receives...
336
00:14:46,066 --> 00:14:48,000
You still in the same location?
337
00:14:48,000 --> 00:14:50,100
- We...
- Are you still in the same location,
338
00:14:50,100 --> 00:14:51,233
that's either a yes or a no.
339
00:14:51,233 --> 00:14:52,834
- I'm not in the location, no.
- [Judge Judy] What?
340
00:14:52,834 --> 00:14:55,700
There's another operator there,
but just for the record,
341
00:14:55,700 --> 00:14:57,867
I believe that we opened the device,
342
00:14:57,867 --> 00:14:59,700
{\an8}because she wanted to know
how to use it at the store.
343
00:14:59,700 --> 00:15:00,967
{\an8}- [Judge Judy] Just a second.
- Okay.
344
00:15:00,967 --> 00:15:02,934
{\an8}[Judge Judy]
So then, you have no problem, sir.
345
00:15:02,934 --> 00:15:03,967
{\an8}- Okay.
- Do you understand?
346
00:15:03,967 --> 00:15:06,834
- [Eric] Yes.
- Unless she can return the item to you,
347
00:15:06,834 --> 00:15:09,533
sealed, because she says
it's sealed,
348
00:15:09,533 --> 00:15:13,367
and there's no way
that it could've been opened,
349
00:15:13,367 --> 00:15:15,000
that's what she told me,
350
00:15:15,000 --> 00:15:16,900
if she opened it,
that means she tried it,
351
00:15:16,900 --> 00:15:19,433
and if she tried it,
it belongs to you.
352
00:15:19,433 --> 00:15:20,400
- Do you understand?
- Yes.
353
00:15:20,400 --> 00:15:22,800
[Judge Judy]
So, within five days,
354
00:15:22,800 --> 00:15:24,934
he gets the product back.
355
00:15:25,734 --> 00:15:27,000
What?
356
00:15:27,000 --> 00:15:29,734
I just want to show you this final sale
agreement that she wrote...
357
00:15:29,734 --> 00:15:31,967
[Judge Judy] Just a... I understand
what it says, sir.
358
00:15:31,967 --> 00:15:36,867
I understand what it says.
I also understand that your little company
359
00:15:36,867 --> 00:15:40,734
had no two prior complaints
from that location.
360
00:15:40,734 --> 00:15:42,300
And it takes an awful lot for somebody
361
00:15:42,300 --> 00:15:44,800
who feels as if
they've been taken advantage of
362
00:15:44,800 --> 00:15:46,700
to actually go to the police.
363
00:15:46,700 --> 00:15:50,200
Most people just write it off,
and said, "I was being a real schlemiel,
364
00:15:50,200 --> 00:15:52,600
and I was duped by this dope,"
365
00:15:52,600 --> 00:15:55,233
or "a dope that was duped
by this dope."
366
00:15:55,233 --> 00:15:56,834
- [chuckling]
- [Judge Judy] And just say,
367
00:15:56,834 --> 00:15:58,033
- "I'm gonna..."
- Your Honor?
368
00:15:58,033 --> 00:15:59,400
[Judge Judy]
"I'm gonna eat it."
369
00:15:59,400 --> 00:16:05,266
What I'm telling you, sir, is,
I buy an awful lotta junk.
370
00:16:05,266 --> 00:16:11,033
For my face, that's what old people do,
they buy lotions and potions and stuff,
371
00:16:11,033 --> 00:16:13,200
I even steal some of hers.
372
00:16:13,200 --> 00:16:15,967
- [chuckling]
- [Judge Judy] And I have plenty of dough.
373
00:16:15,967 --> 00:16:18,900
I have never, ever,
374
00:16:18,900 --> 00:16:23,333
in my life, spent $600 on eye cream.
375
00:16:23,333 --> 00:16:24,700
Ever!
376
00:16:24,700 --> 00:16:29,233
- [audience laughing]
- And so, if she spent $600 on eye cream,
377
00:16:29,233 --> 00:16:32,300
that means she could've bathed
in all the other products,
378
00:16:32,300 --> 00:16:34,333
and you still would've made money.
379
00:16:34,333 --> 00:16:37,133
She is going to get her money back
380
00:16:37,133 --> 00:16:40,900
for this worthless piece
of accessory,
381
00:16:40,900 --> 00:16:43,500
'cause it's worthless to her,
'cause she hasn't used it,
382
00:16:43,500 --> 00:16:46,667
and she doesn't want it,
and she's gonna get it back,
383
00:16:46,667 --> 00:16:51,166
from you, when she produces
the sealed package.
384
00:16:51,166 --> 00:16:52,567
That's it. And,
385
00:16:52,567 --> 00:16:54,100
- you're her witness?
- [Lisa] Yes.
386
00:16:54,100 --> 00:16:56,667
{\an8}- Do you live close by to this shop?
- Yes.
387
00:16:56,667 --> 00:17:00,367
{\an8}Do you still run that place
when you're not sunning in Miami?
388
00:17:00,367 --> 00:17:03,600
- No, and those are the only...
- [Judge Judy] Just, just a second.
389
00:17:03,600 --> 00:17:06,800
The answer is no.
What happened to that business
390
00:17:06,800 --> 00:17:09,633
- at that location?
- There's another operator coming in,
391
00:17:09,633 --> 00:17:13,433
and our contract ended recently.
There's another company...
392
00:17:13,433 --> 00:17:15,066
- What do you mean?
- [Eric] ...coming in to run it.
393
00:17:15,066 --> 00:17:16,700
Sounds like such a Ponzi scheme.
394
00:17:16,700 --> 00:17:18,767
The whole thing sounds like
such a Ponzi scheme.
395
00:17:18,767 --> 00:17:19,767
No, it's called Covid.
396
00:17:19,767 --> 00:17:22,533
[Judge Judy] Judgment for the plaintiff
in the amount of $8,000,
397
00:17:22,533 --> 00:17:24,300
when she produces the sealed item.
398
00:17:24,300 --> 00:17:25,967
Thank you very much, we're done here.
399
00:17:25,967 --> 00:17:27,734
[Kevin]
This court is adjourned.
400
00:17:29,233 --> 00:17:32,300
{\an8}This woman clearly had a bad episode
of buyer's remorse,
401
00:17:32,300 --> 00:17:35,500
{\an8}was emotionally unstable,
used somebody else's credit cards
402
00:17:35,500 --> 00:17:37,066
{\an8}that claims to be her husband,
403
00:17:37,066 --> 00:17:39,900
{\an8}and God only knows what other kinda scams
she's trying to pull.
404
00:17:39,900 --> 00:17:43,834
{\an8}Well, I think the judge
made a very sound decision,
405
00:17:43,834 --> 00:17:47,800
{\an8}because the guy is a total fraud.
406
00:17:47,800 --> 00:17:49,900
{\an8}She actually took advantage of me,
and took my time,
407
00:17:49,900 --> 00:17:52,166
{\an8}for three and a half,
almost four hours,
408
00:17:52,166 --> 00:17:54,567
{\an8}asking me, "What is this?
How does this work?
409
00:17:54,567 --> 00:17:56,300
{\an8}What is this?
How does that work?"
410
00:17:56,300 --> 00:17:59,333
{\an8}And I literally used all these products
that she purchased,
411
00:17:59,333 --> 00:18:02,233
{\an8}and got to see results from,
that she was happy with when she left.
412
00:18:02,233 --> 00:18:07,800
{\an8}Absolutely manipulated me.
Went out of his way to manipulate me.
413
00:18:07,800 --> 00:18:10,200
{\an8}Well, she opened it in the store,
so if she does return it,
414
00:18:10,200 --> 00:18:12,367
{\an8}she'll have to seal it again
with some kind of plastic sealer,
415
00:18:12,367 --> 00:18:15,266
{\an8}like they used, like,
for those old VHS tapes,
416
00:18:15,266 --> 00:18:16,700
{\an8}when they used to seal them
after you watched them,
417
00:18:16,700 --> 00:18:17,700
{\an8}from Hollywood Video?
418
00:18:17,700 --> 00:18:23,233
{\an8}Beware, because there's a lot
of frauds out there.
419
00:18:23,233 --> 00:18:24,333
{\an8}I stand by my products.
420
00:18:24,333 --> 00:18:26,300
{\an8}The product is intact.
421
00:18:27,500 --> 00:18:31,200
For once in my life, I am so glad
that when I'm walking down the street,
422
00:18:31,200 --> 00:18:33,333
and we've encountered these people
in our walks,
423
00:18:33,333 --> 00:18:35,200
just around, like you said,
around our neighborhood,
424
00:18:35,200 --> 00:18:37,333
for my resting bitch face.
425
00:18:37,333 --> 00:18:39,767
Because never once
have they looked at me and said,
426
00:18:39,767 --> 00:18:43,767
"She looks like an easy target
for us to pull into the store," not once.
427
00:18:43,767 --> 00:18:45,767
Would you give me an example of... of...?
428
00:18:45,767 --> 00:18:48,667
Just, I think, living in New York City
as a woman, alone,
429
00:18:48,667 --> 00:18:50,133
taking the subway for three years...
430
00:18:50,133 --> 00:18:52,066
- I want you to look at me...
- You... no, I can't recreate it.
431
00:18:52,066 --> 00:18:53,633
- [Judge Judy chuckling]
- You know it when you see it.
432
00:18:53,633 --> 00:18:56,266
You know it when you see it.
I'm sure it's on one of our episodes,
433
00:18:56,266 --> 00:19:00,433
but I'm, I just am so disgusted
with people like that,
434
00:19:00,433 --> 00:19:01,834
that know exactly what they're doing.
435
00:19:01,834 --> 00:19:04,300
He suns himself in Miami on the weekends,
436
00:19:04,300 --> 00:19:06,867
all on the backs
of these poor older people
437
00:19:06,867 --> 00:19:10,500
who feel pressured and,
maybe, like she was saying,
438
00:19:10,500 --> 00:19:11,900
she lives with someone
who's a recluse,
439
00:19:11,900 --> 00:19:14,367
who... I'm sure she doesn't speak
to that many people,
440
00:19:14,367 --> 00:19:17,433
and that's the whole scam,
and I just feel so terrible,
441
00:19:17,433 --> 00:19:20,767
that this guy takes pride
in his "business"
442
00:19:20,767 --> 00:19:22,567
that is scamming people.
443
00:19:22,567 --> 00:19:24,533
It looks, it looks like a little bit
of a shady business that he went into
444
00:19:24,533 --> 00:19:28,433
for $200,000, and now somebody else
took it over.
445
00:19:28,433 --> 00:19:30,533
- And not anyone with a last name.
- [Judge Judy] Yeah, right.
446
00:19:30,533 --> 00:19:32,633
There's never anyone with a last name
involved in these things.
447
00:19:32,633 --> 00:19:35,066
[sighs]
People have to be careful.
448
00:19:35,066 --> 00:19:38,066
You know, in the law,
caveat emptor, you know,
449
00:19:38,066 --> 00:19:40,033
let the buyer...
let a buyer beware.
450
00:19:40,033 --> 00:19:45,333
That's okay.
But this overaggressive salesmanship...
451
00:19:45,333 --> 00:19:47,367
- Mm-hmm.
- [Judge Judy] ...reminds me , Sarah,
452
00:19:47,367 --> 00:19:52,967
of something that the Legal Aid Society,
who are the defense team in family court,
453
00:19:52,967 --> 00:19:56,367
would argue in the closing statement
in a robbery case to me,
454
00:19:56,367 --> 00:19:59,066
they would say to me,
"It's not a robbery,
455
00:19:59,066 --> 00:20:01,266
he was aggressively panhandling."
456
00:20:01,266 --> 00:20:03,066
That's what it was, it wasn't a robbery,
457
00:20:03,066 --> 00:20:05,100
- it was an aggressive panhandle.
- Mm-hmm.
458
00:20:05,100 --> 00:20:08,066
This is just aggressive salesmanship,
is what he's saying.
459
00:20:08,066 --> 00:20:12,533
Well, the line crosses
between aggressive salesmanship.
460
00:20:12,533 --> 00:20:16,100
- False imprisonment.
- [Judge Judy] And, and what amounts to,
461
00:20:16,100 --> 00:20:19,400
at least in her case, and the case
of at least two other people
462
00:20:19,400 --> 00:20:22,600
who went into that store
feeling that they were uncomfortable
463
00:20:22,600 --> 00:20:24,533
about leaving
unless they purchased something.
464
00:20:24,533 --> 00:20:26,200
- Mm-hmm.
- You know, you and I are tough birds.
465
00:20:26,200 --> 00:20:29,200
We would, you know, say,
"Well, we're leaving.
466
00:20:29,200 --> 00:20:31,266
"Oh, really?
We're not leaving until we buy...?"
467
00:20:31,266 --> 00:20:32,834
- [Sarah chuckling]
- Yeah, right.
468
00:20:32,834 --> 00:20:36,100
But some people can't do that,
that's not in their character.
469
00:20:36,100 --> 00:20:37,834
Anyway, you know, if somebody
puts them out of business,
470
00:20:37,834 --> 00:20:39,967
another business will just pop up,
471
00:20:39,967 --> 00:20:42,967
because, as, I don't know,
was it W.C. Fields said,
472
00:20:42,967 --> 00:20:45,667
"There's a sucker born every minute,"
I'm not exactly sure who said it
473
00:20:45,667 --> 00:20:46,867
but somebody will tell me.
474
00:20:48,500 --> 00:20:52,166
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