1 00:00:00,800 --> 00:00:03,734 {\an8}You contracted with him to make you a costume. 2 00:00:03,734 --> 00:00:05,033 Yes, ma'am. 3 00:00:05,033 --> 00:00:07,500 - And what was wrong with it? - Many, many things. 4 00:00:07,500 --> 00:00:08,433 I'd like to see it. 5 00:00:08,433 --> 00:00:11,533 [slow snare drum beats] 6 00:00:12,700 --> 00:00:14,367 It's a costume. Get a life. 7 00:00:14,367 --> 00:00:16,667 [narrator] This is Judy Justice. 8 00:00:16,667 --> 00:00:19,700 {\an8}♪ 9 00:00:33,867 --> 00:00:36,867 {\an8}[narrator] Cade Newton is suing costume designer 10 00:00:36,867 --> 00:00:38,667 {\an8}Robert Estrada for a deposit, 11 00:00:38,667 --> 00:00:42,200 lost wages, and a superhero costume. 12 00:00:42,767 --> 00:00:44,700 [Kevin] Court come to order. All rise. 13 00:00:46,000 --> 00:00:47,133 Have a seat, please. 14 00:00:49,333 --> 00:00:51,633 {\an8}Case 2162, Newton vs. Estrada. 15 00:00:51,734 --> 00:00:52,900 {\an8}- Thank you. - You're welcome. 16 00:00:53,433 --> 00:00:59,166 Mr. Newton, you retained the services of Mr. Estrada to make you a costume. 17 00:00:59,166 --> 00:01:02,700 - Yes, ma'am. - And it was-- According to your complaint, 18 00:01:02,800 --> 00:01:06,900 - you make a living as an influencer? - Yes, ma'am, I produce content. 19 00:01:06,900 --> 00:01:10,633 Okay. Now, Sarah has actually tried to explain that to me, what that is, 20 00:01:10,633 --> 00:01:14,133 and I think the kindergarten version of what she told me was, 21 00:01:14,133 --> 00:01:19,600 you are on the internet, and your idea is to get as many people 22 00:01:19,600 --> 00:01:24,066 to follow the things that you do in your life as possible. 23 00:01:24,066 --> 00:01:28,400 - and you post on the internet, - [Cade chuckles] 24 00:01:28,400 --> 00:01:30,734 Your picture's doing whatever you're doing, 25 00:01:30,734 --> 00:01:32,867 and then when you have enough people, 26 00:01:33,433 --> 00:01:37,500 advertisers, people who make products, pay you 27 00:01:37,500 --> 00:01:41,033 to tout their products one way or another. 28 00:01:41,033 --> 00:01:43,233 - And that's how you make a living. - Yes, ma'am. 29 00:01:43,233 --> 00:01:44,800 - Thank you. - [Sarah] No problem. 30 00:01:44,800 --> 00:01:45,934 - Anytime. - [court laughs] 31 00:01:45,934 --> 00:01:49,233 So, you don't produce anything. 32 00:01:49,233 --> 00:01:51,900 You're just being you. 33 00:01:51,900 --> 00:01:55,734 {\an8}Well, no, but I do own three companies, and one of them is 34 00:01:55,734 --> 00:01:58,934 {\an8}- a social media advertising company. - [Judy] Okay. 35 00:01:58,934 --> 00:02:03,133 So it's important to meet and mingle with as many people as possible. 36 00:02:03,133 --> 00:02:07,500 I get that, but it's all to support your primary function... 37 00:02:07,600 --> 00:02:10,467 - Yes, ma'am. - as-- We had a case... 38 00:02:11,066 --> 00:02:13,934 years and years ago. It was one of my favorites. 39 00:02:13,934 --> 00:02:19,100 It was a guy who was being supported by a woman, 40 00:02:19,100 --> 00:02:25,033 and quite frankly I couldn't see what this perfectly delightful, productive woman, 41 00:02:25,033 --> 00:02:29,300 what she saw in this guy. But I said, she gives you this, 42 00:02:29,300 --> 00:02:31,633 she pays your rent, she pays for your food, 43 00:02:31,633 --> 00:02:33,567 what does she get in return? 44 00:02:33,567 --> 00:02:38,633 And I'll never forget his answer. He said, "She gets me!" 45 00:02:41,734 --> 00:02:45,800 I don't know why that came to mind when we're talking about being an influencer. 46 00:02:45,900 --> 00:02:47,433 - What do you-- How does that happen? - [court laughs] 47 00:02:47,433 --> 00:02:52,433 Anyway, you asked Mr. Estrada to do a costume for you, you like to go to events, 48 00:02:52,433 --> 00:02:55,900 I don't have to hear all about it, I sort of understand it a little now. 49 00:02:55,900 --> 00:02:59,934 You contracted with him to make this costume for you for $1000, 50 00:03:00,066 --> 00:03:02,834 {\an8}you paid him a $500 deposit, 51 00:03:02,834 --> 00:03:06,367 {\an8}he delivered the costume, albeit he delivered it a little late, 52 00:03:06,367 --> 00:03:09,266 but you accepted it, and then you didn't pay him for it 53 00:03:09,433 --> 00:03:12,433 - because you say it was not made well. - Yes. 54 00:03:12,433 --> 00:03:15,000 - And you have the costume now? - Yes, ma'am, I do. 55 00:03:15,000 --> 00:03:19,400 Okay. In addition to the costume, you gave him another costume 56 00:03:19,400 --> 00:03:23,133 that you wanted him to just put another appliqué on of something. 57 00:03:23,133 --> 00:03:27,633 - It was a relatively minor thing. - I just remember glue on the chest. 58 00:03:27,633 --> 00:03:30,633 Whatever, you asked him to do something, it was work, he's not your 59 00:03:30,633 --> 00:03:34,400 brother, uncle, father, you're not related to him, that's his business. 60 00:03:34,400 --> 00:03:38,367 And when you refused to pay him the balance of the costume 61 00:03:38,367 --> 00:03:41,900 that he made for you, he has the other costume, and he says, 62 00:03:41,900 --> 00:03:44,667 "Well, when you pay me, you can get your costume back." 63 00:03:44,667 --> 00:03:47,066 - Am I clear? - Uh, yes, but... 64 00:03:47,200 --> 00:03:50,967 {\an8}we have talked about creating multiple different costumes in the future, 65 00:03:51,066 --> 00:03:53,333 {\an8}and every single time there was a dollar amount mentioned, 66 00:03:53,333 --> 00:03:56,133 this was never discussed, we discuss it prior. 67 00:03:56,133 --> 00:03:58,834 - But that wasn't ever discussed. - That's true. And whose fault is that? 68 00:03:58,834 --> 00:04:01,700 - Um, it was never brought up, but-- - [Judy] No, no, no. 69 00:04:01,700 --> 00:04:03,500 - Whose fault is that? - I assumed-- 70 00:04:03,500 --> 00:04:06,600 [Judy] Just a second. If the complaint about the costume, 71 00:04:06,600 --> 00:04:11,133 that he was just supposed to put an appliqué on of some sort of 72 00:04:11,133 --> 00:04:12,633 a creature, a spider or something, 73 00:04:12,633 --> 00:04:15,800 if you gave it to him, and this is his business, 74 00:04:15,800 --> 00:04:18,233 then you say, "How much is it?" 75 00:04:19,400 --> 00:04:23,266 So, I'm just letting you foment that in your head, sir. 76 00:04:23,266 --> 00:04:26,767 When did you order this costume from him for $1000? 77 00:04:26,767 --> 00:04:31,033 - Uh... August 7th. - [Judy] And he delivered it in October? 78 00:04:31,166 --> 00:04:34,934 - October 8th, I believe. - And what was wrong with it? 79 00:04:34,934 --> 00:04:37,700 {\an8}- Many, many things-- - [Judy] So you have it with you? 80 00:04:37,700 --> 00:04:39,834 {\an8}I have every single bit of the costume with me. 81 00:04:39,834 --> 00:04:42,233 - I'd like to see it. - Like, one piece at a time? 82 00:04:42,233 --> 00:04:45,467 No. Just a second. That's a boot. What else? 83 00:04:46,400 --> 00:04:48,500 - This glove-- - [Judy] Just a second, that's a glove? 84 00:04:48,500 --> 00:04:49,433 - Yes. - Okay. 85 00:04:49,433 --> 00:04:52,400 And, uh, he actually has plenty of pictures that he sent me 86 00:04:52,400 --> 00:04:55,934 in the chat that he was actually making the glove himself. 87 00:04:55,934 --> 00:05:02,033 This comes from a costume store from the main movie this comes from. 88 00:05:02,033 --> 00:05:03,767 - Okay, put it-- - And it came out in 2005. 89 00:05:03,767 --> 00:05:06,934 He sold me a glove that was almost 20 years old, and he said 90 00:05:06,934 --> 00:05:08,800 - he was making me me one. - Okay, keep going. 91 00:05:08,800 --> 00:05:11,166 And this belt right here... 92 00:05:11,166 --> 00:05:14,367 I only tried it on once to see how everything fit, 93 00:05:14,367 --> 00:05:16,900 and by the time I tried to take the belt off and on, 94 00:05:16,900 --> 00:05:20,400 it broke, between... 20 minutes of use. 95 00:05:20,400 --> 00:05:22,400 In the house, just testing it out in the mirror. 96 00:05:22,400 --> 00:05:25,633 I just want to see that. I see boots, I see a glove, 97 00:05:25,633 --> 00:05:28,233 looks perfectly normal to me. 98 00:05:31,934 --> 00:05:34,533 - And that's put on with Velcro? - Yes. 99 00:05:34,533 --> 00:05:37,967 No big deal. You put on another piece of Velcro. That's a substantial belt. 100 00:05:37,967 --> 00:05:39,567 {\an8}Put it back. What's your next complaint? 101 00:05:39,567 --> 00:05:41,633 Well, number one, not only did-- 102 00:05:41,767 --> 00:05:43,400 [Judy] Just a second, I don't want to see the glove anymore. 103 00:05:43,400 --> 00:05:45,066 I saw the glove, I saw the boot, I saw the belt. 104 00:05:45,066 --> 00:05:46,934 Where's the rest of the costume? 105 00:05:49,633 --> 00:05:50,734 Here's the other boot. 106 00:05:50,734 --> 00:05:53,867 Just a second. Hey, where's the rest of the costume? 107 00:06:02,100 --> 00:06:04,066 We don't have a mannequin or something we could put this on? 108 00:06:04,066 --> 00:06:05,433 - What? - We don't have a mannequin or something 109 00:06:05,433 --> 00:06:07,600 - we could put this on? - We can put it on him! 110 00:06:07,600 --> 00:06:11,166 Put it on him. Ask him to put it on, I want to see what's wrong with it. 111 00:06:13,800 --> 00:06:15,100 It's a costume. 112 00:06:16,600 --> 00:06:18,900 ♪ 113 00:06:18,900 --> 00:06:20,967 {\an8}Listen to me. I'm not hearing you anymore. 114 00:06:20,967 --> 00:06:22,300 {\an8}I don't think you're being very fair. 115 00:06:22,300 --> 00:06:24,233 {\an8}It's not a popularity contest, sir. 116 00:06:24,233 --> 00:06:27,800 {\an8}You bought something. I've bought many things-- This is not... 117 00:06:27,800 --> 00:06:30,400 {\an8}It's also the principle. Which is why I took this to court, the principle. 118 00:06:30,400 --> 00:06:31,967 {\an8}This is not-- You're out. Goodbye. 119 00:06:32,233 --> 00:06:33,533 {\an8}[narrator] And later today... 120 00:06:33,533 --> 00:06:36,633 {\an8}So you were there for a little less than twelve hours, right? 121 00:06:36,633 --> 00:06:39,000 {\an8}You came at five o'clock in the afternoon-- 122 00:06:39,000 --> 00:06:42,867 {\an8}- I went at 11. - And at 4:30 in the morning, you left. 123 00:06:42,867 --> 00:06:44,800 {\an8}I didn't actually leave, I was told to leave. 124 00:06:44,800 --> 00:06:45,867 {\an8}But you left! 125 00:06:50,934 --> 00:06:53,700 {\an8}♪ 126 00:06:56,967 --> 00:07:00,967 {\an8}[narrator] Cade Newton claims costume designer Robert Estrada 127 00:07:00,967 --> 00:07:04,233 {\an8}sent him a poorly-made superhero costume. 128 00:07:04,233 --> 00:07:07,600 Robert is counter-suing for the balance owed on the costume. 129 00:07:08,800 --> 00:07:12,133 Okay. Now, would you do me a favor, just put the belt on? 130 00:07:12,133 --> 00:07:16,600 I know that you can't use the Velcro because a piece of the Velcro came off. 131 00:07:16,734 --> 00:07:19,467 Put the belt around, I just want to see how the belt's supposed to go. 132 00:07:19,567 --> 00:07:22,033 {\an8}- For the record, it doesn't go like this-- - [Judy] Just a second. 133 00:07:22,033 --> 00:07:24,667 {\an8}I didn't ask you anything, I just said, "Put it on." 134 00:07:28,033 --> 00:07:31,900 - It's really difficult with this robe on. - Now turn around. 135 00:07:33,867 --> 00:07:37,834 Oh, very good. Now you can take all the show-and-tell away. 136 00:07:37,834 --> 00:07:41,433 - And you can take it off. - Your Honor, if I could say something? 137 00:07:41,433 --> 00:07:43,700 [Judy] You don't have to say anything. I've seen the costume 138 00:07:43,700 --> 00:07:47,600 - for which he wanted to charge you $1000. - Well, there's still more... 139 00:07:47,600 --> 00:07:49,567 Yeah, but you don't want to put that on now, 'cause-- 140 00:07:49,567 --> 00:07:51,900 No, it's not something you have to put on, 141 00:07:51,900 --> 00:07:54,400 it's-- We're looking at the sewmanship. 142 00:07:56,767 --> 00:07:58,667 This should be one continuous piece. 143 00:07:59,600 --> 00:08:01,266 Mr. Newton. Get a life. 144 00:08:02,467 --> 00:08:03,800 Get a life. 145 00:08:04,633 --> 00:08:07,367 Get rid of that stuff. Put it over there on that chair. 146 00:08:08,800 --> 00:08:13,033 This is not a $25,000 costume. It's a $1000 costume. 147 00:08:13,033 --> 00:08:18,400 If you go into a store to buy any costume, without boots, without a leather glove, 148 00:08:18,400 --> 00:08:21,433 it's a couple of hundred dollars, not made. 149 00:08:21,433 --> 00:08:25,066 And if you don't like the way it was made, don't use his services again. 150 00:08:25,066 --> 00:08:27,567 According to what I read, you have lots of costumes. 151 00:08:27,567 --> 00:08:32,166 I have two. The one there and the one that he brought of my possession. 152 00:08:32,166 --> 00:08:34,767 - Oh! Okay, so you just have two costumes? - Yeah. 153 00:08:34,767 --> 00:08:38,567 Great! Now you have two. Now you're paying $500 for the costume 154 00:08:38,567 --> 00:08:42,700 that he made for you, that's the balance that you owe him for the costume. 155 00:08:42,700 --> 00:08:45,133 Now we're going to talk a little bit about the-- 156 00:08:45,133 --> 00:08:47,834 I'm not accepting the costume because it's not up to my-- 157 00:08:47,834 --> 00:08:49,767 Just a second. That's why you're in court, sir. 158 00:08:49,767 --> 00:08:51,800 I don't care if you like it or not. 159 00:08:51,800 --> 00:08:55,834 Don't use his services again. He made it, you bought it. 160 00:08:55,834 --> 00:09:01,600 Based upon my view of that, it may not be perfect, 161 00:09:01,600 --> 00:09:05,333 I paid for it to be perfect, that's the reason I bought it. 162 00:09:05,333 --> 00:09:10,066 Just a second. I'd like a lot of things perfect, sir. Life is not perfect. 163 00:09:10,066 --> 00:09:12,200 - You gotta pay him for the costume. - I paid for the professional-- 164 00:09:12,200 --> 00:09:14,700 No. You gotta pay him for the costume. That's it. 165 00:09:14,800 --> 00:09:16,767 That's why you're here. For me to make a judgement. 166 00:09:16,767 --> 00:09:20,333 If I looked at this thing and didn't think that, for instance-- 167 00:09:20,333 --> 00:09:23,767 When you sent him those boots, were the soles falling off the boots? 168 00:09:23,767 --> 00:09:26,567 - No, they were not. - I didn't think so. That's for my benefit. 169 00:09:26,567 --> 00:09:29,734 He's gonna pay you the $500 he owes you for the costume. 170 00:09:29,734 --> 00:09:31,100 - The belt wasn't-- - And then he bought it. 171 00:09:31,100 --> 00:09:34,000 The belt wasn't falling apart either. It got one use. 172 00:09:34,000 --> 00:09:36,867 And within 20 minutes of trying it on-- And voilà! 173 00:09:36,867 --> 00:09:39,567 [Judy] Just a second, Mr. Newton. I'm done with that! 174 00:09:39,567 --> 00:09:43,800 I'm onto the next gig. I'm onto your other costume 175 00:09:43,800 --> 00:09:47,867 {\an8}that he was supposed to put an appliqué on. Do you have that costume? 176 00:09:47,867 --> 00:09:49,300 {\an8}- I do. - [Judy] Very good. 177 00:09:49,300 --> 00:09:53,333 {\an8}Now, I want to tell you something. He didn't send those boots with soles off. 178 00:09:53,800 --> 00:09:56,333 - They don't fall off by themselves. - [Judy] Just a second. 179 00:09:56,333 --> 00:09:59,200 - No, they don't fall off by themselves. - And I didn't wear it anywhere. 180 00:09:59,200 --> 00:10:02,367 I don't care whether you wore it anywhere. I know they don't fall of by themselves, 181 00:10:02,367 --> 00:10:05,000 and you didn't send them that way. So, you figure out, 182 00:10:05,000 --> 00:10:08,133 let the people out here figure out what's in my head, 183 00:10:08,133 --> 00:10:11,166 how the soles came off both of those shoes. 184 00:10:11,166 --> 00:10:14,467 Well, can he tell me why one piece of the costume has a bigger arm than the other? 185 00:10:14,567 --> 00:10:17,567 - Listen. I'm not hearing you anymore. - I don't think you're being very fair. 186 00:10:17,567 --> 00:10:21,166 Just to be-- I'm a big fan of you, but I don't think you're very fair right now. 187 00:10:21,166 --> 00:10:23,233 [Judy] It's not a popularity contest, sir. 188 00:10:23,233 --> 00:10:26,767 You bought something. I've bought many things-- This is not... 189 00:10:26,767 --> 00:10:29,367 It's the principle. Which is why I decided to take this to court, the principle. 190 00:10:29,367 --> 00:10:31,967 You're out. You're gone. Goodbye. 191 00:10:32,767 --> 00:10:35,867 Your case is dismissed. Do you want your costume back? 192 00:10:35,867 --> 00:10:38,200 - Yes, ma'am. - Good. How much was it 193 00:10:38,200 --> 00:10:40,800 - to put the appliqué on it? - It was $100. 194 00:10:40,800 --> 00:10:44,433 $100. Very good. Judgement on the counter-claim, 195 00:10:44,533 --> 00:10:48,000 $600, he gets the costume back. Do you understand? 196 00:10:48,000 --> 00:10:49,133 - Yes, I do. - We're done. 197 00:10:49,133 --> 00:10:51,000 - Thank you. - [Kevin] This court is adjourned. 198 00:10:53,967 --> 00:10:57,567 {\an8}I had paid a pretty penny for something that was just fabric and boots. 199 00:10:57,567 --> 00:11:00,667 {\an8}I tried to explain how the costume works, and unfortunately, 200 00:11:00,667 --> 00:11:02,700 {\an8}he didn't really listen. He doesn't listen. 201 00:11:02,700 --> 00:11:05,567 {\an8}It's one of my favorite things of all time. I've always wanted it. 202 00:11:05,567 --> 00:11:08,934 {\an8}Well, I gave him what he wanted, but when I delivered it, he actually 203 00:11:08,934 --> 00:11:12,700 {\an8}didn't take the time to hear me tell him how the suit goes on. 204 00:11:14,000 --> 00:11:18,033 So, what do you think the likelihood is that the defendant shipped those boots 205 00:11:18,033 --> 00:11:20,133 with the soles the way we saw them in court today? 206 00:11:20,133 --> 00:11:21,633 - Zero! - [laughs] 207 00:11:21,633 --> 00:11:25,233 I totally agree. I think the plaintiff thought it would help his case 208 00:11:25,333 --> 00:11:27,767 to have a little bit more destroyed of a costume than... 209 00:11:27,767 --> 00:11:29,233 - Drama. - ...maybe it was. 210 00:11:29,233 --> 00:11:33,200 - And it doesn't look good for him. - Actually, I thought that what was sent-- 211 00:11:33,200 --> 00:11:38,066 The boots were substantial, there's no question that he dislodged the soles 212 00:11:38,066 --> 00:11:42,767 from them before he came here. The belt was a really substantial belt. 213 00:11:42,767 --> 00:11:45,133 What he was complaining about was a piece of Velcro. 214 00:11:45,266 --> 00:11:47,333 And it's a costume belt, Velcro comes off. 215 00:11:47,333 --> 00:11:49,200 Yeah, and you put it back on. 216 00:11:49,200 --> 00:11:51,133 You just superglue it back on. 217 00:11:51,133 --> 00:11:54,900 Absolutely right. There was clearly $1000 worth of work 218 00:11:54,900 --> 00:11:57,900 that went into the costume, putting it together with the boots 219 00:11:57,900 --> 00:12:00,500 and the belt and the glove. And it was really sort of outrageous 220 00:12:00,500 --> 00:12:02,934 that he didn't pay him. Anyway, made my life easy, 221 00:12:02,934 --> 00:12:05,066 beside the fact that he was a nudnik. 222 00:12:05,066 --> 00:12:09,333 Case 2135, Coleman vs. Washington. All parties, please step forward. 223 00:12:09,333 --> 00:12:14,066 {\an8}[narrator] Kawana Coleman is suing caretaker Jessica Washington 224 00:12:14,066 --> 00:12:18,000 {\an8}for stolen money, travel costs, and elder abuse. 225 00:12:18,000 --> 00:12:21,333 - Miss Coleman, how old is your mother? - Ninety. 226 00:12:21,333 --> 00:12:23,333 - Do you live with her? - I do. 227 00:12:23,333 --> 00:12:25,834 - How long have you been living with her? - Um, three years. 228 00:12:25,834 --> 00:12:27,867 - Are you her primary caretaker? - Yes, ma'am. 229 00:12:27,867 --> 00:12:29,233 [Judy] She suffers from... 230 00:12:29,233 --> 00:12:30,867 - [Kawana] Dementia. - [Judy] For how long? 231 00:12:30,867 --> 00:12:35,767 {\an8}I identified it in December of 2019. 232 00:12:35,767 --> 00:12:39,500 {\an8}And I just stayed from that point on, sleeping on her couch. 233 00:12:39,500 --> 00:12:43,767 At some point, you had to go out of town for a period of time. 234 00:12:43,767 --> 00:12:45,467 - Yes. - [Judy] You hired the defendant? 235 00:12:45,467 --> 00:12:47,800 {\an8}- [Kawana] Yes, ma'am. - [Judy] How did you get to her? 236 00:12:47,800 --> 00:12:51,133 {\an8}My cousin Andrea was friends with her, 237 00:12:51,133 --> 00:12:54,433 and she said that she would be a great candidate. 238 00:12:54,433 --> 00:12:55,667 Did you interview her? 239 00:12:55,667 --> 00:12:58,967 I spoke with her later on, she came by the house, and-- 240 00:12:58,967 --> 00:13:00,767 [Judy] What date did your first speak to her? 241 00:13:00,767 --> 00:13:02,867 [Kawana] Maybe about a day or two before I left. 242 00:13:02,867 --> 00:13:04,800 [Judy] And on what date did you leave? 243 00:13:04,800 --> 00:13:06,166 Um, the 11th of August. 244 00:13:06,266 --> 00:13:09,000 - How long were you going to be away for? - About seven days. 245 00:13:09,000 --> 00:13:11,633 [Judy] And tell me, Miss Washington, are you employed now? 246 00:13:11,633 --> 00:13:13,100 - Yes, I am. - By whom? 247 00:13:13,200 --> 00:13:17,000 {\an8}Well, I do self-employment, and I also have my own little business 248 00:13:17,000 --> 00:13:20,600 {\an8}on the side as well, you know, caring for elderly people. 249 00:13:20,600 --> 00:13:22,867 [Judy] Okay. Did you have any special training 250 00:13:22,867 --> 00:13:25,033 for the care of the elderly? 251 00:13:25,033 --> 00:13:29,000 I got my AED and my CPR. No, not really. 'Cause basically, 252 00:13:29,000 --> 00:13:30,767 I've been just dealing with family members. 253 00:13:30,867 --> 00:13:33,066 - [Judy] For how long? - I'm gonna say at least five years. 254 00:13:33,066 --> 00:13:35,934 And you had no special training for the care of the elderly? 255 00:13:35,934 --> 00:13:37,600 - [Jessica] Exactly. - Okay. And did you explain that 256 00:13:37,600 --> 00:13:39,033 - to the plaintiff? - She knew that. 257 00:13:39,033 --> 00:13:41,467 Don't tell me what she knew. I didn't ask you what she knew. 258 00:13:41,467 --> 00:13:43,867 ♪ 259 00:13:44,000 --> 00:13:47,467 {\an8}You left. And when you left, you took the $400 that you found. 260 00:13:47,467 --> 00:13:50,000 {\an8}- Because the mother told me to. - You mean the mother with dementia 261 00:13:50,000 --> 00:13:52,800 {\an8}and Alzheimer's who you stayed up with at 4:30 in the morning... 262 00:13:52,800 --> 00:13:54,700 {\an8}- [Jessica] Mm-hmm. - ...told you to take the $400? 263 00:13:54,700 --> 00:13:55,867 {\an8}- Mm-hmm. - Uh-huh. 264 00:14:02,667 --> 00:14:07,133 ♪ 265 00:14:07,133 --> 00:14:11,667 {\an8}[narrator] Kawana Coleman claims caretaker Jessica Washington 266 00:14:11,667 --> 00:14:15,433 {\an8}stole money from her mother, who suffers from dementia. 267 00:14:15,433 --> 00:14:19,266 Okay. On what date were you supposed to report to take care of her mother? 268 00:14:19,400 --> 00:14:21,433 - August 11th. - Did you? 269 00:14:21,433 --> 00:14:23,100 - Yes, I did. - [Judy] Who was there? 270 00:14:23,100 --> 00:14:24,967 It was Miss Coleman and her mother. 271 00:14:24,967 --> 00:14:27,800 {\an8}[Judy] And the arrangement that you made with her 272 00:14:27,800 --> 00:14:29,300 {\an8}was for seven days... 273 00:14:29,400 --> 00:14:31,633 - Mm-hmm. - ...and you'd be living with her mother? 274 00:14:31,633 --> 00:14:32,800 For seven days. 275 00:14:32,800 --> 00:14:35,100 [Judy] And what was she to pay you for the seven days? 276 00:14:35,100 --> 00:14:36,900 We never discussed a payment. 277 00:14:36,900 --> 00:14:40,033 [Judy] Well, this is what you were doing for a living. And you had jobs 278 00:14:40,033 --> 00:14:41,934 - for the last five years. - Mm-hmm. 279 00:14:41,934 --> 00:14:44,667 {\an8}"Mm-hmm" is not an answer. "Yes" is the answer. 280 00:14:44,667 --> 00:14:47,934 {\an8}And when you work for other people who you tell me about, 281 00:14:47,934 --> 00:14:50,867 - what did you charge them? - I didn't really charge them anything. 282 00:14:50,867 --> 00:14:53,567 That's why I'm saying me and her never discussed a price, 283 00:14:53,567 --> 00:14:56,166 because she didn't know if I was gonna charge her or not. 284 00:14:56,166 --> 00:14:59,400 Because I could've watched her mother for nothing, just because. That's family. 285 00:14:59,400 --> 00:15:03,500 Okay. Well, this is what the case is about. You watched her mother 286 00:15:03,500 --> 00:15:07,800 {\an8}for one day, and then you left. And according to her, her mother fell. 287 00:15:07,800 --> 00:15:12,600 {\an8}When you left after the one day, she had left $400. 288 00:15:12,600 --> 00:15:16,233 And you took the $400. That's what she says, when you left. 289 00:15:16,233 --> 00:15:21,400 Your answer is that you earned that $400 in the one day, 290 00:15:21,400 --> 00:15:22,734 that's why you took it. 291 00:15:22,734 --> 00:15:27,266 You have the counter-claim because she has said to someone that 292 00:15:27,266 --> 00:15:31,934 what you did amounted to elder abuse. Now, you started on the 11th, 293 00:15:32,100 --> 00:15:35,767 - tell me when you left. - The date that I left was August 12th 294 00:15:35,767 --> 00:15:38,133 at 4:30 in the morning because I was put out. 295 00:15:38,133 --> 00:15:41,567 - [Judy] Who put you out? - Her cousin Andrea. Which is my godmother. 296 00:15:41,567 --> 00:15:45,467 Because I called her to help me pick her mother up off the floor, 297 00:15:45,467 --> 00:15:48,500 - which her cousin told me to leave-- - [Judy] No, no, no. You can't tell me 298 00:15:48,500 --> 00:15:51,834 what anybody else told you. Prior to 4:30 on the 12th, 299 00:15:51,834 --> 00:15:55,734 did Miss Coleman's mother suffer a fall? 300 00:15:55,734 --> 00:15:58,300 - Yes, she did. - [Judy] Okay. And where did she fall? 301 00:15:58,300 --> 00:16:01,000 She fell on the floor. She was sitting at the table 302 00:16:01,000 --> 00:16:04,333 where I was sitting at as well, too. I got up to use the bathroom-- 303 00:16:04,333 --> 00:16:07,900 - [Judy] At 4:30 in the morning? - Mm-hmm. She was-- We was up all night. 304 00:16:08,033 --> 00:16:10,033 - Could you tell me why? - [Jessica] Because she was waiting 305 00:16:10,033 --> 00:16:13,133 for her daughter to come back because before her daughter left the house, 306 00:16:13,133 --> 00:16:17,667 being as though the lady has dementia and Alzheimer's, they think about 307 00:16:17,667 --> 00:16:21,333 the future, the past, and the present, she's thinking her daughter is coming back 308 00:16:21,333 --> 00:16:23,433 because her daughter said, "I will be right back." 309 00:16:23,433 --> 00:16:26,166 So that's why she sat up all night long. 310 00:16:26,266 --> 00:16:29,567 I was trying to put her to bed, she didn't want to go to bed, so I called-- 311 00:16:29,567 --> 00:16:33,667 Okay. So you were there from what time in the morning on the 11th? 312 00:16:33,667 --> 00:16:37,033 I got there at five o'clock in the afternoon on the 11th-- 313 00:16:37,033 --> 00:16:40,200 [Judy] So you were there for a little less than twelve hours, right? 314 00:16:40,200 --> 00:16:42,834 You came at five o'clock in the afternoon, 315 00:16:42,834 --> 00:16:46,166 and at 4:30 in the morning, you left. 316 00:16:46,166 --> 00:16:48,300 I didn't actually leave, I was told to leave. 317 00:16:48,300 --> 00:16:50,633 - [Judy] But you left! - Yeah, and I didn't want to. 318 00:16:50,633 --> 00:16:52,500 [Judy] I don't care whether you wanted to or not. 319 00:16:53,700 --> 00:16:57,233 It's not particularly relevant whether you wanted to or not. 320 00:16:57,233 --> 00:17:00,266 I understand what happened. You left. And when you left, 321 00:17:00,266 --> 00:17:03,533 - you took the $400 that you found. - Because the mother told me to. 322 00:17:03,533 --> 00:17:05,367 You mean the mother with dementia and Alzheimer's-- 323 00:17:05,367 --> 00:17:06,867 - [Jessica] Yes, her mother told me-- - [Judy] Shh, just a sec. 324 00:17:06,867 --> 00:17:10,100 You mean the mother with dementia and Alzheimer's who you stayed up with 325 00:17:10,100 --> 00:17:13,133 at 4:30 in the morning told you to take the $400? 326 00:17:13,133 --> 00:17:14,700 - Mm-hmm. - [Judy] Uh-huh. Okay. 327 00:17:14,867 --> 00:17:17,834 Now, you're suing her for a lot more than the $400, because you said you had to 328 00:17:17,834 --> 00:17:20,667 come home from your travel, she's not responsible for that, 329 00:17:20,667 --> 00:17:24,000 she has to return the $400 to you. You told me two minutes ago, 330 00:17:24,000 --> 00:17:26,633 Miss Washington, that you never discussed a fee-- 331 00:17:26,800 --> 00:17:27,834 - We didn't-- - [Judy] Shh. 332 00:17:27,834 --> 00:17:29,800 This isn't a question-and-answer. 333 00:17:29,800 --> 00:17:32,667 You didn't even know whether you were going to charge her anything, 334 00:17:32,667 --> 00:17:34,900 because as far as you were concerned, "It's family." 335 00:17:34,900 --> 00:17:37,467 - Mm-hmm. - [Judy] "Uh-huh" is not an answer. 336 00:17:37,600 --> 00:17:41,900 And you listened to the woman that you had been hired to care for 337 00:17:41,900 --> 00:17:47,266 because she has dementia and Alzheimer's and had fallen, and she said to you, 338 00:17:47,367 --> 00:17:51,300 "Take this $400, it's yours." What if she told you to take 339 00:17:51,300 --> 00:17:53,533 a piece of her jewelry? Would you have taken that? 340 00:17:53,533 --> 00:17:55,333 - No. - [Judy] Yeah, you would've taken it, 341 00:17:55,333 --> 00:17:57,066 - because she gave it to you. - No I wouldn't, 'cause I'm not no thief. 342 00:17:57,066 --> 00:17:58,567 - I wouldn't-- - No, no, that's not... 343 00:17:58,567 --> 00:18:02,133 that's not what I'm telling you. You say that you took this $400 344 00:18:02,133 --> 00:18:06,133 {\an8}because this woman who can't make a judgement told you to take it. 345 00:18:06,133 --> 00:18:09,166 {\an8}What if she said to you, "I want you to have my pearls." 346 00:18:09,166 --> 00:18:10,633 - Mm-mm. - Why not? 347 00:18:10,633 --> 00:18:13,867 I'm not taking no jewelry 'cause I have my own, I don't need her jewelry. 348 00:18:13,867 --> 00:18:17,934 Okay. Okay, that's ridiculous. Judgement for the plaintiff in the amount of $400. 349 00:18:17,934 --> 00:18:21,633 I'll take a look at the instance that you have on your counterclaim 350 00:18:21,633 --> 00:18:26,467 for slander when she says that you were guilty of elder abuse. 351 00:18:26,467 --> 00:18:28,633 - What do you have to show me? - It's in the court order. 352 00:18:28,633 --> 00:18:29,934 What do you mean, "It's in the court order?" 353 00:18:29,934 --> 00:18:33,867 It is, she went and filed elder abuse on me, plus the traveling expenses. 354 00:18:33,867 --> 00:18:35,967 - I have that court order. - Just a second. 355 00:18:35,967 --> 00:18:39,934 Is that what you're telling me? In her case against you for the $400, 356 00:18:39,934 --> 00:18:44,266 and for any other travel expenses, which I'm dismissing that part of her claim, 357 00:18:44,266 --> 00:18:48,166 she said you were guilty of elder abuse, that's protected. Okay, your counter-claim 358 00:18:48,166 --> 00:18:50,567 - is dismissed. We're done. - [Kevin] Court is adjourned. 359 00:18:53,266 --> 00:18:57,000 {\an8}I think the judge did a great job. I assumed that she would be able to 360 00:18:57,000 --> 00:19:01,567 {\an8}deal with my mother. It's difficult being a caregiver, and we as people 361 00:19:01,567 --> 00:19:04,266 {\an8}need to do much more to protect our elderly. 362 00:19:05,600 --> 00:19:08,900 We've seen a couple of these cases, and it's so unfortunate to see 363 00:19:08,900 --> 00:19:13,000 the elderly, and whether they're ill, or sick, or mentally not capable 364 00:19:13,000 --> 00:19:14,767 of caring for themselves anymore, 365 00:19:14,767 --> 00:19:17,400 zero training that some of these people have 366 00:19:17,400 --> 00:19:19,100 to really care for them. 367 00:19:19,100 --> 00:19:21,233 It's scary, and we've seen it too many times. 368 00:19:21,233 --> 00:19:26,834 And $400 on the counter, for someone to just take it for 12 hours' worth of work-- 369 00:19:26,834 --> 00:19:32,834 You know, it's always struck me as a shame that society has, and the government has, 370 00:19:32,834 --> 00:19:38,066 created situations where you need licenses to do certain things. 371 00:19:38,066 --> 00:19:41,834 You need a license to tweeze someone's eyebrows. 372 00:19:41,834 --> 00:19:43,867 - Mm-hmm. - [Judy] You have to be a cosmetologist, 373 00:19:43,867 --> 00:19:47,367 you have to have a license, you have to go to school, you have to pass an exam, 374 00:19:47,367 --> 00:19:49,967 you need a license to have a dog, 375 00:19:49,967 --> 00:19:54,300 but the most vulnerable people in the population, those people who-- 376 00:19:54,300 --> 00:19:57,633 As she said, she didn't know whether her daughter was coming back 377 00:19:57,633 --> 00:20:01,200 or not coming back, she said she'd be right back so she was waiting up for her, 378 00:20:01,200 --> 00:20:06,133 that vulnerable person, when it worked to the defendant's advantage, 379 00:20:06,133 --> 00:20:08,533 they said, "Well, she was perfectly capable of saying to me..." 380 00:20:08,533 --> 00:20:10,066 - Take the money. - [Judy] Take the money. 381 00:20:10,166 --> 00:20:12,400 Terrible. Really frightening. 382 00:20:14,000 --> 00:20:15,300 [narrator] Want justice? 383 00:20:15,300 --> 00:20:17,667 {\an8}Go to JudyJustice.tv