1
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- This has to do with sports?
- Yes.
2
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I put the money to the team.
He runs the team.
3
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It wasn't just,
I'm gonna give you the money
4
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and you go do with it what you want.
5
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- I wasn't paid anything.
- I fronted the money for the uniforms.
6
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I didn't go to seven years
7
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post-graduate school to discuss
a pair of socks.
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I don't care.
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00:00:18,033 --> 00:00:20,033
This is Judy Justice.
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{\an8}Jason Gabriel is suing his former friend,
Lawrence Senior, Sr.,
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00:00:42,533 --> 00:00:46,000
for money he gave Lawrence to run
a boy's basketball team.
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Court come to order.
All rise.
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Have a seat everyone.
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Hello Judge. Case 2167.
Gabriel versus Senior.
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00:00:55,834 --> 00:00:57,100
- Thank you.
- You're welcome.
16
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Mr. Gabriel, it's always exciting for me
when I find a case that I can't relate to
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based upon my own personal experience.
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{\an8}- And this has to do with sports?
- Yes.
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{\an8}And those people who know me
know that I'm really an non-functioning
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American when it comes to sports.
I understand baseball but nothing else.
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However, I have a little bit of experience
with people.
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So you have a son, that would be you.
Could you stand up for a moment?
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Who's tall...
Now you can sit down.
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And who likes to play basketball?
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Yes, your honor.
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{\an8}And he's been playing basketball
for a long time.
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{\an8}Well, most sports stopped
at the start of the pandemic.
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- And he was playing for a team?
- Yes, your honor.
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I know that I'm gonna get fuzzy
on this eventually,
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so far I'm holding up okay.
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So he was playing for a team, the team
closed down as did most other things.
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And the pandemic is sort of winding down
and sports are coming back.
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And you wanted your son to play basketball
34
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because this is your senior year
in high school?
35
00:02:03,867 --> 00:02:05,633
No, I'm a freshman in college, your honor.
36
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Last year. So this happened last year?
37
00:02:07,333 --> 00:02:08,500
{\an8}Yes, I was a senior...
38
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{\an8}So this happened last year
when he was a senior in high school.
39
00:02:11,967 --> 00:02:15,367
And you wanted him to play
because he enjoyed it,
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{\an8}and because he thought somebody
would find him, a scout?
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{\an8}Mostly the enjoyment, but there's always
a chance for the scout.
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00:02:21,567 --> 00:02:25,100
{\an8}Okay, and you know, you're his father
and fathers always think
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that their sons are uber talented
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00:02:27,266 --> 00:02:31,300
and maybe can be one
of those quiet self-starters
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00:02:31,400 --> 00:02:35,000
who turns out to be the hero
on the basketball court.
46
00:02:35,400 --> 00:02:37,500
{\an8}I have a grandson who plays baseball
47
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{\an8}and he plays baseball pretty well,
plays in college.
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{\an8}His father follows him around
from one game to another
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like it was a full-time job.
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- I can relate to that.
- It is.
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00:02:49,433 --> 00:02:52,166
Well, your son wanted to play.
There was no team.
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00:02:52,333 --> 00:02:55,433
The defendant was a basketball coach
who you knew?
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00:02:55,600 --> 00:02:57,600
- Yes, your honor.
- Whose team was also...
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00:02:58,100 --> 00:03:02,800
Teams, those teams that he coached
were also defunct because of COVID.
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00:03:03,100 --> 00:03:05,600
- So far correct Mr. Senior?
- Yes ma'am.
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00:03:05,734 --> 00:03:09,600
So at some point you approached him
and said, I'd love to start up
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00:03:09,834 --> 00:03:13,967
this team again because I would like
my son to play ball.
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He wants to play ball and nobody else
is doing it that I know of.
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00:03:18,367 --> 00:03:23,633
What would it take to restart a team
that could be part of a league
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00:03:23,633 --> 00:03:26,266
or play other teams, you know?
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00:03:26,633 --> 00:03:28,233
- Yeah, you're right.
- You know.
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- Is that close?
- You're close.
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00:03:30,200 --> 00:03:31,934
- You're close.
- Close enough.
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00:03:32,133 --> 00:03:33,133
- Yes.
- Perfect.
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00:03:33,333 --> 00:03:38,333
So you talked about an amount.
Mr. Senior said,
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00:03:38,500 --> 00:03:41,333
"I can start the team up for $8,500."
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Yes ma'am.
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00:03:42,333 --> 00:03:46,967
You who wanted desperately for your son
to play ball his senior year said,
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"I'm gonna give you the money."
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You gave him $8,500,
so far, correct?
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00:03:52,800 --> 00:03:55,166
- Uh, 8,200.
- It's 8,500, your honor.
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I have the check right here
if you'd like it.
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00:03:56,567 --> 00:04:00,467
Okay, if you have the check cash it.
So it's $8,500.
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00:04:00,900 --> 00:04:04,667
{\an8}The team only played one game
or one tournament?
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00:04:04,800 --> 00:04:09,033
{\an8}No, it was actually four tournaments
in total for that season that we played.
76
00:04:09,133 --> 00:04:11,367
And how many are you supposed to play?
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00:04:11,467 --> 00:04:16,300
We had planned on six in total.
One would be out of state or far away.
78
00:04:16,300 --> 00:04:21,300
No, no, how many games were supposed
to be played by your son's team
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being coached by the defendant?
80
00:04:23,734 --> 00:04:25,667
So a tournament could have three games.
81
00:04:25,667 --> 00:04:28,667
So, and that takes over the course
of a weekend-- a Saturday and a Sunday.
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00:04:28,667 --> 00:04:29,600
So?
83
00:04:29,600 --> 00:04:31,900
{\an8}- A tournament could be three games.
- A tournament is three games?
84
00:04:31,900 --> 00:04:34,033
{\an8}Could be four as well
if you're, if you're successful.
85
00:04:34,033 --> 00:04:36,633
Okay, so you were supposed
to have four tournaments?
86
00:04:36,633 --> 00:04:39,367
We were supposed to have six tournaments
and we did have four.
87
00:04:39,367 --> 00:04:41,400
Okay.
So you played most of the games?
88
00:04:41,600 --> 00:04:43,967
- Yes.
- And then the team was disbanded?
89
00:04:43,967 --> 00:04:44,934
Yes.
90
00:04:44,934 --> 00:04:47,500
For whatever reason,
may or may not be relevant.
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00:04:47,867 --> 00:04:49,600
So how much money do you want back?
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00:04:49,867 --> 00:04:52,266
- You're suing him for $4,800.
- Right?
93
00:04:52,367 --> 00:04:55,367
Well, you know, math is my second
non-strong suit.
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00:04:55,367 --> 00:04:56,367
Yep.
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00:04:56,367 --> 00:05:01,667
But if you paid him 85 and you played
two thirds or three quarters of the games
96
00:05:01,767 --> 00:05:03,033
that you were supposed to play,
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00:05:03,166 --> 00:05:05,934
why do you think you would be entitled
to $4,800 back?
98
00:05:06,133 --> 00:05:09,734
Because I also fronted the money
for the uniforms.
99
00:05:09,934 --> 00:05:11,734
Well that was spent.
- And the graphics.
100
00:05:11,734 --> 00:05:13,633
Well that was spent.
- In addition to the $8,500.
101
00:05:13,633 --> 00:05:15,200
I understand,
but that was all spent.
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The uniforms the players got.
103
00:05:17,633 --> 00:05:19,400
Right.
- Right. And they kept them?
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00:05:19,400 --> 00:05:21,967
The players kept some,
and the defendant has the rest of them.
105
00:05:21,967 --> 00:05:23,734
Okay. Do you want them back?
- I do not.
106
00:05:23,734 --> 00:05:27,567
Well, he'll give 'em to you back if you
want them cause he's not using them.
107
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How do I know that this is his team,
his organization? He'll...
108
00:05:29,934 --> 00:05:31,800
Just a second.
- It's a non-profit company.
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Okay.
Let's deal with this slowly.
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00:05:33,533 --> 00:05:35,367
We are dealing with the math first.
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00:05:35,467 --> 00:05:40,100
Do you have-- Mr. Senior,
do you have any of the uniforms?
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00:05:40,100 --> 00:05:42,033
{\an8}No Ma'am.
I never collected uniforms.
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00:05:42,033 --> 00:05:43,667
Did you have--
- He had sole possession.
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{\an8}- What?
- He had sole possession of the uniforms.
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00:05:46,367 --> 00:05:49,667
- So you don't have any uniforms?
- No, he's the one that handed them out.
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Okay, did any of the players
give them back to you?
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No.
None of them gave.
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00:05:53,734 --> 00:05:55,200
So you don't have any uniforms?
- No.
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00:05:55,200 --> 00:05:56,500
He doesn't have any uniforms.
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00:05:56,600 --> 00:06:00,200
But your honor, it didn't cost $85
to run the team.
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00:06:00,300 --> 00:06:02,066
- Which is, that's my, that's my...
- Just a second.
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00:06:02,066 --> 00:06:07,400
Not what we're talking about, sir.
Your $8,500 went to have six tournaments.
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00:06:07,600 --> 00:06:10,300
- You had four tournaments, right?
- Yes.
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00:06:10,300 --> 00:06:12,667
Whether or not you get your money back
is a whole other thing.
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00:06:12,667 --> 00:06:15,533
But the uniforms were purchased,
that you don't get back.
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00:06:15,834 --> 00:06:19,000
The advertising, graphics, were done,
that you don't get back.
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00:06:19,133 --> 00:06:20,633
Whether it's for four or six.
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00:06:20,767 --> 00:06:23,033
- That was his team's name on it.
- It doesn't matter.
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What difference does it make?
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00:06:27,266 --> 00:06:28,500
{\an8}Majority did not pay.
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{\an8}You have anything that requires
that they pay in a contract?
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00:06:31,667 --> 00:06:33,567
{\an8}Uh, that would be Coach Larry
that he does.
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00:06:33,567 --> 00:06:35,166
{\an8}And he passed out those to the kids.
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00:06:35,266 --> 00:06:37,800
{\an8}No, he didn't put in $8,500, you did.
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00:06:49,367 --> 00:06:54,233
{\an8}Jason Gabriel claims
his former friend, Lawrence Senior, Sr.,
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00:06:54,367 --> 00:06:57,967
{\an8}owes him money after they started
a boy's basketball team.
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00:06:58,200 --> 00:07:03,867
Now, can you tell me why the tournaments
were cut short, sir?
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00:07:03,867 --> 00:07:05,533
There was a number of reasons,
your honor.
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00:07:05,633 --> 00:07:08,667
One of them was, uh, right from the start,
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00:07:08,967 --> 00:07:12,300
both me and my other son tried
to discourage Mr. Gianni
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00:07:12,500 --> 00:07:14,700
about forming a team
of that age group.
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00:07:14,867 --> 00:07:17,233
Okay.
I don't wanna get back into that, sir.
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00:07:17,233 --> 00:07:20,633
You took his money, you played four
out of the six tournaments.
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00:07:20,633 --> 00:07:25,000
How much were you paid to coach
out of this $8,500?
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00:07:25,100 --> 00:07:27,533
{\an8}I wasn't paid anything it's...
Did you?
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00:07:27,633 --> 00:07:29,600
{\an8}It's more of an administrative cost.
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00:07:29,834 --> 00:07:31,700
{\an8}What administrative cost?
148
00:07:31,834 --> 00:07:35,700
Uh, scheduling tournaments, gyms, gas,
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00:07:35,967 --> 00:07:38,567
transporting kids that didn't have rides.
150
00:07:38,667 --> 00:07:41,500
More than half the team
was not supported by their family.
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00:07:41,500 --> 00:07:42,600
At least one kid was homeless.
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00:07:42,600 --> 00:07:45,533
What? Was there an accounting
that you asked for sir?
153
00:07:45,633 --> 00:07:49,734
Yes, and that's my, that's was my initial
response to coach Larry,
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00:07:50,066 --> 00:07:52,800
was yes, he told me $8,500
to start the team.
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00:07:52,800 --> 00:07:55,066
No, I'm asking you an accounting
at the end of the day?
156
00:07:55,066 --> 00:07:56,567
I asked him where
the money went.
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00:07:56,667 --> 00:07:58,600
Like could he account for $8,500
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00:07:58,934 --> 00:08:02,133
in addition to $1,600
that other kids paid to play?
159
00:08:02,433 --> 00:08:04,500
That's how I was gonna get my money back.
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00:08:04,500 --> 00:08:06,166
It wasn't just, "I'm gonna give you
the money
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00:08:06,166 --> 00:08:07,567
and you go do with it what you want."
162
00:08:07,734 --> 00:08:11,066
He told me it was $8,500 to start the team
and I would get my money back.
163
00:08:11,200 --> 00:08:12,834
Oh, from what source?
164
00:08:12,967 --> 00:08:15,100
The kids pay to join the team.
165
00:08:15,200 --> 00:08:17,667
Okay.
How many people were on the team?
166
00:08:17,667 --> 00:08:21,600
We had as many as, uh, 14,
maybe 16, come through.
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00:08:21,834 --> 00:08:24,000
To try-outs, they didn't play.
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00:08:24,333 --> 00:08:25,667
I'm sorry.
169
00:08:29,934 --> 00:08:32,200
- How you doing your honor?
- How am I doing?
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00:08:32,200 --> 00:08:33,133
I've been better.
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00:08:35,367 --> 00:08:36,233
You're his son?
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00:08:36,233 --> 00:08:37,934
Yeah, I actually run the program with him.
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00:08:37,934 --> 00:08:38,867
- Yes.
- Okay, good.
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00:08:38,867 --> 00:08:41,200
So how many young men
were playing basketball?
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00:08:41,200 --> 00:08:43,433
{\an8}On the team that you're talking
about that's in question,
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00:08:43,433 --> 00:08:46,934
{\an8}I believe there was as many as 10
to 12 that actually came.
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00:08:47,233 --> 00:08:49,633
The numbers vary because we're talking
about 18 year old children
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00:08:49,734 --> 00:08:51,800
that come and go as they please.
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00:08:51,800 --> 00:08:52,767
They don't really want to be there.
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00:08:52,767 --> 00:08:54,834
18 year olds are maybe children
to their parents.
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00:08:54,934 --> 00:08:57,166
They are not 18 year old children.
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00:08:57,166 --> 00:09:00,567
When it comes to this then,
responsibility part. Yeah.
183
00:09:01,000 --> 00:09:04,500
I don't know, I'm old I guess,
they're children to me still. Sorry.
184
00:09:04,600 --> 00:09:08,100
What I want to know is,
did you have a contract with him?
185
00:09:08,266 --> 00:09:09,934
- A written contract?
- I did not.
186
00:09:09,934 --> 00:09:13,433
You just said, "Here's your $8,500,
and I'll get my money back
187
00:09:13,533 --> 00:09:15,633
when the kids sign up and pay their dues."
188
00:09:15,867 --> 00:09:19,400
How much do they pay each
to join the team?
189
00:09:19,567 --> 00:09:23,900
Coach Larry, um, set that number
at $600 per player.
190
00:09:24,000 --> 00:09:25,533
- Is that correct?
- Yes ma'am.
191
00:09:25,633 --> 00:09:27,166
Can we tell you where that number
comes from?
192
00:09:27,166 --> 00:09:29,834
Over the years, cause we've been doing
this for over 20 years,
193
00:09:29,934 --> 00:09:32,934
the cost-- the average cost to run a team
for a full season.
194
00:09:33,066 --> 00:09:35,367
We averaged it out to be about $600
per kid.
195
00:09:35,700 --> 00:09:39,000
{\an8}Because on a 10 to 12 man roster,
10 being the least you should have.
196
00:09:39,000 --> 00:09:40,500
How does he make money?
197
00:09:40,500 --> 00:09:41,934
{\an8}We don't make money.
I'm sorry.
198
00:09:41,934 --> 00:09:43,767
{\an8}- We Don't make...
- So you don't make any money.
199
00:09:43,767 --> 00:09:46,166
You just do this for the love
of the sport.
200
00:09:46,266 --> 00:09:48,934
He grew up in a basketball family.
He's played basketball all his life.
201
00:09:48,934 --> 00:09:52,200
I have. I've been in a sports family.
My brother has and we just love sports.
202
00:09:52,200 --> 00:09:54,934
So this is not a moneymaking operation?
203
00:09:54,934 --> 00:09:57,567
Not at all.
We probably put in more money than we made
204
00:09:57,567 --> 00:09:59,600
or put out in the program.
I'm sorry.
205
00:09:59,700 --> 00:10:00,600
Go ahead sir.
206
00:10:00,600 --> 00:10:03,033
Your honor, I coach uh,
high school football.
207
00:10:03,333 --> 00:10:05,533
Actually, his son goes to the school
I coach.
208
00:10:05,533 --> 00:10:08,400
So I was aware of him
and I also coach baseball.
209
00:10:08,400 --> 00:10:11,567
{\an8}So I just don't, you know, you're not
gonna make any money coaching new sports
210
00:10:11,567 --> 00:10:12,633
{\an8}if that's what everybody think.
211
00:10:12,633 --> 00:10:13,800
{\an8}Well, I'm just asking you.
212
00:10:13,800 --> 00:10:15,233
No, no, I know that.
213
00:10:15,233 --> 00:10:18,100
I'm just asking you
cause there is a suggestion here
214
00:10:18,100 --> 00:10:23,200
that some of that money
was to pay you as coach.
215
00:10:23,834 --> 00:10:26,800
And I just wanna know
whether that is in fact correct?
216
00:10:27,133 --> 00:10:31,200
Whether any of this $8,500 went to you?
217
00:10:31,400 --> 00:10:33,100
Not directly, no.
Some went to gas.
218
00:10:33,200 --> 00:10:35,934
Indirectly to pay for gas and pick up...
219
00:10:36,033 --> 00:10:39,400
It could be a car repair.
I only had one car at the time.
220
00:10:39,400 --> 00:10:41,834
Okay. Mr. Gabriel...
- Me and my wife are retired.
221
00:10:41,834 --> 00:10:45,567
Can you-- Mr. Gabriel, can you tell me
if you have,
222
00:10:45,867 --> 00:10:47,700
since you have no written contract.
223
00:10:47,867 --> 00:10:50,834
You have no written contract requiring anything.
224
00:10:51,033 --> 00:10:54,600
You're just supposed to start up
a basketball team, which he did.
225
00:10:54,600 --> 00:10:56,934
- I assume you played, is that right?
- Yes, your honor.
226
00:10:56,934 --> 00:10:59,533
And you played in four
out of six tournaments.
227
00:10:59,633 --> 00:11:01,166
Stand up next to your dad.
228
00:11:01,367 --> 00:11:02,900
Did you play successfully?
229
00:11:03,700 --> 00:11:06,166
I only played three
out of the four tournaments.
230
00:11:06,166 --> 00:11:07,367
That's reasonable.
231
00:11:07,467 --> 00:11:10,533
That's, is that normal that members...
232
00:11:11,000 --> 00:11:14,033
I don't even know how many people
are on the basketball court at a time.
233
00:11:14,033 --> 00:11:14,967
Five at a time.
234
00:11:15,133 --> 00:11:16,867
- What?
- Five at each team at time.
235
00:11:16,967 --> 00:11:17,900
- Five?
- So ten total, yes.
236
00:11:18,066 --> 00:11:20,367
Well, if few had 10 to 12 kids, you what?
237
00:11:20,667 --> 00:11:23,066
What? I don't know.
238
00:11:23,433 --> 00:11:26,333
I just tried-- I tried to expose it to you
before this case.
239
00:11:26,333 --> 00:11:28,233
I tried to put it on tv.
I made the...
240
00:11:28,233 --> 00:11:30,233
So if I can back up to 2019.
241
00:11:30,734 --> 00:11:32,533
We met coach Larry in 2019.
242
00:11:32,633 --> 00:11:34,133
I didn't just pick him out
of the blue net.
243
00:11:34,133 --> 00:11:36,100
I didn't suggest that you picked him
out of the blue.
244
00:11:36,233 --> 00:11:38,133
- Mr. Gabriel--
- My son played for him in the past.
245
00:11:38,133 --> 00:11:42,567
Mr. Gabriel, you don't look like the man
that would give some stranger $8,500
246
00:11:43,066 --> 00:11:45,200
to start up a team not knowing him.
247
00:11:45,333 --> 00:11:47,367
Correct.
Okay. I accept that.
248
00:11:47,467 --> 00:11:50,300
I just don't understand that as a...
Are you a business person?
249
00:11:50,300 --> 00:11:52,133
I am.
What kind of business are you in?
250
00:11:52,133 --> 00:11:53,333
I'm a contractor.
251
00:11:53,333 --> 00:11:55,133
Well, if you're a contractor. Yes.
252
00:11:55,266 --> 00:11:56,166
That I know.
253
00:11:56,834 --> 00:11:58,533
- You have contracts?
- Absolutely.
254
00:11:58,533 --> 00:12:01,567
The contractor has contracts.
And the contract that you...
255
00:12:01,567 --> 00:12:05,033
- Do you build homes or you build?
- I remodel homes, yes.
256
00:12:05,166 --> 00:12:06,033
Okay.
257
00:12:06,033 --> 00:12:11,200
So the contracts that you do lay out
with specificity, what you're going to do,
258
00:12:11,200 --> 00:12:15,066
what the materials costs are,
what the vig is, on it, you know,
259
00:12:15,900 --> 00:12:18,166
within a certain amount, play.
260
00:12:18,433 --> 00:12:21,000
But it lays out everything
that you're going to do.
261
00:12:21,100 --> 00:12:24,500
You are turning over $8,500
to the defendant
262
00:12:24,633 --> 00:12:29,867
and there is nothing in there
that suggests that with any specificity
263
00:12:29,967 --> 00:12:31,433
what he has to do to comply.
264
00:12:31,533 --> 00:12:33,600
He had to start a team, which he did.
265
00:12:33,767 --> 00:12:34,667
- Right?
- Yes.
266
00:12:34,667 --> 00:12:37,533
Had to start a team, which he did.
Where your son played.
267
00:12:37,767 --> 00:12:38,834
- Yes.
- Which he did.
268
00:12:38,934 --> 00:12:44,000
There were supposedly six tournaments out
of which four were successfully played.
269
00:12:44,200 --> 00:12:46,533
And your son played in three of them, right?
270
00:12:46,633 --> 00:12:47,533
Yes, your honor.
271
00:12:47,633 --> 00:12:50,767
So you should have been happy somebody
got a chance to see 'em if they...
272
00:12:50,867 --> 00:12:53,100
Did anybody give you
a basketball scholarship?
273
00:12:53,266 --> 00:12:55,633
I do play Division Three basketball
in Brooklyn.
274
00:12:56,834 --> 00:12:58,800
Good for you.
There you go.
275
00:12:58,967 --> 00:13:01,934
Did somebody find you
with one of these games?
276
00:13:02,100 --> 00:13:04,433
- No.
- How were you recruited?
277
00:13:04,667 --> 00:13:08,767
I did, um, multiple showcases in,
one in Connecticut in particular.
278
00:13:08,767 --> 00:13:10,066
He's a good player, your honor.
279
00:13:10,066 --> 00:13:11,100
He's a good player.
280
00:13:11,100 --> 00:13:13,867
And so I was found through showcases
that I did by my own.
281
00:13:13,867 --> 00:13:17,700
Okay.
But you played and that was good practice.
282
00:13:17,967 --> 00:13:19,000
- It was good?
- Yes.
283
00:13:19,100 --> 00:13:22,500
I don't know why it was disbanded
after four tournaments.
284
00:13:22,500 --> 00:13:24,433
Do you?
Do you?
285
00:13:24,967 --> 00:13:29,433
{\an8}Yes, there was multiple players
who did not wanna play anymore
286
00:13:30,000 --> 00:13:35,433
{\an8}because they were verbally abused
by the coach and they just were fed up.
287
00:13:35,767 --> 00:13:38,400
And then there was other players
that were let play for free
288
00:13:38,900 --> 00:13:40,834
and people just thought that was unfair, so...
289
00:13:40,834 --> 00:13:43,867
What do you mean with "let play for free?"
What is it? Explain that to me.
290
00:13:43,867 --> 00:13:45,800
That they were just let on the team
without paying.
291
00:13:45,800 --> 00:13:50,166
Oh, so some people were disturbed
that some people paid to play
292
00:13:50,166 --> 00:13:51,166
and some didn't?
293
00:13:51,166 --> 00:13:52,100
Yes, your honor.
294
00:13:52,100 --> 00:13:55,133
Do you have anything that requires
that they pay in a contract?
295
00:13:55,133 --> 00:13:57,066
Uh, that would be coach Larry,
that he does.
296
00:13:57,066 --> 00:13:58,667
And he passed out those to the kids.
297
00:13:58,667 --> 00:14:03,467
No, I'm asking you for your--
he didn't put in $8,500, you did.
298
00:14:06,633 --> 00:14:10,433
{\an8}Here it says, "Used some fees
to catch up on my mortgage."
299
00:14:10,533 --> 00:14:13,934
{\an8}- I assume that's your home mortgage?
- Correct. After the season was over.
300
00:14:13,934 --> 00:14:16,333
{\an8}Well, you can't do that.
You can't do that, sir.
301
00:14:16,500 --> 00:14:17,600
{\an8}Do you understand?
302
00:14:29,700 --> 00:14:34,700
Jason Gabriel is accusing
his former friend, Lawrence Senior, Sr.,
303
00:14:35,066 --> 00:14:38,867
of owing him money after
their boys' basketball team ended.
304
00:14:38,867 --> 00:14:41,266
- Go ahead sir.
- I put the money to the team.
305
00:14:41,266 --> 00:14:44,033
He runs the team.
I can't tell him how to run his team.
306
00:14:44,033 --> 00:14:48,133
No, would you have a contract sir,
that tells you what your $8,500
307
00:14:48,133 --> 00:14:51,533
was to be used for and the expectation
that you were going to get that money
308
00:14:51,533 --> 00:14:55,800
returned to you via fees that were paid
to each individual player?
309
00:14:55,800 --> 00:14:59,567
That has to be it, and in the event
that they don't pay, who's gonna pay?
310
00:14:59,834 --> 00:15:02,400
Well, I do have a text message
from the defendant saying,
311
00:15:02,500 --> 00:15:05,066
"I did not use all the money.
It did not cost $8,500..."
312
00:15:05,066 --> 00:15:06,400
Okay.
- "...And I will pay you back."
313
00:15:06,400 --> 00:15:07,633
That's what I would like to see.
314
00:15:07,900 --> 00:15:11,100
'Cause it was disbanded
for whatever reason, all your reasons
315
00:15:11,367 --> 00:15:12,867
sir, are hearsay.
316
00:15:13,100 --> 00:15:15,000
- What is your first name?
- Gianni.
317
00:15:15,100 --> 00:15:16,934
Gianni, the reasons are hearsay.
318
00:15:17,033 --> 00:15:19,633
Why people left?
They didn't like to be yelled at.
319
00:15:19,633 --> 00:15:21,133
They didn't like some people.
320
00:15:21,367 --> 00:15:25,900
That's all stuff that I can't process
as a jurist in my head.
321
00:15:26,000 --> 00:15:28,767
All I know is this is a contract case.
322
00:15:29,066 --> 00:15:31,567
So now he paid $8,500.
323
00:15:32,100 --> 00:15:37,734
And did you, Mr. Senior, at some point say
the "$8,500 hasn't been all used up
324
00:15:37,934 --> 00:15:39,800
and I'll give you back some of the money?"
325
00:15:39,800 --> 00:15:40,834
- No, I didn't.
- Okay.
326
00:15:40,834 --> 00:15:43,900
{\an8}And this is also a text message saying
he used it for his mortgage
327
00:15:44,000 --> 00:15:47,100
{\an8}and that he agreed to pay me $400 a month
to pay back the...
328
00:15:47,333 --> 00:15:51,200
Okay, coach, "Fees to catch up
on my mortgage."
329
00:15:51,200 --> 00:15:55,834
"Used some fees to catch up
on my mortgage, at least $1,500.
330
00:15:55,934 --> 00:16:00,667
{\an8}And between operating costs
there is roughly $2,400 left."
331
00:16:00,667 --> 00:16:02,467
{\an8}Correct.
Oh, that's what you wrote to him?
332
00:16:02,567 --> 00:16:06,467
Yeah, and I was willing to give him
the money that the kids had paid up front.
333
00:16:06,467 --> 00:16:09,133
No, no, no.
There is roughly not the money
334
00:16:09,133 --> 00:16:10,867
that the kids paid up front, sir.
335
00:16:11,266 --> 00:16:15,900
You say to him in your text,
after this was all over,
336
00:16:15,900 --> 00:16:19,066
because I assume that this is all over
after the team was...
337
00:16:19,233 --> 00:16:23,667
- Correct. Yeah.
- disbanded there is roughly $2,400 left.
338
00:16:23,667 --> 00:16:25,867
"So I'm going to have to work out
339
00:16:26,266 --> 00:16:28,767
sort of a payment arrangement
if you don't mind."
340
00:16:28,767 --> 00:16:30,333
Which means you didn't have the money,
341
00:16:30,333 --> 00:16:32,967
but it was left over
and you spent it on something else.
342
00:16:33,133 --> 00:16:37,467
And it's here it says, "Used some fees
to catch up on my mortgage."
343
00:16:37,467 --> 00:16:39,300
I assume that's your home mortgage?
344
00:16:39,300 --> 00:16:40,900
Correct.
After the season was over.
345
00:16:40,900 --> 00:16:43,400
Well, you can't do that.
You can't do that, sir.
346
00:16:43,633 --> 00:16:44,633
Do you understand?
347
00:16:46,667 --> 00:16:48,900
Okay.
Well, this acknowledges several things.
348
00:16:49,033 --> 00:16:54,133
It acknowledges that he used $1,500
to catch up on his mortgage.
349
00:16:54,400 --> 00:16:55,266
- Right?
- Mm-hmm.
350
00:16:55,266 --> 00:16:57,633
And that according to you
and according to your son,
351
00:16:57,734 --> 00:17:00,700
whether or not you took a fee
for yourself,
352
00:17:01,333 --> 00:17:03,934
paying your home mortgage is a fee.
353
00:17:04,200 --> 00:17:06,033
- Do you understand that, sir?
- I do.
354
00:17:06,166 --> 00:17:07,533
All right. So...
355
00:17:07,633 --> 00:17:09,400
- I sure do.
- You sure do.
356
00:17:09,700 --> 00:17:13,433
So $1,500, did you pay him back
for $1,500?
357
00:17:13,667 --> 00:17:15,000
No. It's at that point...
358
00:17:15,300 --> 00:17:16,767
No. No.
The answer is no.
359
00:17:16,900 --> 00:17:22,467
And you said even after the $1,500
that you used to pay your home mortgage,
360
00:17:23,033 --> 00:17:26,233
there was still $2,400 left.
361
00:17:26,333 --> 00:17:28,367
That's what you said in here.
That's a yes.
362
00:17:28,467 --> 00:17:29,333
Yes, ma'am.
363
00:17:29,333 --> 00:17:33,600
Well then you add 24 and 15 is 0, 0, 9...
364
00:17:33,967 --> 00:17:36,166
- Is $3,900.
- Yes.
365
00:17:36,333 --> 00:17:40,200
Even my rudimentary math suggest to me
that that is a merit number.
366
00:17:40,800 --> 00:17:43,734
That's minimally what you owe him.
367
00:17:43,734 --> 00:17:46,900
Your mortgage payment and the $2,400 left.
368
00:17:46,900 --> 00:17:50,066
- You're suing him for $4,800.
- Right.
369
00:17:50,300 --> 00:17:52,734
This acknowledges 39. Absolutely.
370
00:17:52,834 --> 00:17:53,900
Prove to me anymore.
371
00:17:53,900 --> 00:17:58,000
So I went back to, um, Mr. Senior
and I said, I didn't necessarily believe
372
00:17:58,133 --> 00:18:00,834
that it costs $5,500 to run the team.
373
00:18:01,066 --> 00:18:04,300
I said, "So therefore you owe me $5,000."
374
00:18:04,400 --> 00:18:07,133
I said, "You need to either get a loan
and pay me back,"
375
00:18:07,133 --> 00:18:11,166
or, he said, "I can't get a loan,
I can give you $400 a month.
376
00:18:11,166 --> 00:18:13,400
I'd like to see the exchange.
377
00:18:13,400 --> 00:18:15,200
- I said, if you're gonna give me...
- I'd like to see the exchange.
378
00:18:15,200 --> 00:18:18,133
Just cause you said, I think it's $5,000.
379
00:18:18,133 --> 00:18:20,266
And this is where he says,
"I'd like to pay you back."
380
00:18:28,567 --> 00:18:30,567
This doesn't say anything about $5,000.
381
00:18:30,567 --> 00:18:32,800
And this is where I told him
that he misappropriated money
382
00:18:32,800 --> 00:18:34,900
that was owed back to me.
And that was his response.
383
00:18:34,900 --> 00:18:38,033
Just because you said it,
he doesn't acknowledge here in his answer
384
00:18:38,033 --> 00:18:39,500
that it's $5,000.
385
00:18:39,500 --> 00:18:43,734
Silence cannot be construed
as acknowledging $5,000.
386
00:18:43,734 --> 00:18:45,266
Even the math doesn't fit in.
387
00:18:45,266 --> 00:18:47,767
You played more than half the tournaments. So...
388
00:18:47,867 --> 00:18:50,033
Can we see how much the tournaments
cost then, please?
389
00:18:50,033 --> 00:18:52,066
No, I'm not bothering.
That's nonsense.
390
00:18:52,066 --> 00:18:53,400
Put something in a contract.
391
00:18:53,400 --> 00:18:55,367
You're a contractor.
Have a contract.
392
00:18:55,367 --> 00:18:58,533
- Right now he owes you $3,900.
- And not for the uniforms?
393
00:18:58,533 --> 00:19:00,266
No.
- That has his team?
394
00:19:00,266 --> 00:19:02,000
No.
He says he doesn't have the uniforms.
395
00:19:02,000 --> 00:19:04,000
- Okay.
- And I didn't go to seven years
396
00:19:04,000 --> 00:19:07,300
post-graduate school to discuss
a basketball uniform.
397
00:19:07,467 --> 00:19:10,567
A pair of shorts and a pair of socks.
I don't care.
398
00:19:10,567 --> 00:19:12,033
The uniforms are $1,000.
399
00:19:12,233 --> 00:19:15,066
Well, then somebody's overpaying
for a pair of shorts.
400
00:19:15,533 --> 00:19:18,834
$3,900, judgment for the plaintiff.
Thank you very much. We're finished.
401
00:19:18,834 --> 00:19:20,367
Thank you.
Court is adjourned.
402
00:19:24,467 --> 00:19:25,600
{\an8}I think it was unfair.
403
00:19:25,600 --> 00:19:27,667
{\an8}I'm glad she ruled somewhat in my favor.
404
00:19:27,667 --> 00:19:31,633
{\an8}- Because he sponsored a team.
- And yes, did I do it for my son? I did.
405
00:19:31,633 --> 00:19:34,200
{\an8}But there was 11 other young men
that I did it for.
406
00:19:34,200 --> 00:19:35,533
{\an8}Fighting amongst each other,
407
00:19:35,633 --> 00:19:39,400
{\an8}poor discipline, and the lack of, uh,
financial support from the kids.
408
00:19:39,400 --> 00:19:43,934
{\an8}When you have a group of 18 year old young
men and you don't practice
409
00:19:43,934 --> 00:19:46,767
{\an8}and you don't kind of reel 'em in
and show them that you're the coach,
410
00:19:46,767 --> 00:19:49,133
{\an8}and that you run the team,
it can get a little hairy.
411
00:19:49,233 --> 00:19:51,867
{\an8}- It is what it is.
- I did what I did for these young men.
412
00:19:52,333 --> 00:19:54,266
{\an8}Sometimes it works out,
sometimes it doesn't.
413
00:19:54,567 --> 00:19:57,867
Me and Jason are friends.
I don't think this will deter it.
414
00:19:57,867 --> 00:19:59,100
Always have contracts.
415
00:20:00,800 --> 00:20:05,800
Okay, so I know that when we got
the paperwork on this case
416
00:20:05,800 --> 00:20:07,967
that you really tried hard to give me--
417
00:20:08,100 --> 00:20:10,900
to give me a rudimentary lesson
in basketball.
418
00:20:11,000 --> 00:20:13,734
I did. Those years managing in high school
really paid off today.
419
00:20:13,734 --> 00:20:15,633
- So, I learned a lot.
- That's right. You managed.
420
00:20:15,633 --> 00:20:18,600
I did a basketball team,
so I know a little bit about AAU.
421
00:20:18,600 --> 00:20:20,934
A lot of the kids that played
at the school that I went to
422
00:20:20,934 --> 00:20:24,100
had previously played
on AAU teams, so I kind of get...
423
00:20:24,100 --> 00:20:28,300
- What's AAU?
- Oh, Amateur Athletic Union. AAU.
424
00:20:28,600 --> 00:20:30,233
- I never would've figured that.
- Me neither.
425
00:20:30,233 --> 00:20:33,600
So they played on a lot of AAU teams
before coming to high school.
426
00:20:33,600 --> 00:20:35,400
So I know a little bit
about the structure.
427
00:20:35,567 --> 00:20:38,066
And when I read it,
it's a nonprofit organization
428
00:20:38,066 --> 00:20:39,600
that kids play in to get exposure,
429
00:20:39,600 --> 00:20:41,867
hopefully to move up to the next level
of basketball.
430
00:20:41,867 --> 00:20:46,100
But to me, I read it as he was sponsoring
the team for $8,500.
431
00:20:46,100 --> 00:20:48,066
Sort of like how you see in little league.
432
00:20:48,233 --> 00:20:50,834
You know, Johnny's Pizza
across the front of the...
433
00:20:50,834 --> 00:20:52,700
Yeah, that wasn't, that wasn't...
434
00:20:52,700 --> 00:20:55,066
But this seemed like a different type
of setup.
435
00:20:55,066 --> 00:20:58,567
And to go through the coach directly,
I'm not sure the very specific structure
436
00:20:58,567 --> 00:21:02,233
of who gets paid and who doesn't,
who sponsors and who doesn't.
437
00:21:02,233 --> 00:21:05,500
But definitely paying your mortgage
out of an $8,500
438
00:21:05,500 --> 00:21:07,633
that was meant to start a team seems
a little outside.
439
00:21:07,633 --> 00:21:09,834
Yeah, well it's outside the box,
especially since both
440
00:21:09,834 --> 00:21:12,867
he and his son said that they do
this without compensation.
441
00:21:13,200 --> 00:21:15,367
Well, you don't have to take money
and put it in your pocket.
442
00:21:15,367 --> 00:21:19,433
If you take money out of that account
and pay your personal mortgage,
443
00:21:19,433 --> 00:21:21,967
that's getting paid.
It was not a difficult case.
444
00:21:22,166 --> 00:21:25,934
And the text messages made
the whole thing a lot easier.
445
00:21:26,066 --> 00:21:29,000
Now I know that there are five people
on a court for a basketball team.
446
00:21:29,000 --> 00:21:29,934
Yeah.
447
00:21:31,166 --> 00:21:34,533
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