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{\an8}You were in a relationship
for a period of time
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and have two children.
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She took the kids out of the state
without my knowledge.
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Does you daughter enjoy
a relationship with her father?
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No.
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Why don't you wait outside.
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[announcer]
This is Judy Justice.
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[sniffles]
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{\an8}[theme music playing]
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{\an8}[announcer]
Desarae Surrat is suing
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{\an8}her ex-boyfriend, Curtis Vasquez,
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{\an8}for the cost of a car and child care.
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[Bailiff]
Court come to order. All rise.
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Have a seat, everyone.
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Hello, judge. Case 1295.
Surratt v. Vasquez.
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- Thank you.
- You're welcome.
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[Judy]
Miss Surratt, you and Mr. Vasquez
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were in a relationship
for a period of time,
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- and have two children together.
- Correct.
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- How old are the children?
- I have a daughter that's 15,
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and I have a son that's 8.
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[Judy] How long did you
and Mr. Vasquez live together,
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if you did live together?
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It was a lot of off and on,
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so I would say maybe a combined time
of eight years.
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And does your daughter enjoy
a relationship with her father?
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Unfortunately, no.
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{\an8}- Is that correct?
- [Curtis] As far as I knew
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{\an8}she had a great relationship with me.
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{\an8}[Judy] When was the last time
you saw your daughter, sir?
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[Curtis] We spoke just a couple days ago.
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She has more time with friends now,
but I did speak with her, basically...
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{\an8}- [Judy] Is that right?
- That's correct.
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{\an8}- [Judy] Why don't you wait outside.
- Okay.
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{\an8}[Judy] Okay?
Because, Miss Surratt,
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{\an8}I don't believe in,
unless it's absolutely necessary,
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{\an8}and certainly in this situation,
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{\an8}doesn't sound to me as if
it's absolutely necessary,
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{\an8}to have your teenage daughter
as a witness
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{\an8}over a couple of thousand dollars
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{\an8}which you may or may not
be entitled to.
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Certainly her father is in touch with her.
She said he's in touch with her.
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Which means that they communicate
and that they have a relationship,
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because I read the complaint
and I read the answer,
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and I have a few basic questions.
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You're suing Mr. Vasquez,
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who you haven't lived with
in many, many years,
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but who you share,
according to what I've read here,
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joint legal and physical custody.
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- [Judy] Is that correct?
- That is correct, Your Honor.
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- [Judy] Is that correct?
- Yes.
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- Is that pursuant to a court order?
- Yes.
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And when was that court order made?
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- I have a copy of it, so I can tell you.
- 2011, Your Honor.
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- [Judy] Hmm?
- 2011.
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Was there a trial, Mr. Vasquez?
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[Curtis]
There was a trial, Your Honor, yeah.
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[Judy]
Were you represented by council?
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- I represented myself.
- [Judy] And what about the plaintiff?
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- Did she have a lawyer?
- She did, Your Honor.
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I'd like to see a copy of that order.
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This, from 2017.
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Well, there was one in 2011?
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This is the original one.
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Um, it hasn't changed since then.
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We have parenting and legal custody,
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and a child support order,
which is separate.
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Oh, so the 2016 order,
the ex-party order,
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originally granted Mr. Vasquez
custody of the children.
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Yes, you were the respondent
in that case.
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It said, "On October 28th, 2016,
petitioner..."
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that is Mr. Vasquez,
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"...filed a motion to establish custody
and parenting time.
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The petitioner..."
that is Mr. Vasquez,
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"...seeks joint legal
and physical custody.
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The petitioner also sought
an order granting sole legal custody
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of the children based upon
the allegations
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that his daughter was watching his son
without supervision
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for extended periods of time,
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and that his daughter
was not attending school."
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Child Protective Services
did an investigation,
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and actually found that you were not
sending your daughter to school.
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- Correct.
- [Judy] She was staying home babysitting.
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{\an8}Okay, would you tell me,
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{\an8}without my having to go through
this whole thing,
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{\an8}- was there a child support order entered?
- Yes.
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{\an8}Ultimately. And ultimately,
the children remained with you.
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- Correct.
- [Judy] Final order.
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And what was the child support order?
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The child support order initially
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was $93 a month.
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I think I have a copy of it.
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And then to increase,
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based off cost-of-living
adjustments every year.
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[Judy]
Is that $93 a month for both children?
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- For both children, yes.
- [Judy] Okay.
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The order was ultimately increased.
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How much do you pay
in child support now, sir?
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$230 a month, Your Honor.
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I'm sorry, that's not the order.
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[Judy]
Well, I asked how much you pay.
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Were you ever in arrears of payment?
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I was at one point,
and then I caught up.
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- So I've been kind of...
- Well, that catching up.
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So that 230 may be partly arrears.
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What is the order?
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Oh, I'm completely caught up
with my child support.
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{\an8}[Judy] So the current order
that you're paying is $230 a month?
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{\an8}- Yes, Your Honor.
- [Judy] Okay.
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This is what you're suing for.
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It is your claim that Mr. Vasquez
agreed to pay
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half of certain sporting fees
that the children had
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that are not contained
in the child support order.
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And he didn't.
So you're suing him for that.
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And he says that you never had
such an agreement,
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that you enrolled the children
in sporting activities
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and then came to him and said,
"You owe me half."
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- Am I reading that correctly?
- Your Honor, that's correct.
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- [Judy] That's your position?
- That's correct, Your Honor.
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{\an8}[Judy] Okay, so let's move on
to the plaintiff's position,
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{\an8}that you wanted to change
the child support order
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{\an8}to not what he was paying,
but what he was paying
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{\an8}and half of their sporting activities.
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- We actually had a verbal agreement.
- [Judy] Well, I'd like you to tell me
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when that took place,
what you said to him,
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and what he said to you.
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So tell me first
when that verbal agreement took place.
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It was 2021, probably.
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Just a conversation
between two parents to say...
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No, no, it's a conversation
between two parents.
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So he's seeing the children,
he's paying his child support.
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Whatever the order was.
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You have a conversation with him.
Is it on the phone or in person?
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[dramatic music]
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{\an8}Mr. Vasquez, your father says
that he gave you the money.
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{\an8}Certainly wasn't today,
because two weeks later
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{\an8}he writes back, "If we could arrange
for me to get the title
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{\an8}while you were here,
that would be awesome."
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{\an8}So the story you just gave me
was a whole lot of "Who shot John?"
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{\an8}[theme music playing]
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{\an8}[announcer] Desarae Surrat claims
her ex-boyfriend, Curtis Vasquez,
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{\an8}owes for the cost of a car
and child care.
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Curtis is countersuing for car repairs
and vacation expenses.
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Tell me first
when that verbal agreement took place.
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It was 2021, probably.
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Just a conversation
between two parents to say...
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No, no, it's a conversation
between two parents.
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- [Desarae] Right.
- So he's seeing the children.
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He's paying his child support.
Whatever the order was.
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You have a conversation with him.
Is it on the phone or in person?
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- No, in person.
- [Judy] At your home?
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- Yes.
- [Judy] Okay.
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And tell me about the conversation.
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What did you say to him,
and what did he say to you?
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I don't remember
the exact words, but...
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Well, that's why we bring
these things quickly,
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- because now it's two years later.
- [Desarae] Yeah.
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- [Judy] Right.
- So it was basically, well,
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his son wants to play this sport,
Angelina wants to do track.
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This is how much it's going to cost.
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And his response was just,
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"Okay, let me know how much it is,
and I'll pay half."
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- [Judy] Okay.
- Your Honor, that's not quite correct.
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We don't have this conversation.
We don't have any conversation at all.
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{\an8}We communicate via text,
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{\an8}and I rarely get a response.
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- I've taken care of...
- [Judy] Just a sec.
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- We're talking about this one instance.
- [Curtis] Okay.
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She said that you had
a conversation with her,
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where you agreed to pay half
of their sporting events.
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Based on that,
I assume that you enrolled the children
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in this sporting event,
paid the fee,
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and then said to him,
"This is your half."
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And he said, "I'm not paying that half."
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That's not correct, Your Honor.
I didn't agree to pay half.
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[Judy] No, I'm not saying
you agreed to pay half.
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That's what her position is.
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I actually enrolled my son into soccer.
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- [Judy] When?
- It was this summer. In July.
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And he was supposed to go for a month,
and she took the kids out of the state
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without my knowledge
for an extended vacation.
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And so I didn't have her pay half of that,
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and when she came back,
she wanted to make that up to him.
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- But that's without my knowledge.
- Okay. Okay.
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- How much did you pay for soccer?
- $75.
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{\an8}[Judy] So you never had a conversation
with her about paying half of this?
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{\an8}- No, Your Honor.
- And it was never reduced
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{\an8}to a modified order of the court,
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{\an8}because you have
a court order for support.
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Okay, so I'm eliminating that.
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You want to change order of support,
you have to change it in court.
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Now let's move on to the second thing
that you think that he owes you for.
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Cell phone.
Let's hear about the cell phone.
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He opened a cellphone account
for my daughter.
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- [Judy] When?
- I don't know when it was.
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When did you open
a cellphone account, sir?
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About seven years ago.
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And he paid it?
He opened an account and he paid it?
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Either him or his dad.
It was a business account.
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I don't care. You didn't pay it?
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- Correct. I didn't pay it.
- [Judy] You didn't pay it.
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So your daughter has had a cell phone
for the last seven years.
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00:09:12,800 --> 00:09:13,967
- Mm-hmm.
- [Judy] Okay.
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- And you didn't see the bills for it?
- Correct.
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- [Judy] Okay, so he paid it.
- Somebody paid it, yes. Yeah.
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- He paid it.
- [Curtis] I paid it, Your Honor.
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- [Judy] You didn't pay it?
- Correct.
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[Judy] Okay, so now you want money
for a cell phone.
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- For what?
- Just for the last six months
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that I paid, I never agreed to.
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- So I'm just asking for half of that.
- Then take the phone away.
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{\an8}- Well, she's 15...
- [Judy] I understand that.
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{\an8}I understand that.
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- Who bought her the phone?
- I bought the phone.
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Okay, and how many years ago
did you buy the phone?
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It was about a year and a half ago.
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[Judy]
Okay and it's paid for on his plan?
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No. I paid for the phone cash.
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No, no, the bills, ongoing bills,
were paid for by him
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on the phone that you bought her
a year and a half ago,
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because he said you've been
paying the bills for six months.
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- [Desarae] Yup.
- Is that correct?
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00:10:01,734 --> 00:10:04,433
Whitney, didn't she say, "I've been paying
the bills for the last six months"?
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00:10:04,433 --> 00:10:05,633
- Yes.
- [Desarae] Correct.
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[Judy]
Well, so when you first got the phone,
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for a year he was paying the bills.
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00:10:09,900 --> 00:10:11,467
- Correct. Yes.
- [Judy] Right.
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00:10:11,467 --> 00:10:13,166
Well, he was paying the bills
for seven years,
229
00:10:13,166 --> 00:10:15,166
but certainly after you bought the phone.
230
00:10:15,166 --> 00:10:17,533
But prior to that,
she had a different phone.
231
00:10:17,533 --> 00:10:20,300
She had to have had a different phone,
because he was paying the phone bills
232
00:10:20,300 --> 00:10:21,266
for six years.
233
00:10:21,266 --> 00:10:22,600
Who bought that phone?
234
00:10:22,600 --> 00:10:24,633
- I don't know.
- Your Honor, I purchased that phone.
235
00:10:24,633 --> 00:10:27,066
- It was the iPhone XR.
- [Judy] Okay.
236
00:10:27,066 --> 00:10:29,734
So you bought the first phone,
you bought a second phone.
237
00:10:29,734 --> 00:10:34,333
Very nice. And he paid the bills,
phone bills, for six years,
238
00:10:34,333 --> 00:10:36,066
and you paid it for the last six months.
239
00:10:36,066 --> 00:10:39,633
It's not part of a court order.
If you agreed to do that, you agreed.
240
00:10:39,633 --> 00:10:41,934
What are you getting courts involved for?
241
00:10:41,934 --> 00:10:43,967
I never agreed to pay the cell phone.
242
00:10:43,967 --> 00:10:46,000
[Judy] Well, he never agreed
to pay his cell phone
243
00:10:46,000 --> 00:10:48,200
when she was 13 or 12.
244
00:10:48,200 --> 00:10:49,533
You're parents.
245
00:10:49,533 --> 00:10:51,600
He paid it for a long time,
now you're paying it.
246
00:10:51,600 --> 00:10:53,467
What do you do for a living, sir?
247
00:10:53,467 --> 00:10:55,967
- I'm a Realtor.
- [Judy] You work in family business?
248
00:10:55,967 --> 00:10:58,700
- [Curtis] Absolutely.
- Tell me about the family business.
249
00:10:58,700 --> 00:11:01,133
It's children first and foremost,
you know.
250
00:11:01,133 --> 00:11:04,266
- What's best for them...
- [Judy] No, no, the family business, sir.
251
00:11:04,266 --> 00:11:06,533
- Oh, the family business.
- You're in real estate.
252
00:11:06,533 --> 00:11:08,600
- Is it a family business?
- It is not a family business.
253
00:11:08,600 --> 00:11:09,667
[Judy]
It's just yours.
254
00:11:09,667 --> 00:11:12,200
- You've been in real estate for how long?
- For about three years now.
255
00:11:12,200 --> 00:11:14,600
And prior to that I was in sales.
256
00:11:14,600 --> 00:11:17,734
{\an8}That is a family business,
and it's real estate marketing.
257
00:11:17,734 --> 00:11:20,233
That's a family business?
You're not involved with that anymore?
258
00:11:20,233 --> 00:11:22,533
- I am. Yes.
- [Judy] You still are?
259
00:11:22,533 --> 00:11:24,333
- Who owns that business?
- [Curtis] Dad.
260
00:11:24,333 --> 00:11:25,967
- Your father.
- He does, yes.
261
00:11:25,967 --> 00:11:27,800
[Judy]
How many employees did he have?
262
00:11:27,800 --> 00:11:30,166
Uh, just about ten. Ten, Your Honor.
263
00:11:30,166 --> 00:11:31,567
[Judy]
So your father employees ten people,
264
00:11:31,567 --> 00:11:33,967
- and you're one of them?
- That's correct, Your Honor.
265
00:11:33,967 --> 00:11:36,700
And what does your father
pay you annually?
266
00:11:36,700 --> 00:11:40,800
Oh, it's commission only,
so no... no, uh... no benefits.
267
00:11:40,800 --> 00:11:43,667
And in the other real estate operation,
268
00:11:43,667 --> 00:11:47,133
do you have your own office or do you
operate out of your father's office?
269
00:11:47,133 --> 00:11:49,367
- My own office.
- [Judy] Where?
270
00:11:49,367 --> 00:11:51,000
In Maple Grove, Minnesota.
271
00:11:51,000 --> 00:11:52,967
Do you have any employees?
272
00:11:52,967 --> 00:11:56,266
- I don't.
- You work for your father on commission,
273
00:11:56,266 --> 00:11:58,333
- and yourself...
- Commission only.
274
00:11:58,333 --> 00:12:00,867
[Judy]
Commission only. Okay.
275
00:12:00,867 --> 00:12:03,867
- Did you file tax returns last year?
- No, I did not.
276
00:12:03,867 --> 00:12:05,900
[Judy]
Is there any reason for that?
277
00:12:05,900 --> 00:12:08,200
- Just late. Just...
- [Judy] You're late?
278
00:12:08,200 --> 00:12:10,133
- You're a year late.
- [Curtis] Yeah.
279
00:12:10,133 --> 00:12:12,400
What about the year before?
Did you file a tax return?
280
00:12:12,400 --> 00:12:14,567
Yes, I did. Yes, I did, Your Honor.
281
00:12:14,567 --> 00:12:17,000
[Judy]
And how much did you declare as income
282
00:12:17,000 --> 00:12:18,467
the year before last?
283
00:12:18,467 --> 00:12:20,934
It's like 55...55, I think.
284
00:12:20,934 --> 00:12:22,367
55,000, yeah.
285
00:12:22,367 --> 00:12:24,600
Okay, so phone bill.
I've taken care of the phone bill.
286
00:12:24,600 --> 00:12:26,467
You've paid it for her. Fine.
287
00:12:26,467 --> 00:12:27,967
And if you don't want to pay it anymore,
288
00:12:27,967 --> 00:12:29,900
let her get an after-school job
and pay for her own phone.
289
00:12:29,900 --> 00:12:33,233
Now, the next thing that you're suing for
290
00:12:33,233 --> 00:12:35,400
is, according to your complaint,
291
00:12:35,400 --> 00:12:39,166
you had a car that you weren't using.
292
00:12:39,166 --> 00:12:43,700
Mr. Vasquez has a father
who wanted a car.
293
00:12:43,700 --> 00:12:48,367
It is your claim that Mr. Vasquez,
without your permission,
294
00:12:48,367 --> 00:12:51,233
sold the car, your car,
295
00:12:51,233 --> 00:12:53,967
to his father for $700.
296
00:12:53,967 --> 00:12:56,467
And you didn't get any of that money.
297
00:12:56,467 --> 00:12:59,000
- Correct.
- [Judy] Mr. Vasquez says
298
00:12:59,000 --> 00:13:00,967
his father was going to buy the car.
299
00:13:00,967 --> 00:13:04,367
He drove it. He didn't want to buy it,
because it had issues.
300
00:13:04,367 --> 00:13:09,033
And it's sitting in his father's driveway
waiting for you to come and get it.
301
00:13:09,033 --> 00:13:13,967
And that he never got $700
from his father for the car.
302
00:13:13,967 --> 00:13:16,233
That's his position. Correct?
303
00:13:16,233 --> 00:13:18,834
No, correction. I did get 700,
304
00:13:18,834 --> 00:13:21,000
and paid him back the next day,
305
00:13:21,000 --> 00:13:22,800
because the car broke down
within a day.
306
00:13:22,800 --> 00:13:25,200
{\an8}- [Judy] Because what?
- It broke down within a day.
307
00:13:25,200 --> 00:13:27,367
{\an8}Okay, so you did sell it to him.
308
00:13:27,367 --> 00:13:28,333
[Curtis]
Yes. Yes.
309
00:13:28,333 --> 00:13:29,633
We were in the middle
of the transaction.
310
00:13:29,633 --> 00:13:33,000
He paid for the car at the office,
which is about ten miles away from home.
311
00:13:33,000 --> 00:13:35,200
And while driving the car home,
it broke down.
312
00:13:35,200 --> 00:13:37,900
So we hadn't received the title
or anything, so I returned the money.
313
00:13:37,900 --> 00:13:39,400
[dramatic music]
314
00:13:40,433 --> 00:13:44,800
{\an8}Okay, you planned a trip
to Portugal in August of 2022.
315
00:13:44,800 --> 00:13:47,567
{\an8}- That's correct.
- Airplane tickets?
316
00:13:47,567 --> 00:13:49,367
{\an8}Where'd you get the money for all that?
317
00:13:54,166 --> 00:13:55,700
[theme music playing]
318
00:14:00,900 --> 00:14:03,066
{\an8}[announcer]
Desarae Surratt has accused
319
00:14:03,066 --> 00:14:05,800
{\an8}her ex-boyfriend, Curtis Vasquez,
320
00:14:05,800 --> 00:14:08,700
{\an8}of selling her car without her permission.
321
00:14:08,700 --> 00:14:11,533
Curtis claims he refunded the money,
322
00:14:11,533 --> 00:14:13,567
and she can take the car back.
323
00:14:13,567 --> 00:14:16,734
- Okay, so you did sell it to him.
- [Curtis] Yes. Yes.
324
00:14:16,734 --> 00:14:18,133
We were in the middle of the transaction.
325
00:14:18,133 --> 00:14:21,467
He paid for the car at the office,
which is about ten miles away from home.
326
00:14:21,467 --> 00:14:23,767
And while driving the car home,
it broke down.
327
00:14:23,767 --> 00:14:26,467
{\an8}So we hadn't received the title
or anything, so I returned the money.
328
00:14:26,467 --> 00:14:28,600
{\an8}[Judy]
Is the car still titled in your name?
329
00:14:28,600 --> 00:14:30,133
- Yes.
- So go get it.
330
00:14:30,133 --> 00:14:32,100
I don't want the car, no.
331
00:14:32,100 --> 00:14:34,834
Well, it's your car.
It's titled in your name.
332
00:14:34,834 --> 00:14:38,600
{\an8}Yes, but apparently
I have text messages showing
333
00:14:38,600 --> 00:14:40,967
{\an8}he sold the car without my permission.
334
00:14:40,967 --> 00:14:43,800
{\an8}Whether he did or not...
He can't sell the car,
335
00:14:43,900 --> 00:14:45,433
{\an8}because title never transferred.
336
00:14:45,433 --> 00:14:46,934
- Right.
- [Judy] And he's saying
337
00:14:46,934 --> 00:14:49,633
you can go and get the car.
It's sitting in the driveway.
338
00:14:49,633 --> 00:14:52,233
Father doesn't want it.
Title didn't transfer.
339
00:14:52,233 --> 00:14:55,200
He didn't get money
for the car and keep it.
340
00:14:55,200 --> 00:14:59,633
It was a sort of silly transaction,
because what you are suggesting
341
00:14:59,633 --> 00:15:03,367
is he should have said to his father,
"That's it. It was sold. It's sold as-is.
342
00:15:03,367 --> 00:15:05,734
You can't have your $700 back."
343
00:15:05,734 --> 00:15:08,200
Right, and my understanding
is that his dad,
344
00:15:08,200 --> 00:15:10,934
through a conversation
that I had with his dad,
345
00:15:10,934 --> 00:15:12,800
his dad did not get the money back.
346
00:15:12,800 --> 00:15:14,734
[Judy]
You can't tell me about the conversation.
347
00:15:14,734 --> 00:15:18,433
If you have text messages between them,
I would like to see them.
348
00:15:18,433 --> 00:15:19,667
I do. Yes.
349
00:15:22,100 --> 00:15:23,767
So there's those text messages.
350
00:15:23,767 --> 00:15:27,667
And I also have several text messages
where Curtis agrees
351
00:15:27,667 --> 00:15:29,467
to pay me the money, and also...
352
00:15:29,467 --> 00:15:31,867
Shh! "This is Desarae.
353
00:15:31,867 --> 00:15:33,500
Curtis said you would take
possession of the Kia,
354
00:15:33,500 --> 00:15:35,066
but I asked about the title."
355
00:15:35,066 --> 00:15:37,133
"Big Curtis." Is that your father?
356
00:15:37,133 --> 00:15:39,500
- Your Honor, yes, it is.
- [Judy] Okey-dokey.
357
00:15:39,500 --> 00:15:43,367
Mr. Vasquez, your father says
that he gave you the money.
358
00:15:43,367 --> 00:15:45,266
- That's correct.
- [Judy] And that it wasn't...
359
00:15:45,266 --> 00:15:48,033
Certainly wasn't a day,
because two weeks later
360
00:15:48,033 --> 00:15:50,567
he writes back, "Sorry, not good
at checking my texts.
361
00:15:50,567 --> 00:15:53,600
If we can arrange for me
to get the title while you are here,
362
00:15:53,600 --> 00:15:54,900
that would be awesome."
363
00:15:54,900 --> 00:15:57,700
That's two weeks later.
Your father didn't say to her,
364
00:15:57,700 --> 00:15:59,433
"He gave me the money back."
He said, "I want the title."
365
00:15:59,433 --> 00:16:00,734
That's two weeks later.
366
00:16:00,734 --> 00:16:04,300
So the story you just gave me
was a whole lot of "Who shot John?"
367
00:16:04,300 --> 00:16:07,266
Well, Your Honor,
one thing that's cleared up right away
368
00:16:07,266 --> 00:16:10,066
is that it was never sold
without her knowledge.
369
00:16:10,066 --> 00:16:12,100
Just a second.
Not what I'm asking you, sir.
370
00:16:12,100 --> 00:16:15,400
I'm saying that your
original story to me was
371
00:16:15,400 --> 00:16:19,166
that I sold my father the car
with her agreement.
372
00:16:19,166 --> 00:16:22,000
- That's what you say here, for $700.
- That's right.
373
00:16:22,000 --> 00:16:24,800
"He gave me the $700, but this..."
374
00:16:24,800 --> 00:16:26,567
Am I correct, Whitney?
375
00:16:26,567 --> 00:16:30,400
That the car broke down the next day.
376
00:16:31,467 --> 00:16:33,333
He said, "The car broke down
within a day."
377
00:16:33,333 --> 00:16:36,467
Within a day.
And so you gave him his money back.
378
00:16:36,467 --> 00:16:39,100
Well, that's not what
your father says here, sir.
379
00:16:39,100 --> 00:16:41,133
{\an8}That's not what your father says here.
380
00:16:41,133 --> 00:16:43,600
{\an8}I went back and forth with him for days,
381
00:16:43,600 --> 00:16:45,166
{\an8}but I gave him his money back.
382
00:16:45,166 --> 00:16:47,000
No, what you told me was a lie.
383
00:16:47,000 --> 00:16:49,567
You told me it broke down
the day you gave him his money back.
384
00:16:49,567 --> 00:16:52,333
The initial conversation she had
was May 9th.
385
00:16:53,000 --> 00:16:56,500
And then May 16th, she's having
a conversation with Big Curtis.
386
00:16:56,500 --> 00:16:57,600
- That's your father.
- Mm-hmm.
387
00:16:57,600 --> 00:17:00,400
[Judy]
"Sorry for not checking my texts.
388
00:17:00,400 --> 00:17:02,033
Can you get me the title?"
389
00:17:02,033 --> 00:17:04,700
Which means two weeks later,
he wanted the title.
390
00:17:04,700 --> 00:17:07,900
And then your father says about you,
391
00:17:07,900 --> 00:17:11,967
"Curtis owes me big-time money,
and I can't get money from him either."
392
00:17:11,967 --> 00:17:15,033
- That's your father.
- Yeah, that's correct, Your Honor.
393
00:17:15,033 --> 00:17:17,333
[Judy]
Big Curtis says to her,
394
00:17:17,333 --> 00:17:19,400
"Can you tell me what problem
does Curtis have
395
00:17:19,400 --> 00:17:22,000
that causes him to spend
massive amounts of money
396
00:17:22,000 --> 00:17:24,100
in such a short period of time?"
397
00:17:24,100 --> 00:17:26,533
She answers, "Drugs, alcohol, gambling."
398
00:17:26,533 --> 00:17:28,600
You know, "He's a functional addict."
399
00:17:28,600 --> 00:17:32,100
He even got around $40,000,
and he blew every penny.
400
00:17:32,100 --> 00:17:34,500
So the $700 you gave him
for the car,
401
00:17:34,500 --> 00:17:36,667
I'm just going to file in small claims.
402
00:17:36,667 --> 00:17:40,133
For whatever reason,
he's refusing to give it to me.
403
00:17:40,133 --> 00:17:42,633
It's not your fault
that he stole the money from me.
404
00:17:42,633 --> 00:17:45,934
Just FYI, I have no issue
giving you the title."
405
00:17:46,800 --> 00:17:47,934
Okay.
406
00:17:48,867 --> 00:17:51,734
So far he owes you $700
for the car.
407
00:17:51,734 --> 00:17:53,166
And then we're finished.
408
00:17:53,166 --> 00:17:55,100
Get Big Curtis the title.
409
00:17:55,100 --> 00:17:57,333
Mail it to him.
He sends you his address.
410
00:17:57,333 --> 00:17:59,400
- [Judy] Okay? Great.
- Yes.
411
00:17:59,400 --> 00:18:01,867
Now you have a counterclaim,
Mr. Vasquez.
412
00:18:01,867 --> 00:18:03,800
Yes, Your Honor. I have some...
413
00:18:03,800 --> 00:18:04,967
[Judy]
Ah, ah, ah.
414
00:18:04,967 --> 00:18:06,800
Don't give me all that nonsense.
415
00:18:06,800 --> 00:18:09,834
- [chuckles]
- You say that the plaintiff
416
00:18:09,834 --> 00:18:11,333
canceled a vacation trip.
417
00:18:11,333 --> 00:18:14,500
You made plane arrangements
to take your children somewhere,
418
00:18:14,500 --> 00:18:16,834
and she took the children out of state.
419
00:18:16,834 --> 00:18:20,533
And car repairs
that you gave her money for.
420
00:18:20,533 --> 00:18:22,200
Car repairs.
421
00:18:22,834 --> 00:18:24,433
Two hundred and fifty dollars.
422
00:18:24,433 --> 00:18:27,934
"I helped her repair her car
and spent $250 on parts."
423
00:18:27,934 --> 00:18:29,400
{\an8}When was that?
424
00:18:29,400 --> 00:18:33,333
{\an8}That was the car in question
that we were just talking about.
425
00:18:33,333 --> 00:18:34,834
I actually...
426
00:18:36,433 --> 00:18:40,867
[Judy] Okay, you planned a trip
to Portugal in August of 2022.
427
00:18:40,867 --> 00:18:42,033
That's correct.
428
00:18:42,033 --> 00:18:43,533
Airplane tickets.
429
00:18:43,533 --> 00:18:45,367
Where'd you get the money for all that?
430
00:18:45,367 --> 00:18:48,900
My parents helped me
with the purchase of the kids' tickets.
431
00:18:48,900 --> 00:18:51,200
- Why?
- Because I couldn't afford all of them.
432
00:18:51,200 --> 00:18:52,533
[Judy]
Who was going on the trip?
433
00:18:52,533 --> 00:18:56,033
It was going to be my wife,
myself, and two kids.
434
00:18:56,600 --> 00:18:59,166
Did you go on the vacation
to Portugal with your wife?
435
00:18:59,166 --> 00:19:00,967
No, we did not make it.
436
00:19:00,967 --> 00:19:02,700
- [Judy] You did not make it?
- Correct.
437
00:19:02,700 --> 00:19:05,333
- Why?
- [Curtis] Because she is responsible...
438
00:19:05,333 --> 00:19:06,967
[Judy]
No, no, no. Not her.
439
00:19:06,967 --> 00:19:08,967
Not with your two kids.
Did you go with your wife?
440
00:19:08,967 --> 00:19:10,166
- No, I didn't.
- [Judy] Why?
441
00:19:10,166 --> 00:19:11,967
I didn't want to go without the kids.
442
00:19:11,967 --> 00:19:15,533
The whole purpose was to bring the kids
to see the grandparents.
443
00:19:15,533 --> 00:19:17,533
- [Judy] Does your wife work?
- Yes.
444
00:19:17,533 --> 00:19:18,900
[Judy]
What kind of work does she do?
445
00:19:18,900 --> 00:19:20,800
- She's a bartender.
- [Judy] Mm-hmm.
446
00:19:20,800 --> 00:19:23,633
Judgement for the plaintiff
in the amount of $700.
447
00:19:23,633 --> 00:19:26,500
Don't make any more private agreements
with him, madam.
448
00:19:26,500 --> 00:19:28,233
I think it's a big mistake.
449
00:19:28,233 --> 00:19:30,567
- [Desarae] I agree.
- We're done. Counterclaim's dismissed.
450
00:19:30,567 --> 00:19:32,767
Your Honor, I had one more...
451
00:19:32,767 --> 00:19:35,200
I just ruled
that your counterclaim is dismissed.
452
00:19:35,200 --> 00:19:36,400
You're finished.
453
00:19:37,200 --> 00:19:39,967
{\an8}I'm a little disappointed
that I didn't get everything
454
00:19:39,967 --> 00:19:41,600
{\an8}that I felt that I was owed.
455
00:19:41,600 --> 00:19:43,166
{\an8}Well, I'm a bit disappointed.
456
00:19:43,166 --> 00:19:44,834
{\an8}I felt like I had a lot more
coming my way.
457
00:19:44,834 --> 00:19:48,033
{\an8}Number one,
I will not do him any favors.
458
00:19:48,033 --> 00:19:53,300
{\an8}I've taken care of my kids financially
for the last seven years.
459
00:19:53,300 --> 00:19:54,967
{\an8}Especially of monetary value.
460
00:19:54,967 --> 00:19:56,633
{\an8}If she feels entitled to six months,
so be it.
461
00:19:56,633 --> 00:19:57,900
{\an8}But I didn't agree to it.
462
00:19:57,900 --> 00:20:00,433
{\an8}I hope that this is kind of
a wake-up call to him.
463
00:20:00,433 --> 00:20:01,667
{\an8}It's completely ridiculous.
464
00:20:01,667 --> 00:20:03,834
{\an8}I'm just tired of having my name
dragged through the mud.
465
00:20:03,834 --> 00:20:06,233
{\an8}To do honest business,
466
00:20:06,233 --> 00:20:09,133
{\an8}whether it's in personal relationship
or business.
467
00:20:09,133 --> 00:20:10,300
{\an8}I take care of my kids.
468
00:20:10,300 --> 00:20:11,500
{\an8}He's got a long history,
469
00:20:11,500 --> 00:20:14,300
{\an8}long history of owing money,
not paying it back.
470
00:20:14,300 --> 00:20:16,066
{\an8}Always have, and I always will, regardless.
471
00:20:16,066 --> 00:20:17,934
{\an8}He runs through family and friends,
472
00:20:17,934 --> 00:20:21,200
{\an8}and he'll dry your pocketbooks
and laugh out the door.
473
00:20:21,200 --> 00:20:22,166
{\an8}He doesn't care.
474
00:20:22,166 --> 00:20:25,900
{\an8}You know, claim money for a cell phone
that, you know, I bought.
475
00:20:25,900 --> 00:20:28,533
{\an8}And, you know, I think this is
all to do with spite.
476
00:20:28,533 --> 00:20:29,734
{\an8}Just my kids.
477
00:20:29,734 --> 00:20:31,934
{\an8}At the end of the day,
whatever's best for them.
478
00:20:31,934 --> 00:20:35,100
{\an8}I just want to be there for the kids,
and I want to be done with the drama.
479
00:20:36,967 --> 00:20:38,734
I have very little to say about that case.
480
00:20:38,734 --> 00:20:41,734
Very little thoughts,
except that Big Curtis,
481
00:20:41,734 --> 00:20:43,467
the defendant's father,
482
00:20:43,467 --> 00:20:44,600
doesn't like him.
483
00:20:44,600 --> 00:20:46,133
I didn't get to read the messages,
484
00:20:46,233 --> 00:20:48,000
- but I'll take your word for it.
- Clearly. He said,
485
00:20:48,000 --> 00:20:49,734
"What is he doing with all the money?"
486
00:20:49,734 --> 00:20:52,367
You know, my initial reading
of that case was,
487
00:20:52,367 --> 00:20:54,467
"Maybe she's being unreasonable."
488
00:20:54,467 --> 00:20:56,934
[chuckling]
She's really not being unreasonable.
489
00:20:56,934 --> 00:20:59,667
- Yeah.
- I have a feeling there's not a lot more
490
00:20:59,667 --> 00:21:01,967
to "Little Curtis" than we were
able to see today
491
00:21:01,967 --> 00:21:04,867
that his father, Big Curtis, understands.
492
00:21:06,567 --> 00:21:09,800
{\an8}[announcer] Want justice?
Go to JudyJustice.tv.
493
00:21:14,934 --> 00:21:17,266
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