1 00:00:00,467 --> 00:00:03,633 It is your claim that the property was a mess. 2 00:00:03,700 --> 00:00:04,567 Yes. 3 00:00:04,633 --> 00:00:07,100 I don't think it needed to be cleaned. It had been cleaned. 4 00:00:08,300 --> 00:00:10,934 There was dirt on the floor. There was bugs on the floor. 5 00:00:11,000 --> 00:00:12,033 There was black mold. 6 00:00:12,100 --> 00:00:13,433 I paid to have it cleaned. 7 00:00:13,500 --> 00:00:15,233 The refrigerator was disgusting. 8 00:00:15,300 --> 00:00:17,000 The stove was disgusting. 9 00:00:17,066 --> 00:00:19,066 -It's disgusting. -It was clean. 10 00:00:19,133 --> 00:00:21,734 I'm telling you that the place was disgusting. 11 00:00:21,800 --> 00:00:24,100 [narrator] This is Judy Justice. 12 00:00:24,166 --> 00:00:25,734 [theme music playing] 13 00:00:41,233 --> 00:00:44,633 [narrator] Audrianna Alanzio and Tanner Kruegel 14 00:00:44,700 --> 00:00:48,266 are suing their former landlord, Faith Schmidt, 15 00:00:48,333 --> 00:00:52,200 for a security deposit and emotional distress. 16 00:00:52,266 --> 00:00:54,433 [Kevin] Court come to order. All rise. 17 00:00:56,533 --> 00:00:57,533 [Judy] Have a seat, please. 18 00:00:59,166 --> 00:01:02,166 Case number 3121, Alanzio, Kruegel versus Schmidt. 19 00:01:02,233 --> 00:01:03,400 -Thank you. -You're welcome. 20 00:01:03,467 --> 00:01:05,266 -[Judy] Tell me your last name. -Kruegel. 21 00:01:05,333 --> 00:01:07,066 -This is your... -Fiancé. 22 00:01:07,133 --> 00:01:09,867 [Judy] The two of you were moving from one state to another. 23 00:01:09,934 --> 00:01:11,133 -Correct. -[Judy] You were moving 24 00:01:11,200 --> 00:01:12,667 with what other family members? 25 00:01:12,734 --> 00:01:13,834 Our four children. 26 00:01:13,900 --> 00:01:16,100 And you were moving from what state to what state? 27 00:01:16,166 --> 00:01:17,734 Uh, Wisconsin to Minnesota. 28 00:01:17,800 --> 00:01:20,834 -[Judy] Whose mother lives in Minnesota? -Mine does. 29 00:01:20,900 --> 00:01:21,967 -[Judy] That's your mom? -[Tanner] Yes. 30 00:01:22,033 --> 00:01:23,533 [Judy] So you needed a place to live? 31 00:01:23,600 --> 00:01:24,467 Yup. 32 00:01:24,900 --> 00:01:26,300 -Yup? -[Tanner] Yes. 33 00:01:26,734 --> 00:01:27,600 -Sorry. -Perfect. 34 00:01:27,667 --> 00:01:30,500 Your mother found a place, or did you? 35 00:01:30,567 --> 00:01:31,667 I found the place initially. 36 00:01:31,734 --> 00:01:33,166 -[Judy] You found the place. -Yes. 37 00:01:33,233 --> 00:01:36,033 And your mother went to do a walkthrough 38 00:01:36,100 --> 00:01:38,967 to see if it was suitable for you and your four children. 39 00:01:39,033 --> 00:01:41,200 -Correct. -[Judy] And found the defendant's-- 40 00:01:41,266 --> 00:01:42,200 Is it a home? 41 00:01:42,266 --> 00:01:43,734 It's a single family home. 42 00:01:43,800 --> 00:01:45,233 That you own. When did you purchase it? 43 00:01:45,300 --> 00:01:48,600 I believe I purchased it a month before I showed it to them. 44 00:01:48,667 --> 00:01:50,166 So no one had lived in it yet. 45 00:01:50,233 --> 00:01:54,633 [Judy] And when your mom looked at the place, it needed a good cleanup. 46 00:01:55,033 --> 00:01:58,333 And you acknowledge that, Ms. Schmidt, that it needed a good cleanup. 47 00:01:58,400 --> 00:01:59,734 -I do not. -[Judy] Mm. 48 00:01:59,800 --> 00:02:02,200 Well, you sort of do in your answer. 49 00:02:02,266 --> 00:02:05,567 So that, I want you to rethink what you just said to me. 50 00:02:05,633 --> 00:02:09,667 When you showed it to Mr. Kruegel's mother, 51 00:02:09,734 --> 00:02:11,266 it needed a cleanup. 52 00:02:11,333 --> 00:02:13,266 You have to remember what you wrote in your answer. 53 00:02:13,333 --> 00:02:16,433 So if you tell the truth, you don't have to have a good memory. 54 00:02:16,500 --> 00:02:18,700 I don't think it needed to be cleaned, it had been cleaned. 55 00:02:18,767 --> 00:02:22,133 [Judy] Hm. I have it in your answer, but I'll get to it in a minute. 56 00:02:22,200 --> 00:02:24,400 So you loaded your kids, 57 00:02:24,467 --> 00:02:28,033 I assume you took a U-Haul or something of the like, 58 00:02:28,100 --> 00:02:30,166 -and you agreed to rent the property. -Yes. 59 00:02:30,233 --> 00:02:33,533 [Judy] And you sent a month's security and a month's rent? 60 00:02:33,600 --> 00:02:36,133 -Yes. -In total how much money did you send? 61 00:02:36,200 --> 00:02:37,166 Three thousand dollars. 62 00:02:37,233 --> 00:02:40,433 -[Judy] Which you received and deposited. -Correct. 63 00:02:40,500 --> 00:02:42,533 [Judy] What date did you send the money? 64 00:02:42,600 --> 00:02:43,900 October 30th. 65 00:02:44,367 --> 00:02:46,233 I have the receipts for that as well. 66 00:02:46,300 --> 00:02:48,233 [Judy] Yeah, she acknowledges she took it. 67 00:02:48,300 --> 00:02:51,266 Now, up until that time, you had not signed a lease. 68 00:02:51,333 --> 00:02:52,900 -Correct. -[Judy] And you acknowledge that? 69 00:02:52,967 --> 00:02:53,867 -Correct. -[Judy] You hadn't-- 70 00:02:53,934 --> 00:02:55,300 They had not signed the lease. 71 00:02:55,367 --> 00:02:59,600 When you got there, it is your claim that the property was a mess. 72 00:02:59,667 --> 00:03:00,600 Yes. 73 00:03:00,667 --> 00:03:03,834 [Judy] And you actually did not move into the property 74 00:03:03,900 --> 00:03:06,000 and want your security and your rent back. 75 00:03:06,066 --> 00:03:07,834 -Correct. -[Judy] That's what the case is about. 76 00:03:07,900 --> 00:03:10,900 And I'm not exactly sure of what your defense is, 77 00:03:10,967 --> 00:03:12,100 but you'll tell me. 78 00:03:12,166 --> 00:03:14,300 Is your defense that they had no lease, 79 00:03:14,367 --> 00:03:17,000 or that they had a lease that they broke? 80 00:03:17,066 --> 00:03:18,500 What is your defense? 81 00:03:18,567 --> 00:03:21,834 Um, so we had an entire interaction. 82 00:03:21,900 --> 00:03:23,734 They actually did move into the property. 83 00:03:23,800 --> 00:03:26,133 They moved their belongings into the property. 84 00:03:26,200 --> 00:03:28,300 Did you change the locks on the doors? 85 00:03:28,367 --> 00:03:30,033 -I did not. -[Judy] At any time? 86 00:03:30,100 --> 00:03:30,967 No. 87 00:03:31,033 --> 00:03:33,233 They're still the same locks that they were before. 88 00:03:33,300 --> 00:03:35,367 You arrived on the property on what date? 89 00:03:35,433 --> 00:03:36,900 November 13th. 90 00:03:36,967 --> 00:03:38,066 Still no lease? 91 00:03:38,133 --> 00:03:40,266 Correct. She mailed us the lease, 92 00:03:40,333 --> 00:03:44,700 um, and then we didn't have enough time to sign it and mail it back to her. 93 00:03:44,767 --> 00:03:49,000 And so we have in text message, she's saying we can just bring it with us. 94 00:03:49,066 --> 00:03:49,934 But we didn't want to sign it 95 00:03:50,000 --> 00:03:51,000 -until we saw it. -[Judy] Got it. 96 00:03:51,066 --> 00:03:52,166 So you got there on the 13th. 97 00:03:52,233 --> 00:03:55,133 I'd like you to describe what it looked like on the 13th. 98 00:03:55,600 --> 00:03:59,200 Um, well, it was dark, so it was really hard to see anything. 99 00:03:59,266 --> 00:04:03,834 When we pulled up, the guys pulled the horse trailer in the back. 100 00:04:03,900 --> 00:04:05,834 So the guys were unloading that 101 00:04:05,900 --> 00:04:09,900 while Linda, myself and my brother and the children 102 00:04:09,967 --> 00:04:12,033 started walking through the home. 103 00:04:12,100 --> 00:04:13,266 Seeing where we were gonna put everything, 104 00:04:13,333 --> 00:04:17,533 and that's when we started noticing, you know, it was just disgusting. 105 00:04:17,600 --> 00:04:19,533 -[Judy] Well, tell me. -[Audrianna] There was dirt on the floor. 106 00:04:19,600 --> 00:04:21,767 There was bugs on the floor, there was black mold. 107 00:04:21,834 --> 00:04:24,700 There was water damage in the walls 108 00:04:24,767 --> 00:04:26,667 -that she said that-- -[Judy] Did you take any photographs? 109 00:04:26,734 --> 00:04:27,667 I have a lot of photographs. 110 00:04:27,734 --> 00:04:29,200 -[Judy] May I see them, please? -Yes. 111 00:04:29,266 --> 00:04:31,700 And this was the day you were moving in your things? 112 00:04:31,767 --> 00:04:33,000 -[Audrianna] Correct. -Or the next day? 113 00:04:33,066 --> 00:04:35,567 The day we were starting to move in. 114 00:04:37,767 --> 00:04:40,433 -And then once we started to notice-- -[Judy] Just a second-- Just a second. 115 00:04:46,400 --> 00:04:50,300 Some of these I'll ask you to address, some I won't. 116 00:04:50,867 --> 00:04:52,700 There's a lot of water damage. 117 00:04:53,800 --> 00:04:57,500 Kevin, would you show these photographs to Ms. Schmidt, please? 118 00:05:11,700 --> 00:05:13,033 I'll take them back now. 119 00:05:14,166 --> 00:05:17,033 Ms. Schmidt, from whom did you purchase this house? 120 00:05:17,100 --> 00:05:18,533 Edina Realty. 121 00:05:18,600 --> 00:05:20,667 Was it a person or was the house foreclosed? 122 00:05:20,734 --> 00:05:21,667 It was a person. 123 00:05:21,734 --> 00:05:23,266 [Judy] And how much did you pay for it? 124 00:05:23,333 --> 00:05:24,934 I don't recall the exact price. 125 00:05:25,000 --> 00:05:26,600 Give me a ballpark figure. 126 00:05:26,667 --> 00:05:28,700 I would prefer not to disclose. 127 00:05:28,767 --> 00:05:31,400 [Judy] I don't care what you prefer. Give me a figure. 128 00:05:31,867 --> 00:05:33,433 Around $100,000. 129 00:05:33,500 --> 00:05:35,433 What do you mean around $100,000? 130 00:05:35,500 --> 00:05:36,367 What kind of work do you do? 131 00:05:36,433 --> 00:05:37,700 I'm a landlord. 132 00:05:37,767 --> 00:05:40,266 I'm a business owner. I have rental properties. 133 00:05:40,333 --> 00:05:41,967 [Judy] Okay, so that's what you do as a living. 134 00:05:42,033 --> 00:05:43,100 -Yes, that is... -[Judy] Okay. 135 00:05:43,166 --> 00:05:45,333 ...a recent business that I've started. 136 00:05:45,400 --> 00:05:48,133 Great. If it's a recent business, how many homes do you have? 137 00:05:48,200 --> 00:05:49,066 I have four. 138 00:05:49,133 --> 00:05:50,533 [Judy] Is this the last one that you purchased? 139 00:05:50,600 --> 00:05:51,467 [Faith] Yes. 140 00:05:51,533 --> 00:05:53,000 [Judy] How much did you pay for it? 141 00:05:53,066 --> 00:05:55,066 I believe it was 100,000-something. 142 00:05:55,133 --> 00:05:57,400 It was between 100,000 and 110,000. 143 00:05:57,467 --> 00:05:58,333 Yes. 144 00:05:58,400 --> 00:06:01,000 I have a picture from the Zillow ad that tells the date 145 00:06:01,066 --> 00:06:04,033 that she purchased the home and how much she purchased it for. 146 00:06:04,100 --> 00:06:06,633 I also have a text message of her acknowledging the fact 147 00:06:06,700 --> 00:06:09,333 that her dad and the kids that cleaned the house 148 00:06:09,400 --> 00:06:10,266 said it was not clean enough 149 00:06:10,333 --> 00:06:11,200 -the day before. -[Judy] Just a second. 150 00:06:11,266 --> 00:06:13,000 -I'm not there yet. -[Audrianna] Okay, sorry. 151 00:06:14,266 --> 00:06:17,667 Well, the estimate for the house is $94,000-- 152 00:06:17,734 --> 00:06:20,367 It sold for $94,000, is that right? 153 00:06:20,767 --> 00:06:21,900 -I believe so. -[Judy] Okay. 154 00:06:21,967 --> 00:06:24,934 Now, in your answer to their request-- 155 00:06:25,000 --> 00:06:28,066 Which is their request for return of their deposit. 156 00:06:28,133 --> 00:06:31,400 They were asking for a lot of other stuff, but it's for the return of their deposit. 157 00:06:31,467 --> 00:06:37,133 You say, "Since I had not even received the signed lease back yet, 158 00:06:37,200 --> 00:06:38,633 they were trespassing." 159 00:06:38,700 --> 00:06:40,800 That's what you wrote in your answer. 160 00:06:40,867 --> 00:06:43,166 -Um, so they-- -[Judy] "I had the unit 161 00:06:43,233 --> 00:06:45,367 cleaned that same day. 162 00:06:45,433 --> 00:06:51,066 The next night, on November 13th, I met them, as well as the other adults." 163 00:06:51,133 --> 00:06:55,133 Who cleaned the unit the same day on the 13th? 164 00:06:55,200 --> 00:06:59,200 Um, so I paid one of my employees 165 00:06:59,266 --> 00:07:02,467 to clean the unit previously, prior. 166 00:07:02,533 --> 00:07:06,200 Um, I reached out after Linda entered the property-- 167 00:07:06,266 --> 00:07:07,233 [Judy] No, no, no, no, no. 168 00:07:07,300 --> 00:07:09,333 Pay careful attention to my question. 169 00:07:09,400 --> 00:07:11,033 I'm giving you a backstory. 170 00:07:11,100 --> 00:07:12,600 I don't want a backstory. 171 00:07:15,133 --> 00:07:16,767 I want you to understand this. 172 00:07:16,834 --> 00:07:22,200 These two people traveled from one state to another with four children. 173 00:07:22,667 --> 00:07:24,967 They wanted a place to live. 174 00:07:25,033 --> 00:07:26,834 They needed a place to live. 175 00:07:29,633 --> 00:07:32,333 [theme music playing] 176 00:07:36,100 --> 00:07:39,533 [narrator] Audrianna Alanzio and Tanner Kruegel 177 00:07:39,600 --> 00:07:42,500 claim their former landlord, Faith Schmidt, 178 00:07:42,567 --> 00:07:45,767 refuses to return their security deposit. 179 00:07:45,834 --> 00:07:50,166 Faith is countersuing for loss of income and harassment. 180 00:07:50,233 --> 00:07:53,967 Now, you said the house was clean. 181 00:07:54,033 --> 00:07:57,767 Clearly, this is not a recently cleaned house. 182 00:07:57,834 --> 00:07:59,133 I paid to have it cleaned 183 00:07:59,200 --> 00:08:02,300 and then because Linda had complained, I-- 184 00:08:02,367 --> 00:08:04,266 [Judy] You would acknowledge that these pictures 185 00:08:04,333 --> 00:08:05,300 -that I showed you-- -Before Tanner-- 186 00:08:05,367 --> 00:08:07,133 Just a second, you don't talk over me. 187 00:08:07,200 --> 00:08:11,967 You do acknowledge that this house, as the photographs indicate-- 188 00:08:12,033 --> 00:08:13,700 Because they were only there for a day. 189 00:08:13,767 --> 00:08:16,200 The dead bugs, the black mold, 190 00:08:16,266 --> 00:08:19,367 do not indicate a recently cleaned property. 191 00:08:19,433 --> 00:08:21,200 Yes, ma'am, may I tell you more? 192 00:08:21,266 --> 00:08:23,200 First, I'm asking you a question. 193 00:08:23,266 --> 00:08:25,800 You looked at the photographs and you have to acknowledge 194 00:08:25,867 --> 00:08:31,166 that these photographs do not reflect a recently cleaned property 195 00:08:31,233 --> 00:08:33,600 -ready for people to move into. -Yes, ma'am. 196 00:08:33,667 --> 00:08:37,233 [Judy] Okay, so when they got there, the place was not clean. 197 00:08:38,233 --> 00:08:41,433 When they arrived there with their four children, 198 00:08:41,500 --> 00:08:42,767 -the place-- -It was clean. 199 00:08:42,834 --> 00:08:45,400 These pictures were not taken by them, 200 00:08:45,467 --> 00:08:47,266 they were taken by Linda. 201 00:08:47,333 --> 00:08:50,800 Linda entered the premises before they were even there. 202 00:08:50,867 --> 00:08:52,800 -She was not supposed to be there. -[Judy] On what date-- Just a second. 203 00:08:52,867 --> 00:08:55,600 On the 12th. They did not arrive until the 13th. 204 00:08:55,667 --> 00:08:58,333 Linda took these photos. Linda reached out to me. 205 00:08:58,400 --> 00:09:00,266 Linda said the property was not clean. 206 00:09:00,333 --> 00:09:04,367 I have text messages that I hired 207 00:09:04,433 --> 00:09:06,633 someone to go over there and clean it afterwards. 208 00:09:06,700 --> 00:09:10,500 Which he cleaned the stove, the air conditioner, 209 00:09:10,567 --> 00:09:12,600 -the freezer and was supposed... -[Judy] Show me-- Show-- 210 00:09:12,667 --> 00:09:17,467 Okay, so now what you're saying is that the mother... 211 00:09:17,533 --> 00:09:19,367 -[Faith] Mm-hmm. Correct. -...took these photographs. 212 00:09:19,433 --> 00:09:23,900 And after she called you and said that the place is not clean... 213 00:09:23,967 --> 00:09:26,233 While I was working, I was doing something else, 214 00:09:26,300 --> 00:09:28,200 I immediately sent someone over there 215 00:09:28,266 --> 00:09:30,800 before I had any communication with Tanner or Audrianna-- 216 00:09:30,867 --> 00:09:32,734 [Judy] Just-- Just a second. Fine. 217 00:09:33,166 --> 00:09:34,767 I want you to understand this. 218 00:09:34,834 --> 00:09:38,767 These two people traveled from one state to another 219 00:09:38,834 --> 00:09:41,967 with four children ranging in age from... 220 00:09:42,367 --> 00:09:44,834 Eight to, at the time, 14 months. 221 00:09:44,900 --> 00:09:46,734 [Judy] They wanted a place to live. 222 00:09:46,800 --> 00:09:48,900 They needed a place to live. 223 00:09:48,967 --> 00:09:53,033 If what you're telling me is that this is not a fair and accurate representation 224 00:09:53,100 --> 00:09:56,066 of what the place looked like when they got there... 225 00:09:56,133 --> 00:10:00,200 It did not look like that when Tanner and Audrianna arrived to the premises. 226 00:10:00,266 --> 00:10:02,667 It looked like that when Linda got there, 227 00:10:02,734 --> 00:10:07,100 which I was notified of and immediately sent someone over to clean the premises. 228 00:10:07,166 --> 00:10:08,867 -[Judy] Who? -I sent-- I hired a kid, 229 00:10:08,934 --> 00:10:09,800 his name is Alex. 230 00:10:09,867 --> 00:10:11,033 Is that you? 231 00:10:11,100 --> 00:10:12,567 -[Faith] No. -Just a second. 232 00:10:12,633 --> 00:10:14,233 -You just raised your hand! -Y-- 233 00:10:14,300 --> 00:10:16,166 [Judy] She said, "I immediately sent somebody over there." 234 00:10:16,233 --> 00:10:18,233 I said, "Is that you?" You raised your hand. 235 00:10:18,300 --> 00:10:21,734 I also sent my dad over to ensure 236 00:10:21,800 --> 00:10:25,333 that the employee, he had done a good job cleaning 237 00:10:25,400 --> 00:10:26,600 while I was doing something else. 238 00:10:26,667 --> 00:10:29,066 He also sent me videos of him cleaning out the freezer. 239 00:10:29,133 --> 00:10:32,000 Just a second. I would like to see whatever photographs you have 240 00:10:32,066 --> 00:10:34,433 of what the place looked like before they got there. 241 00:10:34,500 --> 00:10:38,100 Show me. You already have a complaint and you're a landlord. 242 00:10:38,166 --> 00:10:40,767 You have a complaint that the place was disgusting. 243 00:10:40,834 --> 00:10:41,700 Correct. 244 00:10:41,767 --> 00:10:44,600 [Judy] And you have one day to clean it all up. 245 00:10:44,667 --> 00:10:46,600 -Yup. -Not "yup," that's a yes. 246 00:10:46,667 --> 00:10:47,934 -Yes, ma'am. -[Judy] You don't bring me 247 00:10:48,000 --> 00:10:49,333 the person who cleaned it. 248 00:10:49,400 --> 00:10:50,934 I assume you have photographs. 249 00:10:51,000 --> 00:10:52,800 Now that you know that there's a complaint. 250 00:10:52,867 --> 00:10:56,600 I assume you have photographs of what the place looked like when they arrived. 251 00:10:57,633 --> 00:10:58,867 That means no. 252 00:10:58,934 --> 00:11:00,700 I didn't take photographs after, no. 253 00:11:00,767 --> 00:11:01,633 [Judy] Well, that's too bad. 254 00:11:01,700 --> 00:11:03,367 I do have an inspection, though. 255 00:11:03,433 --> 00:11:06,200 A past inspection that says there is no mold in the home 256 00:11:06,266 --> 00:11:08,133 -and I have not made any alterations-- -[Judy] Just a second. 257 00:11:08,200 --> 00:11:11,567 Do you have that inspection for me to see? 258 00:11:11,633 --> 00:11:13,066 -[Faith] Yes, ma'am. -After-- 259 00:11:13,934 --> 00:11:17,166 On or about the 13th of November. 260 00:11:17,233 --> 00:11:18,467 -No. -[Judy] No. 261 00:11:18,533 --> 00:11:21,734 Okay. Ms. Schmidt, this is not a difficult case. 262 00:11:21,800 --> 00:11:23,700 Either they had a lease or they didn't. 263 00:11:23,767 --> 00:11:26,633 In your answer, you said since they didn't have a lease, 264 00:11:26,700 --> 00:11:28,433 they were, in fact, trespassing. 265 00:11:28,500 --> 00:11:30,367 -They had no intention to sign the lease. -[Judy] Just a-- 266 00:11:30,433 --> 00:11:35,533 Just a second. No, you are incorrect because that's not common sense. 267 00:11:36,000 --> 00:11:40,767 Common sense would suggest that people who are traveling across state borders 268 00:11:40,834 --> 00:11:45,033 with four small children need a place to live. 269 00:11:45,100 --> 00:11:49,000 They sent mother-in-law to look for a place to live. 270 00:11:49,066 --> 00:11:50,633 -And she said it was very nice. -[Judy] She-- Just a-- 271 00:11:50,700 --> 00:11:52,367 Just a second. They sent her-- 272 00:11:52,433 --> 00:11:56,800 I don't know what assurances they had with regard to cleaning it out. 273 00:11:56,867 --> 00:12:00,667 I don't know what her level of cleanliness is, 274 00:12:00,734 --> 00:12:02,967 but I know I wouldn't move into this place 275 00:12:03,033 --> 00:12:05,367 after having paid somebody $3,000. 276 00:12:05,433 --> 00:12:08,600 This place was disgusting, the refrigerator is disgusting, 277 00:12:08,667 --> 00:12:11,967 the stove is disgusting, the bugs are disgusting, 278 00:12:12,033 --> 00:12:14,166 the wood is disgusting. 279 00:12:14,600 --> 00:12:15,467 It's disgusting. 280 00:12:15,533 --> 00:12:19,133 Now, you want to be a slum landlord, that's your problem. 281 00:12:19,200 --> 00:12:22,800 But either they have a lease or they don't have a lease. 282 00:12:22,867 --> 00:12:26,033 If they don't have a lease, then they get their money back 283 00:12:26,100 --> 00:12:28,667 because they didn't move in to live. 284 00:12:29,600 --> 00:12:31,633 That's not difficult, sir, is it? 285 00:12:31,700 --> 00:12:33,367 No, but I'd like to say something. 286 00:12:33,433 --> 00:12:35,300 [Judy] Sure. Stand up and say whatever you like 287 00:12:35,367 --> 00:12:37,200 and uncross your arms when you do it. 288 00:12:37,266 --> 00:12:42,567 Okay, um, when she called and said that the, uh, Linda had called 289 00:12:42,633 --> 00:12:44,200 to complain about the place, 290 00:12:44,266 --> 00:12:46,533 so I did go up there and I met with Linda. 291 00:12:46,600 --> 00:12:48,166 [Judy] Linda is mother. 292 00:12:48,233 --> 00:12:49,900 -Correct. Correct. -[Judy] And? 293 00:12:49,967 --> 00:12:53,333 And we talked and we went over what the problems were. 294 00:12:53,400 --> 00:12:55,967 And so, as to my knowledge, 295 00:12:56,033 --> 00:12:58,066 we agreed on the fix, 296 00:12:58,133 --> 00:13:03,166 and I seen to it that we had a couple people come over and clean. 297 00:13:03,233 --> 00:13:05,500 [Judy] Before or after lunch, sir? 298 00:13:05,567 --> 00:13:06,967 Did you have it cleaned with a couple of people 299 00:13:07,033 --> 00:13:09,200 before or after you and the couple of people had lunch? 300 00:13:09,266 --> 00:13:11,467 I don't know what lunch has to do with it. 301 00:13:11,533 --> 00:13:12,400 I don't know nothing about lunch. 302 00:13:12,467 --> 00:13:13,467 [Judy] I know what lunch has to do with it. 303 00:13:13,533 --> 00:13:14,800 So you knew there was a problem 304 00:13:14,867 --> 00:13:17,333 and you went to the house on the 12th, according to you. 305 00:13:17,400 --> 00:13:20,066 They were due there on the 13th and the place was disgusting, 306 00:13:20,133 --> 00:13:21,300 you would agree with that? 307 00:13:21,367 --> 00:13:23,667 Yeah, I-- I don't agree with the mold 308 00:13:23,734 --> 00:13:26,667 because the city of Spring Valley has inspectors. 309 00:13:26,734 --> 00:13:28,633 They come round and inspect for mold. 310 00:13:28,700 --> 00:13:30,734 I'm telling you that the place was disgusting. 311 00:13:30,800 --> 00:13:34,300 It was not a place where you moved into-- 312 00:13:34,367 --> 00:13:39,567 Dozens of properties in my life, both inexpensive and expensive, 313 00:13:39,633 --> 00:13:42,867 the inexpensive ones when I moved in were clean. 314 00:13:42,934 --> 00:13:44,000 -Sure. -[Judy] That's the way, 315 00:13:44,066 --> 00:13:46,533 when I moved out of a property, I left it. 316 00:13:46,600 --> 00:13:49,433 If your daughter wants to be in business for herself, 317 00:13:49,500 --> 00:13:51,867 then she's got to learn how to be in business a good way. 318 00:13:51,934 --> 00:13:53,133 -Sure. -[Judy] Okay? 319 00:13:53,200 --> 00:13:55,266 You have to acknowledge she knew 320 00:13:55,333 --> 00:13:58,200 that these people were coming across state lines. 321 00:13:58,266 --> 00:14:00,266 They were coming across with little children, 322 00:14:00,333 --> 00:14:03,266 because Linda let you know that. 323 00:14:03,333 --> 00:14:05,900 I didn't-- I don't know anything about that. 324 00:14:05,967 --> 00:14:07,266 [Judy] You didn't know who was moving in? 325 00:14:07,333 --> 00:14:09,667 -No, it's-- It's-- It's not my-- -[Judy] Oh, just-- 326 00:14:09,734 --> 00:14:11,166 Did you know who was moving in? 327 00:14:11,233 --> 00:14:12,233 Ms. Schmidt? 328 00:14:12,300 --> 00:14:14,100 I didn't meet them personally, I met with Linda-- 329 00:14:14,166 --> 00:14:15,967 [Judy] That's not what I asked you. 330 00:14:16,033 --> 00:14:20,834 Did Linda tell you that her son, her son's partner 331 00:14:20,900 --> 00:14:23,333 and four children were moving into the house? 332 00:14:23,400 --> 00:14:24,567 -Yes. -[Judy] Of course. 333 00:14:24,633 --> 00:14:27,133 This is not the way you expect a house to be. 334 00:14:27,200 --> 00:14:29,700 Common sense would indicate that you would then, 335 00:14:29,767 --> 00:14:33,400 after your father and his crew cleaned it, 336 00:14:33,467 --> 00:14:38,033 you would take photographs to show that it was not in this condition anymore. 337 00:14:40,266 --> 00:14:42,133 What did they complain about in the kitchen? 338 00:14:42,200 --> 00:14:43,967 Um, they complained about the stove. 339 00:14:44,033 --> 00:14:44,900 [Judy] And what about the stove? 340 00:14:44,967 --> 00:14:45,834 [Faith] The inside of the stove. 341 00:14:45,900 --> 00:14:47,433 -[Judy] That it was filthy. -Correct. 342 00:14:47,500 --> 00:14:49,867 And did you see that the inside of the stove was filthy? 343 00:14:49,934 --> 00:14:51,166 Not on that day. 344 00:14:51,233 --> 00:14:52,867 No, no, no, no, no, no, no. 345 00:14:56,133 --> 00:15:00,166 [theme music playing] 346 00:15:03,233 --> 00:15:06,533 [narrator] Audrianna Alanzio and Tanner Kruegel 347 00:15:06,600 --> 00:15:10,000 are accusing their former landlord, Faith Schmidt, 348 00:15:10,066 --> 00:15:12,800 of renting them an uninhabitable property. 349 00:15:13,200 --> 00:15:17,800 Faith is countersuing, claiming the couple owes her for loss of income. 350 00:15:17,867 --> 00:15:19,900 Now I'm coming back to you. 351 00:15:19,967 --> 00:15:23,600 Either they have a lease or they don't have a lease. 352 00:15:23,667 --> 00:15:25,200 We had a verbal agreement. 353 00:15:25,266 --> 00:15:28,333 [Judy] No, you have to have a lease in order to keep their security deposit. 354 00:15:28,400 --> 00:15:29,633 Did you have a lease? 355 00:15:29,700 --> 00:15:32,133 You said they had no lease. They were trespassing, 356 00:15:32,200 --> 00:15:33,467 because you told them to get out. 357 00:15:33,533 --> 00:15:35,367 So then they were trespassing. 358 00:15:35,433 --> 00:15:36,667 -They were on my property... -[Judy] Yes, and they-- 359 00:15:36,767 --> 00:15:37,934 ...without permission. -[Judy] Then they-- 360 00:15:38,000 --> 00:15:39,800 Then they get their money back. 361 00:15:39,867 --> 00:15:41,734 What the-- What is so hard about that? 362 00:15:41,800 --> 00:15:43,667 Either they have a lease or they don't have a lease. 363 00:15:43,734 --> 00:15:45,734 You can't say they're trespassing on your property 364 00:15:45,800 --> 00:15:47,500 because at one point-- 365 00:15:47,567 --> 00:15:50,000 Part of the thing that they're suing about is because you went into the house 366 00:15:50,066 --> 00:15:52,400 and you came out with a handgun, is that right? 367 00:15:52,467 --> 00:15:53,400 -Correct. -[Judy] Correct. 368 00:15:53,467 --> 00:15:55,867 And because you felt as if you needed a handgun 369 00:15:55,934 --> 00:15:59,300 to diffuse the situation that was developing on the 13th. 370 00:15:59,367 --> 00:16:03,300 Whatever it was, they left, they get their security deposit back 371 00:16:03,367 --> 00:16:04,767 and their month's rent. 372 00:16:04,834 --> 00:16:07,066 And if you want to be a big girl in a big girl's business, 373 00:16:07,133 --> 00:16:08,734 you've got to do the right thing. 374 00:16:08,800 --> 00:16:10,800 This is not the right thing. 375 00:16:11,834 --> 00:16:15,767 Okay. Do you want to tell me, Ms. Schmidt, why you felt it necessary, 376 00:16:15,834 --> 00:16:18,433 because I'm going to get rid of that part of your claim very quickly, 377 00:16:18,500 --> 00:16:23,300 why you felt it necessary to come out with a gun on the 13th? 378 00:16:23,367 --> 00:16:27,100 So when I went in there in an attempt to resolve the issues 379 00:16:27,166 --> 00:16:29,567 that they were complaining about the night of the 13th, 380 00:16:29,633 --> 00:16:31,100 I brought the walkthrough paperwork 381 00:16:31,166 --> 00:16:32,300 and we were going to fill out a walkthrough 382 00:16:32,367 --> 00:16:33,900 with everything that needed to be addressed. 383 00:16:34,367 --> 00:16:36,300 Instead of accomplishing that, we were in-- 384 00:16:36,367 --> 00:16:38,467 Okay, so what room did you go into first? 385 00:16:38,533 --> 00:16:42,000 I walked through the back door off the porch into the kitchen. 386 00:16:42,066 --> 00:16:43,734 [Judy] What did they complain about in the kitchen? 387 00:16:43,800 --> 00:16:44,934 [Faith] They complained about the cleaning. 388 00:16:45,000 --> 00:16:47,100 What specifically about the cleaning? 389 00:16:47,166 --> 00:16:50,033 Um, they complained about the dirt behind the fridge. 390 00:16:50,100 --> 00:16:52,400 They complained about the state of the fridge. 391 00:16:52,467 --> 00:16:53,734 [Judy] What was the state of the fridge? 392 00:16:53,800 --> 00:16:55,467 There were stains in the back of the fridge 393 00:16:55,533 --> 00:16:57,400 that were not coming off with any cleaning. 394 00:16:57,467 --> 00:16:58,400 [Judy] What else? 395 00:16:58,467 --> 00:16:59,967 [Faith] Um, they complained about the stove. 396 00:17:00,100 --> 00:17:01,467 [Judy] And what about the stove? 397 00:17:01,533 --> 00:17:02,734 Um, the inside of the stove. 398 00:17:02,800 --> 00:17:04,033 -[Judy] That it was filthy. -Correct. 399 00:17:04,100 --> 00:17:07,333 Okay. And did you see that the inside of the stove was filthy? 400 00:17:07,400 --> 00:17:08,667 Not on that day. 401 00:17:08,734 --> 00:17:10,500 No, no, no, no, no, no, no. 402 00:17:10,567 --> 00:17:12,500 -No, I don't believe-- -[Faith] On the 13th it was not filthy, 403 00:17:12,567 --> 00:17:14,900 it was cleaned by Alex. 404 00:17:14,967 --> 00:17:16,734 -I had-- -[Judy] The sheet-- 405 00:17:16,800 --> 00:17:20,667 One of-- the stove and the fridge was very important to me that he cleaned those. 406 00:17:20,734 --> 00:17:23,266 Um, we also talked about getting them new appliances 407 00:17:23,333 --> 00:17:24,900 because they weren't satisfactory. 408 00:17:24,967 --> 00:17:27,633 I was going above and beyond to appease them 409 00:17:27,700 --> 00:17:30,667 and I told them that I would look for new appliances. 410 00:17:30,734 --> 00:17:32,633 That I wouldn't be able to provide them overnight, 411 00:17:32,700 --> 00:17:35,367 but that I would be looking for them and provide them with new appliances. 412 00:17:35,433 --> 00:17:37,133 She has that in text. 413 00:17:37,200 --> 00:17:39,266 That she was going to provide new appliances? 414 00:17:39,333 --> 00:17:41,734 -[James] Yes. -Because the ones that were existing 415 00:17:41,800 --> 00:17:43,467 -were unsatisfactory. -Yeah. 416 00:17:43,533 --> 00:17:45,500 [Judy] They get their security deposit back. 417 00:17:45,567 --> 00:17:46,433 Three thousand dollars. 418 00:17:46,500 --> 00:17:48,700 Your counterclaim-- Your counterclaim is ludicrous. 419 00:17:48,767 --> 00:17:52,967 "Lost income, damages due to false claims, rent, utilities and harassment." 420 00:17:53,033 --> 00:17:54,567 How did they harass you? 421 00:17:54,633 --> 00:17:58,100 She's reported my Facebook account, so I no longer can advertise. 422 00:17:58,166 --> 00:18:00,467 So I've had to do alternative routes of advertising. 423 00:18:00,533 --> 00:18:02,600 Before it never cost me anything to advertise. 424 00:18:02,667 --> 00:18:07,200 Now I have to pay for advert-- advertising through the newspaper. 425 00:18:07,266 --> 00:18:09,166 Um, I bought a rental sign. I've done things-- 426 00:18:09,233 --> 00:18:10,900 What was the harassment? 427 00:18:10,967 --> 00:18:14,333 She complained about what happened to her family 428 00:18:14,400 --> 00:18:17,367 when they came to this property that they were renting. 429 00:18:17,433 --> 00:18:19,900 Harassment wasn't the word that I would use. 430 00:18:19,967 --> 00:18:20,834 [Judy] Well, what would you use? 431 00:18:20,900 --> 00:18:24,700 She's dragging my name through the mud, she's going to the local bars. 432 00:18:24,767 --> 00:18:26,233 -I've heard from several-- -[Judy] Just a second. 433 00:18:26,300 --> 00:18:30,000 You can't tell me rumors. If you have somebody who can testify 434 00:18:30,066 --> 00:18:31,467 -that she said something about-- -My dad can testify. 435 00:18:31,533 --> 00:18:33,600 -[Judy] What? -My dad can testify 436 00:18:33,667 --> 00:18:36,367 because his employees are telling him... 437 00:18:36,433 --> 00:18:38,300 -He can't tell me what his employees-- -...that she's tell-- 438 00:18:38,367 --> 00:18:42,233 Listen to me, he can't tell me what his employees are telling him. 439 00:18:42,300 --> 00:18:44,834 He can tell me if they said something to him. 440 00:18:45,700 --> 00:18:46,700 So what? 441 00:18:47,500 --> 00:18:49,400 Did you finally find a place to live? 442 00:18:49,467 --> 00:18:50,567 No, we have not. 443 00:18:50,633 --> 00:18:51,700 [Judy] Since November. 444 00:18:52,166 --> 00:18:53,567 -Correct. -[Judy] Where are you staying? 445 00:18:53,633 --> 00:18:55,367 Right now, we're staying at my parents' house. 446 00:18:55,433 --> 00:18:57,700 We had to move back to Wisconsin, 447 00:18:57,767 --> 00:19:02,033 um, so we are on air mattresses in my parents' family room. 448 00:19:02,100 --> 00:19:03,600 [Judy] Why were you moving? 449 00:19:03,667 --> 00:19:05,633 To be closer to his family. 450 00:19:05,700 --> 00:19:06,734 Anybody have a job? 451 00:19:06,800 --> 00:19:09,567 He had a job-- a potential job lined up. 452 00:19:09,633 --> 00:19:11,233 -[Judy] In Minnesota? -Yes. Correct, yes. 453 00:19:11,300 --> 00:19:12,467 [Judy] What kind of work? 454 00:19:12,533 --> 00:19:13,900 Uh, property maintenance management. 455 00:19:13,967 --> 00:19:15,967 -[Judy] What are you doing now? -Nothing right now. 456 00:19:16,033 --> 00:19:18,533 I start a new job in Milwaukee on Monday. 457 00:19:18,600 --> 00:19:21,633 He had to turn down a really good job offer in Minnesota 458 00:19:21,700 --> 00:19:22,767 -because we didn't have a solution. -[Judy] That's all. 459 00:19:22,834 --> 00:19:25,567 I just asked him what he was doing now, not I would've, should've, could've. 460 00:19:25,633 --> 00:19:28,934 Okay, judgment for the plaintiff in the amount of $3,000. 461 00:19:29,000 --> 00:19:31,834 Counterclaim, whatever it is for, I don't even know, is dismissed. 462 00:19:31,900 --> 00:19:33,200 -Thank you very much. We're finished. -Thank you. 463 00:19:33,266 --> 00:19:34,633 [Kevin] This court is adjourned. 464 00:19:39,667 --> 00:19:43,000 I did offer them three-fourths of their deposit back. 465 00:19:43,066 --> 00:19:45,033 We wanted it all back. We didn't live there. 466 00:19:45,100 --> 00:19:48,033 I put forth my best effort to find them new appliances, 467 00:19:48,100 --> 00:19:49,867 to hire someone to do cleaning. 468 00:19:49,934 --> 00:19:51,967 I believe I went above and beyond. 469 00:19:52,033 --> 00:19:55,166 We had a verbal agreement that the house was going to be in livable condition 470 00:19:55,233 --> 00:19:58,100 and as you can tell by the pictures, it was not livable. 471 00:19:58,166 --> 00:20:00,800 Definitely in the future, I think instead of hiring someone to clean, 472 00:20:00,867 --> 00:20:02,633 I'm probably going to clean myself 473 00:20:02,700 --> 00:20:06,934 and I'm going to take photo evidence and videos of everything. 474 00:20:07,000 --> 00:20:08,700 She knew a month ahead of time that we were coming, 475 00:20:08,767 --> 00:20:11,300 so it's not like she was-- it was sprung onto her the day before, 476 00:20:11,367 --> 00:20:12,400 like she's trying to claim. 477 00:20:12,467 --> 00:20:13,934 I'm not going to go out of my way 478 00:20:14,000 --> 00:20:16,166 to give them access to the property before I'm there. 479 00:20:16,233 --> 00:20:18,533 I'm going to do a walkthrough and ensure the lease is signed 480 00:20:18,600 --> 00:20:21,000 before they have access to the property to avoid this. 481 00:20:21,066 --> 00:20:23,300 Being a landlord is not the job for her. 482 00:20:24,767 --> 00:20:27,934 You know, I remember moving in somewhere when I was a junior in college 483 00:20:28,000 --> 00:20:30,834 and, you know, they always take advantage of us college students. 484 00:20:30,900 --> 00:20:33,100 We'll live anywhere, sleep anywhere. We don't really care. 485 00:20:33,166 --> 00:20:36,200 But it wasn't clean when my roommate and I moved in. 486 00:20:36,266 --> 00:20:38,533 And I remember when we did the walkthrough 487 00:20:38,600 --> 00:20:40,700 thinking that if I ever became a landlord 488 00:20:40,767 --> 00:20:44,100 or, you know, anything in this realm of realty, 489 00:20:44,166 --> 00:20:47,000 that I would make sure that all the places that I would expect 490 00:20:47,066 --> 00:20:50,033 other people not only to live but to pay money for 491 00:20:50,100 --> 00:20:52,300 was up to the standard of somewhere that I would live. 492 00:20:52,367 --> 00:20:55,233 And I think that the defendant couldn't even say that. 493 00:20:55,300 --> 00:20:57,667 That she would be willing to move in there and live there 494 00:20:57,734 --> 00:21:00,867 in the condition that it was in either on the 12th or the 13th. 495 00:21:00,934 --> 00:21:01,967 You know, that's a big deal. 496 00:21:02,033 --> 00:21:03,433 Yeah, they wanted a place to live. 497 00:21:03,500 --> 00:21:06,900 So, I think her claim that they never planned on signing the lease 498 00:21:06,967 --> 00:21:10,500 or they were trying to take advantage of her, I don't believe any of that. 499 00:21:10,567 --> 00:21:13,700 No mother packs up an 18-month-old for no reason. 500 00:21:13,767 --> 00:21:14,834 -So... -Yeah, yeah. 501 00:21:14,900 --> 00:21:17,033 They were hoping to make a new life. It didn't work out. 502 00:21:17,100 --> 00:21:22,166 Yeah. She's a young person to have a little real estate business. 503 00:21:22,233 --> 00:21:24,734 Four properties that she owns, 504 00:21:24,800 --> 00:21:26,200 and I give her credit for that. 505 00:21:26,266 --> 00:21:27,433 But you can't be a slumlord. 506 00:21:27,500 --> 00:21:29,266 -Yeah. I give her credit too. -And expect to get-- Yeah. 507 00:21:29,333 --> 00:21:31,300 But if you want four properties, 508 00:21:31,367 --> 00:21:33,066 they have to be four properties that you'd be willing 509 00:21:33,133 --> 00:21:34,066 -to live in yourself... -To live in yourself. 510 00:21:34,133 --> 00:21:36,266 -...not subpar. -That's the answer-- That's the answer. 511 00:21:37,867 --> 00:21:39,033 [narrator] Want justice? 512 00:21:39,100 --> 00:21:41,500 Go to JudyJustice.tv. 513 00:21:46,333 --> 00:21:49,200 [theme music playing]