1 00:00:00,233 --> 00:00:03,734 Your mother took money that she had been saving for you 2 00:00:03,800 --> 00:00:05,066 from your paycheck. 3 00:00:05,133 --> 00:00:07,500 So that I could get out on my own again and get an apartment. 4 00:00:08,900 --> 00:00:10,133 We ended up yelling at each other. 5 00:00:10,200 --> 00:00:13,967 I asked her at least five or six times to just please be quiet. 6 00:00:14,033 --> 00:00:16,367 She kicked me out at that point then too. So... 7 00:00:16,433 --> 00:00:17,567 Well, that's nasty. 8 00:00:18,400 --> 00:00:21,767 Seems to me that rather than picking a fight with her, 9 00:00:21,834 --> 00:00:23,166 you should be proud of her. 10 00:00:23,233 --> 00:00:25,567 [narrator] This is Judy Justice. 11 00:00:25,633 --> 00:00:27,200 [theme music playing] 12 00:00:42,734 --> 00:00:47,667 [narrator] Shanese Eckstein is suing her mother, Jessica Lornson, 13 00:00:47,734 --> 00:00:50,533 for stolen money and assault. 14 00:00:51,100 --> 00:00:53,100 [Kevin] Court come to order. All rise. 15 00:00:54,600 --> 00:00:55,767 Have a seat, please. 16 00:00:56,433 --> 00:00:58,734 Case 3112, Eckstein versus Lornson. 17 00:00:58,800 --> 00:01:00,100 -Thank you. -You're welcome. 18 00:01:00,633 --> 00:01:02,533 [Judy] Ms. Eckstein, the defendant is your mom? 19 00:01:02,600 --> 00:01:03,467 Yes. 20 00:01:03,533 --> 00:01:06,000 And there are several parts of your complaint, 21 00:01:06,066 --> 00:01:08,033 but the primary part of your complaint 22 00:01:08,100 --> 00:01:12,000 is that your mother took money that she had been saving for you... 23 00:01:12,066 --> 00:01:14,033 -Yes, ma'am. -...and refused to give it to you 24 00:01:14,100 --> 00:01:16,133 -when you left her home. -Yes. 25 00:01:16,200 --> 00:01:19,400 And mother says that you owed her that money for-- 26 00:01:19,467 --> 00:01:21,934 She doesn't deny that she saved money for you, 27 00:01:22,000 --> 00:01:23,000 it was your money, 28 00:01:23,066 --> 00:01:27,600 but that she says that you didn't contribute as you should have 29 00:01:27,667 --> 00:01:29,500 to the household when you were living there 30 00:01:29,567 --> 00:01:32,767 and she has a counterclaim, and that counterclaim is that 31 00:01:32,834 --> 00:01:36,266 while you were living there, your cats caused some damage to her sofa. 32 00:01:36,333 --> 00:01:37,300 Yes, correct. 33 00:01:37,367 --> 00:01:39,200 By the way, if you take a look at each other, 34 00:01:39,266 --> 00:01:42,700 it's so funny for a stranger to you 35 00:01:42,767 --> 00:01:47,166 look at you, and you can look at your mom 36 00:01:47,233 --> 00:01:50,367 and see what you're going to look like in a while. 37 00:01:50,433 --> 00:01:52,600 I'm looking at your face. 38 00:01:53,000 --> 00:01:53,867 You don't see it? 39 00:01:53,934 --> 00:01:55,800 No, ma'am, and I don't want to. 40 00:01:55,867 --> 00:01:58,533 Well, I'm just telling you, from a stranger's perspective. 41 00:01:58,600 --> 00:02:02,767 Sometimes my children don't see the same thing that I do. 42 00:02:02,834 --> 00:02:04,333 And I don't see it all the time. 43 00:02:04,400 --> 00:02:07,000 But I looked at the two of you and it was-- It's... 44 00:02:07,066 --> 00:02:10,567 [sighs] We’ve gotten it a lot. It happens. It sure does. [chuckles] 45 00:02:10,633 --> 00:02:12,100 -[Judy] Does it? -It does. It has. 46 00:02:12,166 --> 00:02:13,233 [Judge] It does. 47 00:02:13,300 --> 00:02:17,333 And your mom probably likes it when somebody says, "Oh, is that your sister?" 48 00:02:17,400 --> 00:02:18,333 [Shanese] She probably does. 49 00:02:18,400 --> 00:02:19,800 [Judy] She probably does. 50 00:02:19,867 --> 00:02:24,467 Okay, so right now, you and your mom are on the outs. 51 00:02:24,533 --> 00:02:28,367 That may be forever, it may not be forever. 52 00:02:28,433 --> 00:02:30,934 Certainly, from what I read of your complaint, 53 00:02:31,000 --> 00:02:34,433 when you hit a bad spot in your life, 54 00:02:34,500 --> 00:02:36,333 you went back to your mom. 55 00:02:36,400 --> 00:02:37,333 That's false. 56 00:02:37,400 --> 00:02:39,400 This was the only time that I'd had actually done that. 57 00:02:39,467 --> 00:02:40,934 [Judy] When you hit a bad spot-- 58 00:02:41,000 --> 00:02:42,200 I just said one spot. 59 00:02:42,266 --> 00:02:43,233 [Shanese] A, yes. Yes, ma'am. 60 00:02:43,300 --> 00:02:45,667 -When you hit a bad spot in your life... -Yes. 61 00:02:45,734 --> 00:02:47,367 -...you went home to your mom. -[Shanese] Yes. 62 00:02:47,433 --> 00:02:49,133 -[Judy] And she let you come home. -[Shanese] Yes. 63 00:02:49,200 --> 00:02:51,734 First, tell me a little about yourself, Ms. Eckstein. 64 00:02:51,800 --> 00:02:53,166 -[Shanese] Um, well... -How old are you? 65 00:02:53,233 --> 00:02:54,367 [Shanese] I'm 26. 66 00:02:54,433 --> 00:02:56,667 I am a branch manager at a financial place. 67 00:02:56,734 --> 00:02:58,533 I do taxes and loans, 68 00:02:58,600 --> 00:03:01,266 -so pretty standard. -Did you graduate high school? 69 00:03:01,333 --> 00:03:02,667 [Shanese] I did. I graduated high school. 70 00:03:02,734 --> 00:03:06,367 I did two years at the Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design. 71 00:03:06,433 --> 00:03:09,300 Didn't finish there, but still love art, you know. 72 00:03:09,367 --> 00:03:12,066 And how old were you when you left home? 73 00:03:12,133 --> 00:03:13,967 [Shanese] Um, I was 18. 74 00:03:14,367 --> 00:03:15,433 And where did you go? 75 00:03:15,500 --> 00:03:19,433 I went to the dorms where I was living there for school for a bit. 76 00:03:19,500 --> 00:03:24,100 Okay, your mom, I assume since she has younger kids, 77 00:03:24,166 --> 00:03:26,600 -that they're your half-siblings. -Yes. 78 00:03:26,667 --> 00:03:28,667 Okay. How old are your other children? 79 00:03:28,734 --> 00:03:31,200 They're four, um, five, 80 00:03:31,266 --> 00:03:35,133 and then I have a 17, an 18 and then 26. 81 00:03:35,200 --> 00:03:37,767 Okay. When you went off to college, you got student loans? 82 00:03:37,834 --> 00:03:39,000 -Yes. Yes. -Did you do that? 83 00:03:39,066 --> 00:03:41,100 And you were there for a couple of years and left. 84 00:03:41,166 --> 00:03:42,400 Tell me why you left school. 85 00:03:42,467 --> 00:03:44,033 I was not doing well mentally. 86 00:03:44,100 --> 00:03:47,100 I actually started there living in the dorms 87 00:03:47,166 --> 00:03:48,467 and then coming back home. 88 00:03:48,533 --> 00:03:51,000 At the time, it was about a half-an-hour drive. 89 00:03:51,066 --> 00:03:54,400 I worked in my hometown and then I went to school in Milwaukee. 90 00:03:54,467 --> 00:03:57,300 So it was about a half-hour drive. I'd come back on the weekends and work. 91 00:03:57,367 --> 00:04:00,433 Um, in that process, I would stay at her house on the weekends. 92 00:04:00,500 --> 00:04:02,900 But I wasn't able to continue to do that actually 93 00:04:02,967 --> 00:04:05,300 because she kicked me out at that point then too. So... 94 00:04:05,367 --> 00:04:06,367 This is reoccurring. 95 00:04:06,433 --> 00:04:09,133 Just-- So that would make you about 20. 96 00:04:09,200 --> 00:04:13,400 At that time, I think I was 19 and a half-ish. 97 00:04:13,467 --> 00:04:15,133 Going on. Around. Close. 98 00:04:15,200 --> 00:04:17,800 Close to 20. And you had a falling out with your mom then. 99 00:04:17,867 --> 00:04:19,500 -Yes. -[Judy] Okay. Not important as-- 100 00:04:19,567 --> 00:04:21,433 -Right. -[Judy] Not important as to why. 101 00:04:21,500 --> 00:04:22,467 And then you were on your own. 102 00:04:22,533 --> 00:04:26,300 Tell me when you went back to your mom's house and under what circumstances. 103 00:04:26,367 --> 00:04:29,367 So in April of 2023, 104 00:04:29,433 --> 00:04:32,900 I lost my job due to them closing offices. 105 00:04:32,967 --> 00:04:34,800 So I just wasn't able to-- 106 00:04:34,867 --> 00:04:38,700 Were you continuously working from the time you were 20? 107 00:04:38,767 --> 00:04:41,467 -Yes. Yes. Not the same job, but yes. -And you left school. 108 00:04:41,533 --> 00:04:44,166 -[Judy] But yes, and living by yourself? -Yes. 109 00:04:44,233 --> 00:04:46,000 -And paying your own rent? -[Shanese] Yes. 110 00:04:46,066 --> 00:04:47,233 -[Judy] Do you have a car? -Yes. 111 00:04:47,300 --> 00:04:48,166 [Judy] Buy it yourself? 112 00:04:48,233 --> 00:04:51,400 Uh, no. But it-- I mean, I guess technically it wasn't a loan, 113 00:04:51,467 --> 00:04:54,033 but it was from, like, a family that I was paying them, so yes. 114 00:04:54,100 --> 00:04:56,433 -[Judy] Okay, so-- Yeah. So you bought it. -Title's in my name, yeah. 115 00:04:56,500 --> 00:05:00,734 So when you were 20, you were on your own, self-supporting. 116 00:05:00,800 --> 00:05:01,667 [Shanese] Yes. 117 00:05:01,734 --> 00:05:03,200 But not bad. 118 00:05:03,266 --> 00:05:05,433 -I'm just telling you. Not bad. -Yeah. 119 00:05:05,500 --> 00:05:09,900 In today's day and age, that is a big "not bad." 120 00:05:09,967 --> 00:05:11,600 To be 20 and on your own. 121 00:05:11,667 --> 00:05:13,033 -Yeah. -[Judy] So you lost your job. 122 00:05:13,100 --> 00:05:16,667 Yes. So, essentially I was working at this job 123 00:05:16,734 --> 00:05:21,567 since 20-- 2020, I believe it was, so about three years at this point 124 00:05:21,633 --> 00:05:24,500 and they decided they were gonna close all of the surrounding offices 125 00:05:24,567 --> 00:05:26,100 where I was and then the ones around it, 126 00:05:26,166 --> 00:05:27,867 so I didn't really have many options. 127 00:05:27,934 --> 00:05:29,734 So they gave me severance. I left. 128 00:05:29,800 --> 00:05:32,834 I was working on severance, or, you know, I was waitressing on the side 129 00:05:32,900 --> 00:05:36,000 getting severance and then also received unemployment during that time as well, 130 00:05:36,066 --> 00:05:38,333 to just continue with my rent that I had with the lease. 131 00:05:38,400 --> 00:05:39,467 Okay, and then? 132 00:05:39,533 --> 00:05:42,600 So-- I'm sorry. And then I went, um, 133 00:05:42,667 --> 00:05:44,233 I was, you know, getting unemployment. 134 00:05:44,300 --> 00:05:46,367 It started to short out a little bit around August. 135 00:05:46,433 --> 00:05:48,233 It was getting a little bit difficult to pay my rent, 136 00:05:48,300 --> 00:05:52,300 so I decided that it would be easiest to not do that anymore. 137 00:05:52,367 --> 00:05:55,467 I moved in with my mother, asked if she could help me at that time of need. Yes. 138 00:05:55,533 --> 00:05:57,166 -So-- And she said yes. -And she said yes. 139 00:05:57,233 --> 00:05:58,600 -[Shanese] Yes, absolutely. -Okay. 140 00:05:58,667 --> 00:06:00,367 So tell me, so you moved back home 141 00:06:00,433 --> 00:06:03,800 with your mom and I assume 142 00:06:03,867 --> 00:06:06,967 between two and four siblings. 143 00:06:07,033 --> 00:06:09,367 Yeah, well, I mean, there was two originally. 144 00:06:09,433 --> 00:06:10,633 One is in college right now 145 00:06:10,700 --> 00:06:13,200 and then the other one ended up moving back as well. 146 00:06:13,266 --> 00:06:14,934 -The 17-year-old? -[Shanese] Yes. Mm-hmm. 147 00:06:15,000 --> 00:06:17,800 So is back home with the four and five-year-old. 148 00:06:17,867 --> 00:06:19,333 As far as I know, yes. 149 00:06:19,400 --> 00:06:20,600 -[Judy] Is that right? -[Jessica] Correct. 150 00:06:20,667 --> 00:06:22,400 [Judy] And you live there with your husband? 151 00:06:22,467 --> 00:06:25,400 -Correct. -And four, five and 17-year-old? 152 00:06:25,467 --> 00:06:28,300 -Yes. -[Judy] So you moved back in April? 153 00:06:28,367 --> 00:06:31,100 Uh, no, I-- I lost my job in April, 154 00:06:31,166 --> 00:06:33,467 moved back, um, around August, so it was-- 155 00:06:33,533 --> 00:06:37,367 I-- The news happened in August that it was going to be an eviction otherwise. 156 00:06:37,433 --> 00:06:39,934 So I realized that I wanted to avoid that obviously on my record. 157 00:06:40,000 --> 00:06:42,266 So I reached out to her in a moment of panic. 158 00:06:42,333 --> 00:06:45,033 She helped me out. I had my stuff moved in within days. 159 00:06:45,100 --> 00:06:45,967 [Judy] Great. 160 00:06:49,000 --> 00:06:50,033 Why were you annoyed with her? 161 00:06:50,100 --> 00:06:51,700 It was midnight and I had asked her 162 00:06:51,767 --> 00:06:53,600 if she had been at her friends for a couple days, 163 00:06:53,667 --> 00:06:56,166 why she couldn't have ate before she came home... 164 00:06:56,233 --> 00:06:57,433 [Judy] Did you text that to her? 165 00:06:57,500 --> 00:06:59,467 -I texted that to her. -Well, that's nasty. 166 00:07:02,367 --> 00:07:05,066 [theme music playing] 167 00:07:08,834 --> 00:07:13,266 [narrator] Shanese Eckstein claims her mother, Jessica Lornson, 168 00:07:13,333 --> 00:07:17,133 assaulted her and stole money she received from Shanese. 169 00:07:17,533 --> 00:07:21,166 Jessica is countersuing for the cost of a couch. 170 00:07:21,567 --> 00:07:25,200 Okay. According to you, the deal was that you would work, 171 00:07:25,266 --> 00:07:26,767 -which you did. -Yes. 172 00:07:26,834 --> 00:07:28,200 -[Judy] Got another job. -Yes. 173 00:07:28,266 --> 00:07:30,467 You moved in in August. When did you get another job? 174 00:07:30,533 --> 00:07:31,900 Um, right away. It was actually-- 175 00:07:31,967 --> 00:07:35,800 I moved in, like, halfway through August, somewhere near September. 176 00:07:35,867 --> 00:07:39,433 So I got a job immediately on, um-- It was September 19th was my first day. 177 00:07:39,500 --> 00:07:40,667 -[Judy] Are you still there? -[Shanese] Yes. 178 00:07:40,734 --> 00:07:42,767 -[Judy] What kind of work is it? -Uh, taxes and loans. 179 00:07:42,834 --> 00:07:43,934 That's what I thought you said. 180 00:07:44,000 --> 00:07:47,433 And you started to give your mom money from your paycheck. 181 00:07:47,500 --> 00:07:49,100 -Immediately. -[Judy] For? 182 00:07:49,166 --> 00:07:52,500 Um, to save for me, so that I could get out on my own again and get an apartment. 183 00:07:52,567 --> 00:07:54,000 How come you didn't put it in a bank? 184 00:07:54,066 --> 00:07:57,066 I should have. Um, hindsight, you know. 185 00:07:57,133 --> 00:08:00,100 Uh, but I was-- My bank was out in Fond du Lac, 186 00:08:00,166 --> 00:08:01,367 so it was just a far drive 187 00:08:01,433 --> 00:08:05,233 and my work issued me a payroll card, so that's what I was using at the time. 188 00:08:05,300 --> 00:08:09,333 And she actually insisted that I give her the money, rather than... 189 00:08:09,400 --> 00:08:11,300 You know, so that I can't have access to it, basically, 190 00:08:11,367 --> 00:08:15,567 because she thinks that I wouldn't have the ability to not spend it, basically. 191 00:08:15,633 --> 00:08:17,667 So that was the point. 192 00:08:17,734 --> 00:08:19,266 [Judy] Okay. And you were saving the money for her. 193 00:08:19,333 --> 00:08:20,200 [Jessica] Correct. 194 00:08:20,266 --> 00:08:21,467 How much did you save for her? 195 00:08:21,533 --> 00:08:24,800 Um, we saved, I think there was 1800 in there. 196 00:08:25,266 --> 00:08:29,633 And, um, I did ask her several times to go and open up a bank account. 197 00:08:29,700 --> 00:08:32,967 Okay. But you said you saved 1800-- 198 00:08:33,033 --> 00:08:35,834 There was 1800. Was it in a bank account? 199 00:08:35,900 --> 00:08:39,734 No, I had it set aside in an envelope that said "Shanese's Savings" on it. 200 00:08:39,800 --> 00:08:43,200 [Judy] So it's somewhere between 1800 and 25. 201 00:08:43,266 --> 00:08:46,500 I have it actually in my evidence. I have all my pay stubs 202 00:08:46,567 --> 00:08:48,633 and then I also have all of my bank statements 203 00:08:48,700 --> 00:08:50,533 showing when I pulled money out, 204 00:08:50,600 --> 00:08:53,533 that all add up to 2600. 205 00:08:53,600 --> 00:08:56,867 Um, and then I also have my, um-- 206 00:08:56,934 --> 00:08:59,467 There was also, like, a note that I kept in my phone 207 00:08:59,533 --> 00:09:01,734 to save every time that I pulled out and gave her money, 208 00:09:01,800 --> 00:09:03,633 so that I could keep track of it, so... 209 00:09:03,700 --> 00:09:08,333 Okay, do you have any documentation of how much money she gave you? 210 00:09:08,400 --> 00:09:10,600 It was written on an envelope at home. 211 00:09:10,667 --> 00:09:12,834 -I don't have that. No. -[Judy] I took the answer as no. 212 00:09:12,900 --> 00:09:14,767 Okay. So I'd like to see-- 213 00:09:14,834 --> 00:09:16,567 Yes, ma'am. Give me one second. 214 00:09:16,633 --> 00:09:18,834 [Judy] From your phone, that would be most helpful. 215 00:09:18,900 --> 00:09:21,834 I don't have it on my phone, it's right here. 216 00:09:21,900 --> 00:09:25,266 So this is the beginning of it. This is the savings. 217 00:09:25,333 --> 00:09:28,266 And then throughout you'll get the bank statements first 218 00:09:28,333 --> 00:09:31,333 and then right after, immediately, is all of my pay stubs. 219 00:09:37,000 --> 00:09:40,133 Savings at mom's, I have $2300. 220 00:09:40,200 --> 00:09:43,100 That's because she also borrowed $200 from me 221 00:09:43,166 --> 00:09:46,133 for, I'm assuming, my brother's car payment at the time. 222 00:09:46,200 --> 00:09:49,500 I also have that in text messages of her borrowing that. 223 00:09:49,567 --> 00:09:51,433 [Judy] Well, let me see the text messages of that, please. 224 00:09:51,500 --> 00:09:52,367 Yes, ma'am. 225 00:10:00,567 --> 00:10:04,533 Yes, do you remember borrowing $200 from her? 226 00:10:04,600 --> 00:10:05,934 So, I had asked her, yes. 227 00:10:06,000 --> 00:10:07,600 -[Judy] Yes, do you remember that? -Yes. 228 00:10:07,667 --> 00:10:10,000 Okay. That's $2500. 229 00:10:10,066 --> 00:10:12,600 Okay. Then there came a time when you had a problem. 230 00:10:12,667 --> 00:10:14,233 -Yes. -Tell me when that was. 231 00:10:14,300 --> 00:10:19,633 Um, I left her house on the night of-- It was November 24th. 232 00:10:19,700 --> 00:10:23,300 I came back on November 25th around 11:30. 233 00:10:23,367 --> 00:10:25,533 I went out to see some friends in Fond du Lac. 234 00:10:25,600 --> 00:10:28,433 So-- She actually sent me with some plates for Thanksgiving 235 00:10:28,500 --> 00:10:31,800 to give to my friends, so everything was all cordial and fine at the time 236 00:10:31,867 --> 00:10:33,667 of me leaving on Friday night. 237 00:10:33,734 --> 00:10:35,934 Came back on Saturday night 238 00:10:36,000 --> 00:10:39,100 and initially, it started with a text message I sent to my brother. 239 00:10:39,166 --> 00:10:42,633 I asked him if he wanted to split a pizza. I was coming home. 240 00:10:42,700 --> 00:10:45,200 You know, just to hang out with him. He told me he wasn't home. 241 00:10:45,266 --> 00:10:48,467 So I texted my mother and I asked her, you know, "Where's Joe?" 242 00:10:48,533 --> 00:10:51,300 And he or she told me that he was out with friends, you know, whatever, 243 00:10:51,367 --> 00:10:53,600 but she was being very short with me, um... 244 00:10:53,667 --> 00:10:55,834 There's just very short responses. 245 00:10:55,900 --> 00:10:58,967 I was asking her if she had a problem. She said "No," I said, "Okay." 246 00:10:59,033 --> 00:11:01,767 So I got home and she had an attitude with me still. 247 00:11:01,834 --> 00:11:04,266 So I addressed it, I said, "What's-- What's the problem?" 248 00:11:04,333 --> 00:11:07,667 And it ended up raising voices. We ended up yelling at each other. 249 00:11:07,734 --> 00:11:09,233 -[Judy] Okay. So it was tough. -Yes. 250 00:11:09,300 --> 00:11:11,900 So tell me what happened, why were you annoyed with her? 251 00:11:11,967 --> 00:11:16,800 So in the text messages I had asked her, it was midnight, 252 00:11:16,867 --> 00:11:19,567 and I had asked her if she had been at her friends for a couple days, 253 00:11:19,633 --> 00:11:22,333 why she couldn't have ate before she came home 254 00:11:22,400 --> 00:11:24,567 because, um, we had the little one sleeping 255 00:11:24,633 --> 00:11:27,700 and my significant other sleeps out in the living room 256 00:11:27,767 --> 00:11:30,333 because of just sleeping arrangements with the little kids. 257 00:11:30,734 --> 00:11:34,233 And I asked her that and she said, "I don't know what your problem is." 258 00:11:34,300 --> 00:11:37,500 And then when she got home, it just turned into something more... 259 00:11:37,567 --> 00:11:39,900 -I don't understand what your-- -[Shanese] May I say something? 260 00:11:39,967 --> 00:11:41,133 -Shh. Just a second. -Yes, ma'am. 261 00:11:41,200 --> 00:11:42,533 [Judy] I'm not following you. 262 00:11:42,600 --> 00:11:44,066 [Jessica] So, she texted me and asked where Joe was. 263 00:11:44,133 --> 00:11:46,200 Okay. She left on a Friday. 264 00:11:46,266 --> 00:11:48,166 Yup. To go up to Fond du Lac. 265 00:11:48,233 --> 00:11:50,133 And she was coming home on Saturday. 266 00:11:50,200 --> 00:11:52,000 -Correct. -[Judy] What time? 267 00:11:52,066 --> 00:11:55,166 She texted me, it was about 11:30, 268 00:11:55,233 --> 00:11:57,033 saying that she was about 15 minutes out. 269 00:11:57,100 --> 00:11:59,166 -11:30 in the evening. -[Jessica] Correct. 270 00:11:59,700 --> 00:12:01,500 [Judy] So she gave you a heads-up that she was out. 271 00:12:01,567 --> 00:12:03,233 -She had her own key, right? -Yeah. 272 00:12:03,300 --> 00:12:05,233 -Correct. Yes. -[Judy] Yes. 273 00:12:05,300 --> 00:12:07,300 -So that's fine. -[Jessica] Yes. 274 00:12:07,367 --> 00:12:10,433 -And then she said she was hungry. -Mm-hmm. 275 00:12:10,500 --> 00:12:12,066 -[Judy] Is that right? -[Jessica] Correct. 276 00:12:12,133 --> 00:12:13,700 [Judy] Okay, so she said she was hungry. 277 00:12:13,767 --> 00:12:17,533 And your response was, "Why didn't you eat with your friends?" 278 00:12:17,600 --> 00:12:18,467 Mm-hmm. 279 00:12:18,533 --> 00:12:21,800 [Judy] "Because why you want to eat when you come home?" 280 00:12:21,867 --> 00:12:24,834 Yeah, my boyfriend does get up at 4:30 in the morning, and she knows that. 281 00:12:24,900 --> 00:12:28,000 So I just thought it was like, you know, "Why couldn't this be taken care of 282 00:12:28,066 --> 00:12:29,900 before you came home instead of at midnight?" 283 00:12:29,967 --> 00:12:32,100 Because it kind of disrupts the house, I guess. 284 00:12:32,166 --> 00:12:34,934 Mm, you must have had a bad day with somebody that day. 285 00:12:35,000 --> 00:12:39,266 That's not something that I would actually say to one of my children. 286 00:12:39,333 --> 00:12:40,900 -[Jessica] So... -I'm just letting you know. 287 00:12:40,967 --> 00:12:43,300 -[Jessica] Well, right-- -[Judy] I'm just letting you know. 288 00:12:43,367 --> 00:12:45,467 You might have just had a bad day. Who is this? 289 00:12:45,533 --> 00:12:47,633 This is, um, my mother-in-law, Diane. 290 00:12:47,700 --> 00:12:50,767 [Judy] I mean, she-- You had somebody who was responsible. 291 00:12:50,834 --> 00:12:52,867 She texted you that she was coming home. 292 00:12:52,934 --> 00:12:55,667 She clearly knew that you would be up if she texted you 293 00:12:55,734 --> 00:12:57,734 -because you probably stay up late. -Right. 294 00:12:57,800 --> 00:13:00,700 And-- Sometimes more than I used to get. 295 00:13:00,767 --> 00:13:03,166 "Listen, I'm on my way home, 15 minutes out." 296 00:13:03,734 --> 00:13:06,767 What?! I would say, "What kind of medication are you on?" 297 00:13:06,834 --> 00:13:09,934 Telling me 15-- 26 years old and telling me-- 298 00:13:10,000 --> 00:13:13,633 We've just had talks before, you know, about just the times of arriving at home, 299 00:13:13,700 --> 00:13:16,467 and, you know, with the kids sleeping and Josh in the living room-- 300 00:13:16,533 --> 00:13:20,600 It was just, I think, more of just a respect thing. That was all. 301 00:13:20,667 --> 00:13:22,734 -[Judy] But not a big deal? -No. 302 00:13:22,800 --> 00:13:24,834 Doesn't sound like a big deal to me. 303 00:13:24,900 --> 00:13:26,800 -[Jessica] Mm-mm. -So then what happened when she got home? 304 00:13:26,867 --> 00:13:30,500 So she came in the house and she said, um-- 305 00:13:30,567 --> 00:13:32,433 -When she opened up the door-- -[Judy] Look at me. No, look at me. 306 00:13:32,500 --> 00:13:34,233 When she opened up the door, she said, "What's your problem?" 307 00:13:34,300 --> 00:13:35,633 When she first walked in-- 308 00:13:35,700 --> 00:13:36,934 Well, what had you responded to her? 309 00:13:37,000 --> 00:13:39,166 Had you said, "So why didn't you eat with your friends?" 310 00:13:39,233 --> 00:13:40,467 -Um... -[Judy] Had you texted that to her? 311 00:13:40,533 --> 00:13:42,433 -I texted that to her, yes. -Well, that's nasty. 312 00:13:42,500 --> 00:13:45,734 Okay. So she came in, then she said, "What's your problem?" 313 00:13:45,800 --> 00:13:46,667 -Mm-hmm. -[Judy] And then? 314 00:13:46,734 --> 00:13:50,667 And she kept getting louder and I asked her at least five or six times 315 00:13:50,734 --> 00:13:52,066 to just please be quiet, 316 00:13:52,133 --> 00:13:53,934 -you know, the little ones were sleeping. -Is that the way it went? 317 00:13:54,000 --> 00:13:55,667 -I mean-- -That is the way it went. 318 00:13:58,000 --> 00:13:59,767 You keep your fingers crossed 319 00:13:59,834 --> 00:14:04,400 that your 17, 18, four and five-year-olds 320 00:14:04,467 --> 00:14:09,867 turn out as articulately and independently as your 26-year-old. 321 00:14:09,934 --> 00:14:13,233 Rather than picking a fight with her, you should be proud of her. 322 00:14:16,066 --> 00:14:20,033 [theme music playing] 323 00:14:23,133 --> 00:14:27,867 [narrator] Shanese Eckstein is accusing her mother, Jessica Lornson, 324 00:14:27,934 --> 00:14:30,667 of stealing her money while they lived together. 325 00:14:30,734 --> 00:14:36,500 Jessica is countersuing, claiming Shanese's cats ruined her couch. 326 00:14:37,033 --> 00:14:40,533 Okay, she was getting louder because you were saying what? 327 00:14:40,600 --> 00:14:42,934 She just kept saying, "What's your problem? What's your problem? 328 00:14:43,000 --> 00:14:45,500 Why are you angry? What's your problem?" And it kept getting louder, and I-- 329 00:14:45,567 --> 00:14:48,200 [Judy] And what did you ans-- Just a second. So what did--? 330 00:14:48,266 --> 00:14:52,233 She asked what your problem was because it was a curt sort of text. 331 00:14:52,300 --> 00:14:53,867 And what did you respond to her? 332 00:14:53,934 --> 00:14:55,633 I just asked her to lower her tone at first 333 00:14:55,700 --> 00:14:57,066 and it just kept escalating and escalating. 334 00:14:57,133 --> 00:14:59,166 -[Judy] No, but did you answer her? -I did not. 335 00:14:59,233 --> 00:15:00,600 -[Judy] Why? -Because I answered her 336 00:15:00,667 --> 00:15:02,233 in the text message, that's all. 337 00:15:02,300 --> 00:15:03,266 -That's incorrect. -[Judy] What did you-- 338 00:15:03,333 --> 00:15:07,233 I just said, you know, "Why can't you eat before you come home?" I know it's not-- 339 00:15:07,300 --> 00:15:08,166 [Judy] Just a second. 340 00:15:08,233 --> 00:15:09,900 Well, that I know, 341 00:15:09,967 --> 00:15:11,700 -but now she's home... -[Jessica] Mm-hmm. 342 00:15:11,767 --> 00:15:13,633 ...and she says to you, "What's your problem?" 343 00:15:13,700 --> 00:15:16,767 I just think it's just how she approached me, that's all, ma'am. 344 00:15:16,834 --> 00:15:19,200 -I don't... -Had you had a fight with your boyfriend? 345 00:15:19,266 --> 00:15:21,633 No. We actually get along really well. 346 00:15:21,700 --> 00:15:25,533 [Judy] Mm-hmm. Okay. And then it escalated. Is that right? 347 00:15:25,600 --> 00:15:26,734 -Yes. -[Judy] And you left. 348 00:15:26,800 --> 00:15:29,200 Yes, um, well, actually, I... 349 00:15:29,266 --> 00:15:32,633 And I would like to also mention that they were both awake 350 00:15:32,700 --> 00:15:34,533 in the kitchen-- I'm sorry, in the living room 351 00:15:34,600 --> 00:15:36,800 watching TV when I got home. 352 00:15:36,867 --> 00:15:38,400 They were both still awake, actually. 353 00:15:38,467 --> 00:15:39,900 -[Judy] Both your mom and her boyfriend. -Yes. 354 00:15:39,967 --> 00:15:42,200 Both my mom and her boyfriend were awake. The kids were sleeping, 355 00:15:42,266 --> 00:15:44,633 but they were out in the living room with the dogs and everything. 356 00:15:44,700 --> 00:15:46,133 Everyone was hanging out. 357 00:15:46,200 --> 00:15:48,533 That's the setting and I would also like to note 358 00:15:48,600 --> 00:15:51,433 that my 17-year-old brother was also out 359 00:15:51,500 --> 00:15:55,400 and not even returned home yet, was driving her car at the time. 360 00:15:55,467 --> 00:15:57,567 I came back at a reasonable time, 361 00:15:57,633 --> 00:15:59,433 let her know, with my own car. 362 00:15:59,900 --> 00:16:02,700 So that's setting the scene. Clearing that up, um... 363 00:16:02,767 --> 00:16:04,633 Is there anything that your daughter just said 364 00:16:04,700 --> 00:16:06,400 -that is inaccurate? -[Jessica] Yes, Josh was actually sleeping 365 00:16:06,467 --> 00:16:08,266 on the couch until she came in in the first-- 366 00:16:08,333 --> 00:16:10,100 Like, when it started getting loud, he woke up. 367 00:16:10,166 --> 00:16:12,066 She said he was out. 368 00:16:12,467 --> 00:16:14,533 No, my son was out. My 17-year-old. 369 00:16:14,600 --> 00:16:16,133 -[Judy] Your 17-year-old was out. -Correct. 370 00:16:16,200 --> 00:16:17,767 -Mm-hmm. -[Judy] Where was he? 371 00:16:17,834 --> 00:16:20,467 -At a friend's. He was hanging out. -Was he coming home? 372 00:16:20,867 --> 00:16:21,734 Yes. 373 00:16:21,800 --> 00:16:24,400 [Judy] So your daughter came home before he did. 374 00:16:24,467 --> 00:16:25,700 -Correct. -[Judy] How do you get along 375 00:16:25,767 --> 00:16:27,400 with your mother's boyfriend? 376 00:16:27,467 --> 00:16:30,433 He's a really nice guy, actually. I'm-- I-- 377 00:16:30,500 --> 00:16:32,667 I'm very happy that he is around her. 378 00:16:32,734 --> 00:16:35,600 I was hoping that it would make her a little bit of a better person, 379 00:16:35,667 --> 00:16:38,000 but I do like him, he's a good guy. 380 00:16:38,066 --> 00:16:40,967 Right. Going over the numbers, Ms. Lornson, 381 00:16:41,033 --> 00:16:44,000 you saved $2500 of your daughter's pay 382 00:16:44,066 --> 00:16:46,567 and that was your understanding that you were saving it for her. 383 00:16:46,633 --> 00:16:50,000 You indicated it was in an envelope. It was in an envelope with her name on it. 384 00:16:50,066 --> 00:16:53,367 She left. I don't care what the circumstances were of her leaving. 385 00:16:53,433 --> 00:16:54,767 -That's her money. -[Jessica] Right. 386 00:16:54,834 --> 00:16:55,700 I did ask her. 387 00:16:55,767 --> 00:16:59,834 The original agreement when she moved in was to contribute to groceries. 388 00:16:59,900 --> 00:17:02,433 -No. -[Jessica] Um, contribute to groceries, 389 00:17:02,500 --> 00:17:04,333 to help out with, like, household stuff. 390 00:17:04,400 --> 00:17:06,333 Um, our utility bills did go up 391 00:17:06,400 --> 00:17:08,700 and I had to talk with her out in our garage, 392 00:17:08,767 --> 00:17:10,400 asking her if she can contribute a little bit. 393 00:17:10,467 --> 00:17:13,400 I literally live week to week, paycheck to paycheck, 394 00:17:13,467 --> 00:17:15,867 and I asked her if she'd help me. She said she would. 395 00:17:16,367 --> 00:17:17,400 [Judy] Okay, but she never-- 396 00:17:17,467 --> 00:17:18,934 You asked her to help you. She never did. 397 00:17:19,000 --> 00:17:20,967 She just gave you money to save for her. 398 00:17:21,033 --> 00:17:21,900 Correct. 399 00:17:21,967 --> 00:17:25,000 [Judy] Well, then you owe her $2500. That's her money. 400 00:17:25,066 --> 00:17:26,500 That's her money. 401 00:17:26,567 --> 00:17:27,633 That's not a contract. 402 00:17:27,700 --> 00:17:31,467 "Can you help out with the groceries? Can you help out with the utility bills?" 403 00:17:31,533 --> 00:17:32,533 That's not a contract. 404 00:17:32,600 --> 00:17:35,934 "I'm going to save your money for you so you can move out and be on your own." 405 00:17:36,000 --> 00:17:37,133 That's a contract. 406 00:17:37,200 --> 00:17:39,033 So you have to give her back her money. 407 00:17:39,100 --> 00:17:41,433 Money owed for damaged property. 408 00:17:41,500 --> 00:17:43,500 -You've got one couch. -Correct. 409 00:17:43,567 --> 00:17:45,500 -And it's a leather couch. -Correct. 410 00:17:45,567 --> 00:17:48,767 Have you had that couch since you had your four and five-year-old? 411 00:17:49,166 --> 00:17:50,266 Uh, yes. 412 00:17:50,333 --> 00:17:52,300 -So you have a four and five-year-old... -[Jessica] Mm-hmm. 413 00:17:52,367 --> 00:17:55,600 ...that use that couch and sit on that couch and play with that couch. 414 00:17:55,667 --> 00:17:59,734 Now I want you to show me a picture of how you say her cat or cats 415 00:17:59,800 --> 00:18:01,533 -destroyed the couch. -Okay. 416 00:18:02,400 --> 00:18:03,800 There is... 417 00:18:06,967 --> 00:18:07,834 These four here. 418 00:18:08,266 --> 00:18:09,600 And it's on the arms. 419 00:18:09,667 --> 00:18:12,900 On each of the arms, and then on the bottom footrest. 420 00:18:14,500 --> 00:18:15,800 [Judy] No, this is a worn couch. 421 00:18:15,867 --> 00:18:17,834 -This-- -[Jessica] I know. It's, uh-- Yes. 422 00:18:17,900 --> 00:18:19,667 Oh, come on, what are you, kidding me? 423 00:18:21,800 --> 00:18:27,500 Ms. Lornson, all I can do is suggest to you that you keep your fingers crossed 424 00:18:27,567 --> 00:18:32,266 that your 17, 18, four and five-year-olds turn out 425 00:18:32,333 --> 00:18:38,200 as articulately and independently as your 26-year-old. 426 00:18:39,667 --> 00:18:43,233 I wish you good luck with that, but it seems to me 427 00:18:43,300 --> 00:18:47,066 that rather than picking a fight with her, you should be proud of her. 428 00:18:47,133 --> 00:18:48,266 -I am. -[Judy] She's been on her own 429 00:18:48,333 --> 00:18:49,934 for a very long time, 430 00:18:50,000 --> 00:18:53,433 taking care of herself seemingly responsibly, 431 00:18:53,500 --> 00:18:55,934 and you were short with her. 432 00:18:56,333 --> 00:18:58,367 -Your Honor-- -[Judy] You were short with her that day. 433 00:18:58,433 --> 00:19:00,233 It was an unloving-- 434 00:19:00,300 --> 00:19:04,400 That text to her about why can't you eat with your friends 435 00:19:04,467 --> 00:19:08,667 was an unloving, non-maternal response. 436 00:19:10,433 --> 00:19:12,133 -You understand? -Yes. 437 00:19:13,500 --> 00:19:17,600 [Judy] Good. So you owe your daughter $2500. She owes you nothing. 438 00:19:17,667 --> 00:19:20,567 Judgment for the plaintiff in the amount of $2500. 439 00:19:20,633 --> 00:19:22,066 -Thank you. -[Kevin] This court is adjourned. 440 00:19:26,600 --> 00:19:30,266 I feel that I didn't get to speak on everything and that I wasn't heard. 441 00:19:30,333 --> 00:19:32,066 Honestly, very grateful. 442 00:19:32,133 --> 00:19:34,934 I was honest in my statement and had all my evidence. 443 00:19:35,000 --> 00:19:36,967 Just very grateful and ready to be done with all of this. 444 00:19:37,033 --> 00:19:40,600 I'm just wiping my slate clean. Absolutely done. 445 00:19:40,667 --> 00:19:43,934 Just if she would have read all the details that I had with the dates, 446 00:19:44,000 --> 00:19:47,300 the times, just things that Shanese and I have been through in the past. 447 00:19:47,367 --> 00:19:49,233 Probably one of the hardest things that I've ever done. 448 00:19:49,300 --> 00:19:53,567 But I had to do it, so we did it, and we're here and I'm done. 449 00:19:53,633 --> 00:19:57,567 She owes me more money. $500 for an electric bill that she never paid me. 450 00:19:57,633 --> 00:19:59,567 She never loaned me any money in the first place, 451 00:19:59,633 --> 00:20:01,633 so she's holding on to something that doesn't exist 452 00:20:01,700 --> 00:20:02,967 and that's unfortunate for her. 453 00:20:03,033 --> 00:20:04,867 It hurts. It does. 454 00:20:04,934 --> 00:20:08,900 Because it's been a long time coming. It's been years of her putting me down 455 00:20:08,967 --> 00:20:12,400 and just being the thing that stands in my way of my full potential, 456 00:20:12,467 --> 00:20:13,734 and I don't know what the reason is. 457 00:20:13,800 --> 00:20:15,300 I don't want nothing to do with her. 458 00:20:15,367 --> 00:20:18,900 Finally, I had to just stop because I have a life to live. 459 00:20:18,967 --> 00:20:20,300 I've given it a lot of thought. 460 00:20:20,367 --> 00:20:22,100 I hope she lives the best life she can. 461 00:20:22,166 --> 00:20:23,567 Now she's burned her bridges. 462 00:20:23,633 --> 00:20:25,500 I hope I never have to cross paths with her again. 463 00:20:26,734 --> 00:20:28,967 I was really impressed by that young woman. 464 00:20:29,033 --> 00:20:32,066 Yeah. Seemed like she had it all figured out from a pretty young age. 465 00:20:32,133 --> 00:20:35,033 Responsible, taking care of herself. 466 00:20:35,100 --> 00:20:37,033 -Paid her rent. Bought a car. -Yeah. 467 00:20:37,100 --> 00:20:38,100 Paid it off. 468 00:20:38,166 --> 00:20:41,567 Texted her mother, "I'm on the road, I'll be home in 15 minutes." 469 00:20:41,633 --> 00:20:45,033 Yeah. Overly accommodating and understanding. 470 00:20:45,100 --> 00:20:45,967 It's just unfortunate. 471 00:20:46,033 --> 00:20:49,200 I know probably all she wanted was her mother to acknowledge 472 00:20:49,266 --> 00:20:51,133 all of those things as positives. 473 00:20:51,200 --> 00:20:54,266 You know, and having a daughter that accomplished that much 474 00:20:54,333 --> 00:20:55,867 at such a young age. 475 00:20:55,934 --> 00:20:57,266 -Yeah. -I'd want my parents 476 00:20:57,333 --> 00:20:58,734 to acknowledge and celebrate that 477 00:20:58,800 --> 00:21:01,000 and I feel like she didn't get that, unfortunately. 478 00:21:01,066 --> 00:21:03,100 -Yeah. Sad. -Yeah. 479 00:21:03,166 --> 00:21:04,800 At least she got her money back, though. 480 00:21:06,633 --> 00:21:08,133 [narrator] Are you a victim of a scam? 481 00:21:08,200 --> 00:21:10,667 Go to JudyJustice.tv. 482 00:21:15,200 --> 00:21:18,066 [theme music playing]