1 00:00:00,100 --> 00:00:02,500 You perform marriages for a lot of people. 2 00:00:02,567 --> 00:00:03,800 Yes. 3 00:00:03,867 --> 00:00:07,166 He offered us money for reporting her. 4 00:00:07,233 --> 00:00:11,700 He said, I'll give you money if you go report her to a county clerk. 5 00:00:11,767 --> 00:00:13,934 She had a separate conversation with him. 6 00:00:14,000 --> 00:00:16,433 So, he didn't offer you anything. 7 00:00:16,500 --> 00:00:18,100 -No. -Okay, sit down. 8 00:00:20,266 --> 00:00:21,467 Not a good witness. 9 00:00:21,533 --> 00:00:23,767 [narrator] This is Judy Justice. 10 00:00:24,567 --> 00:00:26,533 [theme music playing] 11 00:00:41,500 --> 00:00:45,266 [narrator] Jennifer Flores is suing fellow minister, 12 00:00:45,333 --> 00:00:50,166 Jean-Claude Bensoussan for defamation and lost wages. 13 00:00:50,233 --> 00:00:52,700 [Kevin] Court, come to order. All rise. 14 00:00:55,533 --> 00:00:56,834 [Judy] Have a seat, please. 15 00:00:57,967 --> 00:01:01,166 Judge, case 4039, Flores versus Bensoussan. 16 00:01:01,233 --> 00:01:03,266 -Okie-dokie. Thank you. -You're welcome. 17 00:01:03,333 --> 00:01:08,000 [Judy] Now, you both somehow became marriage officiants. 18 00:01:08,066 --> 00:01:13,467 And each of you claim that the other slandered them in your professions. 19 00:01:13,533 --> 00:01:17,333 How did you become someone who could perform marriages? 20 00:01:17,400 --> 00:01:19,166 I was working for an attorney, 21 00:01:19,233 --> 00:01:23,066 and we would get a lot of clients 22 00:01:23,133 --> 00:01:25,967 that were seeking to get married in county jail, 23 00:01:26,033 --> 00:01:28,667 but they just didn't have services like that. 24 00:01:28,734 --> 00:01:31,367 So, we didn't know where to refer them to. 25 00:01:31,433 --> 00:01:35,866 So, at that time, my cousin had gone and married in county jail. 26 00:01:35,934 --> 00:01:38,767 And she had an experience, and she was like, 27 00:01:38,834 --> 00:01:41,834 you should get a certificate, it's only a little certificate. 28 00:01:41,900 --> 00:01:45,633 And I'm early; I go inside the county jails to serve people-- 29 00:01:45,700 --> 00:01:48,500 Just a second. So, you became a marriage officiant 30 00:01:48,567 --> 00:01:50,467 -by getting a certificate. -Yes. 31 00:01:50,533 --> 00:01:52,100 Do you have to pay money for it? 32 00:01:52,166 --> 00:01:53,265 -[Jennifer] Yes. -How much? 33 00:01:53,333 --> 00:01:54,767 Forty-seven dollars. 34 00:01:54,834 --> 00:01:58,567 And you do that now as, I assume, a side hustle. 35 00:01:58,633 --> 00:01:59,900 Yes. 36 00:01:59,967 --> 00:02:02,100 How much do you charge to perform weddings? 37 00:02:02,166 --> 00:02:05,300 If they have I.D., $475, 38 00:02:05,367 --> 00:02:07,333 if they don't have I.D., it's $600. 39 00:02:07,400 --> 00:02:10,600 What kind of I.D. do they need and what would be the difference? 40 00:02:10,667 --> 00:02:12,700 [Jennifer] Any government issued I.D. 41 00:02:12,767 --> 00:02:16,667 In California, there's only certain clerks that will issue a marriage license 42 00:02:16,734 --> 00:02:20,533 with the inmate not having specific identification. 43 00:02:20,600 --> 00:02:24,000 Well, if they don't have identification and they can't get a license, 44 00:02:24,066 --> 00:02:25,266 how do you marry them? 45 00:02:25,333 --> 00:02:28,767 There's another clerk recorders. There's two in the state of California 46 00:02:28,834 --> 00:02:32,466 that as of right now, issue them with just the Inability to Appear. 47 00:02:32,533 --> 00:02:36,367 And that's where we go. It's about, one is three hours away 48 00:02:36,433 --> 00:02:38,533 from where I'm at, the other's almost five. 49 00:02:38,600 --> 00:02:39,800 I don't understand that. 50 00:02:39,867 --> 00:02:42,667 So, there's a form that's called the Inability to Appear. 51 00:02:42,734 --> 00:02:46,600 You can only get that for two reasons; incarceration and hospitalization. 52 00:02:46,667 --> 00:02:49,567 That verifies through a notary, I'm also a notary, 53 00:02:49,633 --> 00:02:51,367 but I don't do these notaries. 54 00:02:51,433 --> 00:02:53,834 So, when my notary goes inside to get that form, 55 00:02:53,900 --> 00:02:57,834 she's verifying that that is that person and no one else. 56 00:02:57,900 --> 00:03:00,633 So, there's two clerks in California that will issue it 57 00:03:00,700 --> 00:03:02,934 just with Inability to Appear. All the other clerks 58 00:03:03,000 --> 00:03:05,066 want the Inability to Appear, plus I.D. 59 00:03:05,133 --> 00:03:07,900 and birth certificate and the Inability to Appear. 60 00:03:07,967 --> 00:03:11,333 So, it's a little more trouble to get it without an I.D. 61 00:03:11,400 --> 00:03:12,934 -Yes. -[Judy] Okay. 62 00:03:13,000 --> 00:03:15,834 Now, sir, how did you get to be a marriage officiant? 63 00:03:15,900 --> 00:03:17,300 It was the same as her. 64 00:03:17,367 --> 00:03:21,500 Same. So, you paid $47. And you've been doing it for how long? 65 00:03:21,567 --> 00:03:22,700 Twenty-five years. 66 00:03:22,767 --> 00:03:24,133 You've been doing it since-- 67 00:03:24,200 --> 00:03:26,734 January 16, 2022, I got ordained. 68 00:03:26,800 --> 00:03:30,300 Okay. Now, you say that the plaintiff 69 00:03:30,367 --> 00:03:33,266 has been slandering you for years. 70 00:03:33,333 --> 00:03:36,000 Tell me what proof you have of that. 71 00:03:36,066 --> 00:03:38,400 Well, we have Genesis here, 72 00:03:38,466 --> 00:03:41,466 who can testify what happened at the jail not long ago. 73 00:03:41,533 --> 00:03:43,834 -At the jail? -Yes. Inside the jail. 74 00:03:43,900 --> 00:03:44,900 Okay. 75 00:03:47,466 --> 00:03:48,466 Tell me your name. 76 00:03:48,533 --> 00:03:50,834 Good evening, Your Honor, my name is Genesis. 77 00:03:50,900 --> 00:03:52,166 How do you know him? 78 00:03:52,233 --> 00:03:56,300 Well, I had hired him to marry me and my husband in jail 79 00:03:56,367 --> 00:03:59,600 because I was gonna go to Ms. Flores, 80 00:03:59,667 --> 00:04:05,033 and I didn't decide to hire her because I wanted a proper ceremony. 81 00:04:05,100 --> 00:04:07,433 And I asked her what were her services. 82 00:04:07,500 --> 00:04:12,600 She told me that she, at the time, she will only have me to sign paperwork 83 00:04:12,667 --> 00:04:15,934 and my husband sign paperwork, but separated, no ceremony. 84 00:04:16,000 --> 00:04:19,166 So, I thought that was illegal. So, that's when I hired-- 85 00:04:19,233 --> 00:04:22,332 -Okay. So, you called Ms. Flores first. -[Genesis] Yeah. 86 00:04:22,400 --> 00:04:23,767 How did you get their names? 87 00:04:23,834 --> 00:04:26,567 So, Ms. Flores, I seen her on social media, 88 00:04:26,633 --> 00:04:28,667 'cause I was eager to marry my husband. 89 00:04:28,734 --> 00:04:32,700 And that's when I contacted her and asked her for her services. 90 00:04:32,767 --> 00:04:34,734 So, you saw her on social media. 91 00:04:34,800 --> 00:04:37,166 -Yeah. -[Judy] And in your conversation, 92 00:04:37,233 --> 00:04:39,533 -your husband is incarcerated. -[Genesis] Yeah. 93 00:04:39,600 --> 00:04:42,900 And she said, you each sign paperwork and there's no ceremony 94 00:04:42,967 --> 00:04:45,033 -that she performs. -Yeah. Yeah. 95 00:04:45,100 --> 00:04:47,233 Do you remember that conversation? 96 00:04:47,300 --> 00:04:49,533 -Just-- That's either a yes... -No. 97 00:04:49,600 --> 00:04:51,066 -...or a no. -No. 98 00:04:51,133 --> 00:04:55,266 Okay. Do you ever sign off on marriages 99 00:04:55,332 --> 00:04:58,100 where the two parties just sign paperwork? 100 00:04:58,166 --> 00:04:59,967 Your Honor, there's no way to. 101 00:05:00,100 --> 00:05:01,767 Okay, that's all I want to know. 102 00:05:01,834 --> 00:05:03,900 -So then, you called him. -Yes. 103 00:05:03,967 --> 00:05:05,166 And you met him where? 104 00:05:05,233 --> 00:05:09,400 Um, actually, one of the inmates inside got married by him. 105 00:05:09,467 --> 00:05:14,000 So, he just passed me on the number to Jean. 106 00:05:14,066 --> 00:05:17,066 Did the defendant actually perform the ceremony for you? 107 00:05:17,133 --> 00:05:18,633 -Yes. -[Judy] When? On what date? 108 00:05:18,700 --> 00:05:20,500 On June 15th, on a Saturday. 109 00:05:20,567 --> 00:05:21,734 And what did he charge you? 110 00:05:21,800 --> 00:05:26,467 He charged me $1,000, only because my husband doesn't have papers. 111 00:05:26,533 --> 00:05:29,367 And we had to travel four hours away 112 00:05:29,433 --> 00:05:33,800 to go to a, I guess to a clerk where they could approve it. 113 00:05:33,867 --> 00:05:36,400 That's what you were talking about if you don't have I.D. 114 00:05:36,467 --> 00:05:37,700 Yes, ma'am. 115 00:05:37,767 --> 00:05:43,100 And did you ever have conversations with Ms. Flores about the defendant? 116 00:05:43,166 --> 00:05:48,332 No. I didn't know nothing about her until when the day of my marriage. 117 00:05:48,400 --> 00:05:51,266 Um, me and him had entered, and we were just sitting-- 118 00:05:51,332 --> 00:05:53,033 -[Judy] Entered where? -The facility. 119 00:05:53,100 --> 00:05:56,933 And we sat down. And while we were waiting 120 00:05:57,000 --> 00:06:01,400 for them to call my husband, that's when she came up to us 121 00:06:01,467 --> 00:06:04,567 and started slandering him in front of me and my witness. 122 00:06:04,633 --> 00:06:05,967 What did she say? 123 00:06:06,033 --> 00:06:08,734 [Genesis] She just started telling me that he was a scam 124 00:06:08,800 --> 00:06:12,300 and that he does girls dirty and doesn't do the full service, 125 00:06:12,367 --> 00:06:13,800 and that she felt bad for me. 126 00:06:13,867 --> 00:06:15,500 You remember that conversation? 127 00:06:15,567 --> 00:06:18,100 Not that conversation, but there was a conversation. 128 00:06:18,166 --> 00:06:19,166 [Judy] Okay. 129 00:06:19,233 --> 00:06:22,332 [theme music playing] 130 00:06:22,400 --> 00:06:25,567 Me and my friend, at the time, we were like, uh-oh, here we go. 131 00:06:25,633 --> 00:06:27,600 [Judy] Just a second. So, you knew 132 00:06:27,667 --> 00:06:30,166 that there was some friction between the two of them. 133 00:06:30,233 --> 00:06:31,233 [Ryan] I had-- 134 00:06:31,300 --> 00:06:33,500 -That's either a yes or a no. -Yes, I did. 135 00:06:33,567 --> 00:06:35,166 And how did you know that? 136 00:06:38,066 --> 00:06:40,767 [theme music playing] 137 00:06:44,667 --> 00:06:48,066 [narrator] Jennifer Flores claims fellow minister, 138 00:06:48,133 --> 00:06:52,233 Jean-Claude Bensoussan, owes for defamation and lost wages. 139 00:06:52,300 --> 00:06:55,367 Jean-Claude is countersuing for loss of business, 140 00:06:55,433 --> 00:06:58,233 defamation and plagiarism. 141 00:06:58,300 --> 00:07:01,066 So, tell me what you remember of the conversation. 142 00:07:01,133 --> 00:07:02,767 So, they were sitting on a bench. 143 00:07:02,834 --> 00:07:04,834 I was there performing five different marriages 144 00:07:04,900 --> 00:07:07,600 from weeks before when I got the licenses. 145 00:07:07,667 --> 00:07:10,200 -And? -I walked back to perform a ceremony, 146 00:07:10,266 --> 00:07:12,900 'cause they had called the inmate that was gonna get married. 147 00:07:12,967 --> 00:07:17,667 Um, actually, Ryan was sitting there as well, with someone else. 148 00:07:17,734 --> 00:07:19,233 Just a second. Were you there? 149 00:07:19,300 --> 00:07:20,867 -Yes. -[Judy] Go outside. 150 00:07:20,934 --> 00:07:23,000 -Go outside now. -[Ryan] Okay. 151 00:07:29,200 --> 00:07:31,867 [Judy] Okay, we're gonna take this step by step. 152 00:07:31,934 --> 00:07:34,133 You went in the back, you performed a ceremony. 153 00:07:34,200 --> 00:07:35,633 -Yes. -And? 154 00:07:35,700 --> 00:07:40,467 So, Ryan told me that he was, as soon as I got up, 155 00:07:40,533 --> 00:07:42,533 that he started just talking about me, 156 00:07:42,600 --> 00:07:46,233 saying that I was a fraud, they were not gonna get their marriage licenses. 157 00:07:46,300 --> 00:07:49,900 And I just looked over and I told the young lady, 158 00:07:49,967 --> 00:07:51,967 I go, do you guys have a problem with me? 159 00:07:52,033 --> 00:07:56,467 Because this is something that's been happening constantly, keeps happening. 160 00:07:56,533 --> 00:07:58,734 And he just went off on me. And she was like, 161 00:07:58,800 --> 00:08:01,300 I think it's messed up that you're slandering him. 162 00:08:01,367 --> 00:08:04,767 I go, how do you know I'm slandering him if I've never said anything to you? 163 00:08:04,834 --> 00:08:07,533 The only person that you would hear that from is him. 164 00:08:07,600 --> 00:08:09,967 He looked at me, she was like, I go, you probably-- 165 00:08:10,033 --> 00:08:12,333 and my exact words were, you probably went with him 166 00:08:12,400 --> 00:08:14,066 'cause he was a little bit cheaper. 167 00:08:14,133 --> 00:08:17,834 She said no, he charged me $1,000 because he doesn't have papers. 168 00:08:17,900 --> 00:08:20,600 I turn around, as a minister, I turned around and said, 169 00:08:20,667 --> 00:08:23,600 Jean, you know that you don't submit any more documents 170 00:08:23,667 --> 00:08:25,066 when they don't have papers. 171 00:08:25,133 --> 00:08:27,200 There's nothing more or less that you submit 172 00:08:27,266 --> 00:08:29,600 whether they have immigration status papers or not. 173 00:08:29,667 --> 00:08:31,000 It's clear as day, it's-- 174 00:08:31,066 --> 00:08:33,600 Why are you having any conversation with her at all? 175 00:08:33,667 --> 00:08:35,133 I'm not the one that initiated. 176 00:08:35,200 --> 00:08:38,033 She turned around and said, you need to stop slandering him. 177 00:08:38,100 --> 00:08:40,633 Just a second. And what did you say to her? 178 00:08:40,700 --> 00:08:43,767 I turned around and I was like, and I said a cuss word. 179 00:08:43,834 --> 00:08:47,200 I said, what are you... talking about? 'Cause I was already fed up. 180 00:08:47,266 --> 00:08:50,767 You responded to her, I don't know what you're blank talking about. 181 00:08:50,834 --> 00:08:52,133 And she said to you... 182 00:08:52,200 --> 00:08:57,867 She said, you need to stop slandering him and saying false stuff about him. 183 00:08:57,934 --> 00:08:59,900 Okay. And? 184 00:08:59,967 --> 00:09:02,700 And I said, false stuff what? I'm not the one, I go-- 185 00:09:02,767 --> 00:09:05,867 Just a second. Let's go very slowly, make sure. 186 00:09:05,934 --> 00:09:11,166 Because now, your witness is gonna come in and she hasn't heard all of this. 187 00:09:11,233 --> 00:09:13,333 -Yes. -So, she's gonna tell me 188 00:09:13,400 --> 00:09:16,767 her recollection of it. So, let's go very, very slowly. 189 00:09:16,834 --> 00:09:21,300 Why are you blank slandering him? And you say to her... 190 00:09:21,367 --> 00:09:24,767 I never slandered anybody. And I go, you probably went with him, 191 00:09:24,834 --> 00:09:28,367 that's when I said, you probably went with him 'cause he's cheaper. 192 00:09:28,433 --> 00:09:33,934 Then she responded, actually, no, he charged me over $1,000. 193 00:09:34,000 --> 00:09:37,567 That's when I turned around and I wasn't engaging with her no more at all. 194 00:09:37,633 --> 00:09:43,000 And I turned around and I told Jean, I said, me and you both know 195 00:09:43,066 --> 00:09:46,100 that you shouldn't have charged her anything extra 196 00:09:46,165 --> 00:09:49,066 because there's no extra paperwork. And I go, if you don't-- 197 00:09:49,133 --> 00:09:50,834 Why did you get involved with that? 198 00:09:50,900 --> 00:09:53,600 Because she was telling me, you didn't want to marry me 199 00:09:53,667 --> 00:09:56,033 because he doesn't have immigration status. 200 00:09:56,100 --> 00:09:57,700 She didn't use the word status. 201 00:09:57,767 --> 00:10:00,033 Or immigration. She doesn't have papers. 202 00:10:00,100 --> 00:10:04,133 He didn't have I.D. You know, those are fungible terms, 203 00:10:04,200 --> 00:10:06,200 I.D., immigration status. 204 00:10:06,266 --> 00:10:09,667 He charged more because he had to travel four hours. 205 00:10:09,734 --> 00:10:12,033 You charge more because you have to travel. 206 00:10:12,100 --> 00:10:14,166 -He may charge more than you do. -Yes. 207 00:10:14,233 --> 00:10:17,333 That's not your business. I still, I'm not understanding 208 00:10:17,400 --> 00:10:21,967 why you got into a discussion with her. I'm still not understanding that. 209 00:10:22,033 --> 00:10:24,467 All right. Would you bring in her witness, please? 210 00:10:36,734 --> 00:10:39,433 -Your last name is? -Burton. B-U-R-T-O-N. 211 00:10:39,500 --> 00:10:43,266 All right, Ms. Burton, we are going to fast forward 212 00:10:43,333 --> 00:10:46,700 to the time in the county jail. What were you doing there with her? 213 00:10:46,767 --> 00:10:49,667 I visit my husband as well. My husband is also incarcerated. 214 00:10:49,734 --> 00:10:52,165 Did you know her from before this incident? 215 00:10:52,233 --> 00:10:56,667 I did know her before this incident because she actually did ordain me. 216 00:10:56,734 --> 00:10:58,567 -No, she didn't ordain you. -I mean, 217 00:10:58,633 --> 00:11:01,166 she performed the ceremony, I'm sorry, yes. 218 00:11:01,233 --> 00:11:03,700 [Judy] So, you were there visiting your husband. 219 00:11:03,767 --> 00:11:05,133 Yeah, I go every weekend. 220 00:11:05,200 --> 00:11:08,533 And I'd like you to tell me, Ms. Flores got up 221 00:11:08,600 --> 00:11:11,367 -to perform the wedding. She came out. -Yes. 222 00:11:11,433 --> 00:11:15,567 I want you to tell me what you heard, because you were sitting right there. 223 00:11:15,633 --> 00:11:19,667 So, the inmate got called, so she goes with the wife of the inmate. 224 00:11:19,734 --> 00:11:23,200 They go back there, does the ceremony and then, she comes right back out. 225 00:11:23,266 --> 00:11:27,834 So, when she came out, I did notice that he turned his head. 226 00:11:27,900 --> 00:11:30,300 -[Judy] Yes? -[Ryan] Um, and so, 227 00:11:30,367 --> 00:11:32,800 me and my friend, at the time, we were like, uh-oh, 228 00:11:32,867 --> 00:11:35,467 we were bumping elbows 'cause we're like, here we go. 229 00:11:35,533 --> 00:11:37,600 [Judy] Just a second. So, you knew 230 00:11:37,667 --> 00:11:40,700 that there was some friction between the two of them? 231 00:11:40,767 --> 00:11:43,066 -I had-- -[Judy] That's either a yes or a no. 232 00:11:43,133 --> 00:11:44,200 Yes, I did. 233 00:11:44,266 --> 00:11:45,500 And how did you know that? 234 00:11:45,567 --> 00:11:48,033 [Ryan] I knew that because prior to this situation, 235 00:11:48,100 --> 00:11:51,834 one particular day, a Saturday, I was coming out from my visit, 236 00:11:51,900 --> 00:11:57,165 and he was standing outside of the door. And so, I did hear him mention Jennifer. 237 00:11:57,233 --> 00:12:00,367 And I believe it was with a potential witness. 238 00:12:00,433 --> 00:12:04,166 And as he was stating the best bet is to go with me. 239 00:12:04,233 --> 00:12:07,266 Because there are other officiants here 240 00:12:07,333 --> 00:12:10,600 that do fraud and do scam and will play you out your money. 241 00:12:10,667 --> 00:12:12,800 So, I already knew who the other officiant-- 242 00:12:12,867 --> 00:12:14,200 -[Judy] Just a second. -Sorry. 243 00:12:14,266 --> 00:12:16,200 -[Judy] He didn't name anybody. -No. 244 00:12:16,266 --> 00:12:18,166 -That's all you heard? -That's all I heard. 245 00:12:18,233 --> 00:12:21,633 Okay. So now, you come out and you see him looking his eyes like this. 246 00:12:21,700 --> 00:12:25,333 Yeah, he not looking his eyes, he turned his head. 247 00:12:25,400 --> 00:12:26,867 Turned his head, and...? 248 00:12:26,934 --> 00:12:30,834 And so, as he's turning his head, she came and sat right back down with us. 249 00:12:30,900 --> 00:12:32,867 -[Judy] Okay. -So, once that happened, 250 00:12:32,934 --> 00:12:37,600 and whatever the case may be, now he's going in whispering to his witness. 251 00:12:37,667 --> 00:12:39,734 As he's whispering to his witness, 252 00:12:39,800 --> 00:12:44,066 she turns around and looks at Jennifer and says, "You really shouldn't slander him." 253 00:12:44,133 --> 00:12:45,400 Okay. And? 254 00:12:45,467 --> 00:12:47,767 -And we all looked at each other-- -[Judy] Shh. 255 00:12:47,834 --> 00:12:48,900 Sorry. 256 00:12:48,967 --> 00:12:51,066 I don't want to hear what you all looked at. 257 00:12:51,133 --> 00:12:54,433 What did Ms. Flores respond? 258 00:12:54,500 --> 00:12:58,934 Ms. Flores said, "How am I slandering him and I don't even know you?" 259 00:12:59,000 --> 00:13:01,100 Okay. And you're sure about that? 260 00:13:01,166 --> 00:13:03,300 -Positive. -[Judy] How is he slandering you 261 00:13:03,367 --> 00:13:05,633 -and I don't even know you. -[Ryan] Yes. 262 00:13:05,700 --> 00:13:07,433 And then, what was said? 263 00:13:07,500 --> 00:13:10,667 And then, the witness went on to saying-- 264 00:13:10,734 --> 00:13:11,934 No, look at me. 265 00:13:12,000 --> 00:13:16,100 The witness went on to saying about how you say he's a fraud, you say he's this, 266 00:13:16,166 --> 00:13:20,133 and Jennifer's reaction was, how can I say anything about him if I don't know you. 267 00:13:20,200 --> 00:13:23,600 I can't tell you something about somebody else if I've never spoken to you. 268 00:13:23,667 --> 00:13:25,500 Then, after that, I got called. 269 00:13:25,567 --> 00:13:26,533 [Judy] Just a second. 270 00:13:26,600 --> 00:13:28,333 -Okay, sit down. -[Ryan] Okay. 271 00:13:30,367 --> 00:13:33,133 Okay. Now, we're gonna come to you. 272 00:13:33,200 --> 00:13:35,834 [theme music playing] 273 00:13:35,900 --> 00:13:39,567 You were with her when he discussed with Laylani in person 274 00:13:39,633 --> 00:13:40,967 about what the services were. 275 00:13:41,033 --> 00:13:42,367 -Yes. -And? 276 00:13:42,433 --> 00:13:46,900 And he offered us additional money for reporting her. 277 00:13:46,967 --> 00:13:48,266 -Oh! -[Judy] Just a second. 278 00:13:48,333 --> 00:13:54,333 I want you to tell me exactly what he allegedly said to you. 279 00:13:57,734 --> 00:14:00,867 [theme music playing] 280 00:14:04,867 --> 00:14:08,367 [narrator] Jennifer Flores is accusing fellow minister, 281 00:14:08,433 --> 00:14:13,800 Jean-Claude Bensoussan, of defaming her and making false reports to the county. 282 00:14:13,867 --> 00:14:17,800 Jean-Claude claims Jennifer plagiarized his website. 283 00:14:17,867 --> 00:14:21,033 Now, the second part of your lawsuit is... 284 00:14:22,500 --> 00:14:25,934 that she copied your website. 285 00:14:26,000 --> 00:14:27,000 Yes. 286 00:14:27,066 --> 00:14:29,600 Are you saying she copied the services that are on it? 287 00:14:29,667 --> 00:14:31,633 -I'll take a look. -She copied the content. 288 00:14:31,700 --> 00:14:32,967 Verbatim. 289 00:14:33,033 --> 00:14:34,333 Just let me see it. 290 00:14:35,800 --> 00:14:36,934 [Jean-Claude] This is... 291 00:14:39,000 --> 00:14:40,900 This is all the website. 292 00:14:40,967 --> 00:14:44,000 And then, we pull out the content and that's what is here. 293 00:14:52,433 --> 00:14:55,600 No, none of this is proprietary information, sir. 294 00:14:55,667 --> 00:14:57,033 It's very straightforward. 295 00:14:57,100 --> 00:15:00,734 You can perform marriages in jail, she can perform marriages in jail. 296 00:15:00,800 --> 00:15:05,633 She lists the names, the addresses of all the places she can perform marriages. 297 00:15:05,700 --> 00:15:09,734 You list all the names and addresses of the places you can perform marriages. 298 00:15:09,800 --> 00:15:11,900 There's nothing that is proprietary. 299 00:15:11,967 --> 00:15:15,100 Listen, is there not enough business for both of you? 300 00:15:15,166 --> 00:15:16,567 There is. 301 00:15:16,633 --> 00:15:19,934 Okay. So, I would suggest that you stop bad-mouthing each other. 302 00:15:20,000 --> 00:15:22,633 Neither one of you proved really anything, 303 00:15:22,700 --> 00:15:25,500 other than you're not talking nicely about somebody else. 304 00:15:25,567 --> 00:15:30,633 And neither of you have any proof whatsoever that you lost any business. 305 00:15:30,700 --> 00:15:33,000 I actually did lose money. 306 00:15:33,066 --> 00:15:36,900 He actually had Ashley report me to Orange County Clerk Recorder. 307 00:15:36,967 --> 00:15:40,633 I was placed under investigation and I was just cleared on September 12th. 308 00:15:40,700 --> 00:15:42,165 [Judy] Who's Ashley? 309 00:15:42,233 --> 00:15:44,133 That's you. Step up. 310 00:15:47,033 --> 00:15:48,165 Sorry. 311 00:15:48,233 --> 00:15:50,133 So, tell me who you are. 312 00:15:50,200 --> 00:15:52,033 Hi, so, my name is Ashley. 313 00:15:52,100 --> 00:15:53,800 -[Judy] Ashley what? -Garcia. 314 00:15:53,867 --> 00:15:55,367 [Judy] Okay. And? 315 00:15:55,433 --> 00:15:58,133 Um, I'm a friend of Laylani's. 316 00:15:58,200 --> 00:15:59,333 Who is Laylani? 317 00:15:59,400 --> 00:16:01,600 Laylani is one of my dearest friends. 318 00:16:01,667 --> 00:16:03,700 He was gonna perform a service for her. 319 00:16:03,767 --> 00:16:06,300 She was very nervous about the whole process 320 00:16:06,367 --> 00:16:08,333 and wanted to inquire about it. 321 00:16:08,400 --> 00:16:09,900 Did you ever speak to him? 322 00:16:09,967 --> 00:16:11,300 -Yes. -When? 323 00:16:11,367 --> 00:16:13,667 June 27th, when I went with my friend 324 00:16:13,734 --> 00:16:16,734 to go see about her getting potentially married. 325 00:16:16,800 --> 00:16:18,967 She felt like she wanted the moral support. 326 00:16:19,033 --> 00:16:22,200 You were with her when he discussed with Laylani 327 00:16:22,266 --> 00:16:24,767 -in person about what the services were? -Yes. 328 00:16:24,834 --> 00:16:25,967 Okay. And? 329 00:16:26,033 --> 00:16:30,700 And he offered us additional money for reporting her. 330 00:16:30,767 --> 00:16:32,133 -Oh! -[Judy] Just a second. 331 00:16:32,200 --> 00:16:35,533 I want you to tell me exactly 332 00:16:35,600 --> 00:16:38,633 what he allegedly said to you. 333 00:16:38,700 --> 00:16:44,667 So, he stated that, um, he was willing to give us an extra amount of money, 334 00:16:44,734 --> 00:16:46,767 -and also-- -How much was he willing-- 335 00:16:46,834 --> 00:16:48,500 About $200 cash. 336 00:16:48,567 --> 00:16:52,567 He was willing to give you $200 cash if you what? 337 00:16:52,633 --> 00:16:58,165 If we reported her to the county as, um, her not performing her services, 338 00:16:58,233 --> 00:17:01,266 or fraudulently performing her services. 339 00:17:01,333 --> 00:17:03,133 No, it's not making sense to me. 340 00:17:03,200 --> 00:17:05,733 She went there to inquire about getting married. 341 00:17:05,800 --> 00:17:08,433 -Yes. -How does her name even come up? 342 00:17:08,500 --> 00:17:12,934 Her name came up because he spoke about her being another officiant. 343 00:17:13,000 --> 00:17:15,867 No, he would never bring her up as being another officiant. 344 00:17:15,934 --> 00:17:18,900 He would never bring her up. Why would he bring up a competitor 345 00:17:18,967 --> 00:17:21,700 of being another officiant? He had a potential client 346 00:17:21,767 --> 00:17:24,567 who came with a friend to find out about the service. 347 00:17:24,633 --> 00:17:27,800 -Mm-hmm. -I don't understand how her name came up. 348 00:17:27,867 --> 00:17:30,133 Your friend is asking about getting married. 349 00:17:30,200 --> 00:17:33,400 And how did her name come up 350 00:17:33,467 --> 00:17:36,967 in this alleged bribe that he made to you? 351 00:17:37,033 --> 00:17:39,600 [Ashley] As I mentioned, I just went as moral support-- 352 00:17:39,667 --> 00:17:41,834 [Judy] I don't care what you went there. 353 00:17:41,900 --> 00:17:44,834 I don't care if you went there as a Chia pet. 354 00:17:44,900 --> 00:17:50,333 I don't care. I want to know what you want me to buy 355 00:17:50,400 --> 00:17:56,367 as to how her name came up, and he said, to two perfect strangers, 356 00:17:56,433 --> 00:18:00,533 I'll give you money if you go report her to a county clerk. 357 00:18:00,600 --> 00:18:04,467 So, like I mentioned, she was asking about the services. 358 00:18:04,533 --> 00:18:06,567 She had a separate conversation with him. 359 00:18:06,633 --> 00:18:09,300 Were you there when she had this separate conversation? 360 00:18:09,367 --> 00:18:12,166 -[Ashley] No, she stepped away. -Shh. So she, okay. 361 00:18:12,233 --> 00:18:15,734 Now we're getting somewhere. So, she stepped away with him. 362 00:18:15,800 --> 00:18:19,200 And then she came back with him, or alone? 363 00:18:19,266 --> 00:18:23,533 She came back alone with the offer that he had made her. 364 00:18:23,600 --> 00:18:27,033 No. She came back alone and he wasn't there. 365 00:18:27,100 --> 00:18:30,200 -No. -So, you had a conversation with her. 366 00:18:30,266 --> 00:18:32,266 -Yes. -[Judy] That's hearsay. 367 00:18:32,333 --> 00:18:34,467 So, he didn't offer you anything. 368 00:18:34,533 --> 00:18:36,066 -No, not directly. -Sit. 369 00:18:40,233 --> 00:18:44,166 Not a good witness for you to bring. You understand that, Ms. Flores? 370 00:18:44,233 --> 00:18:47,166 I was just bringing her 'cause of the story they both told me 371 00:18:47,233 --> 00:18:48,900 about the situation that happened. 372 00:18:48,967 --> 00:18:50,567 She didn't hear anything. 373 00:18:50,633 --> 00:18:53,734 No, but she's the one that called the county clerk to report me 374 00:18:53,800 --> 00:18:55,433 to the clerk when I got suspended. 375 00:18:55,500 --> 00:18:58,533 Whether she did that or not, that was on her. 376 00:18:58,600 --> 00:19:00,900 How do I know that that was at his direction? 377 00:19:00,967 --> 00:19:04,633 Maybe it was at her friend's direction? He didn't tell her to do anything. 378 00:19:04,700 --> 00:19:07,200 Because nobody knew about the suspending. Only him-- 379 00:19:07,266 --> 00:19:09,433 He didn't tell her to do anything. 380 00:19:09,500 --> 00:19:11,734 She first testified that they were together, 381 00:19:11,800 --> 00:19:14,100 and that he made this offer to both of them. 382 00:19:14,166 --> 00:19:15,900 But that wasn't true. 383 00:19:15,967 --> 00:19:19,734 Do you understand why it's sketchy? It just didn't make sense to me. 384 00:19:19,800 --> 00:19:22,133 Your case is dismissed. Yours too, sir. 385 00:19:22,200 --> 00:19:24,567 I suggest you both learn to live with each other. 386 00:19:24,633 --> 00:19:26,400 -Do you understand? -I do. 387 00:19:26,467 --> 00:19:29,367 You should both learn to live with each other. You're in the same business. 388 00:19:29,433 --> 00:19:33,367 It sounds as if you're never gonna be for want of product. 389 00:19:33,433 --> 00:19:36,433 There are a lot of ladies who want to marry prison inmates. 390 00:19:36,500 --> 00:19:39,266 For what? I haven't a clue. 391 00:19:39,333 --> 00:19:42,900 But maybe I'm from another planet or another generation. 392 00:19:42,967 --> 00:19:47,800 I would actually like to marry somebody and do a dance afterwards. 393 00:19:47,867 --> 00:19:50,834 Have a spot of champagne, you know, something. 394 00:19:50,900 --> 00:19:55,166 Go to a beach somewhere. When is your husband getting out of jail? 395 00:19:55,233 --> 00:19:57,867 Um, actually, he got 15 to life. 396 00:19:57,934 --> 00:20:00,066 Wonderful. Mazel tov. 397 00:20:00,133 --> 00:20:02,100 -[all laugh] -We're done. 398 00:20:02,166 --> 00:20:04,000 This court is adjourned. 399 00:20:04,066 --> 00:20:08,633 [theme music playing] 400 00:20:08,700 --> 00:20:13,166 All the lies that I heard from this plaintiff, it's unbelievable. 401 00:20:13,233 --> 00:20:15,133 I was actually placed under investigation 402 00:20:15,200 --> 00:20:18,367 for somebody calling to make a complaint that I was doing fraud. 403 00:20:18,433 --> 00:20:20,433 So they have to put it under investigation. 404 00:20:20,500 --> 00:20:23,533 But I've been cleared of everything, so I can go back to all of them. 405 00:20:23,600 --> 00:20:27,166 Because she wants to be the only one to do this kind of business, 406 00:20:27,233 --> 00:20:29,200 marrying people incarcerated. 407 00:20:29,266 --> 00:20:31,367 He doesn't like me. Even on his countersuit 408 00:20:31,433 --> 00:20:33,667 he said I've been defaming him for four years. 409 00:20:33,734 --> 00:20:38,333 But how is that possible if my minister's license was since 2022. 410 00:20:38,400 --> 00:20:41,233 I'm not young, so I will not do that forever. [chuckles] 411 00:20:41,300 --> 00:20:43,000 I'm gonna marry everybody in county jail. 412 00:20:44,867 --> 00:20:49,266 You know, at the very end, where you asked the defendant's witness 413 00:20:49,333 --> 00:20:52,100 when is your husband, she just got married in June, 414 00:20:52,166 --> 00:20:54,000 when is he getting out? She said, oh. 415 00:20:54,066 --> 00:20:58,867 It sounded like an oh, in a couple of weeks. Or oh, next Thursday. 416 00:20:58,934 --> 00:21:02,567 But instead it was, he's actually serving 15 to life. 417 00:21:02,633 --> 00:21:05,633 And for someone who seemed so young and well spoken, 418 00:21:05,700 --> 00:21:09,133 and seemed like she had, at least partially, her act together, 419 00:21:09,200 --> 00:21:11,066 um, shocking. Shocking. 420 00:21:11,133 --> 00:21:14,633 Shocking, yes. Life is a journey. 421 00:21:14,700 --> 00:21:16,100 That it is. 422 00:21:16,166 --> 00:21:19,700 If at the beginning of the journey you start off on the wrong foot, 423 00:21:19,767 --> 00:21:21,967 sometimes, you can never recover your balance. 424 00:21:22,033 --> 00:21:23,066 Oh, yeah. 425 00:21:24,467 --> 00:21:26,533 [narrator] Are you having a family dispute? 426 00:21:26,600 --> 00:21:28,800 Go to JudyJustice.tv. 427 00:21:33,133 --> 00:21:35,600 [theme music playing]