1
00:00:00,200 --> 00:00:01,800
You totaled your brother's car.

2
00:00:01,867 --> 00:00:04,266
I didn't feel like I was at fault.

3
00:00:04,333 --> 00:00:07,033
You're traveling diagonally
across a highway.

4
00:00:07,100 --> 00:00:10,033
I feel like the lady hit me from behind.

5
00:00:10,100 --> 00:00:13,900
Just because you put on a blinker
doesn't mean you can do whatever you want.

6
00:00:13,967 --> 00:00:16,000
You don't have to be a genius.

7
00:00:16,065 --> 00:00:17,567
You cut him off.

8
00:00:17,633 --> 00:00:20,300
[narrator]
This is Judy Justice.

9
00:00:20,367 --> 00:00:22,233
[theme music playing]

10
00:00:37,400 --> 00:00:40,834
[narrator]
Terrell White is suing his brother,

11
00:00:40,900 --> 00:00:43,467
Davyne White, for the cost of a car

12
00:00:43,533 --> 00:00:46,700
after his vehicle was totaled
in an accident.

13
00:00:46,767 --> 00:00:48,700
[Kevin]
Court, come to order. All rise.

14
00:00:52,834 --> 00:00:54,266
[Judy]
Have a seat, please.

15
00:00:54,333 --> 00:00:56,900
Judge, case 4096, White v. White.

16
00:00:57,967 --> 00:00:59,800
-[Judy] You're Terrell.
-Yes, Your Honor.

17
00:00:59,867 --> 00:01:01,467
[Judy]
And this is your brother, Davyne?

18
00:01:01,533 --> 00:01:03,734
There was an automobile accident.
You were driving.

19
00:01:03,800 --> 00:01:05,800
-Yes, ma'am.
-You were driving your brother's car.

20
00:01:05,867 --> 00:01:07,900
-Yes, ma'am.
-[Judy] He was a passenger.

21
00:01:07,967 --> 00:01:09,800
-Yes, ma'am.
-[Judy] There was an accident.

22
00:01:09,867 --> 00:01:11,667
-[Davyne] Yes, ma'am.
-And bottom line,

23
00:01:11,734 --> 00:01:15,200
your brother says that you
were responsible for the accident

24
00:01:15,266 --> 00:01:17,433
and he wants you to pay
the value of his car.

25
00:01:17,500 --> 00:01:23,233
Sarah, would you look up
a 2008 Xfinity G35?

26
00:01:23,300 --> 00:01:25,533
-Yep.
-[Judy] That's what the case is about.

27
00:01:25,600 --> 00:01:26,600
Yes, Your Honor.

28
00:01:26,667 --> 00:01:29,333
Good, when did you purchase this car,
Mr. White?

29
00:01:29,400 --> 00:01:33,233
-I purchased the car in 2022.
-Who did you buy it from?

30
00:01:33,300 --> 00:01:36,033
I bought it from a dealership
that's near my house.

31
00:01:36,100 --> 00:01:38,066
I don't know the exact name
of the dealership.

32
00:01:38,133 --> 00:01:40,100
Did you pay cash
or did you have a loan?

33
00:01:40,166 --> 00:01:41,734
-I paid cash.
-[Judy] How much?

34
00:01:41,800 --> 00:01:43,300
It was $10,000.

35
00:01:43,366 --> 00:01:46,400
[Judy]
Do you have any contract for the car?

36
00:01:46,467 --> 00:01:49,467
It was not purchased that long ago, sir.

37
00:01:49,533 --> 00:01:52,100
[Terrell]
I have the, um, my title.

38
00:01:52,166 --> 00:01:53,633
-[Judy] Can I see it?
-Sorry.

39
00:01:53,700 --> 00:01:55,400
I have that price for you.

40
00:01:55,467 --> 00:01:59,033
It's based on 100,000 miles.
I don't know how many miles are on it.

41
00:01:59,100 --> 00:02:01,000
Between $6,500 and $8,000.

42
00:02:01,066 --> 00:02:03,934
-[Judy] You have a Bill of Sale?
-No, just the title.

43
00:02:04,000 --> 00:02:06,433
Yeah. It has 124,000 miles, Sarah.

44
00:02:06,500 --> 00:02:10,032
-[Sarah] 124,000?
-[Judy] When he bought it in 2022.

45
00:02:10,100 --> 00:02:14,367
It probably had 150,000 miles
at the time of the accident,

46
00:02:14,433 --> 00:02:17,533
which was in 2023.

47
00:02:17,600 --> 00:02:20,667
So, let's say it had 150,000 miles on it.

48
00:02:20,734 --> 00:02:24,934
You're looking at $4,900--
between $4,900 and $6,500.

49
00:02:25,000 --> 00:02:27,100
Okay. So, about $5,000.

50
00:02:27,166 --> 00:02:31,934
Which is the court maximum
of their jurisdiction anyway.

51
00:02:32,000 --> 00:02:34,333
Okay. You paid cash for the car.

52
00:02:34,400 --> 00:02:37,700
And according to you,
only had liability insurance.

53
00:02:37,767 --> 00:02:39,500
-Yes.
-Where is the car now?

54
00:02:39,567 --> 00:02:41,767
[Terrell]
It's with Rahway Tow Department.

55
00:02:41,834 --> 00:02:44,934
Police removed the car
because it was damaged.

56
00:02:45,000 --> 00:02:46,500
On what date was the accident?

57
00:02:46,567 --> 00:02:48,433
It was March 9th, 2023.

58
00:02:48,500 --> 00:02:49,800
You have a police report?

59
00:02:49,867 --> 00:02:51,900
-[Terrell] Yes, I do.
-I'd like to take a look.

60
00:02:53,567 --> 00:02:54,900
[Terrell]
Here you go.

61
00:03:01,633 --> 00:03:05,266
Okay. So, what I gather is,

62
00:03:05,333 --> 00:03:07,800
and the police sort of confirm,

63
00:03:07,867 --> 00:03:11,300
from reading the papers,
you were driving the car.

64
00:03:11,367 --> 00:03:12,433
Yes, ma'am.

65
00:03:12,500 --> 00:03:14,333
[Judy]
According to the police report,

66
00:03:14,400 --> 00:03:17,333
you were driving in the middle lane
of the highway,

67
00:03:17,400 --> 00:03:22,433
when you sort of overshot the exit
where you wanted to get off.

68
00:03:22,500 --> 00:03:23,734
So far, correct?

69
00:03:23,800 --> 00:03:26,966
Uh, I wasn't in that lane.
I was in the middle lane.

70
00:03:27,033 --> 00:03:27,934
So, one lane over.

71
00:03:28,000 --> 00:03:29,266
[Judy] One lane over?

72
00:03:29,333 --> 00:03:32,466
You were in the middle lane?
So, just move it over.

73
00:03:32,533 --> 00:03:34,533
But you overshot the exit.

74
00:03:34,600 --> 00:03:37,900
And in moving over to the right lane

75
00:03:37,966 --> 00:03:40,500
in order to see
if you could get off that exit,

76
00:03:40,567 --> 00:03:43,300
instead of keeping going
and have to back-track,

77
00:03:43,367 --> 00:03:47,533
the car that had the right of way,
the red car, hit yours.

78
00:03:47,600 --> 00:03:48,700
Yes, ma'am.

79
00:03:48,767 --> 00:03:52,100
And the car went over in a ditch,
it hit a sign post, whatever it was,

80
00:03:52,166 --> 00:03:55,233
it was disabled,
and he hasn't been able to get it out.

81
00:03:55,300 --> 00:03:58,066
It's disabled, totaled.
You don't have the car?

82
00:03:58,133 --> 00:04:01,700
No. I have a letter from the insurance
company that says it's totaled as well.

83
00:04:01,767 --> 00:04:02,967
Yeah, I'd like to see it.

84
00:04:03,033 --> 00:04:04,133
[Terrell]
There you go.

85
00:04:06,166 --> 00:04:11,400
In addition, which is not here,
I assume that the red car is suing you.

86
00:04:11,467 --> 00:04:14,834
-My liability insurance covered, uh--
-Their damage.

87
00:04:14,900 --> 00:04:16,667
Their damage, what they needed, yes.

88
00:04:16,733 --> 00:04:21,065
Okay. So, sir, you tell me

89
00:04:21,132 --> 00:04:24,767
under that scenario...
Why don't you go over to the sign.

90
00:04:26,300 --> 00:04:29,166
You're the blue car.
You were traveling in the middle lane.

91
00:04:29,233 --> 00:04:30,433
-Yes, ma'am.
-Correct?

92
00:04:30,500 --> 00:04:32,767
-Show me. Point to it, middle lane.
-Here.

93
00:04:32,834 --> 00:04:35,533
And at some point, you overshot. Right?

94
00:04:35,600 --> 00:04:36,667
Yes, ma'am.

95
00:04:36,734 --> 00:04:40,633
-And moved over quickly to the right lane.
-Yes.

96
00:04:40,700 --> 00:04:45,166
And the police determined the accident
was an accident that you caused.

97
00:04:45,233 --> 00:04:46,967
That's according to the police report.

98
00:04:47,033 --> 00:04:48,900
-Can I just explain?
-Sure.

99
00:04:48,967 --> 00:04:52,467
Yeah, so, the police report,
this image is inaccurate

100
00:04:52,533 --> 00:04:55,133
on how it was laid out.

101
00:04:55,200 --> 00:04:56,967
Yes, I was in this lane.

102
00:04:57,033 --> 00:05:00,333
The police report said
that I made an improper lane change.

103
00:05:00,400 --> 00:05:02,433
Which I didn't. I used my signal.

104
00:05:02,500 --> 00:05:07,700
I made the lane change.
And I was firmly in this lane.

105
00:05:07,767 --> 00:05:11,633
The car didn't hit here.
It hit me directly behind.

106
00:05:11,700 --> 00:05:14,166
Meaning I was able to get into this lane.

107
00:05:14,233 --> 00:05:16,367
-I was in this lane--
-You cut him off.

108
00:05:16,433 --> 00:05:19,166
That's what happened.
You don't have to be a genius...

109
00:05:20,000 --> 00:05:22,867
You cut him off.
You cut off the red car.

110
00:05:22,934 --> 00:05:26,433
Whether he clipped you on the right side
or left side, doesn't make a difference.

111
00:05:26,500 --> 00:05:29,233
You cut him off. He doesn't have
to be prepared to react.

112
00:05:29,300 --> 00:05:31,133
Just because you put on your...

113
00:05:31,200 --> 00:05:34,000
Putting on a blinker doesn't mean
you can do whatever you want.

114
00:05:34,066 --> 00:05:37,100
I was in the lane
for a couple of seconds before--

115
00:05:37,166 --> 00:05:40,567
No, if you were in the lane for a couple
of seconds, it wouldn't have hit you.

116
00:05:40,633 --> 00:05:43,933
That's why I think the accident was
the other driver's fault.

117
00:05:44,000 --> 00:05:45,734
-What?
-Because she hit me

118
00:05:45,800 --> 00:05:47,933
when I was in the lane
for a couple seconds.

119
00:05:48,000 --> 00:05:49,933
No, sir. Not according
to the police report

120
00:05:50,000 --> 00:05:51,800
and not according
to the insurance company.

121
00:05:51,867 --> 00:05:55,066
I think the police-- The insurance company
is following the police report

122
00:05:55,133 --> 00:05:57,000
and I think the police report is wrong.

123
00:05:57,066 --> 00:05:59,166
-I'm just looking at the diagram.
-[Davyne] Yeah.

124
00:05:59,233 --> 00:06:01,066
I'm not an accident expert.

125
00:06:01,133 --> 00:06:04,000
Well, since I've been doing this
I've been an accident expert.

126
00:06:04,066 --> 00:06:08,200
But I've been driving for 60 years.
And I know exactly what happened.

127
00:06:08,266 --> 00:06:09,667
You tried to get off.

128
00:06:09,734 --> 00:06:11,734
You really shouldn't have tried
to get off.

129
00:06:11,800 --> 00:06:13,467
You should've gone to the next exit.

130
00:06:13,533 --> 00:06:14,967
-Right?
-[Davyne] That's true.

131
00:06:15,033 --> 00:06:16,100
Okay, that's all.

132
00:06:16,166 --> 00:06:18,400
[dramatic music playing]

133
00:06:18,467 --> 00:06:22,000
If anytime you're in a car accident
and you get hit from the back,

134
00:06:22,066 --> 00:06:24,400
-the person--
-No. Not if you caused the accident.

135
00:06:24,467 --> 00:06:25,567
You caused the accident.

136
00:06:25,633 --> 00:06:29,567
They're traveling at a clip and you're
traveling diagonally across a highway.

137
00:06:29,633 --> 00:06:31,100
[narrator]
And later today...

138
00:06:31,166 --> 00:06:34,933
The dog is happy, healthy, taken care of.

139
00:06:35,000 --> 00:06:38,433
Looked miserable when she got it.
Now it looks terrific.

140
00:06:38,500 --> 00:06:41,400
So, I would assume
that you're happy about that.

141
00:06:43,967 --> 00:06:47,500
[theme music playing]

142
00:06:50,967 --> 00:06:55,033
[narrator] Terrell White
claims his brother, Davyne White,

143
00:06:55,100 --> 00:06:59,133
totaled his car
after making an illegal lane change.

144
00:06:59,200 --> 00:07:01,567
Okay. So, now you have an accident

145
00:07:01,633 --> 00:07:04,667
and you totaled your brother's car
which is paid off.

146
00:07:04,734 --> 00:07:08,266
And I want you to tell me the discussions
you had with your brother

147
00:07:08,333 --> 00:07:10,800
about paying him for his car.

148
00:07:10,867 --> 00:07:12,266
-[Davyne] Well, I told--
-Not "well."

149
00:07:12,333 --> 00:07:16,767
I'm sorry. I told my brother
that I didn't feel like I was at fault

150
00:07:16,834 --> 00:07:18,533
for a number of reasons.

151
00:07:18,600 --> 00:07:21,233
One, I didn't want to drive
in the first place.

152
00:07:21,300 --> 00:07:24,367
Two, I feel like the lady hit me
from behind.

153
00:07:24,433 --> 00:07:28,166
If anytime you're in a car accident
and you get hit from the back,

154
00:07:28,233 --> 00:07:29,133
-the person--
-[Judy] No.

155
00:07:29,200 --> 00:07:31,700
Not if you caused the accident.
You caused the accident.

156
00:07:31,767 --> 00:07:34,767
The other person couldn't help
but hit you.

157
00:07:34,834 --> 00:07:37,600
They're traveling at a clip
and you're traveling diagonally

158
00:07:37,667 --> 00:07:39,467
across a highway. Foolish.

159
00:07:39,533 --> 00:07:41,166
Anything else you want to tell me, sir?

160
00:07:41,233 --> 00:07:45,500
Your Honor, I just want to say that
I worked very hard to pay for this car.

161
00:07:45,567 --> 00:07:48,266
I had many discussions with my brother.

162
00:07:48,332 --> 00:07:51,166
He not only told me
that he was gonna pay me back,

163
00:07:51,233 --> 00:07:53,400
he also mentioned it to my older brother.

164
00:07:53,467 --> 00:07:55,100
And after he mentioned that--

165
00:07:55,166 --> 00:07:56,967
How does he support himself?

166
00:07:57,033 --> 00:07:59,767
He has a new job.
After the accident, he didn't have a job.

167
00:07:59,834 --> 00:08:01,734
That's why I wasn't in a rush to sue him.

168
00:08:01,800 --> 00:08:04,000
I didn't want to strain
my brother's pockets for so long.

169
00:08:04,066 --> 00:08:06,066
But then, he actually
bought himself a new car.

170
00:08:06,133 --> 00:08:07,133
[Judy]
He did?

171
00:08:07,200 --> 00:08:10,600
Yes. And I said,
I have to do something now, so.

172
00:08:10,667 --> 00:08:12,600
When did he buy himself a car and what?

173
00:08:12,667 --> 00:08:16,567
He brought home a car, I believe,
earlier this year.

174
00:08:16,633 --> 00:08:19,667
And it's a brand new, all specced out.

175
00:08:19,734 --> 00:08:22,767
And I'm happy for him,
I just think that it wasn't right.

176
00:08:22,834 --> 00:08:25,066
-What are you driving?
-I'm not driving anything now.

177
00:08:25,133 --> 00:08:27,266
Still getting rides,
taking transportation,

178
00:08:27,332 --> 00:08:30,166
paying for Ubers and Lyfts,
and different things like that.

179
00:08:30,233 --> 00:08:31,500
Where is your brother working?

180
00:08:31,567 --> 00:08:34,633
I'm not 100% sure where he's working
'cause we haven't talked in a while.

181
00:08:34,700 --> 00:08:37,133
I'm just hearing these things
from family members and--

182
00:08:37,200 --> 00:08:39,633
-Where are you working?
-I'm an automation engineer.

183
00:08:39,700 --> 00:08:41,799
And what kind of car did you buy yourself?

184
00:08:41,866 --> 00:08:43,366
2023 Honda Accord.

185
00:08:43,433 --> 00:08:45,133
-Did you buy it with a loan?
-I did.

186
00:08:45,200 --> 00:08:47,867
Did you think that you should start
as part of,

187
00:08:47,934 --> 00:08:51,266
as part of the process of healing
with your brother,

188
00:08:51,333 --> 00:08:53,800
to start paying him for his car?

189
00:08:53,867 --> 00:08:56,567
I offered to him if he wanted
to drive my car

190
00:08:56,633 --> 00:08:59,100
that he could've
if he needed to go anywhere.

191
00:08:59,165 --> 00:09:02,367
Because I work in the night, so,
I don't go anywhere in the day.

192
00:09:02,433 --> 00:09:05,166
So, I offered to him my vehicle
if he needed it.

193
00:09:05,233 --> 00:09:09,166
No, money, so he can buy his own vehicle.
He had his own vehicle.

194
00:09:09,233 --> 00:09:11,533
Don't you think that it was right to say,

195
00:09:11,600 --> 00:09:14,633
I can give you $100 a month,
$25 a week.

196
00:09:14,700 --> 00:09:17,767
Instead of buying yourself
a 2023 Honda Accord,

197
00:09:17,834 --> 00:09:20,300
buy yourself a 2005 car

198
00:09:20,367 --> 00:09:24,400
and give him back some of the money
from the accident that clearly you caused.

199
00:09:24,467 --> 00:09:26,300
That's the right thing to do, Mr. White.

200
00:09:26,367 --> 00:09:29,133
You had had a relationship
with your brother before that,

201
00:09:29,200 --> 00:09:31,367
I understand,
'cause you were in the car together.

202
00:09:31,433 --> 00:09:33,133
How long has it been since you've spoken?

203
00:09:33,200 --> 00:09:36,033
So, the accident happened in March.
We... April?

204
00:09:36,100 --> 00:09:37,867
Last time I spoke to him, April.

205
00:09:37,934 --> 00:09:40,500
What about your mother?
Did your mother ever become involved

206
00:09:40,567 --> 00:09:42,934
in this process of
dealing with the car?

207
00:09:43,000 --> 00:09:46,967
Well, she spoke about it but
she never got involved in the process.

208
00:09:47,033 --> 00:09:50,500
According to some things that I've read
in the complaint and answer,

209
00:09:50,567 --> 00:09:52,700
he gave you a year
because you weren't working.

210
00:09:52,767 --> 00:09:56,734
Then, you were working and your mother
sort of asked for another six months.

211
00:09:56,800 --> 00:09:58,033
Are you the baby?

212
00:09:58,100 --> 00:10:00,066
-I am the baby child.
-[Judy] Ah.

213
00:10:00,133 --> 00:10:01,934
-There you go.
-[Terrell] He's the favorite.

214
00:10:02,000 --> 00:10:04,800
The baby and the favorite,
is that what you said?

215
00:10:04,867 --> 00:10:08,867
Yes. And I didn't want to come here,
but something had to be done.

216
00:10:08,934 --> 00:10:11,333
[Judy] It's not fair he's driving
around in a new car

217
00:10:11,400 --> 00:10:12,867
and you have no car.

218
00:10:12,934 --> 00:10:15,333
I offered him to use--

219
00:10:15,400 --> 00:10:20,066
Just a second. You destroyed his car and
said, "You can use my car if you want."

220
00:10:20,133 --> 00:10:24,333
That's not an answer, sir. How much was
the total cost of this car you purchased?

221
00:10:24,400 --> 00:10:26,200
Come on, come on.

222
00:10:26,266 --> 00:10:27,300
Twenty-eight thousand.

223
00:10:27,367 --> 00:10:32,800
Instead of spending $28,000 for a car,
spend $8,000 for a car

224
00:10:32,867 --> 00:10:35,800
and start paying him back for the car
that you destroyed.

225
00:10:35,867 --> 00:10:38,200
Judgment for the plaintiff
in the amount of $5,000.

226
00:10:38,266 --> 00:10:39,834
Thank you very much. We're finished.

227
00:10:39,900 --> 00:10:42,033
-[Terrell] Thank you, Your Honor.
-This court is adjourned.

228
00:10:42,100 --> 00:10:45,000
[theme music playing]

229
00:10:47,165 --> 00:10:51,266
I think that the judge
didn't make the right decision.

230
00:10:51,333 --> 00:10:53,967
I'm happy that she came to the decision
that she came to.

231
00:10:54,033 --> 00:10:56,800
Obviously, I believe that the car accident
wasn't my fault.

232
00:10:56,867 --> 00:10:59,500
I hope that we can work our relationship

233
00:10:59,567 --> 00:11:02,600
and get back to the brotherly love
we had before this.

234
00:11:02,667 --> 00:11:05,667
Hopefully, we can find a new page forward,
a new way forward.

235
00:11:05,734 --> 00:11:07,100
But we'll see what happens.

236
00:11:07,166 --> 00:11:09,100
It's definitely time to get another car,
definitely.

237
00:11:11,033 --> 00:11:14,467
Well, that was a legal no-brainer.
He was responsible for the accident.

238
00:11:14,533 --> 00:11:16,767
-Mm-hmm.
-So, he has to pay for the damage.

239
00:11:16,834 --> 00:11:20,033
I actually thought the plaintiff
was very sweet

240
00:11:20,100 --> 00:11:22,266
when he said, he's the baby.

241
00:11:22,333 --> 00:11:24,400
-And the favorite.
-And the favorite. [laughs]

242
00:11:24,467 --> 00:11:26,266
Every family has one.

243
00:11:26,333 --> 00:11:29,700
Case 4099,
Melita's Dream Rescue v. Reich.

244
00:11:29,767 --> 00:11:31,567
All parties, please, come forward.

245
00:11:31,633 --> 00:11:34,967
[narrator]
Animal rescue owner, Melita Gvalevich,

246
00:11:35,033 --> 00:11:38,967
is suing dog foster parents,
Shantal Reich,

247
00:11:39,033 --> 00:11:42,133
for breach of contract and defamation.

248
00:11:42,200 --> 00:11:43,367
What's your last name?

249
00:11:43,433 --> 00:11:45,066
[Melita]
Gvalevich.

250
00:11:45,133 --> 00:11:47,000
-[Judy] Miss Gvalevich...
-That's right.

251
00:11:47,066 --> 00:11:50,800
...you have an animal rescue,
and that I assume,

252
00:11:50,867 --> 00:11:55,133
-is a 501(c)(3) charity. Is that correct?
-That's correct.

253
00:11:55,200 --> 00:11:59,165
The dog in question is a large dog.
Is it a Great Dane mix?

254
00:11:59,233 --> 00:12:01,700
-Is that what it is?
-It's a mixed breed.

255
00:12:01,767 --> 00:12:04,200
-It's a senior dog.
-Where did you get it from?

256
00:12:04,266 --> 00:12:06,233
-Apple Valley Animal Shelter.
-When?

257
00:12:06,300 --> 00:12:07,800
In May, 2024.

258
00:12:07,867 --> 00:12:10,533
You say the dog is senior. How old?

259
00:12:10,600 --> 00:12:12,266
About seven, eight years old.

260
00:12:12,333 --> 00:12:15,500
[Judy] The defendant
agreed to foster that dog.

261
00:12:15,567 --> 00:12:18,767
Do you have pictures of the dog
that's still with you?

262
00:12:18,834 --> 00:12:21,233
This dog is still with you.
May I see it, please?

263
00:12:21,300 --> 00:12:23,834
-You have other dogs?
-I do. I have my own dog.

264
00:12:23,900 --> 00:12:25,367
-One other.
-[Shantal] One.

265
00:12:29,867 --> 00:12:31,667
[Judy]
Oh, so this is a big boy.

266
00:12:31,734 --> 00:12:34,834
Big boy. Also, just to mention,
he's 9 1/2 or 10.

267
00:12:34,900 --> 00:12:39,033
The dog looked terrible when she got him,
looks wonderful now.

268
00:12:39,100 --> 00:12:41,600
Okay. And it is your claim
that the defendant

269
00:12:41,667 --> 00:12:44,834
breached her agreement with your shelter,

270
00:12:44,900 --> 00:12:49,767
because she was really conspiring
to keep this old, sick dog.

271
00:12:49,834 --> 00:12:52,300
So, you're suing her
for breach of the agreement

272
00:12:52,367 --> 00:12:55,066
'cause she didn't follow what
she was supposed to do.

273
00:12:55,133 --> 00:12:57,266
Even though the dog is
in much better shape

274
00:12:57,333 --> 00:12:59,500
than when she got it
and is perfectly happy with her.

275
00:12:59,567 --> 00:13:02,767
Which is, I assume,
the endgame that you want.

276
00:13:02,834 --> 00:13:04,166
-Right?
-Yes.

277
00:13:04,233 --> 00:13:07,100
That would be yes.
You want a dog happy, healthy,

278
00:13:07,166 --> 00:13:09,033
well taken care of and whatever.

279
00:13:09,100 --> 00:13:10,300
Exactly.
Right

280
00:13:10,367 --> 00:13:14,000
But you have your own protocol
that clearly wasn't on her dance card.

281
00:13:14,066 --> 00:13:17,333
She wanted to do it her way,
you wanted to do it your way.

282
00:13:17,400 --> 00:13:19,600
Whatever it was, you got into a kerfuffle.

283
00:13:19,667 --> 00:13:22,834
And you claim that in addition
to her breaching the agreement,

284
00:13:22,900 --> 00:13:27,567
she defamed your company and that's
what you want to be compensated for.

285
00:13:27,633 --> 00:13:31,800
I have to tell you, madam,
that I don't really give a hoot

286
00:13:31,867 --> 00:13:35,500
whether or not she followed
your protocol or not,

287
00:13:35,567 --> 00:13:39,200
because it would seem to me,
as a person who loves animals,

288
00:13:39,266 --> 00:13:44,433
which I assume you clearly do,
if that's your business and your charity,

289
00:13:44,500 --> 00:13:46,700
and I don't know how you make that
into a business,

290
00:13:46,767 --> 00:13:50,033
'cause I don't have time to figure it out,
but I'm sure you do.

291
00:13:50,100 --> 00:13:52,667
I don't care about
the breach of the agreement

292
00:13:52,734 --> 00:13:55,400
'cause the dog seems perfectly happy
with her.

293
00:13:55,467 --> 00:13:58,233
Couldn't find, probably,
a better place for it.

294
00:13:58,300 --> 00:14:01,233
But you say she defamed your business.

295
00:14:01,300 --> 00:14:04,166
And she wrote bad things about it
on the Internet.

296
00:14:04,233 --> 00:14:06,867
I want you to show me
what you're alleging,

297
00:14:06,934 --> 00:14:09,000
'cause that's what I'm gonna deal with.

298
00:14:09,066 --> 00:14:11,500
[dramatic music playing]

299
00:14:11,567 --> 00:14:16,066
The dog is happy, healthy,
and has enjoyed a surgery

300
00:14:16,133 --> 00:14:19,734
to take away these horrible things
that were hanging outside of the dog.

301
00:14:19,800 --> 00:14:21,166
I wasn't aware of that.

302
00:14:21,233 --> 00:14:23,834
[Judy] I don't give a rat's behind
what you were aware of.

303
00:14:26,367 --> 00:14:29,967
[theme music playing]

304
00:14:33,033 --> 00:14:36,533
[narrator]
Animal rescue owner Melita Gvalevich

305
00:14:36,600 --> 00:14:40,133
has accused dog foster parent
Shantal Reich

306
00:14:40,200 --> 00:14:43,600
of wrongfully keeping her rescue dog,
Grayson.

307
00:14:43,667 --> 00:14:48,800
Shantal claims Melita abandoned him
and wants legal ownership of Grayson.

308
00:14:48,867 --> 00:14:51,300
Okay, she took the dog,
she didn't give the dog back.

309
00:14:51,367 --> 00:14:53,533
She said the dog needed
some medical care.

310
00:14:53,600 --> 00:14:55,767
She wasn't getting a positive response
from you.

311
00:14:55,834 --> 00:14:59,533
She took the dog to her own vet,
which was not part of the agreement,

312
00:14:59,600 --> 00:15:03,100
'cause you take the dog to the vet.
You decide what the treatment is.

313
00:15:03,166 --> 00:15:06,133
That means you have
to spend money when you go to the vet.

314
00:15:06,200 --> 00:15:08,800
And this is a dog that's nine,
ten years old.

315
00:15:08,867 --> 00:15:13,834
I don't know whether she called you and
whether she said this dog has growths.

316
00:15:13,900 --> 00:15:18,133
It's clearly grossly underweight.
It needs certain surgeries.

317
00:15:18,200 --> 00:15:22,166
It needs whatever. And she wasn't getting
forthcoming answers from you.

318
00:15:22,233 --> 00:15:24,400
-Is that what happened?
-Yes.

319
00:15:24,467 --> 00:15:26,533
I assume that that's what happened.

320
00:15:26,600 --> 00:15:29,834
So, let me see what you are alleging
by way of defamation.

321
00:15:29,900 --> 00:15:32,100
I wasn't upset. I wasn't aware of that

322
00:15:32,165 --> 00:15:34,633
because she blocked
all of the communication with me.

323
00:15:34,700 --> 00:15:37,700
All I want to do is see
what you are alleging

324
00:15:37,767 --> 00:15:40,100
she said about you that defamed you.

325
00:15:40,165 --> 00:15:41,700
Don't give me a whole bunch of papers.

326
00:15:41,767 --> 00:15:46,934
I just want you to show me exactly what
you claim she published that defamed you.

327
00:15:50,233 --> 00:15:51,967
Did the dog have its surgery?

328
00:15:52,033 --> 00:15:54,633
He did, yeah.
Kidney is well now.

329
00:15:58,500 --> 00:16:03,166
Have her make a circle around
what she says is defamatory

330
00:16:03,233 --> 00:16:07,467
that the defendant wrote about her.
Just make a circle around it.

331
00:16:07,533 --> 00:16:10,033
Okay. Here we go.

332
00:16:18,233 --> 00:16:20,967
Nah, there's nothing defamatory
about that.

333
00:16:21,033 --> 00:16:23,367
"I told her, Grayson is with your rescue

334
00:16:23,433 --> 00:16:28,233
and you said this is a bunch of BS and
that you're trying to get Grayson back."

335
00:16:28,300 --> 00:16:30,800
Okay. There's nothing defamatory
about that.

336
00:16:30,867 --> 00:16:32,567
[Melita]
The dog was in my rescue

337
00:16:32,633 --> 00:16:35,734
and that's what it says
on the foster agreement

338
00:16:35,800 --> 00:16:37,100
that Miss Reich signed.

339
00:16:37,165 --> 00:16:40,300
And she went ahead
without my authorization,

340
00:16:40,367 --> 00:16:43,300
she changed the microchip
to her own name.

341
00:16:43,367 --> 00:16:46,266
She went to city of L.A.,
she got a license

342
00:16:46,333 --> 00:16:48,000
for the dog under her name.

343
00:16:48,066 --> 00:16:50,567
Do you understand?
I just said to you two things.

344
00:16:50,633 --> 00:16:54,300
I'm gonna repeat them. The only part
of your case that I'm hearing

345
00:16:54,367 --> 00:16:57,934
is the defamation part of your case,
not the breach of contract.

346
00:16:58,000 --> 00:17:02,200
The dog is happy, healthy,
taken care of.

347
00:17:02,266 --> 00:17:05,633
Looked miserable when she got it.
Now it looks terrific.

348
00:17:05,700 --> 00:17:08,666
So, I would assume
that you're happy about that.

349
00:17:08,733 --> 00:17:11,333
-I would assume--
-I am happy about that.

350
00:17:11,400 --> 00:17:13,834
[Judy] Good, I'm glad
that you're happy about that.

351
00:17:13,900 --> 00:17:17,934
We have to follow our protocol.
I have about 200 dogs in my rescue

352
00:17:18,000 --> 00:17:19,367
that I have to make sure--

353
00:17:19,433 --> 00:17:23,133
Pay careful attention--
Pay careful attention to me.

354
00:17:23,200 --> 00:17:26,032
-You can't talk over me.
-[Melita] Okay, that's fine.

355
00:17:26,099 --> 00:17:29,767
[Judy] What I said to you was,
I've seen the pictures of the dog.

356
00:17:29,834 --> 00:17:34,633
The dog is happy, healthy,
and has enjoyed a surgery

357
00:17:34,700 --> 00:17:38,533
to take away these horrible things
that were hanging outside of the dog.

358
00:17:38,600 --> 00:17:40,000
I wasn't aware of that.

359
00:17:40,066 --> 00:17:42,567
[Judy] I don't give a rat's behind
what you were aware of.

360
00:17:42,633 --> 00:17:45,934
So, I said I don't care
about her breach of your agreement.

361
00:17:46,000 --> 00:17:50,066
The only thing I would hear is
the defamation part of your lawsuit.

362
00:17:50,133 --> 00:17:53,300
And you haven't shown me anything
where she defamed you.

363
00:17:53,367 --> 00:17:56,033
You have anything else in writing

364
00:17:56,100 --> 00:17:58,066
-where she defamed you?
-So--

365
00:17:58,133 --> 00:18:00,567
That's not a "so," that's a show me.

366
00:18:00,633 --> 00:18:03,834
She said that the rescue
has abandoned the dog. That's okay?

367
00:18:03,900 --> 00:18:05,233
That's not defaming me?

368
00:18:05,300 --> 00:18:06,600
-Just a second.
-[Melita] Yes.

369
00:18:06,667 --> 00:18:09,367
All I want you to do is show it to me.

370
00:18:09,433 --> 00:18:10,900
Would you like a copy
of the GoFundMe?

371
00:18:10,967 --> 00:18:13,200
Yeah. I'd like to see both.

372
00:18:18,033 --> 00:18:19,033
[Melita]
Here.

373
00:18:26,066 --> 00:18:28,333
[Judy]
Okay. So, here's the GoFundMe page.

374
00:18:28,400 --> 00:18:30,467
I think we have the same page?

375
00:18:30,533 --> 00:18:33,633
Yeah. So, I want you to take this--

376
00:18:33,700 --> 00:18:35,533
-Madam. Pay attention.
-Yes, ma'am.

377
00:18:35,600 --> 00:18:40,166
I want you to take this and I want you to
circle where she identified your shelter.

378
00:18:41,433 --> 00:18:43,734
Your rescue. Do you understand
what I just said?

379
00:18:43,800 --> 00:18:45,266
-Yes, I do.
-[Judy] Good.

380
00:18:46,600 --> 00:18:48,333
Make sure you don't annoy me.

381
00:18:48,400 --> 00:18:52,500
Make sure--
And the name of your shelter is?

382
00:18:52,567 --> 00:18:54,667
Melita's Dream Animal Rescue.

383
00:18:54,734 --> 00:18:57,300
-And she mentions that in the-- Just--
-[Melita] Okay.

384
00:18:57,367 --> 00:19:00,266
Does she mention the name of your shelter?

385
00:19:00,333 --> 00:19:02,467
She did not mention
the name of the shelter.

386
00:19:02,533 --> 00:19:03,767
[Judy]
She did not?

387
00:19:03,834 --> 00:19:06,567
But everybody knew this dog was saved
from Apple Valley.

388
00:19:06,633 --> 00:19:08,667
-I didn't know it.
-[Melita] They knew it was me.

389
00:19:08,734 --> 00:19:10,433
I didn't know it.

390
00:19:10,500 --> 00:19:13,333
So, the answer is,
she did not name your rescue.

391
00:19:13,400 --> 00:19:16,000
You can't be defamed unless
somebody mentions your name.

392
00:19:16,066 --> 00:19:17,867
She did not name my rescue.

393
00:19:17,934 --> 00:19:21,500
If somebody says, that's
the most miserable, nasty judge on TV.

394
00:19:21,567 --> 00:19:25,500
Well, everybody may know
what it is, and who it is,

395
00:19:25,567 --> 00:19:28,000
but unless they say my name,

396
00:19:28,533 --> 00:19:30,600
I can't sue you for defamation.

397
00:19:30,667 --> 00:19:32,767
Do you understand? Yes.

398
00:19:32,834 --> 00:19:36,233
So, I'm not accepting your cause of action
for breach of contract

399
00:19:36,300 --> 00:19:39,033
nor for defamation
because she hasn't defamed you anywhere.

400
00:19:39,100 --> 00:19:40,200
Next.

401
00:19:40,266 --> 00:19:43,300
She bad-mouthed my network team.

402
00:19:43,367 --> 00:19:47,100
She texted me saying
that my network team member is psycho.

403
00:19:47,166 --> 00:19:48,500
Can I show that to you?

404
00:19:48,567 --> 00:19:51,400
Just that she called somebody on your team
psycho?

405
00:19:51,467 --> 00:19:52,967
-I--
-[Judy] Just a second.

406
00:19:53,033 --> 00:19:55,533
Let that person sue her
for defamation.

407
00:19:55,600 --> 00:19:59,233
Okay. So, your case is dismissed.
One, two, three, that takes care of you.

408
00:19:59,300 --> 00:20:01,467
Reimbursements related to foster care,

409
00:20:01,533 --> 00:20:04,266
interfere with wellness, defamation,
invasions of privacy--

410
00:20:04,333 --> 00:20:06,266
All nonsense.
You understand that, right?

411
00:20:06,333 --> 00:20:07,433
You do understand that.

412
00:20:07,500 --> 00:20:10,834
-Can you explain that to me?
-Why? Can you explain it to me?

413
00:20:10,900 --> 00:20:13,166
-Yes.
-Reimbursement related to foster care.

414
00:20:13,233 --> 00:20:15,433
How much did you collect
from the GoFundMe page?

415
00:20:15,500 --> 00:20:17,734
-I have it right here.
-[Judy] The dog's now yours?

416
00:20:17,800 --> 00:20:19,400
Did you have the dog chipped
in your name?

417
00:20:19,467 --> 00:20:22,033
Yes, but he's not in my name anymore.
She took it back.

418
00:20:22,100 --> 00:20:24,433
She contacted the microchip company

419
00:20:24,500 --> 00:20:28,333
and they said that they're locking
his chip and keeping it in her name.

420
00:20:28,400 --> 00:20:30,934
But you had the dog's papers
transferred to you?

421
00:20:31,000 --> 00:20:32,734
-[Shantal] Yeah.
-[Judy] So, it's your dog.

422
00:20:32,800 --> 00:20:35,266
The microchip company
needs a court order for that.

423
00:20:35,333 --> 00:20:36,367
Yeah, the dog's yours.

424
00:20:36,433 --> 00:20:38,767
-I'll give you such an order.
-Thank you.

425
00:20:38,834 --> 00:20:41,934
And by the way, the surgery was how much
on the dog?

426
00:20:42,000 --> 00:20:44,233
The surgery was about $1,300 or $1,400.

427
00:20:44,300 --> 00:20:46,734
And you got that money
from the GoFundMe page.

428
00:20:46,800 --> 00:20:48,200
-I see that you did.
-Yeah.

429
00:20:48,266 --> 00:20:51,567
Claim, counterclaim dismissed.
Goodbye, good luck, have a happy life.

430
00:20:51,633 --> 00:20:53,767
-[Kevin] This court is adjourned.
-[laughter]

431
00:20:53,834 --> 00:20:56,266
[theme music playing]

432
00:20:58,867 --> 00:21:01,033
I wasn't happy about it,
to be honest.

433
00:21:01,100 --> 00:21:04,033
This is about the dog.
He's happy, he's healthy.

434
00:21:04,100 --> 00:21:06,900
She's writing a court order
that I own him.

435
00:21:06,967 --> 00:21:09,233
And we've gotten Melita out of our hair.

436
00:21:09,300 --> 00:21:12,266
I am the owner of the dog.
She cannot make any changes.

437
00:21:12,333 --> 00:21:15,633
She cannot transfer the dog.
She cannot take him to any shelter.

438
00:21:15,700 --> 00:21:18,500
She cannot make any changes
with the dog, and she did.

439
00:21:18,567 --> 00:21:22,800
Now Grayson can live with
his forever family, happy and healthy.

440
00:21:22,867 --> 00:21:24,533
I didn't want any money to begin with.

441
00:21:24,600 --> 00:21:26,700
I'll probably be more careful
with my fosters.

442
00:21:26,767 --> 00:21:29,433
All dogs deserve a good home.
Be careful who you work with.

443
00:21:31,367 --> 00:21:34,800
What I couldn't understand, even
when I read the papers, the complaint,

444
00:21:34,867 --> 00:21:40,300
was if the plaintiff had
a pure heart animal rescue,

445
00:21:40,367 --> 00:21:42,734
and I don't know
whether she does or doesn't.

446
00:21:42,800 --> 00:21:46,533
I'm sure there's some part of business
there that I don't understand.

447
00:21:46,600 --> 00:21:49,834
But if you have a nine or ten year old
big dog...

448
00:21:49,900 --> 00:21:50,967
Mm-hmm.

449
00:21:51,033 --> 00:21:53,834
...who has a shorter life expectancy
than a small dog,

450
00:21:53,900 --> 00:21:56,934
and you find somebody,
whether they follow your rules or not,

451
00:21:57,000 --> 00:22:00,800
who falls in love with that dog
and says, I want to take care of it

452
00:22:00,867 --> 00:22:03,567
for as long as it has left, and feeds it,

453
00:22:03,633 --> 00:22:08,233
and wants to take care of it surgically
so that it's not uncomfortable anymore.

454
00:22:08,300 --> 00:22:11,633
Why would you sue her
for a breach of contract?

455
00:22:11,700 --> 00:22:16,433
You want the dog back to try to find
another forever home for this dog?

456
00:22:16,500 --> 00:22:17,633
Yeah.

457
00:22:17,767 --> 00:22:21,967
-I couldn't understand what her issue was.
-Yeah.

458
00:22:22,033 --> 00:22:24,834
I really had trouble figuring out
what her issue was.

459
00:22:24,900 --> 00:22:27,734
And I guess maybe that showed
in my examination of her.

460
00:22:27,800 --> 00:22:29,333
Because there are some people

461
00:22:29,400 --> 00:22:31,867
who are totally invested
in the welfare of animals.

462
00:22:31,934 --> 00:22:33,567
There's some people
that use it as a business.

463
00:22:33,633 --> 00:22:36,300
-Mm-hmm.
-I wasn't sure where she flew.

464
00:22:36,367 --> 00:22:37,834
I'm still not sure.

465
00:22:39,367 --> 00:22:41,133
[narrator]
Are you a victim of a scam?

466
00:22:41,200 --> 00:22:43,233
Go to JudyJustice.tv.

467
00:22:47,867 --> 00:22:50,367
[theme music playing]