1 00:00:00,233 --> 00:00:02,800 Your daughter was hitting your granddaughter. 2 00:00:02,867 --> 00:00:06,433 She was hitting her in her head. And I started yelling at her to stop. 3 00:00:06,500 --> 00:00:08,000 No, ma'am. 4 00:00:08,066 --> 00:00:09,533 I popped her on her leg. 5 00:00:09,600 --> 00:00:10,767 How many times? 6 00:00:10,834 --> 00:00:13,500 Maybe three. Three-- Four. Maybe four. 7 00:00:13,567 --> 00:00:17,066 Have a seat. I'm going to see her 13-year-old daughter in chambers. 8 00:00:17,133 --> 00:00:18,266 You see where I'm going, right? 9 00:00:18,333 --> 00:00:21,266 [narrator] This is Judy Justice. 10 00:00:21,333 --> 00:00:23,767 [theme music playing] 11 00:00:38,400 --> 00:00:41,834 [narrator] Laretha Jackson is suing her daughter, 12 00:00:41,900 --> 00:00:47,700 Janet Harris, for vandalism, airfare and emotional distress. 13 00:00:47,767 --> 00:00:49,700 [Kevin] Court, come to order. All rise. 14 00:00:50,900 --> 00:00:52,000 Have a seat, please. 15 00:00:54,133 --> 00:00:56,667 Judge, case 4086, Jackson v. Harris. 16 00:00:56,734 --> 00:00:58,266 -Thank you. -[Kevin] You're welcome. 17 00:00:58,333 --> 00:01:00,967 -Miss Jackson, this is your daughter. -Yes. 18 00:01:01,033 --> 00:01:04,132 -[Judy] And she has three children? -Two. 19 00:01:04,200 --> 00:01:05,934 [Judy] Two. How old are they? 20 00:01:06,000 --> 00:01:07,300 [Janet] Thirteen and seven. 21 00:01:07,367 --> 00:01:09,600 -[Judy] The 13-year-old is a girl? -Girl. 22 00:01:09,667 --> 00:01:11,266 -[Judy] The seven-year-old? -Boy. 23 00:01:11,333 --> 00:01:13,500 [Judy] I'm gonna start with you, Miss Harris. 24 00:01:13,567 --> 00:01:15,867 Some time ago, you ran into some difficulty, 25 00:01:15,934 --> 00:01:18,133 you and your mom were living in different states. 26 00:01:18,200 --> 00:01:19,667 -Yes. -[Judy] Where were you living? 27 00:01:19,734 --> 00:01:21,367 I was living in Sacramento, California. 28 00:01:21,433 --> 00:01:23,867 -[Judy] Where was your mom living? -[Janet] Houston, Texas. 29 00:01:23,934 --> 00:01:27,233 [Judy] How did you connect with your mother and come to travel 30 00:01:27,300 --> 00:01:31,200 to where she was and move into one of her rental properties? 31 00:01:31,265 --> 00:01:33,033 I want you to tell me. 32 00:01:33,100 --> 00:01:37,066 I had a situation in California, Sacramento, with an ex-partner of mine. 33 00:01:37,133 --> 00:01:40,967 It was just getting a little crazy or whatever, so I actually called my sister. 34 00:01:41,033 --> 00:01:43,866 [Judy] Without telling me what you discussed with your sister, 35 00:01:43,934 --> 00:01:46,967 did you subsequently have a conversation with your mother? 36 00:01:47,033 --> 00:01:50,100 After my sister contacted her regarding what we spoke about, 37 00:01:50,166 --> 00:01:52,567 which is how I ended up contacting my mother. 38 00:01:52,633 --> 00:01:54,633 [Judy] You did contact your mother. 39 00:01:54,700 --> 00:01:57,467 -When she contacted me, excuse me. -[Judy] On what date? 40 00:01:57,533 --> 00:01:59,533 [Janet] Somewhere between January 10th and 12th. 41 00:01:59,600 --> 00:02:01,266 -[Judy] Of this year? -Yes, ma'am. 42 00:02:01,333 --> 00:02:03,667 [Judy] You, at that time, explained to your mother 43 00:02:03,734 --> 00:02:06,700 that you were having some serious domestic issues. 44 00:02:06,767 --> 00:02:11,100 Did your mother volunteer to send you and your children plane tickets? 45 00:02:11,166 --> 00:02:12,467 Yes, ma'am. 46 00:02:12,533 --> 00:02:15,633 -[Judy] And said, "Come to Texas." -She wants to help me. 47 00:02:15,700 --> 00:02:18,700 [Judy] "I have some rental property that you can live in." 48 00:02:18,767 --> 00:02:21,500 And she sent you tickets for you and your two children. 49 00:02:21,567 --> 00:02:24,100 -Yes, ma'am. -[Judy] When did you arrive in Texas? 50 00:02:24,166 --> 00:02:26,066 [Janet] January 18th. 51 00:02:26,133 --> 00:02:27,433 -2024. -[Janet] Yes, ma'am. 52 00:02:27,500 --> 00:02:28,966 Did you get a job? 53 00:02:29,033 --> 00:02:31,900 I actually was not there long enough to do anything like that, ma'am. 54 00:02:31,966 --> 00:02:33,100 [Judy] When did you leave? 55 00:02:33,166 --> 00:02:36,000 I left, um, I think February, maybe eight. 56 00:02:36,066 --> 00:02:37,633 [Judy] You left and went where? 57 00:02:37,700 --> 00:02:39,466 I went back to Sacramento, California. 58 00:02:39,533 --> 00:02:41,333 And you went back to Sacramento, California, 59 00:02:41,400 --> 00:02:43,734 to the same place you had been living at? 60 00:02:43,800 --> 00:02:45,333 -No, ma'am. -[Judy] Someplace else? 61 00:02:45,400 --> 00:02:48,000 -Yes, ma'am. -Did you have a job in Sacramento? 62 00:02:48,066 --> 00:02:49,734 Not after I came back, no. 63 00:02:49,800 --> 00:02:51,667 [Judy] Almost a year ago. Are you working now? 64 00:02:51,734 --> 00:02:54,066 -I am. -[Judy] When did you start working? 65 00:02:54,133 --> 00:02:58,266 Um, I started working in August of 2024. 66 00:02:58,333 --> 00:03:00,567 Are you living alone with your two children? 67 00:03:00,633 --> 00:03:02,000 They live with their grandmother. 68 00:03:02,066 --> 00:03:03,734 [Judy] You're children not living with you. 69 00:03:03,800 --> 00:03:06,300 -[Janet] No, ma'am. -[Judy] When did they leave your custody? 70 00:03:06,367 --> 00:03:10,200 Soon as I got back to Sacramento because when I went to Texas, 71 00:03:10,266 --> 00:03:13,567 to my mother, I actually-- She convinced me to leave my home. 72 00:03:13,633 --> 00:03:17,133 So, I actually turned my keys in to my home, and I quit my job 73 00:03:17,200 --> 00:03:20,400 to go to Houston because my mother was going to help me. 74 00:03:20,466 --> 00:03:24,266 I'm asking you when and under what circumstances 75 00:03:24,333 --> 00:03:26,533 did the children leave your custody? 76 00:03:26,600 --> 00:03:29,867 Soon as I touched down in Sacramento from leaving Texas, ma'am. 77 00:03:29,934 --> 00:03:31,333 -[Judy] February. -Yes, ma'am. 78 00:03:31,400 --> 00:03:35,400 So, they've been living with their paternal grandmother for almost a year. 79 00:03:35,466 --> 00:03:37,400 -Yes. -And she lives in Sacramento. 80 00:03:37,466 --> 00:03:39,466 -[Janet] Yes, ma'am. -And what do you do? 81 00:03:39,533 --> 00:03:41,700 For work? I'm a server at Denny's. 82 00:03:41,767 --> 00:03:44,500 [Judy] What did you do from February until August? 83 00:03:44,567 --> 00:03:46,900 February to August I looked for work. I've been homeless. 84 00:03:46,966 --> 00:03:50,600 I've bounced around. I've done everything I can to keep me and my kids safe. 85 00:03:50,667 --> 00:03:52,966 Because I'm in a situation due to my mother. 86 00:03:53,033 --> 00:03:55,600 [Judy] No, you're not in a situation due to your mother. 87 00:03:55,667 --> 00:03:57,600 You're in a situation due to yourself. 88 00:03:57,667 --> 00:03:59,066 -Mm-hmm. -[Judy] How old are you? 89 00:03:59,133 --> 00:04:00,500 -I'm 31. -31. 90 00:04:00,567 --> 00:04:02,967 Whatever your situation is, it's you. 91 00:04:03,033 --> 00:04:04,133 Okay. 92 00:04:04,200 --> 00:04:06,700 [Judy] Okay. Now, this is what the lawsuit is about. 93 00:04:06,767 --> 00:04:09,967 You have some rental properties. You sent your daughter a ticket 94 00:04:10,033 --> 00:04:12,033 for herself and the two children. 95 00:04:12,100 --> 00:04:15,166 Clearly, there were things going on in Sacramento, California, 96 00:04:15,233 --> 00:04:19,332 that made her staying in Sacramento at that time impossible. 97 00:04:19,399 --> 00:04:21,632 -Yeah. -[Judy] You said, come to Texas. 98 00:04:21,700 --> 00:04:23,600 -[Laretha] Yes. -[Judy] At some point, 99 00:04:23,667 --> 00:04:27,767 according to what I read, you came into her apartment. 100 00:04:27,834 --> 00:04:30,500 -It was an apartment or a house? -It was my apartment. 101 00:04:30,567 --> 00:04:33,900 In an apartment that you own but that was vacant. 102 00:04:33,967 --> 00:04:35,166 Yes. 103 00:04:35,233 --> 00:04:39,332 And you got there sort of later in the late morning, or the early afternoon? 104 00:04:39,400 --> 00:04:40,467 What time was it? 105 00:04:40,533 --> 00:04:42,367 It was around 7:00 A.M. in the morning. 106 00:04:42,433 --> 00:04:44,667 -[Judy] It couldn't have been 7:00 A.M. -Why? 107 00:04:44,734 --> 00:04:46,367 Why would it be 7:00 A.M.? 108 00:04:46,433 --> 00:04:47,667 I was going to enroll-- 109 00:04:47,734 --> 00:04:50,933 I came early in the morning to get the children to enroll them to school. 110 00:04:51,000 --> 00:04:53,900 [Judy] Fine. You got up early. When you got to the house... 111 00:04:53,967 --> 00:04:56,166 -do you remember that day? -Yes, ma'am. 112 00:04:56,233 --> 00:04:58,600 -Yeah. -[Judy] And your mother came to the house, 113 00:04:58,667 --> 00:05:02,467 and you and your two children were still sleeping. 114 00:05:02,533 --> 00:05:04,367 That was January 22nd, Your Honor. 115 00:05:04,433 --> 00:05:06,467 [Judy] Okay, 1/22. 116 00:05:06,533 --> 00:05:10,133 Do you know why your mother had come to your house on the 22nd? 117 00:05:10,200 --> 00:05:12,066 Was it to enroll your children in school? 118 00:05:12,133 --> 00:05:14,600 -Yes, ma'am. -[Judy] That's a yes or no. Yes. 119 00:05:14,667 --> 00:05:17,233 What happened next caused a kerfuffle. 120 00:05:17,300 --> 00:05:20,633 From what I read, your 13-year-old daughter 121 00:05:20,700 --> 00:05:23,300 was supposed to wake everybody up in the morning. 122 00:05:23,367 --> 00:05:24,400 No, ma'am. 123 00:05:24,467 --> 00:05:28,500 [Judy] Let me see what it says in your answer. Maybe I'm wrong. 124 00:05:28,567 --> 00:05:31,433 "One morning, my mother came and woke us up 125 00:05:31,500 --> 00:05:35,033 as we had overslept. I knew my oldest daughter 126 00:05:35,100 --> 00:05:38,500 was on the phone all night and didn't charge her phone, 127 00:05:38,567 --> 00:05:41,332 so her alarm didn't go off to wake us." 128 00:05:41,400 --> 00:05:43,900 -That's what you wrote in your answer. -Mm-hmm. Yes, ma'am. 129 00:05:43,967 --> 00:05:45,900 -[Judy] Is that true? -Yes. 130 00:05:45,967 --> 00:05:49,166 -Okay, so, that's what I said. -I'm sorry. 131 00:05:49,233 --> 00:05:52,200 I wouldn't give my 13-year-old a responsibility to wake me, grown mother, 132 00:05:52,266 --> 00:05:54,500 up for her to get up for school. No, ma'am. 133 00:05:54,567 --> 00:05:58,834 Well, what I'm reading is what you wrote and swore to. 134 00:05:58,900 --> 00:06:01,500 -Yes. Okay. -[Judy] Let me read it again to you. 135 00:06:01,567 --> 00:06:04,333 "One morning, my mother came and woke us up 136 00:06:04,400 --> 00:06:08,033 as we had overslept. I knew my oldest daughter 137 00:06:08,100 --> 00:06:11,800 was on the phone all night and didn't charge her phone 138 00:06:11,867 --> 00:06:14,567 so her alarm didn't go off to wake us up." 139 00:06:14,633 --> 00:06:17,066 That's what you wrote. That's what you swore to. 140 00:06:17,133 --> 00:06:20,867 The next line was, "I admit I was upset with her." 141 00:06:20,934 --> 00:06:22,066 That's what you wrote. 142 00:06:22,133 --> 00:06:25,667 -"And I gave her a disciplinary whooping." -Mm-hmm. 143 00:06:25,734 --> 00:06:28,934 Is anything that you wrote there untrue? 144 00:06:29,000 --> 00:06:30,033 No. 145 00:06:30,100 --> 00:06:31,767 -[Judy] So, that's all true? -Yes. 146 00:06:31,834 --> 00:06:35,834 So, what's true is that your 13-year-old 147 00:06:35,900 --> 00:06:37,300 was supposed to wake you up-- 148 00:06:37,367 --> 00:06:38,700 Was not supposed to wake me. 149 00:06:38,767 --> 00:06:41,600 That's what you wrote. I don't want you to speak. 150 00:06:41,667 --> 00:06:42,933 Okay, Your Honor. 151 00:06:43,000 --> 00:06:47,800 And you say, "I admit I was upset with her." 152 00:06:47,867 --> 00:06:51,667 So, you were upset with your 13-year-old for not waking you up. 153 00:06:51,734 --> 00:06:54,533 No, for being on that phone after she was not supposed to. 154 00:06:54,600 --> 00:06:57,734 It was on the charger when I went to bed because I knew we had to get up. 155 00:06:57,800 --> 00:07:01,667 And I know how my mother is, and she's very overreactive and dramatic 156 00:07:01,734 --> 00:07:04,900 and I knew she'd be upset if we were not up and ready. 157 00:07:04,967 --> 00:07:07,400 When me and my daughter and my son went to bed, 158 00:07:07,467 --> 00:07:10,467 my daughter played sleep, got back up, she jumps on her phone. 159 00:07:10,533 --> 00:07:14,467 She used it all night. When morning come, I wake up about 9:00 A.M., 160 00:07:14,533 --> 00:07:16,834 the phone is dead, off dead, zero percent dead. 161 00:07:16,900 --> 00:07:19,266 That means, you never put it back on the charger, 162 00:07:19,332 --> 00:07:21,500 you got up and used it without permission. 163 00:07:21,567 --> 00:07:26,300 So, I would like you to tell me what a disciplinary whooping is to you. 164 00:07:26,367 --> 00:07:29,667 Let's be careful because that's what started this all. 165 00:07:29,734 --> 00:07:33,066 Describe to me a disciplinary whooping 166 00:07:33,133 --> 00:07:35,667 for not putting the phone back on the charger. 167 00:07:35,734 --> 00:07:37,900 [theme music playing] 168 00:07:37,967 --> 00:07:39,133 -Don't speak. -Okay. 169 00:07:39,200 --> 00:07:40,767 -[Judy] You think I'm your child? -No. 170 00:07:40,834 --> 00:07:42,600 You can't give me a disciplinary whooping. 171 00:07:42,667 --> 00:07:45,133 I guarantee you, I can give you a tongue whooping. 172 00:07:45,200 --> 00:07:47,332 But you can't give me a disciplinary whooping 173 00:07:47,400 --> 00:07:50,133 for not putting my phone back in the cradle. 174 00:07:50,200 --> 00:07:51,467 Idiot. 175 00:07:51,533 --> 00:07:53,000 Yeah, oh. Ooph. 176 00:07:56,200 --> 00:07:58,900 [theme music playing] 177 00:08:02,633 --> 00:08:07,066 [narrator] Laretha Jackson claims her daughter, Janet Harris, 178 00:08:07,133 --> 00:08:11,734 vandalized her apartment and owes for the cost of repairs. 179 00:08:11,800 --> 00:08:16,734 Take a breath, and describe to me a disciplinary whooping 180 00:08:16,800 --> 00:08:20,834 because your daughter did not put the phone back on the charger. 181 00:08:20,900 --> 00:08:22,633 -Ready? -[Judy] Yes, I'm ready. 182 00:08:22,700 --> 00:08:26,300 So, I popped her on her legs because she has a brain aneurysm. 183 00:08:26,367 --> 00:08:28,600 Yes, ma'am, my daughter has a brain aneurysm. 184 00:08:28,667 --> 00:08:31,533 I don't know what you mean, "popped her on the leg." 185 00:08:31,600 --> 00:08:33,700 -Yes, I showed you. Like... -[slaps leg] 186 00:08:33,767 --> 00:08:35,933 -[Judy] So, you were hitting her. -Yes. 187 00:08:36,000 --> 00:08:37,600 How many times did you hit her? 188 00:08:37,667 --> 00:08:41,100 Maybe three. Three, maybe three. Four, maybe four. 189 00:08:41,165 --> 00:08:43,400 -[Judy] Maybe three. -Max. 190 00:08:43,467 --> 00:08:45,600 [Judy] And your mother interfered with that. 191 00:08:45,667 --> 00:08:46,800 [Janet] No, ma'am. 192 00:08:46,867 --> 00:08:48,667 [Judy] Well, let me read on. 193 00:08:48,734 --> 00:08:50,233 Yeah, read on. 194 00:08:50,300 --> 00:08:53,800 "My mother overreacted. She grabbed my daughter 195 00:08:53,867 --> 00:08:57,533 and took her away without asking me if that was okay." 196 00:08:57,600 --> 00:08:59,867 -That's what you wrote. -[Janet] Yeah. 197 00:08:59,934 --> 00:09:01,533 Well then, what are you saying no for? 198 00:09:01,600 --> 00:09:04,533 You're saying she interfered with me chastising my daughter. 199 00:09:04,600 --> 00:09:06,700 [Judy] Yeah. You said, "My mother overreacted 200 00:09:06,767 --> 00:09:11,033 and grabbed my daughter and took her away without asking me. 201 00:09:11,100 --> 00:09:14,467 I told her to bring her back to me but she refused. 202 00:09:14,533 --> 00:09:17,967 I later found out that she tried to call CPS on me. 203 00:09:18,033 --> 00:09:20,967 After knowing what I already went through back in Sacramento, 204 00:09:21,033 --> 00:09:23,333 I couldn't believe she would do this to me." 205 00:09:23,400 --> 00:09:26,834 Did you have a problem with Child Protective Services in Sacramento? 206 00:09:26,900 --> 00:09:27,934 I did. 207 00:09:28,000 --> 00:09:30,000 [Judy] And you did involving which child? 208 00:09:30,066 --> 00:09:32,400 -[Janet] Children, yeah. -[Judy] To both children. Okay. 209 00:09:32,467 --> 00:09:35,600 [Judy] There was a case open with regard to both children. 210 00:09:35,667 --> 00:09:37,400 In what month and year? 211 00:09:37,467 --> 00:09:38,967 2019. 212 00:09:39,033 --> 00:09:43,500 Since 2019 have your children been under the supervision of Child Protective-- 213 00:09:43,567 --> 00:09:48,667 My children were under the supervision of CPS from 2019 to 2022. 214 00:09:48,734 --> 00:09:50,934 -Were they living with you or not-- -[Janet] No. 215 00:09:51,000 --> 00:09:52,200 They were in foster care. 216 00:09:52,266 --> 00:09:54,800 They were in foster care? You see where I'm going, right? 217 00:09:54,867 --> 00:09:58,000 -They were in foster care from '19 to '22. -Mm-hmm. 218 00:09:58,066 --> 00:10:00,567 -[Judy] Then, they came to live with you. -Mm-hmm. 219 00:10:00,633 --> 00:10:03,533 [Judy] And then, there was enough tumult for you to say, 220 00:10:03,600 --> 00:10:07,300 "I can't stay in Sacramento anymore," and you went to Texas. 221 00:10:07,367 --> 00:10:09,633 Now, you went to Texas and... 222 00:10:09,700 --> 00:10:13,867 Your mother is gonna say, there's a pop and there's a something else. 223 00:10:13,934 --> 00:10:17,633 And she was going to report you to CPS. 224 00:10:17,700 --> 00:10:20,367 But did. Very much did. CPS knocked on the door. 225 00:10:20,433 --> 00:10:23,533 -Great! That sounds perfect to me. -Yes, ma'am. Very much did. 226 00:10:23,600 --> 00:10:27,633 [Judy] Just a second. That sounds exactly like what's supposed to happen. 227 00:10:27,700 --> 00:10:29,967 -Yeah, mm-hmm. -[Judy] You have a three-year period 228 00:10:30,033 --> 00:10:32,867 when you're under the supervision of Child Protective Services 229 00:10:32,934 --> 00:10:35,100 for something. And it's gotta be something serious-- 230 00:10:35,165 --> 00:10:37,633 I'm not under supervision of Child Protective Services at all, ma'am. 231 00:10:37,700 --> 00:10:41,333 You just told me that you were under supervision from '19 to '22. 232 00:10:41,400 --> 00:10:43,033 Would you read that back? 233 00:10:43,100 --> 00:10:44,367 [Janet] Twenty twenty-four. 234 00:10:44,433 --> 00:10:45,667 -Don't speak. -[Janet] Okay. 235 00:10:45,734 --> 00:10:49,033 You think I'm your child? You can't give me a disciplinary whooping. 236 00:10:49,100 --> 00:10:51,600 I guarantee you, I can give you a tongue whooping. 237 00:10:51,667 --> 00:10:53,700 But you can't give me a disciplinary whooping 238 00:10:53,767 --> 00:10:56,165 for not putting my phone back in the cradle. 239 00:10:56,233 --> 00:10:57,600 Idiot. 240 00:10:57,667 --> 00:10:59,400 Yeah. Oh. Ooph! 241 00:10:59,467 --> 00:11:04,533 She says, "My children were under the supervision from 2019 to 2022. 242 00:11:04,600 --> 00:11:06,433 -2022. -[Janet] Mm-hmm. 243 00:11:06,500 --> 00:11:11,533 Now, a year or so later, your mother was either going to call them, or call them, 244 00:11:11,600 --> 00:11:15,700 because you were disciplining your child by hitting her 245 00:11:15,767 --> 00:11:19,800 for not putting the phone back on the charger. 246 00:11:19,867 --> 00:11:23,700 That's what you just testified to. I just want to make sure we're all clear. 247 00:11:23,767 --> 00:11:24,800 Yes, ma'am. 248 00:11:24,867 --> 00:11:27,333 Anyway, your mother took your daughter, she wouldn't give her back. 249 00:11:27,567 --> 00:11:31,266 Ultimately, you got her back. And she went to the house, 250 00:11:31,333 --> 00:11:34,867 and you had split. Probably went back to Sacramento. 251 00:11:34,934 --> 00:11:39,433 And this was all within how much time? One day? Two days? 252 00:11:39,500 --> 00:11:41,433 I don't know what time you're talking about, ma'am. 253 00:11:41,500 --> 00:11:42,767 Can you be more specific? 254 00:11:42,834 --> 00:11:45,400 [Judy] The day we're talking about is January 22nd. 255 00:11:45,467 --> 00:11:50,000 When did you go back to Sacramento? A day later, two days later, three days-- 256 00:11:50,066 --> 00:11:54,266 Nah, like four. I went back to Sacramento the day that CPS came to the house. 257 00:11:54,333 --> 00:11:56,165 Is the day I left the house. 258 00:11:56,233 --> 00:12:00,133 It is your claim that your daughter vandalized your property when she left. 259 00:12:00,200 --> 00:12:01,233 Yes. 260 00:12:01,300 --> 00:12:04,033 Do you know what date you came to the apartment 261 00:12:04,100 --> 00:12:05,800 where she was formerly living? 262 00:12:05,867 --> 00:12:08,667 [Laretha] February 3rd. That's when she got her check. 263 00:12:08,734 --> 00:12:10,266 [Judy] What check are you talking about? 264 00:12:10,333 --> 00:12:15,000 Her government assistance check she gets from the county for the children. 265 00:12:15,066 --> 00:12:18,133 She gets a check on the 3rd. That's when she gets her money. 266 00:12:18,200 --> 00:12:22,367 What I'm asking you, madam, is, first, I want you to describe 267 00:12:22,433 --> 00:12:27,767 how your daughter was hitting your granddaughter on January 22nd. 268 00:12:27,834 --> 00:12:29,200 And why you took her. 269 00:12:29,266 --> 00:12:30,767 -Well... -[Judy] What are you smiling at? 270 00:12:30,834 --> 00:12:32,800 -I'm just, um-- -[taps on bench] 271 00:12:32,867 --> 00:12:35,800 I asked you a simple question. I want you to describe-- 272 00:12:35,867 --> 00:12:39,600 Well, she was hitting her in her head, you know, she was hitting-- 273 00:12:39,667 --> 00:12:41,767 Ma'am, my daughter has a brain aneurysm. 274 00:12:41,834 --> 00:12:43,533 That's a lie. She'd be dead right now. 275 00:12:43,600 --> 00:12:45,667 [Judy] Just a second. I don't want to hear from you. 276 00:12:45,734 --> 00:12:48,367 She was socking her in her head, and stuff like that, 277 00:12:48,433 --> 00:12:50,300 and hitting her in her body, up here. 278 00:12:50,367 --> 00:12:52,233 And she hit her a couple times on the head. 279 00:12:52,300 --> 00:12:55,533 And I started yelling, "Stop, stop hitting her, stop." 280 00:12:55,600 --> 00:12:57,934 Then she told me, "I'll do something to you. 281 00:12:58,000 --> 00:13:00,700 I'll get you." Like, she coulda jump on me. 282 00:13:00,767 --> 00:13:05,033 So, I was like, "No." So then, she told her, "Get your stuff, go. 283 00:13:05,100 --> 00:13:07,600 Go with your grandma." She told her to come with me. 284 00:13:07,667 --> 00:13:10,700 [Judy] When did you let your granddaughter go back to her mother? 285 00:13:10,767 --> 00:13:12,967 I brought her back the next day, Your Honor. 286 00:13:13,033 --> 00:13:15,633 -The next morning. -[Judy] So, on January 23rd. 287 00:13:15,700 --> 00:13:16,834 [Laretha] Yeah. 288 00:13:16,900 --> 00:13:20,200 [Judy] Were the children ever enrolled in school in Texas? 289 00:13:20,266 --> 00:13:21,300 No. 290 00:13:21,367 --> 00:13:24,934 According to you, you left in the beginning of February. 291 00:13:25,000 --> 00:13:28,867 Could you explain to me why your children weren't enrolled in school? 292 00:13:28,934 --> 00:13:31,467 When I got there, I was supposed to get help from them 293 00:13:31,533 --> 00:13:33,700 to get to certain places to get things done, 294 00:13:33,767 --> 00:13:36,467 and when everything started going bad, I started making rearrangements 295 00:13:36,533 --> 00:13:39,734 to get out of there. There was no point in putting them in school there 296 00:13:39,800 --> 00:13:41,066 because we were leaving. 297 00:13:41,133 --> 00:13:43,400 -That's why. -[Judy] Okay. All right. 298 00:13:43,467 --> 00:13:48,200 When did you decide that there was something that wasn't going right there? 299 00:13:48,266 --> 00:13:50,834 Was that before or after January 22nd? 300 00:13:50,900 --> 00:13:52,100 Before. 301 00:13:52,165 --> 00:13:54,467 [Judy] Okay. So, you knew before the incident 302 00:13:54,533 --> 00:13:56,734 when your mother came and woke everybody up 303 00:13:56,800 --> 00:13:59,066 and the phone didn't get back on the charger, 304 00:13:59,133 --> 00:14:03,600 that things weren't going well and you were going to go back to California. 305 00:14:03,667 --> 00:14:06,166 What rubbed me wrong and made me want to go back 306 00:14:06,233 --> 00:14:08,867 was my mother asking me to give her full custody of my kids 307 00:14:08,934 --> 00:14:11,367 so she could put them on her Section 8 and get a bigger house 308 00:14:11,433 --> 00:14:13,133 and I can go live my life. 309 00:14:13,200 --> 00:14:14,567 That is a lie, Your Honor. 310 00:14:14,633 --> 00:14:17,734 [Judy] Just a second. Her children are with their other grandmother now. 311 00:14:17,800 --> 00:14:19,800 No, they're here with me. They're here. 312 00:14:19,867 --> 00:14:21,567 I thought you said that the children were-- 313 00:14:21,633 --> 00:14:23,700 -[Janet] I said they live with her. -They live with her. 314 00:14:23,767 --> 00:14:25,467 Yeah. They're here with me. 315 00:14:25,533 --> 00:14:27,367 -Why don't you have a seat. -[Janet] Me? 316 00:14:27,433 --> 00:14:29,233 Both of you. 317 00:14:29,300 --> 00:14:32,367 I'm going to see her 13-year-old daughter in Chambers. 318 00:14:32,433 --> 00:14:33,667 [Janet] Thank you. 319 00:14:33,734 --> 00:14:35,500 [theme music playing] 320 00:14:35,567 --> 00:14:40,000 I want you to tell me what money you were talking about 321 00:14:40,066 --> 00:14:44,500 in your text to her, when you say, I'm just trying to get you your money. 322 00:14:47,667 --> 00:14:50,900 [theme music playing] 323 00:14:54,333 --> 00:14:59,033 [narrator] Laretha Jackson has accused her daughter, Janet Harris, 324 00:14:59,100 --> 00:15:03,700 of refusing to pay for damages after vandalizing her apartment. 325 00:15:03,767 --> 00:15:07,300 In her chambers, Janet's 13-year-old daughter 326 00:15:07,367 --> 00:15:10,433 was recently interviewed by Judge Judy Sheindlin. 327 00:15:11,900 --> 00:15:15,100 Okay. What you're suing her for is vandalism to the apartment. 328 00:15:15,166 --> 00:15:18,100 Can I see pictures of the apartment when she moved out? 329 00:15:29,333 --> 00:15:31,533 You have an estimate for the damage, please? 330 00:15:31,600 --> 00:15:34,233 Okay. So, here's the receipts for everything I spent 331 00:15:34,300 --> 00:15:39,066 on supplies and everything. I had two guys to fix my apartment. 332 00:15:44,333 --> 00:15:46,266 [Judy] How long did it take them? 333 00:15:46,333 --> 00:15:47,767 About nine hours. 334 00:15:47,834 --> 00:15:49,934 Okay. Is the apartment rented now? 335 00:15:50,000 --> 00:15:52,165 I don't live there no more, Your Honor. 336 00:15:52,233 --> 00:15:54,867 Just a second. You were living at the apartment with them? 337 00:15:54,934 --> 00:15:56,834 No. You said is the house rent-- 338 00:15:56,900 --> 00:16:00,133 This house, where she was living. 339 00:16:00,200 --> 00:16:02,133 -With the two children. -Yes. 340 00:16:02,200 --> 00:16:04,333 -[Judy] Were you living with her? -No. 341 00:16:04,400 --> 00:16:06,567 -So, it's a rental property. -[Laretha] Yes. 342 00:16:06,633 --> 00:16:08,567 I asked you if it was rented now. 343 00:16:08,633 --> 00:16:10,300 -[Laretha] Yes, yes. -To whom? 344 00:16:10,367 --> 00:16:12,600 I don't know, Your Honor, I moved out. 345 00:16:12,667 --> 00:16:15,467 After the apartment got fixed and everything, I moved out. 346 00:16:15,533 --> 00:16:17,867 I moved out and they rented to someone else. 347 00:16:17,934 --> 00:16:21,734 It's an apartment building, Your Honor. I don't own it, I was just renting. 348 00:16:21,800 --> 00:16:25,400 My lease was just up in May. I moved out in May, Your Honor. 349 00:16:25,467 --> 00:16:28,867 Are you telling me you lived in the same apartment building as she did? 350 00:16:28,934 --> 00:16:33,900 No, ma'am. I'm saying, I was staying somewhere else, Your Honor. 351 00:16:33,967 --> 00:16:36,133 I was staying somewhere else, Your Honor. 352 00:16:36,200 --> 00:16:38,266 -Let's be clear. -[Laretha] Okay. 353 00:16:38,333 --> 00:16:41,233 -We're gonna get back to being clear. -Okay. 354 00:16:41,300 --> 00:16:45,033 -[Judy] That's your apartment. -Yes, ma'am. Yes. 355 00:16:45,100 --> 00:16:48,567 Not real estate that you own, it's a rental apartment. 356 00:16:48,633 --> 00:16:51,033 -That you had a lease on? -[Laretha] Yes. 357 00:16:51,100 --> 00:16:52,300 For how long? 358 00:16:52,367 --> 00:16:53,900 It was a one-year lease. 359 00:16:53,967 --> 00:16:55,500 And where were you living? 360 00:16:55,567 --> 00:16:59,934 I had to get me another apartment because I had an incident there. 361 00:17:00,066 --> 00:17:03,333 When I moved to that apartment, the apartment wasn't up to standards. 362 00:17:03,400 --> 00:17:07,266 Okay. And the manager there at that apartment unit 363 00:17:07,333 --> 00:17:10,567 had a friend of hers file a false police report on me. 364 00:17:10,633 --> 00:17:13,266 So, I was ordered not to be there. 365 00:17:13,333 --> 00:17:15,867 I couldn't even go to my own apartment, Your Honor. 366 00:17:15,934 --> 00:17:19,500 I couldn't go to my own apartment. I don't know if I can say this on record, 367 00:17:19,567 --> 00:17:22,666 but yes, I did have a, you know, a suit against her 368 00:17:22,733 --> 00:17:27,000 for filing a false police report on me. I was found not guilty. 369 00:17:27,066 --> 00:17:30,000 -[Judy] You're talking about the landlord? -The manager, yes. 370 00:17:30,066 --> 00:17:32,300 You're talking about the manager or the landlord? 371 00:17:32,367 --> 00:17:33,967 [Laretha] I'm talking about the landlord. 372 00:17:34,033 --> 00:17:36,467 I'd like to see something from the landlord. 373 00:17:36,734 --> 00:17:42,300 A bill for this vandalism that someone did to this apartment. 374 00:17:42,367 --> 00:17:47,000 Your Honor, I cleared that apartment and got that apartment fixed, okay. 375 00:17:47,066 --> 00:17:48,934 They didn't even know. 376 00:17:49,000 --> 00:17:51,100 Just a second. Did you move back in? 377 00:17:51,166 --> 00:17:54,633 No. I paid the rent up and finished my lease off. 378 00:17:54,700 --> 00:17:58,800 So, that apartment was vacant when you told your daughter 379 00:17:58,867 --> 00:18:01,166 she could move in because you moved out 380 00:18:01,233 --> 00:18:03,800 because there was a suit involving the building manager. 381 00:18:03,867 --> 00:18:04,934 Yes, ma'am. 382 00:18:05,000 --> 00:18:09,934 [Judy] Miss Harris, do you have any idea how this apartment was vandalized? 383 00:18:10,000 --> 00:18:11,433 No, ma'am. 384 00:18:11,500 --> 00:18:14,133 And on what date did you leave the apartment? 385 00:18:14,200 --> 00:18:18,567 It had to be, like, January 31st or February 1st. 386 00:18:18,633 --> 00:18:23,100 One of those two days I was gone already because I was gonna get paid soon. 387 00:18:23,166 --> 00:18:24,300 Paid from what? 388 00:18:24,367 --> 00:18:26,300 From the government. The money she's talking about. 389 00:18:26,367 --> 00:18:28,500 She only came on the 3rd, she wanted some money. 390 00:18:28,567 --> 00:18:32,467 I just want you to understand, that's not pay. Pay is when you work. 391 00:18:32,533 --> 00:18:35,867 Okay, regardless, she's talking about when you get some money... 392 00:18:35,934 --> 00:18:37,900 [Judy] When you get your government check. 393 00:18:37,967 --> 00:18:40,233 Yeah. That's what she's talking about. 394 00:18:40,300 --> 00:18:45,767 I want you to see. She admitted that she's gonna, um, tear up my apartment. 395 00:18:45,834 --> 00:18:47,867 You want me to read it or you want read it? 396 00:18:47,934 --> 00:18:49,967 -I want to read it. -[Laretha] Okay. 397 00:18:50,033 --> 00:18:55,367 Right here, she said, "I'm about to get you..." that right... mm-hmm. 398 00:18:55,433 --> 00:18:58,367 Mm-hmm. She texted me back and forth, Your Honor. 399 00:18:58,433 --> 00:19:00,834 She was threatening to tear my apartment up already. 400 00:19:00,900 --> 00:19:03,467 [Judy] I don't want you to speak to each other! 401 00:19:03,533 --> 00:19:05,000 She's talking to you. 402 00:19:05,066 --> 00:19:07,333 -[Judy] Both of you! -She ain't talking to me. 403 00:19:07,400 --> 00:19:09,300 Who are you having this conversation with 404 00:19:09,367 --> 00:19:12,133 where you say, "I'm just trying to help you get your money"? 405 00:19:12,200 --> 00:19:14,066 Yeah, she said-- She text me-- 406 00:19:14,133 --> 00:19:15,367 [Judy] Shh! 407 00:19:15,433 --> 00:19:17,667 I don't know why she text me-- Okay. 408 00:19:19,734 --> 00:19:20,834 [whispers] What's that about? 409 00:19:20,900 --> 00:19:23,033 Only thing I could do to help her was show up. 410 00:19:23,100 --> 00:19:26,300 If I show up and if she wins, then that's help. 411 00:19:26,367 --> 00:19:30,033 Now, I want you-- Stand up, don't lean over. 412 00:19:30,100 --> 00:19:33,100 I have hearing loss. If I'm doing this, it's 'cause I can't hear you. 413 00:19:33,166 --> 00:19:34,934 She can vouch for that. I can't hear you. 414 00:19:35,000 --> 00:19:37,200 I understand hearing loss, but I do understand 415 00:19:37,266 --> 00:19:39,367 that you're leaning over for a different reason. 416 00:19:39,433 --> 00:19:43,767 I want you to tell me what money you were talking about 417 00:19:43,834 --> 00:19:48,600 in your text to her when you say, "I'm just trying to get you your money." 418 00:19:48,667 --> 00:19:50,967 Money for what? 419 00:19:51,033 --> 00:19:53,567 For whatever she thought she was suing me for. 420 00:19:53,633 --> 00:19:56,200 I didn't have a counterclaim, I have no issue. 421 00:19:56,266 --> 00:19:59,934 I came here for closure. After this day, this woman will never see us again. 422 00:20:00,000 --> 00:20:02,767 That's why I'm here. You want me to show up or not. 423 00:20:02,834 --> 00:20:04,900 I'm missing work, I'm taking days off, 424 00:20:04,967 --> 00:20:07,266 trying to schedule plane tickets and all of this. 425 00:20:07,333 --> 00:20:10,100 I don't have time for that. I've got my own life, my own kids, 426 00:20:10,166 --> 00:20:12,066 and I'm dealing with what I'm dealing with. 427 00:20:12,133 --> 00:20:15,066 If you want help to get whatever you're trying to get, 428 00:20:15,133 --> 00:20:17,633 I'm supposed to show up, she's supposed to get an appearance. 429 00:20:17,700 --> 00:20:20,266 I don't need the appearance. Give it to her, she needs it. 430 00:20:20,333 --> 00:20:22,533 Like that, that's exactly where I'm at with it. 431 00:20:22,600 --> 00:20:24,700 -[Judy] Great! -Yeah. 432 00:20:24,767 --> 00:20:28,667 Great, this case is now resolved. You getting an appearance fee? 433 00:20:28,734 --> 00:20:30,700 -Yes. -[Judy] How much? 434 00:20:30,767 --> 00:20:32,734 -No, no. -Yes, you are. 435 00:20:32,800 --> 00:20:34,700 -You know you are. -[Janet] Hm! 436 00:20:34,767 --> 00:20:37,266 -[Judy] So are you. -I don't even need it. 437 00:20:37,333 --> 00:20:39,100 -How much was the appearance-- -[Janet] $500. 438 00:20:39,166 --> 00:20:41,633 Five-hundred. So you were getting $500? 439 00:20:41,700 --> 00:20:43,767 -You're gonna give that to your mother? -I will. 440 00:20:43,834 --> 00:20:46,867 Very good. That covers the expense of cleaning up the graffiti. 441 00:20:46,934 --> 00:20:49,066 -We are done. -[Janet] Thank you! 442 00:20:49,133 --> 00:20:50,567 [Kevin] This court is adjourned. 443 00:20:50,633 --> 00:20:54,133 [theme music playing] 444 00:20:54,200 --> 00:20:57,433 My mom came here, she's trying to get some money for her apartment. 445 00:20:57,500 --> 00:20:59,367 I didn't damage it, squatters damaged it. 446 00:20:59,433 --> 00:21:01,233 That's a lie, there's no squatters nowhere. 447 00:21:01,300 --> 00:21:04,500 Like I said, the best I can do for you is $500. Take it. 448 00:21:04,567 --> 00:21:06,567 I bought her plane tickets to fly out here. 449 00:21:06,633 --> 00:21:10,433 We had a verbal agreement that she's gonna pay me back, and she didn't pay me. 450 00:21:10,500 --> 00:21:12,600 Greed is her thing. She wanted a bigger house. 451 00:21:12,667 --> 00:21:15,233 She wanted my kids to be on her Section 8 housing, 452 00:21:15,300 --> 00:21:17,934 so she could get a house and get out of the apartment. 453 00:21:18,000 --> 00:21:20,266 That's a lie. She's lying. 454 00:21:20,333 --> 00:21:24,200 I haven't been in my mom's care since I was ten years old. I'm 31. 455 00:21:24,266 --> 00:21:26,433 She can stay over there and I'm stay over here. 456 00:21:26,500 --> 00:21:28,900 I came here for my closure. I came here, 457 00:21:28,967 --> 00:21:32,800 it's the last time I'm gonna see and speak to you, and we're done. 458 00:21:34,667 --> 00:21:37,433 -That daughter was so lovely. -Mm-hmm. 459 00:21:37,500 --> 00:21:40,533 Very soft spoken. But clearly bounced around 460 00:21:40,600 --> 00:21:44,300 between the two grandmothers, a cousin, a friend, a girlfriend, 461 00:21:44,367 --> 00:21:46,233 and whatever. She's living with somebody else now, 462 00:21:46,300 --> 00:21:48,633 I don't know who else, a girlfriend, she said. 463 00:21:48,700 --> 00:21:51,834 But it's interesting that the defendant had been in foster care 464 00:21:51,900 --> 00:21:53,266 for most of her childhood. 465 00:21:53,333 --> 00:21:57,367 I was gonna say, it was a vicious cycle. From the time she was 8 to 18. 466 00:21:57,433 --> 00:21:58,467 Terrible. 467 00:21:58,533 --> 00:22:01,400 I just really wanted to make certain, in my own head, 468 00:22:01,467 --> 00:22:04,266 that there wasn't any active abuse going on. 469 00:22:04,333 --> 00:22:06,633 Which is really why I spoke to the girl. 470 00:22:06,700 --> 00:22:08,800 I think that was necessary and called for. 471 00:22:08,867 --> 00:22:11,233 It doesn't appear that there was. 472 00:22:12,967 --> 00:22:14,967 [narrator] Are you having a family dispute? 473 00:22:15,033 --> 00:22:16,900 Go to JudyJustice.tv. 474 00:22:21,300 --> 00:22:24,100 [theme music playing]