What did you go into her room for?
To have a conversation.
When she pushed through, she started attacking me.
How many times did she hit you?
I would say around 10 to 15 times.
You went in there angry.
I was in her face. However, I never laid my hands on her.
You know how I believe that? Zero.
Zero.
[narrator] This is Judy Justice.
[narrator] Previously, on Judy Justice...
And tell me what happened.
So, on August 7th, I came home,
and whenever I opened the door, she's there standing there.
And she got aggressive, and she grabbed my hair,
and she pulled me from the laundry room to the kitchen.
And you ask her on the 7th to move out.
-Yes, after that. Yes, Your Honor. -[Judy] Yes.
I don't know what your lawsuit is about.
Is it about damaged property?
Yes. Yes, Your Honor.
-What property? -My house. When she--
[Judy] Just a second. She didn't damage your whole house.
You talk about taking out the window screen. Did you take out the screen?
-I did. -In order to smoke weed?
No.
What was the reason you remove it? Because you--
Don't speak to her.
[narrator] And now, the conclusion.
Ofelia Gutierrez is suing her former tenant,
Ashley Chavez, for property damage and breaching their rental agreement.
Do you have a bill, if it required fixing, to fix this screen?
-Yeah. -[Judy] I'll take a look at it.
It's on this. It should be on this quote.
Return this to her. I don't have time to be annoyed with this.
Take a line and show me with a pen
something about replacing a screen or fixing a window,
if it had to be fixed.
Madam, did you just circle "owner supplied lavatory faucet pop-up"?
This has to do with a bathroom.
Well, that's what the company gave me, Your Honor.
They put everything in writing and gave me a quote.
If they put everything, there should be something here about a screen.
What you circled had to do with a toilet.
Okay, arson. Is the arson that you're talking about
the alleged fire that started in the bathroom?
No, ma'am. The one when she take out the window screen.
[Judy] Okay, well, tell me about that fire.
I noticed one of my daughters, she told me, "I smell something burnt."
She text me.
So, I went upstairs to check. I knocked on her door.
And there was smoke coming out of the door.
I keep knocking. She doesn't want to open it.
And I'm like, "Is everything okay? Something is burning."
When she opened it, there was a lot of smoke in the room.
And I'm like, "What are you guys doing?"
She's like, "Oh, I leave a plate by accident next to a candle."
I'm like, "This is too much smoke." So, my alarm went off.
And she told me that it was a paper plate.
What were you burning in the room?
I wasn't burning anything. So pretty much what I had was a candle.
And then, there was, it wasn't a paper plate,
it was Styrofoam, right? And I guess it got too close
and it burnt up, I'm not too sure. But it was not enough
to cause any smoke or anything like that.
As a result of that clear accident,
did any part of your room suffer any damage?
Only the window, not on my room. The window that's part of the--
[Judy] The window... the screen.
Okay. Well, I don't have an invoice for the screen.
All right, well, we're finished with your claim.
Unless you want to talk about... what unpaid utility bill?
We have an agreement, verbal agreement when she move in
that she's gonna stay only for a few months, the max.
And if she's planning to stay more, she will have to help with the bills.
And obviously, I make it clear after a month,
when I noticed that she was bringing her boyfriend over
and they were using 24/7 my laundry room, and the electricity.
I work all day, my kids go to school all day...
Don't go off on tributaries. You're telling me
that she used more utilities after a couple of months,
and she didn't pay any extra.
Yes, Your Honor.
-Did she give you any money for utilities? -No.
[Judy] Do you remember having a conversation about utilities?
We never had any conversation about utilities.
Did you have a conversation with her about how much specifically,
in dollars, she was supposed to give you in addition to $400 in rent for utilities?
I told her that we can split it maybe a quarter,
because you know, we're probably 300 a month.
But she didn't say anything.
[Judy] So, you had no contract with her.
We don't have no contract--
[Judy] No, you didn't have a contract, even a verbal one.
You said, I want this. She didn't answer you.
-That's not a contract. -Yeah.
[Judy] And you continued to take her rent
for the next three months, of $400.
Because she keeps telling me that she's looking for a place.
Okay, good. She did unlawfully evict you.
Yes, ma'am, she did.
No, you left by yourself.
[Judy] Don't, don't talk to her, madam.
I read what you gave me. I read the conversation
that caused your daughter to come into the room
and to have a confrontation with her because she didn't like the way
she was talking to your mother in text messages.
-Isn't that right? -Yes, Your Honor.
[Jacob] Your Honor?
We also have video evidence.
And you also told her she had to be out in the text the next day.
She kept saying, I'm paid 'til the 13th.
You said, you gotta be out today. That's an unlawful eviction.
Your Honor, I'd like to interrupt and say that a peace officer did call her,
and she said she would no longer be staying there.
[Judy] That's okay. Her landlord told her
she had to be out by the next morning.
Now, you wanted to say something?
Yes, we have video evidence right after the assault.
And um, she also has--
I haven't heard about an assault yet. I'm getting to it.
Yes, ma'am.
They kept trying to get in my room while I had it locked after the attack--
Why did you go into her room?
Because I was also retaliating against her.
-[Judy] Did you put your hands on her? -Yes, Your Honor.
Now I'll see your video.
[narrator] And later today...
After the fight, I got shot a couple of months later.
When had you borrowed the money from her? After or before that?
The second money was after I got shot.
How much money did you put on her card?
How much money did he put on your card?
[narrator] Ofelia Gutierrez claims her former tenant,
Ashley Chavez, damaged the bedroom and bathroom she was renting.
Ashley is countersuing for damages after Ofelia's daughters assaulted her.
Now, you said that just prior to your leaving,
you had a confrontation with one of her daughters.
[Ashley] Yes, ma'am.
[Judy] Is that the assault you're talking about?
-Yes, ma'am. -[Judy] Want to tell me what happened?
So, pretty much, she knocked on my door like I said three times.
That's when I finally opened the door.
And then, she started just arguing with me about the messages.
-Just telling me like, "Oh--" -Stand up.
So, pretty much, I just, I was like, "I'm not gonna argue with you."
What did you go into her room for?
To have a conversation.
-[Judy] You went in to talk to her. -Yes, ma'am.
[Judy] About what?
About what she was telling my mother.
About a conversation you didn't approve of that she was having with your mother.
Yes, Your Honor.
And you were annoyed about the tone of these messages
back and forth with your mother.
-They were aggravating your mother. -Yes, Your Honor.
[Judy] That's all the reason you went in there.
-You went in there angry. -Yes, Your Honor.
Okay. You want to tell me if you put your hands on her?
She kicked me first.
[Judy] What did you do?
I retaliated because she put her hands on me first.
-How? -Physically.
[Judy] Physically, how did she put her hands on you first?
-She kicked me. -[Judy] Where?
-In the stomach. -Make me a verbal picture
how it came about that she kicked you in the stomach.
Because I was in her face. However, I never laid my hands on her.
[Judy] What do you mean, you were in her face?
Was she sitting or standing?
Standing.
When you got into her face,
I want your mother to turn around to look at you. Turn around.
All the way around, look at each other. You're in her face.
Now, I want you to show me your interpretation of being in your face.
I'd say this is quite accurate
because it's physically how close I was to her.
[Judy] And what were you saying?
Why would you say that?
Yeah, turn around. You know how I believe that? Zero.
Zero.
And then, what did you do to her?
She kicked me first because I was in her face.
And what did you do to her?
Retaliated.
[Judy] How?
Using my fists.
[Judy] What did you do?
-[Martina] Punched her. -[Judy] How many times?
I'm unsure, but it was around ten seconds.
How many times did she hit you?
Um, so, can I just explain how it happened?
Okay, so, pretty much, she kept arguing with me.
So, I wasn't gonna argue back. I closed the door.
And that's when she pushed through. And once she pushed through,
she was already in my room, and she started attacking me.
She pushed me on the bed, and that's when I kicked her,
because I was already being attacked, pretty much. I was just defending myself.
She also started punching me, I would say around 10 to 15 times.
Her sister also jumped in.
I was trying to fight both of them at the same time
while I'm being pinned down on the bed.
And then, after the attack, they left their phones in the room.
And I told them I was gonna call the cops.
And they kept trying to get in my room while I already had it locked
-after the attacks. -[Judy] Why did you go into her room?
Because I was also retaliating against her.
[Judy] When you got into the room, you went in after your sister?
-Yes, Your Honor. -[Judy] Did you put your hands on her?
Yes, Your Honor.
Now you can sit.
Now I'll see your video.
[Ashley speaking]
[Martina speaking]
[Ashley speaking]
-[Martina speaking] -[Ashley speaking]
[Martina speaking]
[Ashley speaking]
[Martina speaking]
[Ashley speaking]
[Martina speaking]
[Ashley speaking]
-[Martina speaking] -[Ashley speaking]
Were you trying to get in the door while she was holding it closed?
Yes, ma'am.
[chuckles dryly]
I don't know if you caught it, but when she said,
"You already put your hands on me, stay out," they said, "Exactly."
So, admitting that they put their hands on her.
-Thank you. -Mm-hmm.
Were you treated at all for your injuries?
Um, no.
[Judy] Did you take any photographs of your injuries?
The cops did, but I wasn't able to retrieve them.
On the original claim which seeks $6,496 for property damage,
arson, breach of an agreement and unpaid utility bills,
that case is dismissed in its entirety.
On the counterclaim, which seeks $914.57
for an unlawful eviction, a lot of other things,
but in addition to the unlawful eviction to an assault,
I actually think that figure that she fixed is low of $914.50,
but she's fixed the figure, and that's what I'm awarding her.
On the counterclaim, $914.50. We are finished, step out.
[Kevin] This court is adjourned.
She was not following the rules at home.
And she caused damages, that's the main thing.
Honestly, I was trying to wait it out until I could sign a lease legally.
So, obviously, I don't want to cause any trouble for the person that was,
I guess, in my thought process, trying to help me out.
But I guess I was wrong.
We were just trying to help this kid, but everything goes wrong.
I'm happy I'm out of that place.
I thought they helped me out, but they definitely didn't.
They made it a lot harder for me.
I think a key takeaway from that case is control.
And if you want to maintain control of your home
and things that happen inside your home, you can be an altruistic person
and want to help out a young person who's getting back on their feet,
then you let them stay in your home for free.
And that allows you to retain a portion of control.
But once you start charging rent, then landlord-tenant laws start to apply.
You can't decide, I want you out by Saturday,
or I want you out by tomorrow morning.
The second you start taking money from somebody, you lose control.
Because now they have rights. And if you get fed up with them,
and you know, house guests stays longer than they're supposed to,
you can ask them to leave, that's well within your right.
But once you start accepting money, then laws start to apply,
and you lose control to make decisions about your own home.
So, something to keep in mind.
Case 4113, McGill vs. Taylor. All parties, please come forward.
[narrator] Sharonea McGill is suing her former friend,
Adrian Taylor, for unpaid loans and unauthorized credit card charges.
Mr. Taylor, I'm gonna start with you, sir, because this is...
I hope, a relatively easy case. How do you know Miss McGill?
I met Miss Sharonea probably like the year 2021, around October.
We met on Facebook. And I guess how our relationship started,
it was like trouble bonding. 'Cause I just got out of a break-up
and she got out of a break-up, and we were real close friends.
And I say, like, moving forward, like 2022,
we got close, and we stayed friends and everything.
When you say you got close, did you ever meet?
You know, you met on Facebook. Did you ever meet in person?
-Yeah, we met in person. -[Judy] When?
We met in person at the park. Like I said, we all been best friends.
She was there for me. Like, I went through a break-up.
And she was really like, mentally helping me with that,
-or whatever. -All right, so you met on Facebook.
-Right. -[Judy] Okay.
Sarah, you have who he fought in April 2023?
-I do. -And what would that person's name be?
Cashton Young. You won.
[Judy] It's all there. It's what happens with the Internet, sir.
-That sound familiar? -Yes.
So, the 2024, you were mistaken.
Duh.
[narrator] Sharonea McGill claims her former friend,
Adrian Taylor, is responsible for multiple loans
and unauthorized credit card charges.
There came a time when you needed some money.
-Okay, so, the time-- -[Judy] So--
-Ma'am? -[Judy] That would be a yes.
-Yes, yes, right. -[Judy] You needed some money.
What did you need money for?
The money part came in 2022.
Maybe back in February or something.
I was behind on some bills.
And I asked her, "Hey, Sharonea, can you loan me this,
and I'll pay you back after I win my fight in, uh, June?"
June or July, something like that. She said, "Okay, cool."
So, then, I had--
[Judy] So, how much did she loan you?
She loaned me that time, I want to say maybe four or five hundred.
So, I paid her back.
-Mnh-mnh. -[Judy] Okay.
-Mm-mm. -[Judy] Don't say anything.
But you paid her back that money.
I paid her back the money--
Okay. You paid her back that money, that's great.
But then, you borrowed additional money from her.
Right.
[Judy] When did you borrow additional money from her?
So, the second part, when I borrowed additional money was
after the fight, I got shot a couple of months later.
Month and year.
I got shot October the 16th, to be exact, of 2022.
When had you borrowed the money from her? After or before that?
The second money was after I got shot.
Okay. And tell me, how much money did she loan you after you got shot?
So, when she gave me the card, it had zero balance.
She added me as a person on the card. It had zero balance on it.
She didn't have anything on it.
[Judy] She gave you a credit card.
She gave me a credit card, yes, ma'am.
So, in 2022, how much money did you put on this credit card?
Um, to be exact, I know for sure. It was a thousand for the card.
I know a thousand for my rent. And I know it was like a few other,
maybe like gas or something like that.
And I was using it that way. And then, after that,
she said, "Bro, I need my card back."
"Bro, you spend too much, bro." So, I ended up giving the card back.
[Judy] When did you give it back?
She came and got it back 'cause I wasn't able to walk.
Not in two thousand-- I wasn't able to walk 'til 2022.
Until 2023. So, she came and got the card from my house.
And, um, I ended up returning back to work.
Uh, 2024, was my comeback fight.
And I ended up losing that fight.
How much money did you put on her card?
How much money did he put on your card?
It was about four thousand.
I don't do "about." How much money did he put on your card?
[Sharonea] $3,947.75.
Okay. Now, you do fights, is that right?
What kind of fights?
I box for a living.
[Judy] And you box under what name?
-Montu. -Sarah, take a look.
I want you to look up Adrian Taylor.
-Boxer. -Mm-hmm.
Did you box in April of 2023?
I believe... I believe so.
[Judy] Well, that's not 2024, right?
Am I correct? He said he went back in 2024?
That's when he had a fight?
He said, "I end up returning back to work 2024 with my comeback fight."
Okay. Now, let's go back a little before that.
April 2023.
Sarah, you have who he fought in April 2023?
I do.
And what would that person's name be?
Cashton Young. You won.
On April 13th, 2023.
It's all there, sir.
You want to tell him the next time he fought and won in 2023?
That's what happens with the Internet, sir.
Well, he lost on April 27th to Pryce Taylor.
And then, on May 18th, he won against Donte White.
-[Judy] That sound familiar? -Yes.
So, the 2024, you were mistaken?
Duh.
The 2024, you were mistaken.
You went back to work in 2023, and you won.
You won again in June. That sound familiar to you?
[Adrian] Yes.
So, Mr. Taylor, if which is your defense was,
"Yes, I did tell her I would pay off this card,
which had a zero balance,
but I told her I would pay her back with my next fight."
'Cause I read this. I said well, that's a long time to be shot,
then go back to work. But you did in fact go back to work
in 2023, fought many times and won several.
So, why didn't you pay her back?
The, okay, the...
the real... [sighs]
My real intentions... I mean, I was...
Yes, I was supposed to had paid back. I reneged on my word.
Good, very good. Like it. You want to stop there?
Yeah.
Judgment for the plaintiff in the amount of $3,947.
See how easy that was?
[Kevin] This court is adjourned.
He just didn't want to do what he was gonna do.
And I won the case, and I'm satisfied.
I mean, I understand, you know. I did renege on my word, so, I'm cool with it.
After that last payment that I let him loan.
After that, then, it was like, yeah, no more.
She called me every day. But I was sending what I could send.
Enough was enough.
I just wish the best for her. Wish nothing but the best for her.
I think he realized that he got caught.
Maybe he thought his boxing matches
were some underground, secret fight club situation.
But they were all listed online, you could see.
Clearly, there was news articles about them, photos of him at the fights.
So, I think he just got caught in a little bit of a lie.
Yeah. And eventually, he just said, I reneged...
I reneged on my promise.
I reneged on my word.
-Easy. One of the easy ones. -Yeah. Certainly was.
[narrator] Have you been cheated?
Go to JudyJustice.tv.
[theme music playing]