1 00:00:00,033 --> 00:00:03,500 She says that you abandoned the cat. 2 00:00:03,567 --> 00:00:05,600 That's not true, Your Honor. We had broken up. 3 00:00:05,667 --> 00:00:08,633 You left the cat with her for well over a year. 4 00:00:08,700 --> 00:00:10,066 There were contact attempts made-- 5 00:00:10,133 --> 00:00:14,066 No, no, no. For months and months she doesn't hear from you. 6 00:00:14,133 --> 00:00:15,834 I had a family matter. 7 00:00:15,900 --> 00:00:18,467 Yeah, that doesn't do it for me, sir. Doesn't do it for me. 8 00:00:18,533 --> 00:00:20,633 [narrator] This is Judy Justice. 9 00:00:37,734 --> 00:00:41,233 [narrator] Jaysin Jones is suing his ex-girlfriend, 10 00:00:41,300 --> 00:00:44,467 Lessett Fonseca, for personal belongings 11 00:00:44,533 --> 00:00:47,467 and the return of his cat, Felix. 12 00:00:47,533 --> 00:00:49,500 [Kevin] Court, come to order. All rise. 13 00:00:51,834 --> 00:00:53,033 [Judy] Have a seat, everyone. 14 00:00:53,100 --> 00:00:55,867 Judge, case 4151, Jones vs. Fonseca. 15 00:00:55,934 --> 00:00:57,100 -Thank you. -You're welcome. 16 00:00:57,166 --> 00:00:58,900 [Judy] Mr. Jones, how old are you, sir? 17 00:00:58,967 --> 00:01:00,433 I'm 24 years old, Your Honor. 18 00:01:00,500 --> 00:01:01,934 -[Judy] And you? -Twenty-two. 19 00:01:02,000 --> 00:01:05,633 When did you and Miss Fonseca live together? 20 00:01:05,700 --> 00:01:10,033 We lived together starting in October, 2023. 21 00:01:10,100 --> 00:01:13,500 You started to live together in October, 2023? 22 00:01:13,567 --> 00:01:15,734 -Yes, ma'am. -And when did you separate? 23 00:01:15,800 --> 00:01:17,567 January of 2024. 24 00:01:17,633 --> 00:01:19,265 Are those dates correct? 25 00:01:19,333 --> 00:01:22,533 No, ma'am. We started living together in July of 2023. 26 00:01:22,600 --> 00:01:25,767 -[Judy] Does that sound familiar? -That is correct. That was my mistake. 27 00:01:25,834 --> 00:01:29,700 We got a joint apartment together in October of 2023. 28 00:01:29,767 --> 00:01:31,934 In July, she had moved in with me. 29 00:01:32,000 --> 00:01:34,233 Okay. So, she moved in with you in July. 30 00:01:34,300 --> 00:01:35,967 -Yes. -[Judy] That's what I want to know. 31 00:01:36,033 --> 00:01:38,633 -So, July, you started to live together. -Yes. 32 00:01:38,700 --> 00:01:40,800 Until January of 2024? 33 00:01:40,866 --> 00:01:41,967 Correct, yes. 34 00:01:42,033 --> 00:01:45,667 And when she moved in with you, you were living by yourself? 35 00:01:45,734 --> 00:01:49,000 I had two roommates at the time. It was a three-bedroom apartment, 36 00:01:49,066 --> 00:01:51,366 but she had moved in to my room with me, yes. 37 00:01:51,433 --> 00:01:54,033 Okay. And you stayed a relatively short time there. 38 00:01:54,100 --> 00:01:55,366 Yeah, for the most part. 39 00:01:55,433 --> 00:01:57,600 -[Judy] Then took an apartment together. -Correct. 40 00:01:57,667 --> 00:01:59,567 -You had a cat. -Yes. 41 00:01:59,633 --> 00:02:01,567 -[Judy] Cat's name is Felix. -Mm-hmm. 42 00:02:01,633 --> 00:02:05,233 [Judy] When the defendant moved into your room, 43 00:02:05,300 --> 00:02:07,166 -you had the cat. -Yes. 44 00:02:07,233 --> 00:02:09,000 [Judy] Where did you get the cat from? 45 00:02:09,066 --> 00:02:11,567 [Jaysin] A close friend of mine had found him on the street. 46 00:02:11,633 --> 00:02:14,133 -[Judy] When? -In January of 2022. 47 00:02:14,200 --> 00:02:17,133 Just a second. At that time, was he a cat or a kitten? 48 00:02:17,200 --> 00:02:20,500 I would estimate a kitten. About six to nine months old, probably. 49 00:02:20,567 --> 00:02:22,266 -[Judy] And you took him in. -[Jaysin] Yes. 50 00:02:22,333 --> 00:02:27,734 [Judy] Since January of 2024, when you and the defendant split up, 51 00:02:27,800 --> 00:02:30,033 Felix has been with the defendant. 52 00:02:30,100 --> 00:02:32,466 -Yes. -[Judy] So, he's been with the defendant 53 00:02:32,533 --> 00:02:34,166 -half of his life. -Around a year. 54 00:02:34,233 --> 00:02:37,466 [Judy] The cat happens to be a female, is that right? 55 00:02:37,533 --> 00:02:39,900 -[Lessett] Yes. -I don't believe so, Your Honor. 56 00:02:39,966 --> 00:02:43,600 Well, I assume I'm gonna look at vet records, sir. 57 00:02:43,667 --> 00:02:45,734 -Right. -[Judy] Vet records will tell me, 58 00:02:45,800 --> 00:02:49,300 I know it was a bone of contention. You named him Felix. 59 00:02:49,367 --> 00:02:53,466 The defendant says, you didn't even know it was a female cat. 60 00:02:53,533 --> 00:02:57,066 -He-- -So, I will look at a vet record 61 00:02:57,133 --> 00:03:01,467 just so I can identify it as either a male or female. Kevin? 62 00:03:07,900 --> 00:03:09,033 -[Lessett] I apologize-- -Shh. 63 00:03:12,266 --> 00:03:15,300 Well, what I have is a whole bunch of bills. 64 00:03:15,367 --> 00:03:18,867 One is an estimate for dental cleaning. It's not a bill, 65 00:03:18,934 --> 00:03:21,400 it's just an estimate for dental cleaning, is that correct? 66 00:03:21,466 --> 00:03:24,333 Yes. That was a mistake. I didn't mean to put that one in the pile. 67 00:03:24,400 --> 00:03:29,033 And it doesn't say male or female. Which is interesting-- 68 00:03:29,100 --> 00:03:31,066 Your Honor, if I may, when I got the cat, 69 00:03:31,133 --> 00:03:34,867 he had visible testicles. Excuse me there, 70 00:03:34,934 --> 00:03:38,934 but that was how we determined when I got him that he was male. 71 00:03:39,000 --> 00:03:40,567 Who had the cat altered? 72 00:03:40,633 --> 00:03:42,567 When you say altered, do you mean spayed or neutered? 73 00:03:42,633 --> 00:03:44,633 -So, um, actually-- -[Judy] Just a second. 74 00:03:44,700 --> 00:03:46,867 That's a question. Who had the cat spayed-- 75 00:03:46,934 --> 00:03:49,133 Neither of us. Because the cat was already spayed beforehand. 76 00:03:49,200 --> 00:03:51,533 So, the cat was spayed when you got him. 77 00:03:51,600 --> 00:03:54,133 -Not to my knowledge. -That's how I know the cat is a female. 78 00:03:54,200 --> 00:03:55,667 'Cause the vet checked for me-- 79 00:03:55,734 --> 00:03:56,900 [Judy] Just show me. 80 00:03:56,966 --> 00:03:58,966 [Lessett] I actually don't have that on me. 81 00:03:59,033 --> 00:04:01,433 [Judy] So, it's not urgently important. 82 00:04:01,500 --> 00:04:05,700 So, the defendant has been taking care of this cat for over a year. 83 00:04:05,767 --> 00:04:07,033 -Yes. -[Judy] Yes. 84 00:04:07,100 --> 00:04:09,367 She had a cat also when she moved in with you. 85 00:04:09,433 --> 00:04:12,467 -[Jaysin] Correct. -Now, you were together for a while. 86 00:04:12,533 --> 00:04:14,300 What kind of cat did she have? 87 00:04:14,367 --> 00:04:16,934 I'm not familiar with cat breeds or anything. 88 00:04:17,000 --> 00:04:18,733 -She had a-- -Gray tabby. 89 00:04:18,800 --> 00:04:21,733 Gray tabby, then. Very friendly female cat. 90 00:04:21,800 --> 00:04:24,033 Okay. And did the two cats get along? 91 00:04:24,100 --> 00:04:25,734 They got along together great. 92 00:04:25,800 --> 00:04:27,133 [Judy] I mean, I've had cats... 93 00:04:27,200 --> 00:04:30,500 Yeah, they snuggled up at night, they played frequently. 94 00:04:30,567 --> 00:04:32,633 That was the reason I didn't take him when I left 95 00:04:32,700 --> 00:04:34,834 because I didn't want to break him up from her cat 96 00:04:34,900 --> 00:04:36,266 if he couldn't be with me at the time. 97 00:04:36,332 --> 00:04:38,266 I felt that was unfair to him. 98 00:04:38,332 --> 00:04:41,967 Well, so now, this is what part of the case is about, Mr. Jones. 99 00:04:42,033 --> 00:04:44,133 -Right. -You did leave the cat with her. 100 00:04:44,200 --> 00:04:46,300 -I did. -[Judy] For well over a year. 101 00:04:46,367 --> 00:04:49,967 With the understanding I'd be able to get him within the next six months. 102 00:04:50,033 --> 00:04:52,800 You left the cat with her for well over a year. 103 00:04:52,867 --> 00:04:55,567 Half the cat's life. And when you were together, 104 00:04:55,633 --> 00:04:58,100 which is now more than half the cat's life, 105 00:04:58,166 --> 00:05:02,333 these two cats played around, they became part of each other's lives. 106 00:05:02,400 --> 00:05:07,800 You had the cat prior to the defendant moving into your apartment. 107 00:05:07,867 --> 00:05:10,800 -Yes. -For a relatively short period of time. 108 00:05:10,867 --> 00:05:13,133 Longer than she's had the cat now. 109 00:05:13,200 --> 00:05:15,133 I've had the cat two years, and it's his third year. 110 00:05:15,200 --> 00:05:16,834 Well, you were together for a while. 111 00:05:16,900 --> 00:05:22,767 So, what I'm talking about is the cat, whether bonding with you or the defendant, 112 00:05:22,834 --> 00:05:27,233 you know for sure that the cat, Felix, and her cat 113 00:05:27,300 --> 00:05:29,700 -were bonded together. -Yes. 114 00:05:29,767 --> 00:05:32,800 Well, then my question is, you want the cat back now? 115 00:05:32,867 --> 00:05:35,133 She acknowledges it was your cat 116 00:05:35,200 --> 00:05:37,266 -when you first came together. -Yes. 117 00:05:37,332 --> 00:05:41,033 What she's saying is, you actually abandoned the cat. 118 00:05:41,100 --> 00:05:44,133 Because you left her house and you went to live someplace 119 00:05:44,200 --> 00:05:45,867 where you couldn't take the cat. 120 00:05:45,933 --> 00:05:47,266 See, that's not true, Your Honor. 121 00:05:47,332 --> 00:05:48,834 -[Judy] I said, she says. -Oh. 122 00:05:48,900 --> 00:05:51,667 That you abandoned the cat. You left the cat with her, 123 00:05:51,734 --> 00:05:55,500 because you went to a place to live that you couldn't take the cat. 124 00:05:55,567 --> 00:05:57,033 -Right. -That's correct. 125 00:05:57,100 --> 00:05:58,166 -[Jaysin] Yes. -Okay. 126 00:06:00,934 --> 00:06:03,100 The ninth of December, 2024. 127 00:06:03,166 --> 00:06:06,767 That was our initial hearing via Zoom scheduled, yes. 128 00:06:06,834 --> 00:06:08,467 What happened on that date, sir? 129 00:06:08,533 --> 00:06:10,367 I did not appear for that. 130 00:06:10,433 --> 00:06:11,800 Why didn't you appear? 131 00:06:11,867 --> 00:06:13,333 There were some things that came up-- 132 00:06:13,400 --> 00:06:15,066 No, no, no, no. 133 00:06:24,633 --> 00:06:28,233 [narrator] Jaysin Jones claims his ex-girlfriend, 134 00:06:28,300 --> 00:06:33,467 Lessett Fonseca, is wrongfully keeping his belongings and his cat, Felix. 135 00:06:33,533 --> 00:06:37,600 Lessett is countersuing for storage and disposal fees. 136 00:06:37,667 --> 00:06:40,100 Okay. Where did you go after that? 137 00:06:40,166 --> 00:06:43,233 I packed up my things, I moved to my mother's house for... 138 00:06:43,300 --> 00:06:46,933 [Judy] Fine. And you moved to your mother's house in January, 2024. 139 00:06:47,000 --> 00:06:48,133 Yes, that's correct. 140 00:06:48,200 --> 00:06:49,800 -Were you working? -I was. 141 00:06:49,867 --> 00:06:51,867 -For whom? -I work at a bar in Tampa. 142 00:06:51,933 --> 00:06:53,367 -[Judy] What do you do? -I'm a bartender. 143 00:06:53,433 --> 00:06:55,467 -You live alone? -Right now, I have one roommate. 144 00:06:55,533 --> 00:06:56,567 Where are you living? 145 00:06:56,633 --> 00:06:59,633 In a two-bedroom apartment near the University of South Florida. 146 00:06:59,700 --> 00:07:01,300 How long have you lived in that apartment? 147 00:07:01,367 --> 00:07:04,867 I've been in that apartment since August of 2024. 148 00:07:04,934 --> 00:07:06,600 So, going on about nine months now. 149 00:07:06,667 --> 00:07:11,734 And when did you file a small claims court case against the defendant 150 00:07:11,800 --> 00:07:13,233 for the return of Felix? 151 00:07:13,300 --> 00:07:17,332 -[Jaysin] I filed... October 23rd of 2024. -[Judy] On what date? 152 00:07:17,400 --> 00:07:19,300 -May I see it? -[Jaysin] Uh, yes. 153 00:07:34,433 --> 00:07:39,734 Okay. Now, you filed this case in October of 2024. 154 00:07:39,800 --> 00:07:41,700 -Yes. -Did you get a return date? 155 00:07:41,767 --> 00:07:43,734 Uh, what do you mean, return date? 156 00:07:43,800 --> 00:07:45,867 The ninth of December, 2024. 157 00:07:45,933 --> 00:07:49,133 That was our initial hearing via Zoom scheduled, yes. 158 00:07:49,200 --> 00:07:50,834 What happened on that date, sir? 159 00:07:50,900 --> 00:07:53,100 I did not appear for that. 160 00:07:53,166 --> 00:07:54,467 [Judy] Why didn't you appear? 161 00:07:54,533 --> 00:07:57,834 I had a family matter I had to attend to, I wasn't able to... 162 00:07:57,900 --> 00:07:59,600 What does that mean, a family matter? 163 00:07:59,667 --> 00:08:01,433 There were some things that came up... 164 00:08:01,500 --> 00:08:05,433 No, no, no. You have to know, everybody brings a certain amount, 165 00:08:05,500 --> 00:08:10,100 Mr. Jones, of their own personal experience, life experience. 166 00:08:10,166 --> 00:08:12,200 There are some people that love animals. 167 00:08:12,266 --> 00:08:14,200 There are some people that tolerate animals. 168 00:08:14,266 --> 00:08:16,200 There are some people that can't stand animals. 169 00:08:16,266 --> 00:08:18,133 I'm one of those people that love animals. 170 00:08:18,200 --> 00:08:21,734 And at the present time, I have a little dog. 171 00:08:21,800 --> 00:08:25,967 I have 13 grandchildren, two great-grandchildren. 172 00:08:26,033 --> 00:08:28,332 Sarah is one of those grandchildren. 173 00:08:28,400 --> 00:08:31,867 I'm gonna ask her what picture do I have 174 00:08:31,934 --> 00:08:35,133 as my screen saver on my phone. 175 00:08:35,200 --> 00:08:36,799 -The dog. -[Judy] The dog. 176 00:08:36,866 --> 00:08:41,400 If my dog isn't with me for a week, for a day, 177 00:08:41,467 --> 00:08:44,867 for an hour, I'm crazed. 178 00:08:44,934 --> 00:08:48,100 I have to come here to work, and I have to leave the dog home. 179 00:08:48,165 --> 00:08:50,500 My husband may not be feeling well. 180 00:08:50,567 --> 00:08:53,867 One of the grandchildren may have tonsillitis. 181 00:08:53,934 --> 00:08:56,734 What I ask about is the dog. 182 00:08:56,800 --> 00:09:01,633 Does the dog miss me? Is she eating? 183 00:09:01,700 --> 00:09:05,700 Is she pooping regularly? Is she sitting by the door? 184 00:09:05,767 --> 00:09:07,500 So, I want to know... 185 00:09:07,567 --> 00:09:10,800 now, you get an apartment, and you're out of your mother's house, 186 00:09:10,867 --> 00:09:13,000 -where you couldn't have a cat. -Mm-hmm. 187 00:09:13,066 --> 00:09:15,166 And you're in an apartment, August. 188 00:09:15,233 --> 00:09:19,567 Okay. So, I give you had to go through the paperwork of going and filing a case, 189 00:09:19,633 --> 00:09:22,266 and you did that in October, end of October. 190 00:09:22,333 --> 00:09:27,367 So, it was really, September, October, two-and-a-half months later 191 00:09:27,433 --> 00:09:30,333 -Yeah. -that you filed this small claims case. 192 00:09:30,400 --> 00:09:33,000 Given what I just said to you, you can understand my problem. 193 00:09:33,066 --> 00:09:37,600 I would've filed it in August. I moved in in August, I would've filed in August. 194 00:09:37,667 --> 00:09:40,000 -I have made... -[Judy] Just a second. You didn't. 195 00:09:40,066 --> 00:09:42,934 But then, you had a chance to go to court, 196 00:09:43,000 --> 00:09:46,266 and get an order in December. And what held you back was 197 00:09:46,333 --> 00:09:49,934 you had a family matter that came up. I want to know 198 00:09:50,000 --> 00:09:54,433 what the family matter was that was so emergent 199 00:09:54,500 --> 00:09:58,467 that you didn't go get this cat that you have to have back. 200 00:09:58,533 --> 00:10:02,300 I was informed, Your Honor, that she was never properly served for the case. 201 00:10:02,367 --> 00:10:05,800 And I had a pair of twin siblings born the week of Thanksgiving. 202 00:10:05,867 --> 00:10:07,667 -What? -I had twin siblings born 203 00:10:07,734 --> 00:10:10,900 the week before Thanksgiving. And it is not urgent enough, 204 00:10:10,967 --> 00:10:13,467 you're correct, to be waiving over the case. 205 00:10:13,533 --> 00:10:17,133 But I also had made several attempts throughout the year to contact her... 206 00:10:17,200 --> 00:10:20,834 No, no, no, contact. You asked for the cat. 207 00:10:20,900 --> 00:10:23,200 You couldn't have the cat back until August. 208 00:10:23,266 --> 00:10:25,367 -'Cause you were at your mother's house. -Right. 209 00:10:25,433 --> 00:10:28,200 August passed. September passed. 210 00:10:28,266 --> 00:10:32,500 October practically passed when you filed a case. 211 00:10:32,567 --> 00:10:35,500 Now, you're telling me the event that happened in your house is 212 00:10:35,567 --> 00:10:37,300 that in November, babies were born? 213 00:10:37,367 --> 00:10:39,165 Yeah, that doesn't do it for me, sir. 214 00:10:39,233 --> 00:10:41,934 I just want to tell you, it doesn't do it for me. 215 00:10:42,000 --> 00:10:45,467 So, I want you to sort of think about getting another cat. 216 00:10:45,533 --> 00:10:48,066 Do you understand? After 14 months. 217 00:10:48,133 --> 00:10:51,233 Felix is happy with his playmate. 218 00:10:51,300 --> 00:10:54,667 You know, cats don't always saddle up to people. 219 00:10:54,734 --> 00:10:57,233 But they get attached to each other. You know that. 220 00:10:57,300 --> 00:10:59,700 -Right? -Right. And I like to think they bonded-- 221 00:10:59,767 --> 00:11:02,800 You don't want to be a miserable person, sir. 222 00:11:02,867 --> 00:11:03,967 Go get another cat. 223 00:11:04,033 --> 00:11:06,433 All right. Now, let's think about the other property 224 00:11:06,500 --> 00:11:08,800 that you say that she has that's yours. 225 00:11:08,867 --> 00:11:10,934 First, I'm gonna get to her counterclaim. 226 00:11:11,000 --> 00:11:14,367 She's got a counterclaim. She says when you left, when you left, 227 00:11:14,433 --> 00:11:17,900 you took a few things you wanted. You came back, you got some other stuff. 228 00:11:17,967 --> 00:11:21,567 But for months and months, she doesn't hear from you. 229 00:11:21,633 --> 00:11:24,133 She's storing your stuff, so she wants storage fees. 230 00:11:24,200 --> 00:11:27,000 That, sadly, Miss Fonseca, you don't get. 231 00:11:27,066 --> 00:11:28,400 -Okay. -[Judy] Okay? 232 00:11:28,467 --> 00:11:31,867 And you know that. So, I'm not gonna deal with your counterclaim for storage fees. 233 00:11:31,934 --> 00:11:34,467 You didn't have an arrangement with him for storage fees. 234 00:11:34,533 --> 00:11:37,100 You didn't have a contract with him for storage fees. 235 00:11:37,165 --> 00:11:41,033 If you had discarded his property after a certain amount of time, 236 00:11:41,100 --> 00:11:43,300 you could've done that, unless you had an agreement 237 00:11:43,367 --> 00:11:46,667 or a contract with him, to keep it for a period of time. 238 00:11:46,734 --> 00:11:49,333 Now, you would say, Mr. Jones, that we're talking 239 00:11:49,400 --> 00:11:52,567 about when you left the apartment that you had moved in together, 240 00:11:52,633 --> 00:11:56,165 -I assume that it wasn't a happy time. -Correct. 241 00:11:56,233 --> 00:11:58,133 [Judy] But you say that Miss Fonseca said 242 00:11:58,200 --> 00:12:01,200 that she would keep some of your property for a period of time. 243 00:12:01,266 --> 00:12:03,133 And you left in January 244 00:12:03,200 --> 00:12:04,934 -[Jaysin] Yes. -...of 2024. 245 00:12:05,000 --> 00:12:07,333 Now, you did come back for some of your property. 246 00:12:07,400 --> 00:12:09,767 -Mm-hmm. -When did you come back for your property? 247 00:12:09,834 --> 00:12:14,333 The first time I came back for some of it was, uh, January 31st. 248 00:12:14,400 --> 00:12:15,834 [Judy] So, a month later. 249 00:12:15,900 --> 00:12:18,600 No, it was within days after we had broken up. 250 00:12:18,667 --> 00:12:20,367 We broke up late in January. 251 00:12:20,433 --> 00:12:22,867 Okay. So, within days you came back. And what did you get? 252 00:12:22,934 --> 00:12:26,867 I don't remember, exactly. It was mostly instruments and stuff in a box. 253 00:12:26,934 --> 00:12:29,433 There was about four or five, six different boxes... 254 00:12:29,500 --> 00:12:32,867 The first thing he grabbed was his Xbox and bong collection. 255 00:12:32,934 --> 00:12:34,266 [Judy] Just a second. 256 00:12:34,333 --> 00:12:36,900 Please, don't speak out, it's irritating to me. 257 00:12:36,967 --> 00:12:39,165 Then I think that you forget where you are. 258 00:12:39,233 --> 00:12:41,500 Tell me what you got. 259 00:12:41,567 --> 00:12:44,100 Uh, I grabbed my Xbox, some extra clothes. 260 00:12:44,165 --> 00:12:47,033 I did grab a couple of bongs that I had at home. 261 00:12:47,100 --> 00:12:50,533 Um, and then my instruments as well, my guitars. 262 00:12:50,600 --> 00:12:52,165 You had already taken your clothes. 263 00:12:52,233 --> 00:12:53,500 Uh, most of them, yeah. 264 00:12:53,567 --> 00:12:56,100 So, you took your Xbox, couple of other things. 265 00:12:56,165 --> 00:12:58,533 And that was a few days later in January. 266 00:12:58,600 --> 00:12:59,567 Yes. 267 00:12:59,633 --> 00:13:02,266 When was the next time did you go back for more stuff? 268 00:13:02,333 --> 00:13:05,800 Uh, the next time would've been March ninth that I went back. 269 00:13:05,867 --> 00:13:08,934 -Okay. So, February passed. -Yes. 270 00:13:09,000 --> 00:13:10,667 And so, that's a month. 271 00:13:10,734 --> 00:13:12,934 There were some cordial conversations throughout. 272 00:13:13,000 --> 00:13:16,000 [Judy] I don't care. That was a month later she kept your stuff. 273 00:13:16,066 --> 00:13:18,500 And what did you go back and get on March ninth? 274 00:13:18,567 --> 00:13:20,934 The boxes she had set up were kinda large. 275 00:13:21,000 --> 00:13:23,934 I only had room in my car for two at a time of them. 276 00:13:24,000 --> 00:13:26,000 And I should've gotten a truck, 277 00:13:26,066 --> 00:13:28,266 but I was just getting the boxes of smaller things 278 00:13:28,333 --> 00:13:30,900 as I could, little by little. 279 00:13:30,967 --> 00:13:33,266 -You were living with your mother. -Mm-hmm. 280 00:13:33,333 --> 00:13:34,900 -[Judy] And working. -Yes. 281 00:13:34,967 --> 00:13:37,333 Right? Was your mother charging you rent? 282 00:13:37,400 --> 00:13:38,567 Not entire-- 283 00:13:38,633 --> 00:13:41,133 [Judy] Were you paying rent in the old apartment 284 00:13:41,200 --> 00:13:43,233 that you had shared with the defendant? 285 00:13:43,300 --> 00:13:46,200 -No. -And you had been paying rent with her. 286 00:13:46,266 --> 00:13:49,033 -In that apartment, yes. -[Judy] So you were saving rent. 287 00:13:49,100 --> 00:13:51,300 So the answer is, you were saving rent. 288 00:13:51,367 --> 00:13:53,934 You were back with your mother. January, February, March, 289 00:13:54,000 --> 00:13:58,000 April, May, June, July. Seven months, no rent. 290 00:13:58,066 --> 00:14:00,200 You were saving on your rent. 291 00:14:00,266 --> 00:14:03,867 It costs $59 to rent a U-Haul to get all your stuff, sir. 292 00:14:06,533 --> 00:14:10,600 Show me in March. 'Cause now you went to get some boxes in March. 293 00:14:10,667 --> 00:14:14,066 So now, in effect, you're really using her as a storage unit. 294 00:14:14,133 --> 00:14:16,100 If she brings a new guy into the house, 295 00:14:16,166 --> 00:14:19,433 she's got your crap in the house, your boxes in the house. Right? 296 00:14:28,934 --> 00:14:32,767 [narrator] Jaysin Jones has accused his ex-girlfriend, 297 00:14:32,834 --> 00:14:38,600 Lessett Fonseca, of refusing to return his belongings and his cat, Felix. 298 00:14:38,667 --> 00:14:43,533 Lessett says Jaysin owes for the cost of storing and disposing of his property. 299 00:14:43,600 --> 00:14:46,567 Now, you work as a bartender, so you don't work in the morning. 300 00:14:46,633 --> 00:14:48,834 What did you think you were doing? 301 00:14:48,900 --> 00:14:52,367 It's between-- I didn't want to move all that furniture alone, 302 00:14:52,433 --> 00:14:54,467 and my friends all also work in restaurants 303 00:14:54,533 --> 00:14:57,133 that would've been able to help me. And she also works in a restaurant. 304 00:14:57,200 --> 00:15:01,233 So it was hard to find time off that we both would be able to coordinate. 305 00:15:01,300 --> 00:15:04,800 That was a big running issue was her having the same time off as me. 306 00:15:04,867 --> 00:15:08,633 Show me in March. 'Cause now you went to get some boxes in March. 307 00:15:08,700 --> 00:15:12,300 So now, in effect, you're really using her as a storage unit. 308 00:15:12,367 --> 00:15:14,333 You're not paying rent there anymore. 309 00:15:14,400 --> 00:15:17,400 If she brings a new guy into the house, she's got your crap in the house. 310 00:15:17,467 --> 00:15:20,400 Your boxes in the house, right? But she lives on her own. 311 00:15:20,467 --> 00:15:21,900 She's paying the rent by herself. 312 00:15:21,967 --> 00:15:24,500 She wants to bring a new guy into the house. Would that be him? 313 00:15:24,567 --> 00:15:25,867 This is my best friend. 314 00:15:25,934 --> 00:15:28,066 [Judy] Best friend. Does he ever stay over? 315 00:15:28,133 --> 00:15:30,300 [Lessett] Sometimes, yes, he does. 316 00:15:30,367 --> 00:15:33,233 Best friend, whatever. Doesn't have to look at your boxes in the house. 317 00:15:33,300 --> 00:15:34,700 So now, you're in March. 318 00:15:34,767 --> 00:15:37,165 Friends were working, you were working. 319 00:15:37,233 --> 00:15:39,934 -Your Honor, his friends helped him-- -[Judy] Shh. 320 00:15:40,000 --> 00:15:41,133 With a truck. 321 00:15:41,200 --> 00:15:44,700 If you shout out, you're not doing yourself a favor, 'cause I don't like it. 322 00:15:44,767 --> 00:15:47,333 And I have to make a decision, whether in your favor or not. 323 00:15:47,400 --> 00:15:48,800 -Do you understand? -Yes, ma'am. 324 00:15:48,867 --> 00:15:51,033 So, that's the second time I've told you. 325 00:15:51,100 --> 00:15:53,567 If I may, the one time I did show up with a truck, 326 00:15:53,633 --> 00:15:55,000 was actually after... 327 00:15:55,066 --> 00:15:57,867 Month? When did you show up with a truck? 328 00:15:57,934 --> 00:16:00,233 September 10th, 2024. 329 00:16:00,300 --> 00:16:02,367 After repeated failed attempts. 330 00:16:02,433 --> 00:16:05,767 Just a second. So, you moved out in January. 331 00:16:05,834 --> 00:16:09,166 January, February, March, April, May, 332 00:16:09,233 --> 00:16:12,133 June, July, August, and September. 333 00:16:12,200 --> 00:16:14,700 There were contact attempts made all through each of those-- 334 00:16:14,767 --> 00:16:17,767 I don't care there were contacts made. You know how to go to court. 335 00:16:17,834 --> 00:16:20,734 I didn't want to go straight to it. I was trying to be humane 336 00:16:20,800 --> 00:16:23,233 and give her ample time to coordinate everything. 337 00:16:23,300 --> 00:16:24,667 [Judy] She doesn't have to keep-- 338 00:16:24,734 --> 00:16:27,767 Unless you have a contract with her to keep your stuff for almost a year, 339 00:16:27,834 --> 00:16:29,700 you're outta here, Mr. Jones. 340 00:16:29,767 --> 00:16:31,266 We verbally agreed. 341 00:16:31,333 --> 00:16:36,333 Unless you have a contract with her to keep your stuff for almost a year, 342 00:16:36,400 --> 00:16:38,567 nine months, you're outta here. 343 00:16:38,633 --> 00:16:40,967 I don't have a contract for that, Your Honor. 344 00:16:41,033 --> 00:16:43,900 Then you're outta here. Your case is dismissed. 345 00:16:43,967 --> 00:16:46,867 Try to get along without Felix. Know that Felix is happy. 346 00:16:46,934 --> 00:16:49,433 If you want to see him, I think they brought him today. 347 00:16:49,500 --> 00:16:51,300 -You can see him, he looks happy. -[Lessett] Her. 348 00:16:51,367 --> 00:16:54,533 [Judy] And he looks healthy. So you should be happy about that. 349 00:16:54,600 --> 00:16:56,400 If you want another cat, get it. 350 00:16:56,467 --> 00:17:00,333 And whatever stuff that you don't have, you've lived without it for 15 months. 351 00:17:00,400 --> 00:17:02,633 And you'll just have to continue to live without it. 352 00:17:02,700 --> 00:17:04,666 -Goodbye. -This court is adjourned. 353 00:17:10,200 --> 00:17:12,633 Honestly, I'm not pleased by it. I feel like 354 00:17:12,700 --> 00:17:16,233 I had given her ample attempts to coordinate things. 355 00:17:16,300 --> 00:17:18,300 I think the judge made the best decision. 356 00:17:18,367 --> 00:17:20,834 This is the best outcome that could've absolutely happened for me. 357 00:17:20,900 --> 00:17:23,133 She's narcissistic and manipulative. That's what they all do. 358 00:17:23,200 --> 00:17:26,266 He's a grown man who just so happened that did not get his way. 359 00:17:26,333 --> 00:17:29,800 She wants to find any little piece of leverage she can. 360 00:17:29,867 --> 00:17:32,600 The judge made the right decision. I get to take my baby home. 361 00:17:32,667 --> 00:17:34,133 She's right, it did take too long. 362 00:17:34,200 --> 00:17:36,600 And at the end of the day, what she says goes. 363 00:17:36,667 --> 00:17:39,734 He was enabled by his mother and has been babied his entire life. 364 00:17:39,800 --> 00:17:41,800 And today, he finally faces the consequences of that. 365 00:17:43,667 --> 00:17:47,367 So, this case brought up something we see a lot about ownership of a pet. 366 00:17:47,433 --> 00:17:51,567 Is a pet "owned"? Or should you care about the well-being of it as a property? 367 00:17:51,633 --> 00:17:55,834 Or should it be looked at as more of a living, breathing thing? Which it is. 368 00:17:55,900 --> 00:17:59,033 And at what point do you take the cat's well-being... 369 00:17:59,100 --> 00:18:03,200 it's been in this place for 14 months now, bonded to another cat. 370 00:18:03,266 --> 00:18:04,967 Probably bonded to the defendant. 371 00:18:05,033 --> 00:18:07,166 Ownership was clear that it was the plaintiff's, 372 00:18:07,233 --> 00:18:09,700 but at what point do we get to abandon the fact 373 00:18:09,767 --> 00:18:11,767 that you are technically the proper owner, 374 00:18:11,834 --> 00:18:14,467 but now we want to care about the well-being of the cat 375 00:18:14,533 --> 00:18:17,066 over the on-paper ownership of the plaintiff? 376 00:18:17,133 --> 00:18:19,066 So, I know you care deeply about that. 377 00:18:19,133 --> 00:18:22,800 [Judy] Well, so, unfortunately, I believe, 378 00:18:22,867 --> 00:18:25,500 that most courts still treat animals as pets. 379 00:18:25,567 --> 00:18:29,667 As pets and owned, like this pen. 380 00:18:29,734 --> 00:18:32,767 I think that that's probably a mistake. 381 00:18:32,834 --> 00:18:35,900 I think that you have to look at living, breathing things. 382 00:18:35,967 --> 00:18:39,867 It may not have rights, like a person has rights, 383 00:18:39,934 --> 00:18:43,400 but I think that courts should be able to take into consideration 384 00:18:43,467 --> 00:18:48,500 how the loss of a pet, the way a pet is treated 385 00:18:48,567 --> 00:18:51,000 is compensated if there is wrongdoing. 386 00:18:51,066 --> 00:18:54,600 And that's the way, sometimes, these cases are interpreted. 387 00:18:54,667 --> 00:18:58,767 You know, if somebody tortures a pet, 388 00:18:58,834 --> 00:19:02,433 your pet, and kills it, and if the courts say, 389 00:19:02,500 --> 00:19:06,433 all you're entitled to is what you paid for the pet, 390 00:19:06,500 --> 00:19:09,967 and if you didn't pay anything for the pet, then you get nothing. 391 00:19:10,033 --> 00:19:15,533 Are you asking for the cat or the dog's physical pain, wrongful death? 392 00:19:15,600 --> 00:19:18,033 Or are you really saying to the owner, 393 00:19:18,100 --> 00:19:22,633 your emotional distress is to be compensated for what happened to the pet. 394 00:19:22,700 --> 00:19:28,367 For me, I've always tried to do the right thing 395 00:19:28,433 --> 00:19:30,600 when it comes to animals. 396 00:19:30,667 --> 00:19:35,734 -Sometimes, the law has to be... -Crafted. 397 00:19:35,800 --> 00:19:39,600 crafted, maneuvered, creative. 398 00:19:39,667 --> 00:19:44,000 Because the cat was found as a stray, given to him as a kitten. 399 00:19:44,066 --> 00:19:49,767 But he clearly, over the 14 months that she had physical custody of the cat, 400 00:19:49,834 --> 00:19:53,533 she had records that she took the cat to the vet regularly. 401 00:19:53,600 --> 00:19:55,867 That she had its shots. 402 00:19:55,934 --> 00:19:59,633 That clearly, she fed it, because we had a glimpse of Felix... 403 00:19:59,700 --> 00:20:02,633 -Looks well fed. -...looks like a healthy well-fed cat. 404 00:20:02,700 --> 00:20:06,400 I also had a question about he and is ownership of the cat 405 00:20:06,467 --> 00:20:09,266 from the time he got the cat, I know there was a little bit of confusion 406 00:20:09,333 --> 00:20:11,734 about whether it was a male or a female, 407 00:20:11,800 --> 00:20:13,967 and the first thought that went through my mind is, 408 00:20:14,033 --> 00:20:17,700 if I were to bring home a stray cat, the first place I'd go is to the vet. 409 00:20:17,767 --> 00:20:19,867 Did he never bring the cat to the vet 410 00:20:19,934 --> 00:20:22,100 during the entire time that he owned the cat? 411 00:20:22,166 --> 00:20:24,333 She said that cat was neutered while they were together. 412 00:20:24,400 --> 00:20:27,100 I think she said before they had received the cat. 413 00:20:27,166 --> 00:20:29,300 That's right. Before they had received the cat. 414 00:20:29,367 --> 00:20:31,133 Maybe he never took the cat to the vet. 415 00:20:31,200 --> 00:20:33,333 There was still confusion, you know. 416 00:20:33,400 --> 00:20:37,066 I'm glad the cat is gonna be crafted in a way... 417 00:20:37,133 --> 00:20:40,066 And if you want certain things after you split up, 418 00:20:40,133 --> 00:20:41,767 unless he was paying half the rent. 419 00:20:41,834 --> 00:20:44,300 Now, if he continued to pay half the rent on this apartment... 420 00:20:44,367 --> 00:20:45,633 He's entitled to the space. 421 00:20:45,700 --> 00:20:48,333 ...I'd say, he's paying half the rent, he's entitled to the space. 422 00:20:48,400 --> 00:20:51,200 She doesn't have to look at your crap for a year. 423 00:20:51,266 --> 00:20:53,000 -Nope. -It just makes sense. 424 00:20:53,066 --> 00:20:57,633 So, sometimes the law has to be massaged a little bit. 425 00:20:57,700 --> 00:20:59,100 And you're the best at doing that. 426 00:20:59,166 --> 00:21:00,367 Give it a little massage. 427 00:21:00,433 --> 00:21:02,433 Hopefully the right thing happens at the end. 428 00:21:04,100 --> 00:21:06,100 [narrator] Are you a victim of an assault? 429 00:21:06,166 --> 00:21:07,867 Go to JudyJustice.tv. 430 00:21:13,200 --> 00:21:16,233 [theme music playing]