1
00:00:00,033 --> 00:00:03,133
-You and your girlfriend had a fight.
-Yes.

2
00:00:03,200 --> 00:00:05,233
You were cheating on her
with another person.

3
00:00:05,300 --> 00:00:07,867
-No.
-You know that's a lie. Right?

4
00:00:07,934 --> 00:00:11,667
Were you arrested by the police
for domestic violence?

5
00:00:11,734 --> 00:00:12,967
Whatever happened, happened.

6
00:00:13,033 --> 00:00:15,100
Well, most helpful.

7
00:00:15,166 --> 00:00:17,533
Not to your girlfriend,
but you were most helpful to me.

8
00:00:17,600 --> 00:00:20,667
[narrator]
This is Judy Justice.

9
00:00:20,734 --> 00:00:22,233
[theme music playing]

10
00:00:38,266 --> 00:00:40,600
[narrator]
Previously on Judy Justice...

11
00:00:40,667 --> 00:00:42,100
What was the argument about?

12
00:00:42,166 --> 00:00:43,967
I seen some messages on his phone.

13
00:00:44,033 --> 00:00:45,967
-You mean from another girl.
-Yeah.

14
00:00:46,033 --> 00:00:49,367
-What happened?
-He just left and went to her house.

15
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I was like, "I know he's here,"

16
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and she wasn't trying to let him out
to talk to me and see me.

17
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And we started getting into a argument.

18
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And after the argument was over, I left.

19
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And all of a sudden,
I peeked out the window,

20
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all I could see was London
banging my door.

21
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And she says, "I threatened before

22
00:01:08,567 --> 00:01:10,734
that if he doesn't come out here
and we get into it,

23
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I'm gonna bust out your windows."

24
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So, she came to my house on a scooter.

25
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And before you know it,
she has this scooter

26
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and she's just busting out the windows.

27
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-You wanted it to calm down.
-Yes.

28
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Well, it didn't calm down.

29
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What happened when the windows got broken?

30
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-Uh...
-Look at me.

31
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[narrator]
And now, the conclusion.

32
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Toni McNeill is suing
18-year-old London Tillman

33
00:01:35,366 --> 00:01:38,700
and her father Sid Tillman
for property damage

34
00:01:38,767 --> 00:01:41,366
after London vandalized her home.

35
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Now, what happened
when the windows got broken?

36
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Like I said, I didn't see nothing.
I was in a room...

37
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[Judy]
Let me ask you a question, Davion.

38
00:01:50,800 --> 00:01:53,366
Your foster brothers break the window
from the inside?

39
00:01:53,433 --> 00:01:55,000
I don't...

40
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That's not possible, right? Because
the windows were broken from the outside.

41
00:01:59,166 --> 00:02:00,433
Yes, ma'am.

42
00:02:00,500 --> 00:02:02,567
[Judy] So, your foster brothers
were in the house with you.

43
00:02:02,633 --> 00:02:04,567
-I believe so...
-[Judy] Yeah, you were in the house.

44
00:02:04,633 --> 00:02:07,300
I was in a room
while everybody was outside.

45
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And I heard a whole bunch of arguing.

46
00:02:08,767 --> 00:02:11,800
None of the boys was in the room with me.
I was in the room by myself.

47
00:02:11,867 --> 00:02:14,567
Are you talking about when the windows
were getting broken?

48
00:02:14,633 --> 00:02:16,400
Your foster brothers were outside...

49
00:02:16,466 --> 00:02:18,633
They were trying to make my girlfriend
leave the property.

50
00:02:18,700 --> 00:02:20,734
So, everybody was outside
as a whole.

51
00:02:20,800 --> 00:02:23,500
So, they were outside trying to get her
to leave the property.

52
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I don't know what happened outside.
Whatever happened, happened.

53
00:02:26,000 --> 00:02:29,333
Whatever happened.
Let's understand what we know so far.

54
00:02:29,400 --> 00:02:30,466
[Davion]
Yes, ma'am.

55
00:02:30,533 --> 00:02:33,667
You and your girlfriend had a fight
because you were cheating on her,

56
00:02:33,734 --> 00:02:37,533
at least text-wise with another person
that was an unwise choice

57
00:02:37,600 --> 00:02:39,466
that she got angry about.

58
00:02:39,533 --> 00:02:40,533
[Davion]
Yes, ma'am.

59
00:02:40,600 --> 00:02:42,233
[Judy]
You had a fight at her house and...

60
00:02:42,300 --> 00:02:44,567
You've had physical fights
with her before.

61
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Mm, yeah.

62
00:02:45,934 --> 00:02:50,066
So, you left. Were you arrested
by the police for domestic violence?

63
00:02:50,133 --> 00:02:51,667
-Um...
-[Judy] "Um" is not an answer.

64
00:02:51,734 --> 00:02:54,033
-Yes.
-[Judy] That was several months before.

65
00:02:54,100 --> 00:02:55,166
Yes.

66
00:02:55,233 --> 00:02:57,200
When you were having another fight
with her.

67
00:02:57,266 --> 00:02:58,667
-[Davion] Yes.
-In the street.

68
00:02:58,734 --> 00:03:00,300
-Yes.
-[Judy] All right.

69
00:03:00,367 --> 00:03:04,233
So, I'm just creating an understanding
for myself. You understand.

70
00:03:04,300 --> 00:03:05,767
I understand, yes, ma'am.

71
00:03:05,834 --> 00:03:07,667
-[Judy] They don't keep me here...
-Yes, ma'am.

72
00:03:07,734 --> 00:03:09,300
...because I'm young and live.

73
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Old, cranky...

74
00:03:13,000 --> 00:03:14,767
-but experienced.
-Mm-hmm.

75
00:03:14,834 --> 00:03:17,066
[Judy] So, since you were in the room...

76
00:03:17,133 --> 00:03:19,200
Now your girlfriend is there, furious,

77
00:03:19,266 --> 00:03:22,400
because your foster mom
won't send you out.

78
00:03:22,466 --> 00:03:24,200
-Mm-hmm.
-[Judy] You won't come out.

79
00:03:24,266 --> 00:03:26,800
She's come back and forth
to the house twice.

80
00:03:26,867 --> 00:03:28,033
-Mm-hmm.
-[Judy] Right?

81
00:03:28,100 --> 00:03:30,066
-So, you didn't see her at all?
-[Davion] No.

82
00:03:30,133 --> 00:03:33,066
Now, Kevin...
Now you can go sit over there.

83
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Now you can bring in the other witness.

84
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Thank you.

85
00:03:39,966 --> 00:03:41,233
Most helpful.

86
00:03:41,300 --> 00:03:44,300
Not to your girlfriend,
but you were most helpful to me.

87
00:03:44,367 --> 00:03:45,834
You know, Miss Tillman,

88
00:03:45,900 --> 00:03:48,667
young people always think
they're smarter than older people.

89
00:03:48,734 --> 00:03:51,300
They think we get
sort of dumb in the head.

90
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Sometimes, it's true.
Unfortunately for you here, it's not true.

91
00:03:56,734 --> 00:03:58,166
Am I boring you?

92
00:03:58,233 --> 00:03:59,700
No.

93
00:03:59,767 --> 00:04:01,700
-You want to take a nap?
-No.

94
00:04:02,834 --> 00:04:04,700
[Judy]
You like it at Miss McNeill's house?

95
00:04:04,767 --> 00:04:06,934
-Yes.
-[Judy] And Davion was

96
00:04:07,000 --> 00:04:08,533
also living with you for a while?

97
00:04:08,600 --> 00:04:10,033
-[Christopher] Yes.
-[Judy] You like him?

98
00:04:10,100 --> 00:04:11,967
-[Christopher] Yeah.
-[Judy] You know the girlfriend?

99
00:04:12,033 --> 00:04:14,200
-[Christopher] Yeah.
-[Judy] You were home on December 5th?

100
00:04:14,266 --> 00:04:16,132
-[Christopher] Yes.
-Tell me what happened.

101
00:04:16,200 --> 00:04:18,899
-[Christopher] Um, I had...
-Look at me.

102
00:04:20,200 --> 00:04:22,567
She went to our house

103
00:04:22,633 --> 00:04:25,166
and started banging on the door
looking for Davion.

104
00:04:25,233 --> 00:04:27,332
-[Judy] Who went to the house?
-[Christopher] London.

105
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-[Judy] Alone? Okay.
-[Christopher] Yeah.

106
00:04:29,300 --> 00:04:31,934
-[Judy] And?
-She threatened to break our windows.

107
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-[Judy] Did you see her break the windows?
-Yeah.

108
00:04:34,266 --> 00:04:36,367
[Judy] Where were you standing
when she broke the windows?

109
00:04:36,433 --> 00:04:39,033
I was next to my foster brothers.

110
00:04:39,100 --> 00:04:41,033
We were next to the front door.

111
00:04:41,100 --> 00:04:43,400
[Judy] Were you inside the door
or outside the door?

112
00:04:43,467 --> 00:04:44,567
We were inside.

113
00:04:44,633 --> 00:04:46,300
[Judy] What was she using
to break the windows?

114
00:04:46,367 --> 00:04:47,900
-A scooter.
-You have the police report?

115
00:04:47,967 --> 00:04:50,166
-[Toni] Yes, ma'am.
-May I see it, please?

116
00:04:57,633 --> 00:05:00,867
This was reported immediately
at 7:30 PM.

117
00:05:00,934 --> 00:05:03,734
Suspect, that would be you,
arrived to victim's residence

118
00:05:03,800 --> 00:05:05,967
and asked if she could talk to a witness.

119
00:05:06,033 --> 00:05:10,734
Victim stated, the victim is Miss McNeill,
stated no and the suspect was upset

120
00:05:10,800 --> 00:05:14,000
and smashed victim's house windows.

121
00:05:14,066 --> 00:05:16,734
Suspect fled to unknown location.

122
00:05:16,800 --> 00:05:18,900
-Did you give them her name?
-Yes, I did.

123
00:05:18,967 --> 00:05:21,100
-[Judy] Did they come to your house?
-No.

124
00:05:21,166 --> 00:05:22,867
-[Judy] Did they ever speak to you?
-No.

125
00:05:22,934 --> 00:05:25,533
[Judy] On that day,
when you spoke to the police,

126
00:05:25,600 --> 00:05:27,667
-did you call Mr. Tillman?
-Yes, I did.

127
00:05:27,734 --> 00:05:29,800
[Judy] Were the police there
when you called Mr. Tillman?

128
00:05:29,867 --> 00:05:31,967
-No, they were not.
-And Mr. Tillman, at that point,

129
00:05:32,033 --> 00:05:35,300
said to you, "Get an estimate
and we'll see what we can work out."

130
00:05:35,367 --> 00:05:37,233
-Yes, he did.
-[Judy] You remember that, Mr. Tillman.

131
00:05:37,300 --> 00:05:39,166
-Yes.
-[Judy] Okay.

132
00:05:39,233 --> 00:05:41,200
Well, why didn't you work it out, sir?

133
00:05:41,266 --> 00:05:45,400
I'm often out of town and on the road
'cause I drive trucks and...

134
00:05:45,467 --> 00:05:47,367
You mean, you didn't have time.

135
00:05:47,433 --> 00:05:48,700
That... yeah.

136
00:05:48,767 --> 00:05:52,133
Now, I'm curious because...
the only reason I'm curious

137
00:05:52,200 --> 00:05:54,800
because your daughter says
she didn't break the windows.

138
00:05:54,867 --> 00:05:56,767
You know that's a lie. Right?

139
00:05:56,834 --> 00:05:58,867
Miss McNeill didn't break her own windows.

140
00:05:58,933 --> 00:06:01,467
There's like five different foster kids
in the house.

141
00:06:01,533 --> 00:06:04,166
How am I the only person
who would've did it?

142
00:06:04,233 --> 00:06:08,033
Why? You know, I usually don't
answer questions, especially dumb ones.

143
00:06:08,100 --> 00:06:13,467
Nobody had a motive to break the windows
from the outside except you.

144
00:06:13,533 --> 00:06:15,500
She doesn't like me,
she's never liked me.

145
00:06:15,567 --> 00:06:17,200
-[Judy] She broke her own windows?
-Yes.

146
00:06:17,266 --> 00:06:19,133
-What are you, an idiot?
-[London] Yes.

147
00:06:19,200 --> 00:06:20,533
-You're an idiot.
-[London] No, no.

148
00:06:20,600 --> 00:06:21,734
She just doesn't like me.

149
00:06:21,800 --> 00:06:24,033
She's never liked me from the jump,
from the beginning.

150
00:06:24,100 --> 00:06:26,266
[Judy]
Well, there's a reason... Madam.

151
00:06:26,332 --> 00:06:28,834
No, ever since she met me,
all she's done

152
00:06:28,900 --> 00:06:32,567
is put harsh words on my name.
That's it. She never liked me.

153
00:06:32,633 --> 00:06:34,933
She didn't break her own house windows!

154
00:06:36,200 --> 00:06:38,400
I mean, what kind of stupidity is that?

155
00:06:40,834 --> 00:06:43,967
You didn't see anything,
according to what you told me.

156
00:06:44,033 --> 00:06:46,266
Don't think that all grownups are stupid.

157
00:06:46,332 --> 00:06:50,266
Miss McNeill did not bust out
her own windows.

158
00:06:50,332 --> 00:06:51,734
You fool.

159
00:06:51,800 --> 00:06:53,300
[narrator]
And later today...

160
00:06:53,367 --> 00:06:57,633
Do you have any proof
as to why both your names...

161
00:06:57,700 --> 00:07:02,033
let's say her credit wasn't good enough...
I assume that was the problem?

162
00:07:02,100 --> 00:07:03,533
They never told me.

163
00:07:03,600 --> 00:07:05,667
Something's not sitting right with me.

164
00:07:05,734 --> 00:07:07,133
-Do you understand that?
-Yes.

165
00:07:16,233 --> 00:07:20,467
[narrator] Toni McNeill has accused
18-year-old London Tillman

166
00:07:20,533 --> 00:07:26,266
of vandalizing Toni's house after
London fought with her boyfriend Davion.

167
00:07:26,332 --> 00:07:29,133
Now, you think that all grownups are dumb?

168
00:07:29,200 --> 00:07:31,233
I think she is.

169
00:07:31,300 --> 00:07:34,700
She may be dumb,
but she didn't break her own window.

170
00:07:34,767 --> 00:07:36,367
How do you know that?

171
00:07:36,433 --> 00:07:38,033
[Judy]
How do I know?

172
00:07:38,100 --> 00:07:42,700
I don't even have to be smart to know
that she didn't break her own windows.

173
00:07:42,767 --> 00:07:44,266
There's proof that I broke the window?

174
00:07:44,332 --> 00:07:47,033
[Judy] Listen to me.
I don't even have to be smart.

175
00:07:47,100 --> 00:07:51,166
Just you remember where you grew up and
where you graduated from high school from.

176
00:07:51,233 --> 00:07:53,667
Well, my dad. Not with her,
it was with my dad.

177
00:07:53,734 --> 00:07:57,367
Just remember, when things got tacky
with your dad, where you went to.

178
00:07:57,433 --> 00:07:58,867
Try to remember that.

179
00:07:58,933 --> 00:08:02,467
That woman wants me dead or in jail.
That woman wants me dead.

180
00:08:02,533 --> 00:08:04,467
[Judy] You don't have
to say anything to me, sir.

181
00:08:04,533 --> 00:08:05,967
You didn't see anything.

182
00:08:06,033 --> 00:08:08,200
-According to what you told me.
-No, I didn't. I don't...

183
00:08:08,266 --> 00:08:12,934
I know that you have a very valid reason
for trying to protect your investment

184
00:08:13,000 --> 00:08:16,133
where you're living with the Tillmans
while you're looking for work.

185
00:08:16,200 --> 00:08:19,233
I understand that you have
a valuable investment

186
00:08:19,300 --> 00:08:24,500
in your security and your comfort zone
where you're living with Miss Tillman

187
00:08:24,567 --> 00:08:28,133
under Mr. Tillman's roof
while you're looking for work.

188
00:08:28,200 --> 00:08:29,200
Yes, ma'am.

189
00:08:29,266 --> 00:08:31,266
[Judy] But don't think
that all grownups are stupid.

190
00:08:31,332 --> 00:08:35,100
Miss McNeill did not bust out
her own windows.

191
00:08:35,165 --> 00:08:36,633
[laughs] You fool.

192
00:08:36,700 --> 00:08:40,600
Judgment for the plaintiff
in the amount of $2,000. We're finished.

193
00:08:40,667 --> 00:08:42,165
[Kevin]
This court is adjourned.

194
00:08:45,533 --> 00:08:48,433
I thought the, um, verdict
was a little unjust.

195
00:08:48,500 --> 00:08:51,667
I think justice was served.
I think it was a good case.

196
00:08:51,734 --> 00:08:53,400
That hopefully they learned their lesson.

197
00:08:53,467 --> 00:08:56,233
There's at least five other kids
staying at the house.

198
00:08:56,300 --> 00:09:00,166
I'm not saying that they did it, but...
I wouldn't doubt it.

199
00:09:00,233 --> 00:09:03,400
She's very violent. Always coming
to the house, banging on the doors.

200
00:09:03,467 --> 00:09:05,033
They really don't like this girl.

201
00:09:05,100 --> 00:09:07,367
I hope it ends for the best
for Davion.

202
00:09:07,433 --> 00:09:08,500
He's a really good kid.

203
00:09:10,233 --> 00:09:12,233
Parents are the problem.

204
00:09:12,300 --> 00:09:15,033
The defendant's father, I heard him say,

205
00:09:15,100 --> 00:09:18,233
"Well, there's no proof
that my daughter broke the windows."

206
00:09:18,300 --> 00:09:19,667
That's part of the problem.

207
00:09:19,734 --> 00:09:21,934
If you don't hold your children
accountable for their actions,

208
00:09:22,000 --> 00:09:24,500
they're gonna turn out like the defendant
at 17,

209
00:09:24,567 --> 00:09:28,700
uncontrollable, violent,
and busting out people's windows.

210
00:09:28,767 --> 00:09:31,400
Especially a foster mother
who's doing her best

211
00:09:31,467 --> 00:09:33,367
to foster these boys, teenage boys,

212
00:09:33,433 --> 00:09:36,033
which are some of the hardest people
to foster in the system

213
00:09:36,100 --> 00:09:38,800
at the age of 16, 17, taking them in.

214
00:09:38,867 --> 00:09:41,533
Obviously cared about Davion,
you could tell.

215
00:09:41,600 --> 00:09:45,200
And she wants the best for him.
And she's in this situation now,

216
00:09:45,266 --> 00:09:47,400
where you choose
to have a violent girlfriend.

217
00:09:47,467 --> 00:09:49,400
You're infecting the rest of the house

218
00:09:49,467 --> 00:09:51,800
that I'm trying to keep
as a positive environment.

219
00:09:51,867 --> 00:09:54,300
And the defendant's father
is part of the problem.

220
00:09:54,367 --> 00:09:55,967
He might be a majority of the problem.

221
00:09:56,033 --> 00:09:58,767
If my father found out
I busted out someone's windows,

222
00:09:58,834 --> 00:10:00,834
he would bust out my bedroom windows.

223
00:10:00,900 --> 00:10:03,000
Are you crazy? Have you lost your mind?

224
00:10:03,066 --> 00:10:06,467
Then, he'd probably lock me in my house
for six months. You crazy?

225
00:10:06,533 --> 00:10:09,734
And he's over here saying, "Oh, well,
there's no real proof that she did it."

226
00:10:09,800 --> 00:10:11,133
Have you lost your mind?

227
00:10:11,200 --> 00:10:13,300
I think that's a real problem
with parents today.

228
00:10:13,367 --> 00:10:15,400
I get that he's on the road
trying to earn a living.

229
00:10:15,467 --> 00:10:19,867
He might not be as present as he would
like to be in order to control her.

230
00:10:19,934 --> 00:10:23,200
But you gotta hold your kids accountable
because they're only gonna get worse.

231
00:10:23,266 --> 00:10:26,000
If she's like this at 17,
I don't want to see her at 27,

232
00:10:26,066 --> 00:10:27,433
I don't want to see her at 37.

233
00:10:27,500 --> 00:10:29,333
She might not even make it that far.

234
00:10:29,400 --> 00:10:31,800
I have no issue
with anything that you say.

235
00:10:31,867 --> 00:10:36,867
I think a plus to that is
when you have a 17-year-old child,

236
00:10:36,934 --> 00:10:40,867
to invite a boyfriend
to come and live in your home...

237
00:10:40,934 --> 00:10:43,734
Who you know has already had
a violent relationship with.

238
00:10:43,800 --> 00:10:45,367
-Whose ever fault that was.
-[Sarah] Yeah.

239
00:10:45,433 --> 00:10:47,333
Whether it's his fault or her fault,

240
00:10:47,400 --> 00:10:49,800
-or they're just a toxic mix.
-Or both.

241
00:10:49,867 --> 00:10:52,266
To invite him into your home
is inviting

242
00:10:52,333 --> 00:10:53,800
-disaster.
-Disaster.

243
00:10:53,867 --> 00:10:56,266
Especially if you're not home
and on the road.

244
00:10:56,333 --> 00:10:58,033
-[Sarah] Mm-hmm.
-Oh, I don't know.

245
00:10:58,100 --> 00:10:59,767
Just a disaster.

246
00:10:59,834 --> 00:11:04,433
Case 4016, Westbrook versus Westbrook.
All parties, please come forward.

247
00:11:04,500 --> 00:11:08,000
[narrator] Octavia Westbrook
is suing her aunt-in-law

248
00:11:08,066 --> 00:11:12,533
Tia Westbrook for a car lease
and repossession fees.

249
00:11:12,600 --> 00:11:15,867
Miss Westbrook, the defendant
is married to your uncle.

250
00:11:15,934 --> 00:11:16,934
Yes.

251
00:11:17,000 --> 00:11:19,166
-[Judy] Who is currently incarcerated.
-Yes.

252
00:11:19,233 --> 00:11:21,734
[Judy] It is your claim
that a year or so ago,

253
00:11:21,800 --> 00:11:24,433
she contacted you
because she wanted to lease a car.

254
00:11:24,500 --> 00:11:25,500
Yes.

255
00:11:25,567 --> 00:11:28,934
And she asked for your help.
You went to the car dealership with her,

256
00:11:29,000 --> 00:11:31,667
and ultimately, the lease was
put in your name,

257
00:11:31,734 --> 00:11:35,233
despite the fact that you were
not going to be driving the car.

258
00:11:35,300 --> 00:11:36,567
Correct.

259
00:11:36,633 --> 00:11:38,433
And she stopped paying for the lease
on the car.

260
00:11:38,500 --> 00:11:41,100
The car was repossessed,
it was sold at auction.

261
00:11:41,165 --> 00:11:43,133
There's an outstanding payment of $10,000

262
00:11:43,200 --> 00:11:45,934
which you say you're responsible for,
and you want it.

263
00:11:46,000 --> 00:11:47,133
Yes, correct.

264
00:11:47,200 --> 00:11:50,000
Do you have any proof,
not your statement,

265
00:11:50,066 --> 00:11:55,967
proof as to why both your names...
let's say her credit wasn't good enough.

266
00:11:56,033 --> 00:11:58,400
I assume that was the problem?

267
00:11:58,467 --> 00:11:59,767
They never told me.

268
00:11:59,834 --> 00:12:01,600
-You went with her.
-[Tia] Right.

269
00:12:01,667 --> 00:12:05,433
Just a second.
You were going to lease the car.

270
00:12:05,500 --> 00:12:07,367
-Right.
-[Judy] You can't tell me what he said.

271
00:12:07,433 --> 00:12:09,133
I'm not interested in what he said.

272
00:12:09,200 --> 00:12:11,066
Something's not sitting right with me.

273
00:12:11,133 --> 00:12:12,767
-Do you understand that?
-Yes.

274
00:12:12,834 --> 00:12:14,767
[Judy] You understand
what's not sitting right with me.

275
00:12:14,834 --> 00:12:16,133
-Yes.
-Okay.

276
00:12:16,200 --> 00:12:18,200
As long as we understand each other.

277
00:12:18,266 --> 00:12:23,767
You see, I have done hundreds and hundreds
of these kinds of cases.

278
00:12:23,834 --> 00:12:29,500
There's always a reason why somebody
who's not gonna be driving the car,

279
00:12:29,567 --> 00:12:34,000
who has no real affinity for you...
you're not related by blood or anything.

280
00:12:34,066 --> 00:12:38,333
Who has children and works hard
to provide,

281
00:12:38,400 --> 00:12:40,800
that's what she says at least,
for her children,

282
00:12:40,867 --> 00:12:46,266
would singularly obligate herself
to paying $600 a month

283
00:12:46,333 --> 00:12:51,500
for a car for you without even you having
your name on the hook as a backup.

284
00:12:51,567 --> 00:12:53,867
That doesn't make sense to me.

285
00:12:53,934 --> 00:12:56,667
You want to tell me
why it doesn't make sense to me?

286
00:12:56,734 --> 00:13:00,967
Go on. Tell me
why it doesn't make sense to me.

287
00:13:01,033 --> 00:13:02,600
From the beginning?

288
00:13:02,667 --> 00:13:04,500
[Judy]
No, don't tell me your story.

289
00:13:04,567 --> 00:13:07,400
You understand,
'cause I'm looking at your face.

290
00:13:07,467 --> 00:13:09,667
You understand
what my problem is with this.

291
00:13:09,734 --> 00:13:12,133
'Cause according to this,
you went with her to help her,

292
00:13:12,200 --> 00:13:14,734
and all of a sudden,
it was just put in your name.

293
00:13:14,800 --> 00:13:17,433
-Does she have a driver's license?
-Yes.

294
00:13:17,500 --> 00:13:21,066
Just a minute.
From what state is your driver's license?

295
00:13:21,133 --> 00:13:22,400
California.

296
00:13:22,467 --> 00:13:24,300
-Is it current?
-Yes, it is.

297
00:13:24,367 --> 00:13:26,900
-Was it current when you leased the car?
-Yes, it was.

298
00:13:26,967 --> 00:13:28,934
If you have a current driver's license,

299
00:13:29,000 --> 00:13:31,834
unless you defaulted on other loans.
Did you?

300
00:13:31,900 --> 00:13:34,333
No, I've never had a repo on a car.

301
00:13:34,400 --> 00:13:36,165
-On anything?
-On anything.

302
00:13:36,233 --> 00:13:38,533
[Judy]
Well, then why was her name on the lease?

303
00:13:38,600 --> 00:13:40,900
-That's what I didn't...
-Come on.

304
00:13:40,967 --> 00:13:43,600
I didn't find that out until a week later

305
00:13:43,667 --> 00:13:47,233
when I went to go take the car back
to get another car,

306
00:13:47,300 --> 00:13:49,300
because I ended up losing my job.

307
00:13:49,367 --> 00:13:51,200
So, I tried to take the car back.

308
00:13:51,266 --> 00:13:53,433
A week after you got the car,
you went to take it back?

309
00:13:53,500 --> 00:13:55,834
Yes, I did, and that's when I found out
the car--

310
00:13:55,900 --> 00:13:59,000
No, no, no, that's not even
what you say here.

311
00:14:01,633 --> 00:14:03,166
She was late on the payments.

312
00:14:03,233 --> 00:14:06,533
I kept telling her to surrender the car
if she could not make the payments.

313
00:14:06,600 --> 00:14:10,600
She said, "I can't do that because I've
already put so much money into the car."

314
00:14:10,667 --> 00:14:12,400
-She didn't put any money into the car.
-Correct.

315
00:14:12,467 --> 00:14:15,500
I put $6,000 into that car
when I drove it off the lot.

316
00:14:15,567 --> 00:14:16,567
So what?

317
00:14:28,734 --> 00:14:32,367
[narrator] Octavia Westbrook
claims her aunt-in-law

318
00:14:32,433 --> 00:14:37,000
Tia Westbrook owes for a car lease
and repossession fees.

319
00:14:37,066 --> 00:14:38,367
[Judy]
Okay, go ahead.

320
00:14:38,433 --> 00:14:40,300
[Tia]
She was supposed to be a co-signer.

321
00:14:40,367 --> 00:14:42,834
The car was not supposed
to be in her name.

322
00:14:42,900 --> 00:14:44,900
And he told me I needed a co-signer.

323
00:14:44,967 --> 00:14:48,066
I asked her, I told her, "Please help me.

324
00:14:48,133 --> 00:14:50,800
I will pay my car note,"
and she said yes.

325
00:14:50,867 --> 00:14:53,600
You want to tell me the truth
so I can get to it?

326
00:14:53,667 --> 00:14:55,266
'Cause it's almost lunchtime.

327
00:14:55,333 --> 00:14:57,467
You want to tell me the truth?
Not the made up story,

328
00:14:57,533 --> 00:14:59,934
not what I read here,
which is totally inconsistent

329
00:15:00,066 --> 00:15:01,200
with what she just said.

330
00:15:01,266 --> 00:15:03,000
'Cause then you have
to keep your story straight.

331
00:15:03,066 --> 00:15:04,000
Yes.

332
00:15:04,066 --> 00:15:05,467
[Judy]
'Cause you're not getting any money.

333
00:15:05,533 --> 00:15:09,467
If there's any money exchanged here,
it will go to whom money is owed.

334
00:15:09,533 --> 00:15:11,734
And I'm not even sure that
that's gonna happen.

335
00:15:11,800 --> 00:15:14,533
-Mm-hmm.
-[Judy] But I want to hear what happened

336
00:15:14,600 --> 00:15:17,900
when she wanted to lease a car
and you went with her.

337
00:15:17,967 --> 00:15:19,433
-Do you understand?
-Yes. Yes.

338
00:15:19,500 --> 00:15:21,166
-[Judy] Did you go with her?
-Yes, I did.

339
00:15:21,233 --> 00:15:24,066
[Judy] Did you have an agreement as
to something before you went with her?

340
00:15:24,133 --> 00:15:26,633
-[Octavia] No, we did not.
-[Judy] What kind of work do you do?

341
00:15:26,700 --> 00:15:28,066
I work in customer service.

342
00:15:28,133 --> 00:15:30,000
-And you have two children.
-[Octavia] Yes, I do.

343
00:15:30,066 --> 00:15:31,867
-Are you their sole support?
-Yes, I am.

344
00:15:31,934 --> 00:15:33,467
-[Judy] How old are they?
-Two and five.

345
00:15:33,533 --> 00:15:35,834
So, tell me how you got involved
with this.

346
00:15:35,900 --> 00:15:38,867
So, she called me and asked me
could I take her to the dealership

347
00:15:38,934 --> 00:15:42,100
because she had already got approved
for a loan for a vehicle.

348
00:15:42,165 --> 00:15:44,400
[Judy] So, this wasn't a lease,
this was an ownership?

349
00:15:44,467 --> 00:15:46,533
She said that
she was already approved for it,

350
00:15:46,600 --> 00:15:49,400
and that I was just solely taking her
to the dealership

351
00:15:49,467 --> 00:15:52,033
to go pay for it and get the car.

352
00:15:52,100 --> 00:15:55,033
So, I picked her up that morning,
I took her to the dealership

353
00:15:55,100 --> 00:15:58,066
to go get the car.
I was not gonna get out the car,

354
00:15:58,133 --> 00:16:00,834
and then she said, hey,
do you want to come out and look at it?

355
00:16:00,900 --> 00:16:05,934
So, I did. And as they went to,
I guess run her credit and everything,

356
00:16:06,000 --> 00:16:09,734
they came back to us
and said that she did not qualify

357
00:16:09,800 --> 00:16:12,300
for the loan because of her credit.

358
00:16:12,367 --> 00:16:14,500
-You remember that conversation?
-Yes, ma'am.

359
00:16:14,567 --> 00:16:18,934
Okay. So, they said
you don't have the credit to get this car.

360
00:16:19,000 --> 00:16:22,000
-You remember that. Okay.
-Yes. I need a co-signer.

361
00:16:22,066 --> 00:16:23,300
And then what happened?

362
00:16:23,367 --> 00:16:26,033
When they came back and mentioned
she didn't qualify for the loan--

363
00:16:26,100 --> 00:16:28,600
They said, "We can't give you the car,
you don't qualify."

364
00:16:28,667 --> 00:16:32,700
Yes. And two weeks prior,
I had just leased my own vehicle.

365
00:16:32,767 --> 00:16:36,700
And they said, "Can you sign
for the car for her?"

366
00:16:36,767 --> 00:16:41,400
And then, she would refinance the loan
to transfer the vehicle into her name

367
00:16:41,467 --> 00:16:43,900
once her credit qualified for it.

368
00:16:43,967 --> 00:16:47,967
I was hesitant about it, but then,
she's my uncle's wife.

369
00:16:48,033 --> 00:16:50,100
I've been cordial with her, like--

370
00:16:50,165 --> 00:16:53,300
Just a second. So you had
leased a car two weeks before.

371
00:16:53,367 --> 00:16:54,900
Yes, for myself.

372
00:16:54,967 --> 00:16:57,467
-[Judy] Do you still have that car? Okay.
-Yes, I do.

373
00:16:57,533 --> 00:17:00,233
Now, clearly there was something wrong
with your credit.

374
00:17:00,300 --> 00:17:03,166
Now, you have to tell me
what was wrong with your credit.

375
00:17:03,233 --> 00:17:07,200
I don't know. I got into an accident
on my way home from work one night.

376
00:17:07,266 --> 00:17:11,567
And the insurance company paid it off.
But they didn't pay the full amount off.

377
00:17:11,633 --> 00:17:13,032
And you didn't have GAP insurance.

378
00:17:13,099 --> 00:17:16,300
No-- Yes, I did have GAP insurance,
but they said,

379
00:17:16,367 --> 00:17:18,934
something with the insurance company.
I still have a problem...

380
00:17:19,000 --> 00:17:22,032
Whatever it is, it was your problem

381
00:17:22,099 --> 00:17:24,467
because you had a problem
with another car.

382
00:17:24,532 --> 00:17:25,633
Right.

383
00:17:25,700 --> 00:17:29,400
That there was an outstanding balance on
that was never paid...

384
00:17:29,467 --> 00:17:31,367
And I didn't know about it.

385
00:17:31,433 --> 00:17:33,600
[Judy]
...that impacted on your credit.

386
00:17:33,667 --> 00:17:35,400
That I did not know about.

387
00:17:35,467 --> 00:17:36,767
Well, what did you do to fix it?

388
00:17:36,834 --> 00:17:39,100
[Tia] Making payments. It's only $600.

389
00:17:39,166 --> 00:17:41,467
-It's for how much?
-It's $600.

390
00:17:41,533 --> 00:17:45,266
[Judy] So, your credit was destroyed
for $600.

391
00:17:45,333 --> 00:17:48,800
And I didn't know nothing about it
until after all of this happened.

392
00:17:48,867 --> 00:17:50,834
-[Judy] Okay.
-Okay.

393
00:17:50,900 --> 00:17:52,667
Nobody knows...

394
00:17:52,734 --> 00:17:56,166
Okay. So, then you said...
Go ahead.

395
00:17:56,233 --> 00:17:59,000
Yes, I said that I was hesitant about it,

396
00:17:59,066 --> 00:18:02,400
but she said, "I promise I'll make
all my payments on time, early.

397
00:18:02,467 --> 00:18:04,633
I've never been late,
never had a car repossessed.

398
00:18:04,700 --> 00:18:06,834
And I promise
that I will make the payments

399
00:18:06,900 --> 00:18:08,600
and transfer the vehicle into my name."

400
00:18:08,667 --> 00:18:10,834
So, I agreed to sign for it.

401
00:18:10,900 --> 00:18:13,133
It was no conversation of co-signing

402
00:18:13,200 --> 00:18:15,934
because she did not qualify
for the vehicle.

403
00:18:16,000 --> 00:18:20,400
So, the vehicle was solely in my name.
When I was signing the paperwork,

404
00:18:20,467 --> 00:18:23,200
she was sitting right next to me
during the whole time.

405
00:18:23,266 --> 00:18:25,500
-[Judy] So, you bought a car.
-Yes.

406
00:18:25,567 --> 00:18:30,734
Well, then if it's in your name,
you repossess the car, you sell it.

407
00:18:30,800 --> 00:18:33,433
She was late on the payments.
I kept telling her

408
00:18:33,500 --> 00:18:35,800
to surrender the car
if she could not make the payments.

409
00:18:35,867 --> 00:18:40,100
She said, "I can't do that because I've
already put so much money into the car."

410
00:18:40,166 --> 00:18:41,500
And she kept saying--

411
00:18:41,567 --> 00:18:45,033
No, she didn't. She only had the car
for a year. The payments were $600.

412
00:18:45,100 --> 00:18:47,000
She was not making none of them on time.

413
00:18:47,066 --> 00:18:49,133
-She didn't put any money into the car.
-[Octavia] Correct.

414
00:18:49,200 --> 00:18:51,967
I put $6,000 into that car
when I drove it off the lot.

415
00:18:52,033 --> 00:18:53,300
So what?

416
00:18:53,367 --> 00:18:56,066
I did put at least $10,000
into that car.

417
00:18:58,100 --> 00:19:00,133
[Judy]
How much was the car in total?

418
00:19:00,200 --> 00:19:01,867
That's what I-- We never--

419
00:19:01,934 --> 00:19:04,333
-You're asking a question.
-You don't know.

420
00:19:04,400 --> 00:19:07,767
So, the answer is, you don't know
how much the car was in total.

421
00:19:07,834 --> 00:19:09,867
The car in total was worth $27,000--

422
00:19:09,934 --> 00:19:12,166
[Judy]
I didn't ask you what it was worth.

423
00:19:12,233 --> 00:19:14,900
I'd like to see the bill of sale.

424
00:19:14,967 --> 00:19:17,133
This is the contract here.

425
00:19:26,033 --> 00:19:31,934
[Judy] You put down a $6,000 deposit,
so the car was $33,000.

426
00:19:32,000 --> 00:19:33,834
Okay. Now, the car is repossessed.

427
00:19:33,900 --> 00:19:36,433
-Who caused the car to be repossessed?
-Tia.

428
00:19:36,500 --> 00:19:39,633
No, no, no, who caused it?
The finance company 'cause she didn't pay

429
00:19:39,700 --> 00:19:41,633
or you said repossess the car?

430
00:19:41,700 --> 00:19:43,200
The finance company.

431
00:19:43,266 --> 00:19:46,300
Now let me see the communication you got
from the finance company.

432
00:19:46,367 --> 00:19:48,367
[Octavia]
Here, I sent her a text message

433
00:19:48,433 --> 00:19:51,300
saying that she was behind in the payments
and how far.

434
00:19:51,367 --> 00:19:53,567
Not interested in that. You make a claim.

435
00:19:53,633 --> 00:19:56,533
You say the car was repossessed
and it was sold at auction

436
00:19:56,600 --> 00:19:59,600
and there was a deficiency
that you're being charged for.

437
00:19:59,667 --> 00:20:01,567
I want to see that paperwork.

438
00:20:01,633 --> 00:20:04,633
They would've notified you
that the car was sold at auction,

439
00:20:04,700 --> 00:20:08,266
this is the deficiency.
That's what I want to see. Do you have it?

440
00:20:08,333 --> 00:20:11,633
So, the only thing that I have here is
when it was repo'd.

441
00:20:11,700 --> 00:20:14,967
It was actually repo'd in February,
mid-February. There, and then the amount.

442
00:20:15,033 --> 00:20:17,200
Are you not understanding
what I'm saying to you?

443
00:20:17,266 --> 00:20:19,000
I don't have that information.

444
00:20:19,066 --> 00:20:20,600
Does it exist anywhere?

445
00:20:20,667 --> 00:20:21,734
I don't have that.

446
00:20:21,800 --> 00:20:24,233
Well, then your case is dismissed.
We're done. Thank you very much.

447
00:20:24,300 --> 00:20:25,834
[Kevin]
This court is adjourned.

448
00:20:28,934 --> 00:20:32,900
Tia did say that she would pay for this
and now I'm responsible for it.

449
00:20:32,967 --> 00:20:34,967
I hate to see my niece going through this.

450
00:20:35,033 --> 00:20:37,600
She did not have the income to pay for it,

451
00:20:37,667 --> 00:20:41,033
and I kept telling her to just surrender
the car. And she would not do that.

452
00:20:41,100 --> 00:20:43,900
I'm struggling.
I'm struggling to keep a job.

453
00:20:43,967 --> 00:20:45,734
It's just over and done with.

454
00:20:45,800 --> 00:20:49,433
I just hope it can be resolved
in a peaceful way.

455
00:20:50,900 --> 00:20:53,367
They don't just repo a car
without any notice.

456
00:20:53,433 --> 00:20:57,000
They send you emails, they call you,
they send you things in the mail.

457
00:20:57,066 --> 00:20:59,934
Multiple. And so, any one of those
would've sufficed.

458
00:21:00,066 --> 00:21:03,400
No, only the one that said,
we sold the car at auction...

459
00:21:03,467 --> 00:21:05,667
And now you're on the hook
for this amount.

460
00:21:05,734 --> 00:21:09,200
And now, this is what you owe
after we sold the car at auction.

461
00:21:09,266 --> 00:21:11,100
-And she didn't have that.
-Something was off.

462
00:21:11,166 --> 00:21:15,333
There was something off with that case.
From looking at the plaintiff.

463
00:21:15,400 --> 00:21:20,100
Credit card companies want
as many people on the hook as possible.

464
00:21:20,166 --> 00:21:22,800
So, why would it be put
solely in her name?

465
00:21:22,867 --> 00:21:24,934
That's the whole point
of having a co-signer

466
00:21:25,000 --> 00:21:26,667
is because one of them must not qualify...

467
00:21:26,734 --> 00:21:29,834
You may be primary, but then you also have
somebody else on the hook.

468
00:21:29,900 --> 00:21:31,567
Something was off in that case.

469
00:21:33,166 --> 00:21:34,433
[narrator]
Want justice?

470
00:21:34,500 --> 00:21:36,734
Go to JudyJustice.tv.

471
00:21:41,633 --> 00:21:44,500
[theme music playing]