I'm just as good as a player as he is,
if not better.
[ Cheers and applause ]
[ Imitates weapon cocking ] [ Brandon laughs ]
[ Imitates machine gun firing ] Boom!
And I was screaming.
I -- I was like, "Hey, let me out!
Let me out!"
[ Mockingly ] "Help. Help. Help.
Help me."
It wasn't exactly like that, but...
Okay. But that's not funny.
And I am not [Laughing] laughing about this.
[ Laughter ]
This is not funny.
You gonna stop...
Order in here! All this laughing.
Hey, it's a big world out there,
and it's filled with people that just don't see eye to eye.
See, that's where I come in.
See, I ain't got a law degree,
and I'm way too fly to wear a robe.
But this is where common sense presides -- in my house.
Court is now in session.
[ Chuckles ]
-- Captions by VITAC --
All rise for the Honorable Judge Steve Harvey!
[ Cheers and applause ]
♪♪
Okay, let's get started.
This is the case
of Jordynn Bethel vs. Brandon Bishop.
Jordynn is suing her boyfriend, Brandon, for $6,850
for choosing his gaming console and best friend
over their relationship.
Brandon believes this suit is ridiculous
and Jordynn needs to get over it.
Ah, let's start with you, Jordynn.
You have 30 seconds to state your case.
Hi, Your Honor.
I'm here today suing my boyfriend, Brandon,
for $6,850 today.
$5,350 of that is due to the TV that I bought,
console, accessories,
and everything that belongs with it.
And then the $1,500
is for the emotional damage the past three years
because we've been fighting constantly over the system
since he's been playing with his best friend,
constantly, nonstop.
Okay, Brandon, you have 30 seconds to respond.
To be honest, Your Honor,
I think it's a little bit ludicrous
that we're here today.
Jordynn Bethel, my girlfriend,
she's suing me over
all of the gifts that she's given me
over this past couple of years.
Yeah, I play video games with my buddy Dylan,
but I also like to prioritize
my time with her.
I love this woman.
I'm trying to grow a family
and become successful together.
[ Spectators "aww" ]
[ Applause ]
[ Applause fades ]
[ Light laughter ]
Y'all fell for that, huh?
[ Laughter ]
We'll find out about this "aww" in a minute.
Let me go to you, Jordynn.
How long have you been boyfriend and girlfriend?
We've been together for five years,
and they've been great.
I love him to death, and he knows that.
But it's the... When -- When -- When you say together,
what do you mean by that?
Do you all live together?
Yes. We have two kids together. Um...
Oh, well, this -- this a little bit more
than boyfriend/girlfriend.
So he's basically my husband.
I just don't have the accessories.
[ Spectators groan ]
What? You wanted to say something?
I saw your finger go up.
Oh, I would eventually like to marry her,
but a woman of that caliber,
she deserves a good ring, you know,
And unfortunately, with the job that I have,
I just don't make a whole lot of money.
Well, I -- you know, I don't want to get ahead
of nothing right here, but we done --
We suing for gifts you bought him.
So we have a breakdown of what you bought.
Yes, I do, sir. You turned that in.
Let's see that. I do.
Okay, you got a gaming console,
a wireless gaming headset --
You got two of them --
the gaming drive storage,
wireless controller,
online membership,
75-inch TV,
quick charging stand,
downloaded games,
disc games, 20 of them --
$5,350.
Yes, sir.
Let me ask you something, Brandon.
You agree with that pricing?
That's fair?
That is over at least three years.
The TV, the terabyte gaming console,
that's relatively new.
I bought them so he can be playing with me
'cause I wanted to spend more time with him.
That is my way of reaching out
and trying to spend time
is finding things that he liked.
So you work a lot?
I do.
I'm a kitchen manager at a country club --
roughly 55 to 60 hours a week.
So he works a lot.
Let's talk about the video games and the game
and the problem it's presenting.
As soon as he gets home,
he's on the game.
Like, as soon as he gets home.
[ Spectators murmur ] We have a photo.
Like -- [ Chuckles ] [ Chuckles ]
It's as soon -- And like,
you can see, like, the headsets on,
he's talking.
And he's clearly not talking to me
'cause I'm the one taking the picture.
And then he plays for hours, right?
And then it's time for bed.
I get that he wants to decompress,
but it's to the point to where,
like, it's not fair for me
'cause I am home
Monday through Saturday with the kids,
and then on Sundays, I'm a full-time server
helping bring in partial of the bills.
Is what she's saying is true?
So everything except the amount of time
that I play the video games.
I am usually out of the kitchen
at about 10:00, 10:30, and I get home.
You get home at 10:00 at night?
Roughly, a little bit later.
And you decompress for about how long?
About 45 minutes to an hour.
And then you go to bed?
Not necessarily,
but it's usually a quick meal
that she's gracious enough to provide.
And, yeah, bed after that.
Not just provide. I make the plate.
I carry it to him. Oh, she does --
She does the wife work.
Wait a minute. Hold on. She does what?
She -- She's --
No, no. Say what you said.
She does the wife work, like, she really shows --
[ Spectators murmur ]
Not in a -- Not in a negative --
Now, right there, see -- You got to hear yourself now.
You said she does the "wife work."
Um, when I say "wife work,"
what I really mean is just providing... I -- Well, we know exactly what you mean.
[ Chuckles ] ...providing for me... [ Laughter ]
...you know, and helping me out.
Oh, we got a clear picture of that already.
See, you -- you remember when you first came out here... Mm-hmm.
...and you told your story, and the whole crowd went, "Aww"?
[ Chuckles ] Yeah, I do. See, you just --
You done lost them with that.
[ Laughs ]
Well... All that, you -- you ain't gonna get no more of that today.
All them people back there with long hair...
Mm-hmm. ...they no longer have any feelings for you at all.
[ Laughs ]
Yeah. [ Laughter and applause ]
Okay, so, now, he comes home. He decompresses.
Is that creating a problem?
You're arguing about this? Is this -- It is.
He gets on so immediately with somebody else,
it feels like I'm not one anymore. Well, but...
In your opening, you said,
"I wanted something to do together." Correct.
So you bought the game system.
Yes. It's creating friction.
Right, it's creating friction.
It just feels like I'm being pushed off.
But then he has Dylan hop on the game with us.
So then it's... Wait, wait. What --
Okay. Now, who is Dylan?
Dylan is his best friend.
We started culinary school together.
Uh, we do work together.
Uh, however, you know... Exactly.
They work together.
Right. Like, they're there together all day.
And then he comes home and plays the game with him?
[ Spectators murmur ]
Okay, well, we got Dylan here today.
Dylan, come on in.
[ Cheers and applause ]
♪♪
Dylan, uh, tell me what you do.
I am a sous-chef at a country club
in Saint Louis.
I work with Brandon.
So do you use video games as decompression, also?
I hop on there with -- with him
tops, maybe 3 hours a week, if that.
I have a child at home, as well,
and a fiancée that stays at home.
Fiancée. That's nice.
Oh.
Whoo!
[ Spectators cheer ]
Feisty. That's okay. That's why I love her.
Don't worry about it.
Because she's doing "wife work," so...
[ Spectators groan ]
[ Laughter and applause ]
I hop on there maybe 3 hours a week.
I have a child and a fiancée
at home, as well.
That's nice.
Oh.
Whoo!
[ Spectators cheer ]
Feisty. That's okay. That's why I love her.
Don't worry about it.
Because she's doing "wife work," so...
[ Spectators groan ]
[ Laughter and applause ]
Whoo! Two for two.
Now, would that amount of time bother you?
That time wouldn't bother me if it was the truth.
The truth is, that's not
the right amount of time that's being spent on it.
Okay, so what are you saying is the right amount of time?
Honestly, I have it all for you
if you want me to...
Could I see it? Yeah, of course. Yeah.
Nancy.
[ Cheers and applause ]
You know a woman doesn't come unprepared.
I know a woman don't come unprepared, Lord.
[ Chuckles ] [ Laughs ]
Explain to me how you came up with this sheet.
Because he keeps telling me that he's only playing
an hour, three times a week.
So I decided to just keep track of it,
a little journal on my own,
so I could really track the hours
to see if I'm crazy
or if he's just not seeing what I'm saying.
So let me go through this.
Yes.
On a Saturday, June 1, from 8:47 a. m. to 11:00 a. m.,
total gaming time with Dylan --
2 hours and 41 minutes.
[ Spectators groan ]
Sunday, another 2 hours and 45 minutes.
Then we got another 2 hours and 45 minutes.
We got 2 hours and 15 minutes.
Okay, fellas...
[ Applause ]
I suggest that you do not
bring the woman you're sleeping with to court.
[ Chuckles ]
They're going to have information about you
that you don't have about yourself.
[ Chuckles ] [ Chuckles ]
Total hours played in 10 days --
37 hours and 14 minutes.
[ Spectators murmur ]
So out of the 10 days,
you spent a day and a half gaming.
Dylan, did you have any idea about that?
No, not at all.
I mean, my -- my fiancée
isn't bringing me on "Judge Steve Harvey," so...
[ Laughter ]
[ Applause ]
Now, do you think she has a valid point?
Yeah, probably.
And the rea-- the reason I say that
is because a lot of those hours
that were logged, I get off late.
So by the time I get home, kids are already in bed.
Some of them are a. m. times.
Clocked in. Some of it is a. m. time I'll get on.
Right before he walks into work.
[ Spectators murmur ] Yeah.
Hey, what -- what do you do to decompress?
I don't really get that. [ Chuckles ]
And I'm not trying to sound funny, either.
Like, I don't feel like I get that.
'Cause I'm home cleaning, doing my thing.
So when he comes home, he's at peace.
Like, I want him to want to come home.
So I make sure the house is how he wants it.
And then I get the kids asleep.
And then I will cook him and I a meal
to eat together late at night.
I love providing for him in that way,
but I feel like I don't ever
get to decompress like he does at all. Okay.
Now we have Dylan here.
Mm-hmm.
How would you describe your friendship?
Like a brother from another mother.
They have a photo.
Ha, ha!
[ Laughter ]
You know, just trying to go back through my mind...
trying to think of just the...
you know, what point in my life
one of my buddies has jumped into my arms...
[ Laughter ]
...and I've held him,
with his crack showing...
[ Laughter ]
...while he's kissing me. I didn't even notice that.
While he kissing me!
I'm -- I'm just trying to figure out
where in my life...
me and him was that damn friendly.
[ Laughter ]
So, I got the $6,850 total.
$5,350 for the gaming system and TV.
But you want $1,500 for leaving you for his best friend.
For the past three years. Yeah.
So you're not playing with him.
So I bought some games
that I originally thought he would like.
And when I bought them,
I started to, literally, learn how to play them.
I had no idea how it worked. I had to figure it out.
Learn the buttons. All that jazz, right? Yeah.
What am I doing? I-I know wife work, right?
Ooh! So I continue to do what I need to do.
Boy, you were right.
Came back and got me.
[ Cheers and applause ]
Came back and got me.
[ Chuckles ] Women use what you say
as bullets to shoot you with them. She's just so ready.
She's so good at it, you know?
Like, I could say, "Hey, that breakfast was good."
And she'd be like, "Oh, yeah! Pow, pow, pow!"
Oh, yeah. No, I'm just playing.
I'm just playing.
[ Chuckles ] Let me ask you.
How long have you been stupid?
[ Laughter ]
Uh...let's see...
[ Applause ]
I'm 28... Man.
...so I'd say most of that. I mean, Brandon.
I-I love you, man, but I'm trying to --
I'm trying to say that -- You kind of looking at him.
You can't believe he said that, can you?
Uh, um... [ Clears throat ]
[ Laughter ]
Uh, right now, your case is going downhill.
Fast. [ Chuckles ]
We gotta hurry up and try to make it turn.
And we gonna give you a chance to do that.
Absolutely. So my wife has four sets of golf clubs.
I pray to God that she never likes golf.
Because I don't want to play golf with my wife.
It just ain't as fun. Right.
"Steve, how come this ball won't go in the air?"
"'Cause, well, your ass don't know how to play."
Right.
[ Laughter ]
Yeah. So I'll give you that all day.
I went out of my way, and while he was at work
and the kids would be taking a nap or one was at school,
I got on and learned how to play.
I'm just as good as a player as he is, if not better.
[ Cheers and applause ]
[ Imitates weapon cocking ] [ Laughs ]
[ Imitates machine gun firing ] Boom!
[ Imitates weapon cocking ] Boom!
I'm trying.
It's not like I'm just like...
I mean -- [ Chuckles ] Hey, man.
Whoo!
She's beat some of your scores.
Apparently.
[ Laughter ]
You should've never brought him to court.
[ Laughter ]
This is the best dude I've ever had.
I'mma let you stay here, Dylan,
simply 'cause I like you, man.
I just love you, man. Oh, I like you, too, Steve.
But, folks, I've reached a verdict.
[ Cheers and applause ]
Now, first of all, let me start this by saying this --
The words out of his mouth was she does "wife work."
Oh.
That was painful.
Then you said you work real hard
and you'd loved to make her your wife.
And I do believe that.
But he says we don't have the money.
But we done messed around and spent $5,350
on a gaming system and TV set.
That's a pretty nice ring.
So you gotta think about what it is you owe for her.
Ain't nothing stopping you
from giving her what she really want.
Nothing.
But I think you got to get your priorities together,
because the most important things
in your life right now is -- you got to be a father.
Got that right, sir.
And that's your priority.
[ Applause ]
It's hard to be dad
and it's hard to be husband when, in a 10-day period,
one and a half days is spent gaming.
Just cut back.
You have a lawsuit for $6,850?
Yes, Your Honor.
Now, $5,350 is for the game system and TV set.
And you want $1,500 for leaving you
for the best friend.
That's pain and suffering.
Well, I don't think we're here to break up.
I think we're here to stay together and make it work.
I can't give you $1,500
'cause he left you for your best friend,
because y'all still together.
But you said to me, sir,
that you would like to marry this woman.
Wholeheartedly.
And it's a financial strain right now.
But here's what I'm going to do.
I'm going to award you...
$7,000.
[ Cheers and applause ]
Thank you.
I want you to give $5,000 to that man right there.
I want you to take your $5,000 and keep your word
and marry that girl and give her a ring.
I want you to take...
[ Cheers and applause ]
...$2,000...
...go get your hair done.
Buy yourself some clothes.
That's it -- $7,000.
But you've got to spend $5,000 on the ring.
If you don't spend the $5,000 on the ring,
when I see you, I'm gonna knock your ass out.
[ Cheers and applause ]
That's my verdict.
And that's how I see it.
[ Cheers and applause ]
♪♪
[ Mockingly ] "And then I went home,
and my stupid ass climbed in the back."
[ Laughter ]
"Less than an hour later,
my ass got in the back again!
Aah!"
♪♪
Oh, this is a good one, here.
This is the case of Michelle Ravitch
vs. Michael Vallone.
Michelle is suing her cousin, Michael,
for $450 in unpaid van rental fees.
Michael says the faulty van caused him so much suffering
that he's countersuing his cousin for $5,000.
Let's start with you, Michelle.
You have 30 seconds to state your case.
Yes, Your Honor.
So I'm here suing
my now disowned cousin, Michael, for $450.
He rented a cargo van for me over the weekend,
which is peak hours,
and I never saw a dime from him.
I told him he could pay me after the weekend
'cause I thought I could trust him.
But I never saw any money.
Um, as far as his countersuit is concerned,
the emotional "anguish" is a joke,
and I would like to see a doctor's note for that.
Okay, Michael, it's your turn.
You have 30 seconds to respond.
Well, I don't owe Michelle anything.
I was locked in the back of a van for hours
against my own will.
And I lost time.
A painting could have possibly been damaged.
So I'm suing her for $5,000
for the emotional anguish I went through,
for the time I lost it,
and for just not having any respect for history.
You're cousins?
He's now disowned -- my former cousin.
Oh.
Yes.
Well, hold on.
You -- You -- You ain't the cousin no more?
Well, yeah.
Just -- Just wanted to clear that up for court purposes.
Well, I knew that, too.
Oh, you know that. I feel the same way.
Yeah. Oh, you the -- Oh, she's not your cousin anymore.
No. Okay.
So, did you all grow up close together?
Were you distant cousins?
What is it? Yeah.
So we grew up extremely close.
I would babysit him.
I mean, we would go on trips together.
As we got older, we became roommates.
But all of that has changed.
I've got an apartment out in Dallas now.
I went ahead and moved out.
I just don't want to deal with it anymore.
How did this come about? You in a business? What?
That is correct.
He's the person who inspired me
to even create this business.
He actually taught me
how to make the website, how to do everything.
I started a luxury car rental company,
and I started with one van.
I've got a cargo van.
And Mike was actually the first person to rent it.
I was so excited.
So then later... Okay, hold on.
Michael, you rent a van from her?
Is this true? Yeah, I'm -- I have an art gallery,
so I'm an art dealer.
So I had to drive like two hours away
to go save this abandoned painting.
So you rent the van from her?
I borrowed the van.
Rent is a -- You know, rent is a business word.
It was more of a --
It was more of a borrowing thing.
Absolutely not. We had a contract.
Okay, his signature is on it.
Okay, let's see this rental agreement.
Yeah, I'd love to.
Please.
Oh, here we go. "Rental term.
The term of the Car Rental Agreement runs to date
and hour the vehicle pickup was indicated
just above the signature line at the bottom of the agreement
until the return of vehicle to owner,
conclusion of all terms
at the agreement of both parties."
You know -- Well, I wasn't a good student.
But, boy, my little -- my little ass could read.
[ Laughter ]
You know, I had a severe stuttering problem.
But I could really, really read.
I just wanted to have that flex moment with you.
That deserves a round of applause.
[ Applause ]
If you follow the show,
I'll be doing more readings like this in case you wondering.
[ Chuckles ]
Okay. This is a rental agreement.
Correct.
There are no signatures here.
Yeah. I know there's signatures there.
I know -- See, there they are.
There they are. What did I say?
And who signs their name like that? That -- That's --
Oh, this is a digital signature.
Yeah, so anyone can just,
you know, put that on there.
That's just like someone typing on a keyboard.
So you are saying that I plagiarize.
I put -- [ Sighs ] Forged.
What are you trying to say? Forgery is the word you're looking for.
Thank you. Well, she's stuttering her words.
I've actually been to court for that, yes.
You're saying I forged your name? Yeah. That's not plagiarism.
I've done that, too.
That's when you copy some stuff
directly from the book
and turn it in to the teacher or the professor.
Forgery is when you sign someone else's signature.
I've done that.
He trying to say you forged his signature.
Thank you, Your Honor. Let's get these legal terms straight in here.
[ Laughter and applause ]
Okay. So, now, let's bounce over to you, Michael.
Yeah. Thank you. We have this agreement.
Yeah, it's pieces of paper with some words on it.
Yeah, I know, but that's what -- that's what agreements are.
Well, yeah, but... Agreements are a piece of paper with words on it.
I'm so happy you're right here with us.
So we have this agreement for -- Do you get the van?
But I didn't -- I mean, I got the van.
I borrowed the van.
I-I drove the van. I picked --
Let's -- Let's -- Mike, listen to me.
You rented the van.
No, I borrowed the van.
There's a very big difference in those two words.
This is not a borrow agreement.
[ Laughter ]
See, you can't borrow something
and then hold somebody liable in a --
for a business transaction.
We either have a business transaction
or we just borrowed the van.
Now, which one do we do?
Let's call it a business transaction.
Boy -- Man, thank you.
Now you on point. Now we shining.
Okay, we have this business transaction.
Okay. What happened, Mike?
I'm gonna tell you what happened. So I drive there.
Everything's great. You know, it drives fine.
There's nothing wrong with the driving.
When I get there, I load the painting up.
And then I'm driving back home.
Now, this is when it starts to get crazy.
You know, the support beams in the van
that hold the painting to the wall are loose
and it's -- it's rattling back there.
So I pull off to the -- It's rattling...
Yeah. ...from the painting?
Yeah. So I'm scared the paint is gonna get damaged.
That's why I pulled over
to the side of the road to check on it.
Okay. And when I check on it, I get out of the car.
I leave the ignition running.
I have my phone and my wallet on the seat.
The front door is open.
I get in the back of the van, and it's a super windy day,
so the doors immediately shut on me
when I get back there.
And there's no way to get out.
All the doors are completely locked.
And I was in there for hours,
and I was screaming.
I was like, "Hey, let me out! Let me out!"
But no one's gonna let me out.
Because I could push the door open
just a crack to get like two fingers out on the top.
I'm just waving to the cars.
You giving a distress signal.
Like, one finger would have really gotten their attention.
[ Laughter ]
Yes, it would have.
But I didn't get any attention.
I was in there and it was really hot in there.
There's -- You know, it's dark in there.
And I was having anxiety, claustrophobia,
and I was getting really sweaty.
And this is what ruined the shirt.
Hold up, wait. We have a photo of this van?
Yes, there is a photo. We do.
Let me see the inside of the van. Yes, let's pull it up.
The support beams aren't in this photo yet.
So there's no windows. No windows.
No ventilation. It's closed in.
Exactly.
I mean, but it looks in good shape, though.
Well, yeah, I mean, it's in good shape,
but it doesn't mean you want to hang out in there for hours.
[ Laughter ]
So how long would you say you were back there?
Like, two to three hours. That's why my shirt got ruined.
'Cause I was so sweaty that the mixture of the sweat
and the deodorant, it just stained the silk shirt.
And silk is such a delicate fabric, as we know.
How did you get out? A local jogger.
He -- After hours of -- He -- He'd come back,
and he's pulling on the door, too.
And he's like, "Hey, is someone in there?"
And I'm like, "Yeah."
He's yanking on the door for a while.
And he can't even get it.
But then he goes and he turns the car off,
he gets the ignition,
and then he unlocks it with the key
and then I finally get out.
And I'm just like -- I'm, like, dazed.
I have no idea what's going on.
Well, you know, I have a little experience with a cargo van.
Yeah. Me, too.
And once you get back there, it's for cargo.
And I did have cargo back there.
I-I didn't want to go back there,
but the support beams were so, you know,
rattling and loud that...
You keep talking about these support beams... Yeah.
...that -- that's not in the photo. Well, they're not in that photo yet.
But there -- there were support beams in there.
There's no supporting evidence
to support these "support beams."
There's no supporting evidence -- This. Never.
[ Cheers and applause ]
What needs support is your argument.
[ Laughs ]
That's a cold move right there. I like that.
♪♪
There's no supporting evidence
to support these "support beams."
There's no supporting evidence -- This. Never. No.
What needs support is your argument. [ Laughs ]
That's a cold move right there. I like that.
[ Laughter ]
Tell him how many times you got locked back there.
I got -- Twice.
Whoa, whoa. Wait.
[ Spectators murmur ]
So you get out behind there.
The dude running by, he saw the fingers.
The distress signal was out. Yeah.
He saw the peace sign. [ Mockingly ] "Help.
Help. Help. Help me.
Help me."
Well, it wasn't exactly like that,
but I was screaming for help.
Okay, so what happens now?
When I get back home, I do the same thing again.
I get back in there and it shuts on me once again.
But luckily, my neighbor,
after probably like 40 minutes to an hour,
he was walking down the street.
You were in there another hour?
Yes.
[ Chuckles ] And it was still as hot out.
[ Laughter ]
So now we're talking about a total
of like four to five hours.
[ Applause ]
[ Laughter ]
That had to be horrible.
Yes. Thank you.
She doesn't think it was bad. It was terrifying.
Tell me how you get out.
Well, I actually have a witness statement
from my neighbor that I submitted to the court.
You got a witness statement?
Alright, here we go.
"...of this white cargo van.
I walked over and tried to open the back hatch a few times.
Eventually..."
[ Laughter ]
You didn't even thank Blake?
Well, I did in the -- in the future.
I was just so distraught.
You know, when you're in this state of mind
of anxiety and claustrophobia,
you don't know what's going on.
It was just me and the painting.
[ Laughter ]
Okay, so when do you hear about this?
So I'm just going about my day.
All of a sudden, my phone starts blowing up,
the family group chat.
Everyone is livid
because I gave sweet little Michael --
You know, he's younger than me... I'm so sweet.
...an anxiety attack.
Okay? Who did you call?
Well, the -- the whole --
my mom, my dad, and Michelle.
We're all in the same group chat.
I decided to let everyone know that Michelle was buying,
you know, vans that don't work,
and she's just renting them out to me
and letting me torture.
I'm here to tell you that cargo vans are set up for cargo.
Cargo normally doesn't have to escape.
[ Laughter ]
I didn't intend to become cargo, but I did.
And that's how Michelle views me as a piece of cargo.
Let's ship him out of here. [ Chuckles ]
[ Laughter and applause ]
Your countersuit is for $5,000.
Walk me through what you're trying...
Well, it's emotional anguish just for, you know,
the traumatizing effect.
You know, money -- That money would soothe that. That's $4,895.41
for emotional distress.
Exactly. Um, not only that,
but I'm also suing her for all the time I lost.
I lost like five hours of my life due to this, and...
You want $100 for the silk shirt?
Yeah. It's silk.
And so it got ruined?
Yeah. By the mix of the sweat
and the deodorant caused this --
You know, I don't use that brand anymore --
but the mix of that stained the shirt
to where it was irreparable by dry cleaning.
You have a receipt for your dry cleaning?
Yep. It's like $4.59.
[ Laughter ]
Tell me what you're suing for, Michelle.
Right. You suit is for $450,
three days of unpaid van rental. Correct.
And $450 for a van is ridiculous.
You know, I just want to support a family.
Support my family by taking the car and not paying me.
Well, why would I pay for that? You can --
Who pay for it? No one would pay for that.
This is not my fault. Okay. I've reached my verdict.
[ Cheers and applause ]
I have two people that grew up together who were cousins.
You encouraged her to start her own business.
You said you would support her...
by renting the van.
Thus, we have a rental agreement.
An accident occurred.
It's not your fault, but it ain't her fault.
I like you, man, but when you made -- See, the group text
to tell your mom and your dad and auntie,
"I don't like this van. My shirt got messed up.
It's stained. I had to throw it away,"
who -- Don't -- Don't nobody give a damn.
So what?
Hey, look, man, as far as your countersuit goes,
I'm gonna give you $100 for your shirt
because I love clothes.
Yes.
I'm gonna give you $4.59 for your cleaning bill.
Well, than-- It helps.
You're welcome.
[ Laughter ]
[ Applause ]
The emotional distress is dismissed.
Ooh.
[ Mockingly ] "Mama, I was in the van.
It was hot in there, and I was in the van.
And I was in the van for two hours.
And then some people came by and they was running.
And then I went home,
and my stupid ass climbed in the back.
And less than an hour later,
my ass got in the back again!
Aah!
Does anyone care?!"
"Hello?"
[ Laughter ]
[ Cheers and applause ]
For the plaintiff,
uh, your suit for $450 is completely valid.
Three days of unpaid van fees.
And so you owe her $450.
That's my verdict.
And that's the way I see it.
[ Cheers and applause ]
[ Mockingly ] "He didn't give me no money.
He didn't give me no money!
I hate him!"
Um, she said, "You're already married,"
I said, "But I was gonna invite my friends."
She was like, "You don't even got no friends."
[ Spectators murmur ]
Spectator: Do you?
What?!
[ Laughter ]
♪♪
Okay, so, let's get started.
This is the case of Franshawn Ricketts
vs. Nor Brown.
Franshawn is suing her partner, Nor, for $10,000
for their dream wedding reception and honeymoon.
Nor says she doesn't want to pay for a wedding or honeymoon.
They have other priorities.
Alright, uh, let's start with you, Franshawn.
You have 30 seconds to state your case.
Hi, Mr. Harvey.
I'm here suing Nor for $10,000
for what would have been my wedding day and a honeymoon.
Nor traded our wedding day
in for a picket fence and some home repairs.
Okay. Nor, it's your turn. You have 30 seconds to respond.
Mr. Harvey, I think, it's very selfish of her.
I'm not giving her anything
because I believe priorities should come first.
We have a lot of things that's going on with our house
that needs to be done and a lot of repairs that needs to be done.
What is y'all's relationship?
I've known Nor since I was 15.
We grew up on the same block.
We were able to stay in contact
'cause our families were connected.
So we ended up staying together and getting married.
[ Spectators murmur ]
We've been married for almost two years now.
Well, then, congratulations. Now we got it figured out.
No. So now -- What? Wait.
[ Applause ]
Okay, now just -- I'm just -- I got to put the story together.
I had explained to her when we first got involved
that I wanted to be married.
A couple years pass and we got engaged.
When was the wedding supposed to be?
April of 2021.
So you engaged and we planning a wedding.
Do you have a theme for the wedding?
Yes, denim and diamonds.
Denim and diamonds?
Yes. You better go, girl.
[ Laughter ]
Denim and diamonds.
[ Laughs ]
I like the way that sound.
[ Laughs ]
Alright, now. Then what happened?
So we begin to save money.
Um, we decided to put it in this big water bottle.
In a water bottle? I brought a picture.
[ Chuckles ] You got a picture of it?
Okay, so you putting money in here you saving.
So we putting money in here. Every pay we figured out --
So after we met with the, um -- the hall people,
put a deposit down on the hall, we announced this dinner.
We announce our wedding party,
our officiant, we get our marriage license.
All is well. COVID happens.
We decided we will go to the justice of peace
so that we could keep the day.
And then the following year,
we would do it big for our family and friends.
That was agreed upon.
This was agreed upon.
Stop right there. Ms. Nor.
Yes, it was agreed upon.
Agreed upon? Yes.
Go ahead.
[ Laughs ]
See, I see what's happening here.
Okay.
So two weeks before the day
we were supposed to get married, the courts called and said,
"Due to COVID, the courts are shutting down
and you won't be able to get married here.
However, the officiant is willing
to do your wedding day outside her house,
in your car if you still want to come."
So I'm like, "The court is gonna close.
Oh, my God. I'm gonna die.
Like, I'm not gonna get married.
Like, this is horrible for me."
It was, like, just too much.
and I was too impatient, I guess.
So I says to her,
"We can do it at the officiant's house,
and I'm willing to do that if you're willing to do that.
But I really want a wedding next year
for our friends and family and my -- and the honeymoon."
And she said, "Okay."
I told her if she would not be so impatient
that things would happen and she wanted to rush it.
I don't know if she thought that I wasn't gonna still,
you know, want to get married.
I'm not sure what the case was.
But when she said it,
I wanted her to know that I do love her.
So we're -- we're gonna do this.
Did it sound a little strange, maybe...
Well, it... ...to get married in the car outside
the lady's house? Of course it did.
It felt a little weird.
But I was confident... It was weird.
...that when -- when -- CO--
So COVID in itself was weird.
We was all here for that.
[ Laughter ]
But you ain't never been married in a car.
Or maybe -- Have you been married in a car?
[ Laughter ]
Ain't nobody that fine.
[ Laughs ]
It was very weird.
We -- We drive up in front of the lady's house.
The lady sticks a piece of paper in the car.
We signed the paper. We pull off.
We didn't even kiss.
I got a photo of us in the car.
This is why I'm here suing her
'cause she traded my day in for a fence.
But you suing me. I done what you asked me to do.
I-I love you, so I done it. On the promise that you would then
give me a wedding the next year. Of course, the promise.
Yes. See, if y'all could talk this out, you wouldn't be.
Absolutely. So you have to talk to me.
There go the car.
There go the car right there, Your Honor.
Nor: And look at my face.
That's how weird it was. Look at the car, Your Honor.
[ Laughter ]
She said, "Look at my face."
She got her arm up, "What the hell?"
And this -- Look how you look.
You look... This is not funny.
This is my wedding day.
Oh, I'm -- Okay.
Who is that in the back?
Our witnesses.
Nor: We have witnesses. Our witnesses.
Witnesses?
[ Laughter ]
Everybody in the car look a little confused.
That's true. Okay.
But that's not funny.
It's not funny? It's not funny.
It is not funny.
And I am not laughing about this.
[ Laughter ]
This is not funny.
Damn it! Stop laughing.
This is not funny. Thank you. Thank you.
You gonna stop...
Order in here! All this laughing.
Thank you. This is not funny.
Getting married in the car.
Not funny. Thank you.
With the lady with the hazmat suit on.
Sliding papers in the crack.
"You got your window down too far.
It's just down too far."
You sliding it in like it's a fax sheet.
[ Laughter ]
[ Applause ]
Stop laughing! This is not funny.
Your Honor.
I'm trying to get these people in here --
This is not funny.
It is not funny. I've told -- I've told y'all.
Your Honor. Yes, ma'am.
I get one day, one -- one wedding.
The day of your dreams.
The day of my dreams.
Yes, ma'am.
But I got a -- [ Laughs ]
You stop laughing!
[ Laughter ]
Damn it, this is not funny, uh, Franshawn.
This is not funny. You come wanting us to stop laughing.
And you in here hollering. I done cried about this and everything.
This is not funny.
It is not. I told you. It's -- It is really not funny.
Why you are laughing is beyond me.
Because it's embarrassing now that I'm saying it out loud.
I know.
[ Laughter ]
Now, keep in mind, we hearing this for the first time.
Right.
We want to run up out of here, this so funny to us.
Your Honor, if she would have waited...
You didn't say wait. Patience.
I did say wait. You said we can next year.
That's a wait. Franshawn.
I want to hear what Nor has to say. Alright.
You've been doing a lot of talking.
Go ahead, Nor.
She has puppies.
We have a yard.
I'm not even sure how -- how long.
It's -- It's a nice length.
And people live behind us.
So they have dogs on the other side of the fence.
And their dog jumps up, and two of our posts fell.
So instead of me getting just two posts fixed,
I got the whole fence fixed.
But we didn't have to get a whole new fence...
Of course we did. ...at the expense of my wedding day
or -- and/or a honeymoon.
We could have got a post for $66,
fix that post, and still been getting married.
One post?
Can you please show the picture?
This what I can't --
So this is the before picture, and this is the after.
Now, this was before y'all spent the money.
She spent the money. Okay.
You upset that she spent the money
on the fence instead of the wedding?
Yes. Yes, she is.
But were y'all married?
Yes. Yes.
But the date you designated to get married,
April 21st, has passed and you did it in the car.
Yes.
So now we don't have a new wedding day scheduled?
No.
So Nor took the money
and made a safe environment around the house.
But what about my wedding and my honeymoon?
Yeah, I-I... I get --
I hear that, and I can appreciate that.
I can -- You looking at me crazy.
I'm looking at her crazy.
I only look at people crazy when they crazy.
[ Laughter ]
♪♪
So, Nor took the money
and made a safe environment
around the house.
But what about my wedding and my honeymoon?
You looking at me crazy. I'm looking at her crazy.
I only look at people crazy when they crazy.
[ Laughter ]
The point -- The point is that she thought
it important to fix a fence at the expense
of my wedding day.
Nor, do you feel this -- I thought I was doing something nice.
Uh-huh. I just thought that I was doing what needed to be done.
[ Spectators murmur ]
See, I und-- And then she said,
"What does it matter? You're already married?"
I said, "But I was gonna invite my friends."
She was like, "You don't even got no friends."
[ Spectators murmur ]
Spectator: Do you?
What?!
[ Laughter ]
[ Cheers and applause ]
Don't ask me, do I.
I -- Okay. I didn't.
I got family members.
I got a daughter. I got a mother.
Right. Yeah. Ain't none of them friends.
[ Laughter ] I don't have to ask you.
Now, Nor, is it important to you
that we have a wedding?
No, it's not important to me, but it's important to her,
so that makes it important to me.
[ Applause ]
Mr. Harvey, we just don't have the money right now,
and I don't know how to make that any more clear to her.
Would you agree with what she said?
I don't.
[ Spectators murmur ]
Like, the responsible, mature side of me
agrees with everything she says.
That's our house.
And it nee-- it needs things done.
But...
But the girl side, the female side --
And I do-- Before y'all start with this sexist mess
and emailing the show, I'm a 65-year-old Black dude.
I don't give a damn how you feel about me.
Really listen to me.
She know what the right thing to do is
and the responsible thing to do.
But she want what she want.
Who -- Wait, who in here ain't heard that one before?
[ Laughter ]
You know how many times I done sat with Marjorie and told her,
"We gotta do this, we gotta --" "But I want to do this."
[ Laughter ]
And you know what? We end up doing it.
[ Laughter ]
I've reached a verdict.
[ Cheers and applause ]
[ Sighs ]
[ Laughter ]
Franshawn. Girl, I like you.
You a sweetheart of a person.
Your pleadings are good -- your voice, your commitment,
your turn around,
your hatred for the people behind you.
It all -- It -- [ Laughter ]
I cannot have you sue her for $5,000
for a wedding reception
and $5,000 for a honeymoon
because she did the responsible thing with the money
that happens in a marriage.
So I'm sorry.
But I'm throwing out your suit for $10,000.
Okay.
I'm trying not to cry. Don't look at me that long.
[ Laughter ]
But you are such a sweetheart of a person.
How much was the fence?
It was like $4,600.
$4,000 for the fence.
I apologize for doing the right thing.
I thought I was doing -- You apologize for doing the right thing.
I thought I was doing the right thing.
Dismissing the lawsuit for $10,000.
And I think you did the right thing to fix your fence.
And I hate that you got married in the car.
[ Chuckles ] And COVID done messed it up for a lot of people.
So I'm sorry. I apologize for all that.
My ruling is for the plaintiff
and for the defendant
for $25,000.
[ Cheers and applause ]
That's my verdict.
And that's the way I see it.
[ Screams ]
♪♪
[ Laughs ]
[ Sobbing ]
♪♪
We didn't expect this.
I thought I had lost this case.
I love you, Judge Harvey. Thank you. Thanks.
[ Screams ] And thank you.
♪♪