♪♪
This dude's track record for you has been solid.
This ain't none of my business, but it seems to me like
y'all ought to be in some type of relationship.
[ Spectators cheer ]
But I told her to date my husband.
[ Spectators "Ooh" ]
Before we were married, okay?
This "Judge Steve Harvey." This ain't "Dr. Phil."
[ Laughter ]
You don't eat dinner at home a lot?
No, Your Honor. I'm a good cook.
I am! Ahhh...
[ Laughter ]
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 why 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.
♪♪
All rise for the Honorable Judge Steve Harvey!
[ Cheers and applause ]
♪♪
Okay, let's get started.
This is the case of
Staci Harris
vs. Daniel "Booby" Gibson.
Staci is suing her client and former NBA player, Daniel,
for $10,000 for expenses and humiliation
for being a no-show at a paid event.
Daniel says Staci got her cut and he owes her nothing.
Let's start with you, Staci.
You have 30 seconds to state your case.
So I am suing my fellow H-Town friend,
Daniel Gibson, for $10,000.
We had an agreement to do his music promo tour,
and Daniel did not show up.
And I had to deal with the fallout from all the fans.
And for that and that alone, I need D to run me my coins.
Okay, Daniel, it's your turn. You have 30 seconds to respond.
Well, I don't feel like I owe her anything
based on the fact that anything she's ever asked me to do,
I've been there for her.
And I thought this was somebody
that I considered family and a friend.
So I don't even know why we at this point.
Okay. Well, let's start with you, Staci.
What type of business do you have?
So I have a booking company.
We book celebrities to host events,
parties, personal appearances.
I also work in production and all that good stuff.
Okay. So how did this business arrangement
start between you and the defendant?
So, Daniel and I have a mutual friend.
He connected us, and ever since then,
we started working together,
doing bookings and after-parties and events,
'cause he's, you know, he's a celebrity.
People were hitting me up about him.
They knew I knew him.
I started booking him in different markets.
And that's pretty much how the relationship
continued to evolve.
Played for the Cavaliers? Yes, sir.
My man. [ Chuckles ]
Okay, so, Daniel, let me ask you,
is this how you see the relationship?
She describe it pretty fairly? She skipped -- She skipped a little bit.
I mean, I think, yeah, that's how we met.
But initially, my whole --
the whole reason why I wanted to work with her
is to help her build her brand.
It wasn't -- Uh-uh. Uh-uh-uh. Help me build?
Well, help you build because if we want to get to it -- I already --
What other clients -- I already had --
You gotta let him talk. You have to let him talk. Okay.
Steve: Yeah, we gotta let him have his say. Go ahead.
I already had my business established.
Every booking that I would do was upwards of $7,500, $10,000.
But when I started to work with her,
those bookings weren't the same, it was smaller venues.
But I knew, in working with her, other clients,
other people would want to work with her,
so that would help her continue to build her business.
I just wanted to do that for her.
I wanted to join forces with her. So...
But I didn't -- I didn't necessarily need Okay, so,do that.
am I hearing from you that working with her
wasn't a big business move for you personally,
it was more that you thought you were helping her
grow her brand and business? Absolutely.
Because I want to get out and show people
that I'm a talented artist and writer.
So with her, we can set up a little tour together.
She'll be able to say, "Oh, I'm working with Booby,"
and now we can go into this lane.
Can I say something real quick?
Just real quick?
My business was established before Daniel.
I started on a tour with a A-list celebrity.
So Daniel wasn't helping me build anything.
I was already working.
It was just an additive to my already-thriving business.
So you're asking for money? How so? Why?
Tell me what happened.
In Seattle, there was a party.
I do have evidence for the flyer.
Okay. Show me the f-- You had a flyer for the party?
That's a flyer for the party.
Okay, let's see this here.
Okay, so he's the main attraction.
He is the attraction. Absolutely. Okay.
So I get to Seattle,
and Daniel hasn't arrived.
We wait a little while trying to see
if Daniel's gonna answer the phone.
Daniel does not answer the phone. Question.
Are you getting these calls and texts from her?
Not when -- as she was doing it.
I got them after the fact.
But my family member,
she deals with mental health issues, right?
And so, she had been struggling for a little while.
I'm one of the ones that my voice can
calm her and bring her back.
So I'm like, "Cool, I'mma just take care of this,
still be able to make my event,"
and so I started to get back with Staci,
just kind of telling her, like, "I'm coming."
Not really telling her what's going on,
I will give her that, but just telling her I'm gonna make it,
I'mma be there.
Obviously, I missed my flight.
And then that was when I believe she rebooked me.
Okay, so now let's bounce over to you.
This is going truthfully so far?
Yes, as far as -- yes. Okay, yeah, so...
So my problem is that Daniel never picked up the phone.
I mean, from the time I rebooked his flight,
throughout the course of the day, the next day,
Daniel never picked up the phone to tell me anything.
Why wouldn't you just tell me,
"Stace, I'm not gonna be able to make it
because I'm having an issue with my family member"?
We talking about the morning. I can understand that.
We talking about the morning of, though.
[ Applause ] The day of, yes.
But the thing about it is
she knows I'm not a phone person.
I don't -- I don't necessarily pick up. I text. But we're doing business.
So he's texting you.
That's not sufficient for you 'cause you want a phone call?
Because you missed your flight. What was the texts saying?
He said he missed his flight.
Then he said he was at the airport.
So, I was like, "Okay, well" --
We were trying to discuss getting on another flight.
He was down to do that.
So I booked another flight,
paid for the flight so he would make it.
And you knew he was down to do that
because there was some type of text exchange? Yes.
Okay. Got it. Then he said that he left his wallet in the Uber.
So, now, all the bad things in life
were happening to Daniel on this one day.
Everything.
Everything bad in life was happening.
Again, speaking to any day before this,
we've never had this problem.
So, she act like life don't happen sometimes.
And I don't think she understand what it's like
dealing with somebody that's going through that.
I'm not finna jump on the phone with you
during that moment. I gotcha.
I don't think people understand
just how deep that gets sometimes. Yeah.
Okay, so he had a family member that needed some help.
He's dealing with it. Boom.
Nobody's mad at that. Life happens.
So, now, you book the other flight,
take it from there.
Long story short, after all the back and forth,
he does not get on the flight.
So, now, I'm in the situation of
I have to literally do damage control.
I have to respond to people who are asking me about the party,
'cause people are still wanting to buy tickets.
I had to let them know he's not coming.
We had sponsors that had gifted food.
It was a whole bunch of stress and headache
that I shouldn't have to deal with.
Now, at what point are you out of pocket?
'Cause we got a lawsuit here for $10,000.
There's no countersuit from the defense. Mm-hmm.
So we talking $10,000.
Explain to me the expenses that you're out of.
The travel for the flights.
Do we have any of this proof?
Yes. We have evidence for the flights. Okay, here we go.
We got this first one.
There were several legs that were booked.
$273 for the flight?
There was another one for the rebooking of the flight.
Did you have hotels?
We had a hotel for two nights.
Do you have that?
Okay. Hotel invoice. Mm-hmm.
That's for one night. For one night?
And the credit back, $500 in funds,
to people that wanted a refund
because he didn't show up. Do you have that?
I absolutely do. Okay, well, let's see that.
You give back $500 to the promoters or to the guests? Staci: To guests.
People who bought tickets? Mm-hmm. Yes, sir.
You had to refund $500 in tickets? Yes, sir.
That's -- That's not $2,500.
Where's the $2,500? It was two nights of hotels.
Also, technically, me booking my flights.
Then, on top of that, it was just a lot of stress.
A lot of -- I mean, I had to go to a party by myself
that I'm not hosting.
Like, no-- Don't nobody want to see me.
Like, I'm cute, but I'm not that cute.
They wanted to see this one. [ Chuckles ]
You know, they wanted to see this cuteness over here, not me.
[ Exhales sharply ] So I had to go in there and schmooze
and talk to everybody. So you had the party anyway?
We had -- I mean, people were still coming.
If -- again, like -- Go ahead, yeah, we --
I just want you to talk 'cause you ain't got nothing to say.
I'm doing this just out of the goodness of my heart.
I'm not traveling the way
that I'm accustomed to traveling. I gotcha.
I'm not making the money that I'm accustomed to making.
So, that's what I'm saying.
This whole thing was just about a partnership.
It was just about us building the brand.
Then be my partner and show up.
[ Cheers and applause ] Oh, now...
how many events you say y'all done, total?
Just give me a number. We've probably done at least 10.
He's shown up for all of them?
And shown out. This was the first one
that we did solo. I hug.
Typically -- Typic-- I do a lot.
I'm talking 'bout I'm with the fans, I'm interacting.
I'm doing all of the above. I go above and beyond. You're the celebrity!
You're the celebrity. But a lot of celebrities don't do that.
Okay, well, you're different. They sit in the corner and just get their money.
Yeah, they don't. I can attest to that.
Well, you're different. I interact. I interact.
That's partnership. No, that's what I'm saying. You're different.
Right.
[ Applause ]
Have you ever done anything for her for free?
That's exactly what I was about to say.
Oh. For her...
[ Spectators "Ooh" ]
Her production company
wants to shoot a movie, right?
She's trying to get people to get in the movie
that got a little something going on. Cool.
You don't gotta book my flight. You don't gotta do none of that.
No, no, I booked your flight. Okay, but --
And -- Don't do that.
And I booked you a party. I don't remember --
And I booked you a party. But, now, hey, see, you got to talk to me.
Sorry. You -- Listen to me.
You have to stop talking to him. Sorry.
We -- This a court show.
Sorry. I -- I...
I got I ain't really no judge, but let's act like it.
[ Laughter ]
♪♪
Listen to me. You have to stop talking to him. Staci: Sorry.
This a court show. Sorry.
I got I ain't really no judge, but let's act like it.
[ Laughter ]
Now, this additional information that I just learned... Mm-hmm.
...that this man, even after this,
came and did your movie for free.
Oh, my goodness. Why we here?
I think he was making up for not showing up.
Okay.
[ Applause ]
You would make an excellent judge.
[ Laughter ]
'Cause you are solving this case.
[ Laughter ]
You think he was making up?
Now, I think we have a track record
between the two of you of participating in several events.
They've all gone good.
We have this one thing that has happened,
and now we in court.
Even with that one thing,
I sent an apology to them
and told them I will fly myself --
You sent an apology to who?
To the promoter and the fans.
The people that I missed for that event.
Well, let me hear the apology.
I sent it. Let me hear it.
It hurts me to say it,
but tonight I will not be able to make it in time.
Family emergencies,
some things came up that I just can't get away from.
I'll get down there as soon as I can and make it right.
This dude's track record for you has been solid.
And you still like the man.
The man is still a solid guy.
[ Scattered laughter ]
You can look at me. It's okay. [ Chuckles ]
He's a solid guy. It's okay.
She wanna be mad. He's cool.
I don't know why she wanna be mad.
He cool. You know, seem to me like --
This ain't none of my business, but it seems to me like
y'all ought to be in some type of relationship.
[ Spectators cheer ]
I'm doing free movies.
You tired? I'm doing foot rubs.
[ Laughter ]
Skip all that.
[ Laughs ] I've reached a verdict.
[ Cheers and applause ]
First, let me start with this $7,450 public humiliation
and extreme embarrassment.
I said the wrong name at a beauty pageant.
[ Cheers and applause ]
[ Cheers and applause continue ]
Public embarrassment and humiliation!
I didn't get a quarter!
[ Laughter ]
Oh, I was on the Internet for 10 days.
So let's throw out the $7,450 for public humiliation
and let's get down to the expenses.
So my ruling is for the plaintiff in the amount of $925
for airline tickets and a hotel room.
And I'm doing it with the stipulation
that I really don't think I should give you that,
because this dude just solid.
You dealing with a solid man right here.
Appreciate that. And I think it's more important
that you all's relationship remain intact.
Because when I just said what I said, your eyes twinkled.
Oh. And then -- And then you did like this...
[ Spectators cheer ]
Oh, you did. I didn't.
Oh, yeah, you did!
If I could get them to pull up the tape
of that moment to fight --
Watch this. I'm talking to you.
I said something to you.
Watch this here. Ooh!
[ Cheers and applause ]
[ Laughter, applause ]
[ Staci laughs ]
Wait a minute. [ Laughs ]
Can we replay that...
[ Spectators cheer ]
...in slow motion?
Ladies and gentlemen,
I've been in the man-boy-girl business
ever since -- Watch this.
I was talking to you.
Oh!
[ Cheers and applause ]
Girl. [ Chuckles ]
[ Laughs ]
My verdict really is I'mma give you $1,500.
-Whoo! -Whoo!
But I'm not gonna make him pay you.
The court is gonna pay you $1,500.
And I'm gonna do it
because I want this relationship to grow.
And the reason I'm taking it to $1,500
is 'cause of the way you lick your lips.
[ Cheers and applause ]
That's my verdict
and that's the way I see it.
♪♪
Will you pull up the picture where she attempted
to change the diaper, please?
I've been there.
What's in that diaper is damn near illegal.
[ Applause ]
♪♪
Steve: On with our next case.
Let's get started.
This is the case of Hunter White vs. Seaira White.
Hunter is suing her twin sister, Seaira, for $9,600
because she backed out on the purchase of a home.
Seaira claims she isn't responsible for paying
on her twin's mortgage.
Okay, let's start with you, Hunter.
You have 30 seconds to state your case.
Your Honor, I'm here today in your court
to sue my twin sister, Seaira,
for $9,600 because she told me if I bought her the home
that she needed for herself and her son,
that she would move in with me.
I did just that,
and then she decided to completely just back out
on the whole, entire agreement.
[ Spectators "Ooh" ]
Uh, Seaira, your turn.
You have 30 seconds to respond.
Your Honor, I believe that I don't owe her anything
because my moving in with her
was completely contingent upon her
being a good, supportive aunt to my son.
When actually, she's the exact opposite.
She is a straight-up bad aunt.
[ Spectators "Ooh" ] [ Scoffs ]
Okay, so describe your relationship growing up.
Well, Your Honor, we've always been close,
literally attached into the womb.
Normal sibling rivalry, right? As close as we are,
we still had a competitiveness, right? Yeah.
So, yes, we were very competitive in everything.
I loved it except for when it came to boys.
I was always the second-choice twin, okay, so...
No, she -- No, she wasn't! Yes, I was! Let me explain!
No, she wasn't. The boys always came to her first.
If she said no, then they would come to me,
like, "Oh, maybe I have a shot with the second twin," right?
That happened with my boyfriend in eighth grade.
Hey, can -- can I ask you a question?
Yes. Yes.
Are we in here suing for a boyfriend?
[ Laughter ] No!
And let me ask you, Seaira,
what did -- what did that story have to do with...?
Because she thinks she knows what is best for me.
I do! That's just one example.
This may sound weird, but I told her to date my husband.
[ Spectators "Ooh" ]
Before we were married, okay?
[ Mumbling indistinctly ]
Where y'all going with this?
[ Laughter ]
This "Judge Steve Harvey." This ain't "Dr. Phil."
[ Laughter, applause ]
You're right. I don't know...
You had a husband? No, I'm happily -- I'm happily married still.
But she slept with him?
No, no, no, no.
No, this was before. You told her to.
'Cause you've never been first!
So she was gonna let you pick! Exactly! Exactly!
So you could be first! Exactly!
He picked her first, but you know what,
I'm happy the way everything turned out,
because now I'm happily married,
I'm blessed, living life with my best friend. Wait a minute, wait a minute.
You keep -- you're jumping the story. Okay.
You wanted them to date? Yeah, 'cause I knew what was good for her.
That's just one example of, like,
the advice I try to give her, but she doesn't take my advice.
And that just includes what I came here today for.
She's not taking my advice to move in with me, right?
But after the whole husband situation, right,
my husband and I, when we graduated high school,
we joined the Army.
This is -- And this was really when
our differences started coming out.
Okay, now, just --
This is gonna be, like, a really far-out question.
I want you to take your time. Okay.
Why are we here?
[ Laughter ]
[ Applause ]
Alright.
I'm still trying to get to the --
This is where we get to the good part.
We're getting -- We're getting there. Did you get married?
So, right now, I'm actually going through a divorce, though,
Your Honor.
[ Spectators "Aw" ]
Okay, so you're going through a divorce.
Yes, Your Honor. And you have any kids?
I have one son, and he is 21 months old. Cool.
And is your sister involved with the baby?
So, that's the thing.
I would think that my twin sister, my best friend,
would love him the most.
But, actually, she's, like, the one person who I have to,
like, force her to spend time with my son.
And it really, really breaks my heart.
That breaks my heart that she thinks that about me.
But that's the whole reason why I bought this house,
was to move her and her son into my life
so I could be closer and have that bond. Oh, okay.
Ooh!
[ Laughter ]
I've seen it, man.
I have twins.
I've seen them live apart from one another,
and they couldn't do it.
It is super hard. Like, I -- It's virtually impossible.
Mm-hmm.
Because you are talking about two people
who have shared everything.
I kinda get where you're coming from.
I don't know how we got here, but then I kinda understand.
So, your suit is for $9,600 for one year's rent?
Why? To explain this -- Now we getting -- Here we go. Yes. Yes.
Your Honor, so, when my husband and I decided
to get out of the Army,
we now had the freedom to choose where we wanted to live.
And I told my husband, "The answer for me is easy.
I want to be where my twin sister is."
And that was California at that time.
And so, my husband, being the amazing person he is,
said, "Okay, we'll move with your twin sister."
So we did.
We were both super excited, freaking out about it.
And, so, I told her, "Oh, my God,
what if I buy a house big enough
for all of us to live together?"
The house that we were looking at
was a three-bedroom, two-bathroom
with a budget of $300,000.
A small place -- just enough
for my husband and myself and a dog.
But she says, "That's not good enough.
If you want me to move in with you,
it has to be at least a four-bedroom, three-bathroom."
Why?
So her son can have enough privacy as possible
as he's getting older.
Did you find a house?
Did you try to accommodate her?
Yes, exactly, Your Honor.
I-I submitted that house as proof
for my -- my, uh, case here. Okay, let's see.
This -- as you see, a four-bedroom, three-bathroom.
I was only gonna -- Whoa, whoa.
I thought you said that your budget was $300,000.
It was, Your Honor, but I increased it
to meet her needs, which I didn't mind,
because I was just so excited
to have this dream of ours come true.
And was she gonna help you?
Yes, Your Honor.
So that was the thing -- because it's $500,000,
which is definitely above the $300,000 budget,
that also means the mortgage,
the monthly mortgage also increased,
so now it's $2,600 a month.
So we told her, "Okay,
since we're increasing our budget for you,
you're gonna have to pay us at least $800 a month."
And she agreed to it. That's why I-I bought the house.
That's $800 a month -- is pretty good. Yes.
Okay, so, when did she move in?
She never moved in. She completely backed out.
So what happened?
So that was all before I figured out
how horrible of an aunt she is to my son.
[ Spectators "Ooh" ]
♪♪
-She completely backed out. -So what happened?
So that was all before I figured out
how horrible of an aunt she is to my son.
[ Spectators "Ooh" ]
First of all, she never visited me during my pregnancy.
I understand she was in the Army and it was also COVID,
but she didn't even try to submit the paperwork at all.
That made me sad. [ Sighs ]
Wait. Wait a minute. Wait.
She didn't submit what paperwork?
So -- So, in the Army,
in order to go on leave to see your family,
you have to submit paperwork, and it has to be approved.
I mean, you wanted her where? When?
To come visit me.
So, at this point, I was living in North Carolina
with my now ex-husband,
and I wanted her to come fly out to me
because I was big and pregnant and uncomfortable.
I -- You just want your sister with you.
I want her to experience it and, like,
cherish that moment together.
And then, when I have my son,
when I give birth and I need my twin sister the most,
when my son is a newborn baby,
she still does not come to see me.
Well, you know, the COVID thing's
pretty rough for everybody, you know?
And the Army had some serious restrictions.
But I was understanding of how hard it was
during those times.
So I actually did end up having to leave North Carolina
and go back home to California
because of how much I was struggling
as a single mom at this point.
I needed help. I needed help.
So I went back to my family.
And the first time she gets to see my son
wasn't until he was seven months old.
So how was the visit with the baby?
My excitement left me immediately
when I saw how annoyed she was
when it came to spending time with my son.
Yeah, I was awkward 'cause --
I don't know how to explain it, but --
[ Chuckles ] Oh, I'm there.
This is probably none of my business,
but I'm really awkward with infants.
I'm -- I don't -- I don't want to hold the baby
until the baby can get control of their head.
Exactly. 'Cause my first grandchild --
I was holding my first grandchild,
and her head jerked back real fast.
Yeah. I thought it had come off.
[ Laughter ]
Do you understand, uh, Seaira,
her discomfort or not knowing what to do?
So, Your Honor, yes, 'cause I was the same way. [ Sighs ]
I was awkward when my son was born.
I didn't know how to hold him.
But at the same time, it's like he's almost 2.
She keeps saying this.
I'm like, how long is it gonna take? Okay, so, let me -- Okay, so, now --
now I'm starting to weave this story together.
So, now, where in the process
of the house purchase, purchasing,
did you find out your sister wasn't gonna move in?
She did not tell me that she was having cold feet
until after we went into escrow,
after we were signing the paperwork
and way too far into it to back out.
Did you -- Were you thinking that,
if the baby moved in, you would get better at it?
Yes, exactly, Your Honor. Okay, wait, wait.
I have a story about that, though, okay? [ Sighs ]
Can we pull up the picture of my sister
when she attempted to change the diaper, please?
Oh, my God. Because...
Okay. what she's saying right now --
What she's saying right now -- [ Laughs ]
[ Laughter ]
Yeah, I've been there. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Oh!
Well, I will tell you right now,
you're not gaining any favor with me with that picture, lady.
[ Laughter ]
'Cause, damn it, I get it.
What's in that diaper is damn near illegal.
[ Laughter ]
Seaira, were you ever honest enough with your sister
to say you're not moving in?
"'Cause I don't know if you're gonna be
the kind of aunt that we really need"?
I -- [ Sighs ] I did.
After -- Not until after I bought the house.
After the fact, yes, Your Honor.
But as a single mom, like, I'm so --
I'm terrified. She's acting out of fear,
which, in my opinion, if she were to give it a chance,
if she were to actually move in with me,
my mind-set would automatically
have to change. [ Snaps fingers ]
You know, ladies... [chuckles] this isn't court.
This is a counseling session.
I-I'm -- I ain't sign up for this.
[ Laughter ]
You see this sign right here?
I made that up.
[ Laughter, applause ]
This ain't court right here.
This is a counseling session, and that's not what I do.
But, in spite of it all,
I've reached a verdict.
[ Cheers and applause ]
Here's what I think.
At the end of the day, you all do love each other.
And, now, I'll tell you how much love is in this thing.
She was gonna buy a house with her husband.
She knew her sister needed some support and some love.
And she said, "I tell you what I'm gonna do.
I know our budget for a house is $300,000,
but guess what -- I'm gonna overextend myself."
Comes to you, gives you a place to stay.
You say, "Great. I love it.
Matter of fact, hey, don't get the three-bedroom --
we're gonna need four."
You come to an agreement with your sister
to pay her $800 a month to move in.
But along the way, you discovered this ain't the mother
you thought she was gonna be.
But she don't have to be.
[ Spectators murmur ]
[ Applause ]
She was born into this world to be your sister.
She never said she'd be the best aunt.
She can't. We saw the picture.
[ Laughter ]
I'mma try to help you both out.
Now, they're on the hook for $2,600 a month
for at least a 15-year mortgage.
It's 30-year, but at least -- [Bleep]
[ Laughter ]
[ Laughter and applause ]
This is what I'm gonna do.
The suit for $9,600 for one year's rent --
I'm going to award that to the plaintiff.
[ Applause ]
I grant you your suit for $9,600.
But the court is going to pay it for you.
[ Cheers and applause ]
Or better yet, the court is gonna pay it for you
because it's you who owe her.
Woman: Yes. That's true. Aww.
But, now, here's part two to what I'm gonna do --
I'm gonna add an additional $3,000 with the stipulation...
I'm gonna cry. ...that you take yourself and your baby
and you move in with your sister
and you get to being sisters again.
Because it's more important that you get to being sisters again
than you keep being fretful about what she's not.
Because you can't punish her for what she's not.
You ought to reward her for what she is.
Now, that's my stipulation. Do we have a deal?
Yes.
My verdict is for $9,600 for the plaintiff.
$3,000 for the defendant.
That's my verdict.
And that's the way I see it.
[ Cheers and applause ]
♪♪
The kids like your food. Anybody else?
Yeah, I actually make food for people who've just had babies.
They in the hospital.
Anything tastes better than hospital food.
[ Cheers and applause ]
Alright, let's get started.
This is the case of
Josie Moorlag vs. Phillip Moorlag.
Josie is suing her husband, Phillip, for $5,000
for his costly junk-food and energy-drink addiction.
Phillip argues that his addiction
is actually a lifesaver
and is countersuing for $3,000
for Josie's constant criticism.
Let's start with Josie.
You have 30 seconds to state your case.
Your Honor, I'm suing my husband, Phillip, for $5,000,
because he has extremely unhealthy habits
that are affecting our family,
they're affecting our finances,
and I think they're affecting his health now
but, also, long-term.
And I want him to pay up,
because we have big goals and dreams
that we can't reach if he's not healthy
and if he's not spending our money wisely.
Uh, Phillip, your turn.
You got 30 seconds to respond.
I feel I do not have unhealthy e-eating habits,
and I think it's ridiculous that we're even here today.
So I'm countersuing her for $3,000 for harassment
for the past 2 1/2 years.
Phillip, I've had a couple of these cases before...
[ Laughter ]
...you ain't seen harassment yet.
[ Laughter ]
Josie, tell me about your marriage,
your relationship with your husband.
What's going on?
We've been married for just about two years.
We've got a 6-year-old and a 13-month-old.
And our relationship is great.
I think he has habits that he needs to work on
[scoffs] and that's why we're here.
Okay. Describe your marriage, uh, here, Phillip.
Our marriage is great.
You know, we get along -- other than being here today.
Phillip, try not to sound so happy about it, okay?
Just try... [ Laughter ]
So tell me what this issue
you're talking about with junk food --
he's spending money, he's unhealthy.
What do you -- Can you give me the --
Give me the case.
Yeah. So he spends a lot of money.
And we have some bank statements that I have
of fast food, energy drinks,
stopping to get this, stopping to get that,
whatever he needs on the road multiple times a day,
spending hundreds of dollars a month on this
when we have food at home that I'm making for him.
What is she talking about, Phillip?
I have two different jobs,
so I'm constantly on the go.
So I am stopping often
to...get takeout and energy drinks
to keep on going.
Did you -- Did you drink an energy drink
before the show today?
[ Laughter ]
I didn't.
[ Laughter continues ]
And so, I have evidence of the drinks --
lots of drinks from, like, a couple of days.
[ Chuckles ] Alright, let's see it.
This is just like a couple of days' worth in the house.
How many energy drinks you drink a day?
Phillip: Three a day, Your Honor.
Three a day? Yes, Your Honor.
What's your concern about all of this?
I'm actually a personal trainer and nutritionist,
so I coach my clients on healthy habits.
Now, I'm not saying he can't ever have energy drinks,
but I notice he's always exhausted.
He never has energy to do anything.
He's got stomach issues.
He'll come home -- "My stomach hurts."
Well, probably 'cause you had just an energy drink
with nothing in your stomach or you just ate a bunch of junk.
Do you have evidence of the spending?
I do, yep.
And we have a bank statement.
Alright. Gas station.
Gas station. Fast food.
Give me an idea
of what you order at a fast-food restaurant.
It's a double butter burger with cheese, cheese curd.
What do you drink -- soda?
Energy drinks.
You drink an energy drink with the burger?
Yes, Your Honor. Whew!
I mean, do -- You say you go to the grocery store.
Do you cook dinner?
I do. I always have dinner.
And I usually text him to let him know
that we have dinner, and then he won't eat it.
Okay. Well, what are you making?
I'm making normal things.
He claims that it's Mediterranean. Now, when you say -- What's normal?
He claims that it's "Mediterranean,"
but I make things like tacos, burgers.
I know the types of food he likes.
Chicken I make, very simple, not over the top.
I always include vegetables and, you know, balanced meals
like I preach to my clients, as well --
nothing that's really out there.
I think I may have run up on something. [ Chuckles ]
You don't eat dinner at home a lot?
No, Your Honor. [ Chuckles ]
You want to tell us why?
[ Laughter ]
I'm a good cook.
I am! Ahhh...
[ Laughter ]
He's an honest guy.
He's doing really well.
He hasn't lied yet.
Why don't you like eating at home, Phillip?
Uh, well, she kind of already said it in her statement,
Your Honor -- uh, she makes Mediterranean-type foods.
Uh, there was one day I went in to work,
and somebody, one of my coworkers
at the correctional officer facility was like,
"What is that?"
And I was like, "You know, I-I-I don't know."
I had to start naming off...
A bunch of damn Mediterranean food.
And it wasn't. It was -- You -- Ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah!
See, I -- listen, I'm asking Phillip,
'cause we're gonna learn something.
Alright.
[ Laughter ]
When you open up this Mediterranean food
and you look in there, what are you looking at?
I know the other correction officers are going,
"What is that?" And they pointing at it.
Well, what -- what is it?
That particular instance, it was like, you know,
I think there's some tomatoes in there, maybe some cucumbers.
There's -- I don't know what that is.
[ Laughter ]
Uh, there's some chicken, uh, some seasoning.
But I don't know the name of it.
Let's talk. Josie?
Yes.
You're a young wife... I am. Yes.
...young mother... Yep.
...spent a lot of time training.
Can you cook?
[ Laughter and applause ]
I can cook. Woman: She can.
I have a witness who can back me up here. I can.
I'm also an excellent baker,
but we're not talking about that right now.
We're just talking about cooking.
Can you cook?
I can cook, and I follow recipes. Woman: Mm-hmm, mm-hmm.
This is a simple recipe.
Listen to me.
It was just not what he was used to, I suppose.
But let me ask you a question. Yes.
I'm just trying to work through this thing.
Sure. 'Cause we're not getting anywhere
unless we're just honest. Sure.
Who likes your cooking?
[ Laughter ]
♪♪
But let me ask you a question. Josie: Yes.
I'm just trying to work through this thing.
Sure. 'Cause we're not getting anywhere
unless we're just honest. Sure.
♪♪
Who likes your cooking? [ Laughter ]
My kids like my cooking, and that says something.
Your kids?
'Cause kids can be very picky.
Your kids were born into this.
[ Laughter ]
They don't know anything else.
[ Laughter ]
The kids like your food. Anybody else?
Yeah, I actually make food for people who've just had babies,
which a lot of people in my life have recently had babies.
People that have just had babies.
Well, they in the hospital.
They were just -- No, they weren't in the hospital.
I brought it to their home.
Anything tastes better than hospital food.
[ Laughter ]
Okay. Why do you think he doesn't eat your food?
I think he had a lot of fast food as a kid.
And then he puts ranch on everything,
'cause that's what he grew up with.
He puts ranch on everything?
Everything, yep.
You put ranch on pizza, don't you?
I do, Your Honor.
I know, man.
[ Laughter ] You put ranch on chicken?
I do, Your Honor. My homeboy.
Everything.
My dawg.
How much are you saying that he's spending on junk food?
Roughly $500 a month,
which is roughly what we spend in groceries.
So we're spending double. [ Chuckles ]
$500 a month... Mm-hmm.
...times 10 months.
That's your suit for 5 grand.
You got it.
This 5 grand is preventing you from what?
Doing things like taking vacations
or putting money away for our kids in college --
things like that.
Prepping for the future, 'cause we're spending it
on tedious things that we don't need.
How do you see this, Phillip?
I see it that, you know,
we -- we get the money, our bills are paid.
We do have extra money to do that type of stuff.
I'm just always on the go,
being working two jobs and stuff,
so it's just easier for -- You work two jobs?
Yes, Your Honor. I don't --
So you leave the house around what time?
Usually midnight thirty is when I leave,
and I get home around noon thirty,
then I'll go out and run the tree business.
How many hours you put in that a day? It depends.
Some days, I'll go 36 to 40 hours
without any sleep, Your Honor.
[ Spectators murmur ] You hustling, man.
Yes, Your Honor.
I ain't mad at that. You hustle.
[ Applause ]
Are you concerned about his health?
Is that it? It's both.
But I am concerned about his health and sleeping.
Because he's having all these energy drinks,
he can't sleep well with his crazy schedule, too.
Well, let's get to your witness.
Who -- Who do we have here?
I have my sister here as my witness.
Okay. Can you come on up, please?
Annie: Sure.
Welcome. Uh, tell me your name. Thank you. My name's Annie.
Yeah, you can take a seat. Thank you.
Annie, what do you do? I'm a registered nurse.
And you're her sister? Yes.
Have you noticed his weird junk-food habit?
Oh, absolutely.
The whole "doesn't like what Josie, um, cooks" --
she is a really good cook.
But he comes over to our house and our family
and will leave a party or function
to go get an energy drink
or to the gas station
to get a pack of Skittles or a burger.
[ Laughs ] And we'll say, "Where's Phillip?"
"Oh, he's probably at the gas station."
That's just a classic line.
Has he refused to eat any of the family meals?
We went out to eat last night at a restaurant
with my mom and their 13-month-old baby.
We all go to get a table at the restaurant,
and we don't know where Phillip is.
He's just gone, not eating with us.
And we just had a meal without him.
So -- Objection, Your Honor.
Did he eat -- Well, no, let me --
Go ahead, Phillip. Yesterday, well, we're in Atlanta.
I've never been in Atlanta, so I got one of those scooters.
And while they went to eat and go eat, I wasn't hungry.
So I already had my energy drink,
got on my scooter... [ Laughter ]
Yeah. It's true. That's right.
And I drove around Atlanta for -- for an hour by myself.
That's -- It's just rude.
Well, thank you very much. Sure.
That -- That gives me a little bit of insight.
Thank you. Okay.
Let's talk about your suit, Phillip.
Your suit for $3,000 for harassment.
Oh, it's just been going on in our entire relationship.
Uh, but I'm -- I'm constantly always on the go.
I'm a father, uh, I'm a husband,
so I-I just need the energy drinks.
But I feel I'm pretty healthy, Your Honor.
I've -- I train five times a week in jiu-jitsu.
I've done national tournaments.
I've done -- I fought in the cage twice, uh,
and I don't lose.
Alright. I've reached a verdict.
[ Cheers and applause ] [ Chuckles ]
[ Applause continues ]
Now, you know, uh... [chuckles]
I mean, legally, what can you say about this,
since nobody's broken a law?
This is a dispute, a marital dispute.
Now, in defense of the plaintiff,
she's concerned about her husband's eating habits.
She's a personal trainer and nutritionist.
Of course she's gonna be concerned.
You marry a guy, you want him to stick around.
Now, for Phillip, who's eating badly --
but, boy, oh, boy, oh, boy,
he's out hustling.
This man is putting it in.
His job is to provide for his family,
and he's doing an excellent job.
I-I can't get mad at that.
I-I just can't -- I can't get mad at that.
[ Applause ]
Now, Phillip...
I wish you'd watch what you eat.
I wish you'd make better choices.
But it ain't against the law to eat fast food.
It's not against the law to make energy drinks.
The man is working.
He's on the go.
He gotta get it and go.
What can I do?
I'm in -- I'm in a tough spot here.
Her suit is for $5,000
for the $500 he spends a month over a 10-month period.
He wants $3,000 for harassment.
[ Laughter ]
Listen, you're not gonna like what I'm about to say.
I think we got a cooking issue here.
[ Chuckles ] [ Applause ]
I think somebody don't like somebody else's cooking.
And I don't care how you make it --
he don't like it.
And when you go over to the family function,
he don't like the way your family cook, either.
So he gets on a scooter, and he rides off.
[ Laughter and applause ]
So, now, here is the way I'm gonna settle this.
For your suit for $5,000 to sue your husband,
I can't do that,
because this man works... He does.
...and I can't get mad at that.
How you penalizing the guy for doing what he said he'd do
when he married you -- to take care of you?
Your suit for $5,000 I'm going to dismiss.
And your suit for $3,000 for harassment --
on behalf of every man in here,
I grant you $3,000.
[ Gavel bangs ]
[ Cheers and applause ] Unbelievable.
That's my verdict.
And that's the way I see it.
[ Cheers and applause ]
♪♪
Unbelievable.
Oh, my God.
Oh, God, I cannot believe it.
♪♪
Unbelievable.
♪♪