1 00:00:06,200 --> 00:00:09,633 You like to party together, you like to drink together. 2 00:00:09,700 --> 00:00:11,767 They arrest you for DUI. 3 00:00:13,000 --> 00:00:14,100 I did do two doughnuts. 4 00:00:14,166 --> 00:00:16,400 You wanted to practice your drifting? 5 00:00:16,467 --> 00:00:17,633 - You were drunk... - Uninsured... 6 00:00:17,700 --> 00:00:18,934 - ... high... - ... unlicensed... 7 00:00:19,000 --> 00:00:20,934 - ... and crashed the car. - ... lying to the police. 8 00:00:21,000 --> 00:00:23,166 How can you explain that behavior? 9 00:00:23,233 --> 00:00:24,266 This is shameful. 10 00:00:24,333 --> 00:00:26,467 [announcer] Now on Tribunal Justice. 11 00:00:26,533 --> 00:00:29,934 ["Ride of the Valkyries" plays] 12 00:00:48,100 --> 00:00:51,667 [announcer] Today's case was filed in Spokane Valley, Washington. 13 00:00:52,400 --> 00:00:54,767 Your Honor, this is case number 2007 14 00:00:54,834 --> 00:00:58,734 on the calendar in the matter of White versus Fife. 15 00:00:58,800 --> 00:01:00,100 Parties have been sworn in. 16 00:01:00,166 --> 00:01:01,700 [Judge Acker] Thank you, Byrd. 17 00:01:01,767 --> 00:01:05,500 Mr. White and Ms. Fife, you're friends? 18 00:01:05,567 --> 00:01:06,700 We were friends. 19 00:01:06,767 --> 00:01:08,233 [Judge Acker] You like to hang out together, 20 00:01:08,300 --> 00:01:11,667 you like to party together, you like to drink together. 21 00:01:11,734 --> 00:01:14,467 And therein lay the problem 22 00:01:14,533 --> 00:01:17,233 because Mr. White, according to your complaint, 23 00:01:17,300 --> 00:01:21,200 you were out, the defendant was supposed to be the designated driver. 24 00:01:21,265 --> 00:01:24,767 Unbeknownst to you, she was herself intoxicated, 25 00:01:24,834 --> 00:01:27,367 started doing doughnuts in your car, 26 00:01:27,433 --> 00:01:31,000 crashed the car, which is now inoperable. 27 00:01:31,066 --> 00:01:33,633 And you're suing her for $3,700 28 00:01:33,700 --> 00:01:37,734 for repairs to your 2004 Toyota Camry. 29 00:01:37,800 --> 00:01:42,000 Ms. Fife, in your answer, you don't dispute much of his claim. 30 00:01:42,066 --> 00:01:43,265 You dispute some of it. 31 00:01:43,333 --> 00:01:46,265 You say, "I never had an agreement, so I owe him nothing." 32 00:01:46,333 --> 00:01:47,333 Uh-hmm. 33 00:01:47,400 --> 00:01:49,433 Tell me how the two of you met initially. 34 00:01:49,500 --> 00:01:51,233 I met her through a friend of a friend. 35 00:01:51,300 --> 00:01:53,133 [Judge Acker] Friend of a friend and then you just start hanging out? 36 00:01:53,200 --> 00:01:56,300 Yes. I met her probably a year and two months ago 37 00:01:56,366 --> 00:01:58,500 when I first moved up to Washington State, 38 00:01:58,567 --> 00:02:00,233 which was in 2022. 39 00:02:00,300 --> 00:02:02,266 Always just platonic, just friends. 40 00:02:02,333 --> 00:02:03,333 - Yes. - Uh-hmm. 41 00:02:03,400 --> 00:02:05,700 [Judge Acker] Okay. So now let's fast forward to August 2nd. 42 00:02:05,767 --> 00:02:07,000 What happened that night, 43 00:02:07,066 --> 00:02:10,400 and tell me how the defendant came to be driving your car. 44 00:02:10,467 --> 00:02:13,867 I had actually flown in August 1st and I've been staying with her 45 00:02:13,934 --> 00:02:15,934 - from August 1st... - Flown in from where? 46 00:02:16,000 --> 00:02:18,033 [Michael] Florida. All of my family lives in Florida. 47 00:02:18,100 --> 00:02:20,867 So I was there for the summer and then I was coming back up here for school. 48 00:02:21,400 --> 00:02:25,166 So on August 2nd, uh, I had my car 49 00:02:25,233 --> 00:02:28,233 and I had gotten it registered in, uh, Washington State 50 00:02:28,300 --> 00:02:30,567 and got insurance on it that night. 51 00:02:30,633 --> 00:02:34,500 And then, uh, we were going out with friends 52 00:02:34,567 --> 00:02:37,600 and then Maddie was driving because she wanted-- 53 00:02:37,667 --> 00:02:38,700 she asked to drive. 54 00:02:38,767 --> 00:02:40,200 - She wanted to drive. - [Judge Acker] Maddie, the defendant? 55 00:02:40,266 --> 00:02:41,500 - [Michael] Yes. - [Judge Acker] Madison Fife? 56 00:02:41,567 --> 00:02:43,033 - Madison. - [Judge Acker] Who was with you? 57 00:02:43,100 --> 00:02:44,900 Who all was out on this... 58 00:02:44,966 --> 00:02:46,433 - [Michael] It was... - ... crazy night on the town? 59 00:02:46,500 --> 00:02:50,233 It was me, Madison, and then we had picked up her friend Lauren. 60 00:02:50,300 --> 00:02:52,100 She's not really my friend but I know her. 61 00:02:52,166 --> 00:02:56,166 Ms. Fife, you submitted as evidence a video... 62 00:02:56,233 --> 00:02:58,633 - [Madison] Uh-hmm. - ... of the plaintiff. 63 00:02:58,700 --> 00:02:59,934 He's intoxicated... 64 00:03:00,066 --> 00:03:01,166 - Yeah. - [Judge Acker] ... in the video. 65 00:03:01,233 --> 00:03:05,467 But I'm not really inclined to just embarrass him for being drunk... 66 00:03:05,533 --> 00:03:06,767 - [Madison] Oh, yeah. - ... when the whole predicate 67 00:03:06,834 --> 00:03:09,900 of this lawsuit was he had a designated driver, you... 68 00:03:09,967 --> 00:03:11,600 - Uh-hmm. - [Judge Acker] ... who was in fact drunk. 69 00:03:11,667 --> 00:03:16,066 So why did you submit a video of the plaintiff being intoxicated? 70 00:03:16,133 --> 00:03:17,233 Yes, Your Honor. 71 00:03:17,300 --> 00:03:20,734 I submitted the video because I had a feeling that he would say 72 00:03:20,800 --> 00:03:24,700 that I was wanting to drive and that I was super-drunk when I wasn't. 73 00:03:24,767 --> 00:03:28,600 So him being drunk isn't really material to your defense. 74 00:03:28,667 --> 00:03:29,667 Okay. Yeah. 75 00:03:29,734 --> 00:03:30,734 [Judge Acker] Were you drinking that night? 76 00:03:30,800 --> 00:03:32,433 I did have three Trulys that night, yes. 77 00:03:32,500 --> 00:03:33,800 [Judge Acker] What's a Truly? 78 00:03:33,867 --> 00:03:36,266 Uh, it's like a seltzer and, like, an alcoholic beverage. 79 00:03:36,333 --> 00:03:38,033 - It's an alcoholic drink. - Yes, ma'am. 80 00:03:38,100 --> 00:03:39,934 [Judge Acker] And this is now your statement. 81 00:03:40,000 --> 00:03:43,200 "We spent the afternoon at Liberty Lake, we hung out, 82 00:03:43,266 --> 00:03:46,367 went swimming, and I shotgunned three or four Trulys. 83 00:03:46,433 --> 00:03:49,166 I stopped drinking to sober up 84 00:03:49,233 --> 00:03:52,233 because Michael was way too drunk to drive." 85 00:03:52,300 --> 00:03:56,333 So these words from you suggest to me that you were prepared 86 00:03:56,400 --> 00:03:57,700 to be the designated driver. 87 00:03:57,767 --> 00:03:59,867 - Yes. - [Judge Acker] Now, how much time elapsed 88 00:03:59,934 --> 00:04:01,834 between the time you stopped drinking 89 00:04:01,900 --> 00:04:04,266 and the time that you got behind the wheel of the car? 90 00:04:04,333 --> 00:04:06,133 I would say probably two or three hours. 91 00:04:06,200 --> 00:04:07,233 Two or three hours. 92 00:04:07,300 --> 00:04:09,367 - And you only had those three seltzers? - Yes. 93 00:04:09,433 --> 00:04:10,433 [Judge Acker] But you're not a big woman. 94 00:04:10,500 --> 00:04:12,300 - No. - [Judge Acker] How old are you? 95 00:04:12,367 --> 00:04:15,000 - I'm 19. - Now, you're a young kid. 96 00:04:15,066 --> 00:04:16,733 Were you a little tipsy? 97 00:04:16,800 --> 00:04:19,033 I would say barely, not much. 98 00:04:19,100 --> 00:04:22,700 Okay. Barely tipsy means too drunk to drive. 99 00:04:22,767 --> 00:04:24,667 - Are you with me? - Yes. Yes. 100 00:04:24,734 --> 00:04:28,332 So Ms. Fife, the video that you submitted... 101 00:04:28,400 --> 00:04:30,066 - Uh-hmm. - [Judge Acker] ... of the plaintiff, 102 00:04:30,133 --> 00:04:34,600 how long before the accident was this video taken? 103 00:04:35,433 --> 00:04:37,867 Maybe, like, 30, 40 minutes before. 104 00:04:37,933 --> 00:04:41,600 So I'm now inclined to play it because I think it'll set the stage 105 00:04:41,667 --> 00:04:43,533 for what happened a few minutes later. 106 00:04:43,600 --> 00:04:45,200 - [Madison] Okay. - All right. Let's play the video. 107 00:04:46,400 --> 00:04:48,900 Michael, I've missed you so much, bro. 108 00:04:49,734 --> 00:04:50,834 What happened? 109 00:04:50,900 --> 00:04:54,600 [indistinct] 110 00:04:54,667 --> 00:04:57,200 [Madison] Michael, get out of the [bleep] sunroof. 111 00:04:57,266 --> 00:04:58,734 I swear to God. 112 00:04:59,200 --> 00:05:00,266 Oh, [bleep]. 113 00:05:00,333 --> 00:05:01,567 [Judge Acker] Who is that next to him? 114 00:05:01,633 --> 00:05:02,767 - Uh, our friend Lauren--uh... - That was Lauren. Yeah. 115 00:05:02,834 --> 00:05:05,033 - ... my friend Lauren, yes. - [Judge Acker] That was the other friend. 116 00:05:05,100 --> 00:05:07,800 So, you are super-flexible... 117 00:05:07,867 --> 00:05:09,200 - Yes, Your Honor. - [Judge Acker] ... and maybe 118 00:05:09,266 --> 00:05:10,967 you should be a yoga instructor. 119 00:05:11,033 --> 00:05:13,633 And, Ms. Fife, you're in the parking lot, 120 00:05:13,700 --> 00:05:15,600 you start doing doughnuts, correct? 121 00:05:15,667 --> 00:05:17,233 I did do two doughnuts, yes. 122 00:05:17,300 --> 00:05:19,066 [Judge Acker] You were doing two doughnuts. 123 00:05:19,133 --> 00:05:23,066 "And we started talking about drifting and wanted to try it. 124 00:05:23,133 --> 00:05:25,767 Drifting is when you attempt to drive the car on two wheels 125 00:05:25,834 --> 00:05:27,166 like in Fast and Furious." 126 00:05:27,233 --> 00:05:29,633 Somebody died from that movie, in real life. 127 00:05:29,700 --> 00:05:31,066 - [Madison] Uh-hmm. - You remember that? 128 00:05:31,133 --> 00:05:32,567 Yes. 129 00:05:32,633 --> 00:05:36,200 [Judge Acker] So in any event, you start drifting, crashed the car. 130 00:05:36,266 --> 00:05:39,467 A fire truck comes by just by happenstance, correct? 131 00:05:39,533 --> 00:05:40,700 Yes, Your Honor. 132 00:05:40,767 --> 00:05:44,332 He asked if we were okay and then said that they had, 133 00:05:44,400 --> 00:05:46,467 like a call or something they had to go to. 134 00:05:46,533 --> 00:05:49,033 And then approximately, like, five to ten minutes later, 135 00:05:49,100 --> 00:05:52,367 um, three or four cop cars pull in. 136 00:05:52,433 --> 00:05:54,667 Now, did anybody on the scene called the police or... 137 00:05:54,734 --> 00:05:56,200 - No. - [Judge Acker] ... did the firefighters 138 00:05:56,266 --> 00:05:57,367 summon the police? 139 00:05:57,433 --> 00:05:59,367 Yes, they did say--they did say that. 140 00:05:59,433 --> 00:06:00,700 [Judge Acker] And then the police show up. 141 00:06:00,767 --> 00:06:01,767 - Yes. - Yes, Your Honor. 142 00:06:01,834 --> 00:06:04,233 Now here is something that I think is really unconscionable. 143 00:06:04,300 --> 00:06:07,734 Because when the police show up, they think he's the one driving. 144 00:06:07,800 --> 00:06:09,533 - Uh-hmm. - [Judge Acker] And you actually, 145 00:06:09,600 --> 00:06:12,100 in your answer, admit, you were like, "You know what? 146 00:06:12,166 --> 00:06:15,200 We just let the police put him in handcuffs, 147 00:06:15,266 --> 00:06:19,200 take him to jail under the assumption that he was driving 148 00:06:19,266 --> 00:06:20,567 when I was the one driving. 149 00:06:20,633 --> 00:06:22,300 - I just sat there and let that happen." - Uh-hmm. 150 00:06:22,367 --> 00:06:23,567 [Judge Acker] That's what you did, isn't it? 151 00:06:23,633 --> 00:06:26,500 - Uh-hmm. - How can you explain that behavior? 152 00:06:26,567 --> 00:06:27,900 She is not your friend. 153 00:06:27,967 --> 00:06:29,567 [dramatic musical sting] 154 00:06:29,633 --> 00:06:32,233 [announcer] Coming up on Tribunal Justice. 155 00:06:32,300 --> 00:06:34,033 Somebody with a license had to drive 156 00:06:34,100 --> 00:06:37,867 or you would've been arrested for driving without a license. 157 00:06:37,933 --> 00:06:40,533 Yeah, but that wasn't my thought process at all. 158 00:06:40,600 --> 00:06:44,300 Did you have a thought process because drinking three Trulys, 159 00:06:44,367 --> 00:06:47,433 two doughnuts, and an arrest don't sound like a thought process. 160 00:06:47,500 --> 00:06:49,000 [dramatic musical sting] 161 00:06:50,967 --> 00:06:52,767 [theme music plays] 162 00:06:52,834 --> 00:06:56,533 [announcer] Michael White is suing former friend Madison Fife 163 00:06:56,600 --> 00:07:00,533 for $3,730 in car damages. 164 00:07:00,600 --> 00:07:05,200 He says Madison got drunk, did doughnuts, then wrecked his car. 165 00:07:05,266 --> 00:07:08,600 But Madison claims they never agreed on anything. 166 00:07:09,100 --> 00:07:13,734 No real friend lets somebody go to jail for something that they did. 167 00:07:13,800 --> 00:07:15,300 - Uh-hmm. - [Judge Acker] Now, how long 168 00:07:15,367 --> 00:07:16,400 were you in custody? 169 00:07:16,467 --> 00:07:18,700 Um, it was about two and a half hours, maybe three. 170 00:07:18,767 --> 00:07:20,834 [Judge Acker] So as a result of your lies to the police, 171 00:07:20,900 --> 00:07:23,467 he's in custody for two and a half to three hours. 172 00:07:23,533 --> 00:07:25,332 Then what happens, you go home? 173 00:07:25,400 --> 00:07:29,433 Um, I went home and they brought Michael back to my house and then took me. 174 00:07:29,500 --> 00:07:32,900 They took you, and this was how many hours after the crash? 175 00:07:32,967 --> 00:07:33,967 About three hours after. 176 00:07:34,033 --> 00:07:36,933 [Judge Acker] So three hours after the crash, you go to jail. 177 00:07:37,000 --> 00:07:38,734 - Yes. - [Judge Acker] And then you kind of say, 178 00:07:38,800 --> 00:07:40,667 "You know, I blew into the breathalyzer, 179 00:07:40,734 --> 00:07:43,000 it was only .002 180 00:07:43,066 --> 00:07:45,800 and then ultimately, I got charged with a DUI 181 00:07:45,867 --> 00:07:47,933 but they dropped it to a minor in possession." 182 00:07:48,000 --> 00:07:49,266 - Did you got a lawyer? - Yes. Uh-hmm. 183 00:07:49,332 --> 00:07:50,332 [Judge Acker] Oh, good for you. 184 00:07:50,400 --> 00:07:51,933 - Justice at work. - [Madison] Uh-hmm. 185 00:07:52,633 --> 00:07:55,000 Your Honor, she also got, uh, for that night 186 00:07:55,066 --> 00:07:56,867 a misleading information charge. 187 00:07:56,933 --> 00:07:57,933 [Judge Acker] Oh, that's right. 188 00:07:58,000 --> 00:08:01,266 You were also charged with lying to the police officers. 189 00:08:01,333 --> 00:08:02,900 What happened to that charge? 190 00:08:02,967 --> 00:08:03,967 Uh, it got dropped. 191 00:08:04,033 --> 00:08:05,333 [Judge Acker] Oh, that got dropped too. Is that your lawyer? 192 00:08:05,400 --> 00:08:07,600 - Uh-hmm. - Oh, God bless the profession. 193 00:08:07,667 --> 00:08:09,800 - Uh-hmm. - [Judge Acker] Honestly, I think the fact 194 00:08:09,867 --> 00:08:12,233 that nobody could prosecute you 195 00:08:12,300 --> 00:08:14,600 for making a false statement to police officers 196 00:08:14,667 --> 00:08:16,567 that got somebody taken into custody, 197 00:08:16,633 --> 00:08:17,800 I find shocking. 198 00:08:18,533 --> 00:08:21,533 And now your position with respect to the car 199 00:08:21,600 --> 00:08:23,934 is that you don't have to pay for the damages 200 00:08:24,000 --> 00:08:25,433 because you never had an agreement 201 00:08:26,000 --> 00:08:30,967 that after you drive someone else's car while you are drunk doing doughnuts, 202 00:08:31,033 --> 00:08:34,467 crashed the car, get him arrested falsely 203 00:08:34,533 --> 00:08:36,299 and you say, "Ooh, not gonna pay you for the car 204 00:08:36,366 --> 00:08:37,667 'cause we didn't agree to anything." 205 00:08:37,734 --> 00:08:39,100 Did your lawyer tell you to do that? 206 00:08:39,165 --> 00:08:40,165 Nope. 207 00:08:40,232 --> 00:08:42,066 [Judge Acker] This is shameful. Judge DiMango. 208 00:08:42,133 --> 00:08:43,332 How old are you, sir? 209 00:08:43,400 --> 00:08:44,533 [Michael] Eighteen, Your Honor. 210 00:08:44,600 --> 00:08:45,800 You're even younger than she is. 211 00:08:46,367 --> 00:08:51,433 I'm pretty sure the legal drinking age for all 50 states is still 21, 212 00:08:51,500 --> 00:08:53,600 and this is the reason why. 213 00:08:53,667 --> 00:08:55,233 But let me ask you, 214 00:08:55,300 --> 00:08:58,100 why were you in the driver seat when the police came? 215 00:08:58,165 --> 00:09:01,433 Um, Your Honor, I was, uh, trying to see what was wrong with the car. 216 00:09:01,500 --> 00:09:04,300 I actually turned it off because it started, like, smoking up. 217 00:09:04,367 --> 00:09:07,433 I was just trying to figure out if the car was gonna be drivable, 218 00:09:07,500 --> 00:09:08,533 if I had to get it towed. 219 00:09:08,600 --> 00:09:11,867 You thought you were going to diagnose a problem with the car 220 00:09:11,934 --> 00:09:13,433 by getting in the driver seat? 221 00:09:13,500 --> 00:09:15,500 Maybe you only did that 'cause you were so drunk. 222 00:09:15,567 --> 00:09:17,066 I mean, you're not a mechanic. 223 00:09:17,133 --> 00:09:20,400 No, I didn't get in the driver seat to, like, drive or anything like that. 224 00:09:20,467 --> 00:09:21,900 I got in the driver seat to pop the hood and turn on... 225 00:09:21,967 --> 00:09:24,867 You know, under the law, in New York at least, 226 00:09:24,934 --> 00:09:29,667 you were driving for the purposes of a DWI or a DUI statute. 227 00:09:29,734 --> 00:09:33,967 Uh, also, Your Honor, uh, when, uh, the cops, like, came 228 00:09:34,033 --> 00:09:35,100 and asked me if I was driving 229 00:09:35,165 --> 00:09:36,800 and I told them I wasn't driving and, like, told... 230 00:09:36,867 --> 00:09:38,433 [Judge DiMango] Well, they probably didn't wanna believe you. 231 00:09:38,500 --> 00:09:39,900 - Yeah. - Because the bottom line is, 232 00:09:39,967 --> 00:09:43,633 the only person anywhere near the driver seat was you. 233 00:09:43,700 --> 00:09:45,433 Let's see. I think we have a video of this. 234 00:09:45,500 --> 00:09:46,633 Let's see what's going on. 235 00:09:47,834 --> 00:09:49,567 [car alarm beeping] 236 00:09:49,633 --> 00:09:50,633 [car engine chokes] 237 00:09:50,700 --> 00:09:52,100 [Judge DiMango] What is that? Is that you doing what you... 238 00:09:52,165 --> 00:09:54,934 [Michael] That's me trying to start the car and it's not starting. 239 00:09:55,000 --> 00:09:57,333 [Judge DiMango] Is this the way you were when the police came, with one foot... 240 00:09:57,400 --> 00:09:59,533 [Michael] No, I wasn't even sitting in the seat, Your Honor. 241 00:10:00,100 --> 00:10:04,734 The pole lodged into this, and shattered this, 242 00:10:04,800 --> 00:10:07,834 and caused all of this. 243 00:10:09,433 --> 00:10:10,600 The window. 244 00:10:11,166 --> 00:10:12,467 [Judge DiMango] How'd the window get broken? 245 00:10:12,533 --> 00:10:13,700 You hit the front end. 246 00:10:14,266 --> 00:10:16,934 Was somebody trying to get out or did you kick it during your aerobics? 247 00:10:17,000 --> 00:10:19,066 No, it wasn't kicked by me. 248 00:10:19,133 --> 00:10:20,967 Um, I'm not too sure, 249 00:10:21,033 --> 00:10:23,700 but when I went back to get my car, the window was smashed 250 00:10:23,767 --> 00:10:24,767 and I realized that... 251 00:10:24,834 --> 00:10:26,100 [Judge DiMango] Was it left in that lot? 252 00:10:26,166 --> 00:10:27,166 [Michael] It was left in that lot. 253 00:10:27,233 --> 00:10:29,500 So you don't even know if somebody came by and kicked the window to go in 254 00:10:29,567 --> 00:10:31,266 and try to sleep in the car that night. 255 00:10:31,333 --> 00:10:34,300 We don't know a lot because you were drunk, you were drunk. 256 00:10:34,367 --> 00:10:36,533 Technically, you were both driving 257 00:10:36,600 --> 00:10:39,600 except when the police got there, you were not behind the wheel. 258 00:10:39,667 --> 00:10:41,600 - Yes. - [Judge DiMango] And that's why, really, 259 00:10:41,667 --> 00:10:45,200 absent the credible testimony of a sober person, 260 00:10:45,266 --> 00:10:47,934 they probably could not have charged you with the DUI, 261 00:10:48,000 --> 00:10:51,100 which is why your lawyer probably got you out of that charge 262 00:10:51,165 --> 00:10:52,967 because there really wasn't any legitimate evidence 263 00:10:53,033 --> 00:10:54,734 of you driving if you denied it. 264 00:10:54,800 --> 00:10:56,266 Where's Lauren in all of this? 265 00:10:56,333 --> 00:10:58,333 Lauren was in the back seat the entire time. 266 00:10:58,400 --> 00:11:00,633 - She saw that Maddie was driving. - Where is she now? 267 00:11:00,700 --> 00:11:01,900 - [Michael] Oh. - Where? 268 00:11:01,967 --> 00:11:03,600 She's at college. 269 00:11:03,667 --> 00:11:04,867 Thank God. 270 00:11:04,934 --> 00:11:06,200 [laughter] 271 00:11:06,266 --> 00:11:07,834 [Judge DiMango] Where's your driver's license? 272 00:11:07,900 --> 00:11:10,200 Uh, it's, uh, gone now. I never got it. 273 00:11:10,266 --> 00:11:11,734 [Judge DiMango] Did you ever have a driver's license? 274 00:11:11,800 --> 00:11:14,033 - No. - That's why you got out of the car. 275 00:11:14,100 --> 00:11:16,667 See? When I read this, I'm saying, "She doesn't have a license." 276 00:11:16,734 --> 00:11:18,800 And you're two people here, two minors, 277 00:11:18,867 --> 00:11:22,433 an 18-year-old, a 19-year-old, an unlicensed 19-year-old. 278 00:11:22,500 --> 00:11:23,967 - You have a driver's license? - Yes, Your Honor. 279 00:11:24,033 --> 00:11:26,367 [Judge DiMango] He had to get behind the wheel when the police came 280 00:11:26,433 --> 00:11:28,967 because somebody with a license had to drive 281 00:11:29,033 --> 00:11:32,800 or you would have been arrested for driving without a license. 282 00:11:33,400 --> 00:11:34,633 - Uh-hmm. - [Judge DiMango] Right? 283 00:11:34,700 --> 00:11:37,567 Yeah, but that wasn't my thought process at all. 284 00:11:37,633 --> 00:11:39,367 [Judge DiMango] Did you have a thought process? 285 00:11:39,433 --> 00:11:43,300 Because to me, drinking three Trulys, two doughnuts, and an arrest 286 00:11:43,367 --> 00:11:45,300 don't sound like a thought process. 287 00:11:45,367 --> 00:11:46,467 Sounds pretty stupid. 288 00:11:46,533 --> 00:11:48,367 Yes, it was very stupid. 289 00:11:48,433 --> 00:11:49,667 [Judge DiMango] So let me ask you. 290 00:11:49,734 --> 00:11:52,066 I was trying to figure out where your damages come in 291 00:11:52,133 --> 00:11:56,266 because the value of your car is less than the damages probably. 292 00:11:56,333 --> 00:11:58,400 So what should we do, buy you a new car? 293 00:11:58,467 --> 00:12:01,133 Um, Your Honor, I go to school full-time, 294 00:12:01,200 --> 00:12:05,066 I work full-time, and I also got put in the predicament 295 00:12:05,133 --> 00:12:08,333 of I was getting ready to sell that car when I had just gotten back up here 296 00:12:08,400 --> 00:12:10,400 so that's why I got it registered in Washington 297 00:12:10,467 --> 00:12:12,100 so I could go in about a week or two to get in... 298 00:12:12,166 --> 00:12:14,433 But you see, you want me to see a logic in somebody 299 00:12:14,500 --> 00:12:15,934 who thinks he's gonna sell his car, 300 00:12:16,000 --> 00:12:19,233 drives it up from Florida to the state of Washington, 301 00:12:19,300 --> 00:12:23,266 gives it to a drunken friend to do doughnuts in, and says, 302 00:12:23,333 --> 00:12:27,133 "Judge, please understand that I really wanted to sell this car." 303 00:12:27,200 --> 00:12:28,767 When was your insurance in effect? 304 00:12:28,834 --> 00:12:30,567 - [Michael] August 3rd. - [Judge DiMango] No. 305 00:12:30,633 --> 00:12:34,300 Try August 4th, because this is the insurance documents 306 00:12:34,367 --> 00:12:36,533 and it says, "In effect August 4th." 307 00:12:36,600 --> 00:12:38,600 - When was this accident? - August 2nd. 308 00:12:38,667 --> 00:12:40,900 [Judge DiMango] So you were driving without insurance. 309 00:12:40,967 --> 00:12:43,266 Why would we want to reward anything 310 00:12:43,333 --> 00:12:46,467 when you're a part and parcel of this fiasco? 311 00:12:47,300 --> 00:12:50,500 I believe that if she didn't wanna drive 312 00:12:50,567 --> 00:12:52,834 and didn't say that she was good to drive, 313 00:12:52,900 --> 00:12:54,300 we could have taken an Uber. 314 00:12:54,367 --> 00:12:56,266 - Didn't you see her? So what? - [Michael] I... 315 00:12:56,333 --> 00:12:57,367 You think she's fine? 316 00:12:57,433 --> 00:13:00,400 You think drinking anything at all and getting behind a wheel-- 317 00:13:00,467 --> 00:13:02,600 that does not mean a designated driver. 318 00:13:02,667 --> 00:13:05,133 That means the less designated drunk. 319 00:13:05,200 --> 00:13:06,900 And you're shaking your head. You know what I think? 320 00:13:06,967 --> 00:13:09,834 You're one of these kids that walked out of here, you're gonna have a beer. 321 00:13:10,467 --> 00:13:12,533 Because I don't really think either one of you 322 00:13:12,600 --> 00:13:14,433 get the gravamen of what went on here. 323 00:13:14,500 --> 00:13:19,166 Uninsured, unlicensed, both drunk, lying to the police, lying to your friend. 324 00:13:19,233 --> 00:13:20,233 Judge Levy. 325 00:13:20,767 --> 00:13:24,467 You play stupid games, you win stupid prizes. 326 00:13:25,300 --> 00:13:26,467 - Right? - Yes, Your Honor. 327 00:13:26,533 --> 00:13:31,934 You just provided us today with an estimate for $3,731.61. 328 00:13:32,000 --> 00:13:35,165 Yes, Your Honor. I'd gotten someone to come out to the house 329 00:13:35,233 --> 00:13:38,467 and give me a rough estimate of what it would be. 330 00:13:38,533 --> 00:13:41,600 - Now, Ms. Fife, you got off. - Yeah. 331 00:13:41,667 --> 00:13:44,900 [Judge Levy] But, you know, you were telling Judge Acker and Judge DiMango 332 00:13:44,967 --> 00:13:46,667 that you admitted to these three Trulys? 333 00:13:46,734 --> 00:13:49,066 - [Madison] Uh-hmm. - That's a lie. I know that's a lie. 334 00:13:49,133 --> 00:13:51,500 You wanna tell us the truth before I tell you how I know it's a lie? 335 00:13:52,333 --> 00:13:53,467 [dramatic musical sting] 336 00:13:53,533 --> 00:13:56,066 [announcer] Coming up on Tribunal Justice. 337 00:13:56,133 --> 00:13:59,266 They were charging you with driving under the influence of alcohol 338 00:13:59,333 --> 00:14:01,467 and a controlled substance. 339 00:14:01,533 --> 00:14:03,433 And by the way, you knew she was smoking, right? 340 00:14:03,500 --> 00:14:05,166 [dramatic musical sting] 341 00:14:07,066 --> 00:14:08,900 [theme music plays] 342 00:14:08,967 --> 00:14:12,867 [announcer] Michael White is suing former friend Madison Fife 343 00:14:12,934 --> 00:14:16,600 for $3,730 in car damages. 344 00:14:16,667 --> 00:14:21,200 He says Madison got drunk, did doughnuts, then wrecked his car. 345 00:14:21,266 --> 00:14:24,934 But Madison claims they never agreed on anything. 346 00:14:25,000 --> 00:14:27,667 Ms. Fife, you admitted to these three Trulys? 347 00:14:27,734 --> 00:14:28,734 - Uh-hmm. - [Judge Levy] That's a lie. 348 00:14:28,800 --> 00:14:29,800 I know that's a lie. 349 00:14:29,867 --> 00:14:32,734 You wanna tell us the truth before I tell you how I know it's a lie? 350 00:14:32,800 --> 00:14:35,000 All I remember is drinking three to four Trulys. 351 00:14:35,066 --> 00:14:36,467 [Judge Levy] So when you say it's all you remember 352 00:14:36,533 --> 00:14:38,867 is drinking three or four Trulys is you're saying you coulda had more 353 00:14:38,934 --> 00:14:41,567 but you just don't remember, right? 354 00:14:41,633 --> 00:14:43,600 - I guess, yeah. - You're ready for this? 355 00:14:44,233 --> 00:14:49,165 According to your math, the last drink was two to three hours before the crash. 356 00:14:49,233 --> 00:14:50,233 Yes. 357 00:14:50,300 --> 00:14:52,734 [Judge Levy] And then three hours after the crash, 358 00:14:52,800 --> 00:14:55,667 -you blew a .02. -Yeah. 359 00:14:55,734 --> 00:15:01,166 .02 is less than the DWI limit, the BAC, blood alcohol limit, 360 00:15:01,233 --> 00:15:04,133 in all 50 states, right, which is .08. 361 00:15:04,200 --> 00:15:05,567 - Right? Am I on the right track? - Yeah. 362 00:15:05,633 --> 00:15:07,967 .08, you're a .02. 363 00:15:08,033 --> 00:15:10,300 But they still arrested you for DUI, 364 00:15:10,367 --> 00:15:13,633 which means they didn't have probable cause to charge you 365 00:15:13,700 --> 00:15:16,333 with driving under the influence of alcohol. 366 00:15:16,400 --> 00:15:20,567 They were charging you with driving under the influence of alcohol 367 00:15:20,633 --> 00:15:23,767 and a controlled substance, combined. 368 00:15:23,834 --> 00:15:25,433 - Right? - Uh, yes. 369 00:15:25,500 --> 00:15:27,066 Yes. 370 00:15:27,133 --> 00:15:29,000 So it wasn't that you weren't drunk. 371 00:15:29,066 --> 00:15:34,165 It was that you were drunk and high and crashed a car. 372 00:15:34,233 --> 00:15:36,500 And by the way, you knew she was smoking, right? 373 00:15:36,567 --> 00:15:37,567 No, Your Honor. 374 00:15:37,633 --> 00:15:39,066 [Judge Levy] You didn't know she was taking any drugs that night? 375 00:15:39,133 --> 00:15:40,133 - Nope. - [Judge Levy] Really? 376 00:15:40,200 --> 00:15:41,400 Because I didn't take any and... 377 00:15:41,467 --> 00:15:43,567 - I'm not asking whether you took any. - [Michael] Yes, Your Honor. 378 00:15:43,633 --> 00:15:45,900 I'm asking whether you knew whether she took any. 379 00:15:46,633 --> 00:15:48,667 I did not know she did, Your Honor. 380 00:15:48,734 --> 00:15:49,767 - [Judge Levy] Okay. Is that true? - It was not in my car. 381 00:15:49,834 --> 00:15:51,033 [Judge Levy] Did he know that you were smoking? 382 00:15:51,100 --> 00:15:52,867 - We smoked weed together. - [Judge Levy] Of course you did. 383 00:15:52,934 --> 00:15:54,165 - Of course you did. - We... 384 00:15:54,233 --> 00:15:55,266 [Judge Levy] Stop. 385 00:15:55,333 --> 00:15:57,700 You clearly weren't making good choices that day. 386 00:15:57,767 --> 00:16:00,567 - Yes, Your Honor. - [Judge Levy] So let me ask you this. 387 00:16:00,633 --> 00:16:03,567 What part about this incident on August 1st, 388 00:16:03,633 --> 00:16:06,800 driving without insurance, getting drunk, 389 00:16:06,867 --> 00:16:10,800 what role, if any, do you believe you had... 390 00:16:10,867 --> 00:16:12,667 - [Michael] Um... - ... in your car getting damaged? 391 00:16:13,400 --> 00:16:17,400 Definitely not putting my foot down and just taking my car. 392 00:16:17,467 --> 00:16:19,100 [Judge Levy] So you do bear some responsibility, right? 393 00:16:19,166 --> 00:16:20,166 Yes, Your Honor. 394 00:16:20,233 --> 00:16:21,533 [Michael] If you had to guess, 395 00:16:21,600 --> 00:16:24,734 what percentage of fault would you place 396 00:16:24,800 --> 00:16:28,834 on yourself for making all the stupid choices you made? 397 00:16:29,300 --> 00:16:30,767 I would say about 40%. 398 00:16:30,834 --> 00:16:31,834 How about 50? 399 00:16:32,633 --> 00:16:35,133 Yes, 50/50. 400 00:16:35,200 --> 00:16:37,834 - I got nothing else. - Quickly. Very quickly. 401 00:16:37,900 --> 00:16:40,200 I'm not inclined to trust her testimony. 402 00:16:40,266 --> 00:16:41,900 Were you smoking weed with her? 403 00:16:41,967 --> 00:16:43,767 Your Honor, I have smoked weed with her... 404 00:16:43,834 --> 00:16:46,667 [Judge Acker] I'm talking at or near the time of the accident. 405 00:16:46,734 --> 00:16:48,233 - No, Your Honor. - [Judge Acker] Okay. 406 00:16:48,300 --> 00:16:50,533 - I don't have anything. - Then we are gonna retire to deliberate. 407 00:16:50,600 --> 00:16:52,834 - Thank you both. - [Byrd] The court now stands in recess. 408 00:16:52,900 --> 00:16:54,300 Parties are excused. 409 00:16:54,367 --> 00:16:57,367 [dramatic musical sting] 410 00:16:58,567 --> 00:17:02,066 I feel like what we saw out there was a smorgasbord of stupidity. 411 00:17:02,133 --> 00:17:07,800 I mean, one stupid, bad decision leading to another stupid, bad decision. 412 00:17:07,867 --> 00:17:10,300 But here was a young drunk kid 413 00:17:10,367 --> 00:17:13,433 who at least had the presence of mind to try to let somebody else drive. 414 00:17:13,500 --> 00:17:17,200 I think he was too intoxicated perhaps to know how drunk she was. 415 00:17:17,266 --> 00:17:19,099 I think her behavior was not just stupid. 416 00:17:19,165 --> 00:17:20,433 It was pretty unconscionable. 417 00:17:20,500 --> 00:17:22,900 I love where you went with your examination, Adam, 418 00:17:22,967 --> 00:17:24,000 because I was right there. 419 00:17:24,066 --> 00:17:28,834 I would like to hold him liable for half of the estimate, $3,700, 420 00:17:28,900 --> 00:17:31,500 and she bears responsibility for the other half. 421 00:17:31,567 --> 00:17:32,900 Comparative negligence. 422 00:17:32,967 --> 00:17:35,467 That's kind of what I was saying when I said, "You've both done this. 423 00:17:35,533 --> 00:17:38,900 You're both involved in this. You're all in this whole thing together." 424 00:17:38,967 --> 00:17:42,667 And I think sharing the responsibility 50/50 is perfectly fine. 425 00:17:42,734 --> 00:17:45,033 And where I was going with that question in the end, 426 00:17:45,100 --> 00:17:47,467 because really, how can we divide the stupidity up? 427 00:17:47,533 --> 00:17:50,633 You know, it's not like we gave them a Stanford-Binet IQ test 428 00:17:50,700 --> 00:17:52,567 and we said, "Well, you're more stupid than she is." 429 00:17:52,633 --> 00:17:54,734 They're both equally culpable in this. 430 00:17:54,800 --> 00:17:56,033 - I agree. - So we're unanimous? 431 00:17:56,100 --> 00:17:57,333 - Yes. - Very good. 432 00:17:58,500 --> 00:18:01,333 [dramatic musical sting] 433 00:18:01,400 --> 00:18:02,533 [Byrd] Court is back in session. 434 00:18:02,600 --> 00:18:04,734 Parties are reminded you're still under oath. 435 00:18:04,800 --> 00:18:08,533 Young Ms. Fife, I was hard on you and I intended to be. 436 00:18:08,600 --> 00:18:11,467 - I need you not to be so dumb... - Yes. 437 00:18:11,533 --> 00:18:13,967 - ... and irresponsible and dishonest. - Yes, Your Honor. 438 00:18:14,033 --> 00:18:17,000 I mean, there are so many layers of bad things here. 439 00:18:17,066 --> 00:18:18,767 - [Madison] Uh-hmm. - I know you can do better. 440 00:18:18,834 --> 00:18:20,166 I know you can. 441 00:18:20,233 --> 00:18:21,400 And I meant it when I said, 442 00:18:21,467 --> 00:18:25,300 "Please let this be the stupidest, most irresponsible thing that you do. 443 00:18:25,367 --> 00:18:27,133 - It was just wrong." - Yes. 444 00:18:27,200 --> 00:18:30,567 [Judge Acker] However, Mr. White, you were a little dumb too. 445 00:18:30,633 --> 00:18:31,633 Yes, Your Honor. 446 00:18:31,700 --> 00:18:33,567 [Judge Acker] You know, the smartest thing that you did, 447 00:18:33,633 --> 00:18:37,433 even in your drunken haze, was to give the keys over to somebody. 448 00:18:38,033 --> 00:18:40,667 - Yes, Your Honor. - Still, this was like just a snowball 449 00:18:40,734 --> 00:18:42,967 of stupid decisions by both of you. 450 00:18:43,033 --> 00:18:47,600 So we agree that both of you bear responsibility for this. 451 00:18:47,667 --> 00:18:49,800 We looked at your estimate, Ms. Fife. 452 00:18:49,867 --> 00:18:52,133 You are liable for a portion of that estimate 453 00:18:52,200 --> 00:18:53,834 regardless of what you agreed to. 454 00:18:53,900 --> 00:18:55,400 - [Madison] Okay. - You're gonna pay him for half 455 00:18:55,467 --> 00:18:56,533 and you're gonna pay half. 456 00:18:56,600 --> 00:18:57,633 Yes, Your Honor. 457 00:18:57,700 --> 00:19:00,533 I don't have to tell both of you how much worse this could have been 458 00:19:00,600 --> 00:19:03,934 if somebody had been on the road, you could have killed a person. 459 00:19:04,000 --> 00:19:05,033 Yes. 460 00:19:05,100 --> 00:19:07,667 So with that, the unanimous verdict of the court 461 00:19:07,734 --> 00:19:11,100 is $1,865 in your favor. 462 00:19:11,633 --> 00:19:12,633 - Yes, Your Honor. - [Judge Acker] You're gonna eat 463 00:19:12,700 --> 00:19:14,300 - the other half of those damages. - Yes. 464 00:19:14,367 --> 00:19:16,100 [Judge Acker] Good luck to you both and do better. 465 00:19:16,166 --> 00:19:17,367 - Thank you. - Thank you. 466 00:19:17,433 --> 00:19:19,633 Case has now concluded. Parties are excused. 467 00:19:19,700 --> 00:19:20,800 You may step out. 468 00:19:20,867 --> 00:19:23,934 [theme music plays] 469 00:19:24,000 --> 00:19:28,000 It was our second night seeing each other since he had been gone most of the summer. 470 00:19:28,066 --> 00:19:29,767 We were just trying to have a good time. 471 00:19:29,834 --> 00:19:32,233 It was definitely--there was definitely good moments in the friendship. 472 00:19:32,300 --> 00:19:35,967 He was very drunk and just kind of running around and acting crazy. 473 00:19:36,033 --> 00:19:38,400 That night was definitely one of the worst nights of my life. 474 00:19:38,467 --> 00:19:40,166 And it was just a whole [bleep] show. 475 00:19:40,233 --> 00:19:43,633 I hope that she can better-- really better herself 476 00:19:43,700 --> 00:19:47,367 and be a better person and take the help that she-- 477 00:19:47,433 --> 00:19:50,700 get the help that she needs and really find help. 478 00:19:50,767 --> 00:19:52,934 Yeah. Celebrating gone wrong for sure. 479 00:19:53,467 --> 00:19:54,834 [announcer] Have you been scammed? 480 00:19:54,900 --> 00:19:59,066 Let the majority rule in your favor on Tribunal Justice. 481 00:19:59,133 --> 00:20:01,400 Find us on social media. 482 00:20:01,467 --> 00:20:04,667 ["Ride of the Valkyries" plays]