[Judge DiMango] He was your caretaker.
It came to a point he wanted to get a car.
I had a car.
He told me to get rid of it and get a new car.
I end up paying for the car.
He never gave me even half.
I don't need a car.
Well, you don't need a car because legally, you can't drive.
You can't see.
I can drive. My wife said I drove her crazy.
[laughter]
[announcer] Now on Tribunal Justice.
["Ride of the Valkyries" plays]
[announcer] Today's case was filed in Los Angeles, California.
[Byrd] Your Honor, this is case number 2048 on the calendar
in the matter of Moore versus Hawk.
- Thank you, Byrd. - You have a good one.
Parties have been sworn in.
You may be seated.
Mr. Moore, the defendant, Mr. Hawk was your caretaker.
And in exchange for the caretaking services,
you let him rent from you for free.
You also bought a SUV
so that he could drive you around, help you with chores.
And you expected that he was gonna pay you half of that
and the insurance as well.
Well, at some point, you evicted him
and at that point now he refuses to keep up his end of the deal,
which is to pay you the balance of what he owes you on the car, $1,200,
and the insurance which is $1,300.
That's a total of $2,500.
Mr. Hawk, you have a different version of this.
You say that when he bought the vehicle,
he never asked you for any money.
Then at some point he said you had to pay half,
which you weren't expecting.
Then he became abusive of you,
and so you say, "For all I did for him,
I'm not paying him anything and I don't owe him anything."
Okay, Mr. Moore, how long you know Mr. Hawk?
Um, the truth of the matter is
I knew his, uh, girlfriend or wife.
They lived downstairs.
And then what--at one point, she asked me
could, uh, her and her husband rent my room,
and he sounded like a decent person.
I'm sure he is and was for a couple years
until he start going through problems and stuff.
[Judge DiMango] And then, if you wanna answer...
- And then he kept--okay. - ... to this question, please?
How long do you know him?
- About three, four years. - [Judge DiMango] Okay, accurate?
About three, four years you know one another?
Uh, 2018, that's when I met him.
So that's about four or five years.
- But, okay, we'll settle at four. - [Hawk] Right.
Okay. So now, he was living there at some point with his girlfriend
and you decided that you would let him stay rent-free
if he would be your caretaker,
'cause you needed that more than the money for the rent,
- would that be correct? - [Moore] Well, he started off--
I had him shampoo my carpet.
I seen him did a good job-- he did a good job.
- Good. So he shampooed your carpet... - [Moore] So I got a chance to know him.
You gotta understand, I'm blind.
'm not gonna let nobody stay around me that's dangerous.
[Judge DiMango] Correct.
So I decided that he'll be okay,
so I let them have the room.
And then it came to a point...
And there's more to it.
- ... that he... - [laughter]
It came to a point he wanted to get a car
and he told me, "Mike, we could buy a car. I'll go half on it."
I said, "I don't need a car. I got access."
I only paid $2.75.
- I ain't gonna take no... - Well, you don't need a car
because legally, you can't drive.
- You can't see. - [Moore] Well...
- [Judge DiMango] Correct? - ... I can drive.
My wife said I drove her crazy
- and she was a... - [laughter]
[Moore] And she was a psychiatrist.
Are you looking for a stand-up comic job after this?
[Moore] I told her, "That's not a drive."
- [Judge DiMango] That was very good. - Well, this is how it is.
I want my money because I want him to be able to be responsible as a man
and when he give his word, to keep it.
Okay. So now you say to him, you'll buy him the car
but he's gotta pay you money for the vehicle?
- You want money in full? - He asked me
to buy the car and he'll give half.
I end up paying for the car.
He never gave me even half.
I only asked for half of what you said you're gonna get.
I'm gonna let you just have the other half.
Okay. I think we got your version. Let's look at the car.
- Mr. Hawk, is that the vehicle? - Yes.
[Judge DiMango] And it's an SUV, correct?
- Right. - [Judge DiMango] Okay.
Now, Mr. Moore, you say that that car costs $3,200, is that correct?
Ask Mr. Hawk. He'll let you know. He was there.
You know what? I think I am gonna move over to him.
- [Hawk] Yes. Yes. - Was the car $3,200?
You went to the place to buy it with him?
- You went to the, uh, the... - Yes, I was there.
[Judge DiMango] You go in, you buy this SUV.
Who pays out the money up front?
- He does. - [Judge DiMango] He does?
- Right. - [Judge DiMango] And he tells you what?
That he's gonna put the car in your name and his name?
- In both, yes. - [Judge DiMango] Both names?
- So let's see that. - Right.
[Judge DiMango] 'Cause you do put the car in both names,
but did he ever say to you you were gonna pay for the vehicle?
Um, he didn't ask me for money at first.
I had a car.
He told me to get rid of it and get a new car
- 'cause he wants me to... - [Moore] I didn't tell you to--
- oh, I'm sorry. - ... drive him around
in a nice-looking car, and my car was raggedy.
So it was to your benefit to get this car.
Whether you pay half, or all, or whatever, it was to your benefit.
Uh, but we never had a written agreement.
[Judge DiMango] But you don't need a written agreement
if you have a meeting of the minds as to what was to occur.
So now, I'm gonna go back to you Mr. Moore
because you have the burden of proof here.
So, when was it that you had this conversation with Mr. Hawk
that he was going to pay for this car?
Before I even paid out the money to get it.
[Judge DiMango] Okay. What did you say?
Uh, he--I told you, he was asking me for months and months to get a car,
he could take me around in it.
And then I agreed when he said he would pay half,
I said I agree with that.
And he was doing good helping me
until he had changes in his mind.
You know, he went through problems
and I didn't wanna pressure him,
'cause the boy ain't too stable.
- [Judge DiMango] Hmm. - [Moore] I'm telling you.
We'll let you say that,
but we don't necessarily agree with that, but okay.
I know nobody's a psychiatrist.
I was married to one.
But she didn't help you, did she?
- [Moore] Not really. - [Judge DiMango] See?
[laughter]
Did he ever make any payments towards the car?
Well, he paid two payments of 200.
[Judge DiMango] So $400 in payments, correct?
Well, whatever he needed the money for,
it's coming outta my check,
you know, to help out and stuff.
Okay. Can I ask who you are, ma'am, please?
[Curisha] Oh, I'm his granddaughter.
[Judge DiMango] Oh, are you privy to any of these transactions,
or you're just part of his comedy routine?
I'm just part of the comedy routine.
- [Judge DiMango] Okay. - [laughter]
[Judge DiMango] You laugh first. We all know it's funny.
[laughter]
And, ma'am, may I ask who you are?
I am Debra McClean, Michael's first cousin.
And are you a witness to anything here?
- [Debra] Yes. - Well, then let's step up.
Let's see what you know.
Maybe you can put some clarity here on what's going on.
So what do you know?
I don't know nothing about the payments arrangements or about the car,
but I do know how he treated my cousin.
Like, first instance, I live next door to a restaurant.
They giving out turkeys.
He brought him over to get one.
He's cussing him out all the way to the door.
They had to stop distributing the turkeys
and give him his so he can leave
- 'cause he was in bed... - [Judge DiMango] I don't doubt that
for some reason, Mr. Moore.
I think that's pretty consistent with the personality.
Did she also tell you that he was cursing out his wife
and being abusive
and that's the only reason I got into it?
- [Judge DiMango] So, about... - You don't take me no place
and act crazy with your wife.
You make me look bad too.
He did not, sorry.
He did not say nothing to me.
- [Hawk] She wasn't even there. - So, I think it's best that...
- [Hawk] She wasn't. No. - Thank you.
You--I think you could sit
since you can't add to the, uh, vehicle situation.
But let's put it this way.
[Moore] She just don't like me, you know?
If you didn't like his behavior, there was no problem with you quitting
but you had an obligation to pay for the vehicle
that would still survive your job opportunity with him.
[dramatic music playing]
[announcer] Coming up on Tribunal Justice.
There's a two-year statute of limitations.
So if it's 2020, you definitely lose.
Well, it couldn't have been 2020...
- [Judge Levy] Let me see. - ... because I was in jail in 2020.
Oh, we learned that for the first time.
-[laughter] -[dramatic musical sting]
[theme music plays]
[announcer] Michael Moore is suing former caregiver Michael Hawk
for $2,500,
the balance owed on a car and insurance.
Mr. Moore claims he bought the car for his caregiver
expecting to be reimbursed for half the cost.
Mr. Hawk says the car was always a gift
to make up for the verbal and psychological abuse
he had to put up with.
Your position, Mr. Moore, so it's clear to me
is that you were expecting him only to pay half, is that correct?
That's correct.
[Judge DiMango] That's because he was using the car
- for your benefit as well as his. - Right. Right.
[Judge DiMango] And that would've been 1,600 for the car
for which you gave $400 in payments.
Who has the car?
He do.
[Judge DiMango] Who's paying your insurance?
I am.
I paid for a whole year and I got the receipts.
Yeah, one time for a year. That was it.
Did you move out after that one year,
or did you continue to pay the insurance...
[Moore] He moved out.
[Judge DiMango] ... after the year expired?
- [Hawk] I moved out. - Before.
I stopped coming around. I quit.
That's when he became bitter.
That's when he decided...
- He end up quitting. - ... to come after me for the car
after I quit.
[Judge DiMango] Okay. So I'm gonna pass it over to Judge Levy.
[Judge Levy] Thank you.
- Mr. Moore. - Yes, sir.
Tell me the date that you purchased the car.
Oh, I think it was August 2021 or '22.
Okay. So that's important because in your complaint,
you say it was in 2020 that you bought the car.
- And this was--right. - It could have been.
But now you're saying it could have been in '21 or '22?
Well, I don't see the paperwork.
[Judge Levy] I know, but that's my point,
- Mr. Moore. - Right.
[Judge Levy] That one of the reasons, not the only.
One of the reasons why it's difficult for you to remember the dates
is because it happened quite some time ago, years.
Uh-hmm. That's correct.
[Judge Levy] Okay.
And that there was nothing in writing
between you and Mr. Hawk
that outlined the terms and conditions of this transaction.
- Nothing in writing. - No, it was, uh, from his mouth,
he told me.
[Judge Levy] That's what you say. I get that.
- That's called an oral contract, right? - Yes.
- Right. A verbal contract. - [Judge Levy] And an--right.
And an order for an oral or verbal contract to be enforceable,
there has to be a clear meeting of the minds,
and that's what we need to figure out,
'cause what he's saying is that there was no meeting of the minds
when you purchased the car,
that there was no expectation of repayment when the car was actually purchased.
That's what your statement is, Mr. Hawk?
Yes.
[Judge Levy] When you walked in with him to pick up this used car,
had you already sold yours?
Yes.
And that what you are about to pick up with him
is going to be your only mode of transportation.
Right, yes.
So prior to walking into the dealership with him,
what had the two of you discussed
regarding your financial obligation, if any?
Uh, pay me when you can.
And that's right, Mr. Moore?
- [Moore] That's right. - Okay.
"Pay me when you can."
So the only issue really was when was when you can?
There came a time, however,
that you ended up leaving his employment, correct?
Right.
[Judge Levy] Now, the reasons I don't care about.
But you would agree that once you left his employment
is when he asked you now for the money.
After I left, he became bitter.
[Judge Levy] I don't care about bitter.
I didn't ask you about bitter.
Why didn't you give him his money at that point?
[Hawk] Because he was verbally abusive
and he put me through a lot of--
a lot of, uh, embarrassment working for him.
So, if you treated you badly, I'm not condoning that.
It doesn't make a difference for purposes of this case, not at all.
But he did make a demand for the money that you owed him.
And what year was that?
Uh, 02/20/2020.
It couldn't have been 2020.
[Moore] He didn't have the car.
[Hawk] That's when he had the car.
He bought the car in 2020.
When did you leave his apartment?
- Probably 20... - This is super important.
... 2020.
[Judge Levy] All right. Let's go through this.
You know, a bill of sale would've been...
[Judge DiMango] Ah, you thought this was gonna be easy?
- I did. A bill of sale... - [laughter]
... you know, a bill of sale would've been really helpful.
Let me explain.
There's a two-year statute of limitations on oral contracts.
Two years.
You waited a long time, Mr. Moore.
I'm trying to figure out whether or not your case is gonna get shot down
just on a statute of limitations problem.
So if it's 2020, you definitely lose.
It wasn't 2020.
[Judge Levy] Now we know it's not 2020.
- That's why a bill of sale... - We--no, I'm trying to tell you,
it couldn't have been 2020...
- [Judge Levy] Let me see. - ... because I was in jail in 2020.
Oh, we learned that for the first time.
[laughter]
[Judge Levy] Do me a favor. Bill of sale.
Someone please give me the bill of sale.
Which one's the bill of sale?
[Hawk] The title?
Yeah, I'll take the title. Thank you.
Okay. So, the car title indicates
the transfer date, August 28th, 2021.
So we know that the vehicle had to be purchased
at least in August of 2021.
So, how long were you working with him
before the relationship deteriorated
when he asked you for the money back?
- [Hawk] Uh, about two, three years. - Okay.
[Judge Levy] Three years? You're gonna say...
- Yeah. Three. - [Judge Levy] ... two or three years?
Good. I have nothing further.
This case is really serious for you, Mr. Hawk.
And I think it hurt your feelings, some of the things that he said.
So I'm gonna help you out a little bit here.
I'm going to translate what I think your position is
into a little bit of legalese.
You're suggesting that the abusive way that he treated you
constitutes an offset of any moneys that you owe him.
Is that kind of what you're saying in your defense?
Kinda.
Now, I'm gonna ask your cousin to come back
because your testimony is relevant to this issue.
Do you want your nice cane?
Um, I made it.
[laughter]
[Judge Acker] Well done, ma'am. Well done.
So you started to testify about an incident
where your cousin was taking the plaintiff
- to pick up some turkeys. - [Debra] Yes.
And you witnessed certain treatment
of your cousin by the plaintiff
- that you found to be troubling. - [Debra] Yes.
Can you describe that incident for me, please?
Yes. From getting out the car,
my cousin helping him, got him arm in arm,
walking him to the door because he wouldn't--
he was talking about he's not standing in line
when there's almost hundreds of people in line.
So, he's blind. He's supposed to just walk up.
And as he's walking up, he's cussing him,
calling him all out of his name.
- And people... - [Judge Acker] Were you there?
- You were present for this? - Yes. I was there.
I was right there.
And then, people in line was turning around and looking
and, you know--and they know him.
They like, "Why is this man talking to you like that?"
And so another day, my cousin, Pocket, called me
'cause he had called me earlier.
So, Pocket called me. They in the grocery store.
He's doing the same thing in the grocery store,
cussing him out,
belligering him terribly in the grocery store.
And I'm hearing this from his phone that he called me back.
He didn't try to, but that's what happened.
So that was two incidents.
[Judge Acker] Thank you, ma'am. That was very helpful.
- Okay. - [Judge Acker] Mr. Hawk,
are there any other incidents that you recall
where the plaintiff treated you in ways
that you found to be abusive or demeaning?
It was every day.
He has a sharp personality.
And sometimes--and I'm gonna say this to you, Mr. Moore.
- [Moore] Yeah. - Sometimes it's really charming
and fun engaging with someone like that,
and sometimes it can really hurt people's feelings.
- Who, me? - [Judge Acker] Yes, you.
Oh, not me.
If you wanna learn what Mike do...
- [Judge Acker] Well, no, no, no, not... - ... ask me, baby.
[Judge Acker] No, not just yet right now.
Ask me.
Dear, can you help me with your granddad a bit?
Can you just stand next to him and maybe give him a...
Calm him down?
[Judge Acker] Give him a-- I just want her...
- From all the lies? - [Judge Acker] No, no, no, sir.
Please be respectful.
So, sir, can you give some specific examples, Mr. Hawk?
The treatment by the defendant?
Yeah, he's very, very, very verbally abusive.
He got physical abuse.
We was arguing and talking...
[Moore] You don't even sound right.
... and he pushed me down one time.
[dramatic musical sting]
[announcer] Coming up on Tribunal Justice.
He's told me, "[bleep] me.
I ain't ever getting paid."
He drove off in the car.
He halfway killed his girlfriend with alcohol.
[dramatic musical sting]
[theme music plays]
[announcer] Michael Moore is suing former caregiver,
Michael Hawk, for $2,500,
the balance owed on a car and insurance.
Mr. Moore claims he bought the car for his caregiver,
expecting to be reimbursed for half the cost.
Mr. Hawk says the car was always a gift
to make up for the verbal and psychological abuse
he had to put up with it.
[Judge Acker] Mr. Moore-- and this is a serious question...
Yeah.
... because I saw in your papers that you were a Vietnam vet,
you were a Green Beret.
Thank you very much for your service, sir.
But sometimes people who have been in war and in combat
have difficulty controlling their emotions.
Does that ever happen to you?
Ma'am, it never happened to me.
The only fight when somebody attacked me.
Tell him--ask him about when he hit me in the head three times.
I had to take him down.
It's that simple.
He hit me in the head because I told him about that car.
He's told me, "[bleep] me. I ain't ever getting paid."
He drove off in the car.
He halfway killed his girlfriend with alcohol.
And then that crackhead girl, his cousin next door...
[Judge Acker] Sir, sir, no, please.
We're not gonna call the witness any names.
That's not respectful.
Did you ever put your hands on the plaintiff, sir?
Yeah, we had a altercation.
- I did hit him. Yeah. - You did hit him?
The fact that you just admitted to hitting him
blows any affirmative defense out of the water
because if you guys are hitting each other and acting inappropriately,
it's impossible from my perspective
for you to make out the affirmative defense.
But I appreciate your testimony.
I have nothing further.
We're gonna retire to deliberate in this matter.
Thank you both and you could sit down again.
[Byrd] Court now stands in recess.
Parties are excused.
[dramatic musical sting]
Well, clearly, they were two interesting characters
and their poor witnesses got the brunt of their behavior.
But nevertheless, I think they were both credible
and I think that the plaintiff purchased the vehicle,
put it in both their names so he could get insurance
because he wanted the defendant to drive him around,
that the defendant in his own way
admitted that there was an agreement that he make payment on it.
I believe the plaintiff that it was only for half and not for the full amount.
I do believe the defendant when he said he gave him $400 for whatever reason,
and the plaintiff agreeing that he gave him $400,
which means that if the car was valued at 3,200,
he would owe 16 minus the four,
which brings it down to $1,200.
I don't think, however, that the defendant is responsible for the $1,300 in insurance
because he was using the car, the plaintiff, really, to drive him around.
He kinda knew that there was financial limitations
and he was a wise enough man to say, "I want it insured when you're using it
because I don't wanna risk that you're not going to pay it.
And so I'm paying it."
I guess he assumed after that,
the defendant would continue to pay the insurance,
but the defendant left.
Listen, it's clear that the personality on the plaintiff
could be somewhat abrasive for a guy who I think is an easygoing,
very sensitive, low-key man like the defendant.
So, I could see him feeling that he was being attacked
and abused on some level.
I was going to ask the granddaughter, "Does he ever get like that with you?"
- But I'm sure she--he does indeed. - [Judge Acker] What was that? Yeah.
Like, you know. And I'm sure that...
- Don't make it throw... - ... she gets a joke yet.
Don't make it throw her grandfather under the bus.
So, I was gonna say, "Did with us."
Anyway, I think he's entitled to $1,200.
- [Judge Levy] I agree. - That's the short part of it.
- Right on board. - All right. Let's go.
Well done.
[dramatic musical sting]
[Byrd] Court is back in session.
I remind parties, you're still under oath.
[Judge DiMango] Thank you, Byrd.
Well, the bottom line here is,
you did purchase a car, Mr. Moore, $3,200
so that the defendant and you
could take care of the tasks that you needed done for you.
Because of that, he gave up his vehicle,
but the plaintiff did say
that you were only gonna owe him for half of the vehicle.
We also believe that the both of you did say
you gave him $400 for whatever reason
and he did say he got $400 from you.
So, if you were gonna pay half, 1,600, for the vehicle and you gave him 400,
that means that the $1,200 he's asking for
would be due and owing from you to him.
In exchange for that,
we are going to remove Mr. Moore's name from the title.
So you will now be full owner of that vehicle.
With regard, Mr. Moore, to the $1,300
in the insurance that you paid for the one year,
we all believe that you did pay for it for the year
so that you were sure you were being driven around
and that maybe he was going to pay for it afterwards
but he pulled out of this whole situation before that happened.
And so there was no agreement
that he reimburse you for that $1,300.
So as it stands, we are going to award you, sir,
$1,200 for the vehicle,
which he now will be the full owner of.
And we are not going to grant that portion of your request for the $1,300.
He did say he's gonna pay the 1,300 for the insurance
if I said I would pay it, and I paid it.
He left the money after I paid it.
[Judge DiMango] Okay.
- Well, we will have... - And didn't even come help me out.
He helped her out.
His own family told me, "Go to hell."
So, we wanna say that the verdict is unanimous
and that it's in your favor, sir, for $1,200.
- [gavel bangs] - [Moore] That's not a payslip though.
[Byrd] This case is now concluded.
Parties are excused. You may step out.
[theme music plays]
I found out his personality was changing.
And it gradually changed and got worse.
You never know.
They gave it to him and he came up to my house.
Both of them together say, "Ah, yeah, I bought Mike a car."
He kept telling the whole family, "I bought Mike a car." Okay.
It is what it is. Let's go.
It is my car now.
[announcer] Did someone break an agreement?
Let Tribunal Justice decide your case.
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["Ride of the Valkyries" plays]