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The defendant embezzled money
from the youth football team.

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[narrator] Now on Tribunal Justice...

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What happened to the money?

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It was never, like, in a bank account.

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There was no record for me to give him.

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I think you're more of a scammer.

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I'm not going to let anybody call me
a thief or say that I'm a scammer.

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-Have a nice day.
-I ain't doing this.

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Next time, don't steal people's money.

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[theme music playing]

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[narrator] Today's case
was filed in Compton, California.

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Your honor, this case 3032,
Ward et al v. Shelton.

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All parties have been sworn in.

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You may be seated.

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[Levy] Thank you, Cassandra. Mr. Ward,

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you served as the assistant coach
of a youth football team...

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-Correct.
-[Levy] And gentlemen to your right,

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to my left is Raymond Luke
and he is one of your witnesses.

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And the women sitting to your right
are mothers of children

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-who played on your team.
-[Jacquoby] Correct.

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[Levy] You allege that the defendant,
Ms. Shelton,

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who acted as the team mom,

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embezzled money
from the team's fundraising efforts

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and stole money from fees and dues.
You and your fellow Plaintiffs

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are suing her for $9,140
that you claim she stole?

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Yes, Sir.

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[Levy] Now, Ms. Shelton,
according to your answer,

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you deny stealing or embezzling
any money from the plaintiffs.

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And you deny serving as team mom,
is that correct?

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-Yes.
-[Levy] As a matter of fact,

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you filed a counter claim against Mr. Ward

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for $10,000 because you claim
that he defamed you by accusing you

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of embezzlement and theft.
- Correct.

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So, Mr. Ward, why don't you tell us
who these ladies are, please.

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I have three mothers here
that's sons played on the team,

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Um, Samantha, Tahjinique, and, uh, Nicole,

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they all were trying to have their sons...
me and Mr. Luke coaching their sons.

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[Levy] All right, so you say
in your original complaint, Mr. Ward,

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her sudden disappearance and failure
to provide an accounting

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raised serious concerns about
her personal use of team's money.

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What was this disappearance?
When was that?

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This all started, let's say,
like May, May of 2024,

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when we were 49ers.
May, June 49ers voted.

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July, August we went to Carson Coats.

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Uh, that's when we did
the Double Good fundraiser.

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Then they said our eights, our 8-year-olds
couldn't play with nines.

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So then we had to find another team.
So I called around.

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Called to the Inglewood Chargers. They say
"We don't have a nine year old team.

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We have some boys.
We don't have enough to fill a roster.

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So we need extra boys.
If you guys bring your team over,

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then we will not charge you any fees.
We heard about what happened

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with the 49ers.
A lot of parents lost money."

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So, basically then we get to the Chargers.
Everything was kind of covered

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by the Chargers
as far as registration fees.

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So we was like, the money that we raised
for the Double Good, well, let's use it

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to buy the boys the sweat suits,
the hoodies, the backpacks and stuff

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that they were supposed to get
for their original $500

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from the 49ers.
That's what Mr. Luke is doing

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because he appointed her, you know,
in charge. Um...

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This is come like Octoberish
now from May to all the way to October.

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So now we're asking, some one parent asks,
then another parent asks,

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then another parent asks,
and they're coming at him, asking him.

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So when we started to question her
about it, her and her son

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just didn't come to no more practices
and no more games.

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And to all the mothers, if you don't mind,
if I can refer to you collectively

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for a moment.
Is that your understanding as well,

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specifically with respect
to collecting monies?

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Was it your understanding that
that's the role that the defendant played?

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-Yes.
-[Levy] Okay, so now Ms. Shelton, tell me,

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why are they wrong?

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So another young lady
was the team mom initially.

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Her schedule did exactly permit her
to be present

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for all of the practices and stuff.

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I kind of filled in as a substitute
to, uh, collect those things.

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-And what you did was collect money...
-Correct.

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[Levy] Place orders for gear,
like you have to your left.

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-Yes.
-[Levy] When you did collect those moneys,

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what bank account was used
to maintain that money?

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I only collected money from three parents.

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Uh... Ms. Zeigler being one.

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So her payment specifically was sent
via Apple Pay,

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Um, everyone else's was sent
via Zelle.

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So it was never, like, in a bank account.

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-[Levy] So, Ms., uh, Ziegler...
-Yes.

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If we can stand up, if you can please
tell us based upon what was just stated

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by Ms. Shelton was not accurate.

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Um, so when I first came to the team,
the team was already together.

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And she was the team mom.
I was introduced to her.

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I asked her like where does the fees go?

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She told me I can Apple Pay them
directly to her.

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Is Apple payment connected
to some type of account?

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So it's through our cell phones.

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So it's kind of like sending money
through your phone.

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Are you saying you had
no physical bank account?

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-No
-She claimed

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to have an organization account...

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that we've never seen.
That she couldn't supposedly Zelle from.

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Didn't have a debit card from.
So...

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Did you have access
to an organization account?

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No. So a cash out
was originally made for the boys team.

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Um, unfortunately, because none of us
own the team,

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we cannot, um, obtain an EIN for that.
So the cash app account was closed.

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But there are text messages
repeated requests for you to provide proof

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of those Zelle accounts
and Apple Pay accounts.

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and you never provided them.

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So I do have the record from
Sydney, the original football owner

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of the first team we played for.

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These are the payments that I had
a specific, I guess specific parent,

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cause all parents did not give me money.

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And I did keep those records.
Um, if you wanna see them.

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Yes, of course
I would like to take a look at that,

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but I'm gonna tell you right now
I got one piece of paper

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that you're saying is the entirety
of the bank records that you have.

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So that's what I'm saying,
there never was a bank account.

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Majority of the money that they're saying
came from the Double Good fundraiser.

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[Levy] So this is your Zelle payment
of $30.

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And then this one,
your Zelle payment of $500.

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Are you saying that
is the only receipt that...

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So I have the receipt of Ms. Zeigler's
payment from her son

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to the owner of that football team.

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The Honor Ms. Zeigler's son
was on the team during July

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That was a payment from her son.

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That she paid for her son to play.

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And that $30 was a physical
that you have to pay.

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That's what she paid personal to her child
that she's trying to use.

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Got it. Got it. Ms., uh, Zeigler,
you can sit down for right now.

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If you got something else, we're gonna
bring you right back up, I promise.

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Okay. It only ended up in my personal
account because one of the mothers

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tried to Cash App it to the Cash App
that was made for the boys.

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-[Levy] Okay. So right now...
-And it did not work.

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All I heard from what you just said
is that money

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went into your personal account.

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[dramatic music playing]

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[narrator] Coming up
on Tribunal Justice...

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-What do you do for a living?
-I work for the Sheriff's Department.

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-You work for the Sheriff's Department.
-Yes.

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[Acker] What do you do
for the Sheriff's Department?

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[theme music playing]

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[narrator] Jacobi Ward and three
youth football parents

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claim Tajia Shelton swindled their league
out of over $9,100

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Tajia says she spent the money
on equipment and gear

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and now she's countersuing
for $10,000 for defamation.

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You filed a $10,000 counter claim against,
uh, Mr. Ward

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and the other Plaintiffs
for defamation, correct?

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-Correct.
-And you claim they did that because

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they falsely claimed
that you were embezzling money.

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-Correct.
-Falsely claimed that you kept proceeds

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-of fundraising efforts.
-Correct.

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And when did you first become aware of
the allegations

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that they were making about you
with respected to those claims?

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-When was it?
-It was I believe October.

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Uh, Mr. Luke, uh,
me and him were on a phone call.

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He's like saying, "You did this
cause you know how they get."

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And I'm like,
"What do you want me to tell them?"

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The point is that you've known
about these allegations,

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uh, since October of 2024.

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[Levy] And you never provided anything
to any of these people.

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-That's false.
-Did she provide you with those ledgers?

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[Raymond] No, sir. We've asked her.

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I was the head coach.
I'm the one that met her.

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She was married at the time,
her and her wife, I appointed them both.

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Me... I didn't see no red flags.

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Now, more than just these parents, I have
text messages and records that prove,

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over nine parents,
that's not even in our claim,

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gave her 500 bucks for registration fees
to play for the 49ers.

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-You received those, correct?
-Yes, and she never turned in...

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-Nine parents did not give me money.
-I spoke...

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-I spoke to the president...
-Just three.

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-[Levy] Hold on.
-The former president of the 49ers...

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she never turned in that money to him.

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And I've been asking her
from the beginning

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to show us the financial records

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to show proof to the parents and myself
because it looks suspect

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So you provided no records at all?

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-Bank records, Zelle or otherwise...
-[Raymond] Nope.

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As was requested,
which is not an unreasonable request

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to people who gave you money, especially
when you've already acknowledged

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that there was
commingling of money going on.

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-[Levy] Right?
-There was no record for me to give him.

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I get it. And I don't believe...
I'm just telling you I don't believe that.

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The other thing that they've
said and that you've denied

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that you're suing them for $10,000 for
is that you basically took money

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for spirit gear
and what they're saying is that

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-you falsified purchase orders...
-Yes.

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...and never actually gave them
their equipment.

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and when they asked you for name vendors,
you wouldn't give it to them.

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-Is that right?
-[all] Correct.

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If I were in their shoes...
[chuckles]

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I would think the same exact thing
that they did.

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00:09:53,700 --> 00:09:55,400
-Judge Acker.
-I don't know enough yet

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00:09:55,467 --> 00:09:58,533
about this case to get really firm.
Here's what I do know.

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I am sad that you all are here
because you should be back there

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with those kids,
getting them ready for football.

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00:10:04,367 --> 00:10:07,100
I think that this case
is an incredible distraction.

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00:10:07,166 --> 00:10:08,867
-Exactly.
-So Speaking of the kids,

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00:10:08,934 --> 00:10:11,734
can we look at the video?
I'd like to see them in action.

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00:10:13,467 --> 00:10:14,934
[Acker] Where are you playing there?

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00:10:15,000 --> 00:10:18,467
[Raymond] So, those are several different
parks. The first were in all grass

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with different jerseys
that was Carson Colts.

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00:10:20,633 --> 00:10:23,800
And then the Chargers
was at the Inglewood Chargers, uh,

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where we had our third team
ended up transferring to.

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00:10:25,800 --> 00:10:27,734
So, like I said,
we've been through a lot this season...

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Yeah, you have. There are actually
three different football teams

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00:10:31,934 --> 00:10:33,800
-that are involved here.
-Yes.

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00:10:33,867 --> 00:10:34,967
[Acker] Tell me what happened.

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The South Bay 49ers organization,
when their president got incarcerated,

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they had to fold the entire organization,
-So then maybe it's not her fault.

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If the team folded and went bankrupt

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maybe it's a team issue?

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00:10:50,066 --> 00:10:51,800
-[Raymond] No, you're... You're correct.
-And not a

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00:10:51,867 --> 00:10:53,834
-a Shelton issue.
-You're correct. However...

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money was given her that she never turned
in to the president is what we're saying.

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[Acker] And then we have Team two.

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So after so the South Bay 49ers is over

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00:11:02,867 --> 00:11:05,166
There's a new team, the Carson Colts.

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00:11:05,233 --> 00:11:07,633
Your kids all played for the Carson Colts.

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00:11:07,700 --> 00:11:12,333
Who gave money to the defendant directly
for participation in the Colts.

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00:11:12,400 --> 00:11:16,066
Okay now, so when we went over to the
Colts, they want to charge us 300 dollars.

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[Acker] Three hundred dollars a kid?

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00:11:17,600 --> 00:11:20,800
Yeah, per kid.
So we had our first fundraiser.

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00:11:20,867 --> 00:11:22,133
We raised 900 bucks.

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00:11:22,200 --> 00:11:23,700
We don't know what happened
with that $900.

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00:11:23,767 --> 00:11:25,667
-She... we had a raffle.
-Who did you give the money to?

224
00:11:25,734 --> 00:11:28,133
-To, uh, Ms. Tajia.
-Was this the online fundraiser

225
00:11:28,200 --> 00:11:29,400
-or was that...
-No, this was before.

226
00:11:29,467 --> 00:11:31,500
-That was the separate? Okay.
-This is for raffle tickets.

227
00:11:31,567 --> 00:11:33,667
-[Acker] So the raffle tickets...
And we raised $900 for that.

228
00:11:33,734 --> 00:11:37,967
That money was for accessories like
wristbands, breast cancer awareness month

229
00:11:38,033 --> 00:11:41,767
-where the players wear pink.
-Are you claiming that you gave her money

230
00:11:41,834 --> 00:11:45,033
and she just kept it or are you claiming
that you gave her money

231
00:11:45,100 --> 00:11:47,300
and she bought breast cancer bracelets?

232
00:11:47,367 --> 00:11:49,500
-I'm claiming that she kept it.
-That she kept it.

233
00:11:49,567 --> 00:11:50,934
-Yes.
-So, ma'am,

234
00:11:51,000 --> 00:11:53,800
do you acknowledge receiving the $900
from the fundraiser?

235
00:11:53,867 --> 00:11:57,934
There was never $900.
Only about five, maybe 600 bucks.

236
00:11:58,000 --> 00:11:59,934
[Acker] Show me evidence
of how you spent that money.

237
00:12:00,066 --> 00:12:05,834
Um, I don't have that.
I spent it on sandwiches and stuff...

238
00:12:05,900 --> 00:12:07,633
This is other people's money though.

239
00:12:07,700 --> 00:12:09,967
And when it's other people's money,
I cannot imagine

240
00:12:10,033 --> 00:12:14,333
that you're so naive as not to understand
that when people are giving you money,

241
00:12:14,400 --> 00:12:16,700
-um, for their children...
-[Tajia] Right.

242
00:12:16,767 --> 00:12:20,400
...they're going to want to be able to see
how the money's being used.

243
00:12:20,467 --> 00:12:24,834
The problem is I trusted Mr. Luke
as a Big Brother and he's on the phone

244
00:12:24,900 --> 00:12:26,500
and he's telling me things like,

245
00:12:26,567 --> 00:12:30,100
"Hey, I want to get the boys snacks,
so I'm going to buy the boys snacks

246
00:12:30,166 --> 00:12:31,800
-with the stuff."
-What do you do for a living?

247
00:12:31,867 --> 00:12:33,165
I work for the Sheriff's Department.

248
00:12:33,233 --> 00:12:34,900
-You work for the Sheriff's Department.
-Yes.

249
00:12:34,967 --> 00:12:36,767
What do you do
for the Sheriff's Department?

250
00:12:36,834 --> 00:12:38,900
So right now
I'm currently a patrol officer.

251
00:12:38,967 --> 00:12:42,467
I do, uh, like, I guess like street events
and stuff like that.

252
00:12:42,533 --> 00:12:46,633
I cannot imagine
that you don't know better

253
00:12:46,700 --> 00:12:48,934
-than to actually keep...
-What the...

254
00:12:49,000 --> 00:12:52,934
...a record of the money
you're collecting on behalf other people,

255
00:12:53,000 --> 00:12:56,967
on behalf of their children. We're only
two teams in, and I'm still

256
00:12:57,033 --> 00:12:58,667
-trying to get my head around it.
-Again...

257
00:12:58,734 --> 00:13:02,066
Hold on. But I'm going to pass the case
right now to Judge DiMango.

258
00:13:02,133 --> 00:13:04,767
Um, you're not undercover
for the Sheriff's Office, are you?

259
00:13:04,834 --> 00:13:07,266
-[Tajia] No.
-So you must have an ID from them.

260
00:13:07,333 --> 00:13:08,834
I don't right now.

261
00:13:08,900 --> 00:13:11,300
You work for the sheriff's department
and you have no ID that says

262
00:13:11,367 --> 00:13:12,734
you work for the Sheriff's Department?

263
00:13:12,800 --> 00:13:14,633
-I could show you my ID.
-Let me tell you something.

264
00:13:14,700 --> 00:13:16,600
-I think you're more of a scammer.
-[Raymond] Exactly.

265
00:13:16,667 --> 00:13:17,734
[Tajia] I didn't scam anybody.

266
00:13:17,800 --> 00:13:21,333
-I have the proof that...
-[DiMango] Show me proof you've got $500.

267
00:13:21,400 --> 00:13:23,533
-[Tajia] I ordered backpacks.
-Show me proof you got $900.

268
00:13:23,600 --> 00:13:25,700
-The boys...
-Show me proof of the $500

269
00:13:25,767 --> 00:13:28,700
you got from each of the parents
for when they were the 49ers.

270
00:13:28,767 --> 00:13:31,100
-Show me, show me!
-All of the parents did not participate

271
00:13:31,166 --> 00:13:32,333
-is what I'm saying.
-Show me!

272
00:13:32,400 --> 00:13:35,633
So these boys that did participate.
Those are the ones that raised the money.

273
00:13:35,700 --> 00:13:36,667
Mine being included.

274
00:13:36,734 --> 00:13:39,433
-My son, his son...
-You are one fast scamming talker.

275
00:13:39,500 --> 00:13:41,200
-When are you gonna stop?
-I'm not going to.

276
00:13:41,266 --> 00:13:44,800
because I'm not gonna let anybody
call me a thief or say that I'm a scammer.

277
00:13:44,867 --> 00:13:46,100
[dramatic music playing]

278
00:13:46,165 --> 00:13:48,600
[narrator] Coming up
on Tribunal Justice...

279
00:13:48,667 --> 00:13:51,600
[Acker] You were asking for money
and she said you were or she was sick

280
00:13:51,667 --> 00:13:54,133
-or some such thing.
-Oh, yes, Judge.

281
00:13:54,200 --> 00:13:55,934
She said she had a stroke.

282
00:13:56,000 --> 00:13:57,500
[Acker] Did you have a stroke?

283
00:13:59,900 --> 00:14:02,033
[theme music playing]

284
00:14:02,100 --> 00:14:04,500
[narrator] Jacoby Ward and three
youth football parents

285
00:14:04,567 --> 00:14:08,600
are suing Tajia Shelton
for embezzling over $9,100

286
00:14:08,667 --> 00:14:10,500
from their children's Football League.

287
00:14:10,567 --> 00:14:13,266
Tajia says all the money
went to gear and apparel

288
00:14:13,333 --> 00:14:17,233
and she's fighting back
with a $10,000 countersuit.

289
00:14:17,300 --> 00:14:19,033
We went through the first two teams.

290
00:14:19,100 --> 00:14:22,166
The 49ers, you had 23 kids, $500 apiece.

291
00:14:22,233 --> 00:14:24,900
-That's like $11,500, right?
-Right.

292
00:14:24,967 --> 00:14:27,066
-Yes.
-Where'd that money go?

293
00:14:27,133 --> 00:14:30,667
I want to say at least 75%
went to her.

294
00:14:30,734 --> 00:14:32,567
[DiMango] Okay,
now you move to the next team,

295
00:14:32,633 --> 00:14:34,900
which we already talked about,
which are the Carson Colts.

296
00:14:34,967 --> 00:14:37,300
-[Raymond] Right. Yes.
-[DiMango] And everybody gave $300

297
00:14:37,367 --> 00:14:40,800
That's how that went. We did a fundraiser.
A Double Good popcorn fundraiser...

298
00:14:40,867 --> 00:14:43,567
-[DiMango] Okay.
-to raise the money for that.

299
00:14:43,633 --> 00:14:47,734
That money went $6,000 to the whole thing
but $3,000 was kept

300
00:14:47,800 --> 00:14:49,700
-by the fundraising team.
-Yes.

301
00:14:49,767 --> 00:14:51,767
-Correct.
-[DiMango] And she kept the other percent.

302
00:14:51,834 --> 00:14:55,800
Okay, this is your chance
to show me proof.

303
00:14:55,867 --> 00:14:59,033
What did you do
with the $3,000 and change?

304
00:14:59,100 --> 00:15:02,367
So, uh, Mr. Luke provided me
these jerseys.

305
00:15:02,433 --> 00:15:04,767
They were blank.
Then i had them customized.

306
00:15:04,834 --> 00:15:07,400
They have the Colts logo on it
and the boy's name on the back of it.

307
00:15:07,467 --> 00:15:09,934
And you have proof that you went to
wherever it was you went

308
00:15:10,000 --> 00:15:13,367
and they made you that top shirt,
which is the Colts shirt,

309
00:15:13,433 --> 00:15:15,734
and charged you for that.
Can I have that proof?

310
00:15:17,233 --> 00:15:21,266
So this is for how much each jersey
was going to cost.

311
00:15:21,333 --> 00:15:24,200
[DiMango] So what your giving me this says
I'm not even gonna look at it yet.

312
00:15:24,266 --> 00:15:28,266
I just wanna make sure I can have it.
But I don't have to read it at the moment.

313
00:15:28,333 --> 00:15:30,333
I'll turn it over. I'm very honest.

314
00:15:30,400 --> 00:15:31,867
And how much would the shirts each?

315
00:15:31,934 --> 00:15:34,367
I think he quoted me 30 something.

316
00:15:34,433 --> 00:15:36,333
-This piece of paper...
-[Tajia] Yeah, but not that.

317
00:15:36,400 --> 00:15:39,900
...is gonna show that you paid him,
not that he gave you a quote.

318
00:15:39,967 --> 00:15:41,967
- This is what you paid. You paid him?
-Yeah...

319
00:15:42,033 --> 00:15:43,900
-Yeah.
-He's thanking you here, let's see.

320
00:15:43,967 --> 00:15:45,333
I believe that these are the prices.

321
00:15:45,400 --> 00:15:47,934
[DiMango] Okay, these are the prices
that we will be charging you.

322
00:15:48,400 --> 00:15:53,533
And it says nada, nothing about you giving
him so much as five cents.

323
00:15:53,600 --> 00:15:57,667
So I'm gonna put that aside as well
because that's also I was very clear

324
00:15:57,734 --> 00:15:58,967
about I wanted proof.

325
00:15:59,033 --> 00:16:01,500
Did you gentlemen ever get any shirts?

326
00:16:01,567 --> 00:16:05,100
We bought our own polo shirts.
She put the print on the pocket here.

327
00:16:05,166 --> 00:16:07,667
But you didn't get that.
What you're saying

328
00:16:07,734 --> 00:16:10,934
is that she's
technically correct to the extent

329
00:16:11,000 --> 00:16:12,633
that she did give you some shirts,

330
00:16:12,700 --> 00:16:15,900
but they were not shirts that were paid
for through this company.

331
00:16:15,967 --> 00:16:17,633
Because he would have given
a receipt for that.

332
00:16:17,700 --> 00:16:18,967
-[Raymond] Correct.
-She did them

333
00:16:19,033 --> 00:16:21,533
-like at home screening kit kind of thing.
-Correct, correct.

334
00:16:21,600 --> 00:16:24,166
Okay. And everybody here seems
to say the same thing.

335
00:16:24,233 --> 00:16:25,667
So let me start with Samantha.

336
00:16:25,734 --> 00:16:28,867
How much money did you actually
end up paying for your son?

337
00:16:29,367 --> 00:16:32,767
-Um, we paid the $500 registration.
-[DiMango] Mm-hmm.

338
00:16:32,834 --> 00:16:36,533
Um, and then we gave the raffle money.

339
00:16:36,600 --> 00:16:39,000
[Samantha] And we just raised
the Double Good.

340
00:16:39,066 --> 00:16:41,467
Okay. Tahjinique, what about you?

341
00:16:41,533 --> 00:16:46,700
So it was the raffle money, my
registration, and my double goods as well.

342
00:16:46,767 --> 00:16:50,266
-[DiMango] And Nicole...
-We did the raffle and the Double Good.

343
00:16:50,333 --> 00:16:53,834
So, this money that was given,
who did you give it to?

344
00:16:53,900 --> 00:16:55,367
-[DiMango] The defendant?
-Mm-hmm.

345
00:16:55,433 --> 00:16:59,233
Okay, I've been in here listening to the
exchange of money from various people.

346
00:16:59,300 --> 00:17:02,967
Three credible women,
Evidence of who's given you the $500.

347
00:17:03,033 --> 00:17:05,099
-I have not seen one thing.
-[Tajia] I have evidence.

348
00:17:05,165 --> 00:17:08,000
You have nothing. You have nothing.

349
00:17:08,066 --> 00:17:11,767
So at this point,
I don't have any questions.

350
00:17:11,834 --> 00:17:13,934
Uh, Ms. Zeigler,
would you take the stand, please?

351
00:17:14,800 --> 00:17:19,032
Was there an incident
where you engaged with the defendant

352
00:17:19,099 --> 00:17:23,233
and she told you that you said you were
asking for money and she said she was sick

353
00:17:23,300 --> 00:17:25,367
-or some such thing?
-[chuckles] I did not.

354
00:17:25,433 --> 00:17:28,367
-She says she had a stroke.
-[Acker] When was this?

355
00:17:28,433 --> 00:17:32,000
This was like...
We were at the Chargers at this point,

356
00:17:32,066 --> 00:17:34,000
and we were asking her for the money.

357
00:17:34,066 --> 00:17:37,033
So, then she decided to not
come to practice anymore.

358
00:17:37,100 --> 00:17:38,700
Was this the money from the fundraiser?

359
00:17:38,767 --> 00:17:40,734
-The money from the Double Good.
-Yeah, and by the way,

360
00:17:40,800 --> 00:17:43,133
that has to be deposited
into a bank account.

361
00:17:43,200 --> 00:17:45,166
-Who was running the fundraiser?
-[Tahjinique] She was.

362
00:17:45,233 --> 00:17:48,900
-Were you running the fundraiser?
-Um, I set it up after...

363
00:17:48,967 --> 00:17:51,233
So yes, yes, yes.
No more word salad.

364
00:17:51,300 --> 00:17:53,934
-Let's be direct. Let's just be direct.
-Okay. What the hell, again--

365
00:17:54,000 --> 00:17:55,367
You were running the fundraiser.

366
00:17:55,433 --> 00:17:56,867
What happened to the money?

367
00:17:56,934 --> 00:17:58,934
Okay, so the money that we
were seeing the money,

368
00:17:59,000 --> 00:18:02,667
the money was given to the vendors.
We went through several designs

369
00:18:02,734 --> 00:18:05,400
and also several things
that were produced.

370
00:18:05,467 --> 00:18:07,800
And the money was then used.

371
00:18:07,867 --> 00:18:09,567
-The money was used...
-Okay, where was it used?

372
00:18:09,633 --> 00:18:11,667
-Fifty dollars of it.
-I need some evidence

373
00:18:11,734 --> 00:18:13,233
-We need evidence.
-Okay.

374
00:18:13,300 --> 00:18:16,734
-Also, did you have a stroke?
-I did and I was at the hospital

375
00:18:16,800 --> 00:18:20,667
hospitalized in Kaiser
in Downey for about five days.

376
00:18:20,734 --> 00:18:24,633
And did you communicate to them,
"Hey, everybody, I'm in the hospital."

377
00:18:24,700 --> 00:18:27,734
-[Tajia] Yes, they didn't believe me...
-[Acker] You're now healthy.

378
00:18:27,800 --> 00:18:29,834
You must have remitted to them the money.

379
00:18:29,900 --> 00:18:32,600
I do have text messages.
I texted several people.

380
00:18:32,667 --> 00:18:33,934
Did you text them with money?

381
00:18:34,000 --> 00:18:36,166
[Tajia] I texted them saying,
"Who am I sending the money to?"

382
00:18:36,233 --> 00:18:39,166
She says in this text message,
she wants nothing to do with it.

383
00:18:39,233 --> 00:18:43,633
Did you send Ms. Ziegler, any money?

384
00:18:43,700 --> 00:18:45,967
-No, I told her I'll give her the refund.
-[Acker] That's fine.

385
00:18:46,033 --> 00:18:48,567
-I don't have anything further.
-[DiMango] That's it. Thank you very much.

386
00:18:48,633 --> 00:18:50,333
We're going to retire to deliberate.
Thank you.

387
00:18:50,400 --> 00:18:53,767
Court is now in recess.
Parties will be recalled.

388
00:18:53,834 --> 00:18:57,500
[dramatic music playing]

389
00:18:59,667 --> 00:19:01,700
[theme music playing]

390
00:19:01,767 --> 00:19:03,867
It would have driven me crazy
if I was a parent

391
00:19:03,934 --> 00:19:07,266
of one of those kids. Hard working,
trying to do the best they can

392
00:19:07,333 --> 00:19:11,066
for their kids.
And she just refused to give anything back

393
00:19:11,133 --> 00:19:17,100
and then had the gall to counter claim
for $10,000 for defamation.

394
00:19:17,166 --> 00:19:18,800
-That was funny
-It was incredible.

395
00:19:18,867 --> 00:19:21,033
I believe that the counterclaim
is dismissed

396
00:19:21,100 --> 00:19:24,033
and I also believe that the plaintiffs
have established their burden

397
00:19:24,100 --> 00:19:27,233
-for $9,140.
-[Acker] I think that...

398
00:19:27,300 --> 00:19:29,934
this is a situation
where I would even give them more

399
00:19:30,000 --> 00:19:32,867
because these folks went through a lot.
And in fact,

400
00:19:32,934 --> 00:19:36,900
I was reading her text messages again,
as was true in court,

401
00:19:36,967 --> 00:19:40,600
it was just a word salad.
No proof of any exchange of money.

402
00:19:40,667 --> 00:19:45,066
And this is not her money. This was money
that these folks gave her on behalf

403
00:19:45,133 --> 00:19:48,166
of their children.
So honestly, if there is a way

404
00:19:48,233 --> 00:19:50,533
to increase it to a punitive award
of $10,000...

405
00:19:50,600 --> 00:19:54,066
$860, then I think that warranted
in this case.

406
00:19:54,133 --> 00:19:56,600
-I would agree with that.
-What she was in my view

407
00:19:56,667 --> 00:20:00,033
was a complete and total scammer
and they met their burden

408
00:20:00,100 --> 00:20:03,200
of her wrongdoing
and that's what that wrongdoing is worth

409
00:20:03,266 --> 00:20:08,300
$9,140, and with regard to the countersuit
based on all their documentation

410
00:20:08,367 --> 00:20:11,300
and testimony and credibility,
was truthful

411
00:20:11,367 --> 00:20:15,200
and that's their defense to her defamation
claim and that's going to be dismissed.

412
00:20:15,266 --> 00:20:19,567
What I would ask to consider is $860
punitive damage award

413
00:20:19,633 --> 00:20:23,734
that would be directed towards
the children who are playing on the team.

414
00:20:23,800 --> 00:20:29,066
Who were really the true victims here
because an adult took advantage of them.

415
00:20:29,133 --> 00:20:30,767
I'm sticking with the $9,140.

416
00:20:30,834 --> 00:20:32,800
I'm not going to start second guessing
whether people--

417
00:20:32,867 --> 00:20:35,433
Stupid people are doing things
in good or bad faith.

418
00:20:35,500 --> 00:20:37,667
-I mean...
-You called her a scammer!

419
00:20:37,734 --> 00:20:41,900
She scammed them,
but that doesn't mean...

420
00:20:41,967 --> 00:20:43,767
I, listen.
I did call her a scammer.

421
00:20:43,834 --> 00:20:45,934
For that reason,
I'm going to dismiss the counter claim,

422
00:20:46,000 --> 00:20:49,066
but that doesn't mean
that I continue to impose other things

423
00:20:49,133 --> 00:20:52,266
on her lawsuit that were not
before me at this time.

424
00:20:52,333 --> 00:20:54,633
We're unanimous in the counterclaim.

425
00:20:54,700 --> 00:20:57,500
We are unanimous in awarding
the plaintiffs the money.

426
00:20:57,567 --> 00:20:59,900
And we are not unanimous
with respect to the amount.

427
00:20:59,967 --> 00:21:02,300
-[Levy Uh...
-You're going to raise it to 10,000.

428
00:21:02,367 --> 00:21:03,767
[Levy] That it's punitive damages,

429
00:21:03,834 --> 00:21:08,834
and we're going to direct the coaches that
$860 should go directly to the children

430
00:21:08,900 --> 00:21:11,533
to be used for something
that would benefit them.

431
00:21:11,600 --> 00:21:12,867
-Let's do that.
-Okay.

432
00:21:12,934 --> 00:21:16,467
[theme music playing]

433
00:21:17,233 --> 00:21:20,867
Court is back in session. All parties
are reminded that you're still under oath.

434
00:21:20,934 --> 00:21:22,800
-[Levy] Thank you, Cassandra.
-Mm-hmm.

435
00:21:22,867 --> 00:21:27,600
Okay. We have deliberated and with respect
to the counter claim for $10,000,

436
00:21:27,667 --> 00:21:30,300
we've reached a unanimous verdict.
And it was a quick one.

437
00:21:30,367 --> 00:21:32,467
It's dismissed.
You failed to even come close.

438
00:21:32,533 --> 00:21:35,533
And as a matter of fact,
we found it to be in bad faith

439
00:21:35,600 --> 00:21:38,000
to bring a counterclaim
for defamation

440
00:21:38,066 --> 00:21:42,767
when you have absolutely zero evidence,
zero evidence to support that claim.

441
00:21:42,834 --> 00:21:46,133
So it is not only dismissed,
it is dismissed with pleasure.

442
00:21:46,200 --> 00:21:50,700
Now as to your original complaint
for $9,140.

443
00:21:50,767 --> 00:21:54,100
We have deliberated
and we've reached a unanimous verdict

444
00:21:54,166 --> 00:21:56,233
with respect to the judgment,

445
00:21:56,300 --> 00:22:00,600
but not to the amount.
Judge DiMango will be in the dissent.

446
00:22:00,667 --> 00:22:03,767
It is her position,
as it is all of ours,

447
00:22:03,834 --> 00:22:07,800
that you have met your burden,
so the judgment is in your favor

448
00:22:07,867 --> 00:22:11,567
as to your complaint for $9,160.

449
00:22:11,633 --> 00:22:14,233
That's what you asked for.
And that's what she would give you.

450
00:22:14,300 --> 00:22:16,900
Judge Acker and I
look at the defendant's conduct

451
00:22:16,967 --> 00:22:19,900
in filing a frivolous counterclaim.

452
00:22:19,967 --> 00:22:23,500
and we believe that
punitive damages are appropriate.

453
00:22:24,266 --> 00:22:26,600
-Have a nice day.
-I ain't doing this.

454
00:22:26,667 --> 00:22:28,934
[Levy] Next time,
don't steal people's money.

455
00:22:29,000 --> 00:22:31,500
The punitive damage award is $860.

456
00:22:31,567 --> 00:22:36,400
That raises your judgment to $10,000
with a caveat.

457
00:22:36,467 --> 00:22:40,000
That $860 needs to go to the kids.

458
00:22:40,066 --> 00:22:42,467
Because they were the ones
who were denied the things

459
00:22:42,533 --> 00:22:44,734
that they were expecting.
They were disappointed.

460
00:22:44,800 --> 00:22:47,567
And they should have people
better than that

461
00:22:47,633 --> 00:22:50,667
looking out for them, and they didn't.
So you two,

462
00:22:50,734 --> 00:22:54,600
parents, all the plaintiffs
figure out the way to spend that $860,

463
00:22:54,667 --> 00:22:56,734
make them proud.
That's the judgment of the court.

464
00:22:56,800 --> 00:22:58,600
Thank you very much.

465
00:22:58,667 --> 00:23:01,166
This case is concluded,
all parties are excused.

466
00:23:01,233 --> 00:23:03,633
[triumphant music playing]

467
00:23:05,400 --> 00:23:08,333
All these parents gave up their money so
they should be getting their money back.

468
00:23:08,400 --> 00:23:10,567
We just said, "Hey, we're gonna do
the best with what we got."

469
00:23:10,633 --> 00:23:11,567
We all felt she was shady.

470
00:23:11,633 --> 00:23:14,367
And, you know, storm out
the court room like a toddler.

471
00:23:14,433 --> 00:23:17,266
It's unfortunate that we had to bring her
here just to get the money back,

472
00:23:17,333 --> 00:23:18,533
from her for these kids.

473
00:23:18,600 --> 00:23:23,967
We're dealing with someone who would
defraud struggling parents and kids.

474
00:23:24,033 --> 00:23:25,633
Of course she won't be the team mom.

475
00:23:25,700 --> 00:23:27,800
-Yeah.
-That's out.

476
00:23:27,867 --> 00:23:29,867
The sheriff. [laughs]

477
00:23:29,934 --> 00:23:34,233
[narrator] Have you been scammed?
Let the majority rule in your favor

478
00:23:34,300 --> 00:23:37,834
on Tribunal Justice.
Find us on social media.

479
00:23:39,300 --> 00:23:42,500
[theme music playing]