A woman demands that her former lover pay for a karaoke machine and mental anguish.
Case 92421:
Lovers deny they stole a bedspread from a hotel that rents by the hour.
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TV Channel 2 Mon Feb 11 16:00:02 2002
In the act... He was emphatic that she was with her husband.
>> Announcer: ...Or a manager caught in a lie? Take a soiled bedspread?
>> They were the only ones to use it.
>> Judge judy: You don't know that, sir...
>> Announcer: Judge judy.
>> Judge judy: ...That's why we're in court.
>> Announcer: You are about to enter the courtroom of judge judith sheindlin. The people are real. The cases are real. The rulings are final. This is her courtroom. 27-year-old computer-systems analyst hanna lee is suing ex-boyfriend, 31-year-old computer engineer ezra blanche, for the return of a karaoke machine and other household items.
>> Byrd: Order! All rise. Your honor, this is case number 446 on the calendar in the matter of lee vs. Blanche. Parties have been sworn in, judge. You may be seated. Sir, have a seat, please.
>> Judge judy: Miss lee, according to your complaint, you and the defendant had a long-distance relationship. You lived several hours away from each other, and you were in this relationship for a couple of years.
>> Two years, correct.
>> Judge judy: That's a couple. And you indicate in your complaint that while you were together, you would bring some of your property over there because you spent so much time there. The relationship terminated, and you want your property back. The defendant says that you did bring some things to his house, and the things that you brought to his house were gifts. In addition to them being gifts, he talks about money being taken off for vandalism and other nonsense. So we'll get to it in a minute. When did you start this relationship?
>> In august of 1999.
>> Judge judy: And where were you living?
>> Portland, oregon.
>> Judge judy: And where was the defendant living?
>> Tukwila, washington.
>> Judge judy: How far is that?
>> 180 miles.
>> Judge judy: And how often would you visit him?
>> Every single weekend.
>> Judge judy: So far, is that correct?
>> It's correct.
>> Judge judy: When did you start to bring property to the house?
>> I wanted him to learn how to go to karaoke bars with me, and he wasn't comfortable with that, so i said, "why don't I buy a karaoke machine and some cdgs?" It's a very expensive system and microphones. And he already had a stereo system, and since we spent so much time there, that's the first time i bought that.
>> Judge judy: So you brought it to the house.
>> Yes, ma'am.
>> Judge judy: That's one of the items that you want back -- karaoke system. What else did you bring there?
>> Dvd player.
>> Why would you bring a dvd player?
>> Judge judy: Shh! Don't --
>> sorry, your honor.
>> Judge judy: A dvd player. Tell me about that. Tell me how that came about.
>> Adam wanted to have a system downstairs. He bought a 65-inch tv downstairs with a dvd player, but then i said, "well, I like to be upstairs because it's cold downstairs." And he said, "well, we don't have a dvd player upstairs." I said, "all right, I'll go buy one."
>> Judge judy: So you went and you bought one.
>> At costco. I have the receipt.
>> Judge judy: And you brought it to the house.
>> I did, because I'm always there. Sorry. [ Giggles ] I'm sorry. I'm nervous.
>> Judge judy: Don't be silly. Be nervous, but don't be silly.
>> I'm sorry, judge.
>> Judge judy: So you brought the dvd player over there so that you could use it upstairs because you were cold downstairs. What else?
>> I have a list. Do you want me to show it to you?
>> Judge judy: Sure.
>> Okay. Okay, it's organized by level of importance.
>> Judge judy: No, no, no, no, no. Listen to me very carefully. I want you to tell me what things are yours.
>> They're all mine. Everything on this list is mine.
>> Judge judy: Go! Read it!
>> The cdg collection, $1,500. A cdg player, $300. A dvd player, $245. A set of microphone cables and stand, $150. Office furniture at costco, $399.
>> She didn't pay for these things.
>> Judge judy: Shh!
>> Sorry, your honor.
>> Judge judy: Now let's get to the office furniture. What kind of office furniture?
>> It's a set because he had an office room. I didn't really like his office set, so I said, "let's just go get a new one," 'cause i really liked him. I thought we were gonna spend --
>> judge judy: Listen to me -- strike that off your list. If you say, "you have a set. I really don't like it. I'm gonna get a new set" --
>> he wanted a new set.
>> Judge judy: Oh, he wanted a new set, and you said, "I'll go get it." What's next?
>> Domestic stuff from costco. We furnished his kitchen, and i furnished his bedroom set -- comforters, pillows, yadda yadda yadda. I know you don't really -- and then bathroom stuff. I also got him a tint for his car.
>> Judge judy: A what?
>> A tint for his car which he traded in.
>> Judge judy: I'm curious. How did the tint come about?
>> He said he can't drive a car without a tint.
>> Judge judy: Shh! Please!
>> So he wanted one, so I got it for him.
>> Judge judy: Good. That's nice. That's a gift. Next.
>> And all the other furniture that i bought was, like, a dry-erase board. Like, I had five wall frames that i bought at an auction.
>> Judge judy: What did you bring them there for?
>> Because i moved out of my condo, and i didn't have room for it, and he said he'll hold it for me.
>> Judge judy: Those things i wanna hear about. What was that he said he would hold for you?
>> Because i didn't have room --
>> judge judy: Tell me what it was he would hold --
>> it's, like, a dry-erase board --
>> judge judy: A what?
>> A dry-erase board. It's, like, a large one that you can write on. It's mahogany. It's really pretty.
>> Judge judy: I don't understand what that is.
>> Byrd: Did you say dry-erase board?
>> It's a dry-erase board with mahogany sides.
>> Byrd: You write on it.
>> Judge judy: You have that, sir?
>> Yes, but I gave her money for that.
>> He decided how much he wanted to pay me for it.
>> She paid $25 for it.
>> Judge judy: Just a second. He gave you money for it?
>> He says he did, but he did not give me money for it. He just says, "i gave you money," and he decides what it's for. That's the way he does things.
>> Judge judy: Let's deal with two items.
>> All right.
>> Judge judy: Let's deal with two items. If you're smart, you don't bring things to somebody else's house until you got a piece of paper that says "the state of washington recognizes that this person and this person are husband and wife. They live together. Anything they have is joint." You wanna be a fool and bring over all those things, that's fine. You wanna be a fool and pay for the tinting on his car, you do that, but you don't come to court, then, and say, "listen, you have to make me whole, 'cause the relationship didn't work out." Otherwise, i would be working 24 hours a day, and I don't like to work so hard.
>> Announcer: "Judge judy" continues in a moment.
>> She made a bet that she could do something within 30 days. When she did not do it in the 30 days, she lost that bet.
>> Judge judy: She said, "if i can spin around four times with a banana on my nose, then I will pay for it." That's baloney.
>> Announcer: And later today...
>> Just for the fun of it, as a novelty, we went to this hotel thatad a round bed and a jacuzzi. It's for three hours, and it's $75.
>> Judge judy: Is this a busy place?
>> It's a fun place.
>> Announcer: Real cases. Real people. "Judge judy." Hanna lee says ex-boyfriend ezra blanche owes for a karaoke machine, a dvd player, and other household items. Ezra says hanna forgave the debt when she lost a bet.
>> Judge judy: Let's deal with the karaoke machine and the dvd player. Let me hear, sir, your rendition of the karaoke machine.
>> Basically, the idea was to go half on the cdgs and things like that, but I didn't want it. I figured if we're gonna break up, I don't want to have to deal with having to give it back to her, so I gave her money for these things.
>> Judge judy: You did? How much?
>> I gave her $1,200 as payment on a lot of the things.
>> Judge judy: Let's talk about, specifically, the karaoke machine...
>> ...And the dvd player. The dvd player was actually a gift. As a matter of fact, that was a christmas gift, but she's all about money. Basically --
>> judge judy: I'm not interested in your editorial comments. Just stick to the facts.
>> The fact is that she believes that she can throw money at something --
>> judge judy: Listen to me! That's editorial. Do you understand what editorial means? I want the facts. When you say to me, "the dvd player was a christmas present," that is your determination of a fact. Then i will ask you questions about it. Right now we're on the karaoke machine. You say that you gave her $1,200 towards the karaoke machine and the other stuff that goes with it. Did he give you any money towards it?
>> He did give me money, however that money was for the negative equity on his car 'cause he drove a camaro when I first met him, and he couldn't afford it anymore, so I bailed him out.
>> That's incorrect, your honor.
>> There was $7,000 negative equity, and he had to get rid of the car because his child support was going up.
>> Judge judy: So how much did you give him?
>> I gave him my tercel. That's $4,500.
>> Judge judy: You gave him your car.
>> I traded in my car, and i had bought a mazda miata.
>> Judge judy: So how did he get any money?
>> My car was the money, and i said, "i lost my car in this trade," and he said, "I will pay you $100 a month to help with your payments and stuff like that." So i took the $1,200 as part of the money for my car.
>> Judge judy: Did she help you out with your negative balance on your car?
>> Basically, she traded her car in on a deal, and I also paid her money also.
>> Judge judy: I don't care about what you paid, also. I'm talking about what money came out of her pocket. Are you following me? Did she, in the course of your relationship, help you out by trading in her car which cost her some money?
>> It was also for her benefit.
>> Judge judy: Was it for your benefit?
>> Both, yes.
>> Judge judy: How much benefit did you receive from it?
>> $1,000.
>> Judge judy: Did you pay her back for that?
>> Yes, your honor.
>> Judge judy: So you paid her back the $1,000 in addition to the $1,200 that you gave her for the karaoke machine.
>> Based on a bet, yeah.
>> Judge judy: Excuse me?
>> Based on a bet, yes, and also based on --
>> judge judy: What do you mean based on a bet? Explain that to me.
>> She made a bet that she would have a six-pack of abs in 30 days.
>> Judge judy: No, no. I don't understand a word that you said, sir.
>> She made a bet or she made a wager that she could do something within 30 days. When she did not do it in the 30 days, she lost that bet.
>> Judge judy: She lost that bet. Who did she make the bet with?
>> With me.
>> Judge judy: So it's not that you paid her the $1,200 for the karaoke machine. So what you didn't pay her for was the $1,000 for the car.
>> Correct, but we didn't agree to pay on that.
>> Judge judy: So what debt was forgiven as a result of this wager that you had?
>> I have a list.
>> Judge judy: Of things that were forgiven as a result of the wager?
>> A list of things that she purchased, and i've paid for either with a wager or with services or with vandalism.
>> Judge judy: Tell me about the vandalism.
>> Basically, she has a very, very nasty temper, and she has a problem with my past.
>> Judge judy: What did she do?!
>> She put a hole in my wall. She kicked dents in my doors. She put holes in my door.
>> Judge judy: Did she do this, and after she did this, you terminated the relationship?
>> I terminated the relationship several times.
>> Judge judy: But you didn't terminate the relationship after each of these incidents finally.
>> Actually, i did, and then she would always try to throw money back at me.
>> Judge judy: Whatever. You didn't. She punched a hole in the wall. You had a fight. She left you, then she came back. Is that right? And you took her back, and she continued to come on weekends. That is what we call "forgiving." You forgave those things. You don't come now and say, "i charged it off to bets and wagers." Listen, sir, you have a dvd player in your house and a karaoke machine, is that right?
>> Correct.
>> Judge judy: Does the karaoke machine work?
>> Yes.
>> Judge judy: And all the accouterments work?
>> Yes.
>> Judge judy: And what about the dvd player? Does it work?
>> Yes.
>> Judge judy: Good. Pack it all up! 'Cause she's getting it back, not all this other nonsense, but this she's getting back because if you have a relationship that doesn't work out, clearly the karaoke machine you say you paid for. I don't believe you paid for it.
>> What about the damages?
>> Judge judy: I don't have a counterclaim. You never filed a claim against her for damages did you?
>> I didn't have a chance.
>> Judge judy: Chance, chance. That's what we're here for. I don't have a claim. The karaoke machine you said you paid for, and then the negative equity in the car you didn't pay for, but then there was a wager, and she said, "if I can spin around four times with a banana on my nose, then i will pay for it." Whatever the bet was. She lost the bet, so you said -- that's baloney.
>> Announcer: "Judge judy" continues in a moment. And later today...
>> He said i stole a bedspread.
>> Maybe they misadvertently took the bedspread.
>> Judge judy: How big is this bedspread?
>> It's a king-size quilted bedspread.
>> Judge judy: You don't accidentally take a king-size bedspread.
>> Announcer: Closed captioning sponsored in part by...
>> announcer: Real cases. Real people. "Judge judy." Hanna lee says ex-boyfriend ezra blanche owes for a karaoke machine, a dvd player, and other household items. Ezra says hanna forgave the debt when she lost a bet.
>> Judge judy: Relationship is terminated, you have to do the right thing. The right thing is she invested a lot of money in electrical equipment for your house.
>> The dvd player was a gift.
>> Judge judy: Does it sound familiar that she said, "let's put one upstairs because it's too cold downstairs"?
>> Not exactly.
>> Judge judy: What exactly? Was that a no or a yes?
>> She told me that I could forget about paying for that because she had done something in the relationship.
>> Judge judy: She said, "you can forget about paying for it because I did something wrong." A minute ago you told me it was a christmas present.
>> I'm talking about on top of that.
>> Judge judy: No, a minute ago you told me it was a christmas present. You see, when you lie, sir, what happens is you usually trip over your tongue eventually -- eventually. You're giving back the dvd player and the karaoke machine. They're going back within five days. Pack them up. She will pay for shipping, correct?
>> Yes, ma'am.
>> Judge judy: Perfect. Court will prepare an order. Good luck to you both. Goodbye.
>> Byrd: Parties are excused. You may step out.
>> It just didn't work out, but i still care about him.
>> She's got a very nasty temper.
>> He's a good person.
>> She likes to get physical and violent.
>> I wish him the very best.
>> She needs to grow up.
>> Announcer: And now the next case.
>> Byrd: All parties in the matter of boccomino vs. Gala step forward, please.
>> Announcer: Tammy boccomino and her boyfriend, john adams, are suing motel manager eric gala for charging a bedspread to her credit card. Eric says while staying at his love motel, the couple stole it.
>> Judge judy: According to your complaint, you were a guest at a motel that was run by or owned by the defendant. You left. You evidently signed a credit card for your stay. When you got your credit-card bill in the mail, you noticed that there was an additional charge. You called up to find out what the additional charge was, and what were you told?
>> He said i stole a bedspread. A round bedspread.
>> Judge judy: And how much did they charge you for the round bedspread?
>> It was $80. It's not the money --
>> judge judy: Shh!
>> It was just the principle that i would not steal.
>> Judge judy: Absolutely. So what did you do when you saw the charge?
>> First of all, this is my boyfriend of three years. It was our anniversary, and just for the fun of it, as a novelty, we went to this hotel that had a round bed and a jacuzzi, and he was surprised -- I mean, I did it as a surprise for him. He didn't know. And it's, you know, it's for three hours, and it's $75. And you go in and just use the jacuzzi and then... After we left, i didn't find out until a month later that they also charged me $80.
>> Judge judy: For the bedspread. What did you do when you found this out about this $80 charge?
>> I called them, and I asked them, "what's this extra $80 charge," 'cause it did not say on my charge-card statement. And it was the woman in charge at the time -- i guess the lady who runs the desk -- and she said, "oh, it must have been a mistake," and that she was going to look into it for me, and then they would credit my card back. She told me to call back in two days, which I did, and she didn't have any answers for me. Then i called back again, and then she said, "well, the manager -- his name was eric gala -- said that i had stolen the round bedspread."
>> Judge judy: What date did you go to the motel?
>> It was may...30th. May 30th of last year.
>> Judge judy: And what hours did you rent this room?
>> It was from 8:00 to 11:00.
>> Judge judy: Is this a busy place?
>> I don't think so. It's a fun place.
>> Judge judy: But is it a busy place?
>> This is not a five-star motel or anything like that.
>> Judge judy: I don't mean that. I didn't ask you if it was a five-star motel. I asked you if it was busy. When you got there, there might have been other cars.
>> Well, there might have been. I didn't really notice.
>> Judge judy: Okay, mr. Gala... Let me hear you, sir.
>> The clerk that she had mentioned that she called when she was disputing her charge explained to me that she was told to check with who she had stayed with. Maybe they misadvertently took the bedspread.
>> Judge judy: How big is this bedspread?
>> It's a king-size quilted bedspread.
>> Judge judy: You don't accidentally take a king-size bedspread.
>> And it's round.
>> What we found in the past when something like this happens, and we go through this procedure, when we ask them to check, usually within one or two days it reappears, and we reverse the charges. That's usually what happens. When the clerk asked her to check with the person she'd stayed with, she was emphatic that she was with her husband, and her husband did not take it.
>> I did not say that.
>> And the maid, when she checked the room, had explained that the door was locked.
>> Judge judy: You can't tell me what the maid explained. The maid's not here. Where's the maid?
>> She's been with us for five years. She would not have taken the bedspread.
>> Judge judy: I don't know who took the bedspread.
>> Who in their right mind would take a soiled bedspread from anywhere?
>> Judge judy: So far, it doesn't sound like you're having a problem here.
>> Announcer: "Judge judy" continues in a moment.
Bw?
>> judge judy: Okay, they came to the motel. They stayed for three hours. Were you present that day?
>> I don't recall.
>> Judge judy: So you have no firsthand information about this case?
>> The only thing that i can explain to you is that we're a family-owned, operated business for 50 years. The last 26 years, i've been managing it. The maid's been there for five years. We have a security gate all the way around the premises. We have traffic-control gates --
>> judge judy: Do you have the register of the guests that evening?
>> I don't have that with me, but I do have the credit-card statement that she signed for the room.
>> Judge judy: That's not what i'm asking for. I'm asking you for the register of how many people slept in that room or stayed in that room on may 30th.
>> Just them, your honor.
>> Judge judy: You don't know that of your own personal knowledge.
>> I have checked into that.
>> Judge judy: No, no, no. I want to see the register from the hotel for that date.
>> I was explaining to you they were the only ones to use it.
>> Judge judy: You don't know that, sir, because you said, "i don't know whether i was even there that day."
>> No, i checked into it.
>> Judge judy: I can't rely on your checking into it. That's why we're in court.
>> The maid does make a morning check, and she --
>> judge judy: She's not here! You're giving me hearsay. And you can't testify because -- you know what hearsay is about. Hearsay is about my being able to cross-examine a witness, which is exactly what we're doing now. I'm examining you. I'm not just asking you questions that come out of here. I'm asking you questions to get facts. You can't give me the facts of your own knowledge. You can only give me facts based upon something that you heard from somebody else, which is useless to me in court. You have to reverse their charge for the $80. They say they didn't do it. You have no proof that they did. Absolutely none. Right? That's admissible in court. So give them back their $80. Judgment for the plaintiff.
>> Byrd: Parties are excused. You may step out.
>> Announcer: "Judge judy" continues in a moment. And on the next "judge judy"... Etary supplement
>> I didn't like to be accused of stealing. I would never steal. That was the principle of the thing.
>> The bedspread was there before they entered the room, and after they left, the door was locked, and the bedspread was gone.
>> There's probably germs all over it. Why would I want to steal a bedspread?
>> Hers was the only registration card for that day.
>> I would never go back again. It was a one-time novelty thing. It was for our anniversary. We don't do that everyday.
>> i left because of my integrity being questioned, being called a liar and a thief.
>> Judge judy: What did the calls say?
>> "You are all gonna blow up. There's a bomb under your feet."
>> Announcer: Did this boss accuse the right person?
>> I felt it was contessa's voice, and i mentioned that to the police.
>> Announcer: ...Or is this a case of a phony I.D.?
>> For a woman who's never talked to me on the phone, how would she have known it was my voice?
>> Judge judy: There is no proof whatsoever. You're supposed to do the right thing.
>> Announcer: You are about to enter the courtroom of judge judith sheindlin. The people are real. The cases are real. The rulings are final. This is her courtroom. 31-year-old homemaker monique da costa is suing her former sister-in-law, 35-year-old homemaker robyn arias, for the possession of a motorcycle previously owned by her late brother. Robyn is countersuing, also for possession of the bike.
>> Byrd: Order. All rise. Your honor, this is case number 366 on the calendar in the matter of da costa vs. Arias. Parties have been sworn in. You may be seated. Folks, have seats, please.
>> Judge judy: Miss da costa, you had a brother.
>> Yes.
>> Judge judy: Your brother had been arrested. I assume from your answer that he was arrested for assaulting you?
>> Yes, ma'am.
>> Judge judy: He was incarcerated. He contacted you for the purposes of bailing him out of jail. Is that right so far?
>> Yes.
>> Judge judy: And you say that you had an agreement with him that he would turn over some sort of a motorbike to you to repay you for his bail. Before that was accomplished, he died. So, now we have a dispute between you two ladies, who are sister-in-laws. And you were separated from your husband at the time of his death. Is that right?
>> Correct, ma'am.
>> Judge judy: You want her to turn over the title to the motorcycle to you, and she wants the motorcycle returned to her, because it was taken from her home without permission.
>> Yes, ma'am.
>> Judge judy: When was your brother arrested?
>> July 22nd, 2001.
>> Judge judy: And you knew he was arrested for assaulting his wife?
>> Yes.
>> Judge judy: How long have you been separated?
>> We had actually separated june 28th of 2000. We reconciled, and we separated may 28th of 2001.
>> Judge judy: Were you legally separated by court order?
>> Yes, ma'am.
>> Judge judy: Do you have a copy of that court order?
>> No, ma'am, I don'T.
>> Judge judy: Why not?
>> When he passed away, I had contacted my lawyer, and he told me that i was now a widow. That there was nothing else that could be done as far as the proceedings of the divorce.
>> Judge judy: I'm not talking about that. I'm saying that your defense is that you were legally separated and, therefore, no longer responsible for any of his debts, even if i determined this was a just debt. So it's surprising to me that you did not bring a copy of the judgment of separation. All right. So this happened on july 22nd of this year. He was arrested. He contacted you. Told you he needed bail.
>> Yes.
>> Judge judy: And what did you do?
>> I called flores bail bond. I paid the first $2,500 that day, and then I, after my brother's death, i called the bails bond and asked him if i still was responsible to pay the $2,500 for the rest because it was $5,000. He said, "yes, you're still responsible for the next $2,500." So i paid that, and --
>> judge judy: Let me see the papers from the bail bondsman? How much was his bail?
>> It was $5,000. I guess the bails bond has to put up like $50,000 --
>> judge judy: No, it was $50,000.
>> Yes, but the --
>> judge judy: Why was it so much money? Had he assaulted you before?
>> Yes, ma'am.
>> Judge judy: Had your brother been incarcerated before?
>> No, ma'am.
>> Judge judy: Had he been incarcerated before?
>> Yes, ma'am.
>> Judge judy: Because $50,000 bail is a lot of bail.
>> Can i say something?
>> Judge judy: Yes.
>> The first time he was incarcerated with her, the charges were dropped because the judge dropped the charges on that one. That found no case against it.
>> Judge judy: I doubt that. I didn't ask you about any of the substance of it. I asked you whether he had been incarcerated before, and the answer was, "yes, he had been charged with domestic violence before." Because, otherwise, it's unlikely that bail would have been set in the amount of $50,000. You wanna controvert what I just said?
>> On the spousal abuse, no matter what, if you get -- I-I got spousal abuse on me.
>> Judge judy: That's good. If you're telling me that you're the expert on spousal abuse, trust me --
>> it's $50,000 no matter what.
>> Judge judy: I want you to listen to me.
>> I know it's $50,000.
>> Judge judy: You think he's finished yet?
>> Byrd: I hope so.
>> It's 50 grand no matter what.
>> Judge judy: "I got spousal abuse on me, too."
[ Scoffs ] why do you think she owes you any money?
>> My brother and I had agreed -- well, when he was -- I bailed him out of jail. He called me several times and asked me if I would take the motorcycle for the money that he owed me, 'cause he felt really bad. Then i called my brother on the 25th of august, and we talked for 16 minutes. I have the phone record here. I'm like, "okay, that's fine. I'll go ahead and take the bike." And he's like, "well, take my barbecue or something like that. I'm like, "well, we'll just --
>> judge judy: You mean, take it instead of the bike, or take it in addition?
>> No, take the bike and that, because the bike's not worth that much money. Then he died four days later.
>> Judge judy: And where was the bike at that time?
>> It was at his house.
>> Judge judy: How did it get to be at your house?
>> It wasn't at my house. It was brought to my sister's house. When my mother found my brother deceased, she asked the police if it was okay for them to take some --
>> i object, your honor.
>> Judge judy: Just a second! I'll get to you in a minute.
>> They asked the police if they could take some stuff. He was like, "yes, you can go ahead and take the stuff." So we wrote it down, and most of the stuff has been given back to her.
>> Judge judy: So the bike was taken to your sister's house. And where is it now, still at your sister's house?
>> It's at a friend of ours.
>> Judge judy: Was it ever at your house?
>> Yes, ma'am.
>> Judge judy: How did it get to your house?
>> My husband was living at the home. I moved out of our home into an apartment.
>> Judge judy: And then you moved back into the house?
>> No, i've just recently moved into the home --
>> judge judy: But the bike was never taken from your house while you were living there. It was never taken from your house while you were living there.
>> Not while i was living there, correct.
>> Judge judy: So now it's at a friend's house. So you want the title to the bike?
>> Yes.
>> Judge judy: All right. So?
>> The reason why they had taken the property from the home is they had -- I got a call at work. I work in lancaster. It took almost 3 1/2 hours to locate me because of where i work. By the time I had gotten home and gotten my 8-year-old out of school and gotten back to the house, everybody was already gone. The property was gone. All of his jewelry, family pictures. There was a lot of stuff that was taken from the property.
>> Judge judy: What do you care? You were gonna divorce him.
>> After being together that many years, you just don't stop loving somebody --
>> judge judy: Listen to me! Now you love him because he's dead?! Listen to me very carefully! Your brother had an obligation to his sister. He had agreed with her before he died that his property, the bike, would be turned over to her in payment of a debt that he owed her.
>> I don't believe that is true at all.
>> Judge judy: I believe it!
>> I'm still paying for the motorcycle. He put it on a credit card.
>> Judge judy: Just one second. That's a different story. Let me see proof.
>> He put $1,500 out of the checking account, and the rest went on a credit card.
>> Judge judy: Just a second. If you -- just a minute. It's says, "amount financed -- $4,130." To whom was it financed?
>> If you flip that pink over, it'll show $1,500 came out of a checking, and the rest was put on a visa.
>> Judge judy: Whose visa is this?
>> Mine and my husband's.
>> Judge judy: Let me see.
>> It's back there with my purse.
>> Judge judy: Get it.
>> Okay.
>> Announcer: "Judge judy" continues in a moment.
>> Judge judy: You're gonna collect his life insurance? How much?
>> He had 16 months to remove me on anything.
>> Judge judy: Just answer my question! How much life insurance?
>> Announcer: And later today...
>> She said, "well, you, shirley, and carlos are all gonna blow up, 'cause there's a bomb under your feet. Real people. "Judge judy." Monique da costa says shortly after bailing her brother out of jail, he passed away. Monique claims her former sister-in-law, robyn arias, refuses to hand over the motorcycle he promised as collateral.
>> Judge judy: Let me see it, please. Well, this is in your brother's name, not in your name.
>> No, but i'm saying it's a joint account.
>> Judge judy: I don't know that. Well, then show me proof that you've been paying for the bike.
>> I haven't been able to because I'm still waiting for life insurance to come in.
>> Judge judy: So you haven't made any payments on the bike?
>> But i have to pay the credit card off.
>> Judge judy: I don't know that you have to at all. You don't even talk about that in your answer that you're still responsible for the payment of the bike.
>> I was told by my lawyer, due to the fact that we weren't legally divorced, that i am still responsible for all of his debt.
>> Judge judy: Not if you have a separation -- that is a court-ordered separation -- and that the court-ordered separation can, in fact, say that neither one of you is responsible for the debts of either party from this day forward.
>> Correct. But we were living together when he purchased the bike.
>> Judge judy: So?
>> Your honor, they were not living together. He was living with my mother when he purchased the bike.
>> My witnesses attest to that that we were living together.
>> Judge judy: What's your mother's address?
>> It's ...Avenue.
>> Judge judy: That's where he lists his place of residence.
>> But he was living at ...Street.
>> Judge judy: I don't know that at all. Listen -- you can't have it both ways. Are you collecting his life insurance?
>> Yes.
>> Judge judy: You're gonna collect his life insurance? How much?
>> He had 16 months to remove me on anything.
>> Judge judy: Just answer my question! How much life insurance?!
>> $85,000, and then a policy that he had prior to us ever getting married, he left for his 8-year-old son.
>> Judge judy: Is his 8-year-old son your 8-year-old son?
>> Yes, ma'am.
>> Judge judy: Who does your son live with now?
>> Me.
>> Judge judy: And how much life insurance do you collect for the child?
>> Roughly...Maybe $600,000, $700,000 goes to his son.
>> Judge judy: Okay. Let's talk about what is reasonable, madam. But for the fact that your husband died, you would not be $85,000 richer, your son would not be in substantially the kind of position he will be in...
>> Yes, ma'am.
>> Judge judy: ...Soon -- that i'm telling you because if your brother couldn't repay his sister for the bail and had to sell his property -- his motorcycle, his barbecue, whatever else -- to pay his sister back, that means that he wasn't in such good financial shape.
>> Ma'am, he could have paid his sister back. This is a checking and savings account from when my husband died. He had more than $5,000 in it. He left it to his 8-year-old son in a uniform trust account.
>> Judge judy: That may have been. If it was a trust account, maybe he felt as if he didn't want to tap into that. What i'm telling you, ms. Arias, is you're supposed to do the right thing. The right thing is, your sister-in-law bailed her brother out of jail. Even though the bailout was a result of an assault allegedly committed on you --
>> i have the police report --
>> judge judy: I'm not interested in the police report. I said even though it was not determined in a court, but that's why he was in jail -- for assaulting you. You just said to me a moment ago, "just because you're separated doesn't mean you stop loving somebody." Isn't that what you said to me two seconds ago? So listen to me. You're supposed to do the right thing. This was a debt that your husband had. He had already arranged with his sister how that debt was going to be paid. There is no proof whatsoever that you are paying this bill, and this card is not in your name.
>> No, it's not.
>> Judge judy: I understand that. There is no proof that you are currently paying this bill or will ever be responsible for this bill. Now, it is very possible that if in fact the bank decides to go after this bicycle, they will come and get it from her. But in the meantime, you give her the title.
>> I do not have the title. I had to do a 180 on it. She has possession. The dmv will not give me a title because I did a grand-theft-auto report on it.
>> Judge judy: Well, you're a cutie-pie, because you knew exactly where it was. So we will prepare an order -- which I am hoping that the department of motor vehicles will honor -- that this matter has been resolved here, that this court determines that the title to the bike should be in your name, that the bike was not in fact stolen, that it had been reported stolen by ms. Arias and it was never stolen, and would they please re-execute a new title in your name? I don't know if there's a lienholder.
>> There's no lienholder.
>> Judge judy: I assume that there's not a lienholder because it's on a credit card. And if you wait, i will prepare a copy of that order. Your counterclaim for the return of the bike to you is dismissed. That's all.
>> Byrd: Parties are excused. You may step out.
>> I'm glad it's over and done.
>> This is what my brother wanted, and I'm just thankful that i'm able to get it. The lord above will take care of her in the long run.
>> Announcer: And now the next case.
>> Byrd: All parties in the matter of newhouse vs. Covington, step forward, please.
>> Announcer: 21-year-old college student contessa newhouse is suing her former co-worker, 44-year-old former customer-service manager cindy covington, for defamation of character. Contessa says cindy falsely accused her of calling in a bomb threat.
>> Judge judy: Miss newhouse, you and the defendant, for a period of time, worked in the same retail store. Is that right?
>> Yes, ma'am.
>> Judge judy: It is your claim that after you left your employment there -- a short time afterwards -- there was a bomb threat called in to the store. The defendant received that threat. And the defendant told the police that she thought it was you who had called in the bomb threat, so you are suing her for defamation, slander -- that's what your lawsuit is. You want $5,000.
>> Yes, ma'am.
>> Judge judy: When did you leave your employment there?
>> I left my employment on august 23rd of 2001.
>> Judge judy: And the defendant was one of your supervisors?
>> My customer-service manager.
>> Judge judy: And when was the bomb threat called in?
>> Around october the 10th or the 11th.
>> Judge judy: When you received the call, what did the call say?
>> "'F' you, you [bleep] because you, shirley, and carlos are all gonna blow up, because there's a bomb under your feet." Well, shirley and carlos and i were involved in a termination of her roommate, and the roommate had been there that day.
>> Announcer: "Judge judy" continues in a moment.
>> She expected me to help all my customers instead of letting me go.
>> Because i didn't trust her.
>> I started to wet my pants, which is a humiliation.
>> Announcer: Closed captioning sponsored in part by...
>> Announcer: Real cases. Real people. "Judge judy." Contessa newhouse says former co-worker cindy covington falsely accused her of calling in a bomb threat. Cindy says she received the call, and it sounded like contessa's voice.
>> Judge judy: Did you, at the time you received this telephone call, believe that you recognized the voice?
>> Yes, I did. I felt it was contessa's voice, and I mentioned that to the police.
>> Judge judy: And as a result of that, the police came to your home?
>> Yes, ma'am.
>> Judge judy: And was there any investigation that followed?
>> Yes, ma'am.
>> Judge judy: Tell me what the investigation consisted of.
>> The investigation was i had to go down there for questioning. And I was required to take a polygraph, so that any suspicions would be dropped against me.
>> Judge judy: And you did that?
>> Yes, ma'am.
>> Judge judy: So, other than going down to the police station for questioning and you took a polygraph, which was a voluntary polygraph, because they don't insist that you take a polygraph --
>> he asked me if I would take the polygraph, so that they would leave me alone and let me live my life, and I voluntarily did it, yes.
>> Judge judy: Right. So, it was voluntary. So, what do you want?
>> What I want is, your honor, back in april of 2001 -- i have never really known this lady -- but I took back a television when i first moved into my apartment. They gave me the wrong television out of the layaway, and I took it back because it was defaulted and someone else's. And they called her up to the service desk, and she flat-out called me a liar and told me that i better get the right tv. So, I got my tv, and i left. And I came back, and i wrote a 3-page statement, and I gave it to the store manager. And I know it got her in trouble.
>> Judge judy: Then you went to work there. I read your complaint. Then you went to work there after that.
>> Right.
>> Judge judy: And then you had difficulty with her.
>> Mm-hmm. The one night that i got put under cindy, i had never worked underneath her.
>> Judge judy: Under cindy?
>> She worked under me several times.
>> Judge judy: Shh. Go ahead.
>> Money came missing out of my drawer, and she made it plain and simple to go tell everybody i took the money out of my drawer. Then, I had to go to the bathroom so bad at my register, that she turned off my light and expected me to help all my customers instead of letting me go.
>> Because i didn't trust her, your honor.
>> Judge judy: Shh!
>> Announcer: "Judge judy" continues in a moment. 6%6%6%6%6%6%6%6%[
>> Judge judy: Go ahead.
>> I started to wet my pants, which is a humiliation.
>> Judge judy: Fine. So, that happened to you back in august, and you left.
>> I left because of my integrity being questioned, being called a liar and a thief by ms. Covington, and because of humiliation.
>> Judge judy: Fine. Okay. So, you left.
>> Right. I also had a roommate that lived with me that is very good friends with ms. Covington that i kicked out because she molested my daughter, and because she went and slandered my name all over, also. I kicked her out the monday before the bomb threat. And, yes, I did call [bleep] the night of the bomb threat to talk to a friend, but nowhere even near the time of the bomb threat. My mother called me from the gas station, which is my witness.
>> Judge judy: Miss newhouse, let me stop you right there, because it's not a very difficult case. Police respond to a bomb threat that they take very seriously. They question everybody, including the person who received the call. The person who received the call, that is, the defendant, says, and I'm sure the police asked, "did you recognize the person?" She says, "i think i recognize miss newhouse's voice." They came. They spoke to you. They investigated, and they did not pursue it. Now, if we as a community said, every time somebody said, "i think it looks like that person," or, "it sounded like that person," or, "it could be that person," and the police investigate, and it turns out not to be the right suspect, then you can turn around and sue the person, in this case, ms. Covington, who made that statement, that would have a chilling effect on police work. Do you understand?
>> Yes, ma'am, i do.
>> Judge judy: Okay. So, you are entitled to nothing.
>> Ma'am, the one thing -- it's harassment, the way that i had been treated for the last six months.
>> Judge judy: That's not what we're talking about. You want to sue her for harassment, you sue the store that you were working for.
>> Ma'am, for a woman who's never talked to me on the phone, how would she have known it was my voice?
>> Judge judy: She doesn't have to talk to you on the phone. She talked to you in person. She doesn't have to talk to you on the telephone.
>> But i sound completely different on the telephone. After previous jobs that i've had, i've never sounded the same as i do in person.
>> Judge judy: Well, how do you know that? You listen to yourself on the telephone?
>> Because i have a mother-in-law who thought --
>> judge judy: Miss newhouse, you don't have a case. Goodbye!
>> Byrd: Parties are excused. You may step out.
>> Announcer: "Judge judy" continues in a moment. And on the next "judge judy"... Etary supplement
>> There's no way you can know my voice on the phone, especially only when you talk to me in person.
>> I said it sounded like her voice.
>> I almost lost my family. I couldn't take care of my daughter, and I almost lost my school because of it, and she knew exactly what I had at stake.
>> She is just very vengeful towards me.
>> She's just a very judgmental, vindictive person.