in December?
>> No, ma'am.
>> Judge Judy: Did you make
any transfer to your account
in the month of December?
>> No, ma'am.
>> Judge Judy: When was the last
time you transferred money
out of that account?
>> I believe it was in November.
>> Judge Judy: How much?
>> I don't know the exact
figures, less than $300.
>> Judge Judy: For what?
>> Like, part of the cable bill,
and Kori said that she wanted
some money out of there.
So since she worked in
Springfield and between
Springfield and the bank town,
where the bank is at, is about
40 miles, so it was easier,
if I was in Springfield,
just to transfer it
to my account and take it out
and give it to her.
>> Judge Judy: How did you get
to work?
>> Her daughter and her.
>> I took her to work,
and my daughter
gave her a ride home.
>> Judge Judy: What I like
to see is somebody who works.
First of all, I believe
little of what she says to me.
I also think that it was really
very lovely of you to take care
of her and her brother
over an extended period of time,
and it appears to me
that you did so graciously.
So I don't think that she stole
any money from you,
and I'm not -- what?
>> I have bank statements
from the same account.
>> Judge Judy: I don't care
about your bank statement.
I don't think she stole
any money from you.
I wouldn't care
if she actually said to you,
"Listen. You can stay here,
but if you're working,
you have to contribute
to the household."
Do you understand?
>> Yes, Your Honor.
>> Judge Judy: Did she ever say
that to you?
>> No, Your Honor.
>> Judge Judy: No!
I wouldn't think that there
was anything wrong with that.
I mean, she's not
your mom, right?
>> Yes, Your Honor.
>> Judge Judy: She's not related
to you by blood?
She took
good care of you for 5 years?
>> Yes, Your Honor.
>> Judge Judy: So I don't think
that she would actually
steal from you.
I think that you're a teenager
who worked, and sometimes
you spent some money, and
sometimes she gave you some
money, and it was sort of fluid
because if you needed some,
you didn't deposit your checks
for Christmas
because you used
some of the money.
Well, how much money?
"I don't know.
Maybe I used $100.
Maybe I used $150.
Then she took $100."
That's very loosey-goosey
for me to try to figure out.
So I have to figure out who the
people are, and I cannot fathom
why she would steal from you
after being
so good to you for 5 years.
She's certainly spent more on
you than $2,500, right?
>> Yes, Your Honor.
>> Judge Judy: Then why?
Don't speak.
>> Because it was supposed to be
a joint account.
Whenever I called up there
to see how much money I had,
because she said it was still
in my bank account,
that I could get my money
at the end of February,
Your Honor,
it was not in my bank account.
The last transfer was $149
to another account
that they would not tell me
because she had transferred it,
and she touched the money.
She was the only one
that was touching the money.
>> Judge Judy: But only
from September to November
because, according to you,
you spent your December checks
on Christmas stuff,
September, October,
November, 3 months.
>> Okay.
>> Judge Judy: Well, how much do
you think that you should have
accumulated in the bank in
3 months?
>> Approximately up to $1,700
or $2,000.
>> Judge Judy: $1,700 or $2,000?
>> Yes, Your Honor.
>> Judge Judy: Okay.
So $1,700 to $2,000.
So your lawsuit is $2,550
because what you're asking me
to say is,
"You know, it could be $1,500.
It could be $1,700.
It could be $2,500."
I can't make a judgment
when you have
this loosey-goosey relationship
with your bank account with her,
but I do think that you put
some money in the bank,
and some money should be coming
back to her from her work.
You would agree with that?
>> Sure.
>> Judge Judy: Okay.
$700 is what you say she put in.
I actually think that she gave
you more money
than $700 over the course
of those 3 months,
based upon this.
She had $3,300.
She used up the Christmas money.
She used up December's money,
bringing it down, probably,
to $2,500.
I'm discounting the cable bill.
The cable bill is something.
I assume you still
have the cable.
>> Mm-hmm.
>> Judge Judy: And you kept the
cable.
She shouldn't have to pay
for the cable.
>> Judge Judy: So my question
is, how much do you
think should be in that account?
>> $2,000, Your Honor.
>> Judge Judy: How much?
>> $2,000, Your Honor.
>> Judge Judy: No.
I don't think so.
Maybe $1,500, but young people,
if they work,
should see some benefit
from that work,
and she was responsible enough
to work, to give you cash
to put in the account.
She has to see
something from it.
The fact that you had a fight,
and that's an unfortunate thing,
so you don't speak anymore?
>> No.
She doesn't want nothing
to do with me.
She doesn't even want me around.
>> Because she hit me.
>> Your Honor,
I did not hit her.
I gave her a little shove
because I was trying
to get out of my room --
>> Judge Judy: Kori. Kori.
She doesn't want to speak
to you now
because she says you hit her.
A little shove was putting
your hands on somebody.
During the time that you lived
with Ms. Lorta, did
she ever put her hands on you?
>> Yes, Your Honor. She did.
>> Judge Judy: How?
>> When we got into
the argument,
she grabbed me by my hair
and my hoodie and threw me
on the ground and called me
a whore and told me, "Get out."
>> Judge Judy: Unfortunate.
Okay.
Judgment for the plaintiff
in the amount of $1,500.
We're finished. Thank you.
>> Byrd: P