is suing her former landlord,
Karen Downey,
for the return of rent
and security deposit
and the return
of an aromatherapy diffuser.
>> Judge Judy: Ms. Cox,
you rented a room
from Ms. Downey
for a short period of time.
It didn't work out.
You want some rent back.
You want your security
deposit back,
and this piece of property
that you claim that she has
that belongs to you.
When did you move in?
>> The last week of August,
very beginning of September.
>> Judge Judy: August of 2017?
>> Correct.
>> Judge Judy: Where had
you been before that?
>> In another state.
>> Judge Judy:
Where is your home located?
>> My home is located
in Ventura, California.
>> Judge Judy: And what
was the rent for the room?
>> It was 675.
>> Judge Judy: Is that right?
>> No, it was $650.
>> Oh, 650, sorry.
>> Judge Judy: You moved
in the end of August.
When did you move out?
>> The week before Thanksgiving.
>> Judge Judy: And from reading
both
your complaint and the answer,
I gather that both of you
realized that this was not
a marriage made in heaven,
that it was both of you
were going to be very happy
to part ways,
wasn't working out.
Fair statement?
>> Very much so.
>> Judge Judy: Fair statement?
Let's deal with the security
deposit first.
>> Mm-hmm.
>> Judge Judy: How much security
deposit did you give Ms. Downey?
>> I think it was $175.
>> Judge Judy: Is that correct?
>> Yes, ma'am.
>> Judge Judy: Did she get back
the security deposit?
>> No.
>> Judge Judy: Why not?
>> Okay, to begin with,
ma'am, the...
>> Judge Judy: Don't give me...
I'm 75 years old.
Let's not begin with anything.
Why didn't she get her security
deposit back?
>> Because she didn't give me
a forwarding address at all.
>> Judge Judy: Oh, good.
Well, now she's here.
So that makes it much easier,
175.
Now, what property do you claim
that Ms. Downey has
that belongs to you?
>> I'm missing a diffuser.
>> Judge Judy: What is a d--
What are you talking about?
>> It's aromatherapy.
>> Judge Judy:
How much did you pay for it?
>> Fifty dollars and ninety-nine
cents without taxes.
>> Judge Judy: In what room
in the house was it located?
>> In the room
that I was renting.
>> Judge Judy:
When did you notice it missing?
>> I was gone for 4 days
because I was commuting
from Ventura to Santa Barbara,
where I was working.
>> Judge Judy: So...
>> So I came back...
>> Judge Judy: ...when you came
back, you noticed
the diffuser missing.
>> Correct.
>> Judge Judy: Okay.
How many other people
are in the house?
>> Her, her husband, Gigi...
>> Judge Judy: What's a Gigi?
>> Gigi is the other person
that was renting
the room next door to me.
>> Judge Judy:
So there's another renter?
>> Correct.
>> Judge Judy: So what would
lead you
to believe that Ms. Downey
took your diffuser?
>> She was the only one
that has access to the room.
>> Judge Judy: What do you mean
she's the only one?
>> She would have had
another key
to the room, as well.
>> Judge Judy: Okay.
Let's forget about the diffuser.
So far we're at 175.
>> Mmm.
>> Judge Judy: Now, you want
the return of some rent?
>> Mm-hmm.
>> Judge Judy: Is that
the last week of November?
>> Correct.
>> Judge Judy: And ordinarily,
I wouldn't consider
that application.
However, it is your claim
that you felt that...
You had already decided you were
leaving the end of November.
The reason you left early is
because you received
a threatening message
from Ms. Downey's daughter
or from somebody.
>> Her daughter texted me.
>> Judge Judy:
I'd like to see that.
Did you call the police
over this diffuser...
>> Yes, I did.
>> Judge Judy:
...that you were missing?
>> Yes, I did.
Ms. Cox, it's not my job
to get into your history
or what your problems are.
I'm issuing a judgment
in your favor
for the amount of $175,
which represents
your security deposit.
I find that none of the texts
that you showed me
gave you cause to leave
before the end of November.
So, therefore, I don't think
that Ms. Downey has to return
1/4 of your rent for that month.
You chose to leave.
You chose to make a whole
geshichte over a diffuser
without proof
that the defendant,
who I gather from the text
has some serious medical issues
at this time in her life,
has to deal with the addition
of being called a thief
and having police
arrive to her home.
Ms. Downey, in the past 2 years,
how many times have police
responded to your house?
>> Just the one time
when she called and...
>> Judge Judy:
Let's go back 5 years.
Police ever respond
to your house?
>> Just the one time.
>> Judge Judy: Do you understand
what the problem is?
>> My items were stolen.
I asked them...
>> Judge Judy: Mmm.. 175.
We're done.
>> Byrd: