you and the defendant worked
together.
>> Yes, Your Honor.
>> Judge Judy: Where did you
work?
>> We worked at Kizuki Ramen.
It's a ramen house, a
restaurant.
>> Judge Judy: How long had you
been working there?
>> We both worked there for
about five months.
I was there at the opening.
So was he.
So we opened the restaurant
together, basically training.
>> Judge Judy: Did you know each
other before you opened the
restaurant?
>> No, Your Honor.
>> Judge Judy: And there came a
time when you decided to room
together.
Was that a permanent arrangement
for you or a temporary
arrangement for you?
>> Definitely temporary.
It was kind of more of a
personal favor.
The apartment was far away from
downtown.
And at the time, I wasn't
driving, so he pretty much just
asked me, "Could you please..."
'Cause we went and saw the place
together.
The landlord liked me.
They're like, "Could you please
just move in for a couple of
months until you find another
arrangement," which I did allow,
but I didn't want to be on the
lease, and I wanted to pay less
than him 'cause I knew I
wouldn't be there as frequently.
>> Judge Judy: Were you on the
lease?
>> No.
>> Judge Judy: Only you were on
the lease.
>> That's correct.
>> Judge Judy: Okay.
Did you put down security
deposit?
>> Yes.
>> Judge Judy: How much?
>> $350.
>> Judge Judy: And you moved out
after a couple of months.
>> Just one month, really.
>> Two months.
>> Judge Judy: I thought it was
two months.
Did you give him his security
deposit back?
>> I returned $250 of his
security deposit back.
>> Judge Judy: Why?
>> I withheld $100 for
outstanding bills from the
months that he had lived there.
>> I've never seen a dollar
from -- Sorry.
>> Judge Judy: What bills?
>> I have a garbage bill, a
cable bill, and an electric
bill.
>> Judge Judy: And how much do
all of those bills add up to
together?
>> They total $269.84.
>> Judge Judy: Byrd, would you
show those to the plaintiff,
please.
>> Byrd: Sure.
>> Judge Judy: 'Cause we're
gonna get to the crux of this
case in a minute.
>> The previous payment is here
and here, and then this is the
actual bill from that time
period.
>> Judge Judy: Current bill.
>> Yeah.
No, I've seen the bills.
I paid him in cash for these
bills.
I never saw one dollar from
the -- from the deposit.
It was $350.
I also helped him out for --
>> Judge Judy: Just a sec.
>> Yeah.
>> Byrd: You want these?
>> Judge Judy: No, I don't want
them at all.
I'm not getting involved with
that.
There's one issue in this case,
and I'm not getting involved
with your $250 and $350, because
it was my understanding from
reading your complaint, sir,
that he did give you some money
back from the --
>> No, I never received a dollar
from the deposit, or the rent
that's owed.
Basically, I moved out early
September with the agreement
that when his new roommate moved
in, I would receive the money
for that rent, and also the
deposit.
>> Judge Judy: Do you have proof
that you returned any part of
the deposit to him?
>> No, everything was dealt with
in cash.
>> Judge Judy: Okay.
Now, you moved out on what date,
sir?
>> It was like September 2nd,
between the 2nd or the 5th.
>> Judge Judy: Now, so I'm not
getting involved in it, because
if you actually believed that he
owed you money and there was so
much animus, late October you
wouldn't have gone to his house
for a house party, which is
really the crux of this case,
which is the only part of it
that I'm dealing with.
So let's understand that.
If you felt that he owed you
prorated rent or some money for
a security deposit, when you
were invited to his home a month
later, a month after you moved
out...
>> Yeah.
>> Judge Judy: ...for a party, I
would not have gone if I was in
an acrimonious situation with
somebody.
So you went to a party at his
house in October.
>> Yes.
>> Judge Judy: Now I want you to
tell me what happened when you
went to the party in October,
'cause that's what this case is
about.
>> When I went to the party in
October, we discussed the
deposit and the monies owed.
And as you mentioned, I did have
some resentment.
>> Judge Judy: You shouldn't
have gone.
>> I really shouldn't have gone.
>> Judge Judy: Right, okay.
>> You know, he basically got
kind of -- he got violent with
me about it.
He pushed me outside the door.
>> Judge Judy: Told you to
leave and locked the door.
>> He locked the door with my
keys inside -- my car keys
inside.
>> Judge Judy: Keep going.
>> Then I had to pay for a cab
to get home.
>> Judge Judy: And?
>> And then the next day, he
said a bunch of crazy things to
our manager that we worked for.
>> Judge Judy: I don't know
whether he did or not.
That's hearsay.
'Cause there's nobody here.
>> Either way, I sent him a text
message saying, "I'm gonna take
to small-claims on this matter
then."
>> Judge Judy: Okay, so I'd like
to see that text.
>> I don't have the text with
me, but I do have the
small-claims paperwork that I
filed.
>> Judge Judy: Listen to me
carefully.
>> Yes.
>> Judge Judy: I want to see the
text where you said to him, "I'm
going to small-claims court."
You say you have the text.
Use your phone right there.
>> Yeah, I do not have the text,
unfortunately.
This is a new phone, yeah.
>> Judge Judy: You know how many
times I hear people -- How did
you get a new phone when you
lost your job?
What you're suing for here is
lost wages.
When did you get a new phone?
>> It was a very affordable
phone, Your Honor.
I do have the small-claims
paperwork here.
>> Judge Judy: Just a second.
Listen, I'm gonna do my drill.
When I'm satisfied, then I'm
gonna throw you both out.
>> Yes, Your Honor.
>> Judge Judy: Great.