of business do you have?
>> I'm a chiropractor
nutritionist.
>> Judge Judy: And you?
>> I'm the daughter.
I help out in the office.
>> Judge Judy: Did you have
anything
to do with this contract
with the defendant?
>> Yes, I paid for the contract.
>> Judge Judy: But it's your
business?
>> It's my business, yes.
She's my manager.
>> Judge Judy: At what point did
you retain Mr. Steffen to do
some marketing for you?
>> We had looked around at
marketing
to expand to nutrition more,
so last fall of 2015, we were
looking at different companies,
and he presented
a proposal that looked good.
We had talked back and forth.
>> Judge Judy: May I see
the proposal that he submitted?
>> Okay.
>> Judge Judy: You have your
copy?
>> Yes, Your Honor.
>> Judge Judy: I'd like to see
it.
>> Thank you.
>> Byrd: Mm-hmm.
>> Judge Judy: There are certain
things that are crossed out.
Who crossed them out?
>> Mr. Steffen.
>> Judge Judy: You gave me one
that's not crossed out.
>> Yes, Your Honor,
that is how the proposal
was initially sent to them,
and that is the proposal
they approved.
>> Judge Judy: So this is
all they were supposed to get,
market research,
online marketing?
>> Yes, Your Honor.
>> Judge Judy: Okay.
>> That's not the case.
>> Judge Judy: Well, this only
helps your case.
I don't know why you would
object to it.
If he was supposed to do more
rather than less,
that would be helpful to you.
>> Thank you.
>> Judge Judy: Right?
And how much did you pay him?
>> We paid him $899.
>> Judge Judy: And that was a
special for this week only.
Usual -- $1,799.
You offered them
a special for $899.
>> Yes, Your Honor. We had --
>> Judge Judy: Good!
Okay, was this ever a signed
agreement?
Did anybody ever sign it?
>> Negative, Your Honor.
>> Judge Judy: No. Okay.
But this is what you proposed,
and this is what was accepted,
fine, and paid $899?
>> Yes, Your Honor.
>> Judge Judy: This lawsuit says
that he didn't deliver
what he was supposed to.
You want your money back plus
punitive damages for something
that you'll explain to me.
Okay.
Let's hear what you did.
>> Your Honor, immediately upon
acceptance of the proposal,
they were promised three videos.
I automatically called
Dr. Skerry and recorded her.
>> Judge Judy: Just a second.
You filmed three videos.
Do you have those three videos?
>> Yes, Your Honor, online.
>> Judge Judy: I'd like to take
a look at them.
>> And, Your Honor, Dr. Skerry
is currently
using one of the videos
on her website today and --
>> Judge Judy: Just a second.
So I don't have to look at it.
Is it correct that you
are using one of the videos
that the defendant shot
on your current website?
>> Yes.
>> Judge Judy: So you're using
the benefit of his service.
>> We could never
access the others.
>> Judge Judy: Just a second.
That's not my question.
>> Yes, we're using one.
>> Judge Judy: You're using?
>> Mm-hmm.
>> Judge Judy: Okay.
What else did you do for her?
>> With her,
we recorded her over the phone
and transcribed that recording
and then converted
that recording into articles
because she has intellectual
capital that we can't replicate,
which the interview was here
also as part of the proposal.
>> Judge Judy: Was there
an interview done with you?
>> Yes, there was an interview.
>> Judge Judy: And a recording?
>> Yes.
>> And then we converted
that into articles,
which was then submitted
to Kate, her daughter,
which she approved.
>> Judge Judy: I'd like to see
them.
>> Yes, Your Honor.
So, Your Honor,
what you'll see at the top,
this is the Web page.
This was their marketing portal.
They could log
in and see everything.
You'll see the tabs, and you'll
see completed social media,
completed articles,
completed videos.
So when you click that,
it'll automatically take you
to everything that was done
on Dr. Skerry's behalf.
>> Your Honor, we've never
had access to that portal.
I've never seen it.
He told us the portal
wasn't ready.
We didn't approve the articles.
They were done
but without approval.
Kate and I didn't --
>> Your Honor, I have evidence
Kate actually
approved the articles.
>> Judge Judy: You have proof of
that?
>> Yes, Your Honor.
>> Judge Judy: I'd like to take
a look at it.
Okay.
You know I hate those.
>> Byrd: Okay.
>> Thank you.
>> Your Honor, if I may,
I've never seen that screen.
I've only ever had access
to a Google Drive.
>> Judge Judy: Right now,
I'm looking at the approval
e-mail.
>> Your Honor, I retrieved
the e-mail from Kate saying,
"Thanks for your patience.
I appreciate
the Sunday deadline.
Here is the edited interview."
In order to get
to that interview,
she had to be able
to get onto the portal.
That's where we keep
all of our clients' information
so the pubic can't see it.
>> Judge Judy: Now, my question
is, $899, was that a one-time
fee or an initial fee,
and was she supposed to pay you
the $99 a month,
the $399 a month?
She certainly
didn't pay $2,500 one-time fee.
>> She paid $899 a month,
and that was it for everything
that was
in that proposal and completed.
>> Judge Judy: Just a second.
$899 a month?
>> Negative, Your Honor.
>> One-time fee.
>> Judge Judy: One-time fee,
that's what I thought,
$899 one-time fee.
So she didn't have access to you
on a monthly basis ongoing?
>> She could call me
or e-mail me
whenever she needed,
and I was at their beck and call
whenever they needed me.
>> Judge Judy: For how long?
>> Well, that's the problem,
Your Honor.
Sometimes, clients like this --
>> Judge Judy: No, not "clients
like this."
What I'm asking you is,
for how long?
>> Until everything
in the proposal was complete.