Is what you're suggesting to me
that my clerk suggested you put
it in the complaint?
>> No.
>> Judge Judy: Okay, I just want
to make certain.
So, you told them that this is
what you were doing.
She was messy, she was using
alcohol, she was acting
erratically.
>> Mm-hmm.
>> Judge Judy: Used those words?
>> Yes.
>> Judge Judy: She took Xanax.
Those are your words.
Nobody put those words in your
mouth.
>> Right. But more so, the
"intervention" was for the
cleanliness, not so much as to
call her.
>> Judge Judy: Was it discussed
at the intervention?
>> I don't think we really
mentioned it.
>> Judge Judy: At all?
>> At all.
>> No.
>> Judge Judy: But when you had
this messy intervention, that
was in your mind?
Which is not an intervention.
I wouldn't call that an
intervention.
I would call that four girls
getting together, with one slob,
and saying, "We don't want you
to be a slob."
>> That's fair.
>> Yeah.
>> Judge Judy: So, what happened
next?
>> She proceeded to walk away.
>> Nikolette.
>> Judge Judy: Go ahead.
>> Nikolette walked away, and
under her breath, we heard her
curse at us, so then...
>> I said "[Bleep]," too, and
she came back, pushed me off my
chair, and hit me.
And so I responded by doing so,
as well, because I was gonna
defend myself since she was
standing over me.
>> Judge Judy: So, you cursed at
her, she came back at you, and
she hit you?
Where did she hit you?
>> In my face, right here.
Like, the left side of my face.
>> Judge Judy: With a fist or a
hand?
>> Fist.
>> Judge Judy: And what did you
hit her with?
>> A fist.
>> Judge Judy: And then the
police were called?
>> Police were called, they
came, she was arrested that
night, and --
>> Judge Judy: You were
arrested, and, Miss Manna, you
were arrested and you pled
guilty.
>> I did.
I took a plea deal, though.
>> Judge Judy: It doesn't
matter.
It just -- It doesn't matter.
>> Mm-hmm. I just didn't want it
to drag on longer than it was,
because I was missing class and
work.
>> Judge Judy: You took a plea.
That takes care of your
counterclaim.
Counterclaim is for lawyers,
fees, and whatever.
That's dismissed because, once
you take a plea or found guilty,
you acknowledge your guilt.
And if you acknowledge your
guilt, you say, "I hit her
first.
First, we were cursing, but I
was the first one that used
force.
And I'm gonna take a plea.
I don't want to go to trial."
So you're not entitled to your
lawyer's fees.
This is what your lawsuit --
>> Well, she wasn't admitting
guilt.
>> Judge Judy: Yeah, she did.
>> Yeah, well...
>> Judge Judy: Yeah, yeah,
she did.
That was what she was arrested
for.
She was arrested for the
incident that occurred the night
of October 4th.
And don't shout out.
>> Can I just say something?
The countersuit -- That was a
whole different one.
This is a new claim.
She filed a no-contact order on
me after this happened.
>> Judge Judy: That's okay.
"Plaintiffs filed a no-contact
order against me out of spite."
That was Miss Torres --
Stephanie Torres...
>> Mm-hmm.
>> Judge Judy: ...filed a
no-contact order.
>> Yes.
>> Judge Judy: Okay, well, she
should have.
You hit her.
>> I didn't. She initiated it.
>> Judge Judy: Then you should
not have pled guilty.
>> That's what my lawyer
suggested me to do because it
was dragging out so long.
>> Judge Judy: I don't care what
your lawyer suggested.
Lots of people say to me,
"That's what the lawyer
suggested."
You should not have pled guilty.
Should have said to the lawyer,
"Listen, I'm paying you.
I didn't hit her.
I'm not gonna plead guilty to
hitting her, 'cause I didn't."
You understand?
>> Yeah.
>> Well, unfortunately,
Your Honor...
>> Judge Judy: Don't speak out.
>> ...it's always about money.
>> Judge Judy: Don't speak out.
>> Okay.
>> Judge Judy: I don't care what
it's about.
That's minimalizing what I'm
saying to you.
You take a plea or you go to
trial.
That's "guilty beyond a
reasonable doubt."
The standard here is much
less -- in the law, is much less
than "beyond a reasonable
doubt," so you don't get to get
your counsel fees back.
>> Oh, yeah, that's fine.
Yeah, that's fine.
>> Judge Judy: I told you not to
speak out again.
>> Okay.
>> Judge Judy: So, now I'm gonna
get to your lawsuit.
The lawsuit that you filed, you
waited five months because she
didn't come back to the
apartment.
You filed for a protective
order, Miss Torres.
And then you went to court and
withdrew the protective order
because you knew that if you had
the protective order, she wasn't
going to be able to come back to
the apartment, right?
>> Right.
>> Judge Judy: And you couldn't
get another roommate, right?
>> Right.
>> Judge Judy: Right.
If you withdrew the protective
order, she'd already moved out
of the apartment, right?
>> Right.
>> Judge Judy: Cunning.
Not gonna work.
And then the three of you stayed
in the apartment, waited five
months, and now are seeking to
have her pay the rent for the
five months she wasn't there.
That's not happening!ow, filed a
no-contact order against your
19-year-old roommate.
She had every right, once she
had that order even rescinded,
to worry that if she came back,
she was going to be faced with
the same group-think of the
three of you, the same problem
that she faced before.
And the truth of the matter is,
you didn't even think she was
gonna come back.
What you were doing is a legal
maneuver to remove any barrier
that -- any defense that she
might have.
Well, if I have a protective
order, then I can't go back.
But you knew that she wasn't
coming back anyway, so you said,
"Well, there's no skin off my
nose."
Because you could have gotten
the protective order if you felt
threatened, because she was
pleading guilty, right?
Once you plead guilty, you're
entitled to a protective order
as a part of that.
So, you girls are cute, but
you're not getting your rent.
Have you had a good semester?
>> Mm-hmm.
>> Judge Judy: I hope so. Good.
Your case is dismissed.
We're done.
>> [ Chuckles ]