matter of Marshall vs.
Pritchett, step forward.
>> Announcer: 19-year-old
Nikki Marshall and her husband,
Bradley, are suing their former
friend and roommate, 20-year-old
Angel Pritchett, for the return
of a security deposit and stolen
property.
>> Judge Judy: Ms. Marshall, let
me see if I understand this.
You and the defendant and
perhaps another girl or two
signed a lease on an
apartment...
>> Yes, ma'am.
>> Judge Judy: ...and you signed
the lease in what month and
year?
>> October 17, 2017.
>> Judge Judy: And that lease
was for one year.
>> Yes.
>> Judge Judy: You broke the
lease by moving out.
>> Yes, ma'am.
>> Judge Judy: On what date?
>> I can't remember the exact
date.
>> Judge Judy: Tell me the
month.
>> Around December.
>> Judge Judy: What month?
>> It was November of 2017, on
the 21st.
>> Judge Judy: So a month later,
you broke the lease.
>> I was there for about three
months.
>> Judge Judy: Well, if you
moved in in October and you
moved out November 21st, you
were there for a month and some.
>> Yes, ma'am.
>> Judge Judy: Okay, and you
broke the lease.
>> Yes, ma'am.
>> Judge Judy: You had
originally put down the security
deposit on the apartment.
>> Yes, ma'am.
>> Judge Judy: And there is no
question on the other side.
How much did you put down in
security deposit?
>> $988.
>> Judge Judy: Now, did you find
another roommate right away?
>> No, Your Honor.
>> Judge Judy: When did you find
another roommate?
>> January of 2018.
>> Judge Judy: Now, the reason
you moved out is that you moved
in with this gentleman, who then
became your husband.
>> No, ma'am.
I moved back in with my
grandmother.
We just met back and got married
around March.
>> Judge Judy: Now, you want to
tell me why you moved out of the
apartment, back with your
grandmother?
>> My grandmother wanted me back
home 'cause I told her of
everything that was going on.
She was concerned because when I
was living there, there were,
like, no heat in my room, and,
yes, Angel has told me how to
keep the room warm, but that was
until later -- I actually told
her about it.
>> Judge Judy: Well, that's
neither here nor there.
You had not right to sign a
lease and stick them with your
rent.
You understand?
>> Yes, ma'am.
>> Judge Judy: Because they had
to pay the rent.
Now, how many girls were you all
together?
>> It was me, her, and a man,
her ex-boyfriend.
>> Judge Judy: So there were
three of you all together?
>> Yes, ma'am.
>> Judge Judy: Three bedrooms?
>> No, two bedrooms.
>> Judge Judy: You had one
bedroom, she and the boyfriend
had the other.
>> Yes, ma'am.
>> Judge Judy: Okay.
But then you married your
husband, and then you had no
place to go, so you wanted to
move back in.
>> Yes, I asked her.
>> Judge Judy: And you moved
back in on what date?
>> Around March 16th of 2018.
>> Judge Judy: And how long did
you stay?
>> Only 10 days.
>> Judge Judy: Part of your
lawsuit seeks your security
deposit back that you put down.
>> Yes, ma'am.
>> Judge Judy: You don't get it
back.
You broke the lease.
>> Okay.
>> Judge Judy: And they didn't
have a roommate, she says, until
January.
They certainly couldn't get one
November 21st, when you moved
out.
How much was your share of the
rent?
>> I think it was $100 and
something.
I can't remember, 'cause it was
divided by three.
The rent was $475.
>> Judge Judy: The whole rent
was $475?
>> Yes, the whole rent.
She divided it up by three of
us.
That's how we did it.
>> Judge Judy: Oh.
Oh, then you definitely get
money back.
[ Keyboard clacking ]
$158. And she put down $998?
Actually, she paid her part of
the rent in November, and you
got a roommate in January, so
you were out the month of
December, correct?
>> I...
>> Judge Judy: That's what you
just told me.
She paid in November.
She moved out in November.
You told me you got a new
roommate in January, which means
you were out her rent of $158
for only one month.
>> Your Honor, she had paid for
October's month.
She did not pay for November.
>> Judge Judy: Did not pay
November?
>> Did not pay November.
>> Judge Judy: Oh.
Do you have proof that you paid
November's rent?
Yes or no?
>> No, ma'am.
I only have what I paid on the
apartment.
I gave her the money for the
rent to pay --
>> Judge Judy: $316.
Even that is two months.
I'll buy it, that she didn't
pay.
$316 -- is $672 you have to give
her back from the security
because you weren't out any
money at that point.
Now, how long did you live in
the apartment?
>> I lived there for a total of
five months, Your Honor.
>> Judge Judy: And then you
broke the lease.
>> Yes, ma'am.
>> Judge Judy: Did you get your
security back?
>> No, ma'am.
I have documentation on that.
>> Judge Judy: They didn't get
the security back, then you
don't get your security back.
I'd like to see it.