Gloria Darrington says
Chef Michael McKee
botched the catering
for her engagement party.
Michael is countersuing
for emotional distress,
lost wages and libel.
>> Judge Judy: Now your
engagement party was when?
>> July 1st, 2018.
>> Judge Judy: And when did you
retain the defendant?
>> I originally reached out
to him May 1st, and we...
>> Judge Judy: May what?
Do you have a written contract?
>> 2018. Via text message.
>> Judge Judy: I'd like to see
what you are saying
is a contract.
Yes, you had a contract.
You had a contract for $300,
another $250 for your service...
Did I read that right?
>> It was $300 for his service
and $250 for his vendors.
>> Judge Judy: The entire cost
was what?
>> Well, $500...
Excuse me, not $250, $200...
$500, but then he took
$50 off for his service
because of our relationship.
>> Judge Judy: Okay, and you
were supposed to be there.
You said, "Good morning.
What time do you need
to be at the venue?"
You said, "10:15 to 10:30."
On the date of the event, sir,
at 10:53, which is almost 11:00,
she writes to you,
"Mike, are you on your way?"
Where were you?
>> I was actually at the venue.
I mean, she only wanted brunch.
>> Judge Judy: You were supposed
to be there
between 10:15 and 10:30.
>> Right, right.
>> Judge Judy: It's now almost
11:00.
You're not there.
It's a brunch.
Where were you?
>> Actually, there
was construction going on --
>> Judge Judy: There was what?
>> Construction going on
on the freeway.
>> Judge Judy: Who cares?
>> That was due to me being
behind, you know,
but prior to that...
>> Judge Judy: Just a second.
What time...
>> I'm listening. Go ahead.
>> Judge Judy: What time
did you get there?
>> Roughly 10:45.
>> He got there at 11:40, Judge.
I have a time stamp where he...
>> Judge Judy: May I see it,
please?
>> ...where he showed up,
and nothing prepared.
>> Judge Judy: Just a second.
Just shh!
No, sir.
You showed up at 11:40...
>> Okay.
>> Judge Judy: ...walking in
with food and coolers.
>> Right.
>> Judge Judy: Okay, so
immediately, you're
in breach of your contract.
>> Due to construction
being done, you know --
>> Judge Judy: I don't care
if there's construction,
a flood, frogs or whatever.
>> Right.
>> Judge Judy: Everybody else
made it
to the brunch except the food.
When you're supposed to be
at an event, you leave yourself
an extra hour, an extra 2 hours.
You're supposed to be there.
What time was your party
called for?
>> It takes 10 minutes
to set up.
>> Judge Judy: What?
>> Ten minutes to set up
for what she wanted done, ma'am.
>> Absolutely not.
>> Judge Judy: Just a second.
>> That's all it takes,
10 minutes.
I've been doing it 14 years.
It doesn't take no hour,
no hour, hour and a half to set
up for something like that,
for omelets and waffles.
>> It was a waffle bar.
He also...
>> Made-to-order,
made-to-order...
>> Judge Judy: Mr. McKee,
Mr. McKee, how old are you?
>> Thirty-four years old.
>> Judge Judy: I've been making
parties for longer than you're
alive, and when I have a party,
and the party is called
for 6:30, and I have it catered,
the caterers arrive at 4:00
or before just to make sure
that they're there,
that everything is done.
I don't know anybody
that I would use again
that showed up 10 minutes
before my event, nobody.
If somebody showed up
at 10 minutes to 6 for a 6:00
dinner, I would say,
"I may have to use them today.
I will never use them again."
[ Laughter ]
>> Judge Judy: Now, what time
was your event called for?
>> 12:00 p.m.
>> Judge Judy: What I want to
see from you
is you say people had to go out
and get their own food.
>> Absolutely.
>> Judge Judy: I want to see a
bill for --
>> Well, they didn't have
to go get their own food.
My witness, Juanita,
and my friend, Jill,
ran out to get food
from a local grocery store.
>> Judge Judy: I want to see a
bill for that.
>> Okay.
This is my friend Jill's
bank statement.
>> Judge Judy: No, no, no, no,
no.
Don't give me your friend Jill's
bank statement.
>> That's all I have.
>> Judge Judy: That has nothing.
At what time did you leave?
>> Ma'am,
I'm going to be honest with you.
I can't even say what time
it was I left for her event
to go replace the food,
to accommodate her
before the loss of the circuits
in this building,
this venue once again that she
provided, that kept popping.
That's why the food
wasn't properly prepared.
>> What?
>> I don't know
if she brought it up to you,
but that's what this is really
is about.
She was embarrassed
because her event was not going
according to what she wanted.
Due to the circuits popping,
I couldn't perform with
the waffles and the omelets,
and to let you know, the venue
that we was in was a salon.
It wasn't even a banquet hall
or anything like that.
It was a salon,
so it was unsanitized
to be honest with you.
>> It was an art gallery.
>> Judge Judy: Shh.
>> I have proof of that
right here in the text messaging
that she admits the circuits
were popping right here.
>> Judge Judy: So what?
You're supposed to be prepared
for that.
You're the caterer.
Oh, you're a nasty man
actually, Mr. McKee.
She's talking to you
relatively professionally.
She wants to know
when she's getting the refund,
and your response to her
is a male, stupid answer.
>> Ma'am, that was
after the fact.
That was after the fact.
>> Judge Judy: Judgment for the
plaintiff in the amount of $450.
We're done.
Counterclaim is dismissed.
>> Byrd: Parties are excused.
You may step out.
>> Announcer: "Judge Judy"