were hired by the defendant to
do some renovation in her
kitchen, is that right?
>> Yes, correct, Your Honor.
>> Judge Judy: Is that your
profession?
>> Yes.
>> Judge Judy: You're a general
contractor?
What do you do?
>> I'm a general contractor,
licensed, insured, bonded in the
State of Washington, and I range
from interior/exterior work and
some landscaping, as well.
>> Judge Judy: Okay.
Do you work for yourself?
>> Correct.
>> Judge Judy: You have
employees?
>> Yes.
>> Judge Judy: How many?
>> One.
>> Judge Judy: Is that a
full-time employee or part-time?
>> Correct. Full-time.
>> Judge Judy: When did you
contract to work for Ms. Bookey?
>> I believe it was April 12th.
>> Judge Judy: Do you have a
written contract with her?
>> Yes, I do.
>> Judge Judy: I'd like to take
a look at it.
>> So, there is multiple
contracts in here.
There's one that I got original
that was later revised due to
requests from Ms. Bookey, and
then I have a final invoice
after --
>> Judge Judy: Not a final
invoice.
I want to see a contract, not a
final invoice.
No, no.
This isn't a contract, sir.
A contract is signed by two
people.
Do you have a signed contract?
>> No, I don't.
I have her agreement on text
message, and I have the text
message right here.
>> Judge Judy: I'd like to take
a look at it.
I want to see the bid that you
were talking about when you said
"Okay, give me a second, I need
to look at the bid," and then
you said "Sounds good."
>> Yes.
>> Judge Judy: What bid was
that?
>> That was the final contract.
>> Judge Judy: I'd like to see
it.
>> Here you go, sir.
>> Judge Judy: Okay, so now, I'm
going to read to you, sir, what
this is.
This is
Lake Washington Services.
That's you.
>> Correct.
>> Judge Judy: This is what you
sent her, not what you wrote in.
This is a clean copy because
what you're suing for is you're
suing for work that you did
before she told you she didn't
want you to work at her place
anymore, and it is your claim
that you were practically
finished with the job and that
she didn't pay you what she had
promised to pay you but gave
you, you say, $300.
In cash?
>> Correct.
>> It was actually $500 in cash.
>> Judge Judy: You should have
given him a check.
>> Correct, Your Honor.
>> Judge Judy: Right.
>> I learned my lesson.
>> Judge Judy: Right.
Did you install the kitchen
ceiling drywall with a popcorn
texture finish?
>> No.
>> Judge Judy: That's either a
yes or a no.
>> No.
>> Judge Judy: No.
Did you install drywall on the
short wall near the stove?
>> Yes.
>> Judge Judy: Did you remove
2x6 boards and install drywall?
>> No.
>> Judge Judy: Did you paint two
coats of paint on the ceiling
where the drywall is replaced?
>> No.
>> Judge Judy: Did you install
drywall over existing doggy
door?
>> Yes.
>> Judge Judy: So, what you did
was, according to you, $300 and
$175, or $475 of this contract
you did.
That's not 90% of the job.
You see, your complaint, sir,
says that "I only had five hours
left remaining on the project."
Well, the main things on this
thing, you didn't do.
The installing the kitchen
ceiling and drywall for $1,350,
you didn't do.
Remove the 2x6 boards and
install drywall for $750, you
didn't do.
Paint two coats of paint on the
ceiling, you didn't do.
That all sounds like more than
five hours worth of work.
Sir, do you understand where I'm
going?
>> Yes.
>> Judge Judy: Now, you did $475
worth of work.
She says she paid you $500.
You say she paid you $300.
Let's cut it somewhere in the
middle at $400 'cause, so far,
your complaint is inaccurate,
right?
>> Can I please make a
statement, Your Honor?
>> Judge Judy: You can make
whatever statement you like, but
in the complaint, you said to
me, what you swore to is you had
just a few hours left to finish
the job.
Most of this job wasn't
finished.
>> There was some change orders
which I have on text message, as
well.
The 2x6 boards did not need to
get removed, so I docked some
money off of that.
Drywall was installed after.
Erin Bookey, she removed the
boards herself.
So some money got deducted.
And then the drywall on the
ceiling was fully installed,
taped, and mudded, and it needed
texture, and the texture did not
get done because I was fired
Monday, the day before I was set
to finish.
>> Judge Judy: So far, they owe
you $75 plus materials.
Materials were $350.
Let me take a look at the bills
for materials.
Do you have them with you?
>> No, I don't.
>> Judge Judy: Why not?
>> They're with my bookkeeper
inside Quick Books.
>> Judge Judy: Why didn't you
bring them?
>> It was an agreed amount for
materials, so I didn't think it
would be necessary.
>> Judge Judy: No, you have to
show me what you actually paid
for materials.
That's we're in court.
So far, she owes you $75.
>> You were unhappy with the
work?
>> Correct, Your Honor.
>> Got it.
Judgement for the plaintiff in
the amount of $75.
We're done. Than