case.
>> Byrd: All parties in the
matter of Greaux vs. Gonzalez,
step forward.
>> Announcer: Gerrud Greaux is
suing mechanic John Gonzalez
for the return of money
he paid
to restore a 1963 VW Bus.
>> Judge Judy: Mr. Greaux,
this is a really
interesting case.
>> Yes.
>> Judge Judy: But I mean
because it's somewhat outside
of my reality of life.
I have to get
a little background, okay?
>> Okay.
>> Judge Judy: How old are you,
sir?
>> 33.
>> Judge Judy: And what do you
do for a living?
>> I'm a laser technician
for a surgical company.
>> Judge Judy: Are you married?
>> I am married.
>> Judge Judy: You have
children?
>> Three kids.
>> Judge Judy: Wife work?
>> Yes, she does.
>> Judge Judy: You have a home?
>> I do.
>> Judge Judy: This is what the
[Laughing] case is about.
You like antique cars?
>> Yes.
I've been doing it for 15 years.
>> Judge Judy: That's an
expensive hobby...
>> Yes, it is. Very expensive.
>> Judge Judy: ...for a working
guy with three kids and a house.
That's why I needed some
background information.
I figured, "Well, he's 33.
He's single.
He doesn't, you know, have any
other responsibility, financial.
So he can afford to spend $6,000
to restore an old car," okay?
>> I do okay.
>> Judge Judy: You must
have a very indulgent wife.
>> She supports me.
>> Judge Judy: Yeah?
>> Sometimes we argue,
but she supports me.
>> Judge Judy: Now, what kind
of car did you buy
that is related to this case?
>> A 1963 Volkswagen Bus
Double Cab.
>> Judge Judy: How much did you
pay for it?
>> I paid $15,000 for it.
>> Judge Judy: Do you have a
picture of it?
>> I have multiple
pictures here.
>> Judge Judy: I'd like to take
a look at it, please.
Just show me a picture of it
when you bought it.
>> When I bought it?
>> Judge Judy: Yeah.
And just for my information,
this is a good buy because...?
>> Yes. Excuse me?
>> Judge Judy: You see, to a
layperson who knows absolutely
nothing about this,
and I'm going to show it
to my friend over here...
>> Okay.
These cars, fully restored,
go for about $80,000.
>> Byrd: You make a lot of money
once you restore them.
It's like flipping houses.
>> Judge Judy: Where did you
find this wreck?
>> On a Volkswagen site,
and I bought it in San Diego.
>> Judge Judy: And what did you
do, flatbed it?
>> We flatbed it home.
>> Judge Judy: Because it wasn't
running.
>> No.
>> Judge Judy: But you were
going to get it to run.
>> I was going to do
a full restoration on it.
>> Judge Judy: And then you
hoped to flip it for about
$80,000?
>> This one is not one
that I wanted to flip.
This was going to be
for the family, a keeper.
We do a lot of car shows
and family
events in Volkswagens.
>> Judge Judy: How many
Volkswagens do you have?
>> Right now, I only have two.
But I've bought about 30 of them
over the past 15 years.
>> Judge Judy: And made money?
>> Made some, lost some.
You never know
what you're going to get into
until you tear it down.
>> Judge Judy: Okay.
Have you used
the defendant's services
before in restoring cars?
>> No.
This was my first time using.
>> Judge Judy: Why did you
change from previous restorers?
>> Previous restorers were
overbooked for a 2-year period,
and I didn't want
to wait 2 years.
>> Judge Judy: So he was not.
>> He was not, no.
>> Judge Judy: But did he come
with references?
>> Yes, he did.
And he came through
a mutual friend.
He did work
on a friend's car of mine.
And when I went to his shop,
he showed me other cars
that he had done and that he was
currently working on, and
I liked his work that he did.
His quality was top-notch.
>> Judge Judy: So this is what
the case is about, Mr. Greaux.
You gave him $6,000 as a down
payment to restore the car.
>> Yes.
>> Judge Judy: You have proof
of that?
>> Yes, I do.
>> Judge Judy: I'd like to take
a look at it.
Well, this is a deposit
for $2,000.
>> Here are credit-card
statements and rebill --
I mean, billing and refund
and then rebill because I filed
it under fraud instead of
services not rendered,
and the credit-card company said
that it wasn't a fraud.
It was filed wrong.
>> Judge Judy: I don't
understand what you're talking
about.
>> Well, it's under Jackie.
The payments should be there
for $2,000 and one
for $3,000 back in August.
>> Judge Judy: You received
those payments?
>> Yes, I did, Your Honor. Yes.
>> Judge Judy: What was the name
of your company?
>> At the time,
it was called Little Old Car.
>> Judge Judy: No.
>> I had two different ones
we were using, Little Old Car,
and then I had
John John's Restoration Shop.
>> Judge Judy: No.
Neither one of them.
>> Then I don't know which
one he's using.
>> It's under jackie@yahoo.com.
I guess that's where it went to
when he swiped it.
>> Judge Judy: Transaction --
I have an August 22nd
for $3,000 transaction.
>> Yes.
>> Judge Judy: I don't
understand why they would
consider it fraud.