do you know this gentleman
from before the time that you
sold him your car?
>> Yes, Your Honor.
We are coworkers and we were
friends.
>> Judge Judy: You bought a car
from her, Mr. Hanna.
>> Yes.
>> Judge Judy: How much did you
pay for the car?
>> $700.
>> Judge Judy: When did you
purchase it?
>> May 8, 2015.
>> Judge Judy: What kind of car?
>> A Mustang.
>> Judge Judy: When you
purchased it from her,
did you pick it up at her house?
>> Yes.
>> Judge Judy: So far is that
all correct?
>> Yes.
>> Judge Judy: And when you
picked it up at her house,
where did you take it?
>> I parked it at my cousin's
house.
>> Judge Judy: And how far did
your cousin live from
the plaintiff's house?
>> A couple miles.
>> Judge Judy: You didn't have
it towed, you drove it there.
>> I drove it.
>> Judge Judy: In May of 2015,
what was your other vehicle?
>> I had a 2003 Honda at
the time.
>> Judge Judy: Was it in your
name?
>> Yes.
>> Judge Judy: And what were you
going to do with the Mustang?
>> My first intentions was to
fix it up, get it running
better.
>> Judge Judy: That was your
first -- It was running?
>> It was running.
>> Judge Judy: Now, you brought
it to your cousin's house and
parked it on the street?
>> Yes.
>> Judge Judy: And were you
given the title to it?
When you gave her the $700,
did she give you the title?
>> Yes.
>> Judge Judy: And when she gave
you the title, did she sign it
over to you?
>> Yes.
>> Judge Judy: Now, what did you
do on the 9th of May with
the car?
>> I think I --
>> Judge Judy: It's gonna get
worse for him.
>> [ Chuckles ]
>> I think I went to work
the next day.
I didn't turn in paperwork.
>> Judge Judy: What about
the 10th?
>> Work again.
>> Judge Judy: When was the car
impounded?
>> I want to say in September
of 2016.
>> Your Honor?
I have the lien.
>> Judge Judy: Just a second.
Was it anywhere around
September?
>> It was in August.
>> Judge Judy: August?
>> August 2nd of 2016
it was impounded.
>> Judge Judy: So now you've had
the car for over a year.
>> Yes.
>> Judge Judy: Failed to
register it.
You want to explain why?
>> The reason why is --
>> Judge Judy: No, don't look
down there.
So far we're doing okay.
Do you understand?
>> Yes.
>> Judge Judy: It only gets bad
for you when you look down and
start to figure out what did I
say in my answer?
What's the best story I can
tell?
do with the car between May
of 2015 and September 2016?
>> The car was just sitting.
>> Judge Judy: It wasn't just
sitting at your cousin's house
for a year and a half.
Nobody let's a little Mustang
sit in front of their cousin's
house for a year and a half,
accumulating dust.
You want to tell me what you
were doing with the car?
>> The car was sitting.
I planned to part the car out.
>> Judge Judy: What does that
mean? >> Take the parts and sell them.
>> Judge Judy: Well, you drove
the car after you drove it
on May 8th.
>> The car was barely ready --
>> Judge Judy: Look at me.
You drove the car after you
drove it on May 8th.
I know that.
>> Mm-hmm.
>> Judge Judy: So?
>> So the car was barely
running.
It didn't even have a smog test,
registrations, nothing.
>> Judge Judy: Whose fault is
that?
>> It's not mine.
When I bought the car, it wasn't
registered or anything.
>> Judge Judy: You bought it,
it wasn't registered.
You bought it from her.
She turned over the title
to you.
Why didn't you register it?
You used the car.
>> I didn't have the funds
to register it.
>> Judge Judy: There you go.
That's an answer.
So now what happened is
the car was impounded, and
because she is the registered
owner of the car because you
failed to register the car --
>> If she would have turned in
her --
>> Judge Judy: Don't speak.
I'm gonna finish my statement,
and then you can make a fool
of yourself.
Do you understand?
>> Yes.
>> Judge Judy: Okay.
So because you failed to
register the car, and it was
impounded, and it's still in
her name, she was hit with
the impound fees, which is
why we are here today for this
lawsuit.
Now, sir, Mr. Hanna, you are
free to make a fool of yourself
to tell me why it's her fault.
>> If she would have turned
in her Release Liability --
>> Judge Judy: If she would have
what?
>> The Release Liability.
>> Judge Judy: Where was she
supposed to do that?
>> At the DMV.
>> Judge Judy: Now, if she
didn't go to the DMV and sign
a Release of Liability, but you
went and registered the car,
would we be standing here today?
>> No.
But at the same time --
>> Judge Judy: Rig
>> Judge Judy: So, if I had
to say the person who bought
the car has a responsibility
to register a vehicle after
a year and a half as opposed
to --
'Cause I've sold a couple of
used cars.
I wouldn't go to the DMV and
file a Release of Liability.
I would figure that the person
I sold the car to was gonna do
the appropriate thing, take
the title that I've signed over
to them, take it to the
Department of Motor Vehicles,
get it registered in their name,
get it insured, do whatever is
necessary to be a car owner,
which is what you were going to
do because your first idea was
to fix it up and use it.
You bought a car for $700 that
you were able to drive two miles
to your cousin's house, and you
used it after that.
I don't know what you used it
for.
>> That's not correct.
>> Judge Judy: Oh, don't tell me
you didn't drive that car after
May 8th.
>> I only drove it one time.
>> Judge Judy: How much were
the impound fees?
>> $1,665.
>> Judge Judy: Judgment for
the plaintif