in the matter of Minister vs.
Henderson, step forward.
>> Announcer: Kelli Minister
is suing her ex-boyfriend,
Davon Henderson, for the return
of her Pomeranian puppy.
>> Judge Judy: Mr. Henderson,
I'm
going to start with you, sir.
>> Yes, Your Honor.
>> Judge Judy: Okay?
You and the plaintiff
were boyfriend and girlfriend.
>> Yes.
>> Judge Judy:
Lived together for a while...
>> Yes.
>> Judge Judy: ...and while
you were living together,
you bought a dog.
>> Yes.
>> Judge Judy: When did
you buy the dog?
>> Okay.
The dog was
a gift from a friend, so...
>> Judge Judy: Just a second.
The dog was a gift of a friend
of yours or a friend of hers?
>> Yes.
It was a friend of mine.
>> Judge Judy: Okay, and how old
was the dog when...
>> The dog was about a couple
of months.
It was
a very small dog at the time.
>> Judge Judy:
What kind of dog was it?
>> It's a Pomeranian.
>> Judge Judy:
That's a nice friend.
The friend
did not want the dog anymore?
>> Well, it was a litter
they had,
and it was just an extra dog,
and they didn't want extra,
you know?
Extra dogs going to just...
sitting around.
>> Judge Judy:
Okay, so this one wasn't sold.
>> Yeah.
>> Judge Judy:
How old was it when you got it?
>> It was about 2 or 3 months.
>> Judge Judy:
And when did you get it?
>> Probably almost a year now.
>> Judge Judy: At some point,
you and the plaintiff separated.
>> Yes.
>> Judge Judy: And it was not
a happy separation,
and when you separated,
you took the dog with you?
>> Yes.
>> Judge Judy: And she would
come to visit the dog?
>> Yes.
>> Judge Judy:
When did you separate?
Do you remember?
>> No, not really, Your Honor.
>> Judge Judy:
When did you separate?
>> February 1st, we were
officially broke up, Your Honor.
>> Judge Judy: Okay,
so February 1st,
and you kept
the dog with you for a while?
>> Yes, Your Honor.
>> Judge Judy: But she would
come and visit the dog?
>> Yes.
I would let the dog...
I would let her
take the dog with her sometimes.
>> Judge Judy: Okay.
How often?
>> Not really that often because
I didn't think she would give
the dog back, so...
>> Judge Judy: But then there
came a time
when you sort of said,
"You could have the dog
if you paid me for it."
>> Yes.
>> Judge Judy: So clearly
at that point,
you know, somebody...
I have a little dog that I don't
go anywhere without.
She's in the back,
and if somebody said,
"You know what?
I really love that dog."
>> Mm-hmm.
>> Judge Judy: And they have,
actually, strangers,
"I'll give you whatever
you want for the dog."
I would say, "My kids, maybe.
This dog, never."
>> Uh-huh.
Yes, Your Honor.
>> Judge Judy: So, clearly,
this dog that you got as a gift
you were willing to give up
for either $500 or $1,000,
depending upon who I believe,
and she paid you $500
for the dog, according to you.
I've read your answer.
>> Yes, Your Honor.
>> Judge Judy: According to you,
she gave you $500.
>> Mm-hmm.
>> Judge Judy: And when
did she give you $500?
Do you remember the month?
>> Your Honor, I am not good
on dates, and,
no, I do not remember the month.
>> It was March 15, 2017.
>> Judge Judy: Okay.
March 15th,
and then she took the dog back.
>> Yes.
I brought the dog to her.
>> Judge Judy: Brought
talked to her.
>> I met up with her.
I agreed that I would take
the dog over there.
>> Judge Judy: And you were
perfectly happy.
Now you have
a new girlfriend, right?
>> Yeah.
>> Judge Judy:
This is the girlfriend?
>> Yes.
>> Judge Judy: Oh.
Not too smart to bring her here,
you know?
You have to bring a whole lot of
other people --
your mother, your sister,
a cousin and whatever.
Not too swift, but that's a guy.
So now you give her
back the dog.
>> Mm-hmm.
>> Judge Judy: But then you came
and took the dog back?
>> Well, Your Honor,
the agreement was 1,000...
>> Judge Judy: Just a second.
Then you came and took the dog
back, a dog you got for free.
Are you following
where I'm going?
>> Yes.
>> Judge Judy: A dog
you got for free...
>> Mm-hmm.
>> Judge Judy:
...that you were perfectly
willing
to give up to the plaintiff.
>> Wasn't willing.
>> Judge Judy: Shh.
You were perfectly willing.
You brought the dog over to her.
Nobody put a chain
around your neck.
Nobody put a bungee cord on you.
You brought the dog over to her
and took the $500.
According to your answer,
the agreement
was she'd give you $1,000.
>> Yes, Your Honor.
>> Judge Judy: And when she
didn't give you the other $500,
you went to her house
and took the dog.
>> She invited me over.
I came over there.
I don't know what she thought
it was going to be,
but I went over there
for the dog specifically,
her dog or my cash.
>> Judge Judy:
She invited you over...
>> Yes.
>> Judge Judy: ...and you went
over there,
and while you were over there
and she wasn't in the room,
you left with the dog.
>> Yes.
I just walked in the house,
and after she left...
>> Judge Judy: What do you mean
she left?
What does that mean?
>> She went to the bathroom
to go take a shower or whatever.
I wasn't going to sit
in the house and wait for her.
>> Judge Judy: Just a second.
She went to the bathroom
to go and take a shower.
That's odd.