you want to be reimbursed
for some travel
expenses and air tickets
that you spent for Mr. Walker,
who was supposed to come
and perform
at some sort of function
that you were putting together.
You paid for the ticket.
Mr. Walker never showed up.
You want him to be responsible
not only for those expenses,
but for punitive damages
for not coming to the event.
>> Yes, Your Honor.
>> Judge Judy: First tell me,
what kind of an event was it?
>> It was a musical concert.
>> Judge Judy:
And it was a musical concert,
and how were you two, you,
to make money from the concert?
>> Well, it was based off
of ticket sales,
so I really expected to
project most of my sales
from ticket sales...
>> Judge Judy: Okay.
>> ...and at-the-door fees...
>> Judge Judy: Just a second.
Ticket sales.
And how large was
the venue, Mr. McGraw?
>> Maybe a 271-seater.
>> Judge Judy: Had you ever
done this sort of thing before?
>> It was my first show.
>> Judge Judy: How many musical
acts had you booked?
>> I booked about eight acts
altogether.
>> Judge Judy: What kind
of a town do you live in?
>> I live in...
I'm from Detroit, Michigan,
so the...
>> Judge Judy: It was
in Detroit?
>> Correct.
>> Judge Judy:
You knew Mr. Walker how?
>> We met in middle school,
and we...
>> Judge Judy: So you have known
him for a long time?
>> A long time, yes.
>> Judge Judy: And he sings?
>> He and I both.
>> Judge Judy:
In what state do you live,
Mr. Walker?
>> Texas.
>> Judge Judy:
So you contacted him to ask him
whether he would like to come
to be part of this performance.
>> Yes, Your Honor.
>> Judge Judy: As one
of the eight acts, and...
>> Well, he was going to be
the special guest.
>> Judge Judy: ...
one of the nine.
>> Correct, yes.
>> Judge Judy: What does
that mean, a special guestl, I t
to be the special guest along
with another act that I had
also booked out of Los Angeles.
>> Judge Judy: Were you
childhood friends with
the other act from Los Angeles?
>> I was not, no.
>> Judge Judy: The act from
Los Angeles was coming out.
How much were you paying them?
>> I was not supposed to
pay them anything, Your Honor.
>> Judge Judy:
That's ridiculous,
and what about the other
eight acts
that were coming to perform?
>> I was not supposed
to pay them, either.
It was basically mainly me
putting them on the show
for an opportunity to perform
in front of a live audience.
>> Judge Judy: So you were
just going to make money?
>> Not necessarily, no.
>> Judge Judy: Well, if your
entertainers
are performing for nothing,
the only thing you're paying for
is the venue, and when you
knock off the venue price,
anything else from the 271-seat
ticket sales belongs to you.
Is that what you're telling me,
that the people
were working for nothing?
>> Well, they were doing it
because we were
all supposed to benefit from it.
It wasn't necessarily based...
>> Judge Judy:
That you were what?
>> ...on money.
I didn't project that I would
make,
even, a lot of money,
since this being my first
actual event,
so I didn't really expect
to make a lot of money.
>> Judge Judy: How did you get
the money to pay for
everyone's airfare to come in?
>> Well...
>> Judge Judy: Not a well.
This is not a well.
>> Sure.
>> Judge Judy:
That comes with a direct answer,
"I took it out of my savings.
I borrowed the money
from my sister.
I put it on my credit card."
>> Mm-hmm.
I was able to get the funds
for the flight and expenses
because of the pre-ticket sales
that,
you know, I had already sold,
so I just used that money...
>> Judge Judy: Just a second,
so you sold tickets.
>> Yes.
>> Judge Judy:
What was the price?
>> Ten dollars.
>> Judge Judy:
Well, how many did you sell?
>> I sold maybe 200.
>> Judge Judy: Okay,
so you made $2,000.
How much was his ticket?
>> His ticket was altogether
about 200 bucks
just for the flight.
>> Judge Judy: Yeah, but you
didn't have many other expenses
because he didn't show up.
>> Correct.
>> Judge Judy:
And you agreed to go.
>> Yes, ma'am.
>> Judge Judy: And you
didn't go?
>> No, ma'am.
>> Judge Judy: Ball is
in your court.
Tell me why.
>> I did not go to Detroit,
Michigan, because
when the flight was booked,
and I looked at the flight,
there was no return
on the flight,
so there was a one-way trip.
The flight was delayed
two times,
and I have proof from that,
Your Honor, and he also made
a flier and promoted that flier,
and I was nowhere on the flier.
>> Judge Judy: Just a second.
Let's do proof
of a round-trip ticket.
>> We didn't agree
on a round trip.
He was just supposed to come,
and then I told him
after I had made the other money
from the show, I would get him
another ticket back.
He knew that.
>> Judge Judy: [ Laughs ]
Oh, well, you think that I would
go under those circumstances?
That's ridiculous.
>> Well, he agreed to it,
Your Honor, so I didn't think
there was an issue with that.
>> Judge Judy: Well, that's
an issue.
That would be
an issue for me, sir.
>> Understood.
>> Judge Judy:
That would be an issue for me.
How many people showed up
at your concert?
>> Roughly about 200,
give or take.
>> Judge Judy:
So you made some money.
>> I didn't, not to pocket.
No, I didn't because
after all of the expenses,
I mean, I was actually in debt.
[ Chuckles ]
>> Judge Judy: Well, Mr. McGraw,
you learned
some very valuable lessons.
All he had to do was to tell me
that
when he looked at his ticket,
it was a one-way ticket,
and I would've said,
"I'm not going to get stranded
in Detroit.
Why would
I take a one-way ticket
and then have you say,
listen. I'm..."
>> Your Honor, he suggested
that.
He suggested
that I do the one-way
because
I told him I wouldn't...
The rest of the money
for the concert I would have
after the event, so he said,
"Jordan, I understand.
I appreciate you even offering
to get the flight for me."
>> Judge Judy: Mr. McGraw...
>> Uh-huh?
>> Judge Judy: Uh-huh.
Mr. McGraw, you just told me
that you didn't
make any money after the event.
You were out of pocket.
Is that right?
>> Correct.
>> Judge Judy: Is that right?
>> Mm-hmm.
>> Judge Judy: Where was his
money for his return ticket
going to come from?
You were...
>> Oh, I was asked
to sell tickets.
>> Judge Judy: Shh, shh.
>> That's --
>> Judge Judy: What?
>> I was asked to sell tickets
and give him
the money from the ticket.
>> Which would
have funded his flight.
>> Judge Judy: Yeah.
We're done.
I don't understand this.
In any event,
I wouldn't have gone either
with a one-way ticket.
>> Well, Your Honor, I...
>> Judge Judy:
The case is dismissed.
We're