it was an old, corroded tank.
So the truck ran over it,
and you expect him
to do the whole septic system?
>> It was perfectly functional
when he lived there.
>> Judge Judy: I don't know.
Do you want to read
what he wrote?
>> Yes.
>> Cars and trucks aren't
supposed
to drive over septic tanks
whether they're new or not,
and he should
have put that in that report.
You don't do that.
It would have busted
whether it was new or not.
>> Judge Judy: It depends upon
how much he's going to pay you
for the damage.
>> What?
>> Judge Judy: It depends upon
how much he's going to pay you.
He's responsible for part of it.
He's not responsible for putting
in a whole new system
that was corroded to begin with.
>> It wasn't corroded
to the point of falling apart.
>> Judge Judy: I don't know.
>> I had other people
look at it.
I've got a guy here that says it
needs to be replaced for $5,000
because it was ran over.
>> You couldn't even see
the walls in there, Your Honor.
>> Judge Judy: Just a second.
He's not replacing the whole
septic tank for $5,000.
He may pay part of it,
but this is an old,
corroded system
that clearly in the subdivision
where you bought this house,
is a constant problem
according to these people.
By the way, you've owned
the house since 2012 or before?
>> Before.
>> Judge Judy: And when was the
last time you have records of
cleaning out the septic system?
>> I didn't. It was...
>> She never did anything
to that house.
>> Judge Judy: Just a minute.
Do you understand?
Are you're the property manager?
>> Yes.
>> Judge Judy: Why didn't you
have the septic tank cleaned?
Periodically for 13 years.
>> The tenants,
that's their responsibility.
>> Judge Judy: Show me in the
lease that it's their
responsibility.
I just want to see it.
>> There are three clauses here
that would indicate...
>> Judge Judy: I want you to
show me where they're
responsible for the septic tank.
You underlined three things...
>> They're responsible for the
property, for everything.
>> Judge Judy: No.
>> It's --
>> Judge Judy: Nope!
>> It's in the contract
that he signed.
>> Judge Judy: Madam, I don't
know whether we're not
communicating with each other
for a reason.
I want you to circle the words
"septic tank" in the contract.
I want you to circle the words
"septic tank"
anywhere in your lease.
>> I did not put every single...
Nobody does that.
>> Judge Judy: Then when your
last tenant moved out, in 2012,
you should have
serviced the septic system.
And if you have a property
manager who has a noodle,
then the property manager says,
"Gee whiz,
we have lots of tenants here.
We should service
the septic system
if it hasn't been serviced."
It hadn't been serviced
since 2006!
And you bought
the property when?
>> 2008.
>> Judge Judy: If I bought
property, I would have serviced
the septic system.
Now, were you living
in the house, by the way?
>> Yes.
>> Judge Judy: Okay.
You were living in the house
with whom?
>> My wife and children,
three children.
>> Judge Judy: So you were
living there with wife and three
children.
And I assume you had the use
of the bathroom
facilities, correct?
>> Oh, yeah.
>> Judge Judy: So it worked.
>> Yes.
>> Judge Judy: And now it no
longer works.
>> Yes.
>> Judge Judy: Okay.
>> But did you see the pictures?
There is no walls in the tank.
>> Judge Judy: Just a second.
>> There are walls in the tank.
>> Judge Judy: Just a second.
Listen carefully.
You, your wife and three
children had bathroom facilities
while you lived there.
>> Yes, yes.
>> Judge Judy: Now there are
no longer facilities there
because of your nephew.
That was your problem.
So you don't have to put in
a whole new system for her,
but you have to contribute
to her putting in a new system.
And maybe she'll wake up
and say, "You know what?
I own a rental property,
and I have a property manager,
and I have to make certain
that the septic tank is pumped
because it's now corroded."
Do you understand, because
that's what that letter says.
>> He wouldn't even pump it
or fix the lid, it was so bad.
>> Judge Judy: Listen.
>> The walls are dirt in there.
There's no concrete.
It was a hole.
>> Judge Judy: I don't care.
It was working when you were
there, and it's not working now!
>> Yeah, and I was committed
to that from the beginning.
>> Judge Judy: I don't want
to see the pictures.
I just want to see the estimate
to fix it, which
he's going to share with her.
Is this an estimate,
or did you fix it?
>> That is an estimate
to fix it.
I don't have money to fix it.
>> Judge Judy: It hasn't been
fixed since he moved out a year
ago?
>> Right.Did you get an estimate
to fix it?
>> I tried.
>> Judge Judy: Just a second.
The answer's either yes or no.
>> No.
>> Judge Judy: Okay.
You have to share
the cost with her.
You had a working toilet
when you were there.
You had working facilities
when you were there.
They're no longer functional
because something that you did.
She should have been more
observant about what was going
on on her property.
Anyway, you'll share the cost
with her, $2,500.
Judgment for the plaintiff.
We're done.
>> Byrd: Parties are excused.
You may step out.
>> Well, I appreciate
that I came out with anything.
>> I think she got lucky
just to get anything at all.
>> I will have the property
fixed, and I will sell it.
>> I'm just happy to be out
of her life.
>> I'm not going to go through
the tenant-landlord
thing anymore.