matter of Rodriguez vs. Ramirez,
step forward.
>> Announcer: 20-year-old
Breanna Rodriguez is suing
22-year-old Jerry Ramirez
for the unpaid balance on the
Honda Civic she sold him.
>> Judge Judy: Mr. Ramirez, how
old are you, sir?
>> I'm 22.
>> Judge Judy: What do you do
for a living?
>> I work at a restaurant.
I'm a server.
>> Judge Judy: In what
restaurant?
>> Ramen by York.
>> Judge Judy: Where is it
located?
>> In Highland Park.
>> Judge Judy: What are your
hours of employment, sir?
>> I'm part-time right now.
>> Judge Judy: What are your
hours of employment?
>> From 6:00 to 11:00.
>> Judge Judy: 6:00 p.m.?
>> Yes, to 11:00 p.m.
>> Judge Judy: To 11:00 p.m.
And what do you do all day?
>> Just, um -- Well, I am
starting school again.
I just started school.
>> Judge Judy: I don't care what
you are doing soon.
What do you do now during
the day?
>> I go to school.
>> Judge Judy: Which school do
you attend now?
>> I do an online schooling.
>> Judge Judy: So you don't go
to school.
You do online, which means you
work out of your house?
>> Yes.
>> Judge Judy: And who do you
live with?
>> My parents.
>> Judge Judy: And what do
they do?
>> Construction.
>> Judge Judy: They both work?
>> Yes.
>> Judge Judy: Are they working
today?
>> No.
>> Judge Judy: Where are they
today?
>> They have regular activities
that they do throughout the day.
They, um, take -- I have a
little sister, so they take care
of my sister.
>> Judge Judy: What are they
doing today?
>> I have no idea.
They're out doing their own
thing.
>> Judge Judy: But they're not
working today?
>> No, I don't think so.
>> Judge Judy: And where is your
little sister?
>> With them.
>> Judge Judy: Well, you don't
think so.
Does that mean that you were
home today doing your online
school?
>> No.
>> Judge Judy: What were you
doing today?
>> I had a family emergency
today.
>> Judge Judy: I want to hear
what the emergency was.
>> I had a - I had a family
emergency --
>> Judge Judy: [ Raps desk ]
>> I had a family emergency
with -- with my brother.
He had -- He has a liver --
cirrhosis of the liver.
So it was -- It was just -- It
was out of nowhere, and we all
went to the hospital.
And I just got home.
>> Judge Judy: Just a second.
What hospital is he in?
You just told -- Listen to me
very carefully, Mr. Ramirez.
You just told me a moment ago
that your parents were out doing
you don't know what today.
They were out doing things --
regular things -- 'cause they
weren't working.
That's what you told me
two minutes ago.
You told my staff in the back
that you had a family emergency,
but just a moment ago, you said
your parents were out doing
their own thing.
Now, all of a sudden, you have a
family emergency, and everybody
was in the hospital., listen toe
very carefully, Mr. Ramirez.
I'm going to explain something
to you about time and other
people's time.
You purchased a car from
Miss Rodriguez.
You didn't know her before you
purchased the car from her.
Is that correct?
>> Yes.
>> Judge Judy: You purchased the
car from because you saw the ad
online, correct?
>> Yes.
>> Judge Judy: And you bought
the car and you had an
agreed-upon price.
>> Yes.
>> Judge Judy: I'm gonna get to
the rest of the facts of the
case, because you didn't finish
paying for the car.
>> Absolutely.
>> Judge Judy: I'm going to get
to the facts of the case in a
minute.
I'm not finished with you about
other people's time.
Now, I spent a lot of time in
school preparing for what I do.
All these people work.
Do you know what I mean, "work"?
Full-time, they work.
They get up in the morning and
they don't go to school online.
If they went to school, they
actually got out, put their
behind in a car, drove to school
or went to school.
Do you understand?
I'm here waiting for you because
you couldn't get her on time.
Byrd is here waiting for you
'cause you couldn't get here on
time today.
Most important, the lady that
you stiffed on the car, that you
didn't know, was here at 1:15,
the same time you were supposed
to be here.
Do you understand?
That is disrespectful.
Stop tapping.
That's disrespectful.
It's disrespectful of other
people's time when you're late.
You see all these people sitting
in the gallery?
They could have been home
40 minutes ago if it wasn't
for you.
I could have been home
40 minutes ago and been on the
treadmill if it wasn't for you.
[ Laughter ]
She could have been on her way
home if it wasn't for you.
Do you understand?
That's respect for other
people's time.
And if you're 22 years old and
you don't understand that yet,
I'm prepared to give you a
dress-down.
Now we understand each other?
>> Okay, but I had a family
emergency, it so happened.
>> Judge Judy: Listen to me.
Listen to me.
Mr. Ramirez, I understand your
words "family emergency."
You told me five minutes ago you
didn't know where your parents
were.
They were out doing chores
'cause they weren't working
today.
And then, when you realized
where I was going, you went back
to your original rote, "I had a
family emergency."
Now, all of a sudden, your
parents, who are out doing
chores, were at a hospital with
your brother who has cirrhosis
of the liver?
Is that what you're telling me?
You forgot about that when I
asked you first where your
parents were?
If I asked you, "Mr. Ramirez,
where are your parents today?"
and you said, "We were at the
hospital with my brother," that
I could understand.
But when I asked you where they
were -- Uncross your hands.
You said to me, they were out
doing their things 'cause
they're not working today.
Do you understand?
>> Yes.
>> Judge Judy: Perfect!