in the matter of Penzol vs.
Rodriguez, step forward.
>> Announcer: Vivianne Penzol
is suing mechanic Luis Rodriguez
for a refund
for unfinished work.
>> Judge Judy: Byrd,
while I'm asking some questions,
could you take a look
and tell me the value
of a 2000 Mercury Villager van?
Thank you.
Okay, Ms. Penzol, according
to your complaint, your
boyfriend was driving this
van and had an accident in the
van.
Your insurance
company totaled the car.
>> Yes, ma'am.
>> Judge Judy: How much money
did they give you?
>> $1,025.
>> Judge Judy: And they also
said, "Well, we'll total the
car.
We'll give you 1,000 bucks.
If you give us $175, we'll let
you have the title so you
could have this totaled car."
>> Yes, ma'am.
>> Judge Judy: So you gave them
back $175.
You got the car.
You then brought the car
to the defendant.
>> No, actually,
he already had my car.
>> Judge Judy: Oh, how did he
get your car?
>> He came to my house
and took it.
He knew my father from church.
I was looking for a new car.
>> Judge Judy: Just a second.
Did you give him the car to fix?
>> I asked him once he already
was in possession of the car.
I agreed for him to fix it.
I know.
>> Judge Judy: Do you have an
answer for me?
>> Byrd: Sure.
>> Judge Judy: How much?
>> Byrd: $1,000.
>> Judge Judy: You're going
to have to explain to me,
Ms. Penzol, because your lawsuit
against the defendant
is for almost $3,000.
>> Yes.
>> Judge Judy: And that's not
going to happen, because unless
you tell me that some relative's
ashes were ground into the car
and therefore you had that
kind of sentimental attachment
to this 17-year-old totaled car,
I don't understand why you would
pay somebody $3,000
to fix a car that was totaled.
>> Announcer: "Judge Judy"
>> Okay.
He already was in possession
of the car.
He knew my father from church.
They told me
that it would be taken care of,
and insurance would pay for it.
And I said, no, I didn't think
so because the vehicle was old.
>> Judge Judy: Insurance already
paid you for the car.
>> Right.
But the car drove fine.
Buying a new used car
would've been $5,000 to $10,000,
and Mr. Rodriguez said that
he could fix my car for $2,300.
>> Judge Judy: Then why would
the insurance company
total the car
and give you $1,000 for a car
that was perfectly drivable?
>> It's a back end.
The driver's side corner
and back end was damaged.
The car could drive fine,
but they said it wasn't
worth fixing for $1,000.
>> Judge Judy: That's absolutely
right.
>> So then it came to, do I buy
a new car for $5,000
to $10,000, a used one,
or do I let him fix it
when he said he'd promised me
he'd have it done in 2 weeks?
So I went with the cheaper
option since I had had the car
for a long time.
I put a lot of money into it,
and I thought, "Okay.
Put a little bit more."
>> Judge Judy: How much money
did she give you?
>> She gave me $2,300,
Your Honor.
>> Judge Judy: Did she give it
to you with check?
>> I don't have a copy of it.
She might have a receipt.
>> Judge Judy: I'd like to see
what you did to the car.
>> Yes, Your Honor,
I have pictures
of the car in process
as I was doing it and still am
because I have not stopped
working on it even though
I was put on a pause.
>> Judge Judy: Well, I would
suggest to you that you finish
up the car.
>> I will finish it, Your Honor.
>> Judge Judy: She's not giving
you any more money.
>> I have no intentions
of stopping.
>> Judge Judy: When are you
going to have it finished?
>> I still have approximately
2 more months to finish it,
Your Honor.
>> Judge Judy: So finish it.
>> I will finish it, Your Honor.
>> Judge Judy: He's not giving
you $3,000.
He's going to finish the car.
>> I realize that.
>> Judge Judy: Yeah, because
it's ridiculous.
The car is worth $1,000
according to Officer Byrd.
That's what it's worth.
The fact that you...
>> Well, I had to...
I've waited 9 months.
He would promise me
that it would be done in October
and then in November and then
swore that it
would be done before Christmas,
and then in January,
he said that it would be done,
and so I went,
and I took pictures January 3rd
and found my car
in this condition.
Here's the pictures
of how my car was in January.
Here's the accident photos
that show what the damage was
from the beginning
and then that's what
they looked like in January.
>> Judge Judy: This was in
January?
>> Mm-hmm.
And this is what it started at.
>> Judge Judy: And when did he
get the car?
>> He got it in September.
>> Judge Judy: Would you show
him these photographs, please?
She said that those were taken
in January.
Take a look at the car.
>> No, Your Honor,
these were not in January.
>> Judge Judy: When were they?
>> End of October.
>> Judge Judy: Let me see
the way the car looks now.
>> Yes, Your Honor.
>> Announcer