matter of Vogel vs.
Williams-Morris, step forward.
>> Announcer: Debra Vogel is
suing her former tenant,
Clara Williams-Morris, for two
months of unpaid rent and for
damages to her property.
>> Judge Judy: Ms. Vogel, the
defendant was your tenant in a
home that you own?
It is your claim that she both
owes you two months' rent after
you moved to evict her for code
violations.
>> Yes, that's correct.
>> Judge Judy: And that she also
left the property in shambles,
including leaving a car with no
tires parked on the back lawn.
>> That is right.
>> Judge Judy: When did you move
in, Ms. Morris?
>> November 2014.
>> Judge Judy: Who did you move
in with?
>> Me and four children.
>> Judge Judy: How old are they?
>> 19, 17, 16, and 13.
>> Judge Judy: And who is this
gentleman?
>> My husband.
>> Judge Judy: Did you move in
with him, too?
>> A couple of months later,
yeah.
>> Judge Judy: He didn't move in
with you?
>> Not initially, no.
>> Judge Judy: When were you
married?
>> Ten years ago.
>> Judge Judy: Where was he that
he didn't move in with you when
you moved into the house?
>> He was working out of town.
>> Judge Judy: Did you let the
plaintiff know that your husband
would be joining you?
>> Well, originally, when I
contacted her regarding the
property, yes.
>> Judge Judy: Originally.
>> Yes.
>> Judge Judy: Is that correct?
>> That is not correct.
>> Judge Judy:rding to
your complaint, Ms. Vogel, there
came a time when you received
some complaints that there was
all kinds of stuff around the
house.
Did you take photographs of what
you were talking about on the
outside of the house?
>> What happened was, I drove by
beginning of October, when I
first started receiving
complaints, and the neighbors
were very furious.
And they were very furious --
>> Judge Judy: You got a call.
You drove by the apartment, the
house.
>> Okay, I drove by the
property, and there was cars
parked all over the place, and
there was trash all over the
place.
>> Judge Judy: When you say
there were cars all over the
place, were they on the lawn,
where they on the street?
>> They were on the lawn.
They were on the street.
>> Judge Judy: Did you take
photographs?
>> I have photographs from the
city of Sacramento.
>> Judge Judy: I'd like to see
them.
Ms. Morris, I'm directing your
attention to the photographs
that were taken in December of
2016.
I want you to look at these
photographs, please, 'cause I'm
gonna ask you some questions
about them.
>> Thank you.
>> Judge Judy: Would you explain
to me why the property looks
like that?
>> Okay, because there is dogs
that get into the gate, and
they tear up the trash and go
through the trash, the
neighbor's dogs.
And that's what happened all the
time.
So, you can't put trash out
because --
>> Judge Judy: What are all the
cars doing there that are in
pieces under the trailer in the
backyard?
>> As far as the cars, my
husband buy and fix cars.
He sell cars.
He buy them and fix them.
>> Judge Judy: Is this a
commercial property?
>> No, it's not a commercial
property.
>> Judge Judy: Okay, so, there's
no legitimate reason why the
property looks like that.
>> Other than, I mean --
>> Judge Judy: Other than the
fact that you don't maintain the
property.
>> Well, I maintain the
property, but you have dogs that
are going through the trash.
>> Judge Judy: Fine.
All right, so, they moved to
evict you.
When you got the notice of
eviction, you stopped paying
rent.
That was in January.
You, your four children, and
your husband lived there in
January.
Is that correct?
>> That is correct.
>> Judge Judy: Okay, you owe
her January's rent.
You also didn't move out on
February 1st, and, according to
your answer, you stayed there
through February 17th.
Is that correct?
>> That is correct.
>> Judge Judy: Then you owe her
for February's rent, unless you
can show me proof that you paid
either January or February.
>> Okay.
>> Judge Judy: Got it?
>> Judge Judy: Now, how much was
your rent?
>> $1,275.
>> Judge Judy: Did you give her
a security deposit when you
moved in?
>> Yes.
>> Judge Judy: How much?
>> $1,500.
>> Judge Judy: How much?
>> That was $1,500.
That's correct.
>> Judge Judy: Which you kept.
>> That's correct.
>> Judge Judy: Now, what you're
telling me here in your papers
is that there were damages to
the property exceeding the
$1,500.
>> That's correct.
>> Judge Judy: I'd like to take
a look.
'Cause I looked at outside.
Outside, her excuse is, dogs got
into the garbage.
Unh-unh.
Photographs, photographs.
>> What happened was, when I
took over the property, there
was a lot of stuff that was
damaged.
There were holes in the walls.
There were windows broken,
et cetera, et cetera.
Toilet wasn't working.
So, I brought a witness.
>> Judge Judy: I don't want a
witness.
I want to see photographs of the
premises.
>> I don't have them.
>> Judge Judy: Good.
Judgment for the plaintiff in
the amount of $2,550.
We're done. Thank you very much.
>> Byrd: Parties are excused.
You may step out.
>> What about the deposit,
Your Honor -- the $1,500
deposit?
>> Judge Judy: She kept that
because from what I see, there's
at least $1,500 worth of damage.
>> No problem. Thank you.