You claim you overpaid him in
rent, which he raised your rent.
From an initial $300, he raised
it to $600, and, according to
you, that was in violation of
the law, and, in addition, you
say he put some of your things
outside, and they were damaged.
That's your case.
Mr. Augustus says that he owns a
private home and it was
ultimately determined that he
could charge whatever rent he
wants to someone who's renting a
room in his private home...
>> That's correct.
>> Judge Judy: ...and that you
lived there without paying rent
from May until October and, in
addition, you made some false
allegations to the housing
authority against him, and that
was back at the beginning of the
summer, and despite the fact
that you reported him to the
housing authority for
maintaining unsavory living
conditions, you elected to stay
there until October without
paying rent, so he has a
counterclaim.
All right.
Let's take care of the easy
things first.
You moved in on what date,
Ms. Kelly?
>> August 2014.
>> Judge Judy: And you moved out
on what date?
>> October 3, 2016.
>> Judge Judy: What kind of work
do you do?
>> I'm a waitress.
I do bottle serving in clubs or
events -- things like that.
>> Judge Judy: Okay.
So, you lived there for two
years.
>> Yeah.
>> Judge Judy: And I assume you
had options as far as living
places.
>> No. I'm from New York, so I
came out here, and...
>> Judge Judy: Well, of course
you have options.
If things are unsafe,
unsanitary, and too expensive,
you move.
>> No. I don't have family.
>> Judge Judy: You move.
That's what you do.
People who don't like where
they're living -- they move.
Now, when you moved in, your
rent was $300.
>> Yes.
>> Judge Judy: When did he raise
it to $600?
>> He raised it to $500 first.
>> Judge Judy: When?
>> January 2015.
>> Judge Judy: $500 first, and
you agreed to pay him the $500.
>> Yes, 'cause I had nowhere
else to go.
>> Judge Judy: And then when did
he raise it again?
>> January 2016.
>> Judge Judy: He raised it
another $100?
>> Yes.
>> Judge Judy: Did you have your
own room in his house?
>> Yes.
>> Judge Judy: Any other
boarders in his house?
>> No.
>> Judge Judy: Did he also live
there?
>> Yes.
>> Judge Judy: How long have you
been renting a room,
Mr. Augustus, in your house?
>> Well, I had two sisters
living with me.
They moved in around June of
2014.
>> Judge Judy: Had you ever
rented a room to anyone?
>> No, not prior to the two
sisters.
I always stayed in my house by
myself.
>> Judge Judy: Okay.
Now, you're going to show me an
official document, and
Mr. Augustus is going to show me
an official document, and your
official document is going to
say he overcharged you rent
because of something, and your
official document is going to
tell me that you're not subject
to any rule.
Do you have that document?
>> I'm sorry, Judge Judy.
I can't hear you.
>> Judge Judy: Okay.
Who are you?
>> Stacy. I'm his daughter.
>> Judge Judy: Could you stand
up, please?
Tell me your name.
>> Stacy McKellar.
>> Judge Judy: Ms. McKellar, do
you have a document from the
city indicating that he is not
subject to any rent-control --
>> Yes, ma'am.
>> Judge Judy: You do?
And you have one, as well.
>> Mm-hmm.
>> Judge Judy: Okay.
Now I'd like to see it.
So, that will take care of one
issue.
Okay.
Your letter is dated August 4th
of 2016.
>> Mm-hmm. He got his --
>> Judge Judy: Just a second.
I'm reading it.
Okay. So, this is from the
Los Angeles Housing Authority,
and it says, "Mr. Augustus, we
have reviewed a complaint, and
it was for an illegal eviction
and illegal rent increase."
>> Mm-hmm.
>> Judge Judy: And it says,
"Under the
Rent Stabilization Office, rent
may be increased a certain
amount.
You increased her rent too much,
and, therefore, you have to
repay her that rent."
Then, in September, which is a
month later, this is also from
the Los Angeles Housing
Authority.
"Our review of the applicability
of the Los Angeles Rent
Stabilization Ordinance to this
property has bee completed.
Our review of the available
property records indicate that
the house located on this lot is
not subject to
rent-stabilization ordinances
because it is a single-family
dwelling.
Single-family dwellings
are also exempt from
Systemic Code Enforcement
Program, and their records will
be updated to reflect the
exemption for this property."
Okay.
So, did you see this letter?
>> Yeah, but they lie.
>> Judge Judy: Just a second.
>> Yes.
>> Judge Judy: All I'm asking is
you saw this letter.
>> Yeah, I saw that.
>> Judge Judy: Okay.
So, that takes care of your
overpayment.
>> How does that take over
overpayment if he already signed
before --
Even after he got that letter,
he'd already signed that he was
gonna give me money for the
overpayment, and they lie,
'cause there's another building
in the back.
Someone pays rent.
And his daughter
only popped up --
>> Judge Judy: I'm going to
explain it to you!
>> I know.
I'm just telling you --
>> Judge Judy: I'm going to
explain it to you.
The explanation is somebody, in
August, didn't do their homework
and examine his property.
>> No. They --
>> Judge Judy: Pay attention!
And didn't do their homework and
looked and said, "Well, he can't
raise rent from $300 to $600,
because that's too much of an
increase," so they sent you this
letter.