in the matter of DeCaro vs.
Riley, step forward.
>> Announcer: David DeCaro
is suing his former friend,
Libby Riley, for the value of
woodworking equipment.
>> Judge Judy: Mr. DeCaro,
you and the defendant,
you have a similar interest
according to what I read
in the complaint in the answer,
in woodworking as a hobby.
>> Yes.
>> Judge Judy: It is your claim
that you and Ms. Riley
developed some sort of
a friendly relationship
and that she was just beginning
in this woodworking hobby,
and you loaned her
some equipment.
There were some woodworking
tools that you gave her.
But then she, according to you,
was working on a larger project
and she needed
some additional tools,
which you loaned to her,
and she refuses to return.
>> Actually, I'm rehabbing
my house,
and I had to do substantial work
on a basement wall.
I needed my tools out,
so more that she could
store them and use them
while she stored them.
>> Judge Judy: I'm not following
you, sir.
>> Had a table saw,
no room for it.
She had a garage.
She's interested in woodworking.
"Here, use my saw while I have
to have it out of my house."
It didn't make any sense
to put it in storage
when she's...
>> Judge Judy: "Use my saw."
>> Yes.
>> Judge Judy: Okay.
Because you were remodeling
your house
and you didn't have room for it?
>> Right.
The area where I had my shop
needed to be empty
in order to replace
a wall in my basement.
>> Judge Judy: So it was a saw.
Do you have a photograph of it?
>> I have similar here.
>> Judge Judy: Okay.
And what other equipment
did you loan to her?
>> I loaned her...
>> Judge Judy: Just a second.
Is a saw like this
in your possession from him?
>> Not at the moment, no.
>> Judge Judy: Where is it?
>> I had sold it to a friend
because he had said
that he had threatened...
>> Judge Judy: Just a second.
>> That he had already gone back
in the agreements
in taking them back.
I was afraid he would call them
and do something shady
like call them in stolen
and have my mother go to jail.
>> Judge Judy: Just a second.
You have to get it back.
>> Yeah, yeah, yeah.
>> Judge Judy: I just asked you,
the saw is at a friend's house.
>> Yes, yes.
>> Judge Judy: Good!
What else?
>> A 13-inch surface planer.
>> Judge Judy: I'd like to see
it.
>> And a plate joiner.
>> Judge Judy: Well, these
are big pieces of equipment.
>> Mm-hmm.
>> Judge Judy: This, where is
it?
>> Twelve-and-a-half-inch?
Same place.
>> Judge Judy: What?
>> Same place.
>> Judge Judy: Bup-bup-bup.
>> Okay.
>> Judge Judy: And this.
>> Mm-hmm.
>> Judge Judy: Same place.
>> Mm-hmm.
>> Judge Judy: Now, what tools
did he give you?
>> Other than those?
Actually, those were
the three tools that he gave me.
>> Judge Judy: What other tools
did you give her?
>> He give me three books.
>> Judge Judy: Shh!
>> I gave her a high-quality
blade for a chop saw she had.
I gave her a bunch of
woodworking books.
>> Judge Judy: On what date
did you give her these tools?
>> Actually on three
different dates.
The final one would have been
about the end of November.
>> Judge Judy: And according to
you, she was going to work
on a project with them?
>> Basically it was more of a,
"Here. Use them. Learn them.
I can't use them right now.
I'm on another project,
my basement in fact."
>> Judge Judy: When did you ask
for them back?
>> Well, I told her
when the basement was done,
I'd want them back.
>> Judge Judy: And when was the
basement done?
>> Middle of January.
>> Judge Judy: When, for the
first time, did you ask her
for these things back?
>> Believe it would have been...
>> Judge Judy: Let's make sure.
This is where we are.
We're in a court.
You have a case.
You should have had all these
facts right close by in your
mind.
>> Well, I was trying to think
of the exact date.
It would have been the first
week, second week of January.
>> Judge Judy: And what did she
say to you?
>> Well, I have a text message
here from her indicating --
>> Judge Judy: Just a second.
When did you place
these things with her?
The last item
was placed in November?
>> Right.
>> Judge Judy: And before that?
>> Before that,
probably October.
>> Judge Judy: Okay, and you
asked for them back in January.
>> Yes.
>> Judge Judy: I'd like to see
the text.
>> Okay.
That's the text saying...
Well, she already said she
sold them, so that confirms it.
>> Yes, ma'am?
>> Judge Judy: He gets his
property back.ere are certain p,
as you know, for coming here.
>> Mm-hmm.
>> Judge Judy: Those perks are
withheld until he gets his
property back.
Do you understand?
>> Yes, ma'am.
>> Judge Judy: That's my rule.
I read the discussion
you had with him.
He gets his property
back 5 days from today,
within 5 days from today.
We'll prepare the order.
You, just as a reminder,
you signed an agreement
when you came here to be bound
by my decision.
>> Of course.
>> Judge Judy: My decision
is you
will return the items to him...
>> My items to him, of course.
>> Judge Judy: No, no!
>> I will.
>> Judge Judy: Those three items
within within 5 days.
Otherwise, you go home
empty-handed.
Do we understand each other?
Perfect. Thank you.
>> Thank you, Your Honor.
>> Judge Judy: We're done.