proof of how much you earned
in that 4-month period?
>> Yes, I do, Your Honor.
I have bank statements.
>> Judge Judy: I'd like you to
tell me.
How much money did you earn,
take-home net pay?
>> Um...
>> Judge Judy: "Um" is not an
answer.
>> About $400 --
>> Judge Judy: No. No.
>> All together?
>> Judge Judy: No, no, no.
I'm asking her a question.
She's 17 years old.
She's working.
This is her money.
All together,
from September through December,
so I want to know how much money
in total
you took home from your job.
>> Approximately $3,667.
>> Judge Judy: No.
I don't want you
to give me approximate.
You came to court
to file a lawsuit.
Your sister filed it for you
as your guardian.
You're supposed to know
the basic facts.
The basic facts
are how much did you
earn during the period of time
that you were working
from September through December
when you left her house?
>> $3,667.
>> Judge Judy: $3,600.
Okay.
And that's what you took home?
>> Yes, Your Honor.
>> Judge Judy: Okay.
Can I see that, please?
>> Right, all of it?
>> Judge Judy: This says
$3,307.25.
Is that right?
>> Yes.
>> Judge Judy: Now, did you keep
the deposit receipts
from the joint account
because you opened up
a joint account, correct?
After she started working?
>> Right.
>> Judge Judy: I want to see
when money was put
in corresponding to this.
>> I have those.
>> Judge Judy: I'd like to see
them.
And I'd like you to tell me,
Ms. Lorta, because I'm sure
you've added it up --
I'm going to take a look
at them all --
how much money was deposited
from September to December.
>> Around $700.
>> Judge Judy: I'd like to see
it.
What is this transfer
to another account?
Whose account is that?
>> That is mine.
>> Judge Judy: So she would put
in her whole check,
and you would transfer
certain monies to your account?
>> No, ma'am.
She was supposed to put
in 75% of her checks.
Okay?
But that didn't always happen,
and then she wanted
regular cable
TV also instead
of just Wi-Fi, and she says,
"Mama, I'll pay for it
if you just move it up
to having regular cable
and Wi-Fi."
So that was $78 a month.
So yes, I would transfer money.
>> Your Honor.
>> Judge Judy: Just a second.
So the $78
a month was for cable.
>> Yes.
>> Judge Judy: Just a second.
Who lives in the house?
>> Me, my daughter,
my two grandchildren,
and it was Kori.
>> Judge Judy: So was this cable
just for her?
>> No, ma'am but we --
>> Judge Judy: Did everybody
watch it?
>> We all watched it.
>> Judge Judy: Then you can't
transfer money from her account
to pay the cable bill.
>> Your Honor, she also said
whenever
I went to go cash my check
that she took it
out of the money
that I handed her in cash.
>> Judge Judy: I see transfers
on the 9th,
the 12th, the 13th, $100, $30,
$75, $100, on the 19th, $122.
Those were all transfers
to your bank, to your account?
>> Yes, ma'am, but
if you look and see
the deposits, you can see
where I deposited money
into that account, as well,
if you look
at the deposit slips.
>> Those are her
savings account.
>> Judge Judy: Just shh.
I...listen to me.
Don't speak to her.
What you're telling me is,
you put in money
in Kori Greer's account
instead of putting it
in your own account?
>> Yes, ma'am.
>> Judge Judy: Well,
that was very foolish of you.
>> It was a joint
account, ma'am.
>> Judge Judy: That was very
foolish of you. Judge Judy: Nows
on the account, 5...
>> Me.
>> Judge Judy: You and you?
>> Yes.
>> Judge Judy: Well, then you
would have
put money into your own account,
and if you put money
into a joint account,
I cannot think of a reason
that you're going to make up
that would satisfy me that
when you went to a bank,
same bank, you decided
to put your money in her account
and then transfer it out
of her account into your account
rather that putting it
directly into your account.
>> I have a reasoning, ma'am.
>> Judge Judy: I'm all ears.
>> Okay.
Kori, we were having issues
with her going to school.
We went through three
different schools in the first
half of the year this year.
>> Judge Judy: Just a minute.
Don't tell me your whole story.
Tell me about why you put money
into her account.
>> Because I agreed with her
that
if she would stay in school,
I would put money
into her account to help her
buy a car at tax time.
Okay?
When she wouldn't go to school,
I would take money
back out, yes.
>> Judge Judy: Why didn't you
put the money
into your account...
>> Because I was trying
to show her...
>> Judge Judy: ...and at tax
time she got her car?
>> Maybe it was a wrong move
on my part, but I was doing it
as an incentive
for her to stay in school.
>> She never told me she was
putting it in my account.
She just said
that she would help me pay
for a car around tax time
around the end of February
whenever I could get my money
out of the bank.
>> Judge J