in the matter of Castillo vs.
Ellis Owens, step forward.
>> Announcer: Veronica
Castillo is suing
Berniceka Ellis
and motorist Christopher Owens
for a car accident.
>> Judge Judy: Ms. Castillo,
this is about
an automobile accident,
which you claim was not
the fault of your daughter.
>> Yes, ma'am.
>> Judge Judy:
You weren't there?
>> I was not.
>> Judge Judy: Okay.
Why don't you have a seat?
You were driving.
>> Yeah.
>> Judge Judy: Okay.
And you're the nominal
plaintiff, only because
you have an interest in the car.
The car is owned by you.
>> That is correct.
>> Judge Judy: Okay.
Have a seat.
How old are you?
>> 17.
>> Judge Judy:
And what day was the accident?
>> November 4.
>> Judge Judy: What time?
>> Around 9:30.
>> Judge Judy: In the evening?
>> Yeah.
>> Judge Judy:
And where were you going?
>> I was dropping my friend
Jasmine
off at her grandma's house.
>> Judge Judy:
Was Jasmine in the car
when you had the accident?
>> Yes.
>> Judge Judy:
She's not here today?
>> No, ma'am.
>> Judge Judy: Why?
>> I don't know.
>> Judge Judy:
And you are the registered
owner of the car.
>> Yes, ma'am.
>> Judge Judy: You were not
in the car that day.
>> No.
>> Judge Judy:
But you're going to remain
because there's liability.
It's yours.
Now, you weren't present
when this accident happened.
Mr. Owens was driving the car.
>> Yes. That's correct.
>> Judge Judy: And you fled
the scene of the accident
after the accident,
did not wait...
>> Actually...No.
>> Judge Judy:
...after the accident.
How were you contacted?
>> Actually, when the accident
happened,
I went to get help, actually,
because
I didn't have no cellphone.
So by me going
and trying to get help,
within, like,
a mile or whatever,
I had contacted her --
>> Judge Judy: Just a second.
Let's go back a little bit.
>> Okay.
>> Judge Judy: You left
the scene to go to get help?
>> I did. Yes, I did.
>> Judge Judy: There were
no houses in the area?
>> I was distraught, Your Honor.
>> Judge Judy: There were
no houses in the area?
>> There was.
>> Judge Judy: And you got about
a mile away from the accident.
>> Yes.
>> Judge Judy: Where about
a mile away?
>> Like, Sanford.
Sanford and Cunningham.
>> Judge Judy:
What kind of place did you go
to if you had no cellphone?
What kind of place did you go
to to contact the defendant?
>> No.
I knew somebody in the area,
and when I went...who I knew
in the area,
I went and contacted her.
>> Judge Judy: Just a second.
>> Yeah.
>> Judge Judy:
It's going to get harder.
Who in the area did you know?
>> My friend's named Mike.
>> Judge Judy: Last name?
>> [bleep]
>> Judge Judy:
You went to his home?
>> Yes.
>> Judge Judy: At 9:30 at night?
>> Yes.
>> Judge Judy:
And you went to his home
to contact Ms. Ellis
because you didn't
have a cellphone?
>> Yes.
I didn't have my cellphone
at that time, no.
>> Judge Judy: How did you get
Ms. Ellis's number?
>> I knew her number already,
by heart.
>> Judge Judy: That's very good.
>> Yes.
>> Judge Judy: See how this is
getting difficult for you?he po.
Is that correct?
>> No.
>> Judge Judy:
Who contacted you?
>> The insurance company.
>> Judge Judy:
"On November 14, 2016, the
police got hold of Berniceka."
that would be you.
>> Berniceka.
>> Judge Judy: And she claims
she sold the car to a person.
Did you tell them that you sold
the car to Mr. Owens?
>> Yes. I did.
>> Judge Judy:
Let's get it clear.
You told the police
you sold the car to Mr. Owens,
and you had no way
of getting in touch with him.
>> At the time, I did not.
>> Judge Judy: So you want me
to believe
that Mr. Owens had
your phone number memorized?
Mr. Owens had
your number memorized,
but you had no way of getting
hold of him
because you sold your car
to a stranger.
You had no way
to get in touch with him.
>> He wasn't a stranger,
but I did not have
a point of contact for him.
>> Judge Judy:
You know, I don't believe
either one of you.
>> I mean, that's the truth.
I mean, I do change my number.
>> Judge Judy: [ Laughs ]
You change what number?
>> My numbers.
>> Judge Judy:
Your cellphone number.
>> Yes.
>> Judge Judy: The cellphone
you didn't have that day.
>> Yes.
>> Judge Judy: Okay.
I want you to turn around
and look at the gallery here.
I want you to raise your hand
if you own a cellphone.
Raise your hand
if you own a cellphone.
See all those people?
Now, put your hands down.
Now, I want you to raise...
Those people
who have a cellphone,
which is everybody,
I want you to raise your hand
if you left it home today.
One, two, three. Good.
Look around.
>> Can I say something?
You ain't never been in a rush
and then
just not left your cellphone?
>> Judge Judy:
So you were rushing?
Now, let's get to rushing
because
this is what your claim is.
Aside from leaving
the scene of an accident,
you claim
that she ran a stop sign.
>> Clearly.
>> Judge Judy:
So, so far, you know,
I am not believing
either one of you.
>> If you look at the paperwork,
you can clearly see
that she ran a stop sign.
>> Judge Judy: Listen to me.
If she ran the stop sign,
there wouldn't be any reason
for you to flee
the scene of an accident.
And if you had sold him the car,
which
is what you told the police
when they contacted you,
that you sold him the car
and that you had no way
of getting in touch...
Then you were contacted
by your insurance.
But if you sold him the car...
Did you sell him the car?
>> Yes. I did.
>> Judge Judy: You did,
but you kept your insurance.
You see that?
Because your insurance
company contacted you.