And how come he got 15?
>> Because I had student
loan debt to pay off
that we filed bankruptcy,
and that was the only debt
we had together
after we separated,
and we put most of that student
loan money into the house.
When I got my student
loan money,
we did upgrades on the house.
It was with supplemental income
while I was going to school,
and he was working, so...
>> Judge Judy: Well, you were
going
to school, and he was working.
Is that what was consented
to in the divorce decree?
>> Yes.
Yes.
>> Judge Judy: Fine,
as long as you consented to it.
>> But he blew
through his money.
>> Judge Judy: So now you
have a loan.
Tell me the circumstances
surrounding you giving him money
to help pay his rent.
>> I gave him...Initially,
he said he didn't have
gas money or food money for them
when they were with him,
so I have him a credit card.
I still had a credit card
in his name that
I took back when we separated.
I still had it in my wallet.
I gave it back to him so that he
could buy gas, food,
whatever
when the kids were with him...
>> Judge Judy: So?
>> ...until he found
employment.
>> Judge Judy: So?
>> He ran that credit card
up $1,500.
>> Judge Judy:
That's your problem.
You gave him the credit card.
Next.
>> Okay.
>> Judge Judy: Next.
>> There are loans.
At the same time,
I wrote him a check for rent,
which I put on the check "loan"
because he agreed
to pay all of this back.
Any money he spent on the credit
card
and the money I loaned him...
>> Judge Judy: I don't care
about the credit card.
Did you tell her that you were
going to lose your apartment
if she didn't give you money?
>> No.
>> Judge Judy: Well, how come
she wrote
out a check for your rent?
>> To help me out.
>> Judge Judy:
Well, explain it to me.
How did it come about?
>> I asked her if she could
loan me some money.
>> Judge Judy: That's exactly
perfect.
How much was the check?
>> That was just to get money.
>> Judge Judy:
How much was the check?
>> There's three different
checks, 1,000,
250 and 300
within a month and a half.
>> Judge Judy: Very good,
so that's what he asked you.
He just said, "I asked her
if she could help me out
and loan me some money."
Five, four.
>> That was to give back some of
the money she got on the house.
>> Judge Judy: Just listen.
Listen to me.
You just answered
my question, sir.
Do you want me
to play back the tape?
"I told her I was
in some difficulty,
and I asked her if she could
loan me some money,"
that's what you said.
>> He hasn't paid
child support in...
>> Judge Judy: Next.
>> Other than child support,
that's what he owes me.
He hasn't paid a dime of child
support in 15 months, 14 months.
He doesn't want
to pay me anything.
>> Judge Judy: That's not my
bailiwick, your child support,
because I can't put him in jail
for nonpayment of child support.
>> That's a different case,
different courtroom.
>> Judge Judy:
That's what I said.
I said, "I can't put you in jail
for nonpayment of child support
if you don't pay child support,"
so it has to go
before somebody else
on a contempt order.
>> Even though he agreed
to pay the credit card...
>> Judge Judy: Shh!
Correct.
It was used for your children.
That's what you told me,
for when he had the children.
>> He also bought auto parts
and other things with it.
>> Judge Judy:
Two-fifty plus...
>> It was not used
for necessities.
>> Judge Judy: ...two hundred
plus 764 plus...
It's 2,214.
>> And liquor.
>> Judge Judy: Mr. Wright,
how do you support yourself now?
>> I work.
I do odd jobs to make ends meet.
>> Judge Judy: So you work,
and you do odd jobs
to make ends meet.
>> Yes.
>> Judge Judy: To make ends
meet to take care of yourself.
>> And my kids.
>> Judge Judy: No.
Just a second.
To make ends meet to take care
of yourself, if
you haven't paid child support,
which
I'm not entertaining now, sir,
which means that you're working
just to take care of yourself.
>> And my kids.
>> Judge Judy: How?
>> Huh?
>> Judge Judy: How?
>> How am I taking care of them?
How am I afford
to taking care of them?
I drive.
>> Judge Judy: You drive what?
>> I drive my car.
I do ride sharing.
>> Judge Judy:
What does that mean?
>> I drive for Uber full-time
and make my money...
>> Judge Judy: Great.
>> ...to provide for me
and my kids.
>> Judge Judy: Well, so I'm just
asking you
a question, Mr. Wright.
When was the last time
you paid the child support order
that you agreed to pay?
When was the last time?
>> Over a year ago.
>> Judge Judy: Over a year ago,
well, then you are working
and taking care
of yourself, and I...
>> No.
I have my kids half the time...
>> Judge Judy:
Well, not according to...
>> ...regardless
of what she says.
>> Judge Judy:
Not according to you.
>> I have my kids half the time.
>> Judge Judy:
Not according to you.
>> That's why I'm taking her
to family law.
>> He has a one-bedroom
apartment.
>> Judge Judy: Okay.
Very good, $2,214, judgment
for the plaintiff.
I think that any judge
that awards you custody
of your children, Mr. Wright,
from the little that I've seen,
is absolutely nuts.
>> Now who's the laptop
belong to?
>> Judge Judy: Goodbye.
>> Byrd: Parties are excused.
You may step out.
>> That last $300 I gave him,
I knew
I shouldn't have given him,
but he promised me that,
no matter what,
he was going to...
>> I think it's pretty petty.
>> ...get a temp job,
whatever it took to pay me back,
and it was just all a joke.
He had no intention
of paying it back...
>> I have my kids half the time
for the whole year.
There's reasons
why I don't pay child support.
>> ...because I moved on,
of course.
>> There's other things to worry
about, like your kids.
You know what I mean?
>> He's been obsessed and
harassed me and stalked me,
and I'm just glad
it's almost over.
>> The kids are most important,
the biggest blessings
of our life.
>> I'm just hoping that,
you know, they end up with me
and with
him the least amount of time.