before, if it's not contained
in the lease,
it's not part of the agreement.
>> Yes, ma'am.
>> Judge Judy: No smoking,
no loud music,
no cooking in the kitchen,
uh, big meals 'cause I see
that that was an issue.
Anything that's not contained
in the four corners
of your written contract
doesn't exist.
>> Yes, ma'am.
>> Judge Judy: As far as your
relationship with him goes as
landlord and tenant.
Now, I want you to tell me
what he did that inspired you
to change the locks.
>> Um, well, that following
Wednesday, I was in the kitchen,
getting ready to clean
the kitchen, wash dishes.
He became very aggressive toward
me, start walkin' toward me.
>> Judge Judy: Aggressive is
a conclusion.
>> Yes, ma'am.
>> Judge Judy: You tell me
exactly what he did.
>> He started cursin' --
cursin' me out.
And then because I didn't --
It all came over
from that Tuesday
when I didn't come talk to him.
And so, um, after we had signed
the lease thing, like,
everything just did a 180.
And his behavior toward me and,
like, slammin' the doors,
and I smell smoke in the house.
And I asked him, I said,
"Are you smokin' in my house?"
He said, "No."
And I said, "Okay."
Then I told him
to lock the doors.
I came home two nights in a row,
and my doors was unlocked.
And he was nowhere to be found.
So I knocked on the door.
Then, when I knocked
on his door, I said,
"Please, Tyrene, lock my doors."
And then he started
yellin' at me, yellin' at me.
So I turned around.
I walked away.
I went in my room
and locked the door.
And so, uh, then, after that,
then, on Thursday,
everything just -- he just,
like, just started comin' at me
and just, like, verbally
attacking me.
And then I had to call the
police.
>> Judge Judy: You have to
return all of his money to him,
Mr. Parker.
$700.
>> Okay.
>> Judge Judy: Okay, you should
have returned it before.
Should have returned
all his money before.
He was supposed to be there
the month of July.
You locked him out July 1st.
He had locks changed back.
Now, you had a locksmi--
>> I'm sorry.
>> Judge Judy: You had
a locksmith come in
and change the locks back?
>> No.
>> Judge Judy: You never did.
>> No.
>> Judge Judy: Okay, so when
he locked
you out, you stayed out?
>> I stayed out.
I'm homeless right now.
>> Judge Judy: Just a second.
When he changed the locks,
you did not change them back.
>> No.
>> Judge Judy: Okay.
Do you have any proof
that he changed the locks back?
>> Yes, I paid for two
locksmiths to come out on
Friday.
Then, when I got home,
I saw the locks.
I have a countersuit
against him...
>> Judge Judy: I see.
>> ...because he broke
into my home.
He's took both
TVs out of both rooms,
my air conditioner, everything.
>> Judge Judy: Just a second.
I know you have a countersuit.
>> Yes, ma'am.
>> Judge Judy: And you say
that he broke into your house.
>> Yes, ma'am.
>> Judge Judy: Tell me
what proof do you have
that he broke into your house.
>> I have the police report.
My locks -- Both locks
on my screen door was unlocked.
>> Judge Judy: All I want
to know is what proof you
have that he did that.
>> I live alone.
He's the only one in my home --
with keys to my home.
He came in.
>> Judge Judy: Just a --
>> My neighbor saw him
when he pulled in there
because she knew he was there.
>> Judge Judy: Your neighbor's
not here.
You can't tell me
what your neighbor said to you.
I'll look at the police report.
>> Yes, ma'am.
Then he took --
He took everything.
I have the -- I have the --
>> Judge Judy: He didn't
take every--
He didn't take anything yet
until you have a witness
that says that he took
anything out of your house.
You changed the locks.
That's all that you know.
And then, at some point, you
came home, and you found your
house broken into...
>> Yes, ma'am.
>> Judge Judy: ...and property
missing.
Is that what I'm hearing?
>> Yes, ma'am.
>> Judge Judy: Okay.
>> And I have text messages,
also, where I asked him
to bring it back.
And he was telling me
keep returning his money.
>> Judge Judy: Just a second.
Shh. Just a second.
>> Okay.
>> Judge Judy: Okay.
Now I'll take a look
at your text messages,
'cause this tells me nothing.
>> And also, I have photogra--
>> Judge Judy: Shh.
>> Oh, sorry.
>> Judge Judy: Don't give me
photographs.
I don't need photographs.
First, I have
to find culpability.
no proof, Mr. Parker,
that Mr. Mills stole
any property from you.
You wanted him out.
You said,
"You're smoking in my house.
It's not working out.
I'm a nonsmoker.
You're playing your loud noise,"
everything else.
"It's not working out,
and I'm gonna change the locks."
And he says,
"I don't care what you do.
Just have my money,
my $700," that he paid you.
>> And these are the photographs
where I woke up at 2:00 a.m. in
the morning where he was
smoking, and my house was on
fire.
>> Judge Judy: May I see the
photographs of the damage?
>> And this is what woke me up
at 2:00 a.m. in the morning.
>> Judge Judy: I don't care if
it was 2:00 a.m.
That's what happens
when you have a roommate.
Don't have a roommate.
Live alone.
You've been living alone
for 7 months.
Stay that way.
Now, Mr. Mills...
>> Yes?
>> Judge Judy: ...what were you
smoking?
>> I was not smoking
in his house.
When I moved into that room,
he had candles burning,
Glade candles
and circle candles.
They was on top of, um,
the wooden dresser.
>> Judge Judy: You were not
smoking.
>> No.
>> Judge Judy: Okay.
Judgment for the plaintiff
in the amount of $700.
Your counterclaim's dismissed.
We're done.