defendant was your landlord.
You want your security deposit
back from him, half a month's
rent, a cleaning bill, some
other nonsense.
Defendant says that you're a
hustler.
He's got a counterclaim.
The counterclaim is for
slandering him by accusing him
of stealing his own property.
What kind of property did you
rent from the defendant?
>> It was a house.
>> Judge Judy: Who did you rent
it with?
>> My boyfriend and a friend.
>> Judge Judy: Did you have a
lease?
>> Yes.
>> Judge Judy: May I see the
lease?
What's the friend's name?
>> Jan.
>> Judge, if I may, that's only
partial.
That's just a partial page on
the lease.
That's not the entire lease.
>> Judge Judy: Do you have a
copy of the lease?
>> Yes.
>> Judge Judy: I'd like to see
it.
>> That's the only part of the
lease that I received.
There was some signed document
given back to him.
>> Judge Judy: So, three people
are on the lease.
You, Travis -- is that you?
>> Yes.
>> Judge Judy: And Jan.
Okay.
So, you moved in, in April.
>> Correct.
>> Judge Judy: And signed this
lease in April and paid the
security deposit, which is $835.
>> And $150 for pet deposit.
>> Judge Judy: For pet.
When did you move out?
>> May 12th.
>> Judge Judy: Why?
>> There was a dispute between
us, and he --
>> Judge Judy: A dispute?
About what?
>> Who was living at the
property.
>> Judge Judy: Okay.
Well, let's take it from the
top.
You have three people who are on
the lease, three people that
were permitted to live there.
>> Correct.
>> Judge Judy: So, how could
there be a dispute?
What was the dispute about?
>> So, the night that my
boyfriend and I moved in, when
he was getting ready to leave
with the moving vehicle, Charles
came over to the house and asked
who he was.
>> Judge Judy: Who was?
>> Who Travis was.
>> Judge Judy: Your boyfriend.
He was on the lease.
>> Correct.
I stated who he was.
We left the conversation.
Later on that night, he called
me and asked again who it was.
I referenced again that it was
Travis.
And then the next day he
e-mailed in regards to a house
meeting to verify who everyone
was.
>> Judge, can I interrupt?
>> Judge Judy: No, you can't
interrupt.
You'll have a turn to speak.
You can't interrupt.
>> Okay.
>> Judge Judy: So, he asked
immediately upon your moving in,
because you moved in not the 1st
of April, in the latter part of
April.
>> Mm-hmm.
>> Judge Judy: Even though your
lease started April 1st.
And I assume that your
boyfriend, Travis, was there
when the lease was signed.
>> He wasn't there the day of
signing.
It says on the bottom there that
he was to sign it.
He signed it and sent it back to
him.
>> Judge Judy: Okay, so, you
had never met Travis.
Listen to me very carefully,
Mr. Rupley.
You had not met Travis before
they moved in.
>> As far as I know, Judge, I
did meet Travis before they
moved in.
>> Judge Judy: When and under
what circumstances?
>> The day that they both came
over to look at the house to
rent the house, and as far as
I know --
>> Judge Judy: That's not the
date that they signed the lease,
but it was the date that they
came over to look at it?
>> Probably so.
There would have been a time
lapse there, yes.
We started initiating the lease
on the 23rd of March.
>> Judge Judy: I'm asking you a
simple question.
Do not take me down a tributary.
>> Okay.
>> Judge Judy: I asked you
whether you had ever met Travis
before.
Travis, you haven't changed your
appearance since May.
>> No, not that I know of.
>> Judge Judy: You would
remember if you met Travis.
>> Yes, but I don't believe
that's Travis.
That, as far as I know, is Jan.
>> Judge Judy: Just a second.
Stand up.
Do you have a wallet with you?
>> Yes.
>> Judge Judy: Take it out.
>> Gotcha.
>> Judge Judy: Take out your
driver's license.
Perfect.
May I see it, please?
Travis.
>> Okay.
[ Laughter ]
>> Judge Judy: So, you were
mistaken.
You never met Travis.
>> Well, exactly what are you
asking me, Judge?
Have I ever met Travis? Yes.
>> Judge Judy: No, that's not my
question, sir.
If the plaintiff is telling me
that you had a conversation,
which you don't seem to deny in
your answer, that you queried
her about who the person was who
was driving away in the truck,
and she said to you, "That's
Travis," 'cause you just told
me, "That's not Travis.
I met Travis."
But you thought, when you met
Travis, you were really meeting
Jan, 'cause you didn't meet him.
You didn't meet him when they
looked at the place.
>> No. Yes, you're right.
I did not meet him when they
looked at the place.
>> Judge Judy: When did you meet
Travis for the first time?
See Travis for the first time?
>> Well, you know, I believe it
was sometime in April.