the defendant lived together for
a period of time as a couple.
And would you tell me from when
to when did you live as a
couple?
>> We started dating,
Your Honor, in February of 2017
through middle or end of June of
2017.
>> Judge Judy: And during that
time, did you live in the
defendant's home?
>> I did not live there.
I would stay there from time to
time, but I had my own place and
she had her own place.
>> Judge Judy: Tell me about
your place, where you stayed.
>> I have an apartment in the
town that I live in.
>> Judge Judy: And you
maintained that apartment from
February until June?
>> I did, Your Honor.
>> Judge Judy: And how many
nights a week would you say you
stayed there?
>> Per week?
Two or three, perhaps.
>> Judge Judy: And what would
bring you back to the apartment,
as opposed to staying with the
defendant?
>> She lives between my own
apartment and where I work.
It's a 40-mile commute, and so I
would stay with her a couple
nights, maybe go home, get some
things, stay there a couple
nights, be with my kids, which I
have part time, and that was how
it would usually go.
>> Judge Judy: Is all of that
correct?
>> Not all of it.
It's correct about the children.
>> Judge Judy: Well, what is not
accurate?
>> He stayed at my place much
more than what he's saying.
>> Judge Judy: Okay.
That's fine.
But he didn't live there.
Where did you get your mail?
>> At my apartment, in my own
place.
>> Judge Judy: Okay, fine.
I'm asking those questions
because it is your claim,
Mr. Neeb, that you made loans to
Ms. Opse -- one for $5,000, one
for $2,000 -- and then there
came a time when you bailed her
out of jail and she paid $3,000,
she says, towards the bail.
You say she still has
outstanding money towards the
two loans.
>> Correct.
>> Judge Judy: Her defense with
regard to the loans that you
gave her -- or she refers to
them as gifts -- is that you
lived in her house without
contributing and that she had
fallen behind in the mortgage,
and you said, "I live with you,
so I'll pay the mortgage."
That's pretty much what you say
in your answer.
>> Mm-hmm.
>> Judge Judy: Well, that's why
I asked those questions, because
if he maintained his own
apartment, he can't maintain two
premises.
So he stayed with you, and he
did, in fact, spend time at his
own home, 'cause he had to go
there and at least get his mail.
>> That's correct.
>> Judge Judy: All right, so,
Ms. Opse, since there is not an
issue of this $5,000 -- well,
it's actually more than
$5,000 -- in June of 2017, which
is shortly before you broke up,
correct?
>> Correct.
>> Judge Judy: I want you to
tell me about that money.
>> Well, I feel that --
>> Judge Judy: I don't care how
you feel.
How you feel is irrelevant to
me.
I'd like you to tell me how the
$5,000 came about.
>> Okay.
He knew when we started --
>> Judge Judy: Don't tell me
what he knew.
>> We started dating, and we
were in a romantic relationship.
I was really behind on bills,
and he offered to help with
those bills.
>> Judge Judy: No, he can't
offer unless you ask.
You have to tell him, 'cause
otherwise --
>> I did tell him I was behind
on bills.
>> Judge Judy: Well, that's what
I want to hear.
I want to hear what you said to
him.
>> That I was behind on the
mortgage, and then he said that
he got a divorce and then he got
some money from that.
And then he said that he could
help out with some of the bills,
so I was appreciative.
>> Judge Judy: Good.
Okay, so, that's $5,000 in your
corner, 'cause I don't believe a
word she just said.
Perfect.
Now, I'd like to see proof that
you gave her that $5,000.
>> Yes, Your Honor.
I have the copies of a check.
Here's the copy for the $5,000
and the $2,000, showing that
they've been cashed, and I
believe there's a last page
there that shows that they
cleared my bank account.
>> Judge Judy: Now, this, I
don't understand.
According to you, you dated
until June of 2017.
Is that correct?
>> That is correct.
>> Judge Judy: So I would like
you to tell me why, in July of
2017, you gave her another
$2,000.
>> There was a period of time
where we would date, she'd break
up, we would date, she'd break
up, and it would've been during
one of those periods where I
gave her the additional $2,000.
It was understood to be a loan.
She promised she'd pay me back.
>> Judge Judy: How was she gonna
pay you back, by the way?
>> She was gonna work some
part-time jobs until her
full-time teaching job became
regular again in the fall, and
she was gonna pay me back a
little bit each month.
>> Judge Judy: Okay, now I'd
like you to tell me when you got
arrested, Ms. Opse, and for
what.
>> I was arrested August 2017,
and it was for a DUI.
>> Judge Judy: And what was your
bail?
>> I don't know.
I think it was about...$1,000?
And, Your Honor, I paid him back
everything related to that.
>> Judge Judy: Just a second