the business to the defendant?
>> We sold the business in
February of 2014.
It was six months after our
grand opening.
>> Judge Judy: So, you weren't
seeing from your business what
you had anticipated, I assume.
>> For six months, we had seen
exactly what we did anticipate,
monetarily.
Lorraine was the sole owner of
the business.
She had intended on going in
with a business partner who --
>> Judge Judy: Just a minute.
She was the sole owner of the
business when it was sold in
February of 2014?
>> Yes.
>> Judge Judy: So why are you
here?
>> Because --
>> Well, because of a --
I'm sorry.
>> Go ahead.
>> Judge Judy: No, why are you
here?
I'm asking you -- why are you
here?
>> Because I dealt with Rocky
through --
>> Judge Judy: So you're a
witness?
>> No, I dealt with Rocky
throughout the process of trying
to collect the money.
>> Judge Judy: You're a witness.
If Ms. Yurkins -- is that right?
>> Yes.
>> Judge Judy: ...was the sole
proprietor, you're a witness, so
you can sit down.
Now I'm gonna get back to it.
>> Okay.
>> Judge Judy: You opened up
this business, you invested
some time and money into fixing
it up.
>> We did.
>> Judge Judy: And within six
months, you decided to sell it?
>> I did.
>> Judge Judy: Was it your money
that you invested?
>> Yes, it was.
It was a personal loan.
>> Judge Judy: And how much of a
personal loan did you take out
and from whom?
>> $30,000 at my bank that I
use.
>> Judge Judy: So you invested
$30,000 in the business?
>> More than that, 'cause I put
in my own money, as well.
>> Judge Judy: How much did you
personally put in that you could
demonstrate to me thorough bank
accounts, et cetera?
>> I would say about maybe
$5,000 of my own.
>> Judge Judy: Okay.
So you invested $35,000 in the
business?
>> Yes.
>> Judge Judy: And the business,
then, was not where you wanted
it to be -- or else you would
have stayed, I assume.
What are you doing now?
>> Oh, right now I'm in nursing
school.
So I'm back to school to finish
my degree in nursing.
>> Judge Judy: Now, you went
back to school for nursing.
There had to be a reason for
that.
You want to tell me what the
reason was?
>> Absolutely.
When I went into the salon,
opening the salon, initially I
thought that I was going to
have a partner.
Pretty much, like, last
minute, she had said that she
was gonna stay on her current
job and not take on the risk of
opening a business.
I still thought it was a great
idea.
We had an awesome location next
to a Starbucks, and I thought
the business would do really
well.
So I just said, "You know, okay,
that's fine.
Let me go on and I'll do it on
my own."
But with that, I didn't realize
all of the duties that were
included in operating a new
business on my own.
So I was responsible for -- from
opening to cleaning to hiring to
firing to ordering supplies.
I mean, it was -- I was there
from the start to the finish.
>> Judge Judy: You tell a very
good story, and I believe you.
>> Okay.
So, it just got too much.
I had a 2-year-old daughter,
and I was spending no time with
her.
And these parties were on the
weekend, so I didn't even have
weekends free.
>> Judge Judy: Tell me what
parties you're talking about.
>> Okay, so our salon was geared
towards girls -- young girls,
like 4 to 12, the age range --
and we did special birthday
parties for them.
So they would come in, have
their hair and makeup done --
makeup application, chocolate
facials -- just like a little
party but with a salon
atmosphere there.
But we did do regular hair salon
services, as well, during the
week, but the majority of the
parties were on the weekends.
>> Judge Judy: Okay.
Then you sold Mr. Moussa the
business?
>> I did not sell him the
business.
I sold his wife,
Madeline Scaretta, the business.
>> Judge Judy: Oh, then what is
he doing here?
>> I have no idea, Your Honor.
I just found out she wasn't
gonna be here today.
>> Judge Judy: You've got the
wrong party.
Where do you come from?
>> Islip, Long Island.
>> Judge Judy: Well, that's too
bad.
Why isn't --
>> I'm the one who dealt with
them, and she give me power of
attorney to her business.
>> Judge Judy: Let me see it.
>> I'm sorry, my son can help me
with that, if you don't mind,
Your Honor.
>> Judge Judy: Of course.
I just want to see the power of
attorney, that she gave you the
authority to appear on her
behalf today.
Okay.
Now, you sold Mr. Moussa's wife
the business for how much?
>> I did. $38,000.
>> Judge Judy: And how much did
Mrs. Moussa or her husband pay
you back of the $38,000?
>> Can I go to my --
>> Judge Judy: No, just tell me.
>> He was the one dealing with
the payment because I started
school again and I didn't want
to have any dealings with this.
>> Judge Judy: Stand up.
How much money did they pay
back?
>> They paid back
approximately --
[ Sighs ]
I do have it in my notes,
Your Honor.
>> Judge Judy: How much did you
pay back?
>> I paid the whole thing,
Your Honor.
>> I have it here.
So, we sold the business on --
>> Judge Judy: I just asked you
a question.
I said, "Of the $38,000 purchase
price, how much did they pay
back?"
>> They paid back $16,549 on the
first contract.
>> Judge Judy: No.
I didn't ask you that question.
I asked you a simple question.
I'm gonna ask you only once, and
then I'm just gonna throw you
out.
I said, "How much did they pay
you in total?"
>> They paid us $20,549.
>> Judge Judy: Period.
>> Yes.
>> Judge Judy: Do you have
proof, sir, that you paid them
more than $20,540?
>> Yes.
I don't have the proof with me,
but --
>> Judge Judy: You don't have
the proof with you?
Go back to Long Island.