in the matter of West vs.
Ebel, step forward.
>> Announcer: Johnathan West
is suing his former friend,
Patrick Ebel,
for money loaned
while on vacation in Nicaragua
and stolen property.
>> Judge Judy: I have to tell
you, Mr. West,
before we start, sir,
I'm skeptical about your case.
>> I understand that,
Your Honor.
>> Judge Judy: I hope
you understand that, sir.
>> Okay.
>> Judge Judy:
Where do you live?
>> Live in Arlington, Virginia.
>> Judge Judy:
What kind of work do you do?
>> I'm in finance
for the government.
>> Judge Judy: Which department
do you work for?
>> Work for NAVSEA.
It's a Navy contractor.
>> Judge Judy:
And what about you, Mr. Ebel?
>> I'm in sales.
>> Judge Judy: For whom?
>> For a company in San Diego.
>> Judge Judy:
Where do you live?
>> I live in Bethesda, Maryland.
>> Judge Judy: And how long
have you been with them?
>> About 2 years.
>> Judge Judy:
Are you commission or on salary?
>> I get some salary
but mostly commission.
>> Judge Judy:
So you and Mr. West are friends,
and when you're involved
in sales,
this company
who's on the West Coast, is
that where their main office is?
>> The main office, yes.
>> Judge Judy: Do you understand
why I'm skeptical
about your case, Mr. West?
>> I do.
I do, ma'am.
>> Judge Judy: You do?
>> I think I have enough
evidence here to prove
you don't have to be skeptical.
It's a real case.
This really happened.
>> Judge Judy: You're going to
have to convince me, Mr. West.
>> Sure.
I can do that.
>> Judge Judy: I doubt it...
>> Okay.
>> Judge Judy: ...big time
doubt it.
>> I have receipts.
I have pictures.
I have itineraries, you know,
whatever I can do
to prove you, you know,
that this is a real case.
I'd love to have
the opportunity.
>> Judge Judy: Why would you
even think that I would think
it wasn't a real case, Mr. West?
>> Maybe because it's...
>> Judge Judy:
I didn't say I'm...
I said, "I'm just skeptical
about your case."
Why would you think that I would
even think
that it wasn't a real case?
That is odd.
When I said, "I'm skeptical
about your case,"
what would make you think
that I would think that
it was not a legitimate case
rather than being
that you had no case...
>> I understand.
>> Judge Judy: ...Mr. West?
>> It's a complicated case.
I feel like...
>> Judge Judy:
No, it's not complicated, sir.
I'm really a very smart lady.
That's why they keep me here.
>> Yes, ma'am.
>> Judge Judy:
So what do you think
is going through my mind now
when I said to you,
"I'm skeptical about your case,"
and you say to me,
"I have all the evidence here,
so I want to show you
that it's a real case
rather
than just I have no case"?
>> That was the adjective
I used.
I apologize.
I did not mean to use that.
>> Judge Judy: You understand
what I'm saying?
>> Absolutely.
>> Judge Judy: Did you have
a good time last night?
>> I mean...
>> Judge Judy: Did you?
I'm asking you.
I'm just asking you a question?
>> Yeah.
>> Judge Judy: I said,
"Did you have a good time
last night?"
You're in a new place.
You're in LA, right?
>> Yes.
Yes.
Had a good time.
>> Judge Judy: Flew you here.
>> Mm-hmm.
>> Judge Judy: What I'm
asking you is, did
you have a good time last night?
>> Yes, I had a good time.
>> Judge Judy:
Where did you have dinner?
>> At the hotel.
>> Judge Judy: With whom?
>> By myself.
>> Judge Judy: All by yourself?
>> Mm-hmm.
>> Judge Judy: And you're
going home today?
>> Tomorrow.
>> Judge Judy: Tomorrow?
>> Mm-hmm.
>> Judge Judy:
And you came when?
>> Last night, got in
about 5:00.
>> Judge Judy:
So you really only had a day?
>> Mm-hmm.
>> Judge Judy:
And you're going home tomorrow?
>> Mm-hmm.
>> Judge Judy:
Did you get to see your boss?
>> No, I come back in 2 weeks
to San Diego.
>> Judge Judy: Okay.
Mr. West, this is what your case
is about.
You and Mr. Ebel were friends.
You were going to Nicaragua with
a whole bunch of other people,
and you say that Mr. Ebel didn't
pay what he was supposed to pay.
He was a deadbeat.
He got on the trip with you,
and all of a sudden,
his credit cards were maxed.
You had to help him out
when he was there,
and he stayed an extra 3 days
after the rest of you left
because he came 3 days late,
and
he owes you all kinds of money.
>> Yes, ma'am.
>> Judge Judy:
What's your defense?
>> I don't owe him anything.
>> Judge Judy: I just want
to know what your defense is.
>> Oh, yeah.
>> Judge Judy:
If he paid for anything for you,
what's your defense?
>> My defense is that
he really wanted me
to go on this surfing trip,
and he begged me
to go basically.
He was like,
"You got to go on this.
I really want you to go."
I told him, "Look, I don't
have time right now at the time.
I don't have the money."
>> Judge Judy: Do they not know
that
we were brought up in Brooklyn?
Well, I was.
Did they not know that?
Where do you originally
come from, Mr. Ebel?
>> Maryland.
>> Judge Judy: Maryland?
And you?
>> Pensacola, Florida.
>> Judge Judy:
You know, Mr. West,
let me tell you my problem.
If I get a stinky sense
of a case...
But, you know, sometimes, I'm
wrong, sometimes happens,
so I don't want you
to be put out
if this is one of those cases
where I'm wrong.
I don't want you to be
out 1,000 bucks
or whatever you think
he owes you.
>> Yes, ma'am.
>> Judge Judy: So I'm going to
dismiss
your case without prejudice,
and you can go back and sue him
in Maryland or Virginia because
he's right over the bridge.
Got it?
Perfect.
Goodbye.