>> Judge Judy: When you got into
an argument,
did the argument
become physical?
No.
So tell me
what the argument was.
>> The argument he's talking
about is
because on my way downstairs
to leave to go to work,
his dog
had gone to the bathroom,
and I was already late to work.
So I...
>> Judge Judy: His dog or your
dog?
>> His dog.
>> Judge Judy: His dog.
>> Yes.
>> Judge Judy: And?
>> And I didn't pick it up.
>> Judge Judy: Okay.
Is it your dog?
>> That was never
really made clear.
>> Judge Judy: Okay.
Fine.
So that's what the argument
was about.
You still didn't tell me
why you moved out.
>> I moved out for a whole bunch
of reasons.
At first, me and him
were really good friends.
So everything was going fine.
But whenever, I know you said
it didn't matter,
but we did make an agreement
that, you know,
his car broke down on him.
And he kept asking to use mine.
And after...
>> Two times, Your Honor.
>> After gas and insurance,
I was letting him use it daily,
and I let him drop me off
at work and everything.
So I said, "In order to do this,
it's going to cover what I owe
you."
And we came to that agreement.
So I let him use it every day
for 3 months.
And after, towards the end
of that 3 months...
>> Judge Judy: Well, but you --
Just a second.
I don't believe that story
because you told me
that the only month you
didn't pay was the first month.
You paid your half of the rent
in the month of April
and in the month of May.
>> Because he was wanting
that first month
and for the security deposit.
And I agreed to him that I would
help refund some of the money,
since he put it forth first.
>> Judge Judy: Well, that would
be $600.
So he used $600 worth of gas
for 2 months?
>> No.
But in order -- if he wasn't
using my car,
he would have to rent a vehicle
and have to pay for that.
>> Judge Judy: Okay.
>> And we made that agreement.
>> Judge Judy: Okay.
So continue.
>> Okay.
Anyway, I started
dating my girlfriend.
And she lived
in Ohio at the time.
>> Judge Judy: So you needed
your car.
>> I needed my car, yeah.
>> Judge Judy: You needed your
car, and you told him he
couldn't have use of the car
anymore.
>> Yeah.
>> Judge Judy: And?
>> And I went to Ohio.
And I had, like, a lovely time.
And I wanted to actually
move there.
But I knew I was still
in my lease and everything.
So I was going to come back
and try to find a way to either
get an early out of my lease
or wait it out.
But whenever I came back, I had
heard from a bunch of my friends
that he was making fun of me
and a bunch of different things.
And then it kind of escalated
from there.
And he kept, you know,
getting in my face
and just being like,
"Where's my $500?"
I was like, "Look, I let you use
my car for all that time.
If you still need money
because you don't have a job,
I can go ahead and give you
a little money here and there."
But I'm a waiter
at Steak 'n Shake.
And, like, the argument
would go away for a day.
>> Judge Judy: You have enough
money to go to Ohio.
>> Well, yeah.
I had enough.
Well, it was only $60 gas
to get there.
And then she helped me get back.
>> And the hotel room.
>> Yes, and a hotel room.
>> Judge Judy: So you had money
to go to Ohio.
>> I admit that.
But I was thinking
$500 that point.
And, like, none of this was
brought up until after
I had gotten back from Ohio
because he knew I had been going
and knowing
there was no conflict
until I got back.
And then, you know,
it just escalated from there.
It kept getting, like, you know,
more and more...
>> Judge Judy: I got it.
>> Yeah.
>> Judge Judy: I got it.
Okay, good.
So this is what I think,
Mr. Knott.
I think that I will give you
2 months' worth of rent
from Mr. Underwood
for the 2 months that you should
have found a new roommate
because I gather
you don't have any... Yes.
>> And also I found out, because
we shared personal friends,
after I had moved out,
someone did move in
and was living in my room.
I was friends with someone
who was dating that person.
>> Judge Judy: Is that true?
>> I had a friend
who was going to move in
but never did move in.
>> Judge Judy: $300
he owes you for the first month.
Now...
You have a counterclaim?
We'll get to it.
Money owed for damage to the
couch
and the ottoman and the chair,
plus a return of the value
of a hammock
and the destruction of mail.
Now, Mr. Underwood,
you haven't had any contact
with him,
I assume, for the last 9 months.
>> Yes.
>> Judge Judy: What are you
doing here today?
If the couch was important,
the ottoman
was important to you,
the hammock
was important to you,
your mail that he ripped up
and put in a bag, 9 months ago,
you would have been
at the courthouse door
filing a complaint.
Do we understand each other?
>> Yes.
>> Judge Judy: Good.
Judgment for the plaintiff
in the amount of $300.
We are done.
>> Oh, ma'am.
I still have counter.
Well, I'm sorry.
Can I add something?
I apologize.
The reason I'm bringing it up
now is because I didn't know
until I'm moved back to Missouri
that he was trying to sue me.
>> Judge Judy: Good.
That's a witch hunt.
Thank you.
>> Byrd: Parties are excused.
You may step out.
>> Well, I'm transgender.
So I heard him, like,
making fun of my identity
with other friends...
>> That's a complete lie.
>> ...and kind of making
a fool of me.
>> I never made fun of Jax
for any reason.
>> And that's kind of
what also led to me leaving
because, you know...
>> It's nonexistent now.
>> I was rooming with him
because he was my friend.
I didn't belong there anymore
after all that.
>> Yes, it does upset me
because I lost a good friend.
>> He started getting violent.
I just needed out.