>> Judge Judy: Okay, the case is
not a difficult one.
Just the decision is a difficult
one.
You were driving in your car?
>> No, ma'am.
>> Judge Judy: You were walking.
>> I was walking.
I was outside of my apartment
complex.
I was talking to a friend of
mine.
>> Judge Judy: And you saw a
small dog.
>> Yes.
>> Judge Judy: Small, white
poodle?
>> Yes, ma'am.
>> Judge Judy: How much did it
weigh?
>> It's estimated in the report
about 6 pounds.
>> Judge Judy: And it was
without an owner and without a
leash.
>> And a collar.
>> Judge Judy: No collar?
>> No, ma'am.
>> Judge Judy: The dog belongs
to you.
>> Yes.
>> Judge Judy: At some point,
you went over to the dog to see
if --
>> No, the dog came to me.
>> Judge Judy: And you bent
down?
>> Yes, ma'am.
>> Judge Judy: What happened
when you bent down?
>> He smelled my hand.
I was petting him.
And then he left, and he crossed
the road, and he almost got hit
by a car for the second time.
>> Judge Judy: How large a road
is that?
>> It's a one-way circle, and in
the middle of that traffic
circle, there's a park.
>> Judge Judy: And did you
follow the dog with your eyes?
>> Yes, ma'am.
>> Judge Judy: You saw it cross
the road?
Then what did you do?
>> I looked for the owner.
Given that it is a park, some
owners will let their dogs off
leash, but they're nearby.
And I didn't see anybody in the
park.
So, the dog crossed the road
again.
>> Judge Judy: Cross back
towards you.
>> Back towards me, yes.
So, I kneeled down again.
The dog came over to me.
He smelled my hand.
I was petting him.
So, I evaluated the situation.
He didn't seem aggressive.
So, I felt comfortable enough.
I didn't want him to get hit by
a car.
His safety -- I was concerned.
>> Judge Judy: I understand.
I got it.
>> So, I went to pick him up,
and he turned around, and he bit
me three times on the left hand.
I have photos of the injuries.
>> Judge Judy: Okay, so, now you
have your hand.
Your hand is...
>> Right.
>> Judge Judy: Did you put the
dog -- I assume you put the dog
down.
>> I let go, and then I said,
"He's gonna go home to back
where he lives."
So, I watched to see where he
walked, and I followed him at a
safe distance.
And he was in front of
Ms. Garcia's apartment complex.
>> Judge Judy: Okay, about how
far is that from where you were?
>> It's not that far.
There's my apartment complex, a
duplex, and then her apartment
complex.
>> Judge Judy: Okay.
>> Just around the corner.
>> Judge Judy: Did you say
around the corner?
>> Yes, it's around the corner.
>> Judge Judy: So, you had to go
around a corner.
>> Yes.
>> Judge Judy: And take me step
by step.
So, the dog went to the
apartment complex.
>> Yes, ma'am.
He went in front of the
building.
He was smelling around.
A neighbor had come out of that
same apartment complex with her
small dog, and I said, "Be
careful.
That dog just bit me."
And she had said, "It happens
all the time.
He's out."
>> Judge Judy: Don't.
You can't tell me what she said.
How did you find the defendant?
>> Okay, I was on the phone with
Animal Control, reporting the
case, and while I was on the
phone, Ms. Garcia's daughter
exited the apartment complex.
>> Judge Judy: How old is her
daughter?
>> She's school-aged.
I'd say she's probably middle
school.
I'm not sure.
And I said, "Is that your dog?"
"Yes, it is."
I said, "Well, he just bit me,"
and I showed her my hand.
I had blood on my hand.
And she said, "What?"
At that time, Ms. Garcia was
getting out of her vehicle.
She comes up to me with
attitude, and she says, "What's
going on?"
And then I said, "Your dog just
bit me."
So, she walks up to her
daughter.
The daughter's now holding the
dog.
And the daughter says to
Ms. Garcia, "Yeah, she's
claiming that he 'bit' her."
And I said, "He did.
Look at the blood on my hand."
>> I did not say that.
>> Judge Judy: Okay.
>> This is not the daughter,
Your Honor.
>> Judge Judy: No, I understand.
>> Yeah.
>> Judge Judy: I got it.
I put it all together.
Okay, now I'll see pictures of
your hand.
>> I also...
The Animal Control report also
states that Ms. Garcia could not
provide proof that the dog had
its rabies vaccinations.
So, because of that, I had to
get treated for rabies.
I had excruciating pain shooting
up the inside of my arm.
>> Judge Judy: Tell me what the
rab-- it's been so long.
You used to have to get shots in
your stomach for rabies.
>> Not anymore.
It's a series of four
injections in your upper arm, in
your shoulder.
>> Judge Judy: And you got that
over what period of time?
>> Within, like, three weeks.
I have that here, as well, too.
>> Judge Judy: Okay.
Did you ever see this lady?
Did you ever see her?
>> You saw me at the door,
ma'am.
Don't lie.
>> Judge Judy: I don't want to
hear you unless I ask you a
question!
Do you understand that?
>> Yes, Your Honor.
>> Judge Judy: You never saw
her.
>> No, ma'am.
>> Judge Judy: The only two
people that you saw on that day
were Ms. Garcia and her
school-age daughter.
>> Yes, ma'am.
>> Liar.
>> Judge Judy: You weren't home,
so you don't know what
happened.
>> No.
>> Judge Judy: You were in your
car.
>> Yes, ma'am.
>> Judge Judy: So, you don't
know what happened.