So, you were living rent-free...
>> Right.
>> Judge Judy: ...gas,
utilities, everything else free.
>> Right.
>> Judge Judy: You were working
other jobs.
>> Yes.
>> Judge Judy: And Mr. Straw
says that this remodel job was
supposed to be finished in three
months, but now he has you
around July, August, September,
October, November, December,
January, February, March, April.
He has you around 10 months,
not paying rent.
Was the renovation complete?
>> As agreed upon --
>> Judge Judy: Bup, bup!
Before you -- Bup, bup!
Before you...
Was the renovation complete...
>> Yes.
>> Judge Judy: ...when you left?
>> Yes.
>> Judge Judy: So, you left --
Listen, we know you didn't leave
under satisfactory terms,
Mr. Eilola, because you were
arrested...
>> Right.
>> Judge Judy: ...for assault.
And you were arrested for
assault in April of 2017.
He was the victim, by the way,
correct?
>> Correct.
>> Judge Judy: And you were
arrested in April 2017, charged
with assault, and that matter
was, according to you in here,
"resolved."
>> Yes.
>> Judge Judy: Well, I've been
part of the judicial system for
a very, very long time, and the
criminal-justice system.
Case is either dismissed, you're
convicted after a jury trial,
you're convicted after a bench
trial, or you enter a plea of
guilty.
Sometimes you can enter a plea
of nolo contendere, which means,
"If I went to trial, I would be
found guilty, so I'll plead
guilty to whatever, but I'm not
pleading anything specifically."
How was your case resolved?!
>> I pled to disorderly conduct.
>> Judge Judy: You pled guilty.
>> To disorderly conduct.
>> Judge Judy: You pled guilty
to disorderly conduct in a case
that originated with the assault
on Mr. Straw.
>> Yes, I did.
>> Judge Judy: Okay.
So, you didn't leave under
friendly circumstances, so if
you say that the renovations
were complete on the house,
Mr. Eilola, why was there an
assault?
>> May I explain?
>> Judge Judy: No.
Let's go back.
We'll withdraw that question.
In what month were the
renovations complete?
>> They were completed the end
of May.
>> Judge Judy: The end of May?
You weren't there in May.
You left in April.
>> Oh, excuse me. I meant March.
>> Judge Judy: So, the
renovations were finished
in March.
>> Correct.
>> Judge Judy: Beginning,
middle, or end of March?
>> Very end of March, beyond
what was agreed upon.
>> Judge Judy: What do you mean,
beyond what was agreed upon?
>> The porch was not to be
included whatsoever, and I had
125 hours into the porch that I
put in as extra work.
It needed renovation.
It was in horrible condition.
It's not very nice.
>> Judge Judy: You were living
there rent-free.
It's fine.
Where are you living now?
>> I have an apartment.
>> Judge Judy: Where?
>> In Bloomington, Minnesota.
>> Judge Judy: And who do you
live with?
>> I have a roommate.
>> Judge Judy: Okay.
And what is the rent on the
apartment?
>> $1,600.
>> Judge Judy: A month?
>> Yes. We split it.
>> Judge Judy: Look, you were
living in a whole house,
a 5-bedroom house,
for 10 months,
not paying a thing.
>> It was in deplorable
condition when I moved in.
>> Judge Judy: That was your
choice.
>> Correct.
>> Judge Judy: What you're suing
for are wages.
Now, did anyone other than the
plaintiff work on the renovation
of your home?
>> I-I helped with it.
>> Judge Judy: J-J--
Be careful what you say to me.
You know, I'm like a viper.
Did anyone other than the
plaintiff do the work on your
house?
>> I helped.
>> Judge Judy: When?
>> Here and there.
>> Judge Judy: Here and there?
>> Yeah. He did most of it.
>> Judge Judy: So, he did the
work on the house.
>> Most of it, yes.
>> Judge Judy: Now, you're no
longer there.
You're no longer in the house.
>> Right.
>> Judge Judy: When did you and
your son move out of the house?
Month.
>> Okay.
>> Judge Judy: When did you move
out of the house, young man?
>> In the middle of the summer.
I can't exactly remember. Sorry.
>> Judge Judy: What?
>> I can't exactly remember.
>> Judge Judy: It's right here.
We're not talking
about 10 years ago.
What month did you move out,
Mr. Straw?
>> I believe it was June.
>> Judge Judy: Beginning,
middle, or end?
And then I'm gonna get the phone
number from you of the tenant on
the house.
You moved at the beginning,
middle, or the end of June?
>> I started moving out the
middle.
>> Judge Judy: Of June?
>> Yes.
>> Judge Judy: And when did the
tenant move in?
>> The last week of June.
>> Judge Judy: And on what date
was this confrontation with
Mr. Eilola that he pled guilty
to assaulting you?
What date in April?
>> 7th.
>> Judge Judy: Do you have
receipts, bills, invoices from
any other contractor who worked
on your house after the 7th of
April and before June?
>> No.
>> Judge Judy: Were you employed
from April --
in your business --
from April to June?
>> Yes.
>> Judge Judy: What were you
doing?
>> I deliver sandwiches.
>> Judge Judy: All day?
>> Pretty much.
>> Judge Judy: And you were
working?
>> Yes, ma'am.
>> Judge Judy: So, then, let me
figure this out.
The house was in, after the
plaintiff left, reasonable
enough shape for you to rent it
at a profit...
>> Yes, ma'am.
>> Judge Judy: ...without
employing anyone else to finish
what he didn't do, and you work
full-time, so you didn't
do it...
>> Correct.
>> Judge Judy: ...and you didn't
pay him anything.
>> Correct.
>> Judge Judy: Judgment for the
plaintiff in the amount of
$5,000.
We're finished.
Thank you very much.
>> Byrd: Parties are excused.
You may step out.
>> I came home from work.
He was frying a grilled-cheese
sandwich on my glass-top stove
without a frying pan...
>> No, nothing at all like that.
>> ...and he hit me.
>> I said, "You owe me $15,000."
>> It was already done.
>> I don't want to see that
pers