FULL VIDEO AT THE END OF THE POST
The Landlord-Tenant Dispute Begins
Ms. Sims, the defendant, faced her former tenant in court.
The plaintiff claimed Ms. Sims, her former landlord, kept her security deposit.
She also alleged Ms. Sims disposed of some of her property.
Ms. Sims denied disposing of any property.
She stated the security deposit was withheld because the tenant did not provide proper 30-day notice.
Ms. Sims also claimed there was serious damage to the home.
She filed a counterclaim for these damages and unpaid rent.
The Tenancy Details
The plaintiff had been Ms. Sims' tenant for approximately 18 months.
The property was a private house.
The plaintiff lived there with her three children and her grandson.
A roommate, identified as her nephew and a long-time friend, also lived there.
This nephew paid $400 in rent.
Six months after they moved in, the grandson's father moved from California.
He also paid $400 in rent.
The total rent for the house was $950.
The plaintiff explained that the $400 payments from the nephew and grandson's father included their share of bills.
These bills covered cable, internet, water, garbage, and lights.
The plaintiff stated she also paid rent.
Judge Judy noted that if two people paid $400 each, that totaled $800.
This would mean the plaintiff's share for herself, her three children, and her grandson was $150.
The plaintiff provided a copy of her lease.
Discrepancies in Occupancy
Judge Judy reviewed the lease agreement.
The lease stated three children.
The plaintiff clarified that four children moved in with them.
She considered her 24-year-old daughter one of her children, even if the landlord did not.
The plaintiff stated her grandson moved in with them in June 2013 from California.
This was with the rest of the family.
The Move-Out and Alleged Abandonment
The plaintiff moved out of the property in November 2014.
She had paid November's rent.
On November 20th, 2014, Ms. Sims entered the house.
She changed the locks on that day.
Ms. Sims claimed she found an abandoned dog inside the property.
She called the police regarding the dog.
Ms. Sims stated the utilities were turned off, which she considered evidence of abandoned property.
She also claimed the premises were abandoned.
Police Involvement and Conflicting Accounts
Three police reports were discussed in court.
One police report documented Ms. Sims calling the police on November 20th.
The police advised the plaintiff that she had until the end of the month to move out.
A second police report was filed on November 23rd, 2014.
In this report, the nephew/friend told police he had moved out three days prior, on November 20th.
The plaintiff, however, claimed her nephew was still living there.
She stated he was feeding and taking care of the dog.
The plaintiff also mentioned leaving a note for Ms. Sims.
This note stated they were still coming for their things.
It also asked Ms. Sims not to let the dog out.
The Landlord's Actions and Admissions
Ms. Sims admitted she received November's rent.
She also admitted entering the property on November 20th.
She changed the locks on that date.
Ms. Sims stated she turned off the utilities between November 25th and 30th, 2014.
The plaintiff's lease officially ended on November 30th, 2014.
The house was re-rented on December 8th, 2014.
Ms. Sims acknowledged to the police that she would take responsibility for missing items.
The Disputed Property Items
The plaintiff claimed Ms. Sims took several items.
These included a big screen TV, a PlayStation 3, a basketball hoop, fencing, a glider rocker, a weight bench, and weights.
Ms. Sims admitted to disposing of a "bullet-ridden TV."