FULL VIDEO AT THE END OF THIS POST
THIS EXCUSE DID NOT GO WELL IN COURT!
A Basement Stay Turns Sour
Imagine trying to explain your living situation to Judge Judy.
It is not an easy task.
Mr. Pestori, the plaintiff, is suing Diane, the defendant.
He claims she has his personal property.
Diane, in turn, has a counterclaim for harassment.
Mr. Pestori's Shifting Story
Judge Judy immediately questions Mr. Pestori about his past.
She asks about his divorce.
He says he is "just separated right now."
Then he admits he separated six years ago from the same wife.
Judge Judy notes that this "is not going to be easy."
She presses him on his address in April.
He first says his "old address, my old house."
Then he says his "parents' house."
He confirms he moved from his wife's house to his parents' house.
Living in a Car
Judge Judy asks if his parents threw him out.
He says no.
She then asks why he was living in his car.
He clarifies that was after his parents' house.
He states he was living in his car on May 24th, 23rd, and 22nd.
He then admits his parents "basically, yes" asked him to leave.
So, he went from his wife's house, to his parents' house, then to his car.
The Nephew Connection
Mr. Pestori met Diane through his friend, Rich.
Rich is Diane's nephew.
Rich confirms he is Mr. Pestori's business partner in landscaping.
Judge Judy asks Rich if he knows about Mr. Pestori's problems.
Rich says he is not familiar with any.
Judge Judy questions why Rich's business partner would be thrown out by his parents.
Rich explains they had "family issues at home."
He describes them as "basic problems" and "slight arguments."
Diane's Christian Kindness
Diane explains how she met Mr. Pestori.
She ran into her nephew, Rich, at Walmart.
Rich introduced her to Mr. Pestori.
Mr. Pestori was having problems with his parents.
He asked Diane if anyone was in her basement.
Diane says her nephew knew her house.
Her nephew asked if the basement was available for his friend.
Diane says Mr. Pestori had never been in her basement before.
She tells him she is not interested in renting.
She says her basement needs painting.
She suggests they could "work something out."
The Basement Agreement
Mr. Pestori came to her house.
He wanted to rent the basement for six hundred.
Diane says she would not take six hundred.
She says she would consider two hundred.
Mr. Pestori then said the least he would take is a thousand.
Diane says she told him no.
He then offered to do some work, like painting.
Diane confirms she needed painting and yard work.
She says he came to her house a couple of times after that.
He kept asking about renting the basement.
She kept saying no.
The Call for Help
Diane says one day she was going to Bible study.
Mr. Pestori called her.
He told her he had been living in his car for three days.
He had no place to go.
Diane says her heart went out to him.
As a "Christian woman," she wanted to help.
She told him he could come to her house.
She made it clear he was not renting.
It was a short-term stay to help him out.
He was to do painting and yard work in exchange.
He told her he had no money, not even for food.
Diane gave him a coffee maker and food.
The $200 Payment
Judge Judy asks if he ever gave her any money.
Diane says yes, $200.