The Daughter's Emancipation Attempt
Judge Judy asked Ms. Kane about her relationship with her parents.
She inquired if her parents had helped her with college or living expenses.
Ms. Kane stated they did not help her with college.
The judge was trying to understand why Ms. Kane would think her mother purposely stole from her.
Ms. Kane explained that she wanted to move out around age 17.
She wanted to emancipate or move out but was told she had to graduate.
She graduated at 18 and moved out immediately.
Ms. Kane felt she was sheltered and not allowed to do many things.
She wanted to hang out with friends and go to activities.
She was working and had a vehicle.
She stated they were not getting along.
Ms. Kane confirmed she had a boyfriend around that time.
Moving Out at Eighteen
When Ms. Kane left home at 18, she moved in with a boyfriend and a roommate.
She clarified that she first moved in with her grandmother for over a year.
Then she moved in with her boyfriend.
Judge Judy noted that Ms. Kane's plan was to leave the house.
The judge also pointed out that Ms. Kane became a legal owner of the CD when she turned 18.
Ms. Kane was, in fact, a legal owner of the account at that point.
Insufficient Proof
Judge Judy told Ms. Kane that she would like to help her.
However, the judge stated there was not enough evidence to suggest Ms. Friedman closed the account.
The account, according to Ms. Kane, contained her money from her work.
Ms. Friedman had no recollection of closing the account.
Ms. Kane also had no recollection of closing the account during what was a volatile time in her life.
Ms. Kane confirmed she moved away and never came back to Crowley.
She moved to Keller first and then elsewhere.
Mother's Explanation
Ms. Friedman stated that if she had taken the money, it would have been to help her daughter.
She said she would have given it back to her daughter.
Ms. Friedman reiterated that she did not remember taking the money.
She also stated she did not remember closing the account.
She said she would not have taken her daughter's money.
Ms. Friedman explained that she had four daughters.
She said she had done everything she could for her children.
She still does things for her children today.
The Husband's Involvement
Ms. Kane's husband attempted to speak.
Judge Judy told him to keep out of it.
The judge stated that Ms. Kane had only one mother.
She could have many husbands.
Judge Judy advised the husband not to stoke the situation.
The judge called it a terrible thing for a child to allege that a parent is a thief.
She acknowledged that Ms. Kane might believe it.
However, Judge Judy stated there was no proof of it.
Relationship Before the Dispute
Judge Judy asked Ms. Friedman about her work.
Ms. Friedman said she worked at a college.
She had worked there for four years, off and on, while going to school.
The judge asked if Ms. Friedman had enjoyed a reasonable relationship with her daughter prior to this CD business.
Ms. Friedman confirmed they had a reasonable relationship.
They were talking until Ms. Kane said she found out her mother's signature was on the closing papers.
Ms. Friedman clarified that her signature was not on the closing papers.
She stated the bank would not give her any signatures.
The bank said they did not have anything.
The Bank's Problem
Judge Judy commented that it was the bank's problem.
The bank might not have things because they were sloppy in the transfer.
The judge addressed Ms. Kane.
She noted that Ms. Kane had a reasonable relationship with her mother.
Ms. Kane was also married and almost 30 years old.
Judge Judy stated she would not want to believe anything negative about her parent.
She told Ms. Kane she could not suggest she modify her thinking.
However, based on what was presented, there was insufficient proof.
The Verdict
Judge Judy found there was insufficient proof to conclude that Ms. Friedman took the money out of the bank.
The case was concluded.
Ms. Friedman expressed her hurt.
She said she has four daughters, and Ms. Kane is the oldest.
She reiterated that she had done everything for her children.
Ms. Friedman said she did not believe the accusation and still did not want to believe it.
She continues to do things for her children.
Ms. Kane stated she still never found out what happened to her account.
She felt she did not deserve this outcome.
Ms. Friedman suggested it sounded like bank errors.
She hoped Ms. Kane would have a happy marriage.