FULL VIDEO AT THE END OF THIS POST
NO WRITTEN AGREEMENT FOR COLLEGE TUITION!
A College Tuition Dispute Lands in Court
Imagine standing before Judge Judy, trying to prove a verbal agreement.
That is the challenge Mr. Bowman faces.
The Plaintiff Seeks Tuition Reimbursement
Mr. Bowman is the plaintiff.
He is suing his ex-wife, the defendant.
Their daughter, Haley, is also present.
Mr. Bowman and the defendant were married for 11 years.
They divorced in 2007.
Their daughter, Haley, is 19 years old.
Mr. Bowman claims an agreement was made regarding Haley's college tuition.
He is suing his ex-wife for half of the tuition for their daughter's first semester of her second year of college.
The Original Divorce Decree and Child Support
Judge Judy asks about the divorce judgment.
She wants to know if it mentioned college tuition.
Mr. Bowman confirms it was silent on that matter.
He then mentions a revisement for child support.
This revisement was for the first year.
Judge Judy clarifies that the original judgment did not address college tuition.
Haley lived with her father.
Her father paid child support.
Mr. Bowman states it was around $95 a week.
Judge Judy has paperwork showing it was $315 a month.
The First Year College Agreement
Haley was 17 when she was ready for college.
Mr. Bowman claims he and his ex-wife made an agreement.
She would cancel the child support order.
He would pay for the first year of college tuition.
Mr. Bowman confirms this agreement.
The tuition for the first year was almost $13,000.
He paid this amount out of pocket.
His ex-wife did cancel the child support order.
The Alleged Agreement for Subsequent Years
Mr. Bowman explains the agreement in detail.
They were at Haley's freshman year orientation.
They visited the financial aid area.
They saw a paper showing scholarships, loans, and out-of-pocket costs.
Mr. Bowman and his ex-wife discussed the paper.
He said he would pay the first year.
This was on the condition that she canceled the support agreement.
He also stated she would pay for half of the rest of Haley's college.
He claims she said, "That sounds like a pretty good deal."
He asked if she was sure she could do that.
He says she replied, "Yeah."
She added, "I'll get a loan if I have to and you know me, I always land on my feet."
The Defendant's Denial and Lack of Written Proof
Judge Judy asks the defendant if she agreed to contribute half of the tuition for the second year.
The defendant states, "I did not."
Judge Judy asks Mr. Bowman if he has anything in writing.
He confirms, "No, nothing in writing."
He also confirms she did not pay half the tuition.
He paid the entire tuition for that semester.
Haley's Reason for Leaving School
Judge Judy asks Haley why she dropped out of school.
Haley explains her father complained about the cost.
She says it was his idea for her to leave her first college.
He wanted her closer to home.
He said the first college was too expensive.
Haley went to a different university.
She did not like it there.
She was not interested.
She dropped out.
Mr. Bowman's Delay in Suing
Mr. Bowman paid the tuition in August.
Haley left school in December.
Judge Judy asks why he did not sue his ex-wife in the months between.
He says he could not get a hold of her.
He wanted to tell her she would owe half.
Judge Judy asks how he got a hold of her now.
He says the show's people contacted her.
The defendant explains Mr. Bowman had been trying to get her address.
He claimed it was for tax purposes.
She knew this was not true.
They had been divorced for seven years.
She did not feel she needed to talk to him.
She never called him back.
When the show called, she knew what was happening.
Judge Judy's Ruling on the Verbal Agreement
Judge Judy tells Mr. Bowman she is not satisfied.
She does not believe he had a contract with his ex-wife.
He has nothing in writing to support his claim.
He did not sue her when the tuition was due.
He paid the tuition himself.
Judge Judy believes he is angry that Haley dropped out.
She asks if he paid for any more tuition.
He says there was no more tuition.
Mr. Bowman states he assumed his ex-wife would pay.
Judge Judy warns him about assumptions.
She says, "Don't sue many things, sir, when you assume things, when you assume things, you usually lose in court."
She emphasizes the need for proof.
Mr. Bowman mentions proof that she canceled the support order.
Judge Judy clarifies that was for the first year.
She points out he was paying more for college than child support.
She says it was a wise thing for his ex-wife to do.
Mr. Bowman argues it would have evened out if she paid half of the rest of college.
The Child Support Question
Judge Judy asks Mr. Bowman a crucial question.
Did he resume paying child support during the first semester of Haley's sophomore year?
He replies, "No, no, ma'am."
She asks why not.
He states, "She was in college, and I was paying for college."
Judge Judy responds, "That's right.
Now you got it.
Thank you.
Goodbye."
Watch the Full Judge Judy Case Below
See how this verbal agreement unfolds.
The ending is a classic Judge Judy moment.
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FULL VIDEO
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8vaMEF83pzc
