FULL VIDEO AT THE END OF THE POST
A Long Friendship Ends
Kendra Thomas, the plaintiff, sued her former friend, Ray Christian Hood.
They had been friends for 11 or 12 years.
They had lived together in several different places.
Most recently, they shared a two-bedroom apartment in Arlington.
The lease for this apartment was in Ms. Thomas's name.
However, they were roommates, each responsible for their own portion of the rent.
The December Altercation
A fight occurred in December 2018.
This fight turned physical, according to Ms. Thomas.
Ms. Thomas left the apartment after the altercation.
Ms. Hood then changed the locks on the door.
This action prevented Ms. Thomas from retrieving her belongings.
Ms. Thomas had already paid her share of December's rent.
She sought the return of her property, her security deposit, and a portion of December's rent.
The $3 Bottle of Wine
Judge Judy asked what the fight was about.
Ms. Thomas stated it was about a $3 bottle of wine.
She described the situation as "crazy."
Ms. Thomas explained that Ms. Hood had offered her wine the night before.
She drank a couple of cups of wine.
The next day, Ms. Hood was talking to her boyfriend about the wine.
Ms. Hood reportedly said she would not share her things again.
Ms. Hood's Version of the Wine Incident
Ms. Hood presented a different account of the wine incident.
She claimed she offered Ms. Thomas a glass of wine.
However, Ms. Thomas drank the entire bottle.
Ms. Hood then complained to her boyfriend about it.
This complaint led to Ms. Thomas yelling at her.
Ms. Hood stated she offered a glass, not the whole bottle.
She questioned why Ms. Thomas was pushing her in the face over it.
Assault Counterclaim
Ms. Hood filed a counterclaim for assault.
She alleged that Ms. Thomas assaulted her in December.
Judge Judy noted the long friendship between the two women.
She also assumed both women worked.
Medical Bills as Evidence
Ms. Hood presented medical bills as proof of her injuries.
The bills were dated March 16.
This date was three months after the alleged assault in December.
The bills indicated treatment for an antibiotic.
Ms. Hood claimed she went to the doctor because her hair was not growing back.
She stated that patches of her hair were still not growing back.
Judge Judy Questions Medical Evidence
Judge Judy examined the medical bills.
She noted that Ms. Hood was given an antibiotic.
Judge Judy questioned why an antibiotic would be prescribed for hair loss.
She found the explanation "ridiculous."
Ms. Hood insisted that Ms. Thomas pulled her hair out.
She urged Judge Judy to look at her hair.
Judge Judy stated she was not looking at Ms. Hood's hair.
She explained that the medical proof showed Ms. Hood saw a doctor for an illness in March.
This was three months after the incident.
The treatment was an antibiotic.
Dismissal of Counterclaim
Judge Judy dismissed Ms. Hood's counterclaim.
She called the counterclaim "nonsense."
Ms. Hood continued to insist she had proof.
She claimed Ms. Thomas pulled her hair out.
Eviction and Security Deposit
Ms. Hood stated she had recently moved out of the apartment.
She was evicted for non-payment of rent.
Ms. Hood claimed she was a "victim" of the eviction.
She said she paid rent in January but not in February.
The rent was $995 plus utilities, totaling about $1,095 or $1,100 per month.
Ms. Thomas's claim included the return of her security deposit.
Judge Judy addressed the security deposit claim.
She explained that since Ms. Hood was evicted, she would not have received the security deposit back.
Therefore, Ms. Thomas's claim for the security deposit was moot.
Agreement on Rent Payment
Ms. Thomas stated their agreement was to split the rent.
Ms. Hood contradicted this.
Ms. Hood claimed she agreed to Ms. Thomas paying only $500 per month.
She said she was going to cover everything else.
Retrieving Belongings
Ms. Thomas sought the return of her belongings.
She mentioned a bed and a mirror.
Ms. Thomas said she made several attempts to retrieve her items.
She tried a couple of days later, a week later, and two weeks later.
She decided to sue when she realized she could not get her belongings.
This realization occurred around the end of January.
Ms. Thomas stated she called Ms. Hood.
She did not know Ms. Hood was being evicted.
Ms. Hood's Account of Belongings
Ms. Hood claimed she tried to contact Ms. Thomas.
She wanted Ms. Thomas to pick up her belongings.
Ms. Hood even arranged for her brother to help.
However, Ms. Thomas never followed through.
Ms. Hood stated she got "put out" of the apartment.
She tried calling Ms. Thomas on the number she had, but there was no answer.
Evidence of Belongings for Sale
Ms. Thomas presented photographs as evidence.
The photographs showed a mirror and a room.
She claimed these pictures showed her belongings listed for sale online by Ms. Hood.
Ms. Thomas stated her son saw the items on "five mouths."
They pulled up the listing.
She had to prove that the room in the picture was hers.
She identified her floor and her mirror in the background of the pictures.
The listing was marked "unavailable."
Ms. Thomas believed Ms. Hood took it off when she realized Ms. Thomas had seen it.
Final Ruling
Judge Judy ruled in favor of the plaintiff, Kendra Thomas.
The counterclaim filed by Ray Christian Hood was dismissed.
Ms. Thomas was awarded $1,137.