FULL VIDEO AT THE END OF THIS POST
THIS EXCUSE DID NOT GO WELL IN COURT!
A Motorcycle Repair Goes Sideways
Imagine bringing an old motorcycle in for repairs.
You expect it to come back running.
But what if it doesn't?
The Parties and Their Claims
Ms. Masters is the plaintiff.
She bought an old motorcycle.
She wanted it fixed.
Mr. Graybao is the defendant.
He owns a motorcycle shop.
Ms. Masters and/or her stepfather, Mr. Sepulveda, gave Mr. Graybao money for repairs.
Ms. Masters is suing to get her money back.
She claims the work was not done properly.
The motorcycle is still not running.
Mr. Graybao claims he did the work for which he was paid.
Judge Judy Questions the Shop Owner's Practices
Judge Judy asks Mr. Graybao about his full-time work.
He states he is the owner of a motorcycle shop.
He has owned the shop for 17 years.
He has two employees.
Judge Judy asks if he gave Ms. Masters an estimate.
Mr. Graybao says he gave Mr. Sepulveda an estimate.
He states it was approximately $2,000.
Judge Judy asks if it was in writing.
Mr. Graybao answers no.
Judge Judy observes that he has been in business for 17 years.
She gets a feeling he is running his business "a little loosey-goosey."
She explains that customers expect an estimate in writing.
Mr. Graybao confirms this is correct.
Judge Judy asks again if he gave a written estimate for $2,000.
He says no.
He explains it was an old bike.
It needed so much work.
They had to do it a little bit at a time.
He claims he kept Mr. Sepulveda updated on costs.
He says Mr. Sepulveda wanted many things done.
It was hard to give a total estimate.
Judge Judy asks if there was no direction when the bike was first brought in.
Mr. Graybao says there was direction.
They were to install switches and wiring.
He states the customers brought most of the parts.
He was just supposed to put them in.
He confirms this was the initial instruction.
He says his labor would be roughly $2,000.
Ms. Masters' Conflicting Account
Ms. Masters states Mr. Graybao did not tell her the labor would be $2,000.
She says he told her they could fix the bike.
She asked for turn signals and a flat tire repair.
She told him to update her as they got to it.
Judge Judy calls this a "ridiculous statement from an adult."
She emphasizes that a customer should ask for the cost of specific repairs.
Ms. Masters admits she did not ask for an estimate.
She says she trusted him.
Judge Judy asks why she is bothering her then.
The Motorcycle's Condition and the Surprise
Ms. Masters states she paid Mr. Graybao $2,000 and some change.
She has the bike.
It is in another shop.
It is not running.
Judge Judy concludes Mr. Graybao did not do a good job.
She says Ms. Masters should never use him again.
She calls it "buyer's remorse."
Judge Judy states she does not understand the lawsuit.
She says Mr. Graybao may be a lousy mechanic.
But he did not extort money.
Ms. Masters states she called and got a quote over the phone.
She told Mr. Sepulveda about it.
Mr. Sepulveda dropped off the bike as a surprise.
He knew the quote.
They had a box of parts with a list.
Judge Judy asks to see the quote.
Ms. Masters says there was never an estimate.
It was verbal over the phone.
She says he told her it would be about $500 to put those parts in.