FULL VIDEO AT THE END OF THIS POST
THIS TENANT'S STORY HAD JUDGE JUDY QUESTIONING HIS MOTIVES!
A Room for Rent Turns Into a Courtroom Battle
Imagine finding a room for rent online.
You like it.
You pay a deposit.
Then things get weird.
That is exactly what Mr. Garcia says happened to him.
The Plaintiff Seeks His Money Back
Mr. Garcia is the plaintiff in this case.
He is suing Ms. Belotti, the defendant.
He wants his security deposit and rent money returned.
He claims he agreed to rent a room from her.
He says he later decided not to take the room.
Finding the Room on Craigslist
Mr. Garcia saw an ad for a room on Craigslist.
This was on August 13th.
The very next day, August 14th, he emailed Ms. Belotti.
They exchanged emails.
Then he went to see the room.
He liked the room.
It was close to his work.
The Agreement and the First Payment
Ms. Belotti wanted a $700 deposit.
She also wanted $700 for the room.
The total was $1,400.
Mr. Garcia agreed to take the room.
He gave Ms. Belotti a $400 check on August 14th.
He was supposed to move in on September 1st.
This was an oral agreement.
There was no written lease.
More Money Changes Hands
Mr. Garcia saw Ms. Belotti again.
This was on the Monday after that weekend.
He brought her more money.
He gave her $880 in cash.
An Uncomfortable Encounter
Mr. Garcia describes feeling uncomfortable.
He says Ms. Belotti gave him a hug and a kiss on the cheek.
This happened after he gave her the first check.
He called it a "screech of the tire."
He wondered if she was looking for a relationship.
Judge Judy noted his discomfort.
Judge Judy Questions the Plaintiff's Actions
Judge Judy pointed out a contradiction.
If he felt so uncomfortable, why did he give her more money?
Mr. Garcia explained the $880 was cash.
It was money he had made over the weekend.
He still gave it to her despite his feelings.
The Decision to Not Rent the Room
Mr. Garcia told Ms. Belotti he no longer wanted the room.
This was on August 25th.
He claims they were supposed to sign an agreement that day.
He told her he didn't feel comfortable.
He also mentioned his brother's wedding and other things going on.
She told him to sleep on it.
He texted her later to say he was not going to stay.
The Text Message Claim
Mr. Garcia claims he has a text message.
He says Ms. Belotti stated she would give him back $1,280.
He also claims she said she would look for other people.
He says she even told him she had people looking for the room.
Judge Judy wanted to see this text message.
Judge Judy Clarifies the Law
Judge Judy explained the legal situation.
Mr. Garcia is not entitled to his money back.
Not unless Ms. Belotti agreed to return it.
She took her ad down from Craigslist.
She couldn't rent the room for September.
If she couldn't rent the room due to his change of heart, she wasn't required to return his money.
This included both the security and rent deposit.
The Security Deposit Question
Ms. Belotti stated she put the ad back up on September 2nd.
She said she couldn't get the room rented.
Judge Judy then focused on the security deposit.
She asked Ms. Belotti why she didn't send back the security deposit.
Ms. Belotti said she didn't know until that day he wasn't moving in.
Judge Judy pressed her on the purpose of a security deposit.
It is for damages, not rent.
Mr. Garcia never moved in.
He couldn't have caused any damage.
The Text Message Evidence Revisited
Mr. Garcia tried to show a text message.
He believed it was on tab number 8.
He thought it showed Ms. Belotti agreeing to return his money.
The text message shown said, "Gabe, you may be in luck.
I think I have a girl that might want it, and I'll keep you posted."
Judge Judy noted this text did not say she would give the money back.
Mr. Garcia insisted there was another text.
He said it mentioned three people coming.
He claimed it said she would give the money back if she rented it.
The Final Ruling
Judge Judy stated Mr. Garcia was entitled to his security deposit back.
He was not entitled to the rent back.
Ms. Belotti couldn't rent the apartment.
He decided to change his mind five days before moving in.
He could have moved in earlier, the week of the 17th.
Ms. Belotti was holding the apartment for him.
Judge Judy awarded Mr. Garcia $700.
This was for the security deposit.
It did not include the $700 for September's rent.
Watch the Full Judge Judy Case Below
See how this case unfolds.
Witness the exchange about the text messages.
Scroll down.
Press play.
FULL VIDEO
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kMky0F4GDmg
