FULL VIDEO AT THE END OF THIS POST
THIS EXCUSE DID NOT GO WELL IN COURT!
A Rent Dispute Lands in Front of Judge Judy
Imagine trying to explain your finances to Judge Judy.
This defendant finds himself in that exact spot.
Miss Leong is the plaintiff in this case.
She is suing her former tenant, Mr. Brown.
Mr. Brown is the defendant.
The dispute is over unpaid rent and a security deposit.
Mr. Brown's Living Situation
Judge Judy starts by asking Mr. Brown about his living arrangements.
He lived in Miss Leong's house from late March of 2018 to late May of 2019.
He lived there with his co-parent and caregiver, Iola.
Mr. Brown explains they have three children together.
He states Iola is his caregiver because he is disabled.
They are not in a relationship.
Their children are three, two, and one years old.
Iola does not work outside the home.
She is paid by the state to be his caregiver.
This payment is around three hundred dollars a month.
Mr. Brown has been disabled since 2002.
Before that, he was a factory worker.
He has three other children, aged 24, 20, and 11.
So, since his disability, he has had four children.
The Family's Income
Judge Judy asks about Mr. Brown's disability income.
He receives 915 dollars a month.
Besides his disability and Iola's caregiver payment, there is other income.
The mother of the children receives welfare from the state.
This is roughly 800 dollars for the three children combined.
Judge Judy calculates the family's monthly income.
It is around 2,015 dollars a month.
Mr. Brown confirms this amount.
The Rent Payment History
The rental for Miss Leong's house was 1,643 dollars per month.
Judge Judy states that Mr. Brown paid two dollars.
Mr. Brown corrects her.
He says it started off as two dollars at the beginning of the tenancy in March.
It changed in August.
Judge Judy points out that for March, April, May, June, July, and August, he paid a total of ten dollars in rent.
This was for himself, his caregiver, and co-parent.
Mr. Brown confirms this.
The Rent Changes
Judge Judy asks how the rent changed in August.
Mr. Brown explains that Iola's income changed.
He says her income reflects on his rental portion.
Judge Judy clarifies that Iola's income includes welfare and caregiver payments.
It is not earned income.
Mr. Brown agrees.
He confirms that if they were married, this money would evaporate.
The rent then changed to 106 dollars a month.
This started in August.
It changed again to 113 dollars.
This change happened in February.
Unpaid Rent
Judge Judy asks if Mr. Brown paid his portion of the rent each month.
He admits he did not.
He stopped paying in August when the rent increased to 106 dollars.
Before that, when it was two dollars, he claims there was a running joke.
He says he was going to give a money order for ten dollars.
He claims he paid it, and it was ripped up in his face.
Judge Judy directly states that he was not paying his portion of the rent, even when it was two dollars.
She asks for a yes or no answer.
Mr. Brown confirms he was not paying the two dollars.
The Ten-Month Period
Judge Judy reviews a ten-month period.
This covers August through May.
She asks if he paid his portion of the rent during this time.
Mr. Brown says no.
He states he was forced to pay by Section 8 in March.
He paid arrears of 842 dollars.
He claims he tried to pay in April, but it was refused.