FULL VIDEO AT THE END OF THE POST
The Wedding Plans Begin
Janie and Gary Raikouba were planning their daughter's wedding.
Their daughter, Diana, was their only daughter.
The wedding was scheduled for March 14, 2015.
Diana and her fiancé found a venue in July 2014.
They were driving by and saw the building.
Diana described the building as beautiful.
It had a sign out front indicating it hosted events.
The Raikoubas believed Ken Elliot owned this venue.
Defendant Did Not Own the Venue
Judge Judy asked Ken Elliot if he owned the venue.
He stated he did not own it.
Ron Smith was the actual owner of the venue.
Ken Elliot explained he knew Ron Smith because Smith's name and number were on a sign out front.
Elliot called Smith because he was interested in purchasing the building.
He described Smith as a contractor.
Elliot stated they had not entered into a contract.
However, they were in negotiations to purchase the building.
Deposit Paid to Ken Elliot
Between July 2014 and March 2015, Diana and her fiancé had meetings.
These meetings were with Ken Elliot and Marcy.
During these meetings, Ken Elliot presented himself as the owner of the venue.
Diana confirmed that Ken Elliot held himself out to be the owner.
The plaintiffs paid Ken Elliot $3,413.
This amount was a deposit for the wedding chapel.
It represented a little less than the first half of the total money.
Questioning Credibility
Judge Judy showed Ken Elliot a document.
This document had Ken Elliot's number written over a crossed-out number.
Initially, Ken Elliot denied crossing out the number.
He said, "I don't know that I crossed it out."
Judge Judy pressed him on this point.
She stated, "Yes, you did. Cross it out and you put in your number."
Ken Elliot then admitted, "I did."
This admission undermined his credibility with the judge.
"Under New Ownership" Flyers
Judge Judy asked the plaintiffs if they had any proof that Ken Elliot claimed to own the premises.
The plaintiffs presented flyers or brochures.
These materials stated "under new ownership."
They also had Ken Elliot's name and number on them.
Judge Judy reacted strongly to these flyers.
She told Ken Elliot, "But that's a lie."
Ken Elliot tried to argue, "It really wasn't."
Judge Judy reiterated, "No, it is a lie."
She explained that if he didn't own it when he printed them, and he didn't own it now, it was a lie.
This further damaged Ken Elliot's credibility.
Discovery of the Closed Venue
Approximately one month before the wedding, Diana and her fiancé drove by the building.
This was on February 7, 2015.
They saw a neon sign on the door.
The sign stated the building was closed.
It indicated the closure was due to a non-working boiler.
This discovery provided a clear reason for the plaintiffs not to proceed with the wedding at that venue.
No Finalized Negotiations
Judge Judy asked Ken Elliot if he ever finalized negotiations with Ron Smith.
This was regarding the purchase of the building.
Elliot confirmed, "No, we did not."
He repeated, "We did not."
The wedding did not take place at the chapel.
The Boiler Issue
Ken Elliot claimed the boiler was repaired.
He stated that heat was restored to the building.
He said this happened after the "closed" sign was posted.
Judge Judy questioned why the Raikoubas should have to pay for repairs.
She stated that there was no heat in the building.
Ken Elliot insisted, "There was heat in the building."
He claimed that he did get heat in the building.
He also said Ron Smith was working with him to fix the boiler.
Judge Judy's Challenge
Judge Judy questioned Ken Elliot's business acumen.
She noted he had some money, as he was negotiating to buy a historic building.
She asked why he would not return the $3,400 deposit.
She pointed out that the wedding did not happen there.
Judge Judy stated there was good reason not to send out invitations to a building without heat a month before the wedding.
She suggested that people with brains would find an alternative venue.
She implied that the Raikoubas had brains for doing so.
Lack of Proof for Boiler Repair
Ken Elliot reiterated that they repaired the boiler.
He claimed they got heat in the building.
He said Ron Smith worked with him to fix it.
Judge Judy then demanded proof.
She asked him to show her the paid bill for the repair of the boiler.
She specified it could be a bill he paid or Ron Smith paid.
Ken Elliot responded, "I don't have that."
This inability to produce a paid bill directly contradicted his claim.
The Verdict
Judge Judy issued her ruling.
She awarded a judgment for the plaintiff.
The judgment was for $3,400.
She then concluded the case.
Outcome
Janie and Gary Raikouba were awarded $3,400.
The judgment was against Ken Elliot.