FULL VIDEO AT THE END OF THE POST
A Trip to Miami and a Search for Cheap Tickets
Giovanni Thibodeau, 23, sued her former friend, Moriah Johnson, also 23.
Ms. Thibodeau sought the return of money paid for airline tickets.
She also requested punitive damages for fraud.
Ms. Thibodeau confirmed that Ms. Johnson was a friend.
Ms. Thibodeau wanted to purchase airline tickets for herself, her mother, and her grandmother.
Their destination was Miami.
Ms. Thibodeau heard that Ms. Johnson had a connection for cheap tickets.
They were traveling from Dallas to Miami.
Ms. Thibodeau priced tickets from Miami to Dallas.
The cost was about $2,000 for two tickets.
She was looking for tickets within a week of her travel day.
This was a last-minute trip.
Ms. Thibodeau was moving to Miami for school.
She needed to find housing and attend job interviews.
Her mother and grandmother wanted to accompany her.
Her mother wanted to ensure she found housing.
Her mother also wanted to bring her grandmother along.
Ms. Thibodeau initially stated three people were going.
However, she only priced tickets for two.
She clarified that it was initially just her.
Her mother and grandmother decided to join later.
The "Connection" for Tickets
Ms. Thibodeau discussed her need for cheap tickets with Ms. Johnson.
This conversation happened at Ms. Johnson's house.
Ms. Johnson informed Ms. Thibodeau about someone named Ken.
Ken allegedly worked for American Airlines.
He could supposedly get cheap tickets.
Ms. Thibodeau gave money to Ms. Johnson for the airline tickets.
Later, Ms. Thibodeau received confirmation numbers for the tickets.
These confirmation numbers came from Ken.
Bogus Tickets Discovered
Ms. Thibodeau attempted to use the tickets.
She discovered they were bogus.
She filed a police complaint against Ken.
The complaint was filed with the Minnesota Police Department.
The police told her she was not the victim in a criminal case.
Ms. Thibodeau confronted Ms. Johnson.
She accused Ms. Johnson of being complicit in the scam.
Ms. Johnson claimed she was also scammed by Ken.
She stated her own mother bought tickets from Ken.
Those tickets also turned out to be bogus.
Ms. Johnson said her mother paid $1,500 for her tickets.
Ms. Thibodeau called this a lie.
Ms. Johnson offered to show proof.
Judge Judy Questions the Transaction
Judge Judy noted that Ms. Thibodeau gave Ms. Johnson money to give to Ken.
Ms. Thibodeau confirmed this.
Judge Judy stated that Ms. Johnson then gave the money to Ken.
Ms. Thibodeau received confirmation numbers from Ken.
Ms. Thibodeau claimed Ms. Johnson did not give her anything.
Judge Judy pointed out that Ken would not have sent confirmation numbers without being paid.
Judge Judy concluded that Ken was not a fictitious character.
Ms. Thibodeau agreed that Ken was real.
She stated she believed he was real.
Conflicting Accounts of Knowing Ken
Ms. Thibodeau initially claimed she did not know Ken.
However, she later stated that both she and Ms. Johnson went to school with him.
Judge Judy noted that both knew him from school.
Ms. Thibodeau then denied knowing Ken.
She said she had never met him.
Judge Judy reiterated that after Ms. Thibodeau gave Ms. Johnson money, she received confirmation from Ken.
This implied that Ms. Johnson passed the money to Ken.
Ken then sent the bogus tickets.
Ms. Thibodeau stated she was not present when Ms. Johnson gave Ken the money.
She said she could not speculate that Ms. Johnson gave him cash.
Ms. Thibodeau suggested they were "in on it together."
Judge Judy stated she could not speculate about a co-conspiracy.
The Burden of Proof
Judge Judy explained that Ms. Thibodeau wanted her to believe in a co-conspiracy.