The plaintiff sent an example of a sample album with Officer Bird.
The defendant mother stated she had never seen that book.
The plaintiff clarified that it was an example of a sample album.
She said it was the type of book the defendants would have chosen at the viewing.
Judge Judy then directly asked the plaintiff, "You didn't make her a book."
The plaintiff responded, "No, Your Honor."
This admission contradicted the plaintiff's earlier claim that the $1,200 was for an album.
The plaintiff explained that she designed the album but did not order it.
She stated she did not order it because the check was stopped.
Posting Photos on Social Media
Hannah, the daughter, initially stated she had not sent any photos to friends.
She also claimed she had not posted them on Facebook.
However, her mother later admitted to posting some of the photos on Facebook.
The defendant mother said she deleted them after comments about Hannah's red hair.
She mentioned that her sister called her and commented on Hannah's hair color.
Judge Judy noted this contradiction.
She said, "Her mother did. And took her down. But before she stopped the payment."
Re-editing the Photos
The plaintiff stated she re-edited the photos for two days.
This was in response to the defendants' complaints about the hair color.
The defendant mother, however, claimed she did not receive these re-edited photos.
She insisted the pictures she had were the ones sent via email.
She said the plaintiff would not sit down with her to go over the issues.
She also claimed the plaintiff never called her.
The plaintiff maintained that she sent the edited photos.
She said the ones in her pictures and the album were the edited versions.
Judge Judy's Assessment of the Photos
Judge Judy acknowledged that some of the pictures were "not OK."
She specifically referred to the hair color issue.
She stated, "The hair color in some of those pictures is different."
However, she also noted that some of the pictures were "just fine."
She did not find the pictures "unprofessional enough" to justify stopping payment on a check entirely.
The Verdict
Judge Judy considered the plaintiff's effort and the quality of the work.
She noted that the plaintiff spent time on the photo session and editing.
She also acknowledged that the defendants had received some digital photos.
Judge Judy stated that the plaintiff was entitled to some money for her effort.
She clarified that the plaintiff was not entitled to money for an album that was not produced.
She called the idea of paying for an unproduced album "ridiculous."
The plaintiff explained that digital photos could not be purchased without buying a $1,200 package.
Judge Judy awarded judgment for the plaintiff.
The plaintiff was awarded the amount of $500.
This amount was in addition to the $250 deposit already received by the plaintiff.
The total amount the plaintiff received was $750.
Judge Judy concluded the case by saying, "We're done."