FULL VIDEO AT THE END OF THE POST
The Plaintiff's Household
Ms. Thomas appeared in court as the plaintiff.
She was suing her daughter.
The dispute involved a car accident.
Ms. Thomas lived with her girlfriend.
They had custody of six children.
These children were relatives of her girlfriend.
Ms. Thomas explained that her girlfriend's relative had issues.
The relative could not care for her children.
The children were going to be separated into foster care.
Ms. Thomas and her girlfriend took them in.
They had been with them for about two years.
Ms. Thomas also had three biological children.
Their ages were 24, 20, and 18.
The defendant was her 18-year-old daughter.
Daughter Moves Out
Ms. Thomas's daughter moved out of the house.
This happened a couple of months before her 18th birthday.
The daughter moved into a house.
This house was run by Ms. Thomas's mother.
Another daughter of Ms. Thomas was already living there.
The daughter had a few weeks left to graduate high school.
Her schooling was entirely online.
The Car in Question
The case centered on a 1996 Ford Mustang.
Ms. Thomas claimed she was letting her daughter borrow it.
The daughter asserted it was a birthday gift.
Ms. Thomas stated she bought the Mustang in December 2016.
She claimed she was driving it every day.
She mentioned having text messages between them.
The daughter's father was supposedly going to buy her a car.
This was for her birthday.
Judge Judy's Initial Questions
Judge Judy asked about Ms. Thomas's transportation.
Ms. Thomas said they had an SUV and a car.
She used these for work and with the children.
The Mustang was the car involved in the accident.
Judge Judy noted that a 1996 Mustang was not a luxury vehicle.
Ms. Thomas stated it was the only car they could afford.
The car was totaled in an accident.
The Birthday Gift Claim
The daughter claimed the Mustang was a birthday present.
Judge Judy addressed Ms. Thomas directly.
She stated that a 1996 Mustang makes a great birthday present.
Judge Judy told Ms. Thomas she would have to prove it was not a birthday present.
Ms. Thomas reiterated she bought it in December 2016.
She said she was driving it daily.
Judge Judy dismissed this as proof.
Buying a car does not prevent giving it as a gift.
The Lexus Purchase
Judge Judy then brought up a significant detail.
She asked if Ms. Thomas received a settlement.
This was in relation to getting a 2012 Lexus.
Ms. Thomas denied a settlement.
She claimed she got a good deal on an old car.
Judge Judy pointed out the timing of this purchase.
Ms. Thomas bought the 2012 Lexus in June.
June was also her daughter's birthday month.
This was the same month the daughter took control of the Mustang.
Contradictory Statements
Ms. Thomas had previously stated she only had an SUV and the Mustang.
This implied she needed the Mustang for transportation.
However, she purchased the Lexus in June 2017.
This was after the Mustang was given to her daughter.
Judge Judy highlighted this contradiction.
She suggested the Lexus was a more appropriate car for someone with six foster children.
The judge implied Ms. Thomas had a replacement vehicle.
This would allow her to give the Mustang away.
The "I Can't Give You the Car Now" Statement
Judge Judy recalled a statement from Ms. Thomas.
Ms. Thomas had told her daughter, "If you can wait till your birthday, I can give you a car so I can go get another car."
Judge Judy interpreted this as an admission.