FULL VIDEO AT THE END OF THE POST
The Plaintiff's Claim
Hair stylist Adrian Muskely sued her former employee, Dominic Williams.
Ms. Muskely sought payment for unpaid booth rent.
She also claimed lock-changing fees.
Ms. Muskely stated that Ms. Williams owed her for salon space rental.
She was unsure of Ms. Williams' defense.
Salon Ownership and Setup
Ms. Muskely had owned the master salon space since November 2016.
She estimated the space was about 500 square feet.
The space was open, not walled off.
Ms. Muskely was the lessee of the space from another party.
Her master lease cost $724 per month.
She was still operating at that location.
Rental Agreement Details
Ms. Muskely rented to two other stylists besides Ms. Williams.
The salon was full with Ms. Williams and the other two stylists.
Ms. Muskely had a written agreement with Ms. Williams.
The agreement was presented to the court.
In February 2017, Ms. Williams rented the space for six months.
The weekly rent was $125.
The agreement also included a $25 key replacement fee.
Defendant's Initial Payments and Departure
Ms. Williams paid two weeks of rent in February.
She left the salon space in mid-March 2017.
Ms. Williams stated she had no more clients.
She removed her belongings around March 21, 2017.
Plaintiff's Financial Claims
Ms. Muskely claimed Ms. Williams owed five months of rent.
This covered March, April, May, June, and July.
At $125 per week, this totaled $2,425.
Ms. Muskely also claimed a $25 key replacement fee.
She presented a written receipt for the key fee.
Defendant's Defense: Unwritten Agreement
Ms. Williams claimed an unwritten agreement existed.
She stated Ms. Muskely was supposed to advertise her shop.
Judge Judy addressed this claim.
The judge stated that any amendment to a written contract must also be in writing.
Such amendments must be signed by both parties.
Verbal agreements outside the written contract were inadmissible.
The written contract did not mention advertising.
Defendant's Rent Payment Justification
Ms. Williams did not pay the last two weeks of March rent.
She justified this by saying she received no clients.
Judge Judy clarified the rental agreement.
The agreement did not stipulate payment based on client acquisition.
It was a fixed rental fee.
Defendant's Living Situation
Judge Judy asked Ms. Williams about her living situation.
Ms. Williams stated she was 22 years old.
She said she was currently homeless.
She had never lived in an apartment or a house.
She mentioned staying with her mother.
Her mother rented an apartment.
Key Return and Fee Dispute
Judge Judy asked Ms. Williams if she returned the key.
Ms. Williams admitted she did not return the key.
Ms. Muskely's agreement specified a $25 key replacement fee.
Ms. Williams claimed the fee was $40.
Ms. Muskely presented a written receipt for the $25 key fee.
Judge Judy confirmed the agreement stated a $25 key replacement fee.
Mitigation of Damages and Other Renters
Judge Judy questioned Ms. Muskely about other renters.
Ms. Muskely stated she had two other renters besides Ms. Williams.
One of these renters was named Pauline.
Pauline rented a booth under the same terms as Ms. Williams.
Pauline rented from February 2017 to May 2017.
Ms. Muskely's master lease was $724 per month.
Ms. Williams was supposed to pay $500 per month ($125 per week x 4 weeks).
This left Ms. Muskely with a monthly rental cost of $224 after Ms. Williams' payment.
With two other renters paying similar amounts, Ms. Muskely would have been making more than her master lease cost.
Judge Judy noted that Ms. Muskely had not advertised for new renters after Ms. Williams left.
Contradiction Regarding Other Stylists
Ms. Williams initially claimed no one else worked there but herself.
Later, she agreed that Pauline was also renting a booth.
Ms. Muskely stated she rented to two other people.
This contradicted Ms. Williams' initial statement.
Judge Judy's Calculation and Ruling
Judge Judy calculated the total amount owed.
The unpaid rent for five months was $2,425.
The key replacement fee was $25.
Judge Judy awarded Ms. Muskely $2,425 for the unpaid rent.
She also awarded the $25 key replacement fee.
The total judgment was $2,450.