FULL VIDEO AT THE END OF THE POST
The Neighborhood Dispute Begins
Mr. and Mrs. Cunningham appeared in court.
They were accompanied by their two sons.
Mr. Curly was also present.
The Cunninghams alleged that Mr. Curly assaulted their younger son.
Mr. Curly lived in a quiet cul-de-sac.
He claimed a white Blazer was driving erratically.
The Blazer belonged to Chris, the Cunninghams' older son.
Mrs. Cunningham stated she was not present during the incident.
She confirmed her younger son was assaulted.
Judge Judy asked Chris to explain what happened.
A Summer Day in February
Chris stated the incident occurred in February.
He initially said it was a summer day.
Chris was driving his Blazer.
His younger brother was a passenger.
They were going to see a friend.
The friend was not home.
They were driving back home.
Mr. Curly walked down his driveway.
He pointed at Chris's truck.
Chris stopped his vehicle.
The Confrontation Escalates
Mr. Curly began yelling at Chris.
He cursed at Chris.
Mr. Curly challenged Chris to a fight.
Chris told him he did not want to fight.
He asked Mr. Curly to leave him alone.
Mr. Curly stood in front of Chris's truck.
He prevented Chris from leaving.
Chris got out of the truck.
They argued further.
Chris told Mr. Curly to "grow up."
He then returned to his truck.
The Alleged Assault
Mr. Curly walked to the passenger side.
He continued to challenge Chris.
Mr. Curly called him names and cursed.
Chris started to drive away.
He heard a loud thud noise.
Chris looked to his right.
His younger brother was holding his face.
Chris asked his brother if he was hit.
His brother confirmed he was hit.
Chris got out of the truck again.
He confronted Mr. Curly.
Chris asked if Mr. Curly hit his brother.
Mr. Curly admitted to hitting the younger brother.
He then pushed Chris.
A neighbor intervened.
The neighbor grabbed Chris.
He took Chris back to his truck.
Chris and his brother then left the scene.
Injuries Sustained
Chris's younger brother sustained injuries.
His head snapped back.
He could not play basketball for a week.
He also missed PE for a week.
There was a mark on his nose.
His cheek was swollen.
He had neck injuries.
These neck injuries required x-rays.
His out-of-pocket medical expenses were ten dollars.
Mr. Curly's Perspective
Mr. Curly stated Chris had been speeding excessively.
He also claimed Chris was blasting music.
This occurred in the cul-de-sac.
Mr. Curly alleged Chris almost hit his son.
Chris also almost hit his son's friend.
This behavior was a recurring problem.
Police had been notified multiple times.
However, police could only act if they witnessed it.
On the day of the incident, Mr. Curly confronted Chris.
He told Chris to slow down.
Children were in the area.
Mr. Curly admitted to a verbal confrontation.
He also admitted striking the passenger side of the car.
This happened as they drove off.
Child Witness Testimony
Corey, a child witness, testified.
He was nine years old.
Corey understood the importance of telling the truth.
He stated Chris drove fast.
Chris sped up around the corner.
Children were playing baseball there.
Corey had seen Chris's car on the street "bunches at times."
Chris admitted he "may have sped a little bit."
He also said his stereo was "pretty loud."
Parental Responsibility
Mrs. Cunningham stated she was unaware of any driving problems.
She only learned about them after the incident.
Mr. Curly presented a petition.
Neighbors signed the petition.
It stated Chris was driving recklessly.
Mr. Curly claimed Chris's reckless driving continued.
This was even after the incident.
Mrs. Cunningham defended Chris's driving.
She called it "normal 16-year-old driver" behavior.
She taught Chris to roll down residential areas.
She instructed him to be ready to brake.
She also told him not to blast his stereo.
Legal Consequences for Mr. Curly
Mr. Curly was arrested for the incident.
He spent two days in jail.
He is on probation for three years.
Mr. Curly entered a "no contest" plea.
He explained he did not have time for court.
Judge Judy questioned Mr. Curly's claim of not touching the boy.
Mr. Curly stated he only struck the car.
He hit the passenger side as they drove off.
He denied touching the boy.
Chris and his brother maintained the brother was hit.
Chris heard a "loud thud noise."
His brother confirmed he was hit.
Judge Judy's Scrutiny
Judge Judy addressed Chris's claim of never being confronted.
Chris stated he was never confronted before.
He said the first confrontation was when his brother was hit.
Mr. Curly countered this.
He said his father and others had told Chris to slow down.
Mr. Curly claimed Chris would flip them off.
Judge Judy criticized Mrs. Cunningham's defense of Chris.
She compared giving a car to a 16-year-old to giving a gun.
She emphasized the danger of a car.
A car can harm multiple people.
The Verdict
Judge Judy acknowledged Mr. Curly's frustration.
She stated he could not behave in that fashion.
She noted it was a poor example for his children.
Mr. Curly had to pay the price.
The Cunninghams sued for five thousand dollars.
Judge Judy awarded them twenty-five hundred dollars.
She added ten dollars for medical costs.
She told the younger brother he suffered injury.
This was due to Mr. Curly and his "dumb brother."
The younger brother was a passenger.
He was not doing anything wrong.
Judge Judy excused the parties.