While in breach, the home the plaintiffs paid for burned down.
Judge Judy declares it Miss Duncan's responsibility.
"That's your bad, madam," Judge Judy says.
What to "Work Out"?
Miss Duncan tries to explain what she did with the money.
Judge Judy reminds her she bought another house.
Miss Duncan clarifies she was explaining the extra $1,200.
Judge Judy finds the whole story doesn't make sense.
She reiterates Miss Duncan breached the contract.
The plaintiffs fully paid for the house.
Miss Duncan did not move out.
Her other house was not ready.
Judge Judy states Miss Duncan should have insured it.
The plaintiffs did not have possession yet.
Judge Judy calls Miss Duncan a squatter.
Proof of Payment
Judge Judy asks the plaintiffs for proof of the $4,000 payment.
The plaintiffs confirm they clean houses for work.
They were buying the trailer for their mother.
Miss Duncan's Offer
Judge Judy asks Miss Duncan what she offered the plaintiffs.
She notes Miss Duncan spent $2,800 of their money.
This was for a new trailer to be closer to relatives.
Judge Judy points out Miss Duncan still had $1,200.
Instead of returning it, she went to a motel.
Miss Duncan claims she didn't get a chance to offer anything.
She says a lawsuit was brought against her first.
The Lawsuit Timeline
Judge Judy asks when the house burned down.
Miss Duncan states June 1st.
Judge Judy asks if the lawsuit was filed before they asked for money.
Miss Duncan says yes.
The plaintiffs immediately contradict this.
They state they filed the lawsuit on June 1st.
They went to court on June 1st, the day the trailer burned.
They confirm they asked Miss Duncan for their money back.
The Police Report
The plaintiffs state Miss Duncan told a police officer.
She said she didn't have the money to give back.
She preferred to live in something than return the money.
The plaintiffs have a police report to confirm this.
Judge Judy expresses interest in seeing the report.
Miss Duncan disputes this account.
She claims she told the officer she would get an attorney.
She said they would "get it worked out."
Judge Judy's Final Ruling
Judge Judy presses Miss Duncan on what there is to "work out."
She states Miss Duncan simply needs to return the money.
Miss Duncan repeats she would get an attorney to work it out.
She claims the fire was not her fault.
Judge Judy dismisses this.
She states it doesn't matter whose fault the fire was.
Miss Duncan breached the contract by not moving out.
If the plaintiffs had moved in, the fire would be on them.
But Miss Duncan was living in a house they had fully paid for.
Judge Judy rules in favor of the plaintiffs for $4,000.
Miss Duncan calls the ruling "outrageous."
She claims the plaintiffs agreed to give her extra time.
She cites her "conditions."
The plaintiffs state they waited three months.
Miss Duncan claims it was two weeks.
The plaintiffs say it was about 52 days.
They gave her the opportunity to stay.
They gave her the day she said she would leave.
Miss Duncan mentions the fire department.
She says they cited a mechanical part of the dryer.
Watch the Full Judge Judy Case Below
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Witness Judge Judy's sharp questioning.
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