FULL VIDEO AT THE END OF THE POST
A Helping Hand Turns Sour
Ms. McClendon and Ms. Morgan met while working as servers.
Ms. McClendon was in a difficult financial situation.
She was staying in a hotel and could not afford the $1,300 monthly cost.
Ms. Morgan offered Ms. McClendon a place to stay.
Ms. Morgan lived alone in a two-bedroom apartment.
The rent for the apartment was $650 per month.
They agreed to split the rent, making Ms. McClendon's share $325.
Ms. McClendon found this to be a much better deal than her hotel.
Move-In and Initial Agreements
Ms. McClendon moved into Ms. Morgan's apartment in mid-September 2016.
Specifically, she stated her move-in date was September 16, 2016.
Ms. Morgan had text messages proving she informed Ms. McClendon about splitting rent and bills.
The arrangement seemed beneficial for Ms. McClendon initially.
However, their living situation quickly deteriorated.
Disputed Rent Payments
Ms. McClendon stayed in the apartment for three months.
She moved out on December 20th or 21st, 2016.
Judge Judy asked Ms. McClendon how many times she paid rent.
Ms. McClendon initially claimed she paid three times.
She stated she paid $325 each month she was there.
Judge Judy pointed out a contradiction in Ms. McClendon's written answer.
Her written answer stated she started paying "about a month after I was staying there."
Ms. McClendon then confirmed this detail.
This meant she did not pay rent for her first month in the apartment.
Ms. Morgan claimed Ms. McClendon owed her $325 for this unpaid month of rent.
Cable and Wi-Fi Disagreement
The roommates also argued about utility bills.
Ms. Morgan expected Ms. McClendon to pay half of the cable bill.
Ms. McClendon stated she did not use a computer.
She agreed to pay half of the Wi-Fi bill.
Ms. McClendon looked up the cost of the highest cable service, which was $39.99.
She offered to pay half of that amount.
Ms. Morgan insisted that because it was a bundled deal, Ms. McClendon still had to pay half of the total.
This disagreement contributed to their escalating tensions.
Boyfriend's Presence and Escalation
Ms. McClendon's boyfriend, Drew, frequently stayed over.
Ms. Morgan believed Drew's presence caused issues.
Ms. McClendon suggested Drew should pay a third of the rent if he was living there.
This suggestion indicates the boyfriend's frequent presence was a point of contention.
The ongoing arguments eventually led to a major confrontation.
The Physical Altercation
A "big fight" occurred between Ms. McClendon and Ms. Morgan on December 20th or 21st, 2016.
The next morning, December 21st, Ms. Morgan confronted Ms. McClendon about rent.
Ms. McClendon claimed Ms. Morgan physically assaulted her.
She stated Ms. Morgan "football tackled" her through a door.
Ms. McClendon said she was hit in the back of the head.
In response, Ms. McClendon grabbed Ms. Morgan by the face and pushed her.
Ms. McClendon then left the apartment.
She called her best friend, Nikki, to pick her up.
Ms. McClendon stated she did not want to go to jail.
Damaged Bed Claims
Ms. Morgan claimed Ms. McClendon damaged the furnished bed in her room.
She stated the bed frame, footboard, and other parts were ripped apart.
Ms. Morgan found these parts in the closet after Ms. McClendon moved out.
Ms. McClendon offered a different explanation for the bed.
She said Ms. Morgan told her the bed was old and belonged to her son.
Ms. McClendon described the bed as "really shaky."
She stated the front board would fall off if she leaned on it.
Ms. McClendon claimed she took the bed apart and put it aside.