01x74 - Friends with Benefits Fail: Part 1

[bunniefuu]

[Judge Judy] You tried to have him removed
from the property?

That's correct.

[Judge Judy] It says, "I woke up
and there was a random girl

in my house at 2:00 in the morning.

So I told her to leave."

Right.

"He put a g*n to my head and said,

'Don't tell ever tell me
who I can have over.'"

[announcer] This is Judy Justice.

[theme music playing]

[announcer] Marinda Conway
is suing her former friend,

Joseph Ethier for impound fees,
personal property,

and fraudulent debit card charges.

[Kevin] Court come to order. All rise.

Have a seat, everybody.

[Kevin] Hello, Judge.

Case number 1128, Conway versus Ethier.

- Thank you.
- You're welcome.

[Judge Judy] I want you
all to know I woke up

in a very good mood today.

And this case is very confusing
so I'm going to try

to simplify it.

I've examined the complaint
and I've examined the answer

and it seems to me that there are really
just two parts of this case.

One, Ms. Conway, you think that Mr. Ethier

owes you for some personal property

that he took that belonged
to you...actually, three parts.

He owes you money
for impound fees for a car

that you alleged that he took
without your permission,

resulting in it becoming impounded,

and then you claim
he used a credit card of yours.

Debit card.

[Judge Judy] Without your permission.

And while the bank initially
reversed those charges,

they subsequently put back those charges
on your account.

The story that goes behind this

is very, very confusing to me.

And I am not easily confused.

So I wanna find out
a little something about you.

- Okay.
- [Judge Judy] And you, Mr. Ethier.

First of all, Ms. Conway,
what do you do for a living?

- I'm a personal assistant.
- [Judge Judy] And you, sir?

I'm a construction superintendent.

[Judge Judy] And you know each other
for a long time?

About four years, yeah.

[Judge Judy] How do you know each other?

[Marinda] We initially met in Modesto.

I needed some electrical work at a store

that I had out in Modesto
and that's how we initially met.

And then I knew him
for like maybe a year or two then,

and then I didn't see him for two years
until March of this year.

Now over the course of the four years,

did you and Mr. Ethier have any sort
of social relationship?

- No. Uh-uh.
- [Judge Judy] Okay.

Now Mr. Ethier, you seem to say that
that's otherwise?

- Yes, ma'am.
- [Judge Judy] Okay.

Well, let me hear the otherwise.

[Joseph] Okay. We met, like she said,
about four, five years ago.

We started associating
with each other again sometime last year,

and she needed somebody to go pick up
a motorcycle from her in, in Reno, Nevada,

so we got together
and she took me out there

and I brought her motorcycle back.

We started hanging out, me and my other...

[Judge Judy] Oh, no, no.
Don't give me the whole story.

- Okay. Uh-hmm.
- I'm not...I'm setting the table

for the story which is a little crazy
to me when I read it.

What I asked you is simple.

The plaintiff says
that you didn't have a social,

when I say social, I'm talking about

- an intimate relationship.
- [Joseph] Yeah, no, we didn't.

- No.
- [Judge Judy] Never had

an intimate relationship.

- No.
- Okay.

I ask you that question, Mr. Ethier

because when I read your answer...

- Yeah.
- [Judge Judy] ...in this case...

you know what you wrote in your answer?

[Joseph] Yeah, yeah, I do.

[Judge Judy] So is that incorrect?

No, that is correct.

[Judge Judy] You said,
"I met Miranda five years ago.

We never really dated,
but became friends with benefits."

Well, even I at my age
understand what that means

because I have children and grandchildren

who have explained that to me.

It doesn't mean that you get coupons.

I apologize. I thought you were referring

to before March of this year,

if we had an intimate relationship
before then.

Did you have an intimate relationship

- after March of this year?
- Yeah. Yes.

[Judge Judy] You did? Okay.

So, before March of this year

- you were just friends?
- [Joseph] Yes.

[Judge Judy] After March of this year,

you had a more social relationship.

- That'd be a fair statement?
- Yes.

- [Judge Judy] Okay.
- [Joseph] Yes.

[Judge Judy] Now we've got that settled.

- This is your sister.
- Yes.

[Judge Judy] It is your claim
that at some point,

you moved into a house
that was owned by your sister,

that she was going to rent to you,

- is that correct?
- That's correct.

[Judge Judy] In what month was that?

- [Marinda] March.
- March of 2021?

Correct.

[Judge Judy]
Did you sign a lease with her?

I did.

[Judge Judy] I'd like to see it.

So far, I'm still in a good mood.

[Marinda] Here you go.

I printed it off my email... I had her send
it to me,

so I print it...that's why it's like short.

That's the lease though.

I wanna see the lease.

Not something that you copied.

That's the lease,
I just...I had to print it off of an email.

I want to see it.

I...it was...I left it in the house
and taken by him.

[Judge Judy] Then...just a second.

Then if she emailed it to you,
she would have it in her emails.

Do you have it in your emails
from March of 2021?

- I just...
- That is either a yes or a no.

I emailed it to her in October.

It was a copy of the original.

- Then the answer is no.
- [Shani] Okay.

[Judge Judy] That becomes important.

Do you understand? So this is nonsense.

Take it back.

Oh, I have it, from March of 2021 in my...

[Judge Judy] Then I would like to see it,
from March of 2021.

[Marinda] Okay. Hold on one second.

[Joseph] Your Honor,
if I may say something?

- [Judge Judy] No.
- [Joseph] No, okay.

Don't say anything. Don't say anything.

I'm still working on my good mood.

Ms. Conway, we are supposed to have that

- when we get here.
- I know.

I thought that this was gonna be...

- You thought?
- [Marinda] Right.

No, that doesn't tell me anything

when the issue is,
who had a lease to live there,

then you don't show me a copy

that was printed out October 9th.

This one, that she sent over was May 15th.

[Judge Judy] So the answer
is you don't have it in March.

And she doesn't have it in March.

[Marinda] The original,
I left in the house.

[Judge Judy] Who cares?

- Then it doesn't exist.
- Okay.

If you left it in your house,

if you left it in a birdcage,

if you left it in your refrigerator,

if you don't have it here in court,
it doesn't exist.

And you know when you came here,
being an intelligent woman...

- [Marinda] Uh-hmm.
- ...you don't leave the one

critical piece of evidence
in your refrigerator at home.

You bring it to court.

I couldn't, because he took it.

You just told me
your sister emailed it to you,

- the original in March.
- [Marinda] Uh-hmm.

[Judge Judy] Then you would have it
in saved emails.

Listen, I'm an idiot on the machine,

but even I know that I can go back

to the search line
and I say my sister's name,

and under her name comes up
what she sent to me

in March of 2021.

We're not talking about the year
of the flood.

We're still talking about this year.

- Right.
- [Judge Judy] So, if you don't have it,

it doesn't exist.

Now, do you have a lease?

We had a verbal agreement, yes.

So the answer is you do not have
a written lease.

No, just a verbal agreement.

[Judge Judy] In what month did you move

- into sister's premises?
- February.

Were you there
before Ms. Conway got there?

Ms. Conway, no. She was there before me.

Okay. So she was there before February?

[Joseph] Yes, but she moved out.

She lived there a long time
before I got there.

She had moved to Dunsmuir,
had a residence up there.

Her sister rented the place to me,
I had moved in there,

she sold her place
after I moved in and then...

[Judge Judy] Who sold the place?

- The sister?
- [Joseph] Marinda.

She sold her place in Dunsmuir
where she was living.

- [Judge Judy] Oh, the plaintiff?
- [Joseph] Yes.

Okay. So let me understand
what you're trying to tell me.

Okay.

There's nothing there about your sister.

Don't say anything
that's gonna make you look stupid

because I'm a pro at that.

That's my strong suit.

[theme music playing]

[announcer] Marinda Conway
is suing her former friend,

Joseph Ethier, for impound fees,

personal property,
and fraudulent debit card charges.

[Judge Judy] Now, before you moved in

- in February...
- [Joseph] Yes.

[Judge Judy] ...she had been living there

- for a while but then moved?
- Right.

[Judge Judy] So when you got there
in February,

- was she or was she not...
- No, she...

[Judge Judy] ...physically there?

- No, she was not.
- [Judge Judy] Okay.

And when you got there in February,

you had an agreement

with the sister who owned the property.

- Yes.
- Stand.

Move over there.

- Last name.
- Simpson.

How do you know Ms. Simpson?

Through her sister Marinda.

[Judge Judy] When did you have
a discussion with her

about renting the property?

End of January.

[Judge Judy] How many houses
are on the property?

[Joseph] There's a guest house in the back

and then a main house in the front.

Did you have an agreement with her

with regard to the guest house
or the main house?

- [Joseph] The main house.
- [Judge Judy] For how much?



- Did you pay her any money?
- [Joseph] Yes, I did.

[Judge Judy] When for the first time

did you pay her any money?

- February.
- And you paid her $1,200?

- [Joseph] Yes.
- Show me.

I have text messages here.

[Judge Judy] Did you pay her
in cash or check?

[Joseph] I paid her in cash.

But there's a sketch, you know, those...

[Judge Judy] Shh.

- Well, this is in May.
- [Joseph] Uh-hmm.

- I wanna see February.
- [Joseph] Okay.

February, I don't have any
records of that.

There may...if you go to the beginning,

they may be in there. I do...

[Judge Judy] Well,
I see that you, Ms. Simpson,

accepted $1,200 from him in May.

That's a...would be a yes.

Um, it was her rent money.

[Judge Judy] No, no, no, no, no,
that would be a yes.

- You accepted from him.
- No.

- [Judge Judy] Oh, really?
- No.

[Judge Judy] No, you say,
so you did give me $1,200.

It was her rent money.

[Judge Judy] So...just a second.

That he delivered to me.

[Judge Judy] Just a...so you're supposed
to pay $1,200.

This is you.

And I believe that you did pay $1,200.

Not my sister, not my somebody else.

"So, you're supposed to pay $1,200

and I believe that you did pay $1,200

because that's what I just deposited."

There's nothing there about your sister.

Don't, don't say anything
that's gonna make you look stupid

because I'm a pro at that.

That's my strong suit.

- [Shani] He was delivering...
- "Yes, you are correct.

I gave you $1,200 on the dot.

Counted it twice to make absolutely sure."

"Are you getting my texts?"

"Yes, but I'm at work now."
"Sorry to bother you,"

says he, "Can you by chance give me

the storage info
so I can make the payment?"

"Thank you." Shani, that's you.

- Shani.
- [Judge Judy] Shani,

that's still you.

This is in July.

He paid your rent of $1,200 a month.

Then, at some point,

sister wanted back into the house,

and you let her in?

- Yes.
- [Judge Judy] And began

friends with benefits?

- Yes.
- We were...

[Judge Judy] Uh, just a second.

Now, I'm getting the picture.

[Marinda] We were friends with benefits...

Shani, "I didn't do a thing wrong to her,"

so says he, "to you or anybody else.

She decides to rip me off for no reason.

No reason whatsoever.

She had no right to steal from me.

And I have every right to protect myself

from entities that are out
to do me wrong or harm.

You and I had an agreement
on renting the house,

not the three of us.

You must understand
that she pushed her way in,

and I made the mistake of letting her in.

But she moved out.

I had caught her stealing my ring,

and my coins, and other things,
which she did return

when I asked her to.

Her reason was because she thought

I was mad at her.

Now, I don't know what she's doing

and why she's doing it.

The only thing I can come up with
is because of that seat."

- [Joseph] Uh-hmm.
- [Judge Judy] And I read

something about the seat.

And that's a motorcycle seat

that she said she could have fixed,

and when you went and it had it fixed,

it cost $700 and the seat
was supposed to be free,

so, you say, "So how do you think

I reacted when I was told it was $700.

I asked her to go back and talk to her dad

because I wasn't going to pay
$700 for something

that costs $400 brand-new.

So, she got mad when I told her
she needed to talk to him.

Now, I'm stuck paying $700 with something

that isn't worth $700 and I was mad.

Felt that she can take my stuff,
which is more valuable than $700,

and hold it for collateral in a deal

that made me and your uncle
come to terms, which I honored."

Is the uncle the one who fixed?

Apparently, her uncle, her father, yes.

[Judge Judy] Oh, okay.

"I have her on camera along with you
as well going through the house,

hers taking my belongings to me

and you trying to get in my bedroom.

I have it on video.

So, I have no reason to lie about that.

Nobody has any right to go
into my bedroom,

my personal space,
and taking anything from me.

I ain't tripping."

What does that mean?

Uh, it says I'm...uh, I was letting it go.

[Judge Judy] "But that just ain't right

and my privacy was violated.

Now, you as a landlord
is inhibiting her harassment,

isn't that what you mean
by bringing her there.

I have my rights
and I have my right to privacy."

Okay. But this ends up with this,

this long text message to her?

It says that she wasn't there?

You took her things
and, "She can get her things

when she makes things right with me"?

- Right.
- [Judge Judy] Okay.

And then, you say, "You need to call me.

I tried to call what's up?" You say,

"My in-laws want to put their trailer
in my backyard today.

I need the gate unlocked
and your trucks out of the way,

and the wood stacked against the cottage.

My in-laws need to get in the back.

Please call me.

I have been texting and calling
since 7:45 this morning."

And he responds at 11:20,

"I told you where the key was, sorry."

"Do not be immature
and hang up on me," says you.

"Since you won't listen,
I'm going to hang up on you.

Your sister started this blank.

Not me. I'm not the one
that decided to blank me over

for no reason, she is,

and you said you're not getting
in the middle of things

but you really are, and now I'm the one
who's paying for it.

I'm just not going to let it happen.

I didn't do nothing to nobody.

The only way I'm going to do what you ask

is if your sister gives me back my stuff."

Okay. I could probably read this.

It sounds more like a novel.

Don't speak at all,

'cause it's all coming together.

- Uh-hmm.
- It's not what is presented

in the complaint and the answer.

The complaint is about...

[Judge Judy] Don't, don't speak.

I was in a good mood.
I'm getting in a better mood.

[theme music playing]

[announcer] Marinda Conway
claims her former friend,

Joseph Ethier, owes for impound fees,

personal property,
and fraudulent debit card charges.

[Judge Judy] Now, Ms. Simpson,
I wanna tell you what I know

and I don't want you to try
if you're smart,

because I assume that if you have in-laws,

right, you say you have in laws?

- That's a yes!
- Yes.

So, I assume if you have in-laws,
you also have a husband?

It's actually my son's in-laws.

[Judge Judy] So you have children?

- [Shani] I do.
- [Judge Judy] And you don't

wanna look foolish
in front of your children.

So, I want you to understand this.

I know that you rented the house to him.

And I know that you did not rent the house

- in March to your sister.
- I did.

I know that you did not

because you nor your sister have a lease

to show me in March.

- Well, I know what...
- I have...

...I have in my bank statement
that I gave her the $3,000.

[Judge Judy] Just, just, just a second.

What I'm telling you is,
I know that you...

- Well, you're [indistinct]
- [Judge Judy] ...had an agreement

with him.

- [Shani] No, I didn't.
- [Judge Judy] Uh, well,

I'm telling you, Ms. Simpson,
I don't believe it.

It's the truth.

[Judge Judy] I don't...nope, not the truth.

- It's a big fib.
- It is. No, it's not.

It's a big fib. Then, then in May...

[Shani] The house
was rented to her in March.

[Judge Judy] Just a second.
He was living there in February.

- No, he wasn't.
- [Judge Judy] No, don't speak.

Don't speak.
He was living there in February.

- No, he was not.
- [Judge Judy] Really?

In what month did he come?

He came around March when she moved in.

[Judge Judy] Oh, just a second.

And they were...
they were having a relationship.

Just a second. So he came in March?

- [Shani] Yeah.
- [Judge Judy] He came

at the same time your sister did?

[Shani] Yeah, they, they were together.

[Judge Judy] Just don't...just a second.

So they were a couple, is what...

They started to see each other.

- [Judge Judy] No. No, no, no...
- I...I'm...I'm not there

- with them all the time.
- [Judge Judy] No, Ms. Simpson,

Ms. Simpson, what I want to know is,

is it your understanding

that you rented the house to your sister,

and that the defendant moved in with her,

or that they moved in at the same time?

Do not answer.

What is your impression?

[Shani] I rented the place to my sister.

And then, he came around after that.

- [Judge Judy] He came...
- [Shani] And they,

they started some kind of relationship.

[Judge Judy] Just a second.
So, they were both there in March?

- Yes.
- [Judge Judy] Okay.

And did you visit them?

- On and off.
- [Judge Judy] Okay.

And when you visited them,
where did you go in the house?

I went into my house.

[Judge Judy] No, just a second.

You went into a house
that you were renting,

according to you to your sister.

- [Shani] To my sister.
- [Judge Judy] And where

in the house did you go, the living room,

- the kitchen, the bedroom...
- Everywhere.

[Judge Judy] ...where did you go?

- Everywhere?
- [Shani] The bathroom,

- the kitchen...
- Everywhere.

- [Shani] I took a shower there.
- And they were both there?

I did my laundry there, cooked food there.

[Judge Judy] Just a second. You did?

- [Shani] Yes.
- [Judge Judy] Well, just a second.

Why would you do all of that

when you had rented it to your sister?

- Because we're sisters.
- Because we're...

[Judge Judy] No, no!
I don't want you to say a word.

I don't want you to say a word.

Where do you and your children live?

My children do not live with me,
and there is also...

[Judge Judy] Who...just a second.

Who do you live with?

I live on that same property with the...

[Judge Judy] Just, just a second.

You live on the same property.

There are two structures on the property.

- Uh-hmm.
- [Judge Judy] There is a main house...

I was in a good mood.

I'm getting in a better mood. [chuckles]

There is a guest house and a main house?

- [Shani] Uh-hmm.
- [Judge Judy] Uh-huh,

- is not an answer.
- Yes.

[Judge Judy] And so,
I assume when you say

you went into the house,

- you were living in the guest house.
- But I had...

[Judge Judy]
No, don't, don't go like this.

- We're not talking...
- [Shani] I have access

to the main house, too.

[Judge Judy] No, that's not what...

listen to me, that's not my question.

You may have had access.

Whoever you rented the house to
may have given you access

because you all knew each other.

Were you living in the guest house?

That's what you just told me.

She's gonna read it back.

You said, "I was living on the property."

There were only two structures
on the property.

The guesthouse and the main.
So, just answer the question.

Guesthouse, yes.

That's makes it easier, right?

- [Marinda] My [indistinct]
- [Judge Judy] Well, then...

uh, don't speak at all,

'cause it's all coming together.

Do you understand?

It's not what is presented
in the complaint and the answer.

The complaint is about...

[Judge Judy] Don't, don't, don't speak.

Okay.

[Judge Judy] This is the way
your complaint opens, Ms. Conway.

In April of 2021, my sister, wanted Joseph

to build a shed for her.

She had a main house in a cottage,

so while he did the work, she let Joseph

stay in the cottage free of charge,

around the same time in April.

- That's what you swore to.
- [Marinda] Uh-hmm.

[Judge Judy] I made an agreement
with my sister

to rent the main house in June!

- Now...
- [man] [indistinct]

[Judge Judy] ...both of you
have acknowledged,

as well as sister
that when...according to you,

he moved in in March,
they started to have,

according to you and according to them,

an intimate relationship,
and they were living together

in March in the main house,

that's what you just told me, right?

- [Shani] Uh-hmm.
- [Judge Judy] She can read...

- uh-huh is not an answer.
- Yes. Yes.

[Judge Judy]
So, all of this is kinda wrong,

- you understand that?
- [Shani] Yes.

Okey-dokey. Good.

I woke up and there
was a random girl in my house

at 2:00 in the morning.

I found out she was a friend of Joseph's,

so I told her to leave.

Do you know anything about nothing at all?

- Nothing at all.
- [Judge Judy] Just a second.

At 4:00 AM, Joseph came into my room.

But you were having
an intimate relationship within March,

- April, May...
- [Marinda] I [indistinct]

in the room because I was still mad

about this girl being in there
with her nine loads

- of laundry and...
- [Judge Judy] Just a second.

- ...not knowing what she wants.
- [Judge Judy] Just a second.

He put a g*n to my head
and said don't ever tell me

who I can have over.

I became uncomfortable living there
while Joseph was in the cottage.

Well, that is a bunch of baloney.

- He wasn't in the cottage.
- [Judge Judy] She was...

of course he wasn't in the cottage

but that's what you say in the complaint.

That's what you say in your complaint.

- He wasn't in the cottage.
- [Judge Judy] I became

uncomfortable living there,

'cause this is this whole story
you made up with your sister.

Because you did try
to get a restraining order

- against him.
- Correct.

[Judge Judy] Just a second.

You did go to court to try

to get a restraining order against him.

Now, did you try to
get him off the property

before or after your sister went to court

to try to get a restraining order
against him?

Did I try to get him removed
from the property...

- [Judge Judy] Yes.
- ...before?

- Yes.
- [Judge Judy] Yes.

You tried to get him removed
from the property

before your sister and the police...

- [Shani] Yes.
- [Judge Judy] ...refused

to put them off the property.

- That's a yes.
- [Shani] Yes.

[chuckles] Now, you see it's all coming
together?

[announcer] To be continued.

Want justice?



[theme music playing]