03x72 - Missing Cat Revenge and Sisterhood of Travelling Drama

[bunniefuu]

[Judy] Your friend set up a website
for you.

That's correct.

[Judy] It was redirected to a porn site.

I have a video. It's explicit.

Listen, I'm a big girl.
Seen practically... practically everything.

He's the only one
with the capability to do that.

People can hack into the Pentagon.

[narrator] This is Judy Justice.

Ryan Deitch is suing his former friend,
Oliver Miller, for damages

after Oliver sabotaged his website.

[Kevin] Court come to order. All rise.

[Judy] Have a seat, please.

[Kevin] Hello, Judge. Case 3089,
Deitch versus Miller.

-Thank you.
-You're welcome.

Mr. Deitch, how long
have you known Mr. Miller?

It's been since seventh grade, Your Honor.
So, what does that make? Eight years now?

Oh, my God, how people change
in just a few years.

-Tell me about it.
-[Judy] Seventh grade, teeny people.

You went through middle school together
and high school?

That's correct.

[Judy] Did you do
any post-high school schooling?

Not together.
We go to different universities, but...

-Which school?
-I go to DePaul University.

-Are you still there?
-That's right.

-What year are you in?
-I'm a senior.

-And you, sir?
-I'm a senior at Purdue University.

[Judy] So this is what the case is about.
Some time ago, according to you,

your friend, without compensation,
I assume,

'cause there was nothing
about compensation in here,

set up a website for you.

This friend.

At some point, there was an issue

-of cats.
-Mm-hmm.

-The defendant has two cats?
-That is correct.

And he was going away on vacation.

He asked you
if you would mind the two cats.

[Ryan] That's correct.

-When was that?
-That was on July 26th of 2023.

-Where was he going?
-He was going to Hawaii. Maui, actually.

-Who were you going with?
-My brother and my mother.

What did you tell him
you needed him to do for the cats?

I told him he needed to come
to the house, feed them,

make sure they're doing fine.

Hang out for a few minutes and that's it.

-How many times a day?
-Once a day.

-Feed them once a day, change water.
-Right.

-Clean up the kitty litter?
-That's correct.

-Were they indoor, outdoor cats?
-Indoor cats.

Now, before you left on vacation,

did you give your friend, Mr. Deitch,
the instructions on what he had to do?

Yes, Your Honor. Over text,
and I have it here...

-I'd like to see it.
-Great.

Yes.

-You talk about one cat, Rooni.
-[Oliver] Yes, Your Honor.

She's the more excited one,
out of the two.

The other one, Stella,
really just doesn't need any attention.

You're asking him if he would watch Rooni.

Take her out once a day.
He says feed her and clean the litter box.

That's a question.

You said, yeah, it should be pretty easy.

Okay. And you left on vacation.

And, according to your countersue,
the plaintiff was negligent.

The cats got out,
they were gone for a week.

You were hysterical

because the cats were not located
for a week.

But Mr. Deitch's claim is
that when you came home

from Hawaii,

and found that the cats were missing,

because both cats were missing
at that time...

-When did you come home from Hawaii?
-I came home on the 14th of August.

We planned to be back
on the 8th of August,

but we were stranded in Hawaii
during the Maui wildfires.

We were unable to make it back
until the 14th.

And when you came back
you found that both cats were missing?

That's right.

Mr. Deitch says,
after you found both cats were missing,

you got slightly hysterical,

as would most people who are cat lovers
and find their animals missing.

And that in retaliation for that

you did something to the website

that you had created for him.

That, when people went to it,

instead of clicking on to the website,

which Sarah is going to try
to explain to me.

Instead of clicking on to the website

and going to the information portion
of the website,

it was redirected to a porn site.

And that that was done in retaliation

for his negligently
allowing your cats to be lost.

That's your claim.

Now you're gonna tell me
about your website.

Your website is for what?

So, my website is pretty much
my professional self.

I don't apply to a job,

I really don't meet someone professionally
without showing them my website.

-What is your website?
-It's a portfolio site...

Would you give it to Sarah
so she can bring it up?

-So, it's basically a site...
-No, not "basically".

"Basically" is a filler word.
A website has an address.

It is a website that features
a little bit about me,

-my contact information.
-Name.

[Ryan] ... is the name of the website.

I can spell it for you, if necessary.

[Sarah] I got it.
It does, in fact, come up.

Okay.

-It's basically a professional work page.
-Okay.

-[Sarah] So you put it on a business card...
-And then,

and then what do you press
for it to transition you to...

"Launch portfolio".

There's a contact page, an about page
with some more information, some credits.

-It seems to be working correctly now.
-[Judy] Oh. Okay.

Now, your lawsuit says
that somebody hacked into your web page,

so that when you press
this informational web page

about what you do,
what projects you've done in the past,

and they say, this is a nice-looking guy,
looks okay, let's see what he's done.

[Ryan] Mm-hmm.

Because he's applied for a job,
or something else,

they press a button,

and it took you to a porn site.

So I wanna see that.

I have an email from a recruiter

who emailed me after she got redirected.

Why didn't you take photographs
of what it was on the screen?

That's very easy.

I mean, I have a video,
it's explicit, I don't know...

Listen, I'm a big girl. I'm 81 years old.
I've seen practically everything.

Although, that's probably not true.

They're developing new things
all the time.

-No, I don't believe you.
-Okay.

How's that? Goody goody?

Are we getting close to what's going on?

I knew it would just take me
a little bit of time.

I knew it would just take me
a bit of time.

[narrator] And later today...

The second trip was a cruise...

-And you went?
-Yes.

-Was it fun?
-We had a lot of fun.

-No issues?
-There's always issues, but yeah.

-Nothing big.
-Yeah.

Going with your family, there are always...

Exactly. Exactly.

[narrator] Ryan Deitch is accusing
his former friend, Oliver Miller,

of intentionally sabotaging his website.

Oliver is countersuing for negligence
and emotional distress,

claiming Ryan lost his cats.

[Judy] If you have a video,
I'd like to take a look.

She'll just press
that play button right there.

Do you want the volume on or not?

[Kevin] Okay. Push that play button.

Oh, well,
that's not terribly pornographic.

I would describe it
as woefully inappropriate

for a professional setting.

[Judy] I believe that you're right.
You can put that back.

Now, at what point, on what day,
did you first notice that?

On August 24th.

I didn't even notice it on my own.
I received that email from a recruiter...

-Okay. Can I see the email?
-Yes, of course.

Okay. This woman, whoever this is,

wrote to you and said
this looks like a bad joke.

I wasn't even gonna reach out to you,

but then I thought
it would be fair to reach out

because I'm sure you didn't know
that this happened.

-Yeah.
-Okay. That's what she's saying.

-Yeah.
-Did you answer her?

-I mean...
-No, did you...

You know where I'm going.

This Bethany allegedly wrote this to you

and if I were in business
looking for a job,

I would immediately contact her.

Did you do that?

I did, but by that point
they had already offered the job...

I don't care.
I wanna see when you reached out.

I don't have that. It was over the phone.

-I don't believe you.
-Okay.

How's that? Goody goody?

Are we getting goody goody?
Are we getting close to what's going on?

I knew it would just take me
a little bit of time.

I knew it would just take me
a bit of time.

Okay. So you don't have
what would any normal business person,

who has set themselves up, would have,

which is an immediate response.

Oh, Bethany, thank you.
I'm so glad you directed me to this.

-Yeah.
-I'm gonna take it down right away.

Is the job still available?

All of that would be here.
because that's the way you do it.

Which you don't have.

No. It was a couple of days later
that I was notified and I called her.

The job had already been offered,
there wasn't much I could do.

Nice pivot.

-What I discovered is that...
-Nice pivot. Nice pivot.

Okay.

[Judy] Okay. Now, let us assume,
for the purpose of this case,

that this did, in fact, happen.

What proof do you have that

the defendant hacked into your computer

and redirected it to this other site?

Which is clearly an inappropriate site
for somebody looking for a tech-y job.

He actually admitted it to me
over the phone.

He's the only one
with the capability to do that.

No, he's not the only one
with the capability, sir.

People can hack into the Pentagon.

That's true, but he wouldn't have to hack.
He literally...

[Judy] He wouldn't have to, but you can.
But you can.

When you received this email

you didn't respond
to the person who sent it.

How did you communicate with him?

[Ryan] I called him
and I texted him as well.

-I was very upset.
-Just a second.

-Now I'll see the text.
-Okay.

This is it. It's at the bottom.

I assume that you wrote him
"this is serious" on August 24th.

-Was there any response to this?
-He did not respond.

He did not respond. So, bottom line is

you have no proof
that he hacked into this.

So how long did that website...

Let's say it was August 24th

that you noticed it.

And he came home on August 14th,

not finding his cats.

When was it taken down?

-On August 25th is when it was restored.
-Okay.

But I assume it was put
to that inappropriate site

soon after he got back. Maybe ten, nine...

You can't assume anything.
That's a guess. That's a guess.

But it was taken down August 25th

and put up again August 26th.

-It was restored.
-What I want you to do is tell me,

now we have September, October,
November, December, right up past January.

Just for my own information,
how many jobs have you had

from this website?

Name, person, and how much you were paid,
from this website, since August 26th.

It can't be a lot.

-Yeah. I'm a college student...
-Okay.

It can't be a lot.
So it has to be a handful.

-A handful you would remember.
-Zero.

Zero. Okay. That's very good.
That helps me a lot.

That helps me a lot because
there are no damages for this...

business.

Okay. Now we're gonna go
to your counterclaim.

[Oliver] Great.

-Great. Right?
-Yes.

Terrific. He was negligent
in taking care of your cats

and they got out.

-His negligence...
-Shh.

I just said to you that's a "yes, ma'am".

-Yes, ma'am.
-And you got home

-and you didn't find your cats?
-That's correct.

[Judy] One cat came back
relatively quickly.

-That's correct.
-Which cat?

Stella.

-'Cause Stella's a homebody.
-That's correct.

And the other one, sort of,
enjoyed his freedom?

-Yes, she enjoyed her freedom.
-She enjoyed her freedom.

And she was out for how long?

[Oliver] Seven days.

-Then she came home?
-That's right, Your Honor.

-How'd she look? Happy?
-She was happy to be back, but...

-So she decided to come home.
-That's right, Your Honor.

-And you have them both now?
-Yes. Yes.

Good. So your counterclaim's dismissed
as is your claim, sir.

You can't prove it. Thank you.

-[Ryan] Your Honor...
-We have finished. Finito.

-May I call on my witness?
-No.

[Kevin] This court is adjourned.

-Follow me, please.
-Yes, sir.

I trusted a friend
and that was my only mistake here.

He was lying the entire time.
I don't know why a friend would do that

after I helped him build his website
and he tried to stab me in the back.

I'm a very forgiving person,
so I hate to count it out completely,

but things are not looking good for us.

I think he got a bit of karma there

and I'm glad he, hopefully,
missed out on something.

But I did not do it.

You know, I'm not so sure about that case.

Let us assume
that everything was as presented.

The plaintiff had absolutely no damage
that he could prove.

He might've done that, you know.

You lost my cats,
I'm gonna screw around with your web page.

And I'm absolutely certain

that they're gonna have dinner
tomorrow night together.

-I'm sure as well.
-I'm sure.

Case number 3010.
Smith-Trammell versus Martin.

All parties, please step forward.

[narrator] Linsey Smith
and Lakisha Trammell

are suing their former friend,
Charlene Martin,

for vacation costs to Brazil.

Ms. Trammell, you and Ms. Smith
have known each other for how long?

Almost 25 years.

And Ms. Smith,
how long have you known Ms. Martin?

Probably about eight years.

-And you?
-[Lakisha] Maybe about four?

[Judy] And over a period of time,
you three ladies have traveled alone,

the three of you, frequently.

How many have the three of you
traveled on?

-Three.
-Three.

-[Judy] To where?
-Los Angeles.

And where was the second trip?

The second trip was a cruise to...

I believe it was Grand Cayman.

Just the three of you went?

[Linsey] It was actually myself
and about 25 of my friends.

-And you went?
-Yes.

-Was it fun?
-We had a lot of fun.

-[Judy] No issues?
-There's always issues, but, yeah.

-There always is.
-But nothing big.

-Going with your family, there always is...
-Exactly. Exactly.

I wasn't going hang-gliding.
I know that much.

I would've said that right up front.

-[unclear]
-That's not for me.

-Yeah.
-Ice skating, I'll go to.

If you wanna take me
for a wine tasting tour of the vineyards,

I'm with you.

Very easy. Just say, "I'm not going."

[narrator] Linsey Smith
and Lakisha Trammell

claim their former friend,
Charlene Martin,

owes for vacation costs to Brazil.

[Judy] Okay. When was the next trip?

The third trip was actually
this particular trip...

Everybody agree this was
supposed to be the third trip?

Supposed to be the third trip.

Where was it supposed to take you?

We were traveling to Brazil.

And this is your complaint.

Your complaint is
that you put certain things...

On my credit card.

-Your credit card?
-Mm-hmm.

And Ms. Martin subsequently decided
that she did not want to go on the trip.

And, because of that,
and you had certain non-refundable,

so you were out a certain amount of money.

-That is true.
-Yes, ma'am.

[Judy] I think it's Ms. Martin's position
that she booked some of her flights...

I paid for my flights.

[Judy] And didn't go.

-You just lost the money.
-[Charlene] Correct.

How much money did you lose?

$518.96.

You weren't sick or anything?

No, I didn't feel comfortable going.

You didn't want to go
because you didn't feel comfortable.

Something happened,
which you'll tell me about,

that suggested there was
a little bit of hostility.

-And you decided you didn't want to go...
-That's correct.

Tell me, what specific charges you made

that you want her to be responsible for.

Since it's clear,
based upon what she told me,

that there was no physical reason
why she couldn't go.

She just said
she felt uncomfortable going.

That she didn't think
she would have a good time

because of emotional messages
she was receiving.

Right.

[Judy] Okay. So tell me
exactly what expenses

you believe you incurred on her behalf

-that she should be responsible for.
-[Linsey] The Airbnb.

-Airbnb?
-Yeah.

-Where?
-The Airbnb that is in Rio.

-And...
-Airbnb. Shh.

The Airbnb in Rio.

So how much in total did you pay
for the Airbnbs?

$669.81.

-For her share?
-For her share, correct.

So one Airbnb they booked,

the second one they booked
after I said I wasn't going.

-So I wasn't responsible for...
-Oh, just a second.

Tell me the date that you told them
that you weren't going?

March 8th.

-March 11, actually.
-March 8th.

Did you book the Airbnb
after she said she wasn't going?

I had already sent her the Airbnb prior

-and she agreed...
-No, that's not my question.

Did you book it
after she told you she wasn't going?

The Airbnb was booked March 9th.

-The second Airbnb.
-Okay.

[Charlene] And Wednesday, March 8th,
is when I said I wasn't going.

Can I see both documents?

-There's more where I said...
-Shh. I'm just looking at the date.

She sent this to you on March 8th,

you said you booked that second Airbnb
on March 9th.

She'd already told you she wasn't going.

She's therefore not responsible
for that second Airbnb.

-Okay?
-Okay.

Just give me the total cost
of the first Airbnb.

$2,262.12.

Okay. $565.

What else do you think
she's responsible for?

[Linsey] The excursions as well.

Okay. I want you to tell me
about the excursions.

[Linsey] I booked excursions
for all four people

for the eight days that we were there.

I had everyone confirm
about the excursions

because I had to put in a reservation
for those excursions.

Let me see what the document looks like.

I never confirmed any excursions.

If it was before the 8th,
you're responsible for your 25%.

-Of the excursion?
-Absolutely.

If you said, "I'm not going,"
well, that's one thing.

Say, "I'm not going." That's clear.

Hang-gliding was the excursion.

I understand. If you say, "I'm not going.
Don't book that for me,"

-that's clear.
-Okay.

So the excursions were per person.

-[Linsey] Yes.
-I see.

Tell me exactly which excursions.

We went paragliding.
We also did a few city tours.

[Judy] I don't know what 750 Brazilian
per person is.

-Right. I have the breakdown of it.
-A boat ride.

-Is that $300 per person or 300 Brazilian?
-[Linsey] Everything is Brazilian.

-Everything is Brazilian?
-Yes.

Okay. So, let's have all the figures
in Brazilian

and Sarah is going to figure it out.

[Charlene] I wasn't going hang-gliding.
I know that much.

-The rest...
-Then you should've... Just a second.

Then you should've said clearly to them,
who were making the arrangements,

"I'm not going hang-gliding."

I would've said that right up front.

-[unclear]
-That's not for me.

-Yeah.
-Ice skating, I'll go to.

You wanna take me
for a wine tasting tour of the vineyards,

I'm with you.

She's thorough.
So she'll plan a lot of activities...

Listen. You would've gone
and you would've enjoyed yourself.

-On some of them.
-No.

You would've gone
and you would've enjoyed yourself.

If you say I wanna be excluded on this,
be clear,

if somebody is making the arrangements,
if they're non-refundable.

Now she's saying they're non-refundable.

-Is that correct?
-[Linsey] That's correct.

It was for two people

because my best friend and her sister
had already stated up front

that they weren't going.

I'm much like you, I'm not doing it.

When I even told my friend
that I wasn't doing it,

she said I don't think
your insurance covers that.

Very easy. Just say, "I'm not going".

-That's all you say. Say, "I'm not going."
-Okay.

[Sarah] For the hotel transfer, that 550,

is that for the entire ride
or was that per person?

That was for the entire ride
and would be split by four.

[Judy] Just a second.

-That was for the entire ride?
-I'm dividing it by four.

You don't have to divide that by four.
Cross that out.

-Okay.
-Now it's divided by three.

There's a difference
between making a reservation

for going hang-gliding per person,

which I understand,

but if you have to get
from one place to another,

whether you take a car
with three people or four,

if it's one cost,
it doesn't make any difference.

She's not charged for the transfers.

$432 US.

[Judy] That comes to $997.

Just for my own curiosity,

you decided not to go.

Just tell me, briefly, about that.

[Charlene] Lakisha already didn't want me
on the trip altogether.

She said she wanted it to be just her,

her sister, and Linsey.

-So I already wasn't...
-When did she tell you that?

-On a phone call.
-What date?

-Maybe the 11th?
-We're already past that.

You told them on the 8th
that you weren't going.

Even if I wanted to go,

they expressed
that I left a bad taste in their mouth.

And I could no longer come,
even if I wanted to.

No, no. That's baloney,
'cause you didn't say that here.

$997. Judgement for the plaintiff.

-We're finished. Thank you.
-[Linsey] Thank you.

[Kevin] Court is adjourned.

I feel it's petty. I wish
it could've been handled a different way.

Honestly, it's really disappointing.

Not only did I lose money,
but I also lost a friendship.

I hate to lose a friendship
over something this small,

but, you know, it happens.

The last conversation I had with her
she said she was gonna pay me,

and I never heard from her again.

Like one of those things where it's like
I just want everybody to get along.

She would not be traveling with me again.

So as you know, I just planned
my first bachelorette trip

as maid of honor.

I find, after doing that,
what I will do in the future,

is do an in-person hang out.

Everyone bring your computers,
we're gonna book everything the same day.

There's no confusion,
there's not back-and-forth.

There's receipts, there's texts,
everyone can book your own thing.

-Not a bad idea.
-Yeah.

Good suggestion. I don't book trips.

I set the table. I say we are going here

on November 11th.

You wanna come?

-Say yes.
-Okay, yeah.

Either you're in, you're out.

-Clear.
-Clear. Nice and clear.

[narrator] Want justice?