02x27 - Rag Doll Dog and Hairy Situation

[bunniefuu]

One of his dogs attacked your dog?

Yes, ma'am.

[barking, snarling]

Her dog came out barking at my dogs.

I don't care. I don't know
what you were smiling about.

I wouldn't be smiling if I were you.

[Narrator] This is Judy Justice.

Catherine Smallwood is
suing her neighbor, Nathan Moon,

for vet bills from a dog attack.

[Bailiff] Court come to order. All rise.

Have a seat, please.

Hello, Judge. Case number 2034.
Smallwood versus Moon.

-Thank you.
-Thank you.

[Judge Judy] Ms. Smallwood,

you and the defendant and neighbors,

you probably share a common area,
either in the front or the back.

You have small dogs.
I think you have a large dog or two.

Two of them. Yes, ma'am.

-Hmm?
-Yes, ma'am, two of them.

And it is your claim that
one of his dogs attacked your dog

on your property. The dog was injured.

You want the defendant
to be responsible for the vet bills

that you had for your dog?

-Yes, ma'am.
-How long have you been neighbors?

I've been living in the
neighborhoods for 23 years.

And what about you, sir?

Uh, two.

Do you own your own home?

-Yes, ma'am.
-And you?

-I rent it.
-Are you familiar with Mr. Moon's dogs?

-Not at all, so...
-Have you ever seen them before?

No, ma'am.

You mean in the two years
that he's been there prior to

this incident, you've never seen his dogs?

They live in the back
cul de sac from where I am.

Do you have adjacent property?

No, ma'am. He lives maybe about...
I want to say almost a mile.

Really?

Mm-hmm.

Is that correct, sir?

I guess so. I don't know
exactly where her house is either.

Well, so you don't have adjacent property?

We just lived in the same neighborhood.

How did your dog get out?

Um...

"Um" is not an answer.

Yes, ma'am. Uh...

[mumbles]

Try to speak up.

I guess it jumped over the fence.

What kind of a dog is it?

A pit mix.

On what date did it jump over the fence?

About two months ago from today.

Has it ever jumped over the fence before?

It has.

Then you don't have a big enough fence.

Well, she climbs the fence.

It's not that she just hops over it.
She actually, literally climbs it.

Then you keep her inside. Then you keep
her outside if she wants to be outside.

And you keep her on a chain.

Yes, ma'am.

Because if you were aware of
the fact that your dog can get out

from over the fence,
then the dog is not in your control.

Correct.

On what date was your dog injured?

May 10.

Of this year?

Yes, ma'am.

Did you see the incident?

I didn't see it right away, but as I said,
the dogs out to use the bathroom,

went back in the house,
put some clothes on, heard a commotion,

went back outside,
and that's when I seen the first attack.

And I yelled at the dogs,
and they took off running down the street.

-How many were there?
-Two.

Were they pit bulls?

Yes, ma'am, to my knowledge.

What color were they?

White.

Is that the color of your dogs?

Yes, ma'am.

I'm able to gather
two of them were together.

Yes, ma'am.

You say that was the first attack?

Right.

So, your dog was okay?

Well, he was laying on the ground.
I ran and put clothes on.

I yelled at them.
The dogs took off running.

I come back out to get him,
but he's on the other side of the yard.

I have a half acre. So, he's literally
on the other side of the yard.

Your dog or his dog?

My dog.

After I seen the video,
I wasn't sure how he got there.

But the Animal Control say
I don't have a case unless I have video.

And I looked at the video.

Where did you have a camera?
In your backyard?

In my front yard.

Do you have that video here?

-Yes, ma'am, I do.
-I'd like to take a look at it.

Is that your yard?

Yes, ma'am.

And that's your dog, sir?

[Catherine] That's my little one.
The black and white.

The little one is your dog,
but the big one is his?

Yes, ma'am.

[barking]

You understand what the problem is?

Yes, ma'am.

Okay.

So, why don't you, Mr. Moon,
tell me what the problem is?

So, I think...

She was there to prevent it, for one.
So, there's other videos, too.

But she came out,
she shush my dogs away, they ran off,

and then she went back inside and left her
dogs outside with no leash or fenced in.

That's in her property.

-I went back...
-Shh!

That's on her... that's her property.

How do I know that's hers?

There's no property lines or nothing.

No, that's her property.

-Okay, well...
-That's her property.

You live a half a mile away.

Her dog could have ran out of her yard.

He was, like, halfway out
in the yard or field or whatever it was.

You know? I mean...

Her dog came out barking at my dogs.

And if he really would have
wanted to hurt the dog,

then he could have
k*lled the dog if he wanted to.

I thought he was more...

Just a second. Just a second.

That's an interesting statement.

He could have
k*lled her dog if he wanted to.

Right.

That's an interesting statement.

Did you see her dog?
You know what kind of dog hers is?

No. I didn't see that.

Little schnerdicker.

-Right.
-Right?

Little one. Maybe five pounds. Maybe six.

-[Catherine] Three.
-Hmm?

-Three pounds.
-Okay.

You think that if her dog and then...
you've got a little Pekinese?

It's, um, Pomeranian.

Pomeranian.
It's got a little Pomeranian.

Do you think that those dogs got out
from their fenced yard like your dog?

Do you think if they
came across your dogs,

they could k*ll it? Or both of them?

Do you think they could?

No.

Okay. Let's take it
a step further, Mr. Moon.

Because you're not giving me
the answers that I want to hear.

So, let's take it a step further.

Do you think that if
Ms. Smallwood's two little dogs got out...

like your dogs got out...

and they came across a toddler
playing in their backyard,

do you think her two little dogs
could k*ll the toddler?

Probably not.

Could yours?

Probably so.

Mm-hmm. Probably so.

So, do you think that you have
a greater or a lesser responsibility

as the owner of dogs that are
capable of k*lling a human being...

you think that you owe a lesser
or a greater responsibility...

to society as a whole...

to make sure that those dogs
are within your control all the time.

You want to be a fool and own dogs
that are capable of k*lling,

you have to be responsible.
Just as if you had a wild tiger.

You wouldn't leave it out in the backyard
in a fence that it could climb.

[Narrator] And later today...

Is that what they call it? Installation?

Yes, ma'am.

Usually refer
to furniture as an installation.

I never knew that they
referred to a wig as installation.

[Narrator] Catherine Smallwood claims
her neighbor, Nathan Moon, owes

for vet bills from a dog attack.

So, you think that you owe a lesser
or a greater responsibility...

to society as a whole...

to make sure that those dogs
are within your control all the time?

Correct.

Well, since then, I've...

And what you told me...

I... I'm still... I'm still venting.

Because for those people in the world
that decide that dangerous dog breeds,

those dog breeds that have
been deemed dangerous in every state

in the United States, and insurance
companies won't insure you if you have

certain breeds of dogs... and yours
are within that little group of dogs.

Most insurance companies,
unless you pay a very high premium,

exclude injury from those dogs.

So, you understand that you have
animals that are deemed dangerous.

And you told me five minutes ago

that your dogs are able to
climb over the fence

and they've done it before...
before this incident.

Isn't that what you told me?

I mean, I have my reporter here
who can read it back.

Isn't that what you told me?

Yes, ma'am.

Well, if you agree with me that
your dogs are capable of causing death

to a human being and that your dogs
have been able to get out

from the enclosure that
you prepared for them,

then there is no question
that you are responsible for

any damage that your dogs do...

to another dog, to a child, to an adult.

You want to be a fool and own
dogs that are capable of k*lling,

you have to be responsible.
Just as if you had a wild tiger.

You wouldn't leave it out in the backyard
in a fence that it could climb.

Because if you did, you would
be responsible if it ate three people.

Do you know how many people
pit bulls k*lled last year?

They just k*lled another one in New York.
A woman. Ate her.

So, you want to be
a fool and have a dog like that,

you're responsible for
any injury it causes.

Also have pictures of the injury.

I'd like to see.

How much were your vet bills,
Ms. Smallwood?

[Catherine] The vet bill was $1,421.

And I'm going to tell you this, Mr. Moon.

So, there's no question
you're responsible for her vet bills.

No question.

But because you told me that
your dogs had gotten out before

and you didn't remedy that situation,
I'm tacking on another $1,000,

which is what she's requesting.

And while it's not for pain and suffering
of the dog, because I'm precluded from

giving you that kind of an award,
it's a deterrence for people who have

dogs that can k*ll to keep those
dogs under their control all the time.

And if you don't want to do that,
get a Pomeranian.

We're done. $2,400 judgment
for the plaintiff.

[Bailiff] This court is adjourned.

Her dogs weren't
on leash or in a fence either.

Well, I'm glad she understood
the dangers of pit bulls.

She was just requesting the vet bills.

Glad she seen the case going my way.

[mumbles] She just wanted the money
and said that her dog was injured.

Just hurts my heart. Still.

I wish I could have had
more control over my dogs.

To see him, you know,
slung around like a rag.

And, sorry.

Contain your animals.

Yeah. One thing you picked up on but
didn't quite name it was that when he

knew his dog was capable of
climbing over his own fence

that he had enclosed the dogs in,
he was on notice from that point forward

that his dogs were capable
of getting out of the yard.

He knew that they had
potential to be dangerous dogs,

and he chose not to do anything about it.

And you can't claim
anything was an accident after the point

where you were put on notice. So,
I agree completely with your judgment.

A, I'm glad you agree with me,
and B, I'm glad that the money was

well spent on your education.

Case number 2038, Stewart versus Thomas.
All parties, please step forward.

[Narrator] Precious Stewart,
is suing hairstylist, Karani Thomas,

for damages from a wig installation.

Ms. Stewart, you're
complaining that the defendant,

who tried to restyle or reinstall
a wig that you had recently purchased

did a terrible job,
and in addition to doing a terrible job,

she tried to fix it
and then she didn't return it to you.

Exactly.

So, you want the cost of the wig.

And the install.

And what?

And the install.

And the $200 that she charged you for
the installation of the wig.

Is that what they call it? Installation?

Yes, ma'am.

Usually refer
to furniture as an installation.

I never knew that they
referred to a wig as installation. Okay.

You purchased this wig when?

I purchased a wig on February 12.

-Of what year?
-2022.

Can I see the receipt?

Yes, ma'am.

Okay, and you paid $697 for it?

Yes, ma'am.

And have you bought wigs
from this particular outlet before?

-Yes, ma'am.
-That's not her outlet?

No, ma'am.

And did this outlet where you purchased
the wigs from, did they also install it?

Yes, ma'am.

And when did you install
the wig that you purchased?

The first time
that I installed it was March 3.

What did you do with it
between the 12th and third?

You said between the 12th...?

[Judge Judy]


Well, she had it.

Who had it? The other lady?

The other lady. Yes.

What did she do with it?

She just held it in because she
installed it for me the first time.

Not understanding me.

You purchased it on February 12.

Yes.

Did you use it or did you not use it
between February 12 and March...

-No, I did not.
-Didn't use it.

So the first time
it was installed was March 3?

-Yes, ma'am.
-And you have other wigs...

-Yes, ma'am.
-...that you use regularly.

The fist time time it was installed,
according to you,

it didn't look right, and you
thereafter contacted the defendant.

Had you ever used her services before?

-No, ma'am.
-How did you know about her?

She did a fashion show with me and
another girl before, and she was a model.

That's how I was introduced
to her before we proceeded to

follow each other over social media.

So, I was watching her do hair
and post her videos and stuff.

So, you contacted her
on what date to do a reinstall?

I believe it was...

-March...
-It was March 12.

[Judge Judy] Shh!

March? No, it wasn't.

-In the month of March.
-Yes.

The same month
that you had it initially installed.

It was the end of March.

But the same month?

Yes.

And you went to her home.
Is that where she operates, I gather?

-Yes, it is.
-You were in her home?

At the time, yes.

She used to work inside a studio.

What I read in your complaint was when you
left, you noticed that the installation

had left certain, according to you,
bald spots in the netting?

Yes, ma'am.

And you contacted the defendant?

Right away.

Do you remember that call, Ms. Thomas?

You had a dissatisfied customer
who wanted her money back.

Right.

What did you do with the wig?
Because you... now you have the wig.

Right. I reconstructed the wig.

So, after we did...

What did you do with it?

She told me she sold it.

I didn't ask you anything.

[Narrator] Precious Stewart
claims hairstylist,

Karani Thomas, did not properly
install her wig and never returned it.

Okay. Do you remember
that call, Ms. Thomas?

Yes, I do.

Tell me what she
said to you when she called.

Um, she said that specifically there were
spots or gaps that she needed to be fixed.

So, I told her that she can come back
the next day and we would fix

whatever spots.
Because she didn't send me a picture.

So I just told her, you know,
go ahead, come back the next day.

But she did, in fact,
pay you the $200 for installing the widow.

Mm-hmm.

Her coming back
the next day wasn't an extra charge.

-Did she come back the next day?
-No.

Do you know why?

She did not come back at the time
that she was supposed to,

because she said that her carpets
were getting clean and she forgot.

I also have proof of that and messages.

I'd like to see it.

Thank you.

Okay, so it looks as if the
day that you had set to go there,

you kept stalling it because
you had workmen in your house.

-Is that right?
-Yes. I had...

-That's a yes.
-...I had workmen in.

Yeah. That's, yes, you
had workmen in the house.

She said come,
you had workmen in the house,

and then you ask to come
when her baby was sleeping.

And she said,
don't come when my baby is sleeping

because the dogs
will bark and wake up the baby.

That's the only page that I have here.

So, when did she come back?

Afterward, that same night.
I have another paper.

She didn't come back.

And then she sent me this text
message letting me know that she got

in contact with another hairstylist that's
apparently a friend of hers saying...

Well, I can read.

Okay.

Okay, so what you say in this text is that
you showed the wig to somebody else.

Yes, Your Honor.

And they told you that it couldn't be
fixed because too much was plucked away

and then whatever.

Too much of the lace was removed.

[Judge Judy] Shh!

And you want a full refund
and a wig replacement.

And then you say, "I hate this because
you're a very sweet person, very talented.

"I'm not sure how we got here.

"I'm going to proceed with
removing the wig from my head.

"I'll bring it to you so you can
see if there's any saving possible.

Thank you, and sorry for
the inconvenience." When did you do that?

The same day.

Okay, so you brought it to her?

No, I didn't bring it to her.
I told her that the same day that I was...

No, when did you bring it to her?

I brought it to her the next day.

Okay, so that was still the end of March,
or was that the beginning of April?

I believe it was still the end of March.

[Karani] It was March.

So, you brought it
to her and what happened?

I brought it to her.
She said that she would try to fix it.

She then proceeded trying to fix it.

She sent me
photos of what she tried to do,

which wasn't really much of anything
because it still looked bald.

Because I have a photo right here.

Still look the same way
that it looked when she took it off.

I mean when she put it on.

Also, I have these photos as well
as what it looked like the next morning.

Looked like it was
disintegrating off my head. That's...

A proper install,

the next morning a few hours...

Just looking.

...doesn't do that.

Okay.

[Judge Judy] Okay.

I see them. Would you show
these to the defendant, please?

[Precious] She's seen them.

[Karani] I have them.

You have them?

She sent that to my phone.

Okay, great. I'll take them back now.
Thank you, Kevin.

You're welcome, Judge.

Okay, so you had a dissatisfied
customer who wanted her money back.

Right.

What did you do with the wig?

Because you now... you had the wig

RIght. I reconstructed the wig.
So after we did...

What did you do with it?

-[Precious] She told me she sold it.
-Shh!

-Sorry... sorry.
-I didn't ask you anything.

What did you do with the wig?

It had been over two months
since we had in contact with each other.

I just got rid of it.

How did you get rid of it?

I threw it away.

Why?

Because I had spent money
that went to waste and I replaced it.

I couldn't do anything with it. She...

What do you mean replaced it?

I replaced the frontal that she said
I made bald. So, I spent my own money.

I reconstructed it by
putting a new frontal on the wig.

I have messages of her agreeing saying
that the new work look good

and she would not come pick the wig up

because I wouldn't do
another install on her head.

May I see those?

I assume those
text messages go into April and May.

Yes.

Okay, so we're not that far away,
and I would assume

that the wig doesn't take up
that much room in your house.

Well, she didn't come back until June.

[Judge Judy] That doesn't matter.

With the police.

What does that matter?

She said that she didn't want it anymore.

"Morning, boo.
I will be home tomorrow, okay?

I'll get back to
take pictures of..." Well, okay.

Well, in any event,
you had no right to either give it away,

sell it, throw it away
until this matter was resolved.

So, you owe her, first, the $675
that she spent for the wig.

[Karani] May I speak?

You can speak all you want, but you owe
the $675 that she spent for the wig.

You had no right to throw it away.

Even with her saying
that she didn't want it anymore?

I never said I didn't want it, though.

But you did. I have proof of that.

You said I didn't want...

Are you talking to each other?

If you talk to each other,
then I dismiss your case.

-Do you understand?
-Sorry, Your Honor.

[Judge Judy] Bottom line.

So, if you have proof that she said to
you, "you can discard the wig,

you can discard the wig," then I'll see.

I don't wanna see
"I don't want that wig anymore.

You owe me for the wig
because you ruined it."

That's a different story than
"I don't want it anymore."

-Okay. Can I...?
-Do you understand?

Can I find that?

Absolutely.

I don't know if what I'm trying to find
is in the papers that you have are here.

So, I'm sorry if I'm taking long.
I'm reading.

I don't see anything in the papers
that I have here

that says "you can get rid of it."

Okay, I do. I have it.

Well, it doesn't say get rid of it,
but it does say "you can keep the wig

and give me my $700 then."

Oh, yeah, I can understand that.
So, did you give her money?

-You kept it?
-No.

-You kept it?
-I did not.

Did you give her her money?

-No, I did not.
-Well, then you owe her.

$697 for the wig
and the other $200 that she paid you,

which I believe she did for the install.

Judgment for the plaintiff, $897.
We're finished. Thank you very much.

Thank you, Your Honor.

I think she made the right decision.

I feel like the judge
made the wrong decision.

I was trying to let things die down
and be a civil person.

We both came to an agreement
that I would reconstruct the unit.

I would have been like,
"hey, it doesn't belong to me.

Let me just give it back."

Problem was that she wouldn't
come back and pick it up because

I wouldn't install her hair again.

Just give me my wig back,
and she told me no.

I felt I didn't owe her any money.

I don't got the wig,
but I'm getting my money back.

Simple, easy. You can't
throw away somebody's property.

Yep.

The only thing that I was
amazed at in the complaint, Sarah,

is that she sat there
for five and a half hours...

Yeah.

...while she had this wig installed.

Yeah. Beauty is pain.

I cannot imagine sitting
someplace five and a half hours without

leaving with a baby or something.

Yeah.

-I don't know, that's...
-The things women do for beauty.

[Narrator] Want justice?