02x85 - Mean Girls and Wedding Planner vs. Newlywed

[bunniefuu]

She keyed your car?

And she was threatening
to beat me up.

Her family came up there,
and they all had g*ns.

That's a lie.

We've had a ongoing beef for years.

And it's all over the prize.

[Announcer]
This is Judy Justice.

Keanna Hill is suing her former coworker,

Diamond Horton, for vandalizing her car

and harassment while working together.

[Kevin] Court come to order.
All rise.

[Judge Judy] Have a seat, please.

Case 2141,
Hill versus Horton.

- Thank you.
- You're welcome.

- [Judge Judy] Ms. Hill?
- Yes, ma'am.

What's this man's name?

[Hill]
Clydus Brown.

[Judge Judy]
You have a child with him?

- Yes, ma'am.
- Who's 10 years old?

- Yes.
- Is that your only child?

- No, ma'am.
- How many children do you have?

- I have four children.
- Is he the oldest?

- She is the oldest.
- She. She's the oldest?

- Yes.
- Does she see her father?

- No.
- Hasn't seen him in how long?

Months to a year.

The defendant has two children with him?

- Yes, ma'am.
- How old are they?

Well, he'll be two on the ninth,
and then I have a 10-month-old.

And then, according to what I've read here

in either the complaint or the answer,
he has at least one other child.

- [Hill] Yes, ma'am.
- Which is how old?

- Probably about seven.
- Seven.

Does he see that child?

Every blue moon when she brings him.

- So once in a while?
- Yeah.

So he has four children altogether?

- Yes, ma'am.
- And you currently live with him?

- Yes.
- What does he do for a living?

Well, he works at a warehouse.

- And you?
- Well, I'm a certified nurse assistant.

- Who takes care of the kids?
- Me and Clydus.

You work different shifts?

Yes, he works overnight,
I work day shift.

- So you're currently working?
- Yes, ma'am.

But there came a time...

I'm just trying to figure out

why everybody's sort of mad
and fighting over him.

I don't understand it.

It must be something that you ladies
see that is hidden from me,

because it is your claim, Ms. Hill,

that Ms. Horton
not only vandalized your car,

but that she caused you
to be fired from your job.

She says that you filed a false
restraining order against her,

and that actually you
caused her to lose her job,

and it's all over the prize...

which I can never really understand.

How long have you been working
in your current job?

About three months now.

- So you got another job?
- Yes, ma'am.

- Do you like it?
- Yes.

Making about the same money or more?

A little less. [chuckles]

- And where are you working?
- I'm a machine operator.

- So you got another job?
- Yes.

Because all this started
when all of a sudden

you found yourselves
working in the same place?

- Yes.
- And in what month was that?

That was, um... I started the job
May 31st,

but it spilled over into June,
is when everything took place.

And how long were you working
at the same place?

Three months.
I started March 4th, 2022.

Okay. So it was a short-term
employment for both of you.

- And you were there first?
- Yes, ma'am.

- And you came shortly thereafter?
- Yes.

Shortly after she started to work.
Had you ever met each other?

No.

Well, explain to me what the problem was.

So there's a history that started back
in 2019 via text messages and Facebook,

so we've had an ongoing beef for years.

Who cares?
Now you're gonna both get smarter.

You're gonna come here today
and you're gonna both get smarter.

And if he has two children
that he doesn't see,

her daughter and your 7-year-old,

according to what I hear,
that you see once every blue moon,

that's a basket that I wouldn't be in.

So you have a history of bad texting
back and forth and stuff.

I don't care about that.

Let's get to the two allegations of,
one, that she vandalized your tires.

When and what proof do you have
that she vandalized your tires?

This is after you both found yourself
in the same working environment.

It wasn't my tires.
She actually keyed my vehicle.

- [Judy] Keyed it?
- Yes.

[Judy]
On what date?

On June 18th.
I have my police report from this.

Okay, I'll look at the police report.
Did you see her key your car?

I did not see her, but I requested
video footage from the job,

and they stated that they would give me
the video footage.

Do we have it?

We don't have it, but the city attorney
was unable to receive it as well.

But I have a letter
from the city attorney.

You don't have it here for me,
and you didn't see her key your car.

- Yes.
- What we're here for is a trial,

so I need what proof you have
that she keyed your car.

I assume your car was at work.

- Yes.
- When it was keyed? Okay?

And I'm assuming
that you don't like each other.

That things got nasty, heated
on social media back and forth.

I'm assuming all that is true.

All I need for you to show me is proof
that she keyed your car.

Well, I have audio recording from HR
where they're stating that everything

was initiated by the defendant.

And Arkansas's a one-party state,
so I can play the audio for you.

[Judy]
Oh, was she on the audio?

They're talking about the video

in the recording and that they
were supposed to give it to me.

Can't help you.

Okay, this the next part of your case
is that you caused you to lose your job.

- Yes.
- Go.

So I have my termination letter
stating that the defendant...

I'd like to see your
termination letter.

It's a joke.

This is the description of the termination
letter and description of the violation.

"Keanna has been involved
in altercations with another employee.

While the other employee
instigated the situations,

it has gotten to a point where
multiple other staff are now involved."

I don't know what that means.

"At this point
it is affecting patient care

and causing a hostile work environment.

Termination effective immediately."

I assume that you have a similar letter,
'cause you were terminated.

- May I see it?
- Yes.

- I also have a final warning.
- Just a, just a second.

Okay. "On Wednesday,
June 15th, 2022, Diamond..."

- That's you?
- Yes, ma'am.

Was given a final written notice
concerning harassment of other employees.

It has since been reported
that the harassment has continued.

Also multiple other staff have been pulled
into this situation

to the point that it's affecting
patient care,

and it's a termination letter.

Okay, so I'm assuming since you got this,
you were notified previously

about having any communication
with each other.

- [Diamond] No, ma'am.
- You were not?

I was out for COVID. I had just got back
to work June 15th, 2022,

and I found out that Hill
was working there.

I never knew she was working there at all.

- And so I got called to the office...
- That's not true your honor.

What was the beef about?
I don't understand.

The other baby mama.
It's the reason why we're into it.

- The 7-year-old's mother?
- Yes.

- The 7-year-old's mother?
- Yes.

[Diamond]
Yes.

[Announcer]
And later today.

How much money in total
did you pay Ms. Goodwin

for her work in planning your wedding?

I paid her 50 bucks.

Well, don't you think that's ridiculous?

[Announcer] Keanna Hill claims
her former coworker Diamond Horton

harassed her at work
and caused her to be fired.

Diamond is countersuing
for filing a false restraining order.

My question was a relatively simple one,
because I'm gonna make this as simple

as possible before I
probably dismiss both of them.

I would like to see after June 15th, 2022,

up until the date of the termination,
which is June 23rd, 2022,

how the harassment continued.

I would like you to show me
from June 15th.

The actual date was June 14th.

Well, this says June 15th.

- I wasn't working.
- Ssh.

This violation...

She had complained to my friends as well.
We have the date, time stamps.

I just want you to show me
after June 15th,

between June 15th and June 23rd...

[Hill]
Yes, ma'am.

...what further acts that you allege
are acts of harassment occurred?

- I have the schedule showing the date...
- Ssh.

Well, I don't know what this is.

A fake Facebook page that she made.

How do you know this is a fake Facebook
page that she made?

That was a requested message
that was sent to me after her and myself

had a conversation,
and she was threatening to beat me up.

And it says, "Since you didn't apologize,
D is going to beat you up."

- Okay.
- The D they're referring to is Diamond.

Oh my God!

What is this?

The 870 number
is her calling my phone.

Okay, and 870?

- The missed calls.
- This was on what date?

That was on June 19th.

What were you calling her for
at six o'clock in the evening?

Well, the day she accused me
of vandalizing her car is, uh,

the day that we had worked together.

She called the police, and her family
came up there, and they all had g*ns.

That's the reason she got terminated
'cause she brought a g*n on the premises.

- And they came up there to jump me.
- That's a lie.

- And when I went outside...
- I just wanna ask you why you called her.

I called her to ask her
because June 16th is when I sat down,

I had a conversation together
to drop all beef, like no issue.

I don't want you...
You can't control yourself.

Understand you're sending me
a bad message

if you can't control yourself here,
which is a very controlled setting,

I'm gonna say to myself, this is somebody

who can't control themselves
outside of the setting.

- Do you understand?
- Yes, ma'am.

So I called her to ask her why did
she feel like I vandalized her vehicle

because before that we sat down
and we had a conversation together

at work saying it should be dead.

Like, why we should not have any beef,
any over him at all.

And that the kids were involved.
And so we agreed to let it go.

So then she accused me
of vandalizing her vehicle.

What was the beef about?
I don't understand.

The other baby mama
is the reason why we are into it.

- The 7-year-old's mother?
- Yes.

- The 7-year-old's mother?
- Yes.

Yes. Yes.

So we have no proof of vandalizing
and this is nonsense.

You wanna tell me about the restraining
order that you filed?

There was a order of protection placed
after she was harassing me at work.

May I see it?

Yes.
But it was also rescinded.

By the way, does he pay child support
for your daughter?

- Yes, ma'am.
- He does? How much?

He pays probably about 239
every two weeks,

- somewhere around there.
- Does he pay it to you?

Yes.
Well, it's through child support.

- But he pays it to you?
- Yes.

- And he's current?
- Yes.

Well, there's back pay
but he's currently paying.

Okay, so was there a hearing
on this order of protection?

- It was not.
- No, ma'am, there was not a hearing.

Just a second, did you appear?

No, I rescinded.

I understand that.

I just wanna know, the court
found that the petition was dismissed.

It was a false accusation.

Mm-hmm.

Okay, so the reason that the order states
it was dismissed is that the petitioner

doesn't meet the definition of family
or household member as defined

in whatever statute is and therefore
does not allege the existence

of domestic abuse.

Doesn't address
the gravamen of the petition.

It's a more procedural dismissal

because she's not related
to you in any way.

I mean, having children with a person
in common doesn't make you,

at least in this jurisdiction,
part of the household.

Okay, you both look like nice ladies.

You know he has kids with two
other people. Not a great track record.

Not that he don't see them
because they don't let him.

They don't want their kids around me.

There's a reason, you know,
maybe not a great track record.

It's not good for your children.
It's really not good for your children.

I mean your children, believe it or not,
your children are related to each other.

I mean, you may not have
any interest whatsoever,

but when your children get older,
they may have a curiosity

about who their half-sibling is,
what they look like.

Are they alike?
They may have interest.

So I can suggest to you is, your children
didn't ask to be born.

The idea that you exert
any energy whatsoever,

negative energy with regard
to each other is ridiculous.

Really ridiculous.

But for him, you wouldn't have any contact
with each other.

Am I, am I reading that right?

- Yes.
- Yes, ma'am.

Yeah. Well, why?
He hasn't been in your life in years.

And I know that he shouldn't have
been in your life,

at least for the last seven years
cause he's got a 7-year-old

with somebody else, right?

And you have a 10-year-old.
Goodbye... except for your daughter.

Can I state that the situation
is not about him.

It's about the harassment,
the lost wages.

That's more of my concern with her.
It has nothing to do with him.

I was working before you. I was
working that job. You came to my job.

Just a second.
What I'm telling you is right now,

I don't have to get into it any further.

- Right now, she's got the guy.
- I don't care.

Just a second, though.
Right now, she's got the guy.

So that would perhaps give rise
to some animus on your part

with regard to her position.

He's working and he's paying money
to your child,

which is in her mind taking money away
from her two children

that she has with him.
Well, that's his responsibility.

You knew about that child
and you knew about the 7-year-old.

[Hill]
Mm-hmm .

So what I'm telling you is there's a lot
of negative energy going on.

You both got jobs
relatively soon after this.

It was probably not a good idea
for you to stay in the same place,

and your employer was absolutely right
and actually quite brave in today's times

to say we're terminating both of you
because your job

is affecting patient care.

'Cause it's not only the two of you,
other employees have been drawn

into this drama.

That's cause she brought them in.

I don't know whether she brought them
in or not.

And I don't care
whether she brought them in.

[Announcer]
And later today.

She wasn't your best friend.
She wasn't even a close friend.

You hadn't spoken to her in years.

So clearly you called her
to do a job for you

that was her profession.

And in addition to doing that,
she brought you your wedding dress.

[Announcer]
Keanna Hill claims her former coworker,

Diamond Horton, harassed her at work
and caused her to be fired.

Diamond is countersuing
for filing a false restraining order.

Now of all the places
that you have to work,

you have to work in a place
where she was working?

- I didn't know she worked there.
- She didn't know that you were there?

She did on the first day that I started
and she told everyone who I was,

and what the situation...

- I was out for COVID.
- Okay, who cares?

Anyway, cases are dismissed.
Goodbye. Good luck.

[Kevin]
This court is adjourned.

I feel like the judge,
she made the right decision.

She didn't listen.

Because I'm with her baby's father,
which is now my baby's father.

He had nothing to do with this situation.

I just wanna be there for my kids.

You know, to his credit,
he's paying support.

- Sure. Has a job.
- He has a job.

And I don't know why these two women feud,

when according to plaintiff,
she has no interest in him anymore.

- And she's getting support.
- She's getting support.

Just don't understand,
there are so many things

that life has that present obstacles.

Why fight over a guy?

There's many good causes
you could get behind you fight for.

- Let's choose one of those.
- Yeah, right.

Case number 2149,
Goodwin versus Philpot.

All parties, please step forward.

[Announcer] Manuelita Goodwin
is suing wedding planner Kayla Philpot

for repayment of items
purchased for Kayla's wedding.

Miss Philpot, how long
have you known Ms. Goodwin?

Um, since I was a child.

I don't remember
much of her when I was a child,

but she remembers me as a baby.

Well, I don't know what she remembers.
You were getting married, when?

- What was the date of the wedding?
- May 6th, 2021.

Where was the wedding supposed to be held?

- It was gonna be held in Turlock.
- Is that a wedding venue?

- Yes.
- How many people were coming?

Um, it ended up being around 25 people.

- It was kind of small.
- How many people did you invite?

- 60.
- But 25 came?

- Yeah.
- It was during the height of COVID?

Tell me, when you contacted Ms. Goodwin,

you contacted her because you knew
she was a wedding planner, right?

- Yes.
- And when did you contact her?

I believe I contacted her in January.

And at the time you contacted her,
had you made any wedding plans at all?

- Um, very little.
- Okay.

During the course
of your wedding planning,

she said she would help you?

[Philpot] Yes.

Prior to January 2021,

when you contacted her,
when was the last time you saw her?

- [Philpot] I can't even remember.
- Well, was it in 2020?

- [Philpot] No.
- 2019?

No.

So you hadn't seen her
in at least two or three years?

- Yes.
- How many times in that two-

or three-year period did you communicate
with her by text or by phone?

- Never.
- So the reason that you called her

in January of 2021
was to assist you with your wedding?

- [Philpot] Yes.
- And she did?

- Yes.
- That's why we're here?

She said she laid out a whole bunch
of money for you in planning your wedding

and purchasing things for your wedding,
and she wants to be reimbursed for that.

So, when you called and asked her
to help plan your wedding,

what did you ask her to do for you?

I asked her to help me
cause I really didn't have

a sense of, like, direction
of what to do for a wedding.

And I asked her if she would pay
for a decoration,

and then I told her that I was getting
my tax return and that I would pay her

for the decoration,
and we started with that.

- Started with that?
- Mm-hmm.

How much money in total
did you pay Ms. Goodwin

for her work
in planning your wedding?

I paid her 50 bucks.

Well, don't you think that's ridiculous?
It is ridiculous, right?

You called her and engaged her
to be a wedding planner for your wedding.

She wasn't your best friend,
she wasn't even a close friend.

You hadn't spoken to her
or seen her in years.

So, clearly you called her
to do a job for you

that was her profession, her vocation.

And in addition to doing that,
she bought you your wedding dress?

- Yes.
- How much was your wedding dress.

I ended up, oh well we got a few dresses.

The first one didn't work out,
and I believe that one was 200.

- Who paid for that one?
- She did.

So the first one didn't work out.
That was two hundred dollars.

- Yes.
- And it didn't work out why?

- I didn't like the fit on it.
- Didn't like it. Okay.

- But you bought it? She bought it?
- Yes.

And where is that dress now?

I gave it back,
and we ended up returning it.

- Okay, so you got your money back?
- Yes.

Oh great, strike that out.
And what about the next dress?

The next dress, it was from Amazon,
and we didn't like the fit either,

so we ended up returning that one.
And that one was...

Who ordered that dress?
You or the plaintiff?

I believe it was me.

Okay.
And what did you finally end up with?

I ended up getting a dress
from David's Bridal that I really liked.

How much was that?

I believe it was 500.

- Who paid for that?
- She did.

So far you've paid $50 for her services,
and so far, at least what I know,

just for one, dress it was $500.

Don't you think you owe her
compensation for her work?

Well, she told me that, you know,
she was really, really generous.

She was giving like a lot of stuff
and I believe that I don't owe her

because she offered to do...

It sounds stupid to you?
Okay, I know it sounds stupid to you.

How much did you lay out
for her wedding?

In the receipts that you have for me,

how much did you lay out for her,
for her wedding?



And when you asked her to be reimbursed
for that money, what did she tell you?

That she was going to pay some of it
when she received her tax returns.

Actually her wife's tax returns.

And also she was working overtime
to pay me back.

She also stated that she was going
to be getting a judgment

from a State Farm check,
that she would be making payments,

and she did pay the $50 after she made
a payment arrangement with me

to pay $200 a month back.

And she did make the first payment of $50,

and from that point she didn't make
any additional payments.

So we did work together, Your Honor,
to try to sell the items

that were at her sister's home.

I requested both Kayla and her wife
at the time to sell the items.

They were sitting in her sister's garage
in Stockton, where I do not live.

I did come down for two weeks
to try to help sell those items.

- Were any of those items sold?
- Yes, they were.

- Did you get any money back?
- I did.

- How much?
- $106.

And then I had to pay for shipping
for those items.

How much did you pay for shipping?

$75, and the rest of the items
are still in her sister's possession.

Okay, 3226.

How much did you pay for your wedding
other than the plaintiff's participation?

- Um, 8,000.
- Did you pay that?

My mom paid for the venue,
and then I paid for the other things.

- How much was the venue?
- 4,000.

So you paid 4,000. You personally?
And what about your wife?

Well, we share an account,
so goes from both of us.

What about her $3,200?
Just don't have it.

Just didn't pay you?
Okay, anything else Ms. Goodwin?

- No.
- 3226, judgment for the plaintiff?

[Kevin]
This court is adjourned.

She told me that a lot
of the stuff was gifts.

I don't have any more wedding woes.

She did a great job with the wedding.

She thought it was a gift.

She's really, really gifted at that.

Never gonna loan money to her again.

That was a relatively easy case.
I think even the defendant acknowledged.

Besides just relying
on the goodwill of the plaintiff,

she had no real excuse to not
pay her back and... makes our job easy.

- Some are easy, some are hard?
- Yeah.

[Announcer]
Want justice?