'Blame It on the Alcohol' & 'Looking for DNA Answers' & Much More

0:01 Plaintiff Danielle Ader met the defendant and became friends.

0:05 But once they became roommates,

0:06 Danielle realized that the defendant was a heavy drinker.

0:10 Danielle claims one night after an argument the defendant got drunk,

0:14 trashed her home, and vandalized her car, so she's suing.

0:19 Defendant Haley Gloss says while living with Danielle,

0:22 she often brought random men into her bedroom.

0:25 Despite the fact that Danielle had a boyfriend,

0:28 Haley insists she never damaged Danielle's car, so she refuses to pay.

0:33 Start with you, Connor.

0:35 I've known Haley Gloss since 2014.

0:38 We became friends year.

0:40 We started hanging out, going to parties.

0:42 That's when I kind of saw that she might have had

0:43 a little drinking problem when she drank a little bit excessively.

0:46 We moved in together sophomore year,

0:49 and that's when, you know, she used to drink.

0:51 After noticing she had a drinking problem, you moved in with it.

0:54 Well, your honor, I really didn't notice this as a problem freshman year.

0:57 You know, we weren't living together.

0:59 I had a different roommate.

1:00 You know, I had seen her from time to time drinking when we went out,

1:03 but it was never too much.

1:05 Um, she had mentioned to me that she had been drinking since

1:07 she was 12 years old and that she had a high tolerance,

1:09 but it really manifested that she had drank

1:12 excessively one time specifically when we moved in together.

1:16 We had a housewarming party.

1:18 We had some friends over.

1:19 You know, typical kind of college night.

1:21 You know, the party went a little bit out of hand.

1:23 Some of her friends drank way too much.

1:25 One of them threw up all over the place and instead of dealing with the matter,

1:28 you know, she fled the scene.

1:30 She actually forgot what had happened the night before.

1:32 And that's when I really realized that, you know what,

1:35 she has an issue with drinking and we're

1:37 in this mess today because of her drinking issues.

1:39 Sir,

1:40 we'll get to the specifics.

1:41 Um, but let me allow her to give some background.

1:45 Okay.

1:46 Danielle was my formal former best friend, roommate, and she was very nice.

1:51 We got along very well.

1:52 We didn't hang out that often and I was dating

1:55 someone at the time and I was always with him.

2:01 His name wasn't Jack Daniels, was it?

2:03 The guy you were dating.

2:04 Okay, go ahead.

2:07 She started dating someone.

2:08 But when I was always at my boyfriend's house, when I would come home,

2:12 I would go up and to cuz we had like rooms next to each other.

2:15 She would have guys in her room and I'd be like, "Oh,

2:18 does your boyfriend know?" And she'd be like,

2:19 "No, why not?" Well, That's wrong actually.

2:23 Oh, who was the guy in your who?

2:24 They were actually friends from my dorm.

2:26 So, I don't know what you're talking about.

2:27 And anyway, guys have nothing to do with this case.

2:29 It's your drinking that has led us to you vandalizing my car.

2:33 Drinking.

2:33 Did you have a drinking problem?

2:35 I did not have a drinking problem.

2:36 We had occasional parties.

2:37 We're college students.

2:39 And yes, I did get too drunk in one party, but the one she's leading up to just

2:46 Okay, let's hear what the incident is.

2:48 Okay.

2:48 Well, go ahead.

2:49 This incident occurred on May 6,

2:51 2016 and that was Springfest at the univers University University of Akran.

2:55 Kidding came to perform and um you know a lot

2:58 of people have house parties and things like that.

3:00 So I invited some friends over and and Haley was one of them

3:04 as well as my witness who's here today and um I said,

3:07 "Okay, you could bring a few friends, you know,

3:09 come at three or four." First of all, Haley was late.

3:11 You know, we started drinking before she came because she said

3:14 she was coming at a certain time and she was late.

3:16 She didn't tell me she was coming late.

3:17 And so my neighbor was having a party.

3:19 So we actually ended up going to there.

3:21 Then she said she's coming over.

3:22 So we're at the neighbor's house.

3:24 We're waiting for her.

3:25 And then I come back to the house and the house is trashed.

3:29 Three bottles of alcohol is gone.

3:31 The house that you all shared.

3:32 The house at this time.

3:34 We were not roommates anymore.

3:35 She had left to stay home with her mom.

3:37 So just a mess everywhere.

3:39 And Haley was not in sight.

3:41 I call her.

3:42 I say, "How could you do this?

3:44 Come to the house.

3:45 Grab your stuff.

3:45 You're not allowed back at the

3:46 she would do something like that because you all weren't didn't wait on her.

3:50 Yeah, I'm assuming she she thought I was I ditched her.

3:53 She thought I ditched her basically.

3:54 Did you ask her?

3:55 She denied it obviously.

3:58 Yeah.

3:58 Okay.

3:58 She said I didn't do it.

3:59 She said I didn't do.

3:59 She said her friends did it.

4:00 Got it.

4:01 I called her multiple times.

4:02 Haley was super drunk, crying out of it.

4:05 And she and I said, "You have two hours

4:06 to come to this house because the concert was at 7:00.

4:08 So the house and do what?

4:10 Grab her stuff and leave." Because she had ruined the house.

4:12 That's disrespectful.

4:13 I thought she was my best friend.

4:15 And I give her multiple calls.

4:17 She hangs up on me a few times.

4:19 And I and I keep texting her and texting her.

4:21 And my witness witnessed this as well.

4:23 Never been so angry in my life that she even caused this.

4:26 I

4:26 You want to come up?

4:27 You want your witness to speak?

4:28 Sure.

4:29 State your name.

4:30 Um, my name is Michelle Beast and I was there the night of the incident

4:33 and I can attest to Danielle calling Haley multiple times to come get her stuff.

4:38 Okay, go ahead.

4:38 And so what happened?

4:40 So, you know, call her, call her, not answering.

4:44 And finally, I'm like, you know what?

4:45 Why should I not go to a concert?

4:46 Because she decided to get drunk and ruin my house.

4:49 So, lock up the door.

4:50 I tell her, I text her and say, "Hey, I'm going to be leaving." I call her, say,

4:54 "I'm leaving." And we walk to the concert and then I

4:58 keep getting calls from her friends to come and let her in.

5:01 I go head over to the house with with my witness

5:04 here and a few other friends that were with me.

5:07 And Haley's there, eyeliner running down her face, crying, hysterical.

5:11 And I go into the screen's off my window.

5:14 My I have a chair that's usually on the lawn.

5:16 And I have a witness statement from the witness

5:19 across the street who witnessed her around

5:22 the car with the chair and try to get into my house with the chair.

5:25 And so I just go into the house, let her in, let her grab her stuff, she leaves.

5:30 And my actually the witness here today is the first one.

5:33 It's dark out.

5:34 Noticed that there was some scratches on my car.

5:37 So, she had vandalized my property with the chair,

5:40 which I have the police statement from the neighbor who saw her around there.

5:46 And I have text of her proving that she Okay.

5:49 Do you have pictures?

5:50 I do have pictures of some of the damage.

5:52 Let's see.

5:53 Yes.

5:53 And I also have the

5:54 I'll get to you.

5:56 Okay.

5:56 So after we left, we went to Izzy's dorm and we hung out there.

6:01 And then I realized that I left my purse there,

6:03 which had a bunch of money in it.

6:05 And I was like, "Okay, I want my purse." And I was with my cousin,

6:08 and we walked over there to go get it.

6:10 Knocked on the door, wasn't there.

6:12 And I was on her porch for like

6:14 an hour calling her and calling her and calling her.

6:17 And then I know you were upset.

6:19 Yeah, I was.

6:19 I really was.

6:20 It's my my money, my property, whatever.

6:22 So

6:23 that's a pretty good motive.

6:24 I just need you to tell me whether you

6:26 I did not do this to the car whatsoever.

6:28 It was a college campus party.

6:30 It was called Springfest.

6:31 It was a huge People were partying,

6:32 having house parties on every single street since 10:00 a.m.

6:35 It could have been anyone.

6:37 We're at the neighbor's house.

6:38 We're waiting for her.

6:39 And then I come back to the house and the house is trashed.

6:43 Three bottles of alcohol is gone.

6:45 The screen's off my window.

6:47 And my actually the witness here today is the first one.

6:50 It's dark out.

6:51 Noticed that there were some scratches on my car.

6:54 Plaintiff Danielle Ader was roommates with a defendant.

6:57 And she claims after an argument the defendant got drunk,

7:00 trashed her home, and vandalized her car.

7:03 So, she's suing.

7:05 What do you have you want to show me?

7:06 You said, "I see the scratches." It's certainly an intentional act by someone.

7:11 Do you have more enemies or more people that were mad with you?

7:14 What else do you have?

7:16 I have an estimate of the lowest estimate I've obtained

7:19 for the damages.

7:20 And I have evidence of her saying that, like you said, it's my fault.

7:23 Yeah.

7:23 Yeah.

7:23 A few days later and I agreed to paying the cost in the highlighted text.

7:26 So if you you're guilty obviously.

7:29 Why would you agree to pay me?

7:30 You could have said stop.

7:34 So did you say these things?

7:35 I also have evidence of her saying, "Well, Sophie didn't hit my car."

7:39 Let's start with you.

7:40 Did you say you'd pay?

7:42 Cuz I felt bad at the time.

7:44 Oh, you don't feel bad anymore?

7:45 She called me every single day.

7:47 Harass me.

7:47 Left voicemail.

7:48 Did not call you.

7:49 Yes, you did.

7:49 you left have voicemail on my phone and she text me every single day.

7:54 I tried to help a friend out at the time.

7:55 I felt bad.

7:56 I had the money and then this was all

7:58 about car damages and then out of nowhere boom.

7:59 You said you have an eyewitness as well.

8:02 Oh, I have.

8:02 Yes, I have the statement.

8:04 Yes, I have the statement saying that she was around the car.

8:07 So, obviously she hit my house with a car.

8:08 It's in the police report.

8:10 She obviously was around my car and Ryan,

8:12 my neighbor across the street did see her around

8:14 the car with the chair and it was a blond blonde girl.

8:18 I have a ruined car because

8:19 of your dumb friends who can't control their alcohol.

8:22 Okay.

8:22 But then you continue to say

8:24 and then you said you also said that Ryan said he saw

8:27 he's making a payment plan.

8:28 No, he Yeah, I can do $150 a month.

8:32 You are You are a good friend.

8:33 Something somebody else did to you, she makes a payment plan with you.

8:37 What a great friend.

8:38 You know, I like you, but if someone scratch your car, I'm not

8:41 You're not going to pay.

8:43 You're not that good of a friend.

8:44 She was trying to drive.

8:46 She says yes.

8:46 It is you who caused extensive damage on my car.

8:50 So you owe me.

8:52 You say fine.

8:55 Done.

8:56 And you have eyewitness statement here.

8:58 Do you know?

9:00 She came.

9:00 Ryan, are you Ryan have a problem with you?

9:03 Does he have any motive for lying to the police?

9:06 No.

9:06 There.

9:07 All right.

9:07 Because he told the police.

9:09 He stated that he saw gloss around the car,

9:12 stated that she may have been damaging the car

9:15 at that time since he saw no one else around it.

9:19 All right.

9:20 And so with all this evidence, I'm going to grant you your judgment.

9:24 Have a good day.

9:30 You know what?

9:30 I think this case is settled the right way.

9:33 And you know, I didn't want to settle like this.

9:35 I gave Haley five months to make a decision on what how she wanted to pay me

9:40 and I didn't want to involve court but it

9:42 led to this so hope she has a great life.

9:45 All I know is is that she's mooch and I didn't do it

9:48 to her car so she has the money now so she's happy golucky.

9:56 Pliff Tiffany Turner started dating the defendant when she was 15

10:01 and she got pregnant with his baby when she was 19.

10:04 Tiffany claims the defendant was a great father to their son

10:08 until two years ago when he started questioning paternity.

10:12 Tiffany's allowed her son to take a DNA test and is suing because she

10:17 claims the defendant has left her to care for their son on her own.

10:22 Defendant Leroy Hall says the reason he petitioned the court

10:25 for a paternity test is because Tiffany cheated with his best friend.

10:31 Leroy insists he's been questioning paternity for years.

10:35 But if the child is his, he'll be sure to provide for his son.

10:40 Start with you.

10:41 Well, your honor, I know that you see cases um probably every

10:44 day with Debbie fathers and fathers who don't want to be parents.

10:49 Um but my situation with Mr.

10:50 Hall here was was different.

10:52 Um we've been in a relationship since we were 15.

10:55 Um I didn't get pregnant till 19.

10:57 He was an excellent father.

10:59 Our baby was born early.

11:01 Um he was born at 26 weeks.

11:03 He weighed 1 pound 8 ounces.

11:05 Um I had preeacclampsia.

11:06 I have severe hypertension and um which made me a high-risisk pregnancy.

11:11 And so our baby was in the NICU for 3 months and um

11:15 Leroy was my ultimate support system.

11:18 We used to argue over who was going to hold the baby longer.

11:21 Um

11:23 very supportive.

11:24 Throughout our relationship, we just kind of fell apart.

11:26 I think the birth of a handicapped child made our relationship hard.

11:30 He's telling me now it's not his son.

11:33 Um, that's not true, y'all.

11:35 Okay.

11:35 But he was supportive of your son two years ago.

11:39 Contributed

11:42 to

11:41 not really financially,

11:42 but I really wasn't expecting too much financially cuz I

11:45 knew he had take care of the child one way,

11:47 but he helped me care for him.

11:49 Physically or otherwise?

11:51 Physically, most definitely.

11:53 Um,

11:54 sir, let me hear from Well, first of all, Yiana,

11:57 I question paternity because she cheated with my best

12:00 friend since 5 years old when we first got together.

12:03 Your best friend who was 5 years old.

12:05 No, we was both five when we met each other.

12:08 Oh, so like that was the first person.

12:09 I was about to have her locked up.

12:12 Let alone talking about she with your

12:15 And I was going to have you in the next cell for fiveyear-old best friend.

12:22 Both y'all were going to be in jail.

12:24 But

12:25 go ahead.

12:26 But no, she cheated on me with my at the time.

12:29 When did you find that out, sir?

12:30 Oh, he told me like the same the same day.

12:33 Like I Same day of what?

12:35 The same day of the incident of them me not

12:37 being able to find them when he drove her home.

12:39 All right.

12:40 Was that before after the child?

12:42 That was before.

12:44 Did you approach her about?

12:46 Yes.

12:46 What did she say?

12:47 She said it didn't happen.

12:48 And you believed her.

12:50 In a way, yes, but no.

12:51 In a way, no.

12:52 In a way, yes.

12:53 All right.

12:54 You weren't convinced.

12:55 Not convinced.

12:56 Got it.

12:57 So then the child came.

12:59 No, it was another incident with this same friend.

13:01 Go ahead.

13:01 I had gotten a little trouble with the law

13:03 and I had to go away and do some time.

13:06 But while I'm like gone swearing she don't know nothing

13:09 about nothing and she living in the house with my parents.

13:12 This same friend and one of his buddies or

13:16 was let seen leaving the house at 5:00 in the morning by my neighbor.

13:19 All right.

13:20 Was there another incident like rumors?

13:23 But first of all, Yiana,

13:25 I question paternity because she cheated with my best friend since 5 years old.

13:29 Did you approach her about it?

13:31 Yes.

13:31 What did she say?

13:32 She say it didn't happen.

13:34 And you believed her.

13:35 In a way, yes, but no.

13:37 In a way, no.

13:37 In a way, yes.

13:38 All right.

13:39 Pliff Tiffany Turner says she has a 13-year-old son with a defendant,

13:43 but two years ago, he started questioning paternity.

13:47 So she agreed to allow her son to take a DNA test to prove paternity.

13:52 And you say you don't know whether the child

13:55 is yours because she cheated with your best friend.

14:00 That was always in the back of my mind.

14:02 I had that doubt.

14:03 Got it.

14:04 And you never expressed that doubt.

14:06 Watch this.

14:07 Until you broke up.

14:09 No.

14:09 No.

14:10 Before breaking up.

14:11 Yeah.

14:11 I always told her that.

14:12 How old was the child when you began

14:14 to doubt and you told her about your doubts?

14:18 He was I would have to say eight.

14:26 Okay.

14:26 Ma'am,

14:27 when did he first question the paternity of your child?

14:31 To my recollection, the first time I heard a question of paternity of my son,

14:34 I caught him with a female in my house.

14:36 What year, ma'am?

14:37 It was 2014.

14:41 And that's when she says you came to her and questioned the paternity,

14:49 which is something not unheard of.

14:54 In fact, it's done regularly.

14:56 When you break up, that ain't my son.

15:00 Part of that is I don't want to pay that child support.

15:02 That's not true.

15:03 Yeah, that Yeah, I did.

15:04 Has he paid any child support?

15:06 No, sir.

15:07 Gotcha.

15:07 Yeah.

15:08 Why didn't you take a test then, sir?

15:11 I didn't have the money for it, John.

15:12 All right.

15:13 And your claim for emotional distress is for what?

15:16 Because um because a father is not a father is not actionable.

15:21 Uh well, no, your honor, I am a Dallas patient.

15:24 I've been on diialysis for 10 years.

15:26 Um I had a fistula in my arm which has since ruptured from me lifting.

15:30 My son is 5 foot2.

15:32 He's 90 pounds.

15:33 And I have been told repeatedly not to lift him, but I I have to care for him.

15:37 My son is nonverbal.

15:38 He's non-mobile.

15:39 He has seizures.

15:40 He has a feeding tube.

15:42 He requires 24-hour care.

15:44 And um so between me going to diialysis

15:47 and coming home uh caring for this child alone.

15:50 I I felt like that is an emotional distress because when I had my son,

15:54 I felt like I could not deal with him being disabled.

15:56 And Mr.

15:57 Hall here told me, "I'm I'm here for you.

15:59 We're going to do this together." And he gave me the strength to to feel

16:04 like I could do this and I could I could make it happen.

16:06 And then he just he gets angry at me for different things.

16:09 Somebody can come and tell him she did this and he just believes it.

16:12 All everybody knows that he's a hot.

16:15 He gets angry.

16:16 So your emotional and so people turn him against me.

16:19 Okay.

16:19 Your emotional distress is primarily

16:21 and then he's he cheated.

16:22 He's he cheats a lot.

16:23 He's been cheating since I've been on diialysis.

16:25 He has people in my in my He has people in my home.

16:28 I even have some proof here from Facebook where a girl threatened me.

16:32 I was told I was going to get beat up coming out of the Dallas center.

16:36 Um, and I told him he didn't do that.

16:42 But so far, all I've heard is that he's a bad father and a bad guy.

16:47 That doesn't uh grant emotional distress.

16:50 I mean, there's

16:51 Well, see, I I'm aware that that grown-ups fall in and out of love all the time.

16:55 And I had came to the realization him and I don't have

16:57 to be in love for him to be a father to his son.

17:01 And I don't understand why when he broke up with me,

17:03 he broke up with his son also.

17:05 you honor I can't provide for him if I'm not working and if God

17:08 forbid something happened to her how I'mma take care of if that is my child

17:13 but this last two years he has not been with me so in this two years that I have

17:16 not been around you stopping you what has kept

17:19 him from getting himself together now whose fault is it

17:22 I'm constantly working right now okay so you're saying he hasn't u been helpful

17:27 or associated for two years with you and your child

17:30 I have called him to tell him about the baby say go find your baby daddy right

17:34 all Right.

17:35 But of course, if we find that the child is yours,

17:38 you owe 2 years worth of back child support.

17:41 I have no problem with that at all.

17:44 Good.

17:44 May I mention one story to you?

17:46 I don't want to be long-winded with you,

17:47 but this is what really changed my feelings towards Mr.

17:49 Hall.

17:50 Three years ago, I was on a ventilator.

17:52 My heart has stopped beating and um he he watched me be intubated.

17:57 Do you know it was the first time in my life I ever got balloons and flowers.

18:01 He thought I was going to die.

18:03 and he came and told my mother,

18:05 "I can't do this." He was telling my mother that he

18:08 could not take care of his son while she thinks

18:11 that she's gonna lose her daughter at the same time

18:14 she's hearing she going to be stuck with her handicapped grandchild.

18:17 That's not true.

18:18 And her and my 90year-old grandmother told him he could go.

18:22 She said, "We got the baby.

18:23 We're going to take care of him."

18:25 And it was just the grace of God that I'm standing here today.

18:27 And it it broke my heart to know that this man I trusted and I

18:31 had came with to grips with the fact I could die from this illness I have.

18:35 But I know my son is going to be okay because I know his father is there.

18:39 And you was getting ready to turn your back

18:42 on your son and he doesn't even know.

18:44 My son don't understand.

18:45 He's 13 but he has the intelligence of a 2-year-old.

18:49 Yeah.

18:49 That's not true.

18:50 You were getting ready to walk and turn your back on him.

18:53 that is.

18:53 And so, yes, I probably treat him different now because

18:56 he has somebody that I thought I love to death.

18:58 I can't even love him like that because he's not who I thought he was.

19:03 And let me hear from you.

19:04 Let your defend yourself.

19:05 That is not true because she and Adonis

19:07 was both in the hospital at the same time.

19:09 She was incubated then cuz he had to have surgery and she couldn't take it.

19:13 She passed out.

19:14 I'm going back and forth to both hospitals making sure they okay.

19:18 Uh, sir, if you are the father,

19:20 you willing to pay the uh claim the date that she's suing you for?

19:25 Yes, sir.

19:26 You'll pay the 3,000.

19:28 Wait for a motion of distress.

19:30 Mhm.

19:30 No.

19:30 I'm talking about child support.

19:31 I'm talking about child support.

19:33 No, not no child support.

19:42 Yes.

19:43 Emotional distress.

19:44 No.

19:45 You want to go and get the results?

19:47 She says you came to her and questioned the paternity,

19:54 which is something not unheard of.

19:57 When you break up, that ain't my son.

20:00 Part of that is I don't want to pay that child support.

20:03 That's not true.

20:03 Y

20:05 pliff Tiffany Turner says she has a 13-year-old son with the defendant,

20:09 but two years ago, he started questioning paternity.

20:13 So she agreed to allow her son to take a DNA test to prove paternity

20:18 and they assess child.

20:20 They're taking a very long time.

20:21 I have a case but it hasn't gone anywhere yet.

20:23 I just have a number.

20:25 But he says it's not his and

20:28 do you know make a wish sent us to Disney World your honor

20:31 and he signed paperwork as father to go on a free trip.

20:36 If I'm the father, why you stopping me from providing?

20:39 What make you think I don't have that kind

20:40 of space and not have nothing she stopping you?

20:44 I argue.

20:45 She wake up in the middle of the night

20:47 cuz she her feelings hurt about something I said earlier.

20:49 We'll argue for 5 hours straight knowing I got to go to work.

20:52 How are you this sick and you can argue that long?

20:55 Stopping by arguing at night.

20:57 I go to work everything that has gone wrong.

21:00 He blamed on me.

21:01 Not then.

21:02 No, I didn't.

21:04 We had no coffee maker, sir.

21:06 Get you some coffee and get you a raise cuz you're the child's father 99%.

21:12 All right.

21:15 Thank you.

21:16 Thank you.

21:20 The problem is I hope I don't have no arguments about going to work now.

21:24 I ain't got to fight with you about wanting to work.

21:26 Talk to the judge, not me.

21:27 The judge ain't preventing me from working.

21:29 And ma'am, unfortunately,

21:31 the law does not allow um a judgment for bad fathers or bad boyfriends

21:38 for him having females threaten me cuz none of these girls even know me.

21:41 I've never even met them.

21:43 Somebody to tell I have a catheter in my chest.

21:45 All right, ma'am.

21:46 You tell me you're going to come beat me up for you.

21:48 I'm going to have to dismiss your claim.

21:49 Have a good day.

21:55 Now, I'm going to be there for him.

21:56 like I'm could spend time with him and not have to worry

21:59 about me having to argue with her about little petty stuff.

22:03 Like now I feel like I have more say in the situation.

22:06 So you'll argue with me less now that you know he's your son.

22:10 I don't like to argue.

22:11 Something needs to change your son.

22:13 Don't just ask me what needs to change cuz

22:14 you don't know how to calm down and stop talking.

22:17 I could say you right and you will continue to argue.

22:19 Follow me around.

22:24 Plaintiff Joetta Thomas says the defendant is

22:27 her daughter and she was a good child.

22:30 However, Joetta claims four years ago after a surgery the defendant became

22:35 addicted to pain pills and she has since graduated to heroin and meth.

22:40 Joetta is desperate to get her daughter some help and she's suing her for loans,

22:45 breach of contract, and emotional distress.

22:49 Defendant Latasha Berdett admits that she became addicted to pain pills after

22:53 the doctors had her on pain medication for an entire year after her surgery.

22:59 Latasha believes her mother is suing for more than she owes.

23:03 Start with you.

23:05 Yes.

23:05 Uh this is my daughter, Latasha Bernardet.

23:08 She, as you can see, she's beautiful, vibrant,

23:12 and I I love her so much more than life itself.

23:15 And I'm here today because of her.

23:18 a few years ago in 2012.

23:20 How was she as a a youngster?

23:22 As a youngster, she was an excellent student.

23:25 She um attended band.

23:28 She was a wellknown in school.

23:30 And when they had the football games, my son played on the football team.

23:34 Natasha came out playing the drums.

23:36 She was fluent in music.

23:37 She can read sheet music.

23:38 She played three different instruments.

23:40 She's very intelligent.

23:41 And uh in 2012, your honor, my daughter,

23:45 she had surgery and she was prescribed pain medication

23:49 and know what you're going to tell.

23:50 It's about awareness, your honor.

23:52 This is bigger than the loan.

23:54 This is about awareness for the world that when you take pain medication,

23:57 you have to be careful.

23:58 You can become addicted to it.

24:00 And then when that the doctor cut off the pain medication,

24:03 she would go on the streets and buy them.

24:07 And she used her her rent money.

24:09 She used money for her husband would give up for the carin after that.

24:14 Yes.

24:16 Just two months ago.

24:17 Yes.

24:21 And also she she tried ice meth.

24:31 Plaintiff Joetta Thomas says the defendant is

24:34 her daughter and Joetta is desperate to get

24:37 her some help because she's addicted to drugs

24:40 and two months ago started using heroin and meth.

24:44 Is any of this true young?

24:47 Um some of it

24:50 some of it's true.

24:53 What part?

24:54 Well, in 2012, I had a surgery.

24:57 And when I had my surgery, um,

24:58 the doctors prescribed me pain medication

25:00 for for so long and then out of nowhere, they cut me off when they cut me off.

25:04 So long was how long?

25:06 Um, for about a year.

25:08 What type of a surgery did you have?

25:10 I had a um cyst removal and um they had me on it

25:13 for so long and they just cut me off out of nowhere.

25:15 What led them to prescribe you for a full year?

25:20 Pain pills, consistently telling them surgery, pardon.

25:22 consistently telling them I'm in pain.

25:24 I was in pain.

25:25 I've been after Yeah.

25:27 After I had the surgery, I still had issues.

25:29 And after the surgery, it was worse.

25:31 Did you go to pain management?

25:34 No.

25:33 Okay.

25:33 And it was worse.

25:34 And you told the doctor it was worse afterwards?

25:38 Yes.

25:37 And it all they did is give you med uh pain medication.

25:41 She never told you that?

25:44 No.

25:43 She never told you, "Mama,

25:45 uh this pain from the surgery has continued." I recall

25:50 a few times where she came to me and said that she

25:52 wanted to talk to me and then she would start then

25:55 and she'll say no that's okay because I know how you are.

25:57 Are you going to go off?

25:58 How long after the surgery?

26:00 That was maybe um 6 months to a year after this happened in 2012.

26:04 Do you think she was coming to you to say she was

26:07 uh having a substance abuse problem or that she was addicted to pain?

26:12 Because she did it several times and then I talked to her and said,

26:15 "You know, I don't like you coming

26:16 to me starting something and leave my man wondering."

26:20 I told her I didn't like that, but she would never tell me.

26:22 When did you find out?

26:23 I found out November the 14th, 2014 when we when we signed for our new home.

26:28 What did she say?

26:29 She told me that she's been addicted to pain medication.

26:32 She has a problem.

26:33 She admitted it and then a week later we got her in rehab.

26:36 Okay.

26:36 And then after we got her in rehab, she stayed for maybe a little over a week.

26:41 Then she was saying that she wanted to come home and I think

26:43 How many times has she gone to rehab?

26:45 Three to four times.

26:46 All right.

26:46 That true, ma'am.

26:47 You've uh been to rehab three or four times.

26:53 Yes.

26:52 this is uh epidemic around the country and that is

26:56 the that people have surgery and uh from my understanding I've had surgery

27:01 a couple of times and they tell me the maximum we can

27:05 give you is 14 days after that you have to come to some

27:08 type of pain management you have to come to some type

27:10 of therapy or we adjusted to something else but I'm glad to hear

27:15 you have tried to get rehabilitation that's what I like to hear

27:18 in this epidemic um have you graduated Did it to heroin?

27:23 It was occasionally.

27:24 Pardon me.

27:26 Occasionally.

27:27 Okay.

27:27 When I couldn't find any pills.

27:29 Okay.

27:30 And mama, why are you suing her about these loans?

27:33 Oh, well, because because of her addiction, she couldn't keep a job long enough,

27:38 but um Latasha always had good paying jobs.

27:42 She was a lead supervisor.

27:43 She worked for the airport.

27:45 She's had excellent jobs.

27:47 So when I gave Tasha four loans, she um she reneged on them and then also

27:56 over the course of how long?

27:58 Uh the loans were uh uh 2013.

28:03 You have a list there?

28:04 I can

28:04 Yes, I have a list.

28:05 And her preacher contract and emotional distress.

28:09 Emotional distress for her drug problem.

28:11 No, emotional distress because Latasha had told me that she was pregnant.

28:16 And um I don't know anything about my grandchild and um it's like

28:27 when you have a a a baby in the hospital there there's a proper

28:32 memorial that you have to have and you get footprints and stuff and I

28:36 didn't get anything with the box in it and you name the baby.

28:40 You just don't leave the baby at the hospital like it's

28:42 unfortunately people who live destructive lives and it affects others.

28:46 That's typically the case.

28:47 the people it affects can't get emotional

28:50 distress uh from the person who's living

28:52 that destructive life and affecting them because

28:55 then you'd have a line of people

28:56 around the courthouse in every city saying uh my drug addicted or my alcohol

29:02 addicted relative or father or mother or cousin or son or friend or girlfriend.

29:09 They're on drugs and it makes me sad

29:12 because they come and take the TV every day.

29:14 You can sue for the TV.

29:16 You can't sue for the emotional stress of the TV being taken.

29:21 You can uh you can't you can't sue when they come in nodding.

29:25 That's terrible.

29:26 That's something horrible to experience.

29:28 I would hate to see that and um you can't sue for that.

29:33 Um but it's um u part of a family

29:38 being devastated uh with a drugaddicted family member.

29:44 and so can't grant you emotional distress, but we can talk about the loans.

29:49 Plaintiff Joetta Thomas says the defendant is

29:51 her daughter and Joetta is desperate to get

29:54 her some help because she's addicted to drugs

29:57 and two months ago started using heroin and meth.

30:01 Two in July of 13 and two in August of 13.

30:05 Two over the course of two months, you gave her loans totaling over $2,000.

30:10 Yes.

30:10 Because she said that she was pregnant, but y wasn't pregnant.

30:14 need it for?

30:14 I mean, the doctor pay the hospital.

30:16 I'm sure you did.

30:17 No, I didn't want her to be homeless on the street.

30:18 So, she said that it was for rent and eviction.

30:20 Got it.

30:21 All right, young lady.

30:23 Well, the the loans were the money.

30:25 I would tell her a problem that was going on and she would,

30:28 you know, offer to help.

30:29 I never came to her and was like, "Oh,

30:32 I need this for this or I need this for that." It's always me,

30:35 you know, coming towards a mother, telling them what's going on.

30:37 And she's like, "Well, here, take this.

30:39 You and your husband take it." And it wasn't just me.

30:41 It was me and my husband that took, you know, the funds.

30:45 I don't think it adds up to that much, but it was

30:48 Did you ever agree to repay it?

30:51 After a while, honestly, I did.

30:52 I I, you know, agreed to repay it because she

30:55 kept texting me and bugging me and hounding me about it.

30:57 And I'm just like, "Look, mom, when I get myself together,

30:59 I promise I'm going to give it back to you.

31:01 I'm trying." You know, and it just never got to that point.

31:05 All right.

31:05 Couple of things.

31:06 One, ma'am, it does sound reasonable that you would give it

31:09 to her just out of hearing the need that she has.

31:12 You just told me about all the concern you had

31:14 for her pregnancy and not wanting to see her suffer during that time.

31:19 So, it does sound like something look like mama have my rent.

31:22 Uh, we're going to get put out or such and such and such.

31:25 Well, hell, baby, take it for the next month.

31:28 Same thing.

31:29 However, you have admitted and I admire you for doing it.

31:32 however it came about.

31:33 And I ain't trying to be funny,

31:35 but maybe you might have been high one day you said it.

31:42 And so uh so she she stuck to it.

31:46 And then the next time when you were sober, you said, "Okay, I leave me alone.

31:51 If I said it, I'll pay you." Like you are today sober.

31:55 So the day you said, "Okay,

31:56 just I'll pay her." Because I did say it one time when I was sober.

32:01 The first time I think I was high.

32:06 Can we get you some help?

32:07 Some inpatient or outpatient help?

32:10 I think you need inpatient help.

32:11 Will you go to impatient as soon as we're able to find you a place?

32:15 My staff will find you.

32:20 Just keep doing it.

32:22 Keep doing it.

32:23 I've known people that have gone six or seven times and finally it worked.

32:29 Just keep going.

32:30 And the other part is people claim that they overcome it on my own.

32:34 I didn't go nowhere.

32:35 I didn't go to rehab.

32:36 I just overcome it on my own when I'm whatever.

32:41 And then those who overcome it most,

32:44 they follow up with those NA meetings every day.

32:48 Every day.

32:48 If you get a job, you go at night or you go in the morning 7 a.m.

32:53 and then you go in the evening at 8:00 PM when you get off.

32:56 I know uh my closest friend in life,

33:00 he had a probably 15-year uh crack addiction.

33:06 And when he was ready to come off, he went to rehab and came to me and said,

33:10 "Can you work with me and help him advance himself?" And ultimately,

33:14 he became one of the top um officials in the county.

33:18 Um he went to NA twice a day for at least that first year.

33:25 Then he may have backed up that second or third year and went once a day.

33:29 And he went once a day for at least five years.

33:33 And then he went once every other day at least for another five years.

33:38 And then maybe once a week for another five.

33:41 And he hasn't gone to an NA meeting now probably for 20 years.

33:46 You can put the dope in front of him and he won't use it.

33:53 Put the dope in front of door.

34:01 Plaintiff Joetta Thomas says the defendant is

34:03 her daughter and Joetta is desperate to get

34:06 her some help because she's addicted to drugs

34:09 and two months ago started using heroin and meth.

34:13 This is horrible what's happening with this.

34:16 They got to come up with a a different way

34:18 to treat folks and to avoid addictions with this medicine.

34:22 Good luck to you.

34:22 All right, we going to hook you up.

34:24 All right, judgment for the plane if you

34:26 with the exception of the emotional distress.

34:28 Have a good day.

34:44 I love you.

34:47 I love you.

34:55 Sorry, I'mma fix myself.

34:57 I'm do a lot better.

34:58 I promise I'm not going to hurt you anymore.

35:00 I love you.

35:06 Pliff Ryan Lightfoot dated the defendant for 5 years and they lived together.

35:11 Ryan claims after things got bad and they broke up.

35:15 The defendant tried to attack his new girlfriend who's with Ryan

35:19 in court today and he's suing her for attorney fees.

35:23 Defendant Rebecca Smith says Ryan physically abused her more

35:27 than once and he also assaulted her sister.

35:30 Rebecca's counter suing for unreturned property.

35:33 Start with you.

35:35 Uh me and Rebecca Smith were together for 5 and a half years.

35:38 Started dating in 2010.

35:40 We got a place together and uh on her birthday we got into a fight.

35:46 She moved out, started talking back and forth

35:49 between the time of December of 2015.

35:53 Went out on a date and uh we started messing around.

35:57 I told her I was talking to somebody else.

35:59 She got mad.

36:00 So, I took her back home like she asked.

36:03 And then couple days later, she seen my new girlfriend's car at the house,

36:07 decided to just walk in my house where she hasn't lived in over five months.

36:12 And uh oh, I had sex with him last night.

36:14 I had sex with him last night running towards my new girlfriend.

36:19 And no,

36:20 I picked her up and tossed her out of the house cuz she don't belong there.

36:23 She came in there.

36:24 No.

36:24 Did you call the police?

36:25 No, I didn't.

36:26 I didn't want to have to deal with the problems.

36:28 Just wanted her out of my house.

36:30 And then after the day,

36:31 very next day after that, my house got robbed coincidentally.

36:37 Okay.

36:37 You want to give me some background?

36:40 Um, Brian and I have been together, worked together for five and a half years.

36:43 Um, this isn't the first incident of him putting his hands on me.

36:48 Um, I've never put my hands on her.

36:50 Uh, my birthday of 2015 when we broke up.

36:55 Uh, my birthday got drunk, flipped out.

36:58 Oh, you said there were other times.

37:01 Yes.

37:01 Yes.

37:02 The one you're speaking of, is it the same one he spoke of when she moved out?

37:06 Excuse me.

37:07 Okay.

37:07 These are two different incidents, correct?

37:09 All right.

37:10 Tell me about this incident.

37:11 You did what?

37:13 Um, threw a mattress on top of me.

37:15 Put my kitchen room table my kitchen table through the living room.

37:20 Um, left bruises on both my sister's arms by grabbing her up so hard.

37:25 Wait, she grabbed me in the face.

37:27 Sir, be quiet.

37:28 Why'd he grab her?

37:29 Cushy was sticking up for me because by this time

37:31 he had already thrown a mattress on me, tossed me around the house.

37:34 I did not toss her around the house.

37:35 Uh, waved the gun around in the face.

37:37 The police had came and arrested.

37:38 Two gentlemen come in my house.

37:40 All right.

37:40 Your claim is dismissed and yours is granted.

37:42 That is contempt.

37:43 Have a good day.

37:44 You don't disrespect the judge.

37:48 Thanks.

37:47 Have a good day.

37:51 You can have somebody just break in your house,

37:53 do whatever they want, and it's all right.

37:55 And this dude, a thief, breaks into somebody's house.

37:58 Ever.

37:58 I don't even know where he lives.

38:00 You lie, dog.

38:01 Good luck.