The People’s Court Podcast

First, the plaintiffs rented a house from the defendant and soon had the defendant’s family wandering in and out as if they lived there. The plaintiffs moved and have yet to be given their security deposit back, much less a reason why it’s been withheld. They are suing for the return of their security. The defendants say they had painted the unit with the understanding the plaintiffs would be stay...

First, the plaintiff says she had agreed to rent an apartment from the defendant, who promised the current tenant had been evicted and the place was ready on January 1. When the plaintiff went to pick up her keys at the end of December, she found the previous tenant was still there and refusing to leave. The plaintiff is standing up for her rights and suing for the return of the rent she paid. The...

First, the plaintiff was driving home in a camper when the defendant slammed into her. The defendant sped off, so the plaintiff is suing for damages. The defendant insists the plaintiff is the one who caused the accident. The defendant is countersuing for damages. Then, the plaintiff rented an apartment from the defendant, but he hasn't returned her security, so she's suing. The defendant says the...

First, the plaintiffs say the defendants threw brush over their fence and into their yard, so they're suing because they hired someone to clean up the mess. The defendants argue the plaintiffs threatened them. They're countersuing for lost wages and time spent gathering evidence for court. Then, the plaintiff, a real estate broker, brought clients to see the defendant's apartment. The defendant ke...

First, the plaintiff purchased a kitten from the defendant, but it had a bunch of health issues, so the plaintiff is suing for vet bills. The defendant argues he has already given the plaintiff $1,000 and even offered to treat the kitten at his own vet. Then, the plaintiff says he hired the defendant to retile a bathroom, but he messed up the shower enclosure, so the plaintiff is suing. The defend...

First, the plaintiff says she purchased an airplane ticket for the defendant, but he didn't go on the trip or pay it back, so the plaintiff is suing. The defendant argues the plaintiff bought him the ticket as a gift only because she has the hots for him. Then, the plaintiff hired the defendant, a real estate broker, to find her an apartment. She paid him, but when the plaintiff went to her new ap...

First, the plaintiff says the defendant fell on hard times and moved in with her. However, the defendant never paid one of the electric bills she was responsible for, so the plaintiff is suing. The defendant insists the plaintiff was supposed to pay the electric bills. Then, the plaintiff says she and the defendant dated for a while. However, the defendant owes money for multiple loans, so the pla...

First, the plaintiff used to be in a relationship with the defendant, and they moved in together. The plaintiff claims her ex-boyfriend won’t return a television and air conditioning unit, so she’s suing for the cost of the items. The defendant argues his ex-girlfriend used his money to buy the TV and air conditioner, so he doesn’t think he owes. Then, the plaintiff brought his car to the defendan...

First, the plaintiff’s 19-year-old boyfriend has a son with the defendant, and the plaintiff, 34, is also pregnant with her boyfriend’s child. She claims the defendant keyed her car because she was angry when she found out the plaintiff was pregnant. She’s suing for car damages. The defendant admits she got upset, but claims she never keyed the plaintiff’s car. She thinks the plaintiff did it hers...

First, the plaintiff and defendant used to be in a relationship, and they lived together. The plaintiff says she bought a car and her ex-boyfriend took it after a few weeks. He sped over train tracks and the car went flying, causing the car to break down. She says the defendant refuses to pay her, so she’s suing for damages. The defendant argues they bought the car together. He claims the plaintif...

First, the plaintiff is a cab driver who took the defendant home one night. He says the defendant was drunk and didn’t pay when he got out. The plaintiff kept the defendant’s phone as collateral and ran after him, but then the defendant beat him up. He’s suing for the cost of new teeth, lost wages, and emotional distress. The defendant argues he tried to pay with a credit card, but the driver dema...

First, the plaintiff is a voiceover actress. She says the defendant used her voice in an ad, but he never paid her, so she’s suing. The defendant admits he asked the plaintiff to be in his commercial. He says he told the defendant he couldn’t pay her for this commercial, but he would pay her for the next one. Then, the plaintiff purchased an English bulldog puppy from the defendant’s shop. She say...

First, the plaintiff has known the defendant for 25 years, and because the defendant works at a car dealership, she asked the defendant to help her get car insurance. She paid the defendant because he said he would help her out, but then the DMV demanded she turn in her plates for lack of insurance. She claims the defendant scammed her, so she’s suing. The defendant argues he charges a fee, but he...

First, the plaintiff asked the defendant to watch her dog for a few weeks because she needed to pay her pet deposit. She claims the defendant not only refuses to return the pet, but she even gave it to her stepsister, who changed the dog’s name. The plaintiff claims the defendant and the woman’s stepsister won’t give her the dog back, so she’s suing for the cost of the dog. The defendant argues th...

First, the plaintiffs, a married couple, purchased a couch from the defendant. They claim the couch wasn’t authentic leather like they ordered, so they asked for a refund. The plaintiffs say the defendant agreed to give them their money back, but now he won’t, so they’re suing. The defendant argues he brought the furniture to the plaintiffs’ house so they could get a feel for it, but it’s not his...

First, the plaintiff bought a German shepherd puppy from the defendants’ pet store. The dog got sick and learned it had a congenital defect. She’s suing for vet bills, the cost of the puppy, and dog supplies. The defendants argue the plaintiff demanded a dog for free and caused a scene in their store. Then, the plaintiff rented an illegal apartment from the defendant. She says her former landlord...

First, the plaintiffs rented an apartment to the defendant. They claim the plaintiff threw parties and left garbage everywhere. The plaintiffs say the defendant is trying to use the security deposit to pay for her last month’s rent. They’re suing for rent and additional expenses. The defendant argues the plaintiffs were always at her apartment, and she didn’t enjoy that. She’s countersuing for ove...

First, the plaintiff and defendant have known each other since high school, and they dated for a while. He was driving the defendant’s car and got pulled over for illegally tinted windows, and he got a ticket for it. He claims his ex-girlfriend, the defendant, told him she would pay for the ticket fines, but she never did. His license got suspended and he was pulled from her insurance policy, so h...

First, the plaintiff is a real estate agent who rented a store to the defendant. He says the defendant owes him a commission for the deal, so he’s suing. The defendant argues the entire lawsuit is pointless and he doesn’t owe a penny. Then, the plaintiffs purchased an Italian leather couch from the defendant. They say the couch that got delivered to them was cheap vinyl, so they want a refund. The...

First, the plaintiff says she lived in the defendant’s house for four years, and when she reported him for no heat and a roach and rat infestation, he evicted her. She is suing for moving expenses. The defendant says the plaintiff was far from an ideal tenant, claiming she was mean to other residents, careless with hot plates, and behind on bills, making it impossible for him to pay his own. He sa...

First, the plaintiff says the defendant, her sister, owes her money for several loans she made. She is suing for the amount owed. The defendant says she doesn’t owe her sister anything and claims the plaintiff is only upset because she’s gotten closer to another sister. Then, the plaintiff says he planned to rent a room in the defendant’s home but never moved in and now can’t get his deposit back....

First, the plaintiff says he hired the defendant, an attorney, to resolve an issue with his co-op board, but the defendant quit before finishing the job. He is suing for the return of the fees he paid. The defendant says the plaintiff was being fined $27,000 for illegal construction in his apartment and that he was hired to negotiate on his behalf. He claims he reached a settlement for $5,000, but...

First, the plaintiff says she and the defendant are technically cousins but were raised like brother and sister. In 2010, the defendant was arrested and jailed, and he asked her for money because his wife had left him and his children refused to speak to him. Feeling sorry for him, she gave him money to hire a lawyer. The defendant has repeatedly promised to repay her but never has, so she is suin...

First, the plaintiffs say they lived in the defendant’s family home for two years and were excellent tenants who always paid rent on time and helped shovel snow. They were shocked when the defendant refused to return their security deposit, so they are suing for its return. The defendant says she told the plaintiffs they could store tools for free in a closet if they helped with snow removal, but...

First, the plaintiff says he sold his electric drum set to the defendant and set up a payment plan, but the defendant made only one payment. He claims the defendant later sent him a letter stating the drum set was a gift. The plaintiff is suing for the remaining balance. The defendant says the plaintiff got a new drum set and dropped off the old one at his house, saying, “How many buddies do you k...