The People’s Court Podcast

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...

First, the plaintiff says she rented her apartment to the defendant, her daughter and her fiancé, to give them a nice place to raise her grandchildren. She claims they have been disrespectful and stopped paying rent, so she is suing for the money owed. The defendants say the apartment was infested with rats and that the plaintiff did nothing to resolve it. They are countersuing for breach of a ver...

First, the plaintiff says he bought what he believed was an authentic Gibson Les Paul guitar from the defendant’s pawn shop, but a few days later discovered it was a knockoff. When he confronted the defendant, the defendant didn’t seem to care and refused to refund his money. The plaintiff is suing for a refund. The defendant says he never told the plaintiff the guitar was a Les Paul and insists h...

First, the plaintiff says the defendant, her landlord, entered her apartment without permission and took her TV and some prescription bottles. Two days later, she moved out and is suing for her security deposit and rent. The defendant denies taking anything and says the plaintiff breached her one-year lease by moving out early. He is countersuing for unpaid rent. Then, the plaintiff says she was v...

First, the plaintiff says the defendant, her best friend, wanted a new car, so she agreed to take over the payments on his old one. He assured her he was current on the loan, but when she assumed the payments, the finance company told her he was two months behind. She is suing for the money owed. The defendant says the deal never went through because the finance company refused to add the plaintif...

First, the plaintiffs say they rented an apartment from the defendant, who promised it would be ready, but when they arrived, the unit was infested with cockroaches and had no working toilet. They told the defendant they wouldn’t be moving in, but he refused to return their money. They’re suing to get it back. The defendant says one of the plaintiffs’ roommates backed out, and when the other two r...

First, the plaintiffs say they rented an apartment from the defendant, but were never informed she owned a large German shepherd. They say they felt unsafe and asked to leave, and now they’re suing for the return of their security deposit. The defendant claims the plaintiffs broke their lease and are using the dog as an excuse, adding that they left the apartment filthy. Then, the plaintiff says s...

First, the plaintiff says the defendant hired her band to perform at a venue and signed a contract but then refused to provide a copy or pay the agreed performance fee. She is suing for the promised amount. The defendant says the booking was made through a large corporation and contract processing takes time. She claims the plaintiff simply lost patience and overreacted. Then, the plaintiff says s...

First, the plaintiff says she and the defendant were in a relationship, and she opened a Home Depot credit card in her name to help him. He charged up a $3,000 balance, began paying it off, then stopped. She is suing for the amount owed. The defendant says the plaintiff agreed to contribute toward the bills while he renovated his apartment, where she spent a significant amount of time. They even g...

First, the plaintiff says he paid for a cruise for the defendant, his longtime friend, and now she refuses to reimburse him for the expenses he covered. He believes she effectively stole from him and is suing to recover the money he’s owed. The defendant says the plaintiff gave her a charge card to the cabin and told her it was no big deal whether she paid him back or not. She claims the plaintiff...

First, the plaintiff says the defendant hired him after Hurricane Sandy to help build modular homes but shorted him on his pay. He’s suing for the remaining wages. The defendant claims the plaintiff was verbally abusive, struggled with roofing tasks, and required additional training. He also says the plaintiff agreed to a set price but is now demanding more. Then, the plaintiff says she and the de...

First, the plaintiff says he tried to help a woman who was being attacked by a dog, but when he intervened, he fell and the dog bit him. He had to be taken to the hospital by ambulance and is now suing the defendant, whom he believes owns the dog, for medical bills. The defendant insists it wasn’t her dog that bit the plaintiff. Then, the plaintiff says she was driving through the parking lot of a...

First, the plaintiff says she went to the defendant’s salon for hair extensions, and after six and a half hours in the chair, her hair looked like a mullet and the extensions didn’t even match her natural color. She is suing for a refund. The defendant, who says she has 12 years of experience, claims she installed 140 extensions as requested. When the plaintiff asked for even more to make her hair...