The People’s Court Podcast

First, the plaintiff says he moved into a home owned by the defendant and soon discovered it was infested with roaches that ruined his belongings. He’s suing for replacement costs. The defendant says the plaintiff had trouble paying rent, and when eviction proceedings began, the plaintiff fabricated the roach complaint. Then, the plaintiff says he bought a car from the defendant, insured it, and w...

First, the plaintiff says he and his girlfriend rented an apartment from the defendant, who promised to clean the place and make repairs before they moved in, but she did not. They claim the apartment was infested with bugs and that the defendant ignored their requests for a refund. They are suing for the money they are owed. The defendant says she worked hard to accommodate the plaintiffs and spe...

The plaintiff says the defendant, his coworker and roommate, owes him six months’ rent. He is suing for the unpaid amount. The defendant claims the plaintiff was a belligerent drunk and made the living situation intolerable. He says he doesn’t owe a cent. The plaintiff says he was driving his wife to work when the defendant rear-ended them. His son had to be taken to the hospital, and the defendan...

First, the plaintiff says the defendant, his former friend, stole his phone from him. He has since filed a criminal case against the defendant and is suing him now for the cost of the phone. The defendant says he told the plaintiff where his phone was so he wouldn’t forget it, then the next day, he accused him of stealing it. Then, the plaintiff says she rented an apartment from the defendant, but...

First, the plaintiff says her friend found a stray dog out in the cold on Christmas Eve and gave it to her to care for until the rightful owner came forward. After confirming the dog had no microchip, she decided to keep it rather than take it to a shelter. Weeks later, a young man approached her husband while he was walking the dog and claimed it was his, then took the dog without providing any p...

First, the plaintiff says he’s been a sneaker collector for years and owns several rare and valuable pairs. He claims the defendant, his sister, stole some of his most expensive sneakers. He’s suing for the value of the stolen items. The defendant says she and her older brother have never been close, but denies stealing his shoes. She’s countersuing for slander and defamation of character. Then, t...

First, the plaintiff says the defendant, an old friend, brokered a car sale on his behalf but pulled a switcheroo at the last minute. He believed he was buying a 1998 Pontiac, but when he received the title, it turned out to be a 1994. The defendant refuses to return the money, so the plaintiff is suing for a refund. Then, the plaintiff says the defendant, her former landlord, abruptly told her to...

First, the plaintiff says he was driving his dump truck when it died in the middle of the road. The police called the defendant to tow the vehicle, and he later presented the plaintiff with a $750 bill. The plaintiff says the tow was only 10 miles and is suing for lost wages and legal fees. The defendant says his driver charged $200 for the emergency tow, but the plaintiff offered only $100. When...

First, the plaintiff says she hired the defendant to repair her refrigerator, but he failed to fix it and left two large holes in her kitchen. She’s suing for the cost of repairs. The defendant says he advised her to replace the refrigerator entirely, but she insisted on a repair. He claims she agreed to let him cut holes in the wall to vent a new compressor. Then, one of the plaintiffs says she w...

First, the plaintiff says he was hired as a dishwasher at the defendant’s restaurant and was never paid. He’s suing for unpaid wages. The defendant, the shop manager, claims he paid the plaintiff in cash, but the plaintiff threw the money in his face. Then, the plaintiff says the defendant, a dog groomer, cut her dog so deeply that it required stitches at the vet. She claims the defendant blamed h...

First, the plaintiff says he’s known the defendant since birth and believed in his musical talent. He claims he built a home studio and signed the defendant to a recording deal, but the defendant skipped sessions and acted unprofessionally. He’s suing to recoup his investment. The defendant says the plaintiff was his manager and failed to promote him properly. He claims the sessions were poorly ma...

First, the plaintiff says the defendant, his ex-mother-in-law, stole jewelry from his dresser. Two days later, his ex-wife allegedly cleaned out the house, taking TVs and couches. He’s suing for the value of the stolen items. The defendant says the couple had a toxic relationship and the final straw was a police raid looking for drugs. She claims she arrived to a ransacked home and grabbed what sh...

First, the plaintiff loaned his TV to the defendant and claims he broke it and refuses to pay for it. He is suing for the damages. Confused, the defendant says he paid for the TV, and the reason he is being sued is because he refused to lend the plaintiff money for a tattoo. Then, the plaintiffs purchased a puppy from the defendants but returned her a few days later when she became sick. They are...

First, the plaintiff claims the defendant, her ex-girlfriend, changed the locks on the apartment that they share and stole her belongings. She is suing for the cost of her property. The defendant argues that she was forced to put a restraining order on the plaintiff after an altercation, and the plaintiff failed to retrieve her belongings within the allotted time. She is countersuing for hospital...

First, the plaintiff hired the defendant’s limo company for him and his family to go out for dinner and a show. The plaintiff claims the defendant showed up two hours late in a smelly limo, causing them to miss their plans. He is suing for the cost of the limo services, the tickets for the show, a pair of pants damaged by the limo, and the fare for the cab home because they were left stranded. The...

First, the plaintiff was a member of the defendant’s pole dancing studio. During a class, her toe got stuck in the floorboard, causing her to lose a toenail. She is suing for her medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and an inappropriately charged dance fee. Then, on the way to work, the plaintiff was rear-ended by the defendant. He is now suing for the decreased value of his car. The def...

First, the plaintiff says the defendant, his former girlfriend, damaged the outside door to his basement and took some of his belongings. He is suing for the cost of the property damage and the missing items. The defendant claims he locked her out of the house while she was in her pajamas, and when she called the police, she was told to go through the basement door. She is countersuing for lost wa...

First, the plaintiff loaned his girlfriend money with the stipulation that she would pay him back within two weeks. However, he soon discovered she had cheated on him before disappearing without paying him back. He is suing for the unpaid loan. The defendant claims the plaintiff owed her for damaged property, and the loan he claims he gave her was actually the payment, just put toward a car. Then,...

First, the plaintiff says the defendant trespassed onto his property after he trimmed some bushes and called him offensive names and even admitted it to the cops. He got an order of protection against her and is suing for harassment. The defendant claims the plaintiff is the one harassing her and even caused her pig to die by putting toxic chemicals on his bushes. Then, the plaintiff loaned his gi...

First, the plaintiff says he gave the defendant a loan for a new TV and baby supplies. The defendant failed to pay it back, so the plaintiff is suing. The defendant says the plaintiff offered to give him the TV to get with his cousin. Then, the plaintiff claims he found an apartment for the defendant, but he hasn’t paid him his commission fee, so he’s suing. The defendant argues the plaintiff does...

First, the plaintiff, a real estate agent, found a house for the defendant to rent. However, the defendant stopped payment on the plaintiff’s commission check, so she’s suing. The defendant claims the plaintiff said she would waive the fee. Then, the plaintiff went to college with the defendant. The plaintiff claims the defendant stole her money for a shady business deal, so she’s suing. The defen...

First, the plaintiff ordered a handmade custom leather jacket from the defendant, but when it came, she found it was several sizes too large for her! She tried to contact the defendant for a redo, but he refused to help, so she’s suing for the money she spent. The defendant says he’s worked with big names and had offered to adjust the plaintiff’s jacket for her. She was nothing but problems for th...

First, the plaintiff was heading to her brand-new car after a night with friends when she noticed the defendant drunkenly standing by the vehicle. She claims he scratched the car in his drunken state and is suing for damages. The defendant claims the scratches were already there and not caused by him like the plaintiff argues. Then, the plaintiff says she’s having a hard time getting the defendant...

First, the plaintiff says the defendant, her boyfriend’s ex-girlfriend, is crazy. She claims the ex attacked her car, breaking a windshield, and is suing her for the damages. The defendant admits to attacking the car, but it was because the ex-boyfriend had taken her child and locked himself in the car. She wasn’t charged for anything by the police due to the situation, so if anyone should pay for...

First, the plaintiff says he put down $2,000 on a car and financed the rest, and the next thing he knew the car was being repossessed because his loan was denied. Now the defendant won’t return his deposit, so the plaintiff is suing him for it. The defendant says he should have followed his gut and refused to do business with the plaintiff, as the guy canceled his insurance on the car right after...