The People’s Court Podcast

First, the plaintiff says the defendant, his former landlord, failed to make necessary repairs after a hurricane. The plaintiff had to move out his entire family and pay various relocation fees, so he’s suing. The defendant insists the plaintiff moved in months after the hurricane, and he fixed a minor leak for him. Then, the plaintiff rented a furnished room from the defendant. After returning fr...

First, the plaintiff and defendant were friends of 17 years — close enough that the defendant agreed to host the plaintiff’s daughter’s bridal shower. Before the festivities, the defendant’s phone was broken when it fell off the couch occupied by the plaintiff’s daughter and dog. When the plaintiff refused to pay for the damages, the defendant decided to back out of her commitments to the bride, s...

First, the defendant is the ex-girlfriend of the plaintiff’s son and claims to be the mother of her grandchild. Unconvinced, the plaintiff is demanding a paternity test and is suing to recover payment for her babysitting services. Then, the plaintiff met his roommate, the defendant, on Craigslist. After a no-smoking rule was broken and some toiletries were stolen, he decided to move out. He is now...

First, the plaintiff is suing for medical expenses and pain and suffering after being struck by a cyclist, the defendant, on the streets of New York City. The defendant argues the plaintiff deliberately jumped in front of the bike and is accusing him of extortion. Then, the defendant, after being awarded employee of the month at his job at a baseball stadium, promised the plaintiff tickets to the...

First, the plaintiff gave the defendant, her ex, money to rent an apartment together, but they broke up. The plaintiff is suing for the money back. The defendant denies owing the plaintiff a dime. Then, the plaintiff gave the defendant a loan to help pay some bills but hasn’t been paid back, so the plaintiff is suing. The defendant lived with the plaintiff and says he ate her out of house and home...

First, the plaintiff claims she gave her friend, the defendant, a loan so she could attend her wedding. However, the plaintiff says after a fight, the defendant refused to pay the money back, so the plaintiff is suing. The defendant insists the money was a gift. Then, the plaintiff purchased two air conditioners from the defendant, but water poured from the units and onto her windows. The plaintif...

First, the plaintiff says she cared for the defendant’s daughter but hasn’t been paid for her services, so the plaintiff is suing. The defendant argues she was part of a government program that allowed her to only pay a portion of the day care bill. Then, the plaintiff was involved in an accident with a police car. The defendant towed his car and damaged it in the process, so the plaintiff is suin...

First, the plaintiffs dropped off laundry at the defendant’s laundromat, but he lost their clothes, so the plaintiffs are suing. The defendant argues someone left with the plaintiffs’ laundry, but he believes it was a setup. Then, the plaintiff went to the defendant for a hair wash and set, but she ruined her hair, and she had to cut it all off, so the plaintiff is suing. The defendant argues the...

First, the plaintiff says the defendant helped her buy a car and send it to her son in Africa. However, the vehicle was a piece of garbage and sat in storage for weeks, so the plaintiff is suing. The defendant argues he tried to help the plaintiff, but he didn’t make any money from the deal. He was just trying to be a nice guy. Then, the plaintiff says two of the skylights in his condo leaked and...

First, the plaintiff purchased furniture from the defendant’s shop, but an employee took off with the money, and she didn’t get what she bought. The plaintiff is suing for a refund. The defendant argues the person the plaintiff gave her money to was a crook, but it has nothing to do with him. Then, the plaintiff went to give his co-worker a ride, but her boyfriend, the defendant, physically attack...

First, the plaintiff says the defendant owes his father money. He paid a little of his debt off, and then just stopped. His father still has bills to pay, and he needs the money owed. The defendant says he knew the plaintiff’s father, who was a neighborhood loan shark. The guy died, and his sons are trying to collect interest on a loan he already paid off. Then, the plaintiff says she rented a roo...

First, the plaintiff ordered a custom pair of shoes from the defendant, but they were too small. The defendant adjusted the shoes for her, only for them to come out too big. She requested a refund, and the defendant refused, so she’s suing. The defendant says his shoes are custom and did what he could to make the plaintiff happy but doesn’t believe he owes a refund. Then, the plaintiff provided da...

First, the plaintiff claims her ex-boyfriend hasn’t paid her back for a loan yet, and every time she asks for the money, she gets cursed out for it. She is suing for her money back. The defendant says the plaintiff never once mentioned being paid back when she gave him money to repair his car, so it was a gift. Then, the plaintiff says she watched the defendant back into her car, and when she spok...

First, the plaintiff brought a dress to the defendant for alterations to the straps, but it didn’t come out the way she’d hoped. She had to wear a jacket over the dress to her event and is suing for the money she spent and emotional distress. The defendant says the plaintiff only complained about the issue after the event and even demanded to have a second set of alterations made for free. Then, t...

First, the plaintiff and defendant were Army buddies who decided to go on a trip to California together. The plaintiff paid for a portion of the defendant’s travel and lodging fees, but has yet to be repaid, so he’s suing. The defendant claims the plaintiff was desperate to go with a friend and had agreed to pay for the whole trip since the defendant couldn’t afford it. Then, the plaintiff says he...

First, the plaintiff is in a neighborly feud with the defendant, who ripped out some of her landscaping in response to the plaintiff accidentally pulling up some of her plants. The plaintiff had to hire people to repair damages and is suing for the cost of those repairs. The defendant says it was an eye for an eye and owes nothing. Then, the plaintiff says the defendant, his ex-girlfriend, falsely...

First, the plaintiff asked the defendant to mount her flat-screen TV for her, and two days later she discovered it had fallen to the ground and shattered. He refuses to pay her for any damages, so she’s suing him. The defendant claims he installed the TV the same way he installed every other device and has never had this happen before. Then, the plaintiffs agreed to sublet from the defendant for a...

First, the plaintiff says she rented a car for the defendant in a time of need, and that there’s a rental charge still left unpaid. She is suing to get that money back so she can go on her way. The defendant says it was the plaintiff who caused damages to the vehicle, not her, so she owes nothing. Then, the plaintiff says he was hired by the defendant as a private eye to check in on his son-in-law...

First, the plaintiff says the defendant, her niece, asked her for money to buy a car. The plaintiff helped her niece, but she hasn’t yet paid her back, so the plaintiff is suing. The defendant claims the plaintiff gave her the money as a gift. Then, the plaintiff has been in the landscaping business for 25 years. The plaintiff prepared the defendant’s yard for a pool but hasn’t yet been paid, so h...

First, the plaintiff claims her former landlords are withholding some of her security deposit for dirty rugs when they were soiled during a hurricane, so the plaintiff is suing. The defendants say the plaintiff is filthy, and there was cat litter, cat feces, urine, and vomit everywhere. The defendants are countersuing for additional cleaning expenses. Then, the plaintiff hired the defendant, an ac...

First, the plaintiff says she and the defendant have known each other for three years. The plaintiff claims she loaned the defendant money to save her dog’s life, but she hasn’t paid her back, so the plaintiff is suing. The defendant insists it’s the plaintiff’s fault that her dog needed to be taken to the vet. Then, the plaintiff was at a party when the defendant leaned into her car and dented it...

First, the plaintiff bought a dining set from the defendant but hasn’t yet received all the chairs, so the plaintiff is suing. The defendant insists the set the plaintiff purchased has six chairs, not the eight she claims. The defendant is countersuing for loss of time, work, and the remaining balance owed. Then, the plaintiff says the defendant’s employees dented the hood of her car while working...

The plaintiff brought his vehicle to the defendant’s shop for repair. However, the defendant did a terrible job, so the plaintiff is suing. The defendant argues the car needed more work done, but the plaintiff flipped out and asked for a refund. The plaintiff purchased a house from the defendants, but they backed out of the deal, so the plaintiff is suing for the costs already accrued. The defenda...

First, the plaintiff says the defendant’s dog attacked his cat, causing a lot of damage that required immediate vet intervention. The plaintiff is suing for the vet bills the defendant refuses to pay. The defendant says it was the plaintiff’s idea to see if the rescue dog would get along with cats, as they were interested in adopting the canine. The defendant is countersuing for defamation of char...

The plaintiffs hired the defendant to move their property to a new home. While he was reassembling their dining table, he damaged it, and now the plaintiffs are suing for the price of the family heirloom. The defendant says he damaged a desk, which the plaintiffs were immediately reimbursed for. The table was not brought to his attention until after the job was done, and he hadn’t damaged it. The...