The People’s Court Podcast

First, the plaintiff hired the defendant to build him a garage. He argues he gave the plaintiff a down payment, but then he disappeared and didn’t do the work. He’s suing for the uncompleted construction work. The defendant says the plaintiff changed his mind, and the set he ordered was nothing like what they previously discussed. He claims he told the plaintiff he needed more money, but then the...

First, the plaintiff brings his neighbor to court. He says the defendant’s German shepherd ran into his yard and impregnated his dog, who was also a shepherd. The plaintiff’s dog needed an emergency C-section, then he got stuck with 10 puppies. He’s suing for vet bills. The defendant argues he and the plaintiff previously discussed breeding. He doesn’t think the plaintiff should be suing because t...

First, the plaintiff hired the defendant to make two custom outfits for her birthday. However, the plaintiff claims the defendant didn’t deliver the dresses in time for the party, so the plaintiff is suing for a refund. The defendant argues the plaintiff instructed her to stop the work even though the dresses were already completed. Then, the plaintiff says the defendant, her landlord, refuses to...

The plaintiff hired the defendant to paint her house, but he walked off the job and did terrible work, so the plaintiff is suing. The defendant argues the plaintiff kept adding on work without additional pay, and he deserves all the money she paid him. The defendant is countersuing for defamation of character. The plaintiffs say the defendant, their former landlord, turned the water and heat off a...

First, the plaintiff says the defendant intentionally scammed her by selling her a car with multiple problems, including a muffler held together by Coke cans. She is suing for all the money she’s out. The defendant says the plaintiff brought someone to check out the car and even test-drove it, only to change her mind two days after buying it. He refuses to return her money and is countersuing for...

First, the plaintiff and defendant dated and lived together for a brief period of time. After they split, the defendant threw away the plaintiff’s property without even reaching out to her, so the plaintiff is suing for the cost of lost property. The defendant argues the plaintiff is simply vindictive, and everything he threw away was his. He is countersuing for harassment. Then, the plaintiff hir...

First, the plaintiff was in business with the defendant for a while before the defendant left to start her own business. The plaintiff claims she stole a computer, customers, and other items from him, and is suing for lost profit, defamation, lawyer fees, and stolen property. The defendant says the plaintiff tried to make her sign a contract she didn’t want to sign, broke into her Facebook account...

First, the plaintiff was out walking his dogs when the defendant’s unleashed dog ran over and attacked them. The defendant never apologized, so the plaintiff is suing for the cost of vet bills. The defendant claims it was the plaintiff’s dogs who came at her friendly dog, who only reacted out of self-defense, which the cops agreed on. Then, the plaintiff rented out the defendant’s unit for three y...

First, the plaintiff threw a graduation party for her son, the defendant, who later attacked her during a disagreement over a girl. He damaged several pieces of property in the process, and she’s suing for the cost of repairs. The defendant says his mom has a drinking problem and is just suing him so he’ll look bad. Then, the plaintiff says her dog was injured after a slip while at the groomers an...

First, the plaintiff caught the defendant red-handed destroying his house. The defendant and another person threw open cans of pink paint onto the walls and on the carpets. The defendants are mother and daughter. She claims her daughter is a straight-A student who was in the wrong place at the wrong time. Then, the defendant says she came home from work one night and parked her Chevy Trailblazer w...

First, the plaintiff says the defendant was stopped in front of his car and his big truck when a woman in a hot pink car attempted to make a turn in front of the defendant. The defendant put his truck in reverse to let her through and smacked right into his car. He is suing for repairs. Then, the plaintiff says the defendant is her daughter-in-law and she owes her money that she collected from her...

First, the plaintiff rented a room from the defendant, but she only stayed there for two weeks. She moved out but says the defendant refuses to return her security deposit, so she’s suing for rent and moving expenses. The defendant argues the plaintiff tried sneaking her granddaughter into the home to live there. He thinks the plaintiff wasted his time and lied, so he doesn’t think he owes. He’s c...

First, the plaintiff asked the defendant to watch his dog while he was in jail. He says the defendant refused to return his pup when he got released, so he’s suing for the value of the dog. The defendant argues the plaintiff didn’t even legally own the dog in the first place. Then, the plaintiff rented a home to the defendants. It flooded after a rainstorm, and he offered to have a contractor come...

First, the plaintiff dated the defendant and bought an air conditioning unit for their shared apartment. Now that they’ve broken up, the defendant is dating a new guy and still enjoying the perks of the AC unit while the plaintiff goes without. He’s suing for the cost of the unit. The defendant says the unit was a gift, and she had actually kicked him out for being abusive to her. She is countersu...

First, the plaintiff has known the defendant for 40 years and recently helped him out by giving him a loan. Now he won’t pay her back, so she’s suing him. The defendant says they were in a relationship at the time the money was given, so it was an equal contribution and not a loan. Then, the plaintiff hired the defendant’s limousine company to take her family to the airport, but the car never arri...

First, the plaintiff says her landlord harassed her and her movers as she was moving out of her apartment and then locked her out of the place and refused to return her entire deposit. She’s suing for that deposit back. The defendant says she was informed of the plaintiff moving late at night and found lots of damage to the unit, including to the windows. She’s countersuing for the cost of additio...

First, the plaintiffs were about to move into an apartment the defendants were renting them, and one day before they were going to bring their belongings over, the defendant called them to say that he was selling the place instead. The defendants claim they didn’t want to rent to an unmarried couple because if they broke up, one person wouldn’t be able to make the rent. Then, the plaintiff says he...

First, the plaintiff claims the defendant’s son crashed his son’s car, so he’s suing. The defendant argues the plaintiff’s son allowed her son to drive the car, so it’s not their fault. Then, the plaintiff and defendant have known each other for 13 years and they dated for eight, then took some time off. It turns out the defendant was sleeping with his ex-girlfriend’s stepfather while they were li...

First, the plaintiff says the defendant’s dog kicked him in the cheek and damaged his car, so he’s suing. The defendant argues the plaintiff put the dog in his car. Then, the plaintiff used to date the defendant and says he owes her money, so she’s suing. The defendant insists money went back and forth in their relationship, so he doesn’t owe anything. Plus, the plaintiff says the defendant house...

First, the plaintiff says the defendant towed her car and damaged it in the process, so she’s suing. The defendant says the car was already damaged when he towed it. Then, the plaintiff says she hired the defendant to take photographs at her wedding. However, the defendant ruined the wedding, and the plaintiff is suing for a refund. The defendant claims the plaintiff was so drunk at her wedding, s...

First, the plaintiff says he gave the defendant money to buy clothes, but he hasn’t paid him back, so the plaintiff is suing. The defendant insists the money was a gift. The defendant is countersuing for harassment. Then, the plaintiff hired the defendant to do some landscaping at his house but is unhappy with the work, so the plaintiff is suing. The defendant argues his work was great Plus, the p...

First, the plaintiff put a phone in her name for the defendant. However, the defendant only paid one bill, so the plaintiff is suing. The defendant insists the plaintiff wasn’t paying her portion of the bill, and the plaintiff cut off the line. Then, the plaintiff claims the defendant’s son scratched up her car door with rocks and sticks, so the plaintiff is suing. The defendant argues it wasn’t h...

First, the plaintiff hired the defendants to build a custom awning for his house, but the product was terrible. The plaintiff is suing for a refund of his deposit. The defendants say the awning was perfect, and the plaintiff was happy with everything except paying the balance. The defendants are countersuing for the balance due. Then, the plaintiff drove the defendant home after a snowstorm, but h...

The plaintiff says he incorrectly had a tow truck called on his vehicle for parking in a handicap spot, and the car was damaged in the process of being towed. He hired an attorney to handle the case, but the tow company ignored three different letters from him anyway. He’s suing the company for towing and attorney fees. The defendant says the damage was caused by the plaintiff when he jumped into...

First, the plaintiff used to babysit for the defendant, but it all came to a head when the defendant accused her of telling the children to eat poop. The plaintiff always found the defendant hard to work with, but this was the final straw, and she quit. Now she’s having the hardest time collecting the final chunk of money she’s owed, so she’s suing. The defendant says the plaintiff wasn’t very goo...