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>> Announcer: THIS IS THE
PLAINTIFF.
HE CONTENDS HE RENT ADD VACANT
BUILDING FROM THE DEFENDANT FOR
AN ALL-NIGHT DANCE PARTY.
AT 8:00 P.M. ON THE NIGHT OF THE
PARTY WITH 1500 PEOPLE WAITING
OUTSIDE, THE DEFENDANT TOLD HIM
HE DIDN'T HAVE ACCESS TO THE
BUILDING.
THE SHIFTY GUARD TRIED TO GET
HIM TO MOVE THE BAERT TO AN
ILLEGAL SPACE UNDER A BRIDGE.
HE WOULD HAVE NO PART OF IT.
HE'S SUING FOR $3,000.
THE MONEY HE GAVE THE DEFENDANT.
THIS IS THE DEFENDANT.
ROBERT HOROWITZ, AND HIS SONS
DANIEL AND DAVID.
HE DENIES RECEIVING A CENT FROM
THE PLAINTIFF BUT SAYS HE SET
HIM UP WITH A JANITOR OF A
BUILDING TO TEST SOME DISCO
EQUIPMENT.
HE WAS ABSOLUTELY SHOCKED WHEN
"ARRIVED AT THE PLACE TO FIND A
HUGE CROWD READY FOR A RAVE
PARTY.
IF ANYONE HAD ANY MONEY, IT WAS
THE JANITOR WHO NEVER SHOWED UP.
HE'S ACCUSED OF DOING IN A DANCE
PARTY.
>>> HELLO, AGAIN, EVERYBODY.
I'M CAROL MARTIN.
WELCOME TO ANOTHER SESSION OF
"THE PEOPLE'S COURT."
IF YOU'D LIKE TO PARTICIPATE IN
OUR INTERACTIVE WEB SITE, LOG ON
WITH US AT PEOPLESCOURT.COM.
NOW FROM "THE PEOPLE'S CORNER"
OUTSIDE OUR STUDIO, LET'S SAY
HELLO TO OUR CO-HOST ATTORNEY
HARVEY LEVIN.
>> FEISTY CROWD DOWN HERE.
THEY ARE GOING TO WATCH THESE
CASES, AND THEN PASS JUDGMENT ON
THE PLAINTIFF, THE DEFENDANT,
AND JUDGE KOCH.
>> WAIT UNTIL THEY HEAR THE
FIRST ONE.
TODAY'S DOCKET, THE CASE OF
DANCING IN THE DARK.
NOW, ACCORDING TO THE PLAINTIFF
IN THIS CASE, HE SAW THE
DEFENDANT CUT THE LOCK ON THE
ILLEGAL SPACE AND THEN HAND THE
GUARD $2,000 IN CASH TO KEEP
QUIET.
BOTTOM LINE, THOUGH, THE PARTY
NEVER HAPPENED.
AND NOW HE WANTS HIS MONEY BACK.
HE'S SUING FORS 3,000.
ACCORDING TO THE DEFENDANT,
THOUGH, WHEN THE JANITOR DID NOT
SHOW UP TO OPEN THE DOORS, THE
ANGRY CROWD TRY TO TURN OVER HIS
CAR.
HE SAYS HE WAS LUCKY TO GET OUT
OF THERE ALIVE.
WHO'S TELLS THE TRUTH OVER A
DISPUTE OVER A PARTY THAT NEVER
TOOK PLACE.
LET'S FIND OUT AS THE CASE
BEGINS.
>> Judge Koch: MR. PATEL AND
MR. HOROWITZ.
MR. PATEL, AS I UNDERSTAND IT,
YOU HAD AN AGREEMENT WITH THE
DEFENDANT WHO WAS TO PROVIDE A
SPACE FOR A PARTY.
>> THAT'S CORRECT.
>> Judge Koch: TELL ME THE TERMS
OF THE ARRANGEMENT?
>> BASICALLY, I HAVE THE
CONTRACT HERE, WHICH HAS TO DO
WITH THE DEPOSIT.
WHAT HAD HAPPENED, FOUR MONTHS
BEFORE, PRIOR TO THE EVENT, I
CALLED UP MR. HOROWITZ --
>> Judge Koch: HOLD ON WHILE
ATAKE A LOOK AT IT.
THE PROPRIETOR HEREBY GRANTS THE
ENTERTAINMENT GROUP A LEASE OF
REQUIREMENTS 38-20, REVIEW
AVENUE IN BROOKLYN.
THE TERMS OF THIS LEASE
COMMENCES ON SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER
28th, '96 AND ENDS ON SUNDAY,
SEPTEMBER 29th, '96.
AND THEN IT HAS, RECEIVED $3,000
CASH ON JUNE 28, '96, AT
LITTLENECK SHOPPING CENTER, AS
REQUESTED BY ROBERT HOROWITZ, A
SIGNATURE.
AND SO NOW WHAT I'D LIKE TO DO
IS TO ASK YOU WHETHER THAT IS
YOUR SIGNATURE AND WHETHER YOU
REMEMBER SIGNING THAT AGREEMENT.
>> YES, THAT'S MY SIGNATURE.
BUT --
>> Judge Koch: AISLE GET TO THE
BUT AS SOON AS I HEAR THE OTHER
SIDE, OR THE FIRST SIDE.
THE PLAINTIFF'S SIDE.
>> FOUR MONTHS PRIOR TO THE
EVENT I SAID I NEED SPACE FOR AN
HE SAID, OKAY, SURE.
I SAID HOW MUCH?
HE SAID, $5,000, $6,000,
DEPENDING ON THE OFFICIAL COST.
HE SAID HE ACTUALLY PREFERRED
CASH TO A CHECK.
I TOLD HIM I HAD A CHECK ONE
DAY.
I WOULD GIVE HIM THE CHERK.
HE SAID I PREFER CASH.
HE SAID MEET ME AT THE
LITTLENECK SHOPPING CENTER WITH
$3,000 CASH.
MY WITNESS WAS THERE.
>> I DISAGREE WITH THAT,
YOUR HONOR.
>> Judge Koch: WHEN WE GET TO
YOU, YOU CAN TELL YOUR STORY.
>> MR. HOROWITZ WASN'T THERE TO
PICK UP THE MONEY.
HIS SON CAME.
>> Judge Koc WHICH ONE?
>> DANIEL.
>> Judge Koch: WHO IS DANIEL?
>> I AM DANIEL.
>> Judge Koch: OKAY.
>> I NEVER CAME THERE.
>> Judge Koch: OKAY.
GO AHEAD.
>> YOU NEVER CAME THERE?
>> Judge Koch: NO CROSS-TALK.
YOU'LL DO IT BY DIRECTING YOUR
STATEMENTS TO ME, AND WE'LL GET
TO THE DEFENDANT AS SOON AS WE
COMPLETE THE PLAINTIFF'S CASE.
GO AHEAD.
>> I HAD GIVEN DANIEL $3,000
CASH.
THIS IS MY WITNESS, LISA BRIAN,
WHO WAS THERE WHEN I GAVE THE
CASH TO HIM.
>> Judge Koch: WE'LL GET TO HER
AFTER YOU TELL ME WHAT ELSE
ENSUED.
>> THE DAY THE EVENT HAD COME
ABOUT, AND WHAT HAD HAPPENED, I
TOLD THEM WE WOULD BE THERE AT
6:00.
HE NEVER SHOWED UP UNTIL THREE
HOURS LATER.
THE LIGHTING GUYS WERE THERE.
DEEJAY.
>> Judge Koch: YOUR PEOPLE?
>> YEAH, FOR THE EVENT THAT
NIGHT.
I WENT INSIDE THE SPACE AND SAID
I'M HERE TO DO MY EVENT.
AND THE GUYS INSIDE THE SPACE
HAD NO IDEA WHAT WAS HAPPENING.
EVENT?
WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT.
>> Judge Koch: DESCRIBE THE GUYS
INSIDE THE SPACE.
>> THE PEOPLE WORKING IN THIS
WAREHOUSE SPACE.
>> Judge Koch: WAREHOUSE SPACE,
AND THERE WERE PEOPLE WORKING
THERE THAT KNEW NOTHING ABOUT
THIS?
>> THEY KNEW NOTHING.
I CALLED MR. HOROWITZ TO TALK TO
THESE PEOPLE TO LET THEM LET US
INTO THE SPACE.
HE GAME DOWN AND GAVE ME A STORY
ABOUT THE OWNER OF THE SPACE HAD
DIED AND HE'S GOT THE CLICKER TO
OPEN UP THE DOOR AND NOW HE'S
DEAD OR WHATNOT SO THEN HE CAME,
AND I SAID, LISTEN, YOU GOTTA
FIND ME A SPACE.
>> Judge Koch: PLEASE --
>> WE WENT JOYRIDING, AND HE
ACTUALLY WENT TO A SPACE DOWN
THE STREET ABOUT A MILE DOWN THE
STREET UNDERNEATH A BRIDGE.
AND I SAW HIM CLIP THE LOCK.
TOOK THE LOCK AND THREW IT --
>> Judge Koch: MEANING HE BROKE
THE LOCK?
>> IT WAS AN --
[ LAUGHTER ]
>> Judge Koch: GO AHEAD.
PLEASE, JUST CONTINUE WITH ME.
>> IT WAS AN OUTDOOR SPACE, AND
I TOLD HIM, MR. HOROWITZ, LISTEN
I CAN'T DO THIS.
THIS IS CITY PROPERTY.
I CAN GET IN TROUBLE FOR IT.
>> Judge Koch: WAS THIS UNDER A
BRIDGE?
>> YES.
I HAVE NO IDEA.
OFF OF RIVER VIEW AVENUE.
HE SAID I'LL PAY YOU $2,000 IF
YOU KEEP YOUR MOUTH SHUT
TONIGHT.
>> Judge Koch: WHO SAID THAT?
>> MR. HOROWITZ.
>> Judge Koch: IN WHOSE
PRESENCE?
>> IN MY PRESENCE.
>> Judge Koch: YOU HEARD THOSE
WORDS?
>> YEAH.
THERE WAS NO HOPE FOR ANYTHING.
SO HE HAD DROPPED US OFF CLOSE
BY TO THE SPACE, BECAUSE HE
DIDN'T WANT TO COME BACK TO THE
SCENE OF THE CRIME, AND --
>> Judge Koch: TALKING ABOUT THE
FIRST SPACE?
>> YEAH.
OKAY.
ACTUALLY, LET ME GO BACK HERE
AND BASICALLY, HE HAD COME AND
IN FRONT OF A LOT OF PEOPLE HE
HAD SAID THAT HE WOULD GO HOME
TO GO GET MY DEPOSIT.
OKAY, AND --
>> Judge Koch: WHO WAS WITNESS
TO HIS SAYING THAT?
>> THIS MAN HERE, AND HE WAS
SUPPOSED TO LEAVE HIS WATCH FOR
COLLATERAL AND NEVER DID AND
ENDED UP GOING HOME AFTER THAT.
>> Judge Koch: OKAY.
NOW, FIRST THIS YOUNG LADY.
WOULD YOU STEP UP TO THE
MICROPHONE AND IDENTIFY
YOURSELF.
>> MY NAME IS LISA BRIAN.
>> Judge Koch: MS. BRIAN WHAT
DID YOU HEAR AND WHAT DID YOU
SEE?
>> I WENT WITH KUNJAN TO THE
LITTLENECK SHOPPING CENTER.
I WAITED FOR HIM, FOR HIS PERSON
TO SHOW UP.
ABOUT HALF AN HOUR LATER, HE DID
SHOW UP.
HE GAVE HIM THE MONEY.
>> Judge Koch: CAN YOU POINT OUT
THE PERSON TO WHOM THE MONEY WAS
GIVEN?
>> THAT GENTLEMAN RIGHT THERE,
WITH THE BLUE SHIRT STANDING
BEHIND THE OTHER ONES.
>> I OBJECT, COMPLETELY,
YOUR HONOR.
>> Judge Koch: YOU CAN TELL ME
YOUR STORY LATER, BUT YOU CAN'T
OBJECT.
NOW, YOU SAW THE MONEY GIVEN?
>> I SAW THE MONEY.
I TOUCHED THE MONEY IN THE CAR.
>> Judge Koch: YOU KNOW HOW MUCH
MONEY WAS INVOLVED?
>> THERE WAS $3,000 IN THE
ENVELOPE.
I COUNTED IT.
>> Judge Koch: DID HE SAY
ANYTHING?
>> NO -- JUST HERE YOU GO.
THAT'S IT.
TELL ROBBY I'LL GIVE HIM A CALL.
THAT WAS IT AND WE LEFT.
>> Judge Koch: OKAY.
NOW WE HAVE ANOTHER WITNESS.
STEP UP, PLEASE.
NO.
I THOUGHT THE GENTLEMAN.
THEN YOU'LL TELL ME WHAT YOU
HAVE.
WHAT'S YOUR NAME, PLEASE?
>> MARK PHILLIPSON.
I WAS WITH KUNJAN THE WHOLE DAY,
SATURDAY.
WE WENT DOWN THERE TOGETHER TO
RIVER VIEW AVENUE.
I SAW MR. HOROWITZ SHOW UP AFTER
HE WOULDN'T LET US INTO THE
BUILDING.
HE ASKED ME TO ASK KUNJAN TO
BREAK INTO THE BUILDING WE WERE
SUPPOSED TO RENT --
>> I DISAGREE.
>> Judge Koch: I'LL ASSUME YOU
DISAGREE WITH EVERYTHING THEY
SAY.
ALL RIGHT?
THEN WE'LL GIVE YOU AN
OPPORTUNITY TO BE HEARD.
>> WHEN KUNJAN SPOKE TO
MR. HOROWITZ ON THE PHONE HE
ASKED FOR ME TO SNEAK INTO THE
BUILDING AND WAIT FOR THE PEOPLE
TO LEAVE SO I COULD OPEN THE
DOOR FROM THE INSIDE.
>> Judge Koch: WHO SAID THAT TO
YOU?
>> KUNJAN.
>> Judge Koch: FOR MR. HOROWITZ?
>> YES.
>> Judge Koch: YOU DIDN'T SPEAK
TO MR. HOROWITZ?
>> NO, I DID NOT SPEAK TO
MR. HOROWITZ.
AS YOU KNOW ALL THE EVENTS OF
THE DAY HAPPENED.
>> Judge Koch: IS THERE ANYTHING
ELSE YOU SAW INVOLVING
MR. HOROWITZ AND MR. PATEL?
>> I WAS STANDING NEXT TO
MR. PATEL, I'M GOING TO GO HOME,
GET YOUR DEPOSIT AND BRING IT
BACK FOR YOU.
>> Judge Koch: HE SAID THAT IN
YOUR PRESENCE?
>> IN MY EAR.
>> Judge Koch: YES?
>> I HAVE A RECORDED
CONVERSATION BETWEEN HOROWITZ
AND I.
>> Judge Koch: OH, THOSE ARE THE
BEST KIND!
STEP UP AND START IT AGAIN SO I
CAN PERHAPS HEAR IT BETTER.
START IT AGAIN.
MR. HOROWITZ, YOU STEP UP HERE
SO YOU CAN HEAR IT, TOO.
[ PLAYING TAPE RECORDING --
YEAH.
WHAT'S UP?
WELL, I HAD A NOT SO PLEASANT
MEETING WITH THEM YESTERDAY.
>> OKAY.
AND THE WAY IT STANDS RIGHT
NOW -- I JUST WANT MY MONEY
BACK.
>> I KNOW THAT.
I'M TRYING TO GET YOUR MONEY
BACK.
>> I PUT A LOT OF TIME ON THIS.
MORE TIME THAN ANYTHING ELSE.
I'M TRYING TO GET YOUR MONEY
BACK AS FAST AS POSSIBLE.
>> I CAN JUST TASTE IT.
>> WHY CAN'T --
>> WHY CAN'T THEY?
NO EXCUSES.
YOU HAVE EXCUSES THAT DON'T MAKE
SENSE.
>> I DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT.
WHY DON'T YOU TAKE IT OUT OF
YOUR POCKET AND GIVE IT TO US?
>> BECAUSE I'M NOT GOING TO --
>> I KNOW YOU'RE NOT GOING TO --
>> WHAT?
TEN YEARS FROM NOW, I'M NOT
GOING TO STOP CALLING UNTIL I
GET MY MONEY BACK.
>> I KNOW IT STINKS.
BUT I CAN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT
UNTIL --
>> Judge Koch: IS THERE MUCH
MORE?
>> TELL ME WHEN TO STOP.
>> Judge Koch: YOU CAN STOP IT
NOW.
OKAY.
LET'S HEAR FROM THE OBJECTOR.
>> FIRST OF ALL, WHEN MR. KUNJAN
CALLED ME, TOLD ME HE WANTED
SPACE, I SHOWED HIM SPACE ON
43rd STREET OF THE THAT'S NO
GOOD.
HE WANTED ROH ANOTHER SPACE.
HE SAID THERE'S A SPACE AROUND
THE CORNER.
I SAID I DON'T OWN THAT SPACE.
WHEN HE ASKED ME TO SIGN THIS
CONTRACT, I TOLD HIM I'M WORKING
AS AN AGENT, BETWEEN YOU AND THE
MAINTENANCE MAN OVER THERE.
>> Judge Koch: HAVE YOU SIGNED
AGREEMENTS BEFORE?
>> YES.
>> Judge Koch: WHEN YOU SIGNED
AGREEMENT, THIS AGREEMENT
DOESN'T BIND ME.
I'M SIGNING IT BEFORE YOU'RE
ASKING ME TO, AND I'M NOT
RESPONSIBLE?
HAD YOU DONE THAT BEFORE?
>> THAT'S WHAT I TOLD KUNJAN.
>> Judge Koch: YOU DO THAT
GENERALLY?
>> SOMETIMES I DO.
>> Judge Koch: OFTEN DO YOU DO
THAT?
>> A COUPLE OF TIMES.
>> Judge Koch: THIS IS ONE OF
THOSE TIMES WHEN YOU SIGN SUCH
AN AGREEMENT, THAT IT DIDN'T
MEAN A THING.
>> NUMBER ONE, YOUR HONOR, I
NEVER RECEIVED THE MONEY.
NEITHER DID MY SON RECEIVE THE
MONEY.
WE NEVER PICKED UPED MONEY.
>> Judge Koch: I WANT TO MAKE
SOMETHING VERY CLEAR TO YOU.
>> AND THE --
>> Judge Koch: JUST A MOMENT.
YOU ARE UNDER OATH.
>> RIGHT.
>> Judge Koch: WAS THAT YOUR
VOICE ON THE TAPE?
>> THAT TAPE WAS TAPED WITHOUT
MY PERMISSION, WITHOUT MY
KNOWLEDGE, AND --
>> Judge Koch: JUST A MOMENT.
IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK, THERE
IS NO REQUIREMENT THAT YOU KNOW
ABOUT IT.
IN OTHER STATES THERE ARE.
BUT NOT IN NEW YORK.
WAS THAT YOUR VOICE?
>> THAT WAS MY VOICE, BUT, LET
ME SAY ONE THING --
>> Judge Koch: DID YOU HAVE --
>> -- IF THAT I WAS THREATENED,
THAT I DIDN'T OPEN UP THE GATE
TO GO INTO THE BUILDING, THEY
WENT TO TURN OVER MY CAR.
THEY RIPPED THE FENDER OFF MY
CAR.
>> Judge Koch: BE QUIET.
LISTEN TO MY QUESTION.
WAS THERE SOMEONE FROM MR. PATEL
STANDING NEXT TO YOU WITH A
WEAPON?
>> THEY KNOW WHERE I LIVE.
>> Judge Koch: I SEE.
>> HE TOLD ME IN THE TAPE, HE
SAID, AS LONG AS IT TAKES, HE'S
GOING TO GET THE MONEY FROM ME.
>> Judge Koch: HE SAID HE WILL
KEEP CALLING YOU.
>> RIGHT.
>> Judge Koch: LET ME JUST SAY,
IF THAT'S ALL HE DID, YOU WOULD
BE VERY LUCKY!
>> TRYING TO TURN OVER THE CAR,
NUMBER ONE.
AND NUMBER TWO, YOUR HONOR --
>> Judge Koch: YOU SAY -- AND
ARE YOU SAYING.
[ TALKING AT THE SAME TIME ]
>> Judge Koch: ARE YOU SAYING TO
ME THAT WHAT YOU SAID ON THAT
TAPE WAS A LIE?
>> YES.
AND I'LL TELL YOU ANOTHER THING.
>> Judge Koch: I SEE.
WHAT YOU'RE TELLING ME NOW --
[ TALKING AT THE SAME TIME ]
>> Judge Koch: BE QUIET AND
LISTEN.
>> YES.
>> Judge Koch: AND ARE YOU
TELLING ME THAT WHAT YOU'RE
TELLING ME NOW IS THE TRUTH?
>> YES.
>> Judge Koch: WHY SHOULD I
BELIEVE YOU?
>> BECAUSE I WAS THREATENED AT
THE TIME.
I AM NOT THREATENED RIGHT NOW.
>> ORIGINALLY WHEN IT WAS THAT
NIGHT, HE WAS VIOLENT TOWARDS MY
FATHER, AND HE WAS PICKING UP
AND THEY WERE --
>> Judge Koch: WERE YOU THERE?
>> I WAN THERE.
BUT I HAVE THE BILL FROM THE
PROBLEM WITH MY CAR, THEY RIPPED
OFF THE FENDER.
>> Judge Koch: WAIT A MINUTE.
YOU JUST MADE AN ACCUSATION, AND
THE ACCUSATION IS THAT HE,
MR. PATEL, WAS VIOLENT TOWARDS
YOUR FATHER.
THAT NORMALLY MEANS HE ASSAULTED
HIM IN SOME WAY.
>> THEY ALMOST DID.
THAT'S WHY I TOOK HIM AROUND IN
THE CAR TO VARIOUS SPOTS TO GET
AWAY FROM THERE.
HE WANNED TO GO.
I TOOK HIM WITH ME.
>> Judge Koch: YOUR CAR?
>> IT WAS MY SON'S CAR.
>> Judge Koch: IF YOU WANTED TO,
YOU COULD HAVE DRIVEN TO A
POLICE STATION, WOULDN'T YOU?
IF YOU THOUGHT YOU WERE IN
DANGER?
>> I THOUGHT I WAS IN DANGER.
>> Judge Koch: WHY DIDN'T YOU
DRIVE IT A POLICE STATION?
>> THERE WERE POLICE ON THE
SCENE.
>> I WENT BECAUSE I WAS WORRIED
ABOUT THEM.
>> THERE WAS 3500 PEOPLE THERE
THAT NIGHT.
>> Judge Koch: IN THE CAR WITH
YOU?
>> NO, OUTSIDE.
ASK HIM HOW MANY PEOPLE WERE
THERE.
>> COULD WE GO BACK TO ONE
THING.
>> Judge Koch: ONE AT A TIME.
>> WHEN I FIRST SIGNED THIS
PAPER, YOUR HONOR, IT SAYS HERE
THAT THE OUTER LIMITS
ENTERTAINMENT GROUP MAY USE THE
PREMISES FOR DISCO AND NO OTHER
PURPOSES.
WHEN I CAME DOWN THERE THERE WAS
AT LEAST -- I DIDN'T COUNT THEM
ALL -- BUT AT LEAST 3,000 TO
3,500 KIDS.
>> Judge Koch: WHY WOULD THIS BE
A DISCO?
>> BECAUSE THEY WANTED TO HAVE A
PARTY.
>> Judge Koch: HOW DO YOU KNOW
UNTIL --
>> I ASKED THEM WHAT ARE YOU
DOING DOWN HERE?
>> Judge Koch: WHAT IS A DISCO
IN YOUR HEAD?
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A
DISK OH AND A PARTY?
>> HE WANTED TO DISPLAY DISCO
EQUIPMENT AND BRING DOWN 100 TO
150 PEOPLE TO SHOW IT TO THEM.
THE PLACE CONTRACTED FOR CAN
HOLD MAYBE -- MAYBE -- FIVE
TRACTOR TRAILERS.
YOU TELL ME BETWEEN FIVE TRACTOR
TRAILERS YOU CAN FIT 3500 PEOPLE
IN THERE.
>> ARE YOU A FIRE MARSHAL?
>> Judge Koch: DIRECT ALL
STATEMENTS TO ME.
>> I RENTED THIS EXACT SPACE
BEFORE, AND I HAVE A CONTRACT
FROM THE YEAR BEFORE.
>> Judge Koch: YOU USED THIS
SPACE BEFORE?
>> YES.
>> Judge Koch: YOU HAVE RENTED
THIS SPACE BEFORE?
>> YES.
LAST YEAR.
AND ONLY 150 PEOPLE SHOWED UP.
>> Judge Koch: WHAT WAS THE
PURPOSE -- PLEASE!
WHAT DID YOU DO ON THAT
OCCASION?
>> ON THAT OCCASION EVERYTHING
WENT 100% SMOOTH.
>> Judge Koch: AND WHAT WAS THE
ATTENDANCE?
>> 1800 PEOPLE.
>> Judge Koch: I'M GOING TO NOW
TAKE A SHORT RECESS, AND I WILL
BE BACK.
>> WOW!
THINGS ARE HEEFRTING UP IN THIS
WAY.
LET'S LOOK AT THE LIVE WEB SITE
POLL.
CLEARLY, STRONG PERCENTAGES
BETWEEN THE PLAINTIFF AND
DEFENDANT.
IT'S GETTING CLOSER.
WHO DO YOU THINK WILL WIN THIS
ONE?
PLAINTIFF OR DEFENDANT?
STAY WITH US AND WE'LL FIND OUT
IN JUST A MOMENT.
HELLO?
MORNING, DADDY.
HI, HONEY.
READY FOR YOUR PRESENTATION?
ACTUALLY, DADDY'S A LITTLE NERVOUS.
WE KNOW JUST WHAT YOU NEED.
( knock at door )
ROOM SERVICE.
SERVICE?
♪ TWO SCOOPS AHEAD ♪
♪ YOU'RE GONNA BE ♪
♪ TWO SCOOPS AHEAD. ♪
NOTHING PREPARES YOU
SS
ONLY FROM KELLOGG'S RAISIN BRAN.
READY NOW, DADDY?
I'LL GIVE YOU TWO GUESSES.
♪ KELLOGG'S RAISIN BRAN WILL START YOU ♪♪
♪ TWO SCOOPS AHEAD. ♪♪
NOW SHOWING: KIT KAT BREAK TIME.
♪ GIMME A BREAK ♪
♪ GIMME A BREAK ♪
♪ BREAK ME OFF A PIECE OF THAT KIT KAT BAR ♪
♪ GIMME A BREAK ♪
♪ GIMME A BREAK ♪
♪ I WANNA TAKE A BREAK WITH THAT KIT KAT BAR ♪♪
HEY, WAIT FOR ME!
SMELLS GOOD.
PASS IT DOWN.
IT'S AN INDISPUTABLE FACT
THAT KIDS LOVE THE TASTE
OF CAMPBELL'S CHICKEN NOODLE SOUP.
GOOD.
DON'T HOG IT ALL!
AND EVER SINCE WE ADDED MORE CHICKEN,
THERE'S BEEN EVEN MORE TO LOVE.
HURRY UP, I'M HUNGRY.
WHICH MEANS THERE'S STILL MORE TO GO AROUND.
HEY, I NEVER KNEW THERE WAS CHICKEN IN THIS SOUP.
MMM.
CAMPBELL'S MAKES EVERYTHING...
♪ M'm M'm BETTER ♪
♪ SOMETIMES YOU FEEL LIKE A NUT ♪
♪ SOMETIMES YOU DON'T ♪♪
♪ ALMOND JOY'S GOT NUTS ♪
♪ MOUNDS DON'T, BECAUSE ♪
♪ SOMETIMES YOU FEEL LIKE A ♪
♪ SOMETIMES YOU ♪♪
>>> AND WELCOME BACK TO "THE
PEOPLE'S COURT."
LET'S GO DOWN TO HARVEY FOR
PREDICTIONS.
>> Reporter: CAROL, I HAVE TO
TELL YOU THE WEB SITE DOESN'T
REFLECT WHAT'S GOING ON DOWN
HERE.
MOST PEOPLE STRONGLY FAVOR THE
PLAINTIFF.
LET'S FIND OUT WHY.
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
>> HE OBVIOUSLY BROKE THE
CONTRACT.
HE ADMITTED THAT.
HE RENTED THIS HALL BEFORE WHEN
HE CLAIMED HE WOULDN'T.
>> TOO MANY INCONSISTENCIES.
HE'S CAUGHT.
>> THE DEFENDANT DON'T HAVE
PROOF OF ANYTHING HE'S SAYING.
>> Reporter: YOU TOLD ME YOU
WERE FOR THE DEFENDANT.
WHY?
>> PRIOR HE RENTED IT.
HE WENT IN GOOD FAITH, GOT THE
PLACE IN GOOD FAITH.
IF THERE WAS A SDRIPANCY AMONG
PEOPLE, THE PLAINTIFF -- NO.
THE DEFENDANT --
>> Reporter: AND --
>> HE'S A CROOK!
THE DEFENDANT'S A CROOK.
HE STOLE THE MONEY.
HE KNEW THE GUY.
>> THERE'S A SIGNED CONTRACT,
AND HE SAID ON THE TAPE, I'M
TRYING TO GET YOUR MONEY BACK.
HE SAID IN COURT HE NEVER GOT
IT.
>> Reporter: INDEED, CAROL, THE
TAPE WAS A BIG DEAL FOR PEOPLE
DOWN HERE.
>> THAT'S THE SMOKING GUN.
LET'S SEE WHAT THE JUDGE
DECIDED.
HE'S COMING BACK INTO THE
COURTROOM, SITTING DOWN.
LET'S LISTEN.
>> Judge Koch: THIS IS PROBABLY
THE WORST CASE IN TERMS OF LACK
OF CREDIBILITY ON THE PART OF
ONE EVER THE PARTIES THAT'S EVER
COME BEFORE ME.
I MUST SAY, MR. HOROWITZ, YOUR
TESTIMONY, YOUR ACTIONS, WERE
SHAMEFUL.
NORMALLY IN A CIVIL ACTION, IT'S
ONLY NECESSARY FOR A PLAINTIFF
TO ESTABLISH THEIR CASE BY A
PREPONDERANCE OF THE EVIDENCE.
HERE, THEY ESTABLISHED IT SO
THAT IF THIS WERE A CRIMINAL
ACTION, I WOULD FIND YOU GUILTY.
THE EVIDENCE IS OVERWHELMING.
THE TAPE IS DAMNING.
NONE OF THE EXCUSES THAT YOU
PROVIDED HAVE ANY RATIONAL
BASIS.
THE FACT IS THIS THE NOT THE
FIRST TIME YOU'VE DEALT WITH
THEM.
AND FOR SOMEONE WHO HAS BEEN IN
BUSINESS TO CONDUCT THEMSELVES
THIS WAY IS ABSOLUTELY
DISGUSTING.
AND SO I FIND IN FAVOR OF THE
PLAINTIFF, JUDGMENT IN THE
AMOUNT OF $3,000.
>> THANK YOU, YOUR HONOR.
>> Reporter: WITH THOSE SEARING
COMMENTS, JUDGE KOCH RULES FOR
THE PLAINTIFF.
THE HOROWITZ'S DEFENDANTS, ARE
OUT HERE.
WHAT'S YOUR REACTION?
>> TELL THEM, MAN.
>> I JUST FELT THAT THE FACTS
WERE KIND OF MIXED UP IN THERE,
AND THAT WE DIDN'T GET OUR POINT
ACROSS VERY WELL.
BUT I FEEL WE ARE CORRECT IN
SAYING THAT, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE
AT FAULT.
>> WHATEVER WE SAID, I STILL SAY
IS THE TRUTH.
>> Reporter: JUDGE KOCH'S
COMMENT, NOTWITHSTANDING.
ALL RIGHT, THEN.
OFF YOU GO.
IN THE BACK SHE HAS YOUR
DOCUMENTS.
YOU'LL BE ON YOUR WAY.
THE PLAINTIFFS, PATEL AND
COMPANY, ON THEIR WAY OUT OF THE
COURTROOM.
WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT AMERICAN
JUSTICE RIGHT NOW?
>> I HAVE TO SAY IT'S THE
GREATEST.
WHAT ELSE CAN I SAY?
>> Reporter: JOSEPHINE'S IN THE
BACK.
YOU CAN THANK HER AS WELL.
>> HARVEY, THE JUDGE SAID IF
THIS HAD BEEN A CRIMINAL CASE HE
WOULD HAVE FOUND THE DEFENDANT
GUILTY.
WHAT CRIME WOULD HE HAVE
COMMITTED?
>> Reporter: IF THIS WERE A