Hot Bench Season 6 Episode 166 Woman Pays Estranged Daughter 7K to Play Nice?!

A mother in her seventies pays her estranged daughter $7,000 to reconcile and to pay off unpaid bills. Alex, the plaintiff, testifies that she felt her effort to rebuild the relationship with her daughter Angie was worth the money. However, Angie refused to pay her bills, and Alex suspects that Angie only agreed to reconcile for money. When Angie rejected Alex's requests for repayment, Alex felt that their relationship was ruined once again. Angie claims that she cut off contact because of her mother's toxic and manipulative behavior. She adds that she agreed to reconcile only to avoid potential legal trouble. The presiding judges, Tanya Acker, Patricia DiMango, and Michael Corriero, question the legitimacy of the agreement and try to determine if it amounted to a gift or a contract. They also analyze the mother-daughter dynamics and weigh the issues of trust and forgiveness. As the arguments escalate, the judges must decide if the plaintiff's generosity deserves repayment or if the defendant's qualms about emotional coercion have merit.