The People's Court Season 22 Episode 11 Episode 11

The People's Court is a courtroom reality show where real people present their cases to a professional judge in front of a live audience. Each episode focuses on a different civil case, and the judge's ruling is binding and enforceable.

In Season 22 Episode 11, two parties are brought before Judge Marilyn Milian to settle their dispute. The plaintiff, a young woman named Sarah, is suing her former roommate, Jessica, for unpaid rent and damages to their apartment.

Sarah explains that she and Jessica had been close friends for several years before deciding to move in together. However, once they started living together, Jessica became increasingly irresponsible. She frequently forgot to pay bills on time, left messes around the apartment, and failed to uphold her end of their rental agreement.

Things came to a head when Sarah returned from a weekend trip to find that Jessica had thrown a party that resulted in significant damage to their apartment. The damages included broken furniture, stained carpets, and a ruined television.

Sarah claims that she gave Jessica multiple opportunities to repay her share of the rent and cover the damages, but Jessica refused, claiming that the damages were not her fault.

In court, Sarah presents evidence of the rental agreement she and Jessica signed, as well as receipts for the damages. She argues that Jessica is responsible for her share of the rent and the cost of repairing the damages.

Jessica counters that the damages were not entirely her fault and that Sarah should have been more understanding of the party situation. She claims that Sarah was unreasonable in expecting her to pay for all the damages when they were caused by multiple people.

Judge Milian listens to both sides and asks clarifying questions before making her ruling. She notes that while Sarah may have been entitled to expect Jessica to abide by their rental agreement, she should have also taken steps to protect the apartment from damage during the party.

Ultimately, Judge Milian decides that Jessica is responsible for paying her share of the rent and half the cost of repairing the damages. She reminds both parties that living together as roommates requires respect and responsibility, and that they should have tried to resolve their issues before coming to court.

The episode offers a glimpse into how the small claims court system works and how a professional judge weighs the evidence presented to her. It also highlights the importance of clear communication and setting expectations when entering into shared living arrangements.