Judge Mathis

[leadfootlevi]

So, we're being sued by our neighbor to the tune of $4k. I don't think she has a case, but you never know....

Yesterday we got a letter in the mail from the Judge Mathis show. They will pay her (our neighbor) even if we lose the case. And, they will pay our travel expenses.

Do I care if I'm humiliated on TV? Not really...

Would my neighbor agree to this? Possibly - she'll get paid her $4k whether she wins or loses. She's desperate for money, so I'm thinking she would. On the other hand, I think she just doesn't like us and would take pleasure in taking money from us, so maybe she wouldn't.

What would you do? DH wants to go. I'm not so sure. If we lose, that's $4k out of our pocket. But, I don't think we'll lose. There's always a chance that we'll lose. And, I have been wanting to go to Chicago...

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Why not? You will definitely get your 15 minutes of fame. And it will not cost you anything. And the neighbor is guaranteed her money.

 

[firsttimer03]

Well, you can look at it this way......free trip?

 

[leadfootlevi]

Why not? You will definitely get your 15 minutes of fame. And it will not cost you anything.

Partly because she would get her $4k and I don't think she deserves it.

Also because I'll be on TV. I don't know if anyone I know watches this show - I just won't tell anyone we're going to be on and maybe no one I know will see it. It's TV and it can be manipulated.

 

[ChelseaC]

It depends how good of a case you think you have against her. If you have a lot of evidence on your side, then I'd go. If not, I wouldn't..because I think you have a better chance of not paying the $4k in civil court.

 

[erincon23]

I watch too many of these judge shows -- Mathis doesn't seem to be particularly thorough in his questioning. I'd watch the show a couple of times before you decide to do it -- he tends to make an opinion quickly (I think Judge Judy does this too, but she's more likely to make a fair ruling, even if she doesn't like one of the parties). And if you DO go, bring every possible piece of evidence -- videos, receipts, bank statements, whatever makes sense.

 

[DisneyAndRedSox]

Ooh... you have to let us know what you decide to do! Good luck in making a decision!

 

[mrudman]

I would not do it in my opinion...

You say you're sure she does not have a case, but like you said, it's a TV show, and they can always twist things around to make it look as if she (your neighbor), is entitled to that money.

If it's not a cut&dry case, do you really want to chance being out $4000. And I think it's cruddy that she gets the money no matter what... I'd not do it just for that principle alone.

If you lose, you'll be out a lot of money, and if you win, she still wins.. it's a no-lose situation for her.

Sure, it'd be nice to have a few minutes of fame, but it could be bad publicity that could come back to bite you.

And if you're thinking of doing it for the trip to Chicago you'd get out of it.. plan your trip on your own.. could have a super nice trip there for probably 1/4 of that cost.

 

[allison443]

I would not do it in my opinion...

You say you're sure she does not have a case, but like you said, it's a TV show, and they can always twist things around to make it look as if she (your neighbor), is entitled to that money.

If it's not a cut&dry case, do you really want to chance being out $4000. And I think it's cruddy that she gets the money no matter what... I'd not do it just for that principle alone.

If you lose, you'll be out a lot of money, and if you win, she still wins.. it's a no-lose situation for her.

Sure, it'd be nice to have a few minutes of fame, but it could be bad publicity that could come back to bite you.

And if you're thinking of doing it for the trip to Chicago you'd get out of it.. plan your trip on your own.. could have a super nice trip there for probably 1/4 of that cost.

I don't think the defendant has to pay the money if the plaintiff wins the case, on these television court shows. I think the show pays the plaintiff.

 

[leadfootlevi]

I don't think the defendant has to pay the money if the plaintiff wins the case, on these television court shows. I think the show pays the plaintiff.

That is correct. So, the show would pay her whether she wins or loses. We'd be out $0.

It's tempting because if the judge in conciliation court decides in her favor we're out $4k.

 

[3pletprincesses]

I would do it because $4k is alot of money.

 

[elcodfish]

I would do it. A friend of mine was sued and did Judge Judy. The show paid for him and his witness to fly to NYC, 2 meals, paid the settlement (he lost) and flew him home that night. If you go and win, you loose no money and she gets nothing. If you go and loose, you loose nothing and she gets $4000 from the show, not you.

 

[leadfootlevi]

I would do it. A friend of mine was sued and did Judge Judy. The show paid for him and his witness to fly to NYC, 2 meals, paid the settlement (he lost) and flew him home that night. If you go and win, you loose no money and she gets nothing. If you go and loose, you loose nothing and she gets $4000 from the show, not you.

I think that statement is incorrect. The show pays her no matter what, I think.

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

I watch too many of these judge shows -- Mathis doesn't seem to be particularly thorough in his questioning. I'd watch the show a couple of times before you decide to do it -- he tends to make an opinion quickly (I think Judge Judy does this too, but she's more likely to make a fair ruling, even if she doesn't like one of the parties). And if you DO go, bring every possible piece of evidence -- videos, receipts, bank statements, whatever makes sense.

I have been watching alot of Judge Judy lately and she is pretty tough on most everyone. I don't remember her being that way in the past. I don't think I would want to go before Judge Judy, wether I had a good case or not.

Judge Mathis, on the other hand, seems pretty fair and if I could possibly come out of there having to pay her nothing, I would go just for a free vacation.

Suzanne

 

[mrudman]

Ahh, i see.. i misunderstood..

I was under the impression if you lost, you'd be paying her the $4000... if you won, the show would still pay her $4000.

Didn't realize if you lost, the show would pay the $4000, not you.

Hmm, in that case, I might go ahead and do it then.. since you won't be out any money either way.

 

[Kellydelly]

So, we're being sued by our neighbor to the tune of $4k. I don't think she has a case, but you never know....

Yesterday we got a letter in the mail from the Judge Mathis show. They will pay her (our neighbor) even if we lose the case. And, they will pay our travel expenses.

Do I care if I'm humiliated on TV? Not really...

Would my neighbor agree to this? Possibly - she'll get paid her $4k whether she wins or loses. She's desperate for money, so I'm thinking she would. On the other hand, I think she just doesn't like us and would take pleasure in taking money from us, so maybe she wouldn't.

What would you do? DH wants to go. I'm not so sure. If we lose, that's $4k out of our pocket. But, I don't think we'll lose. There's always a chance that we'll lose. And, I have been wanting to go to Chicago...

One of you had to have contacted the show, it wasn't you? If it was her she obviously is up for taking her case to the show.

 

[leadfootlevi]

One of you had to have contacted the show, it wasn't you? If it was her she obviously is up for taking her case to the show.

No, it never would have crossed my mind to contact a show about this! The letter said they do research on public cases and contact those they think would be good for TV.

 

[melissapealo]

So, we're being sued by our neighbor to the tune of $4k. I don't think she has a case, but you never know....

Yesterday we got a letter in the mail from the Judge Mathis show. They will pay her (our neighbor) even if we lose the case. And, they will pay our travel expenses.

Do I care if I'm humiliated on TV? Not really...

Would my neighbor agree to this? Possibly - she'll get paid her $4k whether she wins or loses. She's desperate for money, so I'm thinking she would. On the other hand, I think she just doesn't like us and would take pleasure in taking money from us, so maybe she wouldn't.

What would you do? DH wants to go. I'm not so sure. If we lose, that's $4k out of our pocket. But, I don't think we'll lose. There's always a chance that we'll lose. And, I have been wanting to go to Chicago...

You have to submit a case to the show in order to appear on it, so chances are if you got paperwork and didn't submit the case then your neighbor did. If you lose the case then the show pays her, so no money out of your pocket. You also get paid an appearance fee for being on the show.

I think you should consider your case and how good your chances are of winning. Would you want whatever it is aired on tv for all to see and judge? If you don't have any problem with that then your not out anything by going.

I also think going just because you've always wanted to go to Chicago isn't a good reason. Normally your not going to be there long enough to sightsee or enjoy anything. Your going to have 1 night hotel, so is it really worth it?

 

[leadfootlevi]

You have to submit a case to the show in order to appear on it, so chances are if you got paperwork and didn't submit the case then your neighbor did. If you lose the case then the show pays her, so no money out of your pocket. You also get paid an appearance fee for being on the show.

I think you should consider your case and how good your chances are of winning. Would you want whatever it is aired on tv for all to see and judge? If you don't have any problem with that then your not out anything by going.

I also think going just because you've always wanted to go to Chicago isn't a good reason. Normally your not going to be there long enough to sightsee or enjoy anything. Your going to have 1 night hotel, so is it really worth it?

I think our chances of winning are good. But, there's always that chance... And I do not want to give her a penny!

I don't have any problems with what will be presented in court. She's the loon - not us!

I haven't always wanted to go to Chicago - we've been. I've just been talking about going back. We don't live that far away.

I've read a little more, and I don't think she'll be paid if she loses. I think she's only paid (by the show) if she wins. That makes it a little easier to swallow (I don't want to see her get a dime!) but I'll be sure to clarify if/when I call the show.

 

[brockash]

So, we're being sued by our neighbor to the tune of $4k. I don't think she has a case, but you never know....

Yesterday we got a letter in the mail from the Judge Mathis show. They will pay her (our neighbor) even if we lose the case. And, they will pay our travel expenses.

Do I care if I'm humiliated on TV? Not really...

Would my neighbor agree to this? Possibly - she'll get paid her $4k whether she wins or loses. She's desperate for money, so I'm thinking she would. On the other hand, I think she just doesn't like us and would take pleasure in taking money from us, so maybe she wouldn't.

What would you do? DH wants to go. I'm not so sure. If we lose, that's $4k out of our pocket. But, I don't think we'll lose. There's always a chance that we'll lose. And, I have been wanting to go to Chicago...

If you don't think she deserves 4k, than honestly, no I probably wouldn't, just because I wouldn't feel it was right for her to get 4k, even if she lost. What's to stop her from suing someone (or you) again, if she can get a quick 4k, no matter the outcome? So, no I probably wouldn't.

Not to mention, I really don't think I'd want to be on tv, especially for that.

ETA: If you have kids, I'd take that into consideration as well (their possible embarrassment from their family being on tv as well.)