Judge Mathis

[melissapealo]

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.

I'm not sure how the Judge Mathis show works. I used to work with a man that appeared on Judge Judy with a case his ex girlfriend brought against him. She did lose the case, and both of them equally received money from the show. I'd certainly check to see if Judge Mathis works the same way.

I'd also be careful as to what is presented in court. It is a reality tv show and things can be twisted to make the show appear better. It's all about the ratings to the producers, not the actual cases themselves.

It must be hard living next to a neighbor that has problems with you. Either way you decide, it sounds like you'll be going to court. Good luck with everything.

 

[jgreco]

I unfortunately had to sue an ex-boyfriend after lending him a substantial amount of money several years ago. One of those shows sent me a FED-EX envelope wanting me to appear, I believe it was the same show that contacted you. I declined since the whole case was embarrassing to me and I worried what might come of my 15 minutes in my professional career.

The letter claimed they found me through public records of recently submitted claims. No one contacted them first.

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

I unfortunately had to sue an ex-boyfriend after lending him a substantial amount of money several years ago. One of those shows sent me a FED-EX envelope wanting me to appear, I believe it was the same show that contacted you. I declined since the whole case was embarrassing to me and I worried what might come of my 15 minutes in my professional career.

The letter claimed they found me through public records of recently submitted claims. No one contacted them first.

A co-worker told me her daughter was contacted by one of those shows based on a claim that was filed in court, either by them or someone against them. Not all of those shows do things based on the public contacting them.

Suzanne

 

[girli565]

If it's not going to cost you anything whether you win or lose I say do it!

 

[elcodfish]

With Judge Judy both parties got an appearance fee, I want to say it was $100, and the settlement payment was only paid if the other person won. In their case neither of them had contacted the show, the show called them. If it is not an embarrassing issue, I would go on the show. Even if you *think* you have a solid case and won't loose, you never really know.

 

[mtblujeans]

If you don't do the show, both parties go to court, and you lose....can you afford to pay her $4,000.00? I would be tempted to do the show just because of the amount she is asking. Good luck whatever you decide.

 

[melissapealo]

With Judge Judy both parties got an appearance fee, I want to say it was $100, and the settlement payment was only paid if the other person won. In their case neither of them had contacted the show, the show called them. If it is not an embarrassing issue, I would go on the show. Even if you *think* you have a solid case and won't loose, you never really know.

The guy I worked with was paid $200 for appearance fee. His ex had taken him to court and she lost her case. They then took the amount she was suing him for and split it between the two of them. He ended up with around $1000 more, so made out quite well. They also paid airfare,hotel and food. If he had lost then he wouldn't have gotten the extra, so it all depends on the outcome of the case. It also depends on the show as to contact method. Some like Judge Mathis, you submit your case too, others look through pending cases and then contact people.

 

[woodkins]

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...

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

A neighbor who owns a plumbing company was being sued by a customer and they appeared on The People's Court. The show paid the travel expenses for both parties & there was a small appearance fee paid to both parties as well. If the plaintiff wins the show paid the judgement (the defendant lost the case but did not have to pay the cash, it was paid by the show). If the defendant wins the plaintiff gets nothing except for their travel expenses and fees.

If you are a defendant it is beneficial for you to be on the show because you will not lose anything even if you lose your case. If you proceed in small claims court and you lose the $4k comes out of your pocket.

 

[Dallas_Lady]

No wonder these shows are all over the place, they are a gold mind for the producers. The TV show gets all the money from the advertisements with very little production cost. Outside of the judge and the side kick bailiff there are no actors to pay. No writers either. They pay a small claims settlement of a few thousand bucks, put you in a hotel and give you a hot meal and that's it.

Personally, I think they are trashy and would never want to be on one. But financially, it is in your best interest to do it and if I were you I might have to suck it up and go. Can they use a different name on TV than your real one? Maybe you could wear a wig so no one knows it's you? LOL

 

[LisaNJ25]

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.

Thats exactly what they do is go through public records for unusual stories.

My dad was suing someone for hitting his brand new truck with a golf ball and got a call from the Judge Joe Brown show.

 

[lovepurple]

If the lawsuit is not about anything embarrassing I would do it.

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

No wonder these shows are all over the place, they are a gold mind for the producers. The TV show gets all the money from the advertisements with very little production cost. Outside of the judge and the side kick bailiff there are no actors to pay. No writers either. They pay a small claims settlement of a few thousand bucks, put you in a hotel and give you a hot meal and that's it.

Personally, I think they are trashy and would never want to be on one. But financially, it is in your best interest to do it and if I were you I might have to suck it up and go. Can they use a different name on TV than your real one? Maybe you could wear a wig so no one knows it's you? LOL

I was out sick for almost 2 weeks in January and I could watch these court shows from about 9am back to back until 7pm and still missed a few because they are on multiple channels.

They are trashy, but fun to watch, and it was a heap better than those talk shows. I know try to make it home in the evenings so I can catch Judge Judy and she can be brutal.

Suzanne

 

[S. C.]

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.

You just told a few thousand of your dis friends

 

[leadfootlevi]

You just told a few thousand of your dis friends

 

[leadfootlevi]

If the lawsuit is not about anything embarrassing I would do it.

It's not about anything embarrassing at all. From what I'm reading the producers will want us to sensationalize the case (which we could easily do with all the harassment she's hurled our way). It actually might be kind of therapeutic to get it all out there (based on documented evidence!). If we go to "real" court, we're not going to bring up all of the past issues, but on TV - bring it! I'm trying to think of how we could be made out to look like idiots, and I'm not seeing it. Of course, anything is possible.

 

[melissapealo]

You just told a few thousand of your dis friends

Yes but she never gave any details of the case. So even if it were watched no one would know it was her case.

 

[LuvLuvLuv]

lol counter sue for harassment and maybe you'll come out on the winning end

a co-worker was on mathis a few years ago and he took it for the free trip to chicago. really we don't even live that far away from chicago...but he wanted to go, lol.

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

It's not about anything embarrassing at all. From what I'm reading the producers will want us to sensationalize the case (which we could easily do with all the harassment she's hurled our way). It actually might be kind of therapeutic to get it all out there (based on documented evidence!). If we go to "real" court, we're not going to bring up all of the past issues, but on TV - bring it! I'm trying to think of how we could be made out to look like idiots, and I'm not seeing it. Of course, anything is possible.

Yes but she never gave any details of the case. So even if it were watched no one would know it was her case.

If I remember correctly she did, sometime last week.

Wasn't she the neighbor complaining about the drainage from an addition on your house? the real nutcase neighbor?

Suzanne

 

[tinker&belle]

I would think about you and your wife's professional careers. I don't think appearing on one of these shows and possibly damaging one of your careers is worth 4k, or maybe nothing if you win.

 

[leadfootlevi]

If I remember correctly she did, sometime last week.

Wasn't she the neighbor complaining about the drainage from an addition on your house? the real nutcase neighbor?

Suzanne