This is real life?

So there I was, doing some exercises this morning, an attempt to remain svelte and, more importantly, help the healing process as my bones continue to knit together after last year’s fracture. Being bored, I switched on the TV – and watched some of Judge Judy as I followed my routine. Ever seen this programme? It’s the sort of show that makes you wonder just how did we human beings managed to conquer the world. Seriously.

For example (and I’m using false names to protect the numbskulls): Mary was suing her daughter Hayley. After crashing her car, Hayley persuaded her mother to help with the hire purchase agreement because she, Hayley, had a poorer credit rating. Mary agreed. Hayley got her new car and made the monthly payments for a few months. Then Hayley joined the military and stopped making the payments. She told Judge Judy that this was because Mary agreed to pay the rest as a reward for Hayley’s new job. Really?

Meanwhile, Hayley’s boyfriend ended up doing time because he defaulted on payments to the mother of his son (with another woman – not Hayley). On his release from gaol he lived with Mary, who was also looking after Hayley’s child why she is in the military (care for which, Judge Judy was told, mother received no financial help). And the boyfriend remained unemployed during all this. Getting the picture?

Meanwhile, Hayley was dishonourably discharged for going AWOL, and ended up jobless. And then she went to prison for stealing government property. Phew!

At this stage no one was, in fact, making payments on the car and so it was repossessed. But Mary faced a claim from the credit company for missed payments and was threatened with legal action. Hayley, by then out of prison but still jobless, couldn’t pay. Her boyfriend, also unemployed, couldn’t pay. In the meantime, Mary supported Hayley and her boyfriend and took care of daughter’s child, all from her own resources. Enough!

Enough was enough. Mary had to clear her name and safeguard her credit rating and so sued Hayley for more than $5,000. How do you think Judy judged the case?

She found for the plaintiff – Mary – and awarded her the maximum amount she was allowed to in her court, $5,000. Outside the courtroom and speaking to the camera, Mary was pleased with the outcome although she remained out of pocket. Hayley wasn’t too impressed at being sued by her mother. Not a happy family!

Okay… I think I’d be hard stretched to invent this scenario for a story or an episode of Eastenders. But judging by Judge Judy, these incidents are real, involve real people – and these people are prepared to be on TV for their 15 minutes worth of fame. (If I have misremembered some of the details, I grovel…)

© Peter Coleborn