The Case of the P.O.'d Plaintiff
RMSYou don’t have to be a legal eagle to spot a turkey of a case. And man, is the one Claudia Evart has filed against THE PEOPLE’S COURT for the birds!
According to the New York Post, Evart — of the Murray Hill section of New York City — took her smal claims case against a local business to the courtoom of television's Judge Marilyn Milian in the hopes that THE PEOPLE’S COURT barrister would rule in her favor. Having lost the case, Evart is now fighting to keep the episode from ever hitting the airwaves because she's got regrets about having gone public. “It was a nightmare, and I wish I never did it,” she told the paper. Instead of justice, the pissed plaintiff says she only “got aggravation and stress. It was uncalled for and unnecessary."
And, to be blunt, exactly what the show doles out on a daily basis.
For the uninitiated, THE PEOPLE’S COURT is to justice what THE OFFICE is to drama. Folks agree to go on the show and basically be yelled at and humiliated in exchange for the producers paying not only any and all costs associated with the case but an appearance fee. Evart — who is, in an ironic little twist, a paralegal — displays her keen knowledge of the legal system by telling the newspaper, “I just thought I’d win, according to their letter.” The letter does not, of course, specifically say that... and goes on to indicate that anything can happen during the proceedings.
What irks her most of all is that she felt as if the show painted her in a negative light and took away her sense of self-respect. “You have the right to be treated with dignity,” the article ends with her saying. “And I didn’t give that right up,” she adds of the documents anyone appearing on the show must sign before entering what is, in essence, binding arbitration.
Now, we’re not about to defend the actions of the judges who yell at, belittle and generally behave in a way that is about as far from civility as possible. However, folks who go on these shows — for whatever reason — aren’t innocent by any stretch of the imagination, whether they're guilty of the pending charges or not. They have their reasons for taking their small claims case to the airwaves. Some want their 15 minutes of fame. Some just want their legal fees and any penalties levied against them paid by the producers.
But it's unlikely that a single one of them is going into the proceedings without having first checked the show out, and that goes for Evart, too. She made the decision to air her dirty laundry in a very public format knowing full well what she was walking into.
Perhaps in the end, it’s us who will walk away from the courtroom winners. Because if one person reads about Evart's experience and realizes that actual court fees are a small price to pay to retain one’s dignity, our work here will have been done.
Reader Comments (2)
After watching the episode, I was surprised that Ms Evart lost out on her case. Since the Store had actually become a 'consignment seller' of her property and was now willing to get involved in the sale.
Since his shop stored or transported the property to an area that was affected by weather and was not in her care and control .Why didn't the Defendant's Insurance Company Not become LIABLE for the contents in his warehouse since her property was now in his care and control
and was damaged due to no fault of Ms Evart. . Well, that's my opinion and I am sticking with it . Judge Milian missed this part of the case..
I'm not surprised she lost. Not at all. She ordered a custom item, then refused to take delivery of it and refused to pay the balance owed on it because she was "unaware" that it would cost $$ to have it removed and re-installed if she ever moved. Baloney! The paralegal is now claiming ignorance of what her written agreement was! And isn't common sense that something installed in a wall is going to require work to have it removed and re-installed if you move? Also, I think it is common sense that custom items (as this was) are non-refundable, let alone the fact that this was stated in writing in the contract. She refused to take delivery. The store owner went out of his way to try and get her her money back by selling the item, but it just didn't work out. He was under no obligation under the contract to do this. Marilyn Milian said to her, "you are a person used to getting your own way". Yep, and that is why this woman is sooo upset. She didn't get her way.