Ms. Myers, you have
brought your mother,
Ms. Madrigal, to court today because you claim
she has no idea who
your biological father is. You say your mother
gave you a list of
13 possible men, and you are hoping
to determine who
your father is today. The court has located two of
the 13 men and has already
ordered paternity tests to be administered. Ms. Madrigal, you admit
to having a laundry list
of potential fathers, but hope today
answers your daughter's
lifelong question. Now, Ms. Myers,
what were the circumstances that started your search
for your biological father? When I was 13 years old,
I had a father figure
in my life, and he died at that age. And, you know,
when he died
I needed closure. I needed somebody
to be there. LAKE: And so,
at 13 years old,
how did you find out that there were potentially
13 different men that
could be your father? The list came from
my mom telling me over, approximately,
a year, maybe
a little longer... She would always just say,
you know, "Here's a name,
here's a name," you know. And I think, to her,
it seemed like
it was a joke. Okay, Ms. Madrigal,
as you were giving your
daughter this list, and I do not mean this
in a joking way... Right. LAKE: You couldn't
narrow it down from 13? You know, I... The 13 that
she's naming is like
13 ghosts, fabricated! What about
"Pick any man in Seattle?" (LAUGHS) You made that joke. So where does this
"Pick any man in Seattle..." Hold on. Hold on,
'cause any friend that she
met of mine, a guy friend, she'd ask him
were they her father.
Really? Are you serious? Yeah, yeah... So my thing is this,
when she'll say, "Oh, is he my dad?"
I'll say, "I don't know.
Could be anybody in Seattle." Since she thinks
that's what it is,
absolutely. It could be
this guy right here. Yeah, really. MONICA: See? See? Ms. Myers,
in your statement,
you say that your life
without a father has been
extremely difficult. Mmm-hmm. Please explain. I feel lost, you know.
I feel confused,
I don't know who I am. I don't know my heritage.
I don't know what
I'm completely mixed with. I don't know
where I came from.
I don't know nothing. You came from me.
Does it matter? I know your
half of the family, but that's
only half the story. Nobody else matters. That's only
half of the story. Ain't no man
raise me better
than you can, even though it doesn't
even matter, so save it. You raised me? You raised me?
No, you didn't! Oh, I raised you! You weren't even there,
so anyway... Monica, stop it. Stop it. Ms. Myers, you claim
that you left home when
you were 15 years old. Yeah, I did. Why is that? I didn't want to be
around her. You didn't get along to
this degree even when
you were 15 years old? Worse than this.
It's even worse than this. The only reason
why I am somewhat
civil with her is because I have an ex
that used to preach to me
all the time about having to be
close to my mom. SAMANTHA: Right. And I wanted to be
right with God, so therefore... For God. SAMANTHA:
(SCOFFS) Right. God. She won't even... That's a good one.
Use God! You damned devil.
Use God! So, Ms. Madrigal,
you do admit that there
were multiple partners at the time that
Ms. Myers was conceived? Of course, but you
got to realize I was 17. Mmm-hmm. So, any calculation
within that time, I could've
been way off and not known because by the time
I found out, I was four months
pregnant with her. You see what I'm saying?
So there could be
a list of whomever. SAMANTHA: It's the timing.
It's in the timing. Now she admits to the list. The list that is also
missing out of my diary. Really, Monica?
The list that
you fabricated? The 13 ghosts
you got in the book? Yeah, where is it at?
It's gone! Who ripped it out? Ask your brother! Ms. Myers,
what is that diary
you're holding up? That's my diary that
I've had since I was
13 years old. That's where
I started my list.
It's in that. And all of a sudden,
my pages are missing? SAMANTHA: Hold on. She had to bring
it out here. Okay, we've got to figure out
whether two of the men that
the court has identified is, in fact, Ms. Myers' father. Your statement to the court
says that you've met
the two out of the 13 that the court has
administered tests to. Mr. Keith McCraney
and a Mr. Derrick Smith. (CHUCKLES) Mmm-hmm. LAKE: You smiled... Mmm-hmm. ...at one or both
of those names? It's an evil smile
and a happy smile. An evil smile
and a happy smile? Well, who's
the evil smile for? Keith. Keith? Mmm-hmm. So I take it,
we don't care for him. I don't like him.
I hate him with
a passion. (AUDIENCE REACT) Mr. McCraney,
um, thank you for
coming to join us and submitting to
the paternity testing. I wanna ask you first,
you do know Ms. Myers'
mom, Ms. Madrigal? Yes, I do. LAKE: Please state
how you met her. You know,
we got together,
she came over. She told me she thought
I was sexy, whatever,
good-looking. Okay, we had sex. It was
a three-minute thing. (AUDIENCE LAUGHING) Three minutes. Look, she confirmed it. LAKE: You swore
to tell the truth. And nothing
but the truth. LAKE: Okay. (LAUGHTER) So, how did you
find out that Ms. Madrigal
was pregnant? I did not know she was
pregnant, Your Honor. I'm walking downtown,
Seattle, where we live. I see her and the baby
at the fountain, and I say,
"Oh, cute baby.
Who is she?" She said,
"My daughter!" (GIGGLES) And you giggled? Yes. Why? I couldn't believe it,
you know? Three minutes. I understand it doesn't
take that, but... So you knew that it was
your three minutes of fame
that had gotten her there? Well, Your Honor,
I also found out... I also found out,
Your Honor, that when
she left my house, she went to
another man's house and the same thing
happened the same day. Sure did. Sure did.
That was the plan
in the first place. KEITH: The same day! This wasn't planned.
Keith and I weren't planned.
That's what I'm saying. My friend... Your Honor,
her and the same friend that was at my house,
was at his house. SAMANTHA: Right. That's how I know
it was the same day. Right. Right. LAKE: Okay! We realize now that
Mr. McCraney is
not the man that you would like to be
your father, ultimately. No. We do have another gentleman
here that has also submitted
to the paternity testing, and at this time,
the court would like to
hear from him. Jerome, if you could
please escort
Mr. Derrick Smith in. And Mr. McCraney
and Ms. Vernon, feel free
to have a seat. Thank you. KEITH: Thank you. Derrick. (AUDIENCE APPLAUDING) Mr. Smith,
how are you today? I'm doing pretty good, Judge. Thank you for joining us. We're really glad that
you could be here today, and we appreciate
you submitting to
the DNA testing, um, because this court
realizes that you are
one of two men here today that we've identified
that could potentially be
Ms. Myers' father. LAKE: You do feel
it's a possibility that
you could be the father. I do. I mean,
I think we look
a lot alike. LAKE: Do you see
the resemblance?
Do you see it? MONICA:<i> I see it right here,
standing next to me
right here.</i> DERRICK:<i> Well, we both
have big foreheads, kind of...</i> (MONICA LAUGHS) DERRICK:<i> Hmm.</i> LAKE:<i> You know,
I think we've heard enough,
ladies and gentlemen.</i> Uh, it's time to
find out the results. It is. When it comes to
Ms. Monica Myers, Mr. Keith McCraney,
it has been determined
by this court that... You... Are the father. (AUDIENCE APPLAUDING) There it is. LAKE: Did you faint,
Mr. McCraney? I... What? Whoa! I... KARMEN: They must have
got the test mixed up
or something. LAKE: You are the father. KARMEN: There is no way. They must have
gotten their test
mixed up or something. KEITH: Whoa! I... KARMEN: I don't
believe that at all. LAKE: Thank you for
coming back in, Ms. Myers. I know you're upset. I hate him, I hate his
family, man. SAMANTHA: Hold on. Hold on. Can I say something?
Can I, please? Monica, regardless to
whatever Keith has been
through in 26 years, Keith wasn't always
going through what
he's going through. You think I'd just
jump in there with anybody...
or something? Come on. Keith was one of the finest
people in Bellevue. I don't care. Their family has
rejected me so much that there is
no rekindling what they... The pain they've
caused for me. SAMANTHA: That's true. I don't deserve
none of this. I didn't deserve
it from the jump. I recognize that
you have been a victim. I had to do all of this
by myself. But it is your choice as to whether
you continue to be one. Now, you came here
for an answer. (APPLAUSE) It wasn't the answer
you wanted, but you got
the answer. And from the way it looks
from my vantage point, you've got four people
in your life right now that have said to you,
"Our hearts and our doors
are still open for this girl." Today we have the case
of<i> Coe v. Coe,</i>
mother versus daughter. Miss Coe, you say
you're here today
because your daughter is an out-of-control
teenager and
she needs help. Furthermore, you claim that
you have serious doubts that your daughter's
boyfriend, Mr. Boyce, is the father of
your seven-month-old
grandson. You say Mr. Boyce has
been a good father
to the baby, but that your daughter has
numerous sexual partners and so he needs
to know the truth. Yes ma'am. JUDGE LAKE: You've also
petitioned the court
to demand that your daughter attend
parenting classes. Now, Miss Coe,
you dispute
your mother's claims. You say you are positive
that Mr. Boyce is
your baby's father, and say today's results
of the paternity test
will prove your mother wrong. You've asked the court
to order your mother to
stop meddling in your life, once and for all. Now, Miss Coe,
please tell the court
why you're here today. I'm here because my daughter
is out of control. She has an issue
with authority. She doesn't want to be told
what to do, how to do
or why to do it. Give me
specific instances. Okay... From fights at school,
hitting a police officer,
not once but twice... (AUDIENCE GASPS) JUDGE LAKE: Hitting a
police officer? She punched a
police officer twice. Twice! I get the phone call
to go up to the school,
I get there, I was thankful that I knew
this police officer. He looks at me and he says,
"This is your daughter?" He says, "I could take
her to jail right now.
She could have a felony." JUDGE LAKE: Wow. (APPLAUSE) The officer got in the way. In your petition to the court,
you've stated something about damage to your home.
Please tell me that. She made a phone call saying
that I and my girlfriend
had jumped on her, because she still
did not want to
follow house rules. All I asked her to do
was not disrespect the house. Don't bring the drama
to the house. I feel like
that's not the truth.
That's not the truth. You brought
drama to the house. That's not the truth. You made a phone call saying
"My mother and her girlfriend
just jumped on me. "You come mess them up." I said her girlfriend had
jumped on me, and I did have
somebody come over there. But that wasn't true.
She made that phone call. Them guys, they loaded up,
they came to my house,
they busted out every window, they busted out my car,
they destroyed my house. This was one week before
I was actually... JUDGE LAKE: That's your car? That's my car. They broke out every window.
That's my house. That's me standing
on the porch trying to
take a picture, because now I'm upset,
and I'm like, "You know what? "I cannot believe my daughter
is gonna allow this to happen
instead of her saying..." And I couldn't believe
your girlfriend jumped on me
when I was pregnant, so... But she didn't jump on you. They broke our windows,
car, they hit me with a brick, I got hit in the
back of the head. JUDGE LAKE: What? ZIAIR: And I also
stopped them. I didn't think
they were going to do
that do the house. I didn't say,
"Mess the house up." They took that
into their own hands. Ziair, I'm so disturbed by
what I'm hearing right now. So, Mom, you're saying
she was sleeping
with multiple guys. I know that there was
someone else. Now, how many more it was,
I'm not for sure. But I do know that there
was someone else. So, when I find out
she's pregnant,
I go to the guy. I go to Larry,
I say to Larry, "Look, as Ziair's mother,
I'm gonna keep it
real with you, "I've got to be 100,
I say you need to
get a DNA test." But as the girl, me,
I was being real,
and I said, "I'm not gonna lie, but there
is a possibility this baby
could be someone's else." I didn't just say,
"You're the father,
you're the father." I said, "It's a possibility,"
because I did mess up, and I did slip, and
mess around with
somebody else. So, you have
a boyfriend now. Mm-hmm. And that boyfriend
may or may not be
the father of your child? Yes, because I did
have a boyfriend, and I only messed with
Larry when me and my
boyfriend got into it. I went over to
my best friend's house
and he was there. So, now, what I believe,
and you can tell me
if I'm right, Mom... You're worried now about
this cycle repeating itself. Exactly. JUDGE LAKE: And I know you
still love and are concerned
for your daughter. You've made that clear today. JEANETTA: Really, because
even after she had done
all of that to me, I move out to Arizona,
she calls me, two months later,
after I'm in Arizona, and she says,
"Mom, I need you.
I don't have anybody." You know, she's
about to have my grandson. What do we do? You seem emotional.
What do you feel?
Tell me. JEANETTA: The only rule
I had for her... JUDGE LAKE: It's okay. Let her
speak, Mom. What do you feel,
sweetie? Tell me. (SNIFFLING) JUDGE LAKE: You needed
your mom? That's okay.
We all need our moms. We know that today
we're here to determine the paternity of
this particular child, but we also know
that this child is
very important to you. Yeah, he
really is. Am I correct? Yes. Please tell the
court about that. I feel like from the
beginning I knew it
was a possibility, but at the same time,
know what I'm saying, he made me grow more,
know what I'm saying, since he's been around. 'Cause my mom,
she passed away, and once I
told her about it, know what I'm saying,
she just, "Oh, that's
my grandbaby." She was buying him
everything... So your mom... She passed away
in February. JUDGE LAKE: And so
you're hoping today,
what are your hopes? I'm hoping that he's mine. (CHEERING AND APPLAUSE) That's wonderful. Why in particular
do you have doubts? Because the only time
it happened, it was like, we wasn't together, she
was in a relationship
with another guy. And I've always got a rubber
in my back pocket, a condom.
I keep that. JUDGE LAKE: Even today. Yeah. Okay. So... JUDGE LAKE: Good, good,
I'm glad to hear it. I can't really say if I
used it or not, cause I was under
the influence, like, tough. So you don't remember
if the sex you had
was safe sex? Yes. It wasn't. LARRY: How do you know? And the defendant I know it wasn't,
'cause the first time, even when you wasn't
under the influence,
you didn't use it. Was you drunk? What about the first time?
What about the first time? Was you drunk? No. Okay, the first time,
that was something
else, though. Did you use one? No.
The second time? No.
The third time? No. He didn't use it. I use condoms. Not with me. Yes I did. No you didn't. Ah, okay. You're ruining
his reputation,
right here. (AUDIENCE LAUGHING) Yes I do, though I
probably ain't used them
as much as I should, but that was because
I was with you. Exactly. You didn't
use'em with me. Okay, but I used them
after the first time, though. And it only take one time, so. No? Okay, okay. ZIAIR: He didn't use them. LARRY: All right. Miss Coe, but you have told
this court that you think it could possibly be Mr. Boyce
or maybe someone else. Okay. When it comes to
baby Christian, Mr. Boyce... You are... ...not the father. (SIGHING) JEANETTA: Yes you are. You're his father. LARRY: Yeah, I am. Yes, yes you are. I'm still his father. (APPLAUSE) JUDGE LAKE: You okay? I know this was
not the way that probably any of you
wanted this to turn out, 'cause I can see it
in all of your faces. (SOBBING) JEANETTA: Can I just... JUDGE LAKE: Jerome, can you
give him a tissue, please. Can I just, I just,
I just wanna... JUDGE LAKE: Hug him?
Absolutely. Can I please?
It's okay, Larry. It's okay. You lost everybody,
but you're not alone.
(MUFFLED) I am so sorry,
but it's okay. JUDGE LAKE: Mr. Boyce... It's okay. If you need
to sit down, it's okay. Ms. Lindsey, you say
that after years of lies
from your mother and uncertainty about
who your father is, you believe
you finally found him. Yes, Your Honor. You say everyone in town including his family knows Mr. Dannenbrink is
your father and you intend
to prove that today, is that correct? Yes, it is. Mr. Dannenbrik. Yes, Your Honor. Mr. Dannenbrik, you admit
to having
a sexual relationship with Ms. Lindsey's mother but say there is no way you're her biological father. That's right, your Honor. I met her and we just had
like a hit and run situation. She disappeared on me. And, then, we got back
together again. A couple days later,
she went her way, and... It just kept on for years
that way, and there's no way she could
be my daughter, Your Honor. So, Ms. Lindsey,
what do you mean, everyone in town knows that he's your father.
What do you mean by that? Well, your Honor,
okay, so, about 35 years ago, my mom does admit
to having a child
with Mr. Dannenbrink. And, um... How many years ago? About 35, around there. And, when I was 16-years-old, an ex of Mr. Dannenbrink
came to my house, and accused me
of being the child
that they had had together. And, when I asked
my mother about that, she told me no,
that it wasn't true. You were 16? Yes. And an ex of Mr. Dannenbrink
comes to your house and says you're the child that your mother had
with Mr. Dannenbrink. Yes, Your Honor. In other words, the ex thinks that you're the child
that came in-between her and Mr. Dannenbrink. Yes, your Honor. When she said this to you,
what did you say? (CHUCKLING) First, I was like,
"What you're wrong," there is no way. And I came to my mother
and I talked to her about it. And, she told me no,
that he was not my father, that another man that she had
told me was my dad,
was my dad. She said that this other man
is your father but you'd
never met that man. No. I still haven't so I don't
know who that is. Okay, proceed. So about four
or five years ago, we all pretty much met
up again in church and, um... And I knew
that Mr. Dannenbrink was the person I had
thought or at least was accused of being the child of, but I was too nervous
to approach him
for, um, pretty much, rejection. And so, I just left it alone
and then, um, my mother and him had
started talking again and we became more close I guess you would say? We lived right next door
to each other and we started having
BBQs together and spend a few holidays
together and things like that. The man next door,
your neighbor... Yes. You believe is
your biological father? Yes. But, you've never said anything to him. Not really. Wow, um, Ms. Hampton. Yes, Your Honor. What was the nature
of the relationship with Mr. Dannenbrink? Were you just dating,
committed? Your Honor, this was,
like, in the late seventies and we dated off and on and I was involved
with somebody else, and he was involved
with somebody else. Five years ago, we met back up and started
having conversations and, um, a platonic relationship. We're best of friends. So Mr. Dannenbrink,
did you know
about the pregnancy? I did not, Your Honor.
She never told
me she was pregnant. She never told
me I even had a child. You didn't tell him
you were pregnant? Your Honor, I had
no reason to tell him
because he is not the father. your mother's saying
that Mr. Dannenbrink is
not your biological father. Right. What leads you to just
not believe your mother? The doctors did say
that I was born a month early but they also said that I was
going to be a boy the entire time that she was
pregnant with me. So, they could
have been wrong. Um, second thing, my mom does admit
to having a child
with Mr. Dannenbrink. Um, throughout
my life though, the dates have
kind of changed a little bit. I remember at one time,
she was an older sister. Then I remember another time,
she was a younger
sister than me, and, um, she was
still-born, at birth. Hold on, now!
Wait a minute. So, you've been told a story by your mother that she did
have a child
with Mr. Dannenbrink. Yes. You were told
this child passed away. Yes, at birth. Yes. At birth? Yes, your Honor,
I had a stillborn. And, was
that Mr. Dannenbrink's child? Yes, Your Honor. She never said anything
to me about that. No. She didn't technically lie
about another brother but she didn't tell me
about another brother. She got pregnant and gave
um, him up for adoption. He went through social media then he found me,
and I'm like, wait, what are you talking
about, you're not my brother. And I called
my mom at that time and I said, um, "I have another brother?" And she's like, "Oh,
well, I thought he died." And I was like, "What?" And... Wait a minute. You thought he died? It was complicated,
Your Honor. Um, I had gotten pregnant
by a man that was married, not knowing
that he was married. The agreement was that he was
going to take the baby. Because, I financially
and mentally could not handle
having another baby. But you thought
he had passed away? Yes, Your Honor,
because that's what my mother
and the doctors had told me. And so, you have a photo that you've
submitted to the court. Yes. <i> That is his son and myself.</i> <i> Do you see a resemblance?</i> A little bit. Just a little? Yeah, I mean, I do
look like my mum, a lot. <i> Mr. Dannenbrink, do
you see a resemblance?</i> <i> I do not.</i> <i> Your Honor.</i> <i> Okay.</i> So, Ms. Lindsey, what is your relationship
like with Mr. Dannenbrink? Right now. I want to say he is like
a father figure, to a point. We kinda joke about him being
my dad and me being
his daughter? How do you joke about it? Just randomly, like people
say, "Oh, you guys
look alike," or something like that, and things like that. Or he would say, "Good morning
my beautiful daughter,"
or something. I've never had
that before, so. That's good. Does he know your children? Yes. All four of my children. Um, they don't have grandpas in their lives. So, he has graciously told
my children they're more than welcome
to call him grandpa. That's right. In the case of<i>
Lindsey v. Dannenbrink,</i> when it comes to 35-years-old
Bobby Lindsey, it has been
determined by this court Mr. Dannenbrink, you are not her father. Sorry. Sorry. It doesn't matter,
I still consider
her my daughter. How are you feeling
Ms. Lindsey? I know this was
difficult for you. Confused but happy
at the same time
for closure on that part. Ms. Hampton. Yes, ma'am. I have to ask you. Do you know who
your daughter
biological father is? I still stand firm
that it is another person. He would admit to photographs 'cause he's seen
photographs of her
through my mother, but, physically, he would
not admit it.
