Please be seated. Good morning, Your Honor. Good morning. This is the case of<i>
Brewton v. Martin.</i> Thank you, Jerome. Good day, everyone. AUDIENCE: Good day. Ms. Brewton, you claim
to be 100% positive that Mr. Martin is not your
son's biological father because your ex-boyfriend
Mr. Richardson is. Yes, Your Honor. You say today's DNA test will allow you to get
rid of Mr. Martin and to finally reconcile
your relationship with
Mr. Richardson. Is that correct? Yes, Your Honor. Mr. Martin, you say
Ms. Brewton led you
to believe that you had fathered her
seven-month-old son, Logan. You claim Ms. Brewton kept
the baby from you in hopes that she could build a
family with Mr. Richardson, and not you. Yes, Your Honor. Today, you believe the DNA
results will prove you are
the biological father. Yes, Your Honor. Ms. Brewton, why are you
so sure Mr. Martin is not
your child's father? First of all, Logan looks
just like Anthony. They have the same
ears, eyes, nose. <i> He don't favor Mr. Martin
at all, that's why I'm sure.</i> JUDGE LAKE: <i> So, just
by looks alone.</i> BREWTON: <i> Yeah, by looks alone.</i> But, Mr. Martin, you disagree. Yes, because I know I had
unprotected sex around the
time that she conceived. She might say I didn't
have it as many a time
as she say I did, but I know, I know as a fact.
99... 99.7% that it is mine. No, no. No, Your Honor. No, Your Honor, we only
had unprotected sex twice. No. Your Honor... That's it, twice. In my apartment, twice. Your Honor, it was three
at her apartment, two at
her family member house, one at my house,
and one in the car. You know it only takes
one time, anyway? Yes, it only takes one time. Yes. JUDGE LAKE: All right.
So you say this is your
child, Mr. Martin? Yes, Your Honor. And you know that for certain? Yes, Your Honor. In the court papers you say, she led you to
believe it, at first. Yes, yes. How did she lead you
to believe that? Because she called me and
said she was pregnant, so you know I was...
I was happy and stuff. And then, like after two weeks
after she told me, she just,
like, disappeared. Ain't answer my phone calls,
ain't do nothing. Then... So, you're saying she called
you to tell you, "I'm pregnant
and you're the father," at first? Yes, yes, at first. Did you call him and say,
"I'm pregnant and you're
the father?" First of all, I called
both of 'em, because I wasn't for
sure who... You know,
who was the father <i> because I slept with
both of them around
the same time.</i> JUDGE LAKE: <i> Okay, so you do
admit his testimony is true?</i> BREWTON: <i> Yes. Yes.</i> Take me back, I want to
understand this relationship. So, how do you get to
the point where you're
in a relationship with Mr. Richardson but you're
having sex, unprotected, with
Mr. Martin? Okay, me and Mr. Richardson,
we was having our up and
downs in our relationship and so when I met
Mr. Martin, I confided to him
as a friend, and then our friendship grew
into a sexual relationship, but it wasn't nothing
more than that. Uh, my heart always
been with Anthony. So, you were always in love
with Mr. Richardson... Yes, Your Honor. ...but you ended up cheating
on him with Mr. Martin? Yes, yes. (AUDIENCE GASPING) You also did not
use protection? Correct. All right, and so you knew
you were just the go-to
guy, Mr. Martin, or did you think you
were in a relationship? Nah, I was just the go-to guy. So, you knew that? Yeah, I knew that. I really wanted me a
child at the time, so... So, I was trying to get
her pregnant, and I did
tell her that. You were trying to get
somebody pregnant... Yeah. Yeah. ...that you didn't want to
be in a relationship with? MARTIN: Yeah, but I didn't
want to be in a relationship
with her. But you were trying
to get her pregnant? Yes, Your Honor. So, you're just going
to go out and just make
a baby with anybody? No, not with anybody! That's what you're saying. But I got to get to
know you, though. Okay, but you're... (AUDIENCE CHUCKLE) You're not even in a
relationship with her. No. Nor do you want to be
in a relationship with her. No, Your Honor. But you're going to
go make a baby. You want to purposefully
make a baby with her. Yes. And how old are you? 19. JUDGE LAKE: 19 years old? (AUDIENCE GASPING) Yeah. Yeah. Mr. Martin, really? That's just irresponsible
with a capital I. (AUDIENCE APPLAUDING) Anyway, at some point you
realize you're pregnant. Yes, Ma'am. You say you called both men? Yes. Because you know... Because I knew, uh, one of them had
to be the father. All right, so when you
went to the doctor and
confirmed you were pregnant did your doctor give you
a window of conception? Did they give you a date? Yes, April the 8th. JUDGE LAKE: <i> April
the 8th, all right.</i> <i> When you were intimate
with Mr. Richardson...</i> <i> That's who you claim
is the father, right?</i> Yes, that's who I
know is the father. Do you remember when you
were intimate with him? Yes. Yes, Your Honor,
April the 7th. JUDGE LAKE: Okay,
very close to what... BREWTON: Yes, very close. So, that's Richardson. BREWTON: Mmm-hmm. Now, I have to ask you
when were you intimate
with Mr. Martin? April the 10th and April
the 11th. That's it. JUDGE LAKE: Oh, wow! So not true! So not true, so not
true, so not true. Yes, it is true! We only had sex twice! Listen, that's so not true. You're disputing those days? Yeah. Yes, yes. When do you say
you were intimate? Before the 7th. It was
like, on the 5th maybe.
That was the first time. So, you're saying you
were intimate with her
before and after this date of conception. Yeah, before... Yeah. JUDGE LAKE: Well,
let's just be certain. What she has already testified
to, puts you in the window of
conception, regardless. MARTIN: <i> Yes.</i> JUDGE LAKE: So, in many
ways, you in there. Yes, Your Honor. You are a possible
father of this child. BREWTON: I don't know
who he thinks he slept
with more than twice but it sure wasn't me.
We only had sex twice. So, at the point that you
find out you're pregnant, you call them both,
you're honest, <i> you say to both of them that
there could potentially be...</i> BREWTON: <i> I didn't tell
them about each other.</i> I just told them that
I'm pregnant and... Oh! So, you didn't tell
the other man that there
was another... I had to keep it a secret
because I was in love with
Mr. Richardson and I didn't want him to
find out about Mr. Martin. If you were so in
love with him, why was we having a
sexual relationship when you was with him? Because... That's no... That's no...
That's no way of showing love. Because me and Mr. Richardson
was having our problems, Your Honor. Obviously I was doing
something right. And I didn't feel any love and
attention from Mr. Richardson, so I got it from Mr. Martin. Okay, then. That means you wasn't
in love with him. Yes, I... Oh! You was just saying
you was in love. That doesn't mean
anything, Mr. Martin. Oh! So, who stepped up for
you during this pregnancy? Mr. Richardson. JUDGE LAKE: Really? Yes. I was trying my best
to avoid Mr. Martin because
he's very messy. Trying to break up me and
Mr. Richardson's relationship. Messy. Messy? I didn't... But when you told him he
was the potential father... Yes. <i> Wait, Mr. Martin did
you try to be there?
Were you trying to go...</i> BREWTON: <i> Yeah, he tried
but I wasn't hearing it.</i> At first. At first, she did.
I was trying to do that. But then, after them two
weeks, she just disappeared.
It was like, nothing else. Where did you go? MARTIN: She just didn't
answer the phone Well, I was just... I just wasn't answering
the phone, every time he'd come see
a family member of mine,
I wouldn't be around because I didn't want
to see him or have
nothing to do with him. I was worrying about
my pregnancy and being
with Mr. Richardson. So, you admit in court today
that you purposefully just really shut him out. Yes, I did, 'cause I didn't
want nothing to do with him. 'Cause you wanted
the relationship with
Mr. Richardson? Yes. The one I love. And after two weeks
you disappeared? Yes, I did. You just faded to black? Yes. Ms. Brewton, once
you faded to black and you admittedly cut
Mr. Martin out of the
experience of being present
during your pregnancy... Mmm. Even though you said
to him, "You are possibly
this child's father," what happens when
you give birth? Who's at the hospital? Mr. Richardson was
at the hospital. I have no idea where
Mr. Martin was, 'cause we wasn't in
contact with each other. And who signed the
birth certificate? Mr. Richardson. I didn't even let Mr. Martin
know when I had Logan. JUDGE LAKE: You didn't? No. You didn't think he had
a right to know that
the baby was coming, when it potentially
could be his? No, 'cause I wanted
Mr. Richardson to
know all of that, I didn't want Mr. Martin
to know none of that. <i> 'Cause I don't want him
to be Logan's father.</i> MARTIN: <i> Just selfish.</i> JUDGE LAKE: <i> So, you
allowed Mr. Richardson</i> to sign the birth certificate
because you think he's the
father, or because you hope
he's the father? BREWTON: <i> I think he's the
father and I'm hoping he's
the father.</i> JUDGE LAKE: <i> Both.</i> So now, he's legally
responsible for this child. Yes. When you sign a birth
certificate you are
acknowledging paternity, and you are taking
responsibility, legally,
for this child. And now you're in paternity
court with another man that says he's also
this child's father, and the reason why he believes
that is because you told him. He wants to be the father
because he wants kids so bad but Logan is not his, that's
what I want him to know. MARTIN: <i> He most definitely is.
He is.</i> BREWTON: <i> Okay.</i> Why do you think she's
denying that you are
Logan's father? I mean, I really believe
that she's trying to hurt
me deep down inside. So, is it about hurting you
or do you think it's about just keeping the relationship
with Mr. Richardson? Both. Mr. Richardson, I want
to hear from you. Please stand. Step up to the podium. Do you believe you're
Logan's father? I know. You do? I feel that way, yes. When did you realize
that there was another
man in the picture? Because she says, "I didn't
tell Mr. Richardson about
Mr. Martin "'cause I didn't
want him to know." I actually found out four
months after Logan was born. Really? Yes. So, when you're in the
hospital, you're thinking
without a doubt, "This is my child that's
being born today." Yes. And that's why you signed
the birth certificate? Yes. But it wasn't until four
months after this child
was born, you found out about
Mr. Martin? Yes. JUDGE LAKE: How'd
you find out? Well, one day we was, um,
sitting down one morning and she came out
and told me, like, "Hey, I've been sleeping with
Mr. Martin." At the time... That's not exactly how
it went, Your Honor. JUDGE LAKE: How'd it go? I had suspicions that
Mr. Richardson cheatin' on me, and so, when I felt
like he was hurting me, I decided to hurt him,
to get back at him. So, that's when I came
and told him that it's a possibility that
Mr. Martin is Logan's father. No, you had suspicions of me
because of things that you do. Ms. Brewton, you playing these
men like a game of chess. (AUDIENCE APPLAUDING) So, once you hear that,
Mr. Richardson, what
was your response? It really tore me up,
you know, because I've
been with her, you know, throughout that pregnancy,
you know, been there, signed the birth certificate
and everything, you know? <i> Held him in my arms, you know,
doing what I know the right
thing to do for a child</i> <i> that I know that's mine.
I mean, he looks just like me.</i> <i> His eyes, his head.</i> <i> I know that's my son.
He looks just like me.</i> MARTIN: <i> Look at that head.</i> RICHARDSON: <i> You can't deny it.</i> Just like my family member
when he was born. BREWTON: What family
member, Mr. Martin? My baby pictures and him. JUDGE LAKE: Let's
just be frank. Let's just call
it like it is. The point, a woman says
to you, "I was intimate
with another man "during the time
I conceived Logan, "I did it. "He could potentially be
the father of this child." Doesn't some doubt set in,
have you ever just said to
yourself, "This may not be my child?" Yes, it did. But more so,
he is my child. BREWTON: Yeah,
he is your child. JUDGE LAKE: Well, under the
law he most certainly is, 'cause you signed
the birth certificate. Yes, that's right. BREWTON: Even if he didn't
sign the birth certificate, Logan is still
Mr. Richardson's son because I know for a fact. I just know. You don't know. Yes, I do. But Mr. Martin is
standing here saying that Logan looks like him and
one of his family members. BREWTON: <i> Honestly, Your Honor,
do Logan look anything like
Mr. Martin?</i> Look at that lip.
That bottom lip. He got my lip. Look at that bottom lip. Those are my lips! That's me right there.
That's my son right there. JUDGE LAKE: Ms. Brewton... I completely understand how
you want to stand in court
today, and just say, "I am positive that this is
Mr. Richardson's child." Because you've made
it clear... Yes. ...that you don't want
to be with Mr. Martin. You never have, you've
always wanted to be
with Mr. Richardson, 'cause that's the
man you love. Yes, Your Honor. And you purposefully
cut him out. Yes. But there's this little
smirk you doing, and this little smile... I'm hoping it's out
of nervousness and not out of your
failure to appreciate the severity of
this situation. Because ultimately... (AUDIENCE APPLAUDING) This is really your fault. And look, everything that
has happened here today is a product of
your intention. You didn't just slip on a
banana peel and end up in
the bed with Mr. Martin, by accident! BREWTON: Your Honor. You're saying all of this is
purp... It's purposeful. And that disturbs me. Well, Your Honor, I'm human...
So, I'm gonna make mistakes. Look, when I see you
kind of smirking and
laughing, it, it... It irks me. Because... I only do that because
Mr. Martin says he's
the father. That's the only reason why. But Ms. Brewton! Of course Mr. Martin
thinks he's the father, you told him. You told him he was. Yeah, I told him but when Logan came, Logan don't look nothing
like Mr. Martin. So, I know it's
Mr. Richardson's son. And now you're here and you're
saying you're 100% positive. Yes, I'm 100% positive. MARTIN: She ain't 100%. That Mr. Richardson... You just want to mess up our family, Mr. Martin. I could care less about
her relationship. Yes, you do. I just wish you would
just back up. I got my own relationship. (ALL TALKING AT ONCE) JUDGE LAKE:
Let me understand this. Are you annoyed by him
because he thinks
he's the father, or are you annoyed by him
because you think he's
trying to break up you and Mr. Richardson? Both! Both. I'm annoyed by him because
he thinks he's the father, I'm annoyed by him because
he's trying to break up what
me and Anthony got. MARTIN: <i> I know that's
my son. We'll see.</i> BREWTON: <i> Okay. All right.</i> RICHARDSON: <i> Ain't no way.</i> All right, I think it's
time for the results. I'm done with this. (AUDIENCE APPLAUDING) RICHARDSON: Ain't no way.
That's my son. Thank you, Jerome. You're welcome. Mr. Richardson, I have
to ask you this. If he's not your
biological child, are you going to stay
in the relationship
and try to make it work? Right now, I really
can't answer that. You know. Really? Really? I really can't. Because we have to sit
down and really... It's... You see that, Ms. Brewton? You know, really
have to... Doesn't feel too good to be
caught off guard, does it? No, and... No, it doesn't, but... 'Cause you didn't
expect that answer. (AUDIENCE APPLAUDING) JUDGE LAKE: You didn't
expect that answer. No, I didn't, Your Honor. I know. I could see
it in your eyes. All right, these results were
prepared by DNA Diagnostics
and they read as follows. In the case of<i>
Brewton v. Martin,</i> as it pertains to
7-month-old
Logan Richardson, and as to whether
Mr. Richardson or Mr. Martin is the biological father... (AUDIENCE APPLAUDING) It has been determined
by this court, Mr. Richardson... You are not the father. (GASPS) What? JUDGE LAKE: Mr. Martin... Yes! I told you.
I told you. ...you are the father. I told you.
I told you. I knew what it was. No, no. That is
not possible. That is not possible. I knew it. That is not possible. I knew this. I knew this. Uh-uh. I want a re-test. Your Honor, my case is rest. JUDGE LAKE: Mr. Martin,
you are the father. No. No. That is not possible. (STUTTERING) We need... He don't look nothing
like him so how is
he the father? Ms. Brewton, I realize
you thought you were
playing a game of chess but the DNA is not a game. JUDGE LAKE: You cannot... You may be able to
manipulate a man, or two men, but the DNA
does not lie, sweetheart. Mr. Martin is your child's
biological father. That's my son. And, Mr. Richardson, I have
to say I'm very sorry because I knew you did
not see that coming. No, I didn't. I'm very sorry. Mr. Martin, I have to say
to you, congratulations, because I know you truly
wanted this child to be yours. And baby Logan is in fact
your biological child. (SIGHS) (GRUNTS) BREWTON: I don't believe that. You don't want
to believe it. MARTIN: That's all it is. You played the game so hard
you played yourself, baby. RICHARDSON: Can't
believe this, man. (SOBS) I can't
believe this, man. I don't know what to say. There's nothing
you can say. MARTIN: I'm overjoyed
right now. Because at the end of the day,
You played the game so hard
you played yourself. But you played
your child, too. Mr. Richardson,
are you all right? (SOBBING) No, I'm not all right.
Not at the moment, no. It's just really hard
for me right now. Mr. Martin, I have
to ask you, have you ever even
met baby Logan? No, Your Honor. Is it okay if Mr. Martin
meets his child? Yes, Your Honor. JUDGE LAKE: Thank you. (AUDIENCE APPLAUDS) (SNIFFLES) I'm going to meet you
all in my chambers. Court is adjourned.
