Mr. Williams, you claim four years ago you
had a one night stand with the defendant Miss Davis and today you're here
to prove you didn't father her three-year-old
son, Charles. Is that correct? That's correct, Your Honor. Additionally, you
are suing Miss. Davis for a conversion you claim she sold your 1994
Pontiac Firebird valued at $2,500, without your permission. That's correct. Miss. Davis you are
certain Mr. Williams is the father and claim he's denying your son
to get out of his
responsibility? Yes, Your Honor. All right, Mr. Williams, so why did you wait so
long to get a DNA test? I just found out about
three months ago. JUDGE LAKE: This child
is three-years-old? Yes. And you just found
out three months ago that you potentially could
be this child's father? Yes, Your Honor. Explain. I met Miss. Davis, uh... About four years ago. Uh, in a party. Uh, party atmosphere
and everything. We partied. Ended up, uh...
Spending the night
together that night. So it's in your mind
a one night stand? Yes, Your Honor. Okay. Did you use protection? Um, because I
was inebriated I... And that was four years ago.
I'm not positive that I did
use protection. All right. Miss. Davis... I need you to take me
back to this night and
get to how this man is just finding out
about this baby three
months ago. Okay. At the time I was
in a relationship, so... I was for certain that
my boyfriend wasn't my
child's father. How did you get to the point
where you got a boyfriend but
you had this party and having a one night
stand with Mr. Williams? We was broken up
but we wasn't... We was split it for
a couple of days. JUDGE LAKE: Okay. And I was just mingling. And that's when
I met Mr. Williams. It's always on
the break, Ron. Always the break. (ALL LAUGHING) How are you
so certain he
is the father? DAVIS:<i> Um, for one, um...</i> WILLIAMS:<i> She's not.</i> (ALL LAUGHING) Can I, uh, submit this? JUDGE LAKE: Yes, you may. I noticed that he was a... Ron, will you hand me
that evidence, please? He's a junior, but he's, um, his birth father didn't
sign the birth certificate. So that right there gave
me a lot of suspicion. DAVIS: Because... The man was not for certain that he was my son's father. Okay. So he did...
He refused because
he had doubts? Yes. Yes. As to whether or not he was
truly the biological father? <i> But you named him
after him anyway?</i> <i> Yes.</i> That's why am so suspicious
about it because... I can only do so
much as far as stepping up as
far as being a... Proactive as an alleged, uh, baby daddy. You
know what I mean, like... What else can I do if
I'm already going to work, I'm already spending
time with him. I've already
relocated states because of, you know,
the situation. JUDGE LAKE: All right.
Let me... Get my calendar so I
can understand this. So, when was, uh... Charles Jr. born? DAVIS: June 1st, 2013. Okay. Now... When did you say you had intimate relationships with the plaintiff? When was
that one night stand with
Mr. Williams? Around the end of
September going in
to October. The end of September
going in to October. So, this is Mr... Williams. All right. Now... Anybody else. That's
what I need to ask. Uh, yes, there
was another man. (AUDIENCE EXCLAIMS) There was? Yes. So there was another man that
you had sex with as well? Yes. During the window
of conception? Yes. When was that? DAVIS:<i> Um, the beginning
of September.</i> JUDGE LAKE:<i> So,
this calendar is full.</i> (AUDIENCE LAUGHING) Before I go further... Is there anyone else
besides the other man? No, Your Honor. Three... WILLIAMS: Your Honor... It would have to
be at least... It would have to be
at least, three or
four other people that she was intimate with during that time. During
that window of conception. Why do you say that? She's accusing me of
being the father of
her son. He's named after another man. Gentleman. Um... He doesn't
respond to that name. Um, in the few months
that I've known about him, I've spent time with him, um, taking him out to
play and all of this.
He doesn't respond to... To the name that
he's been given. He responds to the three
different other names.
She calls me another name. What? That's what I mean... There's so much
confusion in there. It has to be more than just, "Okay, that two.
That was three people." So you named your son
after the boyfriend you were on break from? DAVIS: Yes. JUDGE LAKE: So, okay. WILLIAMS: And I mean... So am not trying to pin
nothing on Mr. Williams. However, I just wanna,
you know, figure out
the situation... You need to know
for your child. Yes, Your Honor. Yes, you do. And he deserves to know. Yes. The thing about it
is, Your Honor... When I found out, I was
living in, uh, Minnesota. I was living in
a completely different
state. We're from the mid-west. And so whenever I
found out, I told her, um, okay, don't stress too
much about it. I don't live in
that state anymore. But this is serious enough
for me to come there and to get things situated. JUDGE LAKE: Okay. This woman is accusing me of being her child's father. If am going back
and forth to work since I've known, and am taking her to
doctor's appointments. Am taking her to
meet her lawyers. Am taking her to get
food for the house. Am taking him
around my family within three months
of knowing this. And then, while
am at work... You think he's not yours. While am doing all of this... My car breaks down
in front of her house. I asked for permission to
park my car in the back until I can get the part
at the end of the week
when I get my paycheck. So I got my paycheck... And you know am ready
to go get my car 'cause I've got other
business to take care of. And, my car's gone. Nobody knows where
it's at. Nobody knows
what happened to it. And... But I know
someone does because I have...
Could I present this? Yes, you may. Ron,
hand me that evidence. What is it you're
presenting, sir? I'm presenting
the Bluebird value
of my car and also my insurance. Um... And the title showing
that my car was insured. Um, the car belonged
to me and only me... JUDGE LAKE:<i> So, what happened
to the car, Miss Davis?</i> DAVIS:<i> I don't know
anything about a car.</i> I don't know. So you don't remember the car
being in front of your house? No. I don't. JUDGE LAKE: She says
she doesn't remember a car in front of her house. I don't. You don't have... Evidence I saw his car. He don't have no kind
of proof that I didn't... Did you ever
ride in the car? Yeah. Mmm-hmm. So you knew which car it was? And then the next thing
you know, it was gone? JUDGE LAKE: He's saying,
you sold it. You're saying,
you did not sell it. Mmm-hmm. Someone's saying,
it was stolen, but no one reported
it stolen. So, am saying this
don't make sense. If you're accusing me of
being your child's father, why would you have...
Show no... Sympathy. No remorse.
Not even any concern. That my only means
of transportation where I can do something
for my alleged son... Okay. But... Okay, so... (AUDIENCE APPLAUDING) Okay. I did that,
Your Honor. But, why would
Mr. Williams feel like he can just come
into my son's life and then just disappear
when he want to. If you felt like
this wasn't your son I feel you shouldn't
even came around until we got everything
established. Where did he disappear
when he wanted to? When Miss. Bryant... Had to take me back
and forth to work because she sold my car. And a whole girlfriend that don't have
anything to do with... Okay. All right. So
now we're getting down
to the nitty gritty. So... You... Got annoyed because when you
called him and said you
potentially have a child... DAVIS: Yes. He showed up to try to
be in the child's life? Yes, he did. But he showed up
with company? Right. But he was stayin'
in my mother's house every day with me and my son. So if, me... Personally if you feel
like you're not, uh... Father of the child,
why are you around? Why not? That doesn't make sense. (SPEAKING SIMULTANEOUSLY) Why not? If you knew you're gonna
have a DNA test result why would you
even play father or a role of a child that
you feel not yours? JUDGE LAKE: Okay, hold on now. I'm not understanding why you are so
angry with him? 'Cause let's be honest... No, let's be honest, though. The child's three-years-old. This man, in my
estimation has done a lot. A lot more than
some men I've seen. (AUDIENCE APPLAUDING) DAVIS: See, I understand that. To potentially be a part
of this child's life. The mere fact that the car
broke down in front of your
mother's house is evidence to me and you
both testified to that... Is evidence to me he
was coming over there. DAVIS: Mmm-hmm. Now you're saying he
was staying over there. Yes. Got it. So, what's wrong with that? WILLIAMS: With her boyfriend. She had a boyfriend at
the time living there. While I was there. I wanna hear from
your witness, sir. I need to understand
this full story. Ma'am, please stand
and step up to the
podium. State your name
for the court. Uh, yes, ma'am. Laquanta Bryant. Miss. Bryant, uh, you are
Mr. Williams' girlfriend? Yes, ma'am. Current girlfriend? Yes, ma'am. All right. So... Do you or do not believe this is Mr. Williams' son? BRYANT: I don't believe it. You don't believe it? I don't believe it. Because they had took a test. A home kit test, that was supposed to be back in two days. Mrs. Davis told us it takes two and a half weeks
to get the test back. But on the box it
says, two days. She finally said she
got the test back two and a half...
Two and a half weeks
later. Come back... Come on
over here. Come and get it. We're expecting to come
over there and get a paper
saying, hey, this is your son, for
Mr. Eddie Williams. She gives a...
Gives us a phony email address that is not even registered at all. When we put it in there,
it says, "No account found." So there's no account
under that name. So we called her back. She kinda has an attitude,
where I don't know what to
tell you... That's it... That's
what I tell you...
You know, this... Kinda silly acting. Instead of...
To me, if you are for sure that that is... Mr. Williams' son and ain't nothing to
say. Here you go. Here you go. I would
have printed it out
myself. I will give you my...
My personal information. JUDGE LAKE: So you're
saying, she gave you account information? BRYANT: Account information. But, for what? To get the results that she was given. Correct. So the account
information you got it, so it was what?
An email address? Yes. And a password? And a password.
It's a phony. JUDGE LAKE: That was phony? WILLIAMS: That didn't exist. Whoo. What are you holding? What is this evidence
you're holding? I have evidence. JUDGE LAKE: Ron, can you
get that for me, please? I apologize.
It's really... Sad. Because this,
like I'm givin' it to you... It's just sad that
you've been here... You're in a relationship
with him, but as seeing you
being a woman and providing
a $44.50 for
DNA test... You sold his car! That he... You've got $44.50
how many times? How many times can $44.50... I never had it... ...go into $2,000. I still have it. But
the agreement was... He should have provided
the $44.50 for the test. Come on, now. Well, he didn't. All right. Let's get
some order, ladies. Let's get some order. So, Miss. Bryant, (BRYANT MUMBLING) Miss. Bryant, hold on.
I wanna understand your
testimony. You get this email
and password. I see this here there's
an email address... 'Cause I never even... My point exactly.
My point exactly. ...turned the test in. JUDGE LAKE: Oh, wait a minute. Oh, you didn't turn it in? Wow. Wow. JUDGE LAKE: Wait a minute. Miss. Davis, you said what? I never turned the test in. That is sad. But she's ready... She's ready to put
me on child support. And she wonder why... How am I ready to put
you on child support and I can't even... JUDGE LAKE: Miss. Davis, wait a minute. So why... Miss. Davis, so why go
through the whole trouble of giving them this email
address and this password if you never
turned the test in? So the whole story
about you getting the results via
email was a lie? It wasn't a lie. It... WILLIAMS: It just
wasn't the truth. Mr. Williams... Mr. Williams knew he
had to pay the $44.50... No. We're not talking
about the $44.50. Okay. We're talking about...
We're talking about the results. Okay. Did you... Did you tell them that you had a result? Yeah. I did. Okay. Like I said, Your Honor,
I know for a fact that he's not my son. He's not my child. DAVIS: Are you for sure? So, was you or was
you not born with
an extra finger? Was you or was you not? I know I wasn't born with you. See... I'm not going... Was you or was
you not born with
an extra finger? Okay. All right. Listen.
I wanna understand all
the testimony before I move on to
the next set of proofs. I just wanna understand from what you're
saying, Miss. Bryant, is when you got this email
address and this password and you logged on. It what? It wasn't even
an account. It wasn't an account.
It was a phony account. No... And now we understand why she gave you a phony account and I can see you
are getting very upset. Right. Yes. But, she's admitted that she never
turned the test in. So she couldn't give you a real account 'cause there was no test done. That's why we called you. Now, Miss. Davis, you
started talking about some physical proof. Yes. My son was born with
two extra fingers and I have evidence of
the nubs of everything... Of my child. May I give that to you? Yes. Please. Ron, let me see
Miss. Davis' evidence. Here you go. Thank you. So your child is born
with what they call a sixth finger. Which really
looks like a little bump <i> on the side of his hand.</i> DAVIS:<i> Right.</i> <i> Because when he
was three weeks,</i> <i> oh, the doctor
puts some little,</i> <i> um, strings around it
and they fell off.</i> <i> Yes.</i> So, my baby was
born with each one on each finger, and, Mr. Williams have
one on his left hand. JUDGE LAKE: So in your mind that furthered your belief that Mr. Williams is your
child's biological father? Yes, Your Honor. It did. I mean, I will acknowledge
the birth traits but my mother
doesn't have those. My father doesn't
have those. So, that's no proof
that that's my son. I can't say I got this,
my dad must have it or my mother must have one. Neither one of my
parents have those. So that doesn't
prove anything. Okay. As for this
conversion claim, Mr. Williams, I have
listened to the testimony. Cars just don't disappear. But I have not
heard any proof. WILLIAMS: Mmm-hmm. That she actually sold it. I have listened. I've listened
to her. I've listened to you. Mmm-hmm. I don't know what
happened to the car. But unfortunately, you have
not presented enough evidence
to this court to prove that she was responsible
for its disappearance or it being sold. So for that reason,
I have to dismiss
your suit. That's all right. All right? Moving on. Ron? Yes, ma'am. I'm ready for the results. Here you go, Judge. Thank you. These results were
prepared by DNA
Diagnostics and they read as follows. In the case of<i>
Williams v. Davis,</i> when it comes to
three-year-old Charles... JUDGE LAKE: It has been
determined by this court, Mr. Williams, you... Are the father. BRYANT: Wow. (DAVIS LAUGHS) (CLAPPING AND LAUGHING) BRYANT: Wow. JUDGE LAKE: Yeah, uh,
are those... Is that joy? Yes, it is! Yes, it is, ma'am. Okay. Yes. Yes. Yes,
Your Honor. It is. Okay. Because I'm... (LAUGHS) No, I just wanna make
sure that we don't
do clowning. 'Cause I'm
responsible enough... But is that joy... That it is finally out? DAVIS: Yes, it is. Good luck, girl. Yes. Yes. Yes. It is.
Thank you so much. I really appreciate it. BRYANT: Wow. And I'm very happy. Thank you so much. Mr. Williams,
how do you feel? I'm, uh... I'm a little irritated because now I have another... Another child to deal
with for 18 years. And am not talking about Charles, my son. But, am excited because me and my son do have
a connection already. So... More about her
happiness is gonna
be his... His future and that's
what am focused on. (AUDIENCE APPLAUDING) JUDGE LAKE: Good. JUDGE LAKE:
Ms. Brown, you're here today, suing your mother for $2,200
for emotional distress, you say, she's caused you by not knowing
who your biological father is. Yes, Your Honor. JUDGE LAKE: Now, the court has
located one possible father and must determine if there is enough evidence
to order a paternity test. Ms. Brown Overstreet, you admit to making mistakes
as a mother, but claim you shouldn't be held
accountable in court for your daughter's pain. Yes, Your Honor. JUDGE LAKE: You hope there's
enough evidence
presented today to prove that the man
in court today is your daughter's
biological father. Yes, Your Honor. JUDGE LAKE: So, Ms. Brown, how does it feel
to be suing your mother? Not as bad as
it felt growing up. JUDGE LAKE: Okay. Like... JUDGE LAKE: We want the truth
in this courtroom. SHANTIA BROWN:
My mom was not... She wasn't there as much
as she should have been there. I asked her
on several occasions, "Do you know
who my father could be?" My mama just said,
"I don't know. "I don't know."
Every time I asked her was, "I don't know, I don't know." She gave me... Actually,
I have a list of men. It's about six or seven guys. JUDGE LAKE: Sixty-seven? About six or seven. I said, wait a minute, now. (AUDIENCE LAUGHING) Okay, Jerome, please
hand me this list. Thank you. JEROME: You're welcome. So, she gave you
six or seven names... SHANTIA BROWN:
Yes, Your Honor. JUDGE LAKE: Of possible
fathers. Yes, Your Honor. Are they ranked
in order of probability? No, ma'am, they're not,
Your Honor. SHANTIA BROWN: One of 'em,
we had to do a DNA test. And it turns out
he wasn't my father. JUDGE LAKE: And is he listed
on this? Yes, ma'am... JUDGE LAKE: Which one is he? He's the first one. The man in the navy? SHANTIA BROWN: Yes. Lee? SHANTIA BROWN: Yes,
Your Honor. Not the father,
proven by a DNA test. SHANTIA BROWN:
Yes, Your honor. So... The man, Clifton Smith,
who's in our court today, has not been tested yet? SHANTIA BROWN: No, Your Honor. I never knew
who could be my father. I didn't know who he could be,
I didn't know who he was. I was in and out
of foster care, on three
different occasions. Foster care wasn't so good. You know, I had four brothers
and a sister. I didn't know where they were,
they got split up, too. SHANTIA BROWN: My grandmother
got us back. She got sick. I had missed three months
of school. Got kicked out. I was in alternative school,
I got kicked out because my grandma got sick
and I had to take care of her. (AUDIENCE SYMPATHIZING) And so, what level of school
did you finish, hon. Ninth grade. You went to the ninth grade. Yes, ma'am. Then you had to take care
of your grandmother? Yes, ma'am. And take care of my brothers. JUDGE LAKE:
Ms. Brown Overstreet, how does it feel
to hear your daughter speak with such pain
in her heart? I mean, it's difficult
to even say to another mother, but, that your daughter
blames you. I feel like
my daughter hates me because of the fact
that I wasn't always there. And I didn't have a handbook
on how to be a parent. I had my kids young, and it was six,
I have six of them. So it wasn't like
it was just one child, I had a hard time
trying to be a mother. I didn't know
how to raise my kids. And when I lost
custody of them I tried my best
to get them back, and I... YOLINDA OVERSTREET: And I
kind of gave up on myself. I can admit that I was young
and I was wild. And I was kind of promiscuous so I did not know
who her father was. Did you approach
any of those men and say, "I'm pregnant, and I think
you're the father," JUDGE LAKE: or you just left
them all alone? I just left them all alone. So, Ms. Brown,
please tell the court. What was life like
without a father? Growing up without
a father in your life. Your Honor, it was hard. I mean, I can barely
sit up and describe how hard my life has been. Not only without a father,
without my mom. Um... I remember,
I was about six or seven, I had my oldest brother, he was about three years
older than me. He taught me
how to ride a bike. He taught me
how to tie my shoe. How to spell. He taught me, basically,
everything I know. And I admit, she did
a little of some of what she was supposed to. But I guess she thought
that giving me money would erase
all the past memories that I had because of her. She used to give me
money all the time. Money, money don't pay for... SHANTIA BROWN:
Money is not gonna pay for
what I went through. I was tormented as a child. You say you were tormented. SHANTIA BROWN: Tormented. Living without your father... SHANTIA BROWN:
Yes, yes, Your Honor. JUDGE LAKE: And your mother. SHANTIA BROWN: Yes,
Your Honor. You say, she's caused you
extreme emotional distress. SHANTIA BROWN:
Yes, Your Honor. Tell your mother how you feel. I feel like it's a possibility that my life
could have been better if I knew who my dad was. And maybe... And maybe,
he could have saved me from everything that happened. And maybe, I would have
never went to foster care. I'm sorry. I never... If he had been in my life. I never meant for that
to happen to you. But I gave up on myself, so I didn't even know
what you were going through. Well, when you have kids, sometimes you have to
give up on yourself to do for your children. (AUDIENCE APPLAUDING) I understand that, I'm sorry. Did you hear your
mother say she was sorry? Yes, Your Honor. JUDGE LAKE:
Do you believe that she is? Somewhat, I do. I said, wait a minute, now. (AUDIENCE LAUGHING) So, when you heard
about Mr. Smith. Yes, Your Honor. JUDGE LAKE: Take me to
that day, when you
found out about him. Your Honor, I was working
in my hometown. And this guy just show up. And I'm...
He was staring at me. I'm like, "Who is this guy?" <i> When I went and
got to my managers desk,
is when he tells me,</i> <i> "Oh, hey, I'm your dad.
You're my daughter."</i> <i> JUDGE LAKE: Um-huh.</i> <i> So, I ask my ma,
when I get off work,</i> I say, "It's this guy
that came up to my job." "Mr. Smith" I told her his name, she said, "Oh, yeah, that might be... SHANTIA BROWN: "There's a
possibility that
he is your dad." Now, I'm 18 now,
I'm grown. Out of all these years, why is he trying
to come into my life now? Why are you just now telling me that
it's a possibility that he could be my father? JUDGE LAKE: So, were you angry
with your mother, <i> that she hadn't ever
mentioned Mr. Smith's name?</i> Or were you angry
with Mr. Smith for trying to come
and find you after all these years? Or both? I was mad with both of them. JUDGE LAKE: Well, he's here
today, I'd like to
hear from him. Jerome, please escort
Mr. Smith into the courtroom. (DIRECTING MR. SMITH) Hello, Mr. Smith. MR. SMITH: How are
you doing? Thank you for
joining us today. Please, tell the court about the first day
you met Ms. Brown. MR. SMITH:
We go back a long time. So, when I called her, she was like that she was trying to find
the father of our daughter. I said, "Wouldn't it be funny
if I was the father?" She was like, "Oh, yeah,
I forgot all about you." I'm like,
"She forgot all about me?" MR. SMITH: Then I was adding
up the days. If I have a child out there,
I want to know. So, when I pulled up, I get out of the car
and my cousin pointed her out so I was looking at her. And... So she came up and I said
something to her first. And she was smiling at me like I was trying to flirt
with her or something. So, I'm like, "Whoa, whoa,
hold up here, "I might be your father,
you busy trying to
flirt with me?" JUDGE LAKE: Right. MR. SMITH: You know,
cut it out, right there. So when I told...
As soon as I told her that, her expression just changed. I mean, smile just wiped
off her face, now I'm getting daggers
thrown at me. MR. SMITH: Now, I told her, I'm gonna see her tonight,
that this ain't over. And you are hopeful,
you truly are hopeful... MR. SMITH: I'm... I love her already. (JUDGE LAKE AND AUDIENCE
SYMPATHIZING) MR. SMITH: You know,
that's my big knuckle head,
I want her in my life. And I'm sorry
that I wasn't there, but it wasn't my fault,
you know. And I was listening to what she was saying,
what she went through.
(CRYING) And it bothered me
'cause I wasn't her father
to take care of her, to do what I needed to do. So... That bothers me a lot. You know, if she's my child,
I should have been there. No child should be without
their parent, you know. And it... It... It bothers me. (AUDIENCE APPLAUDING) Mm... It was a fling, when I
got with her that summer. MR. SMITH: And she had a
boyfriend at the time,
you know, we got together,
it was more than once. And I went back home
for the summer. I came back
for the winter vacation. And I saw her, and I'm like, "Wow, you look
a little fat there." She says to me... MR. SMITH: She said,
"I ain't fat, I'm pregnant." The next thing that came out
of my mouth was,
"Who's the father?" She said, "Don't worry
about it, it ain't you." So she told you
it was not you. MR. SMITH: That's it. So that's why I didn't
think nothing of it
no more, you know... I really didn't. Because, like I said, I tried to stand up
right then and there. MR. SMITH: I did what I did, and I had to be a man
about this whole thing and take care
of my responsibility. And that's why I'm here.
You know, to take care
of what's mine, that's all. Good, that's good to hear. (AUDIENCE APPLAUDING) You stated in your
court papers though, that you have reason
to have doubt. And you just stated
in court today, that she had a boyfriend during the time
you slept with her. Oh, yes. Okay, my reason is when I was 10 years old,
I hurt myself really bad. I got the picture evidence
to show you. Hurt myself really bad. JUDGE LAKE: What happened? Well, you know
what a folding couch is?
A couch that turns into a bed? JUDGE LAKE: Yes. Well, I was folding it
back into a couch, my underwear
got hooked on a spring and I yanked it but it
went in a lot more and my underwear just
ripped everything open. (AUDIENCE SIGHING) Goodness. MR. SMITH: I got... Let me see that evidence,
Jerome. I didn't remember him. That was the problem. It was horrible, so I didn't remember even
having sex with him, so... It wasn't my fault
that I didn't remember. He probably remembered it,
but I didn't remember it. JUDGE LAKE: Okay. Wow. MR. SMITH: Okay. This is a photo
of your genitalia. MR. SMITH: God, Your Honor! (AUDIENCE LAUGHING) MR. SMITH: Your Honor! YOLINDA OVERSTREET:
I know, that's funny. JUDGE LAKE:
And your concern is that you're unable
to have children because of this injury. That's what the doctor
told me, is when I get older
I might not be able to. So... So you were told
by a medical professional you may not
be able to have children. They said may not,
it's not 100%... JUDGE LAKE: May. To me. Exactly. What we need to do
is to determine whether or not a paternity
test needs to be ordered, in light of this evidence
regarding your injury. So the court has asked
a medical expert to come and share
some light on this. Jerome, will you please escort
Dr. Gater into the courtroom. JUDGE LAKE: Dr. Gater is from
the Rise Men's Medical Clinic. Go up on the witness stand. JUDGE LAKE: And she's a board certified family medical
physician. Hi, Dr. Gater. DR. GATER: Hi. Thank you so much
for being with us. So, you've reviewed
the evidence in this case. Yes. Mr. Smith contends
that he had a serious injury, JUDGE LAKE: and a doctor
told him he may not be able to have
children because of this. We are trying to determine whether it's even appropriate
to order a DNA test. Can you shed light on
the likelihood and the injury? I believe I can. It's absolutely possible
in my opinion for Mr. Smith, or someone
with a testicular injury such as him to father a child. DR. GATER: Nature often gives
us two of what's important. And here's why. On average, a man releases anywhere
between 50 million and a billion sperm at a time. So if one testicle
isn't functioning, you can cut that number
in half to, say, 25 million. Fertility doesn't
become an issue until that number
drops below 10 million. So based on the numbers, it's definitely possible for someone
with a testicular injury, to still father a child. As long as the swimmers
are normal and healthy. (AUDIENCE APPLAUDING) All right. So, in this case,
you therefore could potentially be Ms. Brown's father. And for this reason, the court is going
to order a DNA test. And order you
to submit to that test. So we can get this young woman
the answer she deserves. Jerome, please escort them
out of the courtroom. (AUDIENCE APPLAUDING) They're gonna head
to the lab, immediately. Court is adjourned,
I'll see you back here. JUDGE LAKE:
We're back in session, in the case of<i>
Brown v. Brown Overstreet.</i> Welcome back, everyone. So you've submitted
to the DNA test, am I correct? MR. SMITH: Yes. SHANTIA BROWN: Yes. And I have the results here
for you today. Before I get to those results
I have to ask you, what your hopes are for today? Ms. Brown? I hope that when I leave here, I have answers to what I have been trying to
find answers to my whole life. I also hope that I can get
back into a GED program or any kind of
program to help me
get my diploma or even my GED. And I also... (AUDIENCE APPLAUDING) I also hope
to get a better communication, you know, between me
and my mom. JUDGE LAKE: All right. Jerome, the results please. These results were prepared
by DNA Diagnostics, and they read as follows. Your Honor,
could I hold her hand. Could I go... JUDGE LAKE: Absolutely. Thank you. (SOFTLY) Let me come over
here with you. (AUDIENCE APPLAUDING) In the case of<i>
Brown v. Brown Overstreet.</i> When it comes to 22-year-old Shantia Brown. It has been determined
by this court... When it comes to 22-year-old Shantia Brown. It has been
determined by this court, Mr. Smith, you... Are not Shantia's father. (AUDIENCE EXPRESSING SADNESS) JUDGE LAKE: I'm sorry. Ms. Brown, you okay? MS. BROWN: Um-hm. Yes, Your Honor. Yes, Your Honor. How about you, Mr. Smith,
I know you had hopes. Yeah, it's all right,
I still love her, it's cool. She's still my baby, right? You know I love you. JUDGE LAKE: It's difficult
sometimes, when you wanna give people
the result they wanna hear. That would seem to wipe away
all the pain of the past and everything
that they've been through. JUDGE LAKE: And yet,
I'm unable to do so,
because the truth is absolute. That's what it is. Ms. Brown, as hurt as
I know you are, and as hurt
as I know you've been, I don't see any intention
on the part of your mother to cause you
emotional distress. Nor have you proven
to the court that you've suffered any real physical damage
because of this. I truly believe she may not, in fact, know
who your father is. And for that reason
I have to deny your claim. Judgment for the defendant. Miss Martin, you say
that the father of
your four kids treats your newborn baby
like an evil stepchild. Yes, Your Honor. Because he doubts paternity? Yes, Your Honor. Furthermore, you claim that
his behavior has forced you
to take the kids and leave him. Yes, Your Honor. You're asking the court
to award you $3,100 for the next six months
of child care expenses. Yes, Your Honor. I should be paid. All right, Mr. Blackman. You argue that Miss Martin
has confessed to cheating with another man
and it has left you unsure which of you fathered
your youngest child. Yes, Your Honor. JUDGE LAKE: Now, Miss Martin's
lover has also been tested <i> and we will meet him
in a moment.</i> RAYAL: <i> You said her lover?</i> Miss Martin's lover. Your lover? That's what he was
at the time. All right, so, Miss Martin,
when did your relationship with Mr. Blackman start
to go downhill? When I stopped feeling
loved and appreciated,
like... We have five kids together. Six, with his daughter,
is also my stepchild. I just never felt loved,
appreciated. He always called me fat,
you know, "You lazy,
you nasty, "you don't do this,
you don't do that." But how can I when I got a man
saying all these things to me? I only say what I see. You expect to come home... I only see what
I come home to. Hold on, now. You expect to come home
to a cooked meal and
all of this and... Sometimes. I never even got
a back rub. I... I... I carried and beared
three... Four children
for you. You never got a... That's
the only way I would get some
is to give you a back rub! Exactly. So, what type
of man are you though? Don't say that. What type of man
does that make you? Don't say that. Okay. Well, what about when I get
tired of coming home, seeing you with nasty
feet hanging off the couch? The kids running up to me
telling me they're hungry... Oh, Mr. Blackman, really? He would feel... Yes, yes. When you got all these kids,
a pedicure is the last thing
on your list. (JUNENE SCOFFS) (AUDIENCE LAUGHS) Now, you're
in this because... I gave him an ultimatum,
I was ready to get married. I felt, like,
after six years, why're you not ready?
That's because you're
exploring your options. Maybe you're looking
for something better,
I don't know, but if that's the case,
then let me go. JUDGE LAKE: So you left? Yes, and he begged me to come back
and now he wants to
get married. I asked you to come back
because it was around
Christmas time and I ain't never spent
a Christmas away
from my children. I didn't beg you
to do nothing. He could have had
his kids without me. So you left and while you were gone,
you met... I met Treandos. All right.
Mr. Stevenson? Yes. JUDGE LAKE: <i> Tell me
about that relationship.</i> JUNENE: <i> I met him,
we got drunk, we had sex.</i> And I liked it and
he made me feel good. Better than he made
me feel ever. JUDGE LAKE: So, you were with
him for about three months? Mmm-hmm. Now, did you feel guilty?
Did you miss home? I didn't feel guilty
because he did a lot. He cheated.
He's no saint. I didn't claim
to be no saint. But we got past that. I was faithful to him. We were trying to build
a life together that
you claim... He thought that we got past it
but I was still dealing with
a lot of hurt and pain. I wanted to make it
work for my kids. You see, Your Honor, she
only wanted to make it work
for her kids, not for me. That means she couldn't... You wasn't trying to
make it work for me. So, you were in
an intimate relationship
with Mr. Stevenson? Yes, Your Honor. Did you go back
to Mr. Blackman? RAYAL: Yes, she came back. Yes, I did. Um... JUDGE LAKE:
Why did you go back? Because I loved him. I was not in love with him
but I loved him and I thought
we had a fighting chance. So, you went back.
At that point, were you
faithful to Mr. Blackman? Yes, Your Honor. He's shaking his head no. Well, let's just say
I don't believe that. That smirk you did after the
statement "I was faithful"
did not look truthful. Thank you. So, what's the truth? I was not faithful to him
because I caught feelings
for Treandos. All right. So you weren't
faithful to him? Mmm-mmm. You were still sleeping
with Mr. Stevenson? JUNENE: Yes, Your Honor. <i> I was dropping him off at
work, dropping the kids off
at school,</i> and I would go
to be with him for
the rest of the day. So, when the van gassed up... And you were intimate
with Mr. Stevenson and also Mr. Blackman? Yes, Your Honor. Around the same time. And you were trying
to say, Mr. Blackman? Well, I was trying to say that
we have a van that goes
out from time to time. JUNENE: It broke down. And the first time
it broke down, it needed a fuel pump. This by two,
three days. Then the second time,
it went out for a whole
week and a half. I'm talking to her on
the phone. "Why you ain't
trying to get home?" "Oh, I'm worried about
somebody stealing the van." I go out there,
give the battery a charge. Didn't have to change nothing. Give the battery a charge,
the van start right up. Oh. So, you're saying
she got out there and said the van broke down,
and was out there, hanging out and being
with Mr. Stevenson? RAYAL: Yes. But pretending to you
she had a breakdown,
and had no way to get home. Exactly. Is this true, Ms. Martin? Yes, Your Honor. JUDGE LAKE: All right, so you
find out you're pregnant. Do you tell Mr. Stevenson
and Mr. Blackman? I told both of them. No, she tried to pass
the baby off on me first. She go to come tell me
some mess about, "We can't
afford no baby, "and I got pregnant
on such and such month," and then she tell me
the sex of the baby. I look at her and say,
"You know this ain't
my baby. "There's no way." She say, "Well,
it's a possibility..." But it is a possibility. We had sex. All right. So, did you
tell Mr. Stevenson that he may be
the father, too? Yes, Your Honor. What was his reaction? He was happy for
a minute, and then he just disappeared. <i> He completely disappeare.
I didn't hear from him fr
another four, five month.</i> JUDGE LAKE: Happy for
a minute, then disappeared? Mmm-hmm. Jerome, I think it's time
we meet Mr. Stevenson. Yes. Please escort him
in to the courtroom. Mr. Stevenson,
thank you for being here. When Ms. Martin told you she was pregnant, what was your
initial reaction? First I was happy,
then I just disappeared. She said that.
That's exactly
what she said. Why did you disappear? She kept calling me
a deadbeat daddy,
this and that. I got tired of
listening to her. JUNENE: Because he wasn't
there. That's what you was. He brought a used
car seat to the hospital. Who did? Mr. Stevenson. Who did? Okay, not to be funny
but what's wrong with
a used car seat? It had stains all over it. When was he
at the hospital?
What... He been to the hospital? Yeah, he been
to the hospital. (AUDIENCE MURMURING) JUDGE LAKE: This is news
to you, huh, Mr. Blackman? After the baby was born,
he came to the hospital. On my children's life. I ain't never know this man
came to no hospital. After the baby was born,
me, my mother and my granny. Well, what part... You forget
to tell me that part, huh? No. I didn't think
it was important. You didn't think
it was important
because it was. Hold on! She said she didn't
tell you that part because she
didn't think it was important. JUNENE: Nobody stepped up.
He was there. But he had to go
back home for the kids. After I had the baby,
Mr. Stevenson came. He was just like,
"Oh, I want a DNA test." And he wants the baby
to have his name. But he didn't want to sign
the birth certificate. But drilling me about
a last name, or a name, and I gave him Blackman. My baby name is Ramere
Jeremiah Blackman. So, you gave him
Mr. Blackman's last name? Jerome, please hand me
that evidence she has. Ain't nobody signed
the birth certificate. My name is
the only one on there. JUDGE LAKE: Well, you want
to give your child a name... So, why were you so stuck
on giving him my name? (AUDIENCE LAUGHING) I mean, you just telling me... That's a fair question,
Ms. Martin. Why his name? Because I thought
the baby was his. In your heart,
you thought it was his? Yes, Your Honor. And, Mr. Blackman,
do you believe Ramere
is your baby? Mr. Blackman, do you believe
Ramere is your baby? Your Honor, it's
a possibility. Well, if it's a possibility,
then why do you treat him
like crap? Ms. Martin, how does he
treat Ramere differently? He don't touch him.
He won't even look
at him. Like, if he in the same room,
he just acts totally blank. If the baby started crying
and I stepped out of the room, he'll say to the kids, "Tell your mama
to come get that baby." Your Honor, it's true... My daughter is four. She's told him
to his face, like, "Why you treating the baby
like this, Daddy? "Get your baby.
Hold your baby. Why you
doing my mommy like this?" All right, now,
listen. Mr. Blackman,
I'm trying to understand, are you truly treating
this child poorly? If you compare it
to the way I treat my
other children, yes. All right, so, Ms. Martin,
you've brought a witness.
Please stand, ma'am. And state your name. My name is
Gloria Blackman. I'm Mr. Blackman's sister. (AUDIENCE EXCLAIMING) JUDGE LAKE: Here as
Ms. Martin's witness. Uh, my brother, he's so far
removed. That's a baby. As far as I'm concerned,
neither one of them
did anything. I did everything from the day the baby
was born to right now. So, Ms. Blackman, let me ask you, do you
believe Ramere is your
biological nephew? I do. I think he looks like,
uh, the child... The
youngest before him. I think he looks
just like him. I think he has
my brother's nose. Uh, I... You know. And I see it makes you
very emotional just to
talk about the child. Well, it's like...
I feel so hurt
for both of them. They're just like...
It's crazy. It's not my fault.
I didn't tell her
to go lay with this man. JUNENE: So what? You had... I didn't treat
you like... You cheated a million
and one times, Rayal. GLORIA: It's still
about the baby, Rayal. You bring all kinds
of women around my kids. It's still about the baby. My kids come and tell me
how they're sleeping
in the bed with you and another woman. How do you think
that made me feel? Mr. Blackman. GLORIA: I didn't know that. And you know what?
He's acting hard. He loves this woman.
He just frightened. Is going to kill him and it's
breaking my heart for
both of them because I love them so much.
They have such beautiful
four children together. And is just like...
This stuff is just killing me. JUDGE LAKE: All right,
Ms. Blackman, thank you
so much for your testimony. You may be seated.
Now, Mr. Stevenson, have you been around at all
since the baby has been born? She won't even
bring him around. I seen him twice. At the
hospital, and when she came to
my house about a week later. Other than that,
I haven't them. You took the baby
to the man house? TREANDOS: She sure did. He needed a father.
You didn't want to be there. She sure did. JUDGE LAKE: So she brought
the baby to your house? Yes, ma'am. And then after that,
what happened? He started on him all over
again after he bragged
"my baby" this. Because... "My baby" that. Because at the same time,
she started calling me
a deadbeat daddy. I got tired of it. JUNENE: What were you doing? You didn't do anything.
Came to the hospital
empty-handed. And then she text
my phone and tell me, "The baby ain't yours,
no way." JUDGE LAKE: Ms. Martin,
from where I sit, it does sound like
you perhaps have been
playing both sides of this equation when it's convenient
for you. That's not true. If both of these men
could be your child's father, and you've had them
both at the hospital and you've let them both
spend time with the child
since he was born, why don't they both
understand that? And you're only suing
one of them. Because he treated me like
crap and he was the reason
I had to leave my house, because it was too
stressful for me. And I feel like he owe me
for moving expenses and my bills
and everything. You are suing for $3,100? Yes, Your Honor. Until I'm able to get up on my
feet, being that we do have
these other kids together. What's getting me
is you standing here,
suing Mr. Blackman... Suing Mr. Blackman. ...but you're mad at
Mr. Stevenson, because he brought
a used car seat up for a baby that he wasn't
even sure was his. And I told him
he could have
kept it. I left it there where it was. Well, for a woman with so much
nerve that you can tell people to take their car seat
and take their this, why don't you have enough
money to move yourself, and you gotta rely on
his sister to pay for
your child that you lay down and made
with two different men and don't know
who the father is, and you're sitting up here
talking about, "They not
man enough to do this," and, "He's not man
enough to do this," when you're not woman enough
to know that when you lay down
with men, and have a baby and don't
know which one is the daddy, you're going to be the one
responsible till you figure
out who's the daddy! Now, we got arbitration. You suing this man... Got all the receipts. Every receipt. 'Cause you've been
through this before. And he got what he needed. Hold on! He got
what he needed. From whom? Ms. Blackman. Thank you. JUDGE LAKE:
And it sounds like to me if there's somebody here
that needs to be filing suit, it's Ms. Blackman. Your case is dismissed. And the worst part about it
is the only people that have
truly paid for these mistakes is Ramere and Ms. Blackman. Because he's a baby
and he's not getting
treated right, because he doesn't...
The man that he was
living with doesn't know if he's
the father, so he's
treating him like "that baby," which is
wrong. Dead wrong! All the way wrong! I didn't want my
kids to see that. No, be quiet.
I'm sick of all
of you. That's wrong. Now, this one over here, he comes up to the hospital,
trying to offer something,
it ain't good enough. 'Cause it wasn't. He tried! He doesn't know if the
child is his or not, he's trying to figure it out.
You called him a deadbeat. "This ain't good enough."
Next thing you know,
he's gone. You're jeopardizing your son
being able to have a father. He... Ain't nobody
done nothing. Like... Ain't any one of them
stepped up, period. Hold on. You gotta understand that the only reason why
you were in that situation
was because why? Why? Because I put myself
in that situation... That's it! That's it. Let's go to the
results. Jerome. These results were prepared by
DNA Diagnostics and they read
as follows. In the case of<i>
Martin v. Blackman/Stevenson,</i> and whether Rayal Blackman or Treandos Stevenson is Ramere's father. Mr. Stevenson, you are his father. (AUDIENCE EXCLAIMING) (SOBBING) Come here. You know
you're driving me... (SOBBING LOUDLY) Be all right, okay?
Promise me you're gonna
be all right. Mmm-hmm. Be all right, Rayal,
please. Be all right. I'm sorry, Rayal. Mr. Blackman? Yes, Your Honor. Our kids, they're the ones
going to be affected by this. You know? (SIGHS) I just want this
to be over with. Mr. Stevenson,
how do you feel? I feel okay. I know... I know the results now.
That's all I was waiting on. And I hope you understand
that your son has been
under... He's destroyed a family,
that's what he needs to
understand, Your Honor. Please make him
understand this. She destroyed your family. But you lay down with her.
You all sit there
and talked about me. Keep it real. If we're going to keep
it real, let me tell you
something. You all can dish it out
but you sure can't take it. Can't take it in. Now, you have cheated
and done your thing, and you know it, you didn't
deny it when she said it. Now, I'm not saying
she's right, but you got a taste of
your own medicine now, and it's brutal. All of you have had a part
to play in this mess. And all of you have to figure out how to clean it up
for Ramere's sake. <i> The court will offer
counseling for you</i> and we are going to refer you
to more resources in
your home state, because this is not
going to be overnight. Whether you like it or not,
you're his village. Figure out how
to make it work.
Are we clear? ALL: Yes, Your Honor. Court is adjourned.
