Ms. Nash,
you say a brief fling resulted in you
becoming a mother, and you are sick and tired
of raising your daughter alone. So you've
opened your case today to prove to the defendant that he fathered
your 7-month-old
daughter, Zionn Nash, so that he will finally
step up. Is that correct? Yes, Your Honor. Mr, Brewer, you testify that you saw another man
going in and out of the Plaintiff's home
at the time of conception. You claim there's no way
you fathered her daughter and refuse to support
another man's child. Is that correct? Yes, Your Honor. So, Ms. Nash,
has the defendant helped at all
with your daughter? No, Your Honor.
Not at all. He hasn't bought a Pamper. He hasn't bought a bottle...
Not a bottle of water. (AUDIENCE LAUGHING) Nothing. And Zionn is seven months old? Yes, ma'am. So, what is that
like having to care for a newborn
alone with no help? (AUDIENCE EXCLAIMING) It's absolutely horrible. Absolutely horrible. The fact that
he stays two doors down, I think that's what
really just tears me up. (AUDIENCE EXCLAIMING) I never can go over there and just ask him
for help or anything. If I ever reach out
to him for anything, I can never get anything. The most I get from him
is a text message. (AUDIENCE EXCLAIMING) And that's heart breaking. Heart breaking. Look at Mr. Brewer
and tell him what
those tears mean. These tears are
mostly disappointment, Josh. I really just kinda expected
for you to just help,
you know. A little bit more. I mean, honestly,
it's not any at all. So I really just expected
just a little bit more. But if you not sure
she's mine, why should I? NASH: We had sex, Josh. Yeah, we did. It's a possibility. The possibility is
what should've had you there. AUDIENCE: Right. BREWER: Okay. And if you're 85% sure,
then why still do feel like
I should step up? 89.9. So that 11%,
I think that's real...
That's minor. JUDGE LAKE: You said...
Hold on, hold on, Ms. Nash. You said, it was 89.9%. That 11% is very minor. She added
four points to it. Yeah, absolutely. When? Today? The point is that
you basically are saying
you're not 100% sure. Absolutely. Yes. Because I was dating someone
a month or so prior to me, you know,
having sex with Josh. But I was also a lesbian
for almost 13 years. So, it's not like I was just out here. So you do honor the fact that
it is the potential... NASH: Oh, absolutely. Absolutely. ...very much reality that
your child could be
this other person's? NASH: Absolutely. But you believe <i> Mr. Brewer is the father.</i> NASH:<i> I believe... Believe
that he is the father.</i> JUDGE LAKE:<i> So, Mr. Brewer,</i> you obviously feel like that's
too much of a window for you. Yes, Your Honor. So take me back.
How did this
sexual relationship begin? So for the most part,
like I said, we are neighbors. Um, we live
in the same apartment building. It was just simply
neighbor things. "Hey, how you doing?"
Wave to him in the hallway. And then it
turned into personal, um, when I ended up
needing help in my apartment... She turned me
into Mr. Fix It. (AUDIENCE LAUGHING) Oh, she turned you into it? BREWER: Into it. Well I really... I really... I didn't
want to do it. Oh, you didn't want to do it.
Well, I mean it's... That's fine, either way. You might had not wanted
to have sex either,
but you did. (AUDIENCE LAUGHING) BREWER: You right. NASH: Anyhoo, I asked him if I could cook
down there after we couldn't
get the stove to work. Oh, so you asked him to
come over to your apartment and fix your stove... NASH: Yes, ma'am. ...and then things
really heated up. (AUDIENCE LAUGHING) Yeah. (LAUGHING) Did you seduce him, Miss Nash? NASH: No, ma'am. I didn't have to
really work that hard. JUDGE LAKE: Oh. This is getting interesting,
right Jerome? (AUDIENCE LAUGHING) So, after the dinner,
you started to have
a little dessert. Did you use protection? Clearly not.
This is that why we're here. JUDGE LAKE: Okay. So, clearly since you admitted
there was another guy, this was not an
exclusive committed thing? Oh, absolutely not.
We never were
in a relationship. We never... No. So take me to the day
you found out
you were pregnant. How did you find out? NASH: Well, when I found out
that I was pregnant, maybe the next day
I think I called him and we sat down
and talked about it. JUDGE LAKE: So you did? Yes, ma'am. How did that conversation go? She texts me and asked me
was I busy at the time.
I'm like, "No." I'm in the house making
me some breakfast
and whatever. And she come down... I ain't got no shirt on
or nothing... Mr. Sexy. So, I'm just sitting there.
She talking to me. And she like, "I'm pregnant." She said on the couch,
"I'm pregnant." I immediately told her like
we need a DNA test. She had no problem with it. No, absolutely not,
Your Honor. Actually, what he said was, "Do you wanna keep the baby?"
That's what he said. I don't remember saying that. Oh, okay. That's fine. That's fine. I don't remember that. Okay, so you answered yes? NASH: Yes, I told him
this is a blessing. I would never
get rid of my child. He let it be known instantly
that he did want a DNA test. So, he kind of set the tone
for what I should expect. I hear the pain
behind your words. To be honest, Your Honor. I really think that, him being so close to me
is what tears me up. When my baby is crying, when I have
issues with her, period, I can't call him
or get help from him. AUDIENCE: No. If you want more episodes
of Paternity Court Make sure to subscribe
and click on
the notification bell. So, this is what
I want to know. Take me to the birth,
when Zionn was born. <i>Obviously Mr. Brewer
didn't attend any
doctor's appointment with you?</i> Absolutely not. And so you had
this baby by yourself. Or was someone else with you? Absolutely, Your Honor.
My mother was with me. Um, but I did text him <i> to let him know that
I was going into labor. Um...</i> BREWER:<i>
I don't remember that.
I just got a picture.</i> I told him.
I told him the room number. He said I'll try and make it. You sure that was me? He never made it. He never made it. You sure that was me? No, it wasn't you. It was a text message. Okay. I didn't...
I don't remember what hospital
she was at or nothing. I know, you don't.
I know. 'Cause you didn't
care that much. 'Cause you didn't tell me. You didn't tell me. Josh, you've to walk past
my apartment to get to yours. So for you to ever say
I didn't hear her... So, I don't check on you. I don't text you? Through text
message, absolutely. "Y'all good?" You want your distance. "Y'all good?" We good. I give you your distance.
It's what you want. But I told you,
all you got to do is call. And I never received
anything from you. That ain't true. NASH: Okay. So you're saying
you did make an effort? I did. And the first time you ever
saw a picture of the baby
after Zionn was born? BREWER:<i>
After she was born. Yes.</i> JUDGE LAKE:<i> And then
what did you do
once you saw the picture?</i> Did you say,<i>
"I wanna meet the child.</i> <i> "I wanna figure out.
Let's get a DNA test."</i> <i> What was your response?</i> BREWER:<i> The first thing
was the DNA test.</i> We still waiting on that.
That's why we're here. We go and find out. I bet you we gonna find out. We is. Mmm-hmm. So, Mr. Brewer,
you are convinced Ms. Nash was sleeping with
other man during this time. I've seen her
walk in her apartment
with another man. NASH: Okay. All right. I've seen you walk
into your apartment
with men and women. I'm not assuming... I'm not assuming that
you're having sex
with either one of them. I'm not obligated to you. So, you submitted
an exhibit. NASH: I don't have to tell... Please cross over
to the monitor and explain
the exhibit you brought. Okay. Now, this is a map
of our hallway. She's coming in
with another man. He got her like this. NASH: You should've said,
"Hey". Well, I spoke to both of y'all. You should've said, "Hey". I spoke to both for them. Oh, okay.
I don't remember
speaking back. You said, "What's up?" Mmm-hmm. I'm looking at them,
they fixing to get dirty. I'm already knowin'. How do you know
they 'bout to get dirty? I'm knowin'. How do you know
that they're about to... I know her. Was this during
the time of conception? I think we probably had
just had sex like
a couple days before then, and then probably had sex
about a week after that. (LAUGHING) So you see her with another
man going into an apartment, and then she tells you she's
89.9% sure you're the father. I remember 85. She say 88. So immediately, when you
think about that other 15%, your mind goes to... It ain't mine. (AUDIENCE LAUGHS) That's how I'm thinking. Okay, so you used to
go stand over by the podium 'cause you about
to start clownin' and you know I don't tolerate
that in the court room. I ain't a clown. JUDGE LAKE: So... Have you developed
a relationship
with Zionn at all? Have you seen her?
Have you held her? I done played with her. He's seen her. She always smiles when... He's seen her
approximately five times. I can count on my hand
literally five. Five times in seven months. NASH: Including yesterday. So that make five. AUDIENCE MEMBER: Wow. You don't have a relationship
with my daughter. So, you've seen her
five times in seven months and you live two doors down. Mmm-hmm. (AUDIENCE EXCLAIMS) So you all have had sex more
than you've seen the child? NASH: Oh. See that's when
we find the priorities. NASH: Okay. Okay. Okay. All right, Your Honor.
'Cause that's where
I was there with it. I knew what
I was getting involved in
but it was too late, like... I'm not getting
rid of my daughter. She is... I've never told you
to get rid of her. I would have regretted... I would have regretted
totally...
Look at my baby... To get rid of her. You a fool for not even
wanting to participate. And you a fool
for saying you 85%. I know. I know.
But I'm honest though. And that's why. I didn't have to
tell you anything. You didn't. (SCOFFS) Okay. So you might wanna
just check yourself because I...
I did you a favor. I did you a favor. All right. Well, hold on. (STAMMERS) Let's not get into
all of this negativity. That doesn't even help us. This other guy, Ms. Nash,
where is he? Have you ever told him? Absolutely. And we both
sat down and we talked
about the same thing. But the fact that
Mr. Joshua has the more...
The most percentage,
that's where I'm at. We gonna start
at the top
and we'll work our way down. Well, you know
this percentage you developed
the calculation to this? You do know that? NASH: Absolutely. Absolutely. Absolutely. But at the end of the day... JUDGE LAKE: You've got to go? Mmm-hmm. You checking your watch? Mmm-hmm. Okay. You got somewhere to be? No. No. I don't think so.
That's rude. I apologize. 'Cause you real...
You real macho. You've got all the man moves. You ain't got time. You on your time schedule. It would have
taken less time for you to go to the store
and get a condom than it did for you
to fly here and appear in<i> Paternity Court.</i> (AUDIENCE CLAPPING) But these are
the life lessons we learn. BREWER: Yes, it is. But we don't
disrespect children. What I wanted
to understand now is how did you
do this calculation? How did you arrive
at that percentage? I arrived there
simply because they
have the same features. Just, honestly,
she doesn't really have
any of my features like that. JUDGE LAKE:<i>
You submitted evidence
to the court, a diagram,</i> which you say outlines
those similar features. Absolutely, Your Honor. <i> You say Zionn</i> <i> has the same
receding hairline
as Mr. Brewer.</i> Look at what he did to my baby. (AUDIENCE LAUGHING) I don't have
a receding hairline. JUDGE LAKE: Feature number two. You say, that Zionn has
the same round head as Mr. Brewer. NASH: Yes, Your Honor. Lastly, you say Zionn sleeps with her mouth open... NASH: Wide open. ...just like Mr. Brewer. So, all of these overwhelming... Similarities leads you to believe Yes, ma'am. ...that this is
Mr. Brewer's biological child. Yes, ma'am. Your Honor. So after this evidence,
Jerome, I don't even think
we need the results. Yep. (LAUGHTER) She got a round head,
a receding hairline and sleeps with a mouth open.
That'll do it. That'll do it. (CHUCKLES) Whoo. Well, look. You know, I don't even think
this would amount to 89.9 in any calculation. However, I do understand, when you don't have
the co-operation
of the potential father, and I can only imagine. Looking at a beautiful
new baby, innocent, and you're literally
studying features to determine <i> which man is
her biological father</i> And so this other man, has he ever seen Zionn? Absolutely. He's done
more for her than...
Than he's done. But you don't believe
he's her biological father? No, and he knows that as well. But does he believe,
he's her biological father? No, ma'am. He...
We both know the truth. We are here
at the same lane
with it. So have y'all
took a DNA test? No, because as I
stated in the beginning we're gonna start at the top
and we'll work our way down. Yeah, okay. And then we were
waiting for you to do
the DNA test, you know. He was waiting too? No, baby. Me and my baby
we were waiting. Okay? Okay? I will say this
about you both. You all have stated your case. You have stated clearly
why you believe
what you believe, feel the way you feel and how you both understand
you arrived in this courtroom. And I think
the only thing left to do is to get the results. Jerome. (AUDIENCE CLAPPING) These results were prepared
by DNA Diagnostics and they read as follows. In the case of<i>
Nash v. Brewer,</i> when it comes to
7-month-old, Zionn Nash, it has been determined
by this Court, Mr. Brewer, you... Are the father. (AUDIENCE APPLAUDING) JUDGE LAKE:
You are the father. You have
a beautiful little girl. I apologize. (AUDIENCE CLAPPING) Thank you, Your Honor. I really, really am
overjoyed right now. JUDGE LAKE: Mr. Brewer... Your baby girl lives
two doors down from you and you've
barely laid eyes on her. JUDGE LAKE: I'm sure
you understand... Mmm-hmm. ...what daddys
mean to little girls. Yes, I do. So you know you got some time
to make up for. And this serious. Oh, I know. I know. I'm not crying
for nothing, Josh. (SOBBING) I don't want you
to have a hard time. I can see the
earnest look in your eyes. I see this matters to you. Now that I know, um, she gonna need
assistance or anything... I'm here to help. (AUDIENCE CLAPPING) Ms. Walker, you have
petitioned the court
for a DNA test, and want to prove that the defendant
is the father of your
13-month-old son, Bentley. You admit that
there was another man but hope Mr. Conn
is Bentley's dad.
Is that correct? Yes, Your Honor. Mr. Conn, you have been
in an on again,
off again relationship with Ms. Walker and say
you desperately hope
Bentley is your son but have substantial
reason to doubt that you are
the biological father. Is that correct? Yes, Your Honor. So Ms. Walker, why is it
so important to prove that Mr. Conn is Bentley's
biological father? It's important to me,
because I want the best
for my son. He deserves
the right to know. I feel that Jerry
is the best choice. So you are admitting
that there are
other possibilities? Yes, Your Honor. (AUDIENCE EXCLAIMING) And Mr. Conn has developed
a relationship with your son. Yes, they have
a very good bond. They are so good together. AUDIENCE: Aw! It makes me so happy
to see them together and Jerry deserves this
more than anything. And Mr. Conn, I can see
the tears in your eyes
as you look at Bentley. I can see. I'm just
the last person
to carry on my name, and I would really like
to find out if it's mine so I could tell my grandma
if she has a grandson
or not. JUDGE LAKE: And you
really love this baby. JERRY CONN: Yes, ma'am. I love him with all my heart.
I'm just hoping he's mine. Ms. Walker, I want to
get into this, because I want to understand
how we got here. What was the nature of
your relationship
with Mr. Conn? Are you all
in a committed relationship? What kind of
relationship is this? We were in a committed
relationship for six years. (AUDIENCE EXCLAIMING) We had our problems and we wound up
parting ways for
three years. And another guy
came into the picture. I found out that
he was unfaithful to me, and Jerry has always
been there for me. He's always been
my rock. And I called him, and I went back to him. That was the day that we got together
for the first time
since we split up. Mr. Conn, what is it about
Ms. Walker you love? CONN: I've loved her
since day one. We were working together, and I've just
been with her since then. I can see that that means
something to you to hear that. It makes you emotional. Yes. 'Cause you know
he loves you very much. Yes, Your Honor. I hate that
we split ways. He was my soulmate. And so there's a lot
riding on today's results. WALKER: Yes, Your Honor. JUDGE LAKE: Take me to the day
you found out you were
pregnant with Bentley. I'd had some
morning sickness and I had missed
my cycle. So I took a test,
and it came out positive. I didn't really have no worries then until later on whenever
I went to get a test done at a doctor. They gave me
an ultrasound and they told me what
my conception date was, and that's when
I started panicking. All right. So who were you
dating at this point, when you decide
"I think I should take
a pregnancy test," who were you with? The other man. The other man? (AUDIENCE GASPING) You were with
this other man? Yes. But you were also obviously sleeping
with Mr. Conn because he wouldn't even
be a possibility? Correct. I found out the other man
had been unfaithful, and so I took off
and I called Jerry, and he let me
come stay with him. And that's when me
and Mr. Conn hooked up. So Mr. Conn, do you
remember that weekend? Yes, I do, because
my father was
in the hospital, I was in a very emotional
state of mind, and, uh, we hooked up
and then I found out
my father passed, and immediately went
to his aid, and whenever I got
back home,
she wasn't there, so I just figured
she went back
to the other guy. So you left again,
Ms. Walker? Yes, Your Honor. You say this was
the love of your life, your soulmate,
the other guy
had cheated on you, what happens?
Why'd you leave? WALKER:
(CHUCKLES) I wish
I could answer that question. I don't know, a part of me
is drawn to the other man. I don't know what it is.
I wish I knew. So you run back
to the other man, you find out you're pregnant
when you go back? Yes, Your Honor. Who do you tell? The other man. And what was
his response? He was happy. At this point,
he didn't know that
I had been with Jerry. You submitted a calendar
to the court, I'd like
to review that. So you go to the doctor, on January 12. Yes, Your Honor. They tell you you are
nine weeks pregnant. Yes, Your Honor. So they tell you
your date of conception is November 17. Yes, Your Honor. Did they give you a window
or did they just tell you
this was the date? That was the date. They gave you a date
of conception? Yes, Your Honor. Wow. So they could
pinpoint it that much? Yes. And that
made you nervous. You said you started
panicking. Yes. Why? Because I knew
I had been
with both men on that day. So as you look
at November 17, you admittedly had sex
with Mr. Conn that morning. WALKER: Yes, Your Honor. But had sex
with the other man that evening. Yes, Your Honor. (AUDIENCE GASPS) It's not something
I'm proud of. Whoa. So at what point do you
tell Mr. Conn, "I'm pregnant"? Because at this point,
we know what happened
on that date. Whenever I went
to the doctor, when I found out
the conception date, I wasn't exactly sure
what day his father
had passed away. So I had called him
to ask him and that's whenever
I told him. And so throughout
this pregnancy, were you involved,
Mr. Conn? Did you go to
hospital visits? No, because me
and the other man do not get along
too well. And I didn't want to start
any confrontation. So wait a minute.
You say you
and the other man... So after you found out
you were pregnant,
Ms. Walker, you stayed with
the other man? Yes, Your Honor. Was he at Bentley's birth? Yes, Your Honor. JUDGE LAKE: Did he sign
the birth certificate? Barely, but yes.
(CHUCKLES) He almost missed it. Barely signed it?
What's that mean? He had left me
at the hospital the day after
I gave birth. And I didn't hear from him
until the next day when
I was being discharged. But he did sign it. Yes. So this other man
is the father, the legal father
listed on Bentley's
birth certificate. WALKER: Yes, Your Honor. But you are here because you hope and believe Mr. Conn
is the biological father. Yes, Your Honor. When I look at Bentley,
he reminds me
so much of Jerry. And I see you looking
so intently at him,
Mr. Conn. But you're still
full of doubt. I'm full of doubt
'cause I haven't had
DNA results. Exactly. Even though
you weren't there
for the birth, and you didn't sign
the birth certificate, and the other man
signed the birth certificate, you stepped up
and have been a father
to Bentley all this time? (AUDIENCE APPLAUDING) Whenever she needed me,
I was there for her. Or whenever he needed me,
I was there for him. How does it go from
the other guy signing
the birth certificate to Mr. Conn stepping up
to be the dad? This whole time I've been
with the other man, the other man
has been involved. But me and him
don't have
a great relationship and every time I leave him, Jerry's who I go to.
Jerry's always been
there for me. Are you two
hoping to make this
relationship work? Yes, Your Honor. CONN: Yes. I feel like we're a family.
I really do. These results will tell me
where I need to go from here. Whether me and Jerry
can build a relationship
from this point on or, I don't know. JUDGE LAKE:
So are you just hoping the baby is Mr. Conn's? Yes. Or do you believe it? That's two different things. I'm hoping. 'Cause that's what's
best for my son. JUDGE LAKE: 'Cause you want
what's best for your son. Yes. There's been
a couple of times... Jerry was diagnosed
with scoliosis,
he's had back surgery. There's been times
where Bentley's been playing and whenever the light
hits his back, it almost looks like
he might have it. And so you think
your son, Bentley, may potentially
have scoliosis? Yes, I've heard
it might be hereditary. Do you see some of
those signs, Mr. Conn, when you look at Bentley? Yes. I've seen a slight
curvature of the spine. And so your question is, "Now, could this be my son "because have I potentially
passed this condition down "to him." CONN: Yes. But Bentley has
never been diagnosed. WALKER: No, Your Honor. And I'd like to find out
at an earlier point
in time if he's mine, that way, he doesn't
have to go through
back surgery like I did. Well, I'm going to call
on some medical help. I'd like to call in
Dr. Samantha Brown-Parks. Jerome, can you please
escort the doctor in. I want to ask her
some questions
about scoliosis, and whether it has
anything to do
with paternity. JEROME: Hello, Dr. Parks. I'll have you go up
to the witness stand.
Watch your step. JUDGE LAKE: Hello. Hi, Your Honor. Thank you for joining us,
Dr. Brown-Parks. The court has heard testimony that baby Bentley looks
like he potentially has a curving in his spine. Mr. Conn says he does
have scoliosis and it was
passed down to him
from his father. This court
wants to know, is scoliosis genetic? Does it have
a genetic component where we could
potentially connect it
to paternity in any way. Okay, so let's back up
just a little bit. Scoliosis is the sideways
curvature of the spine
which is abnormal. It's the most common
spinal malformation that happens in children. We start screening
for this in children around second, third grade when they start doing sports. So at his age, it would be
very difficult to diagnose. Because he's just 13 months. Because he's only 13 months. That being said,
in twin studies, which is the best kind
of study that we can get to look, to see for
inheritability of a disease, it shows us that
38 percent of those cases are inherited from a parent. JUDGE LAKE:
Oh, wow. That's huge. DR. SAMANTHA BROWN-PARKS:
That is huge. That kind of lends itself
to the potential that Mr. Conn could be
Bentley's biological father since he has the condition. That's a distinct possibility. And so, now that you've
heard this testimony,
Mr. Conn, before I go to the results, can you state to the court
what your hopes are today? I hope that Bentley
is my son. And what about
the relationship
with Ms. Walker? Is the relationship
on the line for you? If she calls me,
I'm there for her. AUDIENCE: Aw. And so how does it
make you feel to
hear him express that level of
unconditional love
for you, Ms. Walker? It makes me feel great. But it makes me feel terrible
at the same time. Because he deserves so much. He deserves to be
loved back that way. (AUDIENCE APPLAUDING) I want you to look at Mr. Conn
and I want you to tell him what that love
means for you. It means so much to me that you are there
for me like you are. You always have been
and I know you always
will be. And I want this for you.
I want Bentley to be yours. You deserve it. You deserve it more than
anything in the world. How does it feel to hear her
say she wants Bentley
to be your child? I wouldn't have
helped her out if she didn't care
for me, and I feel like
she wanted Bentley
to be mine. And if he isn't,
have you prepared yourself? I mean, I've been going
through it for a year
and a month now. So, yeah. I wanna put
that confusion to rest. It's time. Jerome, may I have
the envelope, please? These results were prepared
by DNA Diagnostics and they read as follows. In the case of<i>
Walker v. Conn,</i> when it comes to
13-month-old Bentley it has been determined
by this court, Mr. Conn, you are not the father. I'm very sorry. CONN: It's okay. CONN: It's okay.
At least we figured it out. I'm very sorry. CONN: It's okay. I know that was
not the result
either of you wanted. No, not at all. You said, Ms. Walker,
you testified that this result
would point you in the direction where
you felt you needed to go. What did that mean? I have to let the other man
be his father still. But I don't want
to be with him. I would like to
work it out with Jerry, still. Mr. Conn, how do you feel
about that? Are you willing to continue
to work on the relationship even though Bentley is
not your biological child? Yes, ma'am. You are. (AUDIENCE APPLAUDING)
