Please be seated. Hello, Your Honor. Hello. This is the case of<i>
Travis v. McNair.</i> Thank you, Jerome.
Good day everyone. AUDIENCE: Good day. Ms. Brown. You state you've begged
and pleaded with your cousin to open today's case because he's being lied to and taken advantage of by Ms. McNair. You say he's
so blinded by the love, that he foolishly signed her child's
birth certificate, and you don't believe
he's the father. Is that correct? Yes, Your Honor. Mr. Travis, you say you
love the defendant's
22-month-old daughter Mariyah, but you now fear
she may not be your child. KURTIS TRAVIS: Yes, Your Honor. JUDGE LAKE: So, Ms. McNair, you say your family
has been torn apart by Mr. Travis's
meddling cousin, and you claim you are certain
he fathered your daughter and you want to prove paternity
and get his cousin
out of your life. Is that correct? Yes, Your Honor. So, Mr. Travis, what does
Mariyah mean to you? Your Honor, Mariyah
mean the world to me. She is everything to me. She is my heart.
She is my all. And if she is my baby,
I want to be her father, and be there for her,
the man that I'm
supposed to be. JUDGE LAKE: So,
you love this baby? TRAVIS: Yes, ma'am. JUDGE LAKE: Mr. Travis. JUDGE LAKE: And you
are truly torn. TRAVIS: Yes, Your Honor. Because while
you love this baby, and you're devoted to Mariyah, you have some doubts. TRAVIS:
Yes, Your Honor. I do. 'Cause I went away,
2015, in December, and when I was gone, my cousin, I actually
talked to my cousin, Tierra, and she told me that
Ms. Synetra was pregnant. And so while
you were away, she told you, Ms. McNair had been intimate
with other people, cheating. Pregnant. Yes, Your Honor. JUDGE LAKE: And got pregnant. TRAVIS: And got pregnant. And he also
saw it for himself. Tierra, where
your proof at, baby? I have proof. I saw you. Where is it? Show me the proof. We stay in the same
complex by each other. Show me the proof. Where is it? Can we show,
can't she show me to proof,
Your Honor? Your Honor,
I've sent you a video, of how I'm seeing her. JUDGE LAKE: You did
submit a video. TIERRA BROWN:
Yes, Your Honor. That shows how
you caught her cheating. BROWN:
Yes, Your Honor. Let's take
a look at that. BROWN:<i> Judge Lake,
I would like to show you
my point of view,</i> <i>from where I'm seeing
Ms. McNair getting picked up.</i> <i> She's getting
picked up right there.</i> <i> Men are dropping her off
and picking her up.</i> <i> From my window, you see her</i> <i> getting in cars,
going back up to her house,</i> <i> and you see the cars
just coming in.</i> McNAIR:
So, you a stalker? So you can see first-hand, her getting in
and out of cars? Are you a stalker? Yes, Your Honor. And that looked
like a pretty good view. Yes, it is a pretty
good view. (AUDIENCE EXCLAIMING) And so, this isn't true,
Ms. McNair? No, ma'am. No, ma'am. Cars weren't pulling
in and out? It's not. No, ma'am,
it's not. JUDGE LAKE: While
Mr. Travis was away... No. ...you weren't dating... No. No, ma'am. ...or sexually active
with anybody else? No, ma'am, I was not. BROWN: That's a lie. You Honor, she actually told me
that she had a friend that
she was talking to, and it was just a,
just a friend thing. But we wasn't sexually active. We was not
sexually active though. He's dropping you off
at 1:00 or 2:00
in the morning and you claim
you just getting off work. And why only men?
Why not a friend-girl?
Why only men? McNAIR:
Why is that your business? Why only men? Why is that
your business? Why only men though? So, so a friend-girl, instead of a friend-guy,
she needed to have. Friend-guy
just means a guy friend... Yeah, too many
friend-guys to me. What you got? Where...
Do you have, baby? Mind your business. So you say she has
a lot of guy friends. BROWN:
Yes, Your Honor. And you see them
coming in and out. Yes, and to me... JUDGE LAKE: And do you see her
coming out to meet them? Yes, at 1:00 or 2:00
in the morning. Tell me what's open
at 1:00 or 2:00
in the morning. But it wasn't shown
on the video though.
It wasn't on the video. It don't matter.
I have seen you. Okay, Tierra.
Whatever. And so you reported
this back to Mr. Travis. BROWN: Yes, I have.
Yes, Your Honor. Your cousin. That while you were away,
Ms. McNair was playing. Yes. So, Mr. Travis... What was the nature
of your relationship? Were you all committed? McNAIR: We were. JUDGE LAKE: You were? Yes, yes, Your Honor. JUDGE LAKE: Boyfriend
and girlfriend? Yes, ma'am. JUDGE LAKE:
Serious relationship? Yes, Your Honor. JUDGE LAKE: So while
you were out of town
or away, Ms. McNair, you were
expected to be faithful. McNAIR: I was, Your Honor.
I have friends, but it was
nothing sexually active. I'm entitled to have someone
else, you know,
when he's not around. But we's not
sexually active at all. BROWN: Why when
he's not around? When you say you're entitled
to have somebody else, what do you mean? Um, I do get lonely. JUDGE LAKE:
How lonely were you? I mean, what, what,
what happened here? Lonely enough to
come out the house... Conversations. ...at 1:00 or 2:00
in the morning. Conversations, that's it. That's all. Nothing forward. JUDGE LAKE: So why does it
have to be with a guy? Why not with just
the girlfriends? Someone, a friend,
a family member. Why guys? I have girlfriends, but it's just different
than having guy friends. (BROWN SNICKERS) I've never seen 'em. Only thing is 1:00
or 2:00 in the morning. McNAIR: You just see what
you wanna see, baby. Yeah, I've never seen 'em. Because I have friends... JUDGE LAKE: Ms. McNair.
Ms. McNair. They're never home. Yes, ma'am. So, you are stating, that these were
just guy-friends. They were friends
of yours, guys, and you'd come over.
Why were they coming over at
1:00 and 2:00 in the morning? They wasn't coming over
at 1:00 or 2:00 in the morning,
Your Honor. Tierra's lying.
She's lying. She don't... You. Baby, did you have something
that you got going on
or something? You're trying to put
this child on my cousin when it's not his child. McNAIR: She's his.
She's his. Was you there when
we was conceiving her? No. Okay, then how would you know? Your Honor,
you have children? JUDGE LAKE: I actually do. How many months do you
supposed to be pregnant? Well, this is what
we're about to get into. I know that. And you submitted
a calendar to the court because you said
the timeline is off. Calendar? My timeline was on. BROWN: She was pregnant
for a year though. McNAIR: A calendar? Am I right? (AUDIENCE APPLAUDING) JUDGE LAKE: But you say, Ms. McNair's timeline
is off. Yes. JUDGE LAKE: So you submitted
a calendar to the court. Yes, ma'am. McNAIR: No. Oh, Lord. If you want more episodes
of Paternity Court Make sure to subscribe
and click on
the notification bell. Can you tell the court
what you have outlined? BROWN: Yes, ma'am,
I can. My cousin, he went away
in December. We found out in February,
early March. Mariyah is born
in October. So... TRAVIS: The time just
don't add up, Your Honor. If Mariyah was born
in October, you count back, one, two,
three, four, five, six, seven,
eight, nine, ten, that'd be
eleven months. Might as well
be a year. JUDGE LAKE: Which means, the window of conception... You need a life, baby. You have to find something to
do and talk about besides me
and my relationship, honey. You've been pregnant
a year though? Almost a year? It just don't,
it just don't add up. It's not adding up, Your Honor. It's not adding up. It's not. It's not adding up. A whole year? Whatever Tierra.
Whatever Tierra. You just... BROWN:
I thought nine months. That's how long
I was pregnant, nine months. No, you was
pregnant a year. Was you with me?
Was you with me? Almost a year. No. Okay. JUDGE LAKE:
So, wait a minute. Even if we relied
on your testimony and calculated the window
of conception based upon an
October 3rd birthday, it would still
fall in January. (AUDIENCE EXCLAIMING) I found out I was
pregnant in January though. In January of 2016. But she told us in February. Early March. That's when I told him
in February, sweetheart. Why? Why? Why is that your business? You're pregnant in January,
why you telling him in March? Because I was waiting to
confirm that I was pregnant No, no, no. before I let him know. JUDGE LAKE: But Ms. McNair,
I do wanna understand, if the window of conception
would have been in January for an October 3rd birthday, that's when
Mr. Travis was away and you've testified
that that is true. That's not his baby. Tierra, you concerned more
about me... That's not his baby. ...that you is
your own self, honey. 'Cause I know who
the baby's father is. Where your man, baby?
You got a man? JUDGE LAKE: So,
listen, listen. I know who my baby's father is. McNAIR: Well,
I'm sure you do. JUDGE LAKE: So, the trust is, for these past two years, Mr. Travis. TRAVIS:
Yes, Your Honor. JUDGE LAKE: You've been
completely devoted to Mariyah. TRAVIS: Yes, Your Honor. JUDGE LAKE:
You've helped raise her. TRAVIS: Yes, Your Honor. JUDGE LAKE: Love her,
been her father figure. McNAIR: Half way. JUDGE LAKE: Were you
at the birth? Yes, ma'am, I was.
Yes, Your Honor. JUDGE LAKE: Did you sign
the birth certificate? TRAVIS: Yes,
Your Honor, I did. BROWN: It's because
he's stupid, that's stupid. McNAIR: Just mind
your business, baby. So, wait a minute. So, what
I do wanna understand
Ms. Brown, you are very protective
over your cousin because you feel like
he's in love with Ms. McNair, and he's fallen
in love with this baby... McNAIR: She jealous. ...but he's not paying
attention to the facts. BROWN: Yes, and she's
taking advantage of this. She mad 'cause she ain't got
nobody that love her
like he love me. She mad. I just know who
my baby daddy is. No relationship. She's mad. So, Mr. Travis, when you signed
this birth certificate, I realize you see
a beautiful baby, and even if
you're hoping it's yours, that doesn't mean
you don't have doubt. Did you have doubt
when you signed
this birth certificate? Yes, Your Honor,
I will be honest, I had doubt. But, you know,
I asked Ms. Synetra
about it, but, she just told me
that it's my baby. That's all she
kept telling me
that it's my baby. BROWN: And he's stupid
'cause he believed her. I had doubts. And then even
with the doubt, two years,
Mariyah's almost two, you stuck by her? TRAVIS: Yes, Your Honor,
I mean, I grew up
without a father, Your Honor, and I always told myself, "If I had any child
in this world that I'mma be
better than my father." I want to be there everyday,
every step of the way
for my kid. But that's
not your child. Again, was you there
when we was conceiving? Stop saying
it's his child. When you look at
the calendar we presented, did that increase
your doubt? Yes Your Honor,
because to be honest,
it don't add up to me. Like, if you was pregnant,
why would you tell me towards, the middle of March, beginning
of the middle of February,
beginning of March. I feel like if you
were pregnant, you should
have told me then when you first got pregnant. And you found out in January,
what she saying right now. And so, what reason
would it be
to hold off telling him, unless it's
just what she said, she was waiting to get
a confirmation from her doctor? Because he's
not the father, that's why. You don't take that long
for a doctor to tell you
if you're pregnant or not. So, Ms. McNair, were you
dating anybody else? Were you involved
with anybody else? No, Your Honor, I was
not dating anyone or involved. BROWN: Stop lying, please. I had a friend,
like I said I did. But, sexually,
no ma'am. But when you say
you have a friend, you're just saying
you just keeping company. He's just talking. McNAIR: Yes. You'll don't have a sexual
interest in one another? No, ma'am. No ma'am, we do not. That's hard for even
this court to believe. BROWN: That's hard
for her to believe. I don't even know
why she's sitting over there
lying like that. And they're coming
at 1:00 in the morning. BROWN: Right. McNAIR: As she say,
Your Honor. She's never seen nobody
come to my house at 1:00. This video look like it was
in the daytime to me, right? So what you're saying
is her testimony
is completely false 'cause she's just trying
to sway her cousin against you. McNAIR: Yes, Your Honor. Yes, ma'am. She's been
doing this since
we've been together. No, I'm not.
Ain't nothing open at 1:00 or 2:00
in the morning, but legs, baby. So, stop it. You, you know, don't you.
You know, don't you. BROWN: Just legs. You do know, don't you. Tierra, I got kids, baby. I've been in the house
with my kids
at that time of morning. I don't have no business
being out with no men. Right. You was pregnant
for a year, right? Almost a year, so. McNAIR: Yeah. Mmm-hmm. JUDGE LAKE: All right,
well, listen. There's a lot
at stake here because, Mr. Travis has grown
extremely attached to Mariyah. She has his last name. BROWN: He's blind... JUDGE LAKE: Signed
the birth certificate. McNAIR: He did,
Your Honor, he did. He's blind. JUDGE LAKE:
But, Ms. McNair, when you looked
at that calendar, you saw
that it didn't add up. What is your
response to that? (BROWN SNICKERS) That calendar is a lie,
Your Honor. That calendar
is a lie. Tierra, for whatever... JUDGE LAKE:
But her, but her... She just said that
she found out in January. JUDGE LAKE: But her birth date
isn't a lie. The birth date
is not a lie. The window
of conception, that window
wouldn't be a lie. I don't know... JUDGE LAKE: Is there something
you just don't want to say? We're in court now. I always tell people,
when you're in this courtroom, it ain't no more shame
in your game. Let's just deal with
the truth and the facts because at the end of day,
it's not for us,
it's for the baby. BROWN: Just tell... JUDGE LAKE: You have admitted
in this court you were lonely. You've admitted in this court
that he was away. You've admitted
in this court that that is the correct date
for Mariyah's birthday. McNAIR: It is. But you're just saying
that you only had friends you just had
conversations with. Yes, ma'am.
Nothing more. JUDGE LAKE: Jerome. They ain't got
nothing to say so I'm gonna let
the DNA talk. McNAIR: That's all
I'm waiting on. That's all
I'm waiting on anyway. That's all
I'm waiting on. (AUDIENCE APPLAUDING) JUDGE LAKE: One thing, before I read
these results. Because you say
you didn't tell Mr. Travis till almost February-March
you were pregnant, did you get to see him
while he was away? Were you in touch with him?
Were you talking on the phone? I was talking to him
but I didn't see him,
no ma'am, I did not. At this point, this would be
a medical miracle. (AUDIENCE LAUGHING) I mean, really. We just ain't
11 months pregnant. BROWN: Right. See if... And if that's
his baby, God is good. If that's his baby... (AUDIENCE LAUGHING) If that's his baby, honey,
you'll owe me an apology,
sweetheart. If that's his baby,
you owe me apology, baby. JUDGE LAKE: All right. McNAIR:
And I want it. Ms. McNair says
she want an apology, Ms. Brown,
I hope you're prepared. I'm prepared. (AUDIENCE LAUGHING) JUDGE LAKE: Hmm. And I just want to know
the truth, Your Honor. JUDGE LAKE: And you deserve
to know the truth. BROWN: He really do. Young man, you do. You do. Twenty-two months
is a long time
to love a baby. You can fall in love
with a baby in 22 seconds. You really
do need to know. And that's why
we do this. And that's why I have
these results for you. These results were prepared
by DNA Diagnostics and they read
as follows. In the case of, <i> Travis v. McNair,</i> when it comes to
22 month old, Mariyah Travis... JUDGE LAKE: It has been
determined by this court, Mr. Travis, you are not the father. (AUDIENCE EXCLAIMING) McNAIR:
I'm sorry. McNAIR: I'm so sorry. I am very, very sorry. I know that is not
what you wanted to hear. I'm so sorry. Can you express
to this court, Mr. Travis,
what you are feeling? Whole lot of pain,
Your Honor. 'Cause I put my heart
into that little girl. And to find out
that she not mine, it hurts. (SOBBING) It's 22 months of just pain
you could have avoided. 'Cause you know what,
Ms. McNair,
you weren't surprised. You let him sign
the birth certificate. You've let him
for 22 months be in this baby's life, love her,
take care of her... Don't roll your eyes
up at me, honey. You could have
avoided this. You knew
the whole time. So all this test of lying
you been doing, got us here. Soon as I got my hand
on that envelope... Oh Lord.
Jerome, get her. (AUDIENCE EXCLAIMING) McNAIR: I'm hot, I'm hot.
I'm very hot. Okay. Okay, I'm gonna
get you some water. JUDGE LAKE: Call the medic. Call the medic, please. I'm gonna die. (MUTTERING INDISTINCTLY) JEROME: You take a few
deep breaths, okay? (AUDIENCE CHATTERING
INDISTINCTLY) Okay. She says
she's really hot. MEDIC: Ma'am,
let me see this. I think you're
just a little hot. McNAIR: Oh. You wanna try
and stand back up? Mmm-hmm. Okay. Just wipe your forehead. Jerome, can you please
stand with Ms. McNair, please? I wanna make sure
she's okay. JUDGE LAKE: You feel better? I'm good. Yes, ma'am. There's a lot of things,
Ms. McNair, I can see
behind your eyes, that only you know, and you can share it
when you're ready. But I do believe,
so much of this, of this pain,
of this hurt, of this entire confusing saga
could have been avoided with the truth. Living out with lies,
living this out, that's no way to live. That's a lot to carry. Dr. Jeff is standing by. I want you to go
and I want you
to talk to him and I want you to start
working through that, because, you know what,
Ms. McNair, I don't wanna
see you back in here again. I don't, honey. All right.
I wish you the best. Court is adjourned.
