Please be seated. Hello, Your Honor. Hello. This is the case of<i>
Williams III v. Smith.</i> Thank you, Jerome.
Good day, everyone. AUDIENCE: Good day. Mr. Williams, you've
brought Ms. Annette Smith
to court today claiming she scammed you <i> into paying child support
on her 22-year-old
daughter, Clarissa.</i> <i> You say you used
condoms at all times</i> so you cannot be
Clarissa's father. Yes, Your Honor. You plan to prove your case
today and return to court in
your home state to dispute the $36,742.43 in child support arrears
that you owe. Yes, Your Honor. Ms. Smith, you claim that you and Mr. Williams
were in a relationship and you
are certain he is your
daughter's biological father, even though he hasn't
seen her in 20 years. Yes, Your Honor. So, Mr. Williams, why do you
believe Ms. Smith has been
scamming you all these years? The scam is the child support. You file child support against
me when I don't have... You don't have proof.
I have never
signed a birth certificate. I've never been proven
that I was the father
of the child. Were you
having a sexual relationship with Ms. Smith during the time
that the child was conceived? I don't know. I don't know. JUDGE LAKE:
You don't even know. WILLIAMS: I don't know. JUDGE LAKE: All right, so... Because we'd
seen each other and we was having sex with each
other but other than that... You have no idea whether it was during the window
of conception. WILLIAMS: Right. You haven't taken the time
to count back and... WILLIAMS: No. All right, so how did
you even find out
you were on child support? Well, I found out
when I had this... I did labor ready work to get some extra cash. Woke up 5:00 in the morning. Spent 11 hours on the job. Usually it's a $80 day, turned to a $7 day, <i> based on child support.</i> <i> So I'm like, "I can't,</i> "I can't do this. I can't
work an 11-hour day
for seven bucks. "I can't do it." So, being that, that
was the case I stopped and I
just pretty much figured out another
way to make income. And I made income
enough to get away. But what happened is
I was working at a place and I got
into a bad car accident. It kinda took me out
but the settlement
would allow me to move. So, then that's what I did.
I moved. So, I'm figuring,
like, I left that gave her a window
of opportunity to put me on child support. JUDGE LAKE: <i> And so how has</i> having this responsibility
to pay this support, how
has this affected your life? Big. I mean, I been held to not being able to get
to my fullest ability to make a lot of outstanding money... When I met Eli he
ain't never had a job. That's what she thinks. I paid for everything. No, that's not true. Eli had money when
he got into a car accident. Oh, my goodness. That's not true. That's... We had a relationship. ...not true. We did not
have a relationship. Yes, we did. We did not
have a relationship. Yes, we did. You told him when
you got pregnant? SMITH: Yes, ma'am, I did. And you were intimate with him during the window of time
Clarissa was conceived? Yes, yes, yes. WILLIAMS: I don't see that.
I don't see that. What was the nature
of the relationship? How did you guys meet? We met at a club. AUDIENCE: Oh! Yes, we met at a club.
We didn't do
nothing the first night. I mean... But we went out
that weekend, I picked him up.
I took him home. Why? Why? You knew more about
me than I knew about you. He was my best friend. But the only time Eli had
money was when he got
into that car accident. He got mad at me
'cause I didn't show up
at the hospital. This is why he is so bitter
after 22 years... I never got mad at nobody. I ain't never got
mad at nobody. JUDGE LAKE: <i> Ms. Smith, you say
this was a real relationship.</i> SMITH: <i> Yes, ma'am, it was.
There you go right there.</i> JUDGE LAKE: You all were
boyfriend and girlfriend? Yes. No. JUDGE LAKE: At the point
that you realized
you were pregnant, before that, were you
sleeping with anybody else besides Mr. Williams? No. When you found out
you were pregnant
did you tell him? SMITH: Yes, ma'am, I did. What day? JUDGE LAKE:
What was his rea... The same night. WILLIAMS: What day? Night? Yup. What night? Yes, I did. What was his reaction? WILLIAMS: Oh, my goodness. Yeah, what was my reaction? I forgot the name he wanted...
I forgot the name that he wanted me to name, but he
wanted me to have a boy. What? And he seemed happy about it? Yes, ma'am, he did. JUDGE LAKE: But, sir, you
don't remember this day? No, I do not remember this
whole conversation that
she's talking about 'cause it just never happened. Okay. It didn't. You know it didn't happen. Go ahead. Go ahead. You can say anything
to make you feel better. So is it safe to say that during the doctor's
visits and the birth
Mr. Williams was not there? No. Even when she was sick
in the hospital he didn't
show up. But he called. And I told
him Clarissa was sick
for 14 days and 14 nights. And his dad was on the other
line 'cause his dad was gonna
pay for the ticket. And I said, "Yeah, you
need to come down
here to see Clarissa." He never showed up but he came down here
plenty of times after that. Where'd you get that from? When I was on public
assistance they asked Eli
to come down here for the blood test. Eli declined. He didn't wanna show up. No. When? When? SMITH: You remember. No, I don't. When they put you on child
support and you get AFDC... No, I don't. No, no, no. ...they asked you
for a blood test and he
didn't want to do it. That's not true. Did you have an opportunity to take a DNA test,
sir, and you didn't? No, I didn't. I got his address
when I went to
California to see him. See, and now
she moving too far
ahead for herself because when she... 'Cause I'm telling the truth. She went to California
to scope out my situation. No, I come to
get your address so I can send them
people the letter. You sent them to the wrong
address 'cause that
was the address you was at. That wasn't right what
you did was you had some... I sent it to your father's... ...somebody send some
service papers to my family's house
where you know I wasn't at. And that you knew
I wasn't there. So when they went there I didn't get paperwork,
I didn't bring the court date. You just smashed me. You smashed me. She sent the court
reporter or whoever
serves papers to my parents' home. JUDGE LAKE:
To the wrong address. To the wrong address,
knowing I ain't there. You're saying
she purposely sent... They gave the wrong address... WILLIAMS: Yes. Yes. ...so that you would
then miss the court date... Yes. ...and be named the father
by default. Yes. Yes. And then once you were
named the father by default you were put on child support. There was nothing
I could do. Nothing I could do. Mr. Williams is saying he
feels like you scammed
him and you're saying, "We were in a relationship.
When I got pregnant,
I told him." He didn't have anything.
How am I gonna scam somebody
who ain't got nothing? (AUDIENCE LAUGHING) Mr. Williams, once you
realized this had happened, did you ever try to
go back to court to have this
situation remedied? First of all, me going back
to Florida was
not in my plans. Because my thing is... What'd you used to
do with my condoms when
you used to do with 'em? We ain't never used
no condoms, Eli. What you used to do with 'em? Oh, my God. See, this... I'll tell ya. Why you doin' this? We never used condoms? Never. So, Mr. Williams, you
say you always used condoms? Far as I know,
always used condoms. What I do know is
she used to take my
condoms off to the bathroom and whatever she did
in the bathroom with
that condom... 'Cause I used to lay there. I used to lay there.
She'd take my condom
off to the bathroom. "I'll take care of that
for ya. I'll take care
of that for ya." You never said that? What am I gonna take care of? I'm gonna put it on you too? No, you gonna put it in, whatever you do... Who does that? However you do. You did. Oh, my Lord, you... JUDGE LAKE: So what you're... That's why you smiling. So wait a minute. What you're
saying is you feel like
there was foul play involved? Yes. Where she was
trying to trap you... WILLIAMS: Obviously.
I don't have nothing. ...into having a baby. I don't have nothing,
so why you want me? There was nothing
I could do. I mean, the only thing I
could do is go back and try to spend 25 on a lawyer. Uh, find out this
here and pay
for this and pay... But nothing comes
out of her pocket. But wouldn't that
be less expensive than $36,000 in arrears? I don't know 'cause
I didn't have that
to throw away. I didn't have
that to throw away. So, what you are saying is, at the time, because you were
unable to afford a lawyer and the transportation
to get back to the state to fight the issue, you just had to
accept the issue. Pretty much. And I did accept it
for a long time. <i> So every job I get they get
letters that says, "Oh, we
gotta take out for this.</i> <i> "We gotta take out for that."
So I'm working for free.</i> I can't work for free. And she said I was broke. That's no serious matter.
I've always had money. My family got money. My family come from money. We still got money. You ain't got no money. How much you wanna B-E-T? How much you wanna bet? So, is the reason why you're behind $36,000 because
you just refuse to pay? Because if the child support
office hears you talk about
how much money you got they're gonna wonder why
this isn't paid. No. I tell 'em that 'cause I don't believe
this is my child. So you purposely
have avoided paying because you don't
believe it's your child? I don't believe it's my child. So, you submitted a photo.
This is Mr. Williams <i> and Clarissa.</i> SMITH: <i> That's when he
came to visit.</i> This is you and the baby? WILLIAMS: Right. It doesn't look like you're
denying her at that point. Doesn't look like it.
I'm not denying 'cause
at that point time in my life none of this was available
to me, to find out, a blood test and all this
stuff 'cause I didn't
know nothing about it. JUDGE LAKE: <i> So this
is a picture of</i> <i> you both and Clarissa in...</i> SMITH: <i> Yeah.</i> JUDGE LAKE: <i> ...California.</i> WILLIAMS: <i> Yeah.</i> You look happy.
You look like a couple. WILLIAMS: I mean, you gotta
understand something. I'm one of them people that
I'm gonna take responsibility if I think
I'm responsible for it. But when I find out
through the line that
I'm not responsible and it's definitely somebody
else involved. There's somebody
else involved. <i> I don't think the child
looks like me.</i> <i> I don't think she has
my characteristics.</i> <i> I don't know nothing about her
because I haven't seen her.</i> So, Ms. Smith,
when is the last time
Mr. Williams saw Clarissa? '98. All right, Jerome,
I'm ready to hear
from Clarissa. Please escort her in. JUDGE LAKE: Hi, Clarissa. Hi. Than you so much
for joining us today. We've been here
discussing the issues
regarding your paternity. Is Mr. Williams the person
you were always told was your biological father? CLARISSA: Yes. JUDGE LAKE: You never
were told anyone else could be your father? No. Do you remember him
being in your life
when you were growing up? When I was five
he would call me. That's all I remember. JUDGE LAKE: Just when
you were five? Yeah. But since then you
don't remember anything? No. JUDGE LAKE: You have
not seen him? No. No birthdays? CLARISSA: No. JUDGE LAKE: Father's Day? No. JUDGE LAKE: Holidays? No. JUDGE LAKE: Nothing? No. By the time that was
happening was probably when the child
support started hitting me. 'Cause she would
get packages every holiday, every Christmas,
every birthday
she would get 'em. Do you remember
receiving gifts from
your father? Never. WILLIAMS: Never? You never done that. WILLIAMS: Yeah, I did. But he did call,
collect calls. Collect calls? Yes, you did. Oh, my goodness. Stop. Stop. And I accepted 'em. Because you wanted
your daughter... SMITH:
Definitely and I still do. JUDGE LAKE: You just want
her to know her father? Yes, ma'am, 'cause he is missing
out on so much. She made her own music, her own game videos, she's a 3.9. (AUDIENCE CLAPPING) And I can see you're
very proud of your daughter. SMITH: Very so much. And now this
is the last closure. I want it to be
done with so she can
blossom and be a good woman. Rather you in her
life or not 'cause you
done missed out. That's what you say. That's what you say. Thank you for it though. Thank you for it. That's what you say. That's what you say. (AUDIENCE CLAPPING) Thank you. JUDGE LAKE: And so, Clarissa, look at Mr. Williams and tell
him what he's missed
out on in your life. You missed out
on my entire life. I wanted to have a father to brag things about in
my academic life. I
wanted to explore if... Just to have fun with a dad
right beside me all the time. Someone to support me. You were never there. I wish you were.
We could've
had some fun. But no, you weren't
never there. You stopped calling me. And that really hurt.
I can see that in your eyes. It hurts me... My mom told me
these stories about how much you
two had so much fun. These pictures that
she's sharing... All I ever wanted was
to meet you, see you,
hear you again. Yeah. I hear you. But the fact
still remains is... I don't know if
I'm truly your father. I don't know
but we'll find out today. <i> When you were a baby</i> <i> that's what I remember.</i> Okay. And after that
I don't remember
nothing else either. I'm about as bad as
how you feelin'. I feel bad too. But the thing is,
I can't change that. What it is from now on,
we can move forward or keep living in the past. It would be totally up
to everybody in
this circle right here. Me and your mother
never had a relationship. We were friends.
Good friends.
That's about it. And she knows that. We did have a relationship. WILLIAMS: I don't know
what she's... Got told you over the years... SMITH: Okay, Eli, I'm
done talking to... You don't have to talk.
I'm talking to her. I'm not talking to you. Don't put me in. Talk to her. WILLIAMS: No. You're in it. Sorry. (SCOFFING) That's the bottom line. I'm always gonna be
whatever I believe in. I got a family.
If you mine, you
got family. This young girl standing here,
she's just expressed... WILLIAMS: Right. ...everything you've
missed out on. WILLIAMS: Right. She's just said she
just wanted to have a father. WILLIAMS: Right. I'm sure you've
been in school. Clarissa, you're a smart girl. You see other
friends and people,
they have their father. And you would wonder,
I'm sure, why did your
father stop calling? And you have to respect that,
Mr. Williams, whether
you believe she's your biological daughter
or not. She was told
you're her father. WILLIAMS: Right. Her mother has pictures
of you looking like you happy she's
here, on this earth. I'm not mad. JUDGE LAKE:
The point is, is your disappearance,
your lack of contact,
affected her. Can you accept that? If she's mine
I could accept that. But if she's not mine, I'll be
more hurt than you imagine. So, it's time for the results. And before we go
to the results,
I just have to ask, Ms. Smith, Mr. Williams
has maintained that he
just does not know whether this is his child. Are you sure there
was no one else? Yes, ma'am. No one. JUDGE LAKE: No one? Mmm-mmm. All right, Jerome. Let's get this
family some answers. JEROME: Yep. These results were prepared
by DNA Diagnostics and
they read as follows. In the case of<i>
Williams v. Smith,</i> when it comes to 22-year-old
Clarissa Williams, it has been determined
by this court... Mr. Williams, you... Are her father. (AUDIENCE CLAPPING) Told you. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. (CLARISSA SOBBING) (AUDIENCE CLAPPING) WILLIAMS: I'm sorry. (CLARISSA SOBBING) Well, I'm so happy for you. Mr. Williams? WILLIAMS: Yes. How does it feel
to finally know for sure? Feels better than not knowing. This was in fact
your biological child
all along. That whatever this notion
is you put in your head, you allowed it to fester. And you lost out
on 20 years. And so did
this beautiful little girl. Now you know. No one's yelling at you and screaming,
"You're no good and I
don't want nothing "to do with you anymore." You got a beautiful little
girl that just ran
into your arms. Accept that. And roll with that. WILLIAMS: Yes, ma'am. (AUDIENCE CLAPPING) JUDGE LAKE: You understand? I do hope that
you're able to meet on common ground,
which is your daughter and support her as she goes through
her journey in life. Right. And she's hoping
that you will
come into the fold. Can you just do that? Yes, ma'am. I like when you
just say yes. (LAUGHING) (CLAPPING) Let me end on a good note. Court is adjourned. Thank you.
