Please be seated. Hello, Your Honor. Hello. This is a case of<i>
Reaves v. Silva.</i> Thank you, Jerome.
Good day, everyone. AUDIENCE: Good day. Ms. Reaves,
you are here today to prove that
the defendant, Mr. Silva, is the biological father
of your seven-month-old
son, Legend. JUDGE LAKE: Is that correct? Yes, Your Honor. Mr. Silva, you were involved
in a paternity case on<i> Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta</i>
in support of your sister who took a DNA test
to prove paternity
of her child. You now stand here
in court with your own case. Because you say
there is absolutely no way you are the biological father
of the plaintiff's son. Is that correct? Yes, Your Honor. Ms. Reaves,
explain to the court
how this paternity doubt has affected
your relationship. Well, it's affected
everything in my life. We've been on and off
for about three years. Right now, every single time
I turn around, it's always, "Oh, are you sure
that he's my baby? "Are you sure
that he's my baby?" "Yes, I'm 100% sure.
Like, why do you keep
asking me?" And don't get me wrong,
he's a good guy, but I just want us
to be able to move forward
in our relationship without having
any more arguments. And so I feel like
the best way for us
to be able to do this is for us to go ahead
and get a DNA test, make sure that Legend is
the biological son for him. And you know... You said, "Make sure." Mmm-hmm. So you have doubts as well? No, I don't have doubts,
but he does. Okay. Mr. Silva,
why do you have doubts? I just don't
trust her, Your Honor. I feel like she's tricking me
into believing
that I'm Legend's father. Um, I grew up
loving women,
loving sex... You grew up
loving sex? To me, I always
felt it was okay
for men to go out, have sex, and you know,
cheat, come home
to their family. And women
can't go out, have sex, and,
you know, come home. Especially with a baby. You know, trying to say
that I'm his father. You know, I just want... Basically, all of this started
because all he wanted
to do was cheat on me. I've been nothing
but faithful to him
since I first met him. And so you believe
he's projecting
his unfaithfulness onto you. Yes, ma'am. JUDGE LAKE: Are you
doing that, Mr. Silva? Do you have any reason
to believe Ms. Reaves
has not been faithful? You basically said,
in so many words, that you believe it's okay
for men to go outside
of the relationship to cheat, but not okay for women
to do the same. Yes, Your Honor. You aren't the only man
that feels like that. (AUDIENCE LAUGHING) Well, Your Honor,
I feel like God
created men to conquer. To overrule. And women cannot em...
cannot empower... Women cannot empower men... What are we on?<i>
Game of Thrones?</i> JENNIFER: You see what
I deal with every day? What are we
talking about? (AUDIENCE APPLAUDING) First of all, you said God created men
to conquer and what else? And women cannot overpower men. You're ridiculous. This gonna be
a long hearing. You see what I deal
with every day, right? So, in the conquering
and the ruling of man, inclusive in that
is the right to cheat, have other women
outside the relationship, but women cannot,
right? Yes, Your Honor. JUDGE LAKE: Okay, so let's
just say hypothetically, you're here to conquer. Hypothetically. Why can't
you conquer your doubt and conquer your fear that she's also
doing something that she says
she's not doing? Well, Your Honor,
I feel like
if I'm out here you know, doing
what I'm doing and she's out, you know,
doing whatever she's doing, she's possibly doing
the same thing. And why would that
be so wrong? Because you can't
take what you dish out? Right. Right, right. (AUDIENCE APPLAUDING) JUDGE LAKE:
I'm trying to understand. I mean,
just entertain me
for a minute. From one queen to a king. (JENNIFER LAUGHING) JUDGE LAKE: Why? Why would you
expect her to sit at home and allow you
to cheat on her? It's just
really the fact
that she came home. She came
telling me that I'm
the father of Legend. You know,
I just, honestly,
I don't believe that. All right, so now,
let's come out of
our hypothetical situation and let's really
talk about real facts. When did you find out
you were pregnant,
Ms. Reaves? Um, well, we was
broken up at the time. But, immediately,
as soon as I told him
that I was pregnant, he was like,
"Okay, with who?" Your Honor,
we were broken up
for four weeks, Your Honor. I caught her
texting her ex. And is that why
you broke up? Yes, Your Honor. When you
confronted her? I confronted her
about texting her ex. You know, this ain't... I caught them texting
multiple times. And she claims
they're just friends. You know?
And I had it. One day I just decided
to try to go on her phone and she changed
her password on me. She was in her bathroom
when I was trying
to get in there and I thought
I typed it in wrong. So, I tried
two, three more times
until it locked me out. And so when she finally
got out of the bathroom, I was like, "So you're
texting your ex and you
changed your password. "What you gotta hide?" But, my whole thing is like,
why do you keep asking me
what I have to hide when every single time
I turn around,
it's another female texting my phone like, "Oh, I wish I had
stayed at your... "You know, I just dated
your boyfriend. "Your boyfriend
is my boyfriend.
"That's our boyfriend." Like, what do you mean? Wait. What? Our boyfriend? JENNIFER: Our boyfriend. The fact that you can allow
another female to talk
to me in that way, you know what I'm saying? And I asked him about it
over and over and over
and over and over again. "What are you talking about?
You're delusional. "You don't even know anything." But, look, look. Okay, look.
Look, look, look. And I've... I've, you know... had some fun with Mr. Silva
and his analogies, but I do want
to be honest
in this moment. If he catches you
on the phone
texting your ex, that could give rise
to some doubt. If you then
change your password, so he can't see
what's going on
in your phone, to most men, that's
going to make him think, "She possibly is involved
with somebody else." That doesn't make it right
that he's doing
the wrong thing either. JENNIFER: Mmm-hmm. But, you have to understand
that his extra affairs outside of your relationship
do not necessarily
have bearing on the paternity issue
that we're dealing with now. And that' what's hard. Because a lot
of the women will say, "Well, he was out
doing this, that,
and the third." I said, "I know, but I need
to know what this, that,
and the third you were doing." JENNIFER: Mmm-hmm. (AUDIENCE AGREEING) 'Cause that's really
the bottom line. So, if you're texting your ex,
changing your pass code, and then you all
are broken up, and you then say to him,
"I'm pregnant", I can see
that he might
have some doubt as to who you may
have been having sex with during the window
of conception. Mr. Silva, how long
were you broken up before she told you
she was pregnant? We was broken up
for about three, four weeks,
you know? A month. And I didn't
hear from her. So, at the time, you know,
she gets booked to model
and promote events, and, you know, that's
what she love doing. So, on her snapchat,
she's turning up, getting lit,
you know, with men, you know,
drinking, smoking. So, how do you
expect me to believe that you been gone
for three, four weeks then come back to me
and tell me you're pregnant. And how pregnant
did she say she was
when she told you? I mean, I'm... I was like
three-months pregnant
when I found out. So, in your mind,
regardless of what
you were doing for that month or two
while you all
were broken up, your window of conception would've been
two months
before that. JENNIFER: While
we was together. While you were together. Yes, ma'am. JUDGE LAKE: But it also
was while you were
texting your ex. Mmm-hmm. But he never saw anything
in my phone, like, "Oh, let's hang out."
"Oh, let's chill." It was always like,
"Hey, how are you doing? "Just checking in on you.
Just checking in." "Oh, I'm okay." On multiple...
On daily basis. Good mornings,
good nights. No. Like... Yes. Yes,
Your Honor. So take me to
during this pregnancy. Mr. Silva, are you
accompanying Ms. Reaves
to doctor's appointments? Are you involved? Are you basically
just being stand-offish, because you don't
think it's your child? Your Honor, um,
as soon as she told me,
I told her, "Who was the father?" So, I did not believe
I was the father. And I was not with her
during her pregnancy. I was only there
to be supportive
during the birth. So, in that moment,
despite your doubts, you said, I want to be there
at the hospital,
when the baby is born. During the whole time,
I'm telling her
I want a DNA test. In the hospital, none
but her family was there. I was my myself,
you know. I came in. As soon... As soon as,
you know, Legend was born,
the doctor came in the room, straight to me
and gave me the paper. I didn't want
to make her look bad... JUDGE LAKE:
And so you signed
the birth certificate. Yes. I just felt
pressured to sign it. So, you felt like,
in that moment, her whole family is around, and if you start
talking about DNA tests, and not signing
birth certificates, it sheds a negative
light on her. Yes, Your Honor. JUDGE LAKE: So,
out of a level
of protection for her, you go ahead
and execute
the birth certificate without really
understanding the legal
ramifications of that. Yes, Your Honor.
It was my first child
and my first rodeo. I didn't understand
how to deal with it. And there was nobody
from your family with you. KERMIT: Nobody.
I was there. I flew out of Florida,
come to Alabama
just for the birth. But now, Legend
is seven months old... KERMIT: And I've been there. JUDGE LAKE: Since day one? Since day one. JENNIFER: Since day one. I got him clothes,
everything he needed,
I take care of him. I let him
meet my family. I just needed
this DNA test. That's the only way
we can work
on our relationship, that's the only way
that I can continue
loving my son, and loving her.
'Cause I do love her,
Your Honor. You dyin' by that
double-edged sword,
right? Yes, Your Honor. JUDGE LAKE: That's a saying,
and it's true. Yes, Your Honor. So, now, Legend
is seven months old, and I'm very happy
to hear that despite your doubt,
Mr. Silva, you stepped up
to the plate. Yes, Your Honor. Does it affect
your relationship with him
in terms of bonding? Do you look at him?
Does this run
through your mind? I look at him,
and I love him. I fell in love
with him. Well, he loves him but he's
still telling everybody that
he's not the father. Like... JUDGE LAKE: Really? I just have my doubt. I just have my doubt. Like, I have proof
right here, a girl,
she messaged me, um, basically, saying
that, you know,
they was talking... JUDGE LAKE: Let me
see that evidence. Jerome, would you
hand that to me? Here you go. WOMAN IN AUDIENCE: Wow. He was her boyfriend as well, Um... (EXHALES) He doesn't know me... You got a message
out of the blue
from another woman. JENNIFER: Mmm-hmm. And it says, "He told me
you were his ex,
and that you were pregnant "but your a...
and didn't know
who the dad was." JENNIFER: Yes, ma'am. JUDGE LAKE: Did you confront
Mr. Silva about it? Yes, ma'am. What did he say? I showed him
a picture of him
and the girl together. And then,
he's like, he's like,
"Oh, well, you know, "I do know her,
but that was
a long time ago. "Like I haven't
seen her for years." And then, here we are
with other pictures of them. And I know that
it was a recent picture. 'Cause it was a shirt
that he had just got
like two months ago. (CHUCKLES) JUDGE LAKE: So, Mr. Silva. I see you have
a smirk on your face, so we already
know you're lying. (CHUCKLES)
As usual. Yeah, Your Honor, um... Did you tell this woman
that she was pregnant but she didn't know
who the father
of her child was? Your Honor,
I told her that
she was pregnant. And I told her
that she wasn't
pregnant by me, you know, but, um, the whole thing,
I just say... I just
said that out of... you know,
just being grimy. Well, that's honest.
Go ahead
and tell the truth. So, you were
being grimy? I just did that,
just to pretty much,
you know... If she was out there
doing whatever, then I'm out here
doing whatever. Because I'm not no dumb.
You're not gonna play me,
you know what I mean? But you play me first. You started
the whole thing. If it wasn't
for you cheating, if it wasn't for you
talking to different people, we wouldn't even
be here right now. None of this stuff
wouldn't have even happened. (AUDIENCE APPLAUDING) And I can see that this
still hurts you, Ms. Reaves. JENNIFER: Yes, ma'am. What're you feeling? I just feel a little hurt,
you know what I mean? 'Cause like, we have
a beautiful baby together. And I don't want him
to grow up feeling like, "Oh, my Daddy
didn't even think
that I was his." I don't want him
to feel like, you know, we were just
being irresponsible. I want him to love me
the way I love my parents. I want him to grow up
the same way that I grew up. With both
of his parents
in his lives. You know what I mean? I don't want to continue
to argue about it KERMIT: Your Honor, look. The baby honestly looks
more like her than me. How could I tell
the baby is mine if he doesn't really even
look like me, for real? Look at him.
What are you
talking about? Her ex looks
just like me. He could
be her ex. So, you're saying there's
such a striking resemblance
between you and her ex KERMIT: Yes,
Your Honor. It's hard for you to tell,
because the child
looks so much like her. Yes, Your Honor. What are you hoping,
Ms. Reaves,
in this moment? In order for us
to move forward
with our relationship, and every single thing
else in our life,
we need to get past this, so we don't have
any extra arguments
in the future. I understand.
And how about you,
Mr. Silva? What do you hope today? Your Honor, I want
this child to be mine. (STAMMERS) And I'm really,
you know, hoping that
the results say
that I'm his father. Because, if he's not,
then she gotta
kick rocks. She gotta go,
I can't look at her the same,
I can't respect her. That's not my father now.
I mean, that's not my child, and I can't be a father
to somebody else's child. It hurts me, like you've
been around him
for a long time. You know what I mean? And so now, if he's not sure
all of a sudden, you don't want nothing
to do with me at all, nothing to do with him. Because she tried me. How you gonna make me
take care
of somebody else... KERMIT: Your Honor,
I love Jennifer.
I mean... So, with or without Legend,
we should still be together. There shouldn't be
no "kick rocks." No. Nah,
you kicking rocks. (CHUCKLES, SNIFFLES) There's a lot
at stake here. And I want to give you
the opportunity, if there's something else
you haven't said, or if there's
some type of doubt
you really do have, you have a chance
to be honest about that in this moment
before we go
to the results. Yeah, I don't have any doubts,
I'm just a little bit upset that if he's not like...
if he feels
like he's not his, then he doesn't want
to be with me anymore. I feel like with
or without Legend,
our relationship is, you know, we can make it
be good the way
that it was before. You know what I mean? Like, if we didn't
have a baby,
instead of him saying like, "Okay, well, if we
didn't have a baby, "we wouldn't
be together right now." No, no, what he's saying is,
if you have a child
by another man, and he is not
the biological father, then he's
not able to raise
another man's child, nor is he responsible
to do so. He does not
have to do that. I mean, I don't like
the terminology
you all are using. Kick rocks,
and this kind of thing, so I'm holding
my composure because it just
sounds rude. But, I know,
you young folks have
your own terminology. So, I understand
what he meant was, was that he cannot
be in a relationship with you. You're right. JUDGE LAKE: Definitively. Mmm-hmm. JUDGE LAKE: And
that's a reality. I think the only way
we can truly move forward is to get the results.
Jerome. (AUDIENCE APPLAUDING) These results were prepared
by DNA Diagnostics, and they read
as follows, The baby honestly looks
more like her than me. In the case of<i>
Reaves v. Silva,</i> when it comes
to seven-month-old
Legend Silva, it has been
determined by this court, Mr. Silva, you... are the father. (AUDIENCE CHEERING, APPLAUDING) (SNIFFLES) You are the father. That's all I needed
to know, Your Honor. Now, I'm sorry. (JENNIFER SNIFFLES) And, you know, I did
have my doubt with Legend but I know
that he's my son. And I will truly
fully love him. And I want us to move on
in our relationship. 'Cause I love you. I love you, too. That was beautiful.
And she needed to hear that. And I hope
you receive it. JUDGE LAKE: But,
also receive this. If you don't change
the way you operate,
Mr. Silva, you are going to continue
to negatively affect this woman's spirit, which ultimately
negatively affects
your child's well-being. JUDGE LAKE: But, Ms. Reaves,
you have a choice as well. You do not have
to tolerate a man continuously
cheating on you. And there's a saying
that you teach people
how to treat you. And you are going to have
to be able to set boundaries, both of you together,
as to what this relationship
is going to be. And you're gonna have
to hold one another
to that standard, and it takes work. So you know you're going
to have to really be serious
about this undertaking. Do you understand me? JENNIFER: Yes, Your Honor. All right, I wish you
the very best of luck. Take care
of that beautiful baby. PARENTS: Thank you. He's beautiful.
Court is adjourned. JENNIFER: Yes, ma'am.
