Please be seated. Hello, Your Honor. Hello. This is the case of<i>
Jamison v. Smith.</i> Thank you, Jerome.
Good day, everyone. AUDIENCE: Good day. Mr. Jamison,
you've petitioned the court
for DNA test, because you are certain
you are not the father of
the defendant's two sons, Malaki and Michael. You say you made a mistake
signing one of the
birth certificates, and need today's
paternity result to get your name off of it. Is that correct? Yes, Your Honor. Ms. Smith, you are positive that plaintiff is
the biological father
of your two sons, and hope today's results
will save your family. Is that correct? Yeah. So, Mr. Jamison,
let me start with you. You claim you are now positive
you are not the father. Yes, Your Honor, I'm not... JUDGE LAKE: Explain. JAMISON: All right, so,
let's take you
to the beginning. I moved in with her
probably like... Probably like two weeks
after knowing her and then she kicked me out.
She kicked me out. You know, she said
she went to mess with her ex, saying that's where
she wanted to go right now. Oh, so you moved, you met,
and you all were just having
a relationship... JAMISON: Right. And then how long after that
did she kick you out? I'll say, probably
like a month,
she kicked me out. And did you want to go back
with your ex, Ms. Smith? I did. But then I end up
back with him. I told him I didn't want to go
to my ex's. I was done with it,
and I went... JAMISON: 'Cause she knew
what was right for her,
Your Honor. So you asked him
to come back on home? SMITH: Yeah. JUDGE LAKE: You came... It was an act,
Your Honor. JUDGE LAKE: Hold on.
I'm getting to that part. Who were you with
before you asked him
to come back? Two dudes, Your Honor.
She was with two dudes.
You know... JUDGE LAKE:
How did you find that out? Because I went through
her phone. And I see she's texting her ex, and she's talking about all...
"I don't love him. "He's just someone
that's just around." And so you confront her? JAMISON: I confronted
her about it. What happened? She kept denying it
'cause she didn't know
I went through the phone. 'Cause it's done, done.
I had text messages. She had sex
with the dude, too,
on his birthday. JUDGE LAKE: You saw that
in the text messages? Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. She had sex with him
on his birthday. And this is the same ex? JAMISON:
This is the same ex, yeah. So, Ms. Smith, you got caught now,
and what happened? We argued about it,
then he would go,
he would leave, and then eventually,
he'll come right back. Mr. Jamison. JAMISON: Yes, ma'am. You said there were two men
she cheated with? Yes. There was a guy
in the neighborhood, um... I was always asking her
about the dudes
that she brings around, does she do
anything with them? Not to, you know
not to declassify her... You already knew... Not to declassify her. But you know... But you already
knew the guy. He told me, yes,
when she kicked me out,
she had sex with him too. (AUDIENCE EXCLAIMS) And there's another guy.
There's another guy. JUDGE LAKE: A third guy? Yeah. There's a third guy. JUDGE LAKE:
Who told you this? I found it in her phone.
I found it in her phone. The phone... JUDGE LAKE: Ooh! You can't stay
out that phone, can you? JAMISON: No, I couldn't. I couldn't,
I couldn't, I couldn't. You know, the saddest thing
was I really wasn't trying
to say things, because I'm going
snooping for things, so I can't really be too mad,
you know, but I'm mad. Well, I mean, be careful
what you go looking for
'cause you just might find it. SMITH: Exactly. Exactly. JAMISON: You're right,
exactly. You shouldn't have been
doing it though. Whatever. JUDGE LAKE:
So, you found it... Right. ...and you don't seem
to be denying this, so now that makes me
more concerned <i>that what he's saying is true.</i> SMITH:<i> Both of my kids
are his.</i> JAMISON:<i> She lied
about everything.
I don't know.</i> I don't know
how many guys it could be. (AUDIENCE EXCLAIMS) The kids...
They don't even... It's about the kids.
They're yours. It's like you're disgusted.
What is going on in your mind? Because you're admitting
to these things... SMITH: It's true. She don't understand why I'm... (LAUGHS SARCASTICALLY)
It is... She doesn't understand
where the doubt comes from
and the reason why it's okay. But they're yours,
Benjamin,
they're yours! I allowed it, I allowed it
'cause I kept coming back,
so she thinks it's okay. You know what I'm saying,
but it's not okay. 'Cause I just opened up,
I'm letting my emotions out. I've never been with someone
this long, you know, gave someone my trust,
my feelings. You know,
I'm not like that. But, you know,
I was weak, I became weak. JUDGE LAKE: That's not weak. Actually being able
to be vulnerable and open up and be in a relationship,
that's strong. But Ms. Smith,
you do have to understand
his doubts. I do. I do. I mean, let's be honest. This is a lot. And then I signed
the birth certificate, I signed the birth certificate
even though I had a doubt. So you went and signed
the birth certificate
for which child? JAMISON:
For, uh, Malaki. <i> And I had doubts then.
I was saying "No,
I don't want to sign it."</i> But he was there during
the whole pregnancy, the birth.
You was there. That's what I meant. So how did
you doubt, though? JAMISON: But... He don't want to man up
to his responsibilities,
though. As a father of both of my kids,
which I know he is the father, he don't want to man up. It's not about manning up. It is about manning up. That means financially,
physically, all that,
Benjamin. I've been there too.
I've bought diapers,
bought clothes... How many times?
How many times? Toys... It's not how many times.
I do when they need it. So, Ms. Smith, what happened
to the relationship
after Malaki was born It was just... We break up,
get back together. Did you move on
and start dating somebody else? No, off time, no,
with Malaki, but with Michael, I did. The younger child, you did. SMITH: Yes. After he was born and before. I been getting cheated on this
whole time in my relationship,
Your Honor. Oh, my God. Four years. I would end up
talking to other people, text messages, social media... She don't understand... She don't understand that. But I was never intimate. I was never intimate
physically with anyone. No one, at all. Even them little text messages
and all that stuff
he was finding, them people,
I never slept with at all. So, Mr. Jamison,
you're seeing this and you're saying
these are not just
flirtatious text messages. Yeah. Sending
naked pictures,
you know... Try and pose up,
do little posing. JUDGE LAKE: Were you sending
naked pictures
to men, Ms. Smith? No. I don't even know
what he's talking about.
I really don't. JUDGE LAKE: All right, so... Who were you with
before you found out
you were pregnant with Michael? Well, I got pregnant around
the end of August,
early September with Michael. <i> Around October, mid-October,
early October,</i> <i> I did start seeing
someone else.</i> <i> I didn't get
my menstrual cycle,</i> so I went to the doctors and they told me,
okay, I'm pregnant. I'm like, okay,
so, soon, I tell
the guy I was dating. 'Cause I did,
I thought it was his. So you told
the other guy first. SMITH: Yeah. Mmm-hmm. "I'm pregnant
and this is your baby." SMITH: Yeah. What happens? The other guy,
he was okay with it. He was fine with it.
He was like, okay, he was gonna
be there, everything else. <i>So, maybe about two days later,
I went and had
a ultrasound done.</i> They tell me
I'm three months pregnant. (AUDIENCE EXCLAIMS) So I'm like, I didn't
even know this guy
three months ago. But by who, though? So... By you, that's who. If you want more episodes
of Paternity Court Make sure to subscribe
and click on
the notification bell. What you're testifying is that
when you got the ultrasound, it came back that you were
three months pregnant. Yeah. The baby... JUDGE LAKE: So when you
counted back, you felt like it wasn't
this other guy's baby now. SMITH: Exactly. It was Mr. Jamison's. Yes. Your Honor,
how you going to be
pregnant for 11 months? SMITH: 11 months? (AUDIENCE LAUGHING) That's a good question,
Mr. Jamison. You submitted a calendar
to the court? Yes, I did, Your Honor. That outlines why you believe
you are not
Michael's biological father. JAMISON: That's a fact.
Right here, July 20th,
that's the last... <i> I find out last week
that's the last time
we had sex.</i> JUDGE LAKE: The baby's
due date was June 8th. JAMISON:<i> June 8th,
the baby came
two months earlier.</i> SMITH:<i> I also...</i> JUDGE LAKE:<i> Two months
or two weeks?</i> Two months.
The baby was born April 16th. SMITH: He was premature. That's what it was.
He was premature. He was supposed to be due
June 8th. The full term date for them
to be born was in June... JAMISON: Right. ...and that would have been
11 months after the last time
you had sex with him. SMITH: That wasn't
the last time. It was... I'm telling you. No, it was not. So, Ms. Smith... How do you explain
this timeline then? That's totally wrong. That's totally wrong. Okay, well, around late August,
early September,
I remember because one of his family members
had a party. They had a party
and me and him both attended. That was around,
I would say, early September,
when all that happened. We didn't have sex. Yes... He got into altercation
with someone, and we were suppose...
We was trying to have
intercourse around that time and he couldn't do it. Fine, it happened,
but it's not the same thing. But it did happen. We had to switch positions
because your whole hand
was messed up. What are you talking about? Your Honor... SMITH: Yes, it was! But is this happening,
Ms. Smith, during the July 20th
date he's talking about? No. That's around... September. Like, September 9th.
I even have the picture. You submitted as evidence
a photo to the court, <i> and you say this photo
is why you know
the dates are right</i> in your estimation,
because this is the night
you conceived and you know
that was in September. SMITH: Yes. I'm not even in the picture,
Your Honor. (AUDIENCE LAUGHING) So you remember
that night, Benjamin? Listen, I don't remember
having slept with you. Come on now. So, listen. The picture
had a date stamp on it, and it's September 9, 2017. <i> Do you remember that day?</i> I remember that day,
Your Honor,
but we wasn't intimate. (AUDIENCE EXCLAIMING) So, did you sign
Michael's birth certificate? No, I did not. I'm not the dad. (AUDIENCE EXCLAIMS) So what's your relationship
with Michael and Malaki? Do you have
a relationship with them? They're two and three months.
I mean, do you? Well, yeah.
I take care of them kids. I'll be there for them kids,
I play with them,
change their diapers. You know, feed them.
Whatever needs to be done
just gets done. Do you feel connected to them,
like you're their father? Not with Michael.
Not with Michael. What about Malaki? JAMISON: Yeah, I do. <i> But you know
I still have my doubts.</i> <i> You know,
that's why I'm here today.</i> <i> Um, I even got
these papers right here.</i> You know, if they're not mine,
I got the applications for
the change name right here. (SCOFFS) 'Cause you don't want them
to have your last name? She gave me,
she gave Michael
my name in the hospital I didn't even give her
the permission to do that. I feel like deep down,
he know they're both his.
He knows. Benjamin, you know... I don't know. Yes, you do. We won't be here if I knew. Like, come on now. I'm... To prove to you also. <i> No, I just hope,
when the results come back,
they're yours.</i> <i> That you just squashed
a whole bunch of stuff.</i> (BOTH TALKING OVER EACH OTHER) Hold on, now. Hold on. JUDGE LAKE: But, Ms. Smith.
Let's be honest. I mean, you seem
so sick and tired
and sick and tired, but the behaviors
that led to this, so much of it is your doing
and what you're doing and... And then you honestly say
that before Michael was born, you were with
this other guy, <i>and you told this guy
you thought it was his, and...</i> <i> He has reason to doubt.</i> SMITH:<i> I'm just that
we both did dirt.</i> Me and Benjamin,
we both have done dirt
to each other. We have. But then
we end up right back
with each other... It's not about that. JUDGE LAKE: Look,
what I'm saying to you
is you look over... I mean, you are
so emphatic when you say, "You know these kids are yours,
you know it, you know..." But the truth is
he doesn't know it,
because you didn't know. You told the other guy
you thought he was his. Right, but then when
I found out how far long
I pregnant was, I came straight to Ben.
I told him, I said,
"This is your baby." Your Honor, she's sneaky.
She's sneaky. When I found out I was pregnant three months ago,
I didn't know.
I didn't know that guy. There's probably guys
I don't even know about. (AUDIENCE EXCLAIMING) But the thing is
I still loved her. And it's like, you know,
I don't want to fully leave
her, but I... You know... Because you do love her. JAMISON: Right. Look, I want...
I want my family too. We always begin to arguments
over little crazy,
nonsense stuff, and it just leads right back
to about the kids. It's not crazy,
nonsense stuff,
Your Honor. We're too old for
the nonsense stuff. "The kids not mine." "Don't call me about the kids." Bad energy, bad vibes.
We don't need that. "Don't call me for..."
Like I'm just, I'm tired
of going through that. But your babies are
two and three months old. SMITH: Yes. I mean, you just had Michael. Mmm, yeah. SMITH:<i> I want my family.
I want to be with him.
I really do.</i> JUDGE LAKE:<i> So you do
want your family.</i> SMITH:<i> Yeah, but I'm just
tired of the arguing.</i> I know all that
is not healthy for the kids. It's not at all. I do honestly believe that you really do want
your children to have a family. I do. JUDGE LAKE: But I don't know
what's going on with you. And what I see
in this courtroom,
which is interesting to me, it's a dynamic between
the two of you. It's like, you're so verbal,
Mr. Jamison, and she's not that person. But I feel like it becomes
convenient for her
to then sit back, just hide her emotions,
and internalize them. Then I feel like her pain
or whatever she's feeling is coming out
with her all over
with these guys. I don't know, I just want... JUDGE LAKE: What do you...
What do you feel, though? Like what...
Why are you doing this? I would love for our family
to get worked out like I said. JUDGE LAKE: So it does
matter to you? It does. It really does. And if he's willing
to work it out, that's all I'm saying.
I would want to. <i> I want my kids
to have a father.</i> <i> I didn't have
a dad like that.
I didn't.</i> <i> I would want my kids
to have their father.</i> JUDGE LAKE: You do? Yeah. JUDGE LAKE:
And can I ask you this? Have you prepared yourself
that if one of the children
aren't his or maybe both... Have you prepared yourself
of where you go from there? SMITH: I don't...
I don't think I'm wrong.
I don't. JUDGE LAKE: You're sure? SMITH: Mmm-hmm. JUDGE LAKE: Okay. I'm really sure. All right,
let's get the results
for you guys. (AUDIENCE CLAPPING) The first result is for... Malaki. These results were prepared
by DNA Diagnostics and
they read as follows. In the case of<i>
Jamison v. Smith,</i> when it comes to
two-year-old Malaki Jamison, it has been determined
by this court, Mr. Jamison, you... Are the father. (AUDIENCE CLAPPING) JUDGE LAKE:
You are the father. The next result is for Michael. In the case of<i>
Jamison v. Smith,</i> when it comes to
three-month-old
Michael Jamison... JUDGE LAKE:
It has been determined
by this court, Mr. Jamison, you... Are the father. Thank you.
Thank you. (AUDIENCE CLAPPING) I'm relieved. I'm happy. I'm happy. I'm happy. JUDGE LAKE: What do you
feel, Ms. Smith? 'Cause I'm tired
just going through
so much with you. I'm serious, yo. We got two kids.
(STAMMERS)
Like, for real. Just let it out. Just say how you feel.
You don't have to hold it in. The truth is there now. All the mistakes... I just wish
he would just act right and just try to do, you know,
for the sake of them two. That is all I'm saying,
for the sake of them two. I'm-a do
what I got to do. I'm-a do
what I got to do. All right. We've gotten ourselves
to this point.
We've gotten the truth. But I liked that moment
when you just said
"I'm just tired." And just had to
have yourself a cry. Because it's okay
to let it out. It has been obvious
through this proceeding that she's done her damage,
and has contributed to this. But we know you have as well, and it really is about
this dynamic,
this relationship you all have. I always say, "You can't seek
comfort under the covers." 'Cause it leads to this. I'm gonna be honest.
Mr. Jamison has said you've been like
one of the first women
he's opened up to. And I need you to open up
a little bit more to him too. And I want to see you all
try to make it
for these children. Relationships are not easy,
for anybody, but you all can make it
if you put your minds to it. I want you to go
and spend time with Dr. Jeff. I want you all
to talk through this.
I want you to figure out. You both have expressed
that you want this relationship
and you want this family. But you can't keep
self-sabotaging. You can't keep sabotaging it. Everytime you get
in an argument, that doesn't mean
you go call somebody else. You can't do it like that. I wish you all
the very, very best.
Court is adjourned. JAMISON: Thank you. (AUDIENCE CLAPPING)
