As I understand it any cash awards either to plaintiff or defendant are paid by the network, in addition I believe that persons appearing on the show also receive some kind of payment for allowing themsleves to be filmed.
This being the case why do the losers get all shitty when the verdict goes against them?
It’s not as if they have to pay anything.
Two possibilities:
There usually aren’t big bucks at stake in Small Claims Court- frequently, not enough to justify hiring a lawyer or going to court. If people choose to go to court over a few hundred dollars, it’s probably because they’re PISSED OFF, rather than because of the money. A plaintiff wants vindication more than payment. A plaintiff who sues and loses is going to be mighty angry, because he’s not getting the public vindication he craved.
This is a TV show- producers want conflict, because that makes for drama. They may either encourage participants to act more angry and crazy than they are… or they may seek out participants who are especially angry or crazy.
Being found guilty on national TV is probably a pretty upsetting experience.
I seem to recall that the winner’s award is taken out of the loser’s payment for being on the show.
But what if the award is greater than the losers payment, what then.
Also: The Rulings are FInal are they really?
According to the fine print at the end of the show, the loser has to make up the difference
According to the fine print, yes. Both the Plaintiff and the Defendant sign a contract agreeing to follow the arbitrator’s (the “Judge”) decision. Sure, they could skip out on it, but then you’ll probably get a pissed off collection agency after you.
It’s my understanding–and I could be wrong about this–that the network puts up a pot of $5000, which is the max you can win. If you win you get your winnings and you and the other party split what’s left over. For instance, If I sue you for $1000 and win, I get $1000 plus $2000, and you get $2000. I can’t remember where I heard this, though, so I could easily be wrong.
I was a defendent on the People’s Court. Not Judge Judy true, but I doubt it’s any different. I won, and I received $250 for my time. If I had lost, the show would have paid the amount awarded to the plantiff, and I would have received only $50 for my time. At no point was any of my own money at risk.
Of tangential interest – today’s question.
Good article Bricker.
I really like Judge Milian and it really seems like she has been a judge for quite awhile instead of just the two years.
Yes, because both parties are required to dismiss their court case and sign an agreement to binding arbitration. This is also partially what allows people like Judge Milian to do what she calls ‘rough justice’, that is, they are not strictly bound by the actual law.
A lawyer once told me, “Money is often the issue but rarely the problem.” People will argue ad nauseum about money but they’re really pissed about cheating or some other issue. It goes along with what’s stated in #1, wanting vindication but probably wanting MORE a public shaming for the other guy.
I don’t watch this type of show a lot* because usually they have a bunch of people who have entrenched themselves in the drama and only too happy to display it on TV (see #2). Their solution is probably in a psychologist’s office, not a courtroom.
*Except for Judge Hatchett. I don’t really hear what’s going on there…I’m just drooling over her and that lazy eye. RRRRROW!!!
Ok a slight tangent but judge judy related! I love this episode of Judge Judy
sooooooo funny!
Sometimes it is about the money. I know if someone owed me bucks big enough to hurt, but too small to go to regular court over (say, between $1,000 and $5,000), I’d probably pursue it in small claims court, too. I’m not sure I’d want to appear on television over it, but sometimes these people are happy to do so if they think the chances are slim to none that the defendant can or will pay up, even if they get a judgment. At least this way, they’re guaranteed to get their award if they win. Not so much in the real world.
I’m very glad to know that losers on these shows only get $50, as opposed to splitting the balance of the pot up to the maximum award value.
And ftr, I love Marilyn Milian. Love, love, love her, especially her Spanish quotes!
I love Judge Milian, and she doesn’t seem to be as psychotic as Judge Judy. I love it when Milian goes off on some guy who is condescending to her. She tends to really know her law, for what it seems. I’ve taught American Government to freshmen for several years, and they love mock trials so much, they watch these court shows and argue about the results the next day.