Summary
Highlights
Ms. Hanson, 18, bought a car for $2,000 from her then-boyfriend's mother, Ms. Schulz, when Ms. Hanson was 17. Judge Judy points out that Ms. Hanson was legally unable to enter into a contract at that age. Ms. Hanson agreed to pay Ms. Schulz $100 a month and had paid close to $850.
The car was put in Ms. Hanson's name and registered by her when she was 17. She turned 18 in February, and she and Ms. Schulz's son broke up in June of the same year. Ms. Schulz claims Ms. Hanson's last payment was in April, while Ms. Hanson doesn't recall making payments this year.
Judge Judy explains that even though Ms. Hanson couldn't enter a contract at 17, making a payment after turning 18 'ratifies' the contract, making it legally binding. Ms. Hanson's defense is that she stopped paying because she was putting money into repairs and could no longer afford payments, claiming an agreement with Ms. Schulz to halt payments.
Ms. Hanson states that in May, Ms. Schulz agreed she no longer owed money due to car repairs, even saying 'that's fair'. Ms. Schulz denies this conversation, stating that in May, they paid for a repair ($260.93) that Ms. Hanson was supposed to reimburse, questioning why she would pay for repairs if payments on the car were stopping.
Ms. Schulz confirms she had repaid Ms. Hanson for previous repairs but not for the May repair because she felt she didn't owe Ms. Hanson anything after their alleged conversation. Judge Judy rules in favor of the plaintiff, Ms. Schulz, for $913.