What Judge Judy Taught Me About Business (and Manners)

An admitted fan of court programs, and a child of an attorney/litigator mother, television court programs make for a natural educational resource. It all started in grammar school. Sick days included strict rules, despite how well I felt by the time the final school bell rang, outdoor play or hosting friends was out of the question. Since homework was not an overwhelming responsibility at age eight, the television was my companion for a few hours. Soap operas were out of the question, re-runs of long retired sitcoms were mundane. The People’s Court was my salvation. It was like nothing else on television. My affinity for Judge Wapner in my youth, now Judge Milian is still an occasional lunchtime respite during the workday.
DISCLAIMER: I am not an attorney, did not go to law school, the following is observation from watching a television program and being the child of a successful attorney with 30+ years of experience.
Years passed. Along came Judge Judy. She is whip smart, bold, and a savvy business woman. Her demeanor, whether it is a character she plays in a judge’s doily-collared robe, or her native persona is a formula for excellent programming. Her abrupt interjections are refreshing when a plaintiff or defendant fumbles on their words or dances around her direct question. It is a fine lesson in interpersonal communication. Be direct. Too many conversations (I’m calling myself out here too), are a lot of window dressing. Perhaps we adopted the unsavory habit from hearing politicians or people in positions of power give an irrelevant answer to a pointed question about an unpopular policy. Maybe this is a charade the business and political community used through the ages, yet it is a habit we can overcome. That’s enough of a tangent, back to the topic, the valuable lessons we can adopt from Judge Judy.
She is a no non-sense operator. Her biography documents her career as an attorney, judge, author, and public speaker to share a brief sample. The lessons learned from her are many. She is the epitome of brevity. Her questions are direct, simple and hold no ambiguity. Her lack of tolerance I believe is part of the act, as she can come across like a “bully”. It’s important to remember the program although educational, is entertainment.
What I learned from Judge Judy about business is worth it’s weight in some precious metal or gobs of crypto currency. There are a few lessons every business owner is wise to follow. The lessons do not require binge watching her program. The lessons are repeated in episode after episode. It’s a sign too many of our citizens operate with a loose set of assumed rules.
1. Get in writing. It isn’t any clearer than that. The excuses are abundant. He’s my friend, she’s honest, on and on. If it isn’t written, it isn’t a provable fact. Despite what someone agrees to yesterday or five years ago, if they dispute your claim it is on you. The accuser has the burden of proof in the majority of cases unless the judge can recognize through a series of pointed questions gross negligence, it is an unfortunate loss.
2. If a dispute goes to court, judges are not mind readers. Their responsibility is to hear facts (written, admitted verbal, photographic or physical evidence). Whether you are the most honest person this side of your saintly grandmother, judges hear cases daily. Your case is just a number on a docket. Your loss may be an unfortunate occurrence unique to you however; your particular dispute is one of many. A lesson in contracts, agree to an arbitrator or mediator as a condition for resolution versus taking someone to court.
3. Be prepared. It is the litigant’s responsibility to prove his case. The judge is capable of reading the statements from the two parties and review the submitted evidence to get a sense of the case pending. Evidence is crucial, see #1, document in writing the sequence of events relevant to the case, for example — time lines, being able to thread a series of actions together helps the merits of a case, witnesses present in court or notarized statements from said persons helps build your case as well.
4. Stick to your version. When judges hear changes in the telling of your version of the story, you lose credibility.
5. Let it go. Once a decision is made, accept it. Unless your evidence is so compelling and the judge exhibits bias and your attorney is narcoleptic, realize you can’t win them all.
In summary, taking the time to document agreements between vendors, independent contractors, employees and clients is a useful practice every business is going to benefit by. The time invested to draft your agreements, implement, periodically update whether by a licensed legal professional or simply on a piece of paper, scrawled in your handwriting is far better than the time and resources you will expend to right a perceived wrong. Don’t take my word for it, watch Judge Judy.
Judge Judy is a “Big Ticket Production” and is aired on CBS Studios and distributed by CBS Distribution
The People’s Court is a Ralph Edwards/Stu Billet Production, distributed by Warner Bros. Entertainment
