In the world of shared housing, trust is the currency that keeps a home running. However, for Mr. Brisson and Mr. Belcher, their living arrangement was bankrupt from the very beginning.
The Honeymoon Phase
The story began in December, when Mr. Brisson placed an advertisement for a room in his home. Mr. Belcher answered the ad, and on January 1, 2014, he moved in with a signed agreement and a $200 deposit. The rent was set at a reasonable $650 a month. For the first eight weeks, life seemed stable. But Mr. Brisson was hiding a significant secret: his own lease was due for renewal in March, and he knew a rent increase was coming.
The Eight-Week Surprise
When March arrived, the “honeymoon” ended abruptly. Brisson informed Belcher that the rent was going up. Having lived in the unit for eight years, Brisson was well aware of the annual price hikes, yet he hadn’t breathed a word of this to Belcher during the move-in.
The tension in the house began to boil over. It wasn’t just about the money; it was about the lifestyle. Brisson complained about Belcher’s girlfriend always being around. He accused Belcher of “purposely” leaving windows open so the house cat would escape. Belcher, in turn, felt trapped—he had just moved his entire life into a room only to be hit with a price increase he hadn’t budgeted for.
From Friction to Eviction
By July, the relationship had completely soured. Belcher claimed he was paying his rent in cash by sliding it under Brisson’s door, but the atmosphere grew hostile. Brisson claimed Belcher was aggressive and “slamming doors.” On July 15th, Brisson finally posted an eviction notice, giving Belcher 30 days to vacate.
However, Brisson wasn’t content to wait for the law to take its course. He conducted a background check and discovered that Belcher was a convicted felon on probation. In a move that Judge Judy would later describe as “vindictive,” Brisson called Belcher’s probation officer. His goal was simple: bypass the 30-day eviction notice and get Belcher out immediately by causing trouble with the law.
The Day in Court
The two eventually landed in front of Judge Judy. Brisson attempted to paint himself as a victim of a “violent felon,” citing concerns about the firearms he kept in his own apartment.
Judge Judy, however, saw through the smoke. She pointed out the hypocrisy of Brisson’s business tactics:
He lured a tenant in without disclosing a looming rent hike. He expected a felon to disclose his past while Brisson himself hid the truth about the lease. And he used the probation officer as a weapon to speed up an eviction.
The Verdict
In the end, Brisson’s “shady” business practices backfired. Judge Judy dismissed Brisson’s claims entirely. Instead, she found his behavior so retaliatory and unfair that she awarded a judgment of $2,000 to the defendant, Mr. Belcher.
