The story begins in a local club where an engaged couple, living in a student dorm and working for a traveling carnival, met a woman named Cynthia. At the time, Cynthia’s life was in a rough spot—she was sleeping in a tent in the woods with friends and spent her nights singing karaoke at the club.

Feeling sorry for her, the couple offered her a “lifeline”: a job at the carnival and a place to stay in their apartment.

The “Three-Month” Disappearing Act

Cynthia moved in during May and stayed through July. However, the living situation was a disaster from day one. Although the apartment had three separate bedrooms (at $250 each), Cynthia claimed she was “scared” of another roommate and ended up sleeping in the couple’s room most of the time.

The couple eventually sued Cynthia for:

Unpaid Rent: They claimed they paid for an extra room just for her.

A Cell Phone Bill: They gave her a smartphone for work, but she never paid the bill and eventually “disappeared” with the device.

The “What I Can Afford” Trap

In court, Cynthia’s defense was simple: “I’m broke.” She claimed the couple told her she didn’t have to pay rent until she “got on her feet”—and according to her, she was still falling down. Her cousin, a nurse, even stepped in to explain that Cynthia only moved in with the couple so she could go out and party/sing karaoke every weekend.

The case took a turn when Judge Judy asked the plaintiff about the rent agreement. The man admitted he told Cynthia: “Just pay whatever you can afford at the time.”

Judge Judy’s response was a cold reality check: “She could afford nothing. She was living in a tent!”

The Verdict

Because the couple’s agreement was so vague (“pay what you can”), Judge Judy ruled that they couldn’t legally demand rent. However, the cell phone was a different story. Since Cynthia kept the phone and the couple had to pay a $100 insurance deductible to replace it, the Judge ordered Cynthia to pay that $100 back.