How Exactly Are Payments Made On Tv Court Cases Like Judge Judy? Does It Involve The Appearance Fee They're Paid?

by **Amhuinn** » Mon Mar 03, 2014 4:15 pm

I've been told that they are paid an appearance fee and the collections are made to the winner of the case by way of the fees paid, does anyone have any clarification for me? And if this is true, isn't possible for the plaintiff and the defendant to get together and defraud the show with a frivolous or totally bogus case. I say that because I have seen some cases that were so trivial or just seemed made up, especially between friends and family members. I have seen Judge Mathis in particular, dismiss cases, giving me the impression that he felt that they were scamming(both parties). Which makes me feel that the TV shows distributes all payments out of their own pockets. Someone enlighten me please.

by **Wadanhyll** » Wed Mar 05, 2014 4:48 am

Years(decades?) ago, People's Court had a blurb at the end of each show, stating that any monetary awards were paid from a fund provided by the show, with the remainder of the fund split evenly between the 'combatants.' I've assumed that's the way these shows all work, but even People's Court stopped airing that blurb long long ago, so I don't really know what's done anymore. Interesting question!

by **Chancellor** » Sat Mar 08, 2014 12:12 pm

Mr_M_told_U_so said: 2 I certainly take all cases I see on these shows with a grain of salt. Notice how the judge always sides in with the more likable person, i.e., the one the audience likes. If they did NOT, the show would have no viewers. 67 months ago

by **Darrell** » Sun Mar 09, 2014 6:34 am

I certainly take all cases I see on these shows with a grain of salt. Notice how the judge always sides in with the more likable person, i.e., the one the audience likes. If they did NOT, the show would have no viewers.

by **Valerio** » Tue Mar 11, 2014 10:42 pm

It does come out of a fund, they both get paid. The winner gets paid whatever the judge says they won. Almost all the court tv shows get their "contestants" from real court documents. I had a friend that was suing someone else in a court in our town. One of the judge shows called and asked if she would take it to the tv court. Of course she said no because the $5000 she would win wasn't enough to cover the costs of what happened. Chanelrs 29 months ago

by **Thormond** » Thu Mar 20, 2014 2:10 am

Pam_I_Am said: 1 Years(decades?) ago, People's Court had a blurb at the end of each show, stating that any monetary awards were paid from a fund provided by the show, with the remainder of the fund split evenly between the 'combatants.' I've assumed that's the way these shows all work, but even People's Court stopped airing that blurb long long ago, so I don't really know what's done anymore. Interesting question! 67 months ago

by **jeric100** » Thu Mar 20, 2014 8:59 pm

You've been told correctly Watch the credits at the end and it says something along the lines of "Each participant in each case has been paid an appearance fee, from which the total of the judgment is taken and given to the plaintiff as necessary." So if they're both being paid $5k, and the defendant owes the plaintiff $3k, then the plaintiff gets $8k and the defendant gets $2k.That being said, the participants still must pay court fees to file and stuff like that, but that's trivial when you compare it to what they're paid(I think it's a few thousand dollars, most likely the amount that the court maxes out at - if you can only sue for $5k, then that's probably the appearance fee, plus you get airfare, hotel, and food, although they try to only get people in who live locally.)I only know this because I've been on one of these types of shows before, and I've seen that disclaimer on the ends of all the ones I've ever stopped and watched. Sources: My knowledge TakeaChillPillYo 67 months ago Please sign in to give a compliment. Please verify your account to give a compliment. Please sign in to send a message. Please verify your account to send a message.

by **Goreu** » Sat Mar 22, 2014 4:31 am

Watch the credits at the end and it says something along the lines of "Each participant in each case has been paid an appearance fee, from which the total of the judgment is taken and given to the plaintiff as necessary." So if they're both being paid $5k, and the defendant owes the plaintiff $3k, then the plaintiff gets $8k and the defendant gets $2k.That being said, the participants still must pay court fees to file and stuff like that, but that's trivial when you compare it to what they're paid(I think it's a few thousand dollars, most likely the amount that the court maxes out at - if you can only sue for $5k, then that's probably the appearance fee, plus you get airfare, hotel, and food, although they try to only get people in who live locally.)I only know this because I've been on one of these types of shows before, and I've seen that disclaimer on the ends of all the ones I've ever stopped and watched.

by **Guillermo** » Fri Mar 28, 2014 10:31 pm

I met with a court tv program who had their admininstrative offices in Manhattan. This was over 10 years ago. They offered both the plaintiff and defendant $300 each as an appearance fee. Plus they would pick us up in a limo and pay the winner the judgment. I highly doubt anyone is getting paid thousands as an appearance fee. Please refer to wikipedia where I found this quote:"The disclaimer did not call this fund an "appearance fee", a term which appeared later in connection with The People's Court and other court shows. There may have been a later period when The People's Court paid the judgment, plus expenses and only a modest appearance fee to each litigant.[8]" Timeless88 21 months ago

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