Judge Faith: Do Litigants Pay Up?

do the litigants actually pay on judge faith

Judge Faith is a nationally syndicated, arbitration-based court show that debuted in 2014. It is produced by Kathy Sapp, who also produced the long-running show Judge Alex. Judge Faith is presided over by Faith Jenkins, a legal analyst for MSNBC who graduated first in her law class from Southern University and went on to become a New York City prosecutor in the Manhattan District Attorney's office. The show features small claims cases, which are more informal and have a maximum award amount of $10,000 or less. Litigants on Judge Faith are paid an appearance fee, which typically ranges from $100 to $500, and the show's producers pay the judgment amount. In addition to the appearance fee, litigants also receive a daily wage of $35 and have their travel and accommodation expenses covered by the show.

Characteristics Values
Judge Faith Jenkins
Debut September 22, 2014
Judge's Background First in her law class from Southern University; former New York City prosecutor in the Manhattan District Attorney's office; practising attorney; legal analyst for MSNBC; Miss Louisiana 2000; first runner-up in the Miss America pageant 2001
Producers Kathy Sapp, Hank Cohen
Director James Ditchfield
Payment Litigants are paid an appearance fee, travel expenses, and a daily wage. The winning litigant is paid by the show's producers.

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Do litigants get paid an appearance fee?

Court TV shows only accept small claims cases, which are more informal and have a maximum award amount of $10,000 or less (and, in reality, $5,000 or less). In these cases, the two litigants (the person who was wronged and the person who allegedly wronged them) represent themselves, presenting their own evidence and defending themselves against the other party's statements.

Litigants on court TV shows are paid an appearance fee. These fees are generally small, ranging from $100 to $300, with some litigants on Judge Judy reporting fees of $500. Each court show's appearance fee is a little different, and additional perks might be included to entice people to appear. For example, a show may offer to pay for travel expenses, including hotel and flight costs, for guests who are not from the area where the show is filmed. Litigants on Judge Judy, for instance, receive a $35 per diem for every day they're in town for taping, as well as airfare and hotel expenses for their stay.

The winning litigant on a court TV show is awarded the monetary judgment passed down by the judge, which is paid directly to the winner through a fund set up by the show's producers. The defendant is not required to pay the award, and this is considered one of the significant perks of appearing on a court TV show. The show's production company does not pay any legal fees that were accrued before the plaintiff and defendant appeared on the show.

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Who pays the verdict?

Arbitration court shows are responsible for awarding the winner of the case with the monetary judgment passed down by the judge. Settlements are paid directly to the winner through a fund set up for the show. The defendant is not required to pay the award, and this is considered one of the significant perks of appearing on a show like Judge Judy or The People's Court. The winning party is ensured to collect the verdict amount, and the defendant can walk away from the case knowing that it has been handled. The show's production company does not pay any legal fees that were accrued before the plaintiff and defendant appeared on the show.

On Judge Judy, if the plaintiff wins the case, the show pays them the money, not the defendant. Because the show settles disputes through arbitration and not litigation, the defendant won't have any civil judgment added to their record if they lose. All parties involved in the case are guaranteed an "appearance fee" to compensate them for coming on the program. Their travel expenses to the Los Angeles courtroom are all covered, too.

The People's Court operates similarly, with the show paying the plaintiff if they win. The end of the show includes the following disclaimer:

> "Both the plaintiff and the defendant have been paid from a fund for their appearance. The amount, if any, awarded in the case, is deducted from this fund, and the remainder is divided equally between both litigants. The amount of the fund is dependent on the size of the judgment."

On Hot Bench, a show created by Judge Judy, the disclosure at the end of each episode also states that "monetary awards are paid from a fund maintained by the producer."

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What are the requirements to appear on the show?

To appear on a TV court show, there are several requirements that must be met. Firstly, an actual lawsuit must have been filed in a court of law, and the claim must be active without any pre-existing judgment in place. The lawsuit also cannot exceed a claim threshold, typically set at $5,000 for small claims courts.

Both the plaintiff and the defendant must agree to appear on the show and withdraw their lawsuit from the traditional court system. Additionally, they must sign a waiver agreeing to binding arbitration, which means the decision made on the show cannot be pursued or overturned in another court unless the judge dismisses the case without prejudice.

The litigants must also agree to disclose their personal business to a national television audience and be willing to travel to the show's filming location, with all travel expenses covered by the show.

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How does the casting process work?

The casting process for Judge Faith involves several steps, and it is handled by the show's production team, which includes executive producers Kathy Sapp and Hank Cohen. Here is a step-by-step guide to the casting process:

  • Filing a Small Claims Case: The first step for potential litigants is to file a small claims case with the appropriate court. Small claims cases are typically informal disputes between two parties, such as landlord-tenant issues, property damage, or personal injury cases.
  • Submitting the Case to the Show: Once a case has been filed, individuals can submit their case to the "Judge Faith" show. This can be done through the show's official website or other designated platforms. The submission process usually requires providing specific information about the case, including the amount being sued for, the docket number, the defendant's details, and a summary of the case.
  • Selection by Producers: The show's producers review the submitted cases and select the ones they find interesting and suitable for television. They look for cases that are engaging, unique, and likely to capture the audience's attention.
  • Agreement to Appear on the Show: Once a case is selected by the producers, both the plaintiff and the defendant must agree to appear on the national show. This involves signing a waiver and agreeing to binding arbitration, accepting that the decision made by Judge Faith is final.
  • Notification and Preparation: If both parties agree to appear, the litigants will receive notification and further instructions from the show's production team. This may include travel arrangements, as the show covers travel expenses for the litigants.
  • Appearance on the Show: Finally, the litigants appear on the show, presenting their evidence and arguments before Judge Faith. The show is recorded, and the episode is later aired on television.

It is important to note that the casting process may vary slightly depending on the specific requirements and procedures of the "Judge Faith" show. Additionally, the show's producers may also actively scout for interesting cases by reviewing publicly filed small claims cases and directly contacting potential litigants.

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How does the payment process work?

The Payment Process on Judge Faith

Judge Faith is an arbitration-based court show, and as such, it is responsible for awarding the winner of a case with the monetary judgment passed down by the judge. The litigants do not pay anything, and the settlements are paid directly to the winner through a fund set up for the show. The defendant is not required to pay the award, and this is considered one of the significant perks of appearing on a court show. The show's production company does not pay any legal fees accrued before the plaintiff and defendant appeared on the show.

Appearance Fees

Anyone appearing on a television court show is paid an appearance fee. These fees are generally small, ranging from $100 to $500. Each court show's appearance fee is different, and additional perks might be included to entice people to appear. For example, a show may offer to pay for travel expenses, including hotel and flight costs, for guests who are not from the area where the show is filmed.

Travel Costs

The litigants' travel expenses to the courtroom are covered by the show.

Audience Payments

Those who appear in the background as the court audience are also paid. Generally, the audiences are comprised of aspiring actors or actresses who work as extras. Extras are people used to make the background of a show or movie look full. They are paid a nominal fee, usually $100 to $150 per day. Extras may be paid a bonus if they have a particularly striking feature that the production company wants to include in the show.

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Frequently asked questions

Yes, litigants on Judge Faith are paid an appearance fee. This fee is usually small, ranging from $100 to $300.

Yes, litigants on Judge Faith are paid for their travel expenses, including hotel and flight costs.

The verdict amount on Judge Faith is paid by the show's producers through a fund maintained by them. The defendant is not required to pay the award.

To appear on Judge Faith, an actual lawsuit must have been filed in a court of law. The claim must be active, and there must not be a judgement already in place. Additionally, the claim threshold is the same as traditional small claims courts, with the lawsuit not exceeding $5,000.

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