You may be seated. Hello, Your Honor. Hello.

This is the case of Sousis v. Payne. Thank you Jerome.

Good day, everyone. AUDIENCE: Good day. Ms.

Sousis, you have dragged the defendant into court today because you say, it's his mother's fault he's denying your ten-month-old daughter A'laylianna, you claim when the DNA results prove he is the father, you want the defendant's name added to her birth certificate. Is that correct? Yes, Your Honor.

JUDGE LAKE: Mr Payne, you and your mother say, the plaintiff's sneaky behavior during your on-and-off three year relationship has led you both to believe she is a liar. You say you need the DNA results, or you're not signing anything. Yes, Your Honor.

All right, so Ms. Sousis, why has this relationship been on-and-off for three years? Cause he's just so jealous and insecure about himself, like, everywhere I go he think I'm doing something.

If I go to the store, I got to be back in a certain time, like, he just crazy. Your Honor, she. .

. Your Honor, she's lying. She been out there, Facebook messages.

KENYETTA ZACKERY: You guys, they're both jealous. They both jealous. Of course I'm jealous, you were my boyfriend for almost three years.

And why wouldn't I be jealous? You was my girl. How old are you guys?

SOUSIS: I'm 19. PAYNE: I'm 20. All right.

There we go. (ALL CHUCKLING) You all engage in adult activities, but you're still acting like kids. Right?

(AUDIENCE APPLAUDING) So you say, Mr Payne, she's sneaky. PAYNE: Yeah. And that's what leads you to doubt paternity.

The first day after we started talking, she went to the movies with some other guy. Facebook messages, telling her ex, she love him this, this and that. Yeah, but the next day you did something with another girl, and you was just telling, your ex, you loved her.

So, what's the difference? No, she's lying. You lying in court.

SOUSIS: I don't need to lie. So, Ms. Sousis, you did contact your ex?

Yeah, I said I care for him. I never said I loved him. He told his ex he loved her.

And I did go to the movies with a boy, okay? What is that supposed to mean? For nine hours?

What movie is nine hours? And you all were in a relationship on and off for three years? Yes.

What happened when you told him you were pregnant? SOUSIS: He was happy. For a minute.

And then. . .

I don't know, there we go with the DNA test stuff, so. . .

What was your response, Mr Payne? I was happy and shocked at the same time. Cause I felt like it happened fast.

Cause we had just got back together. SOUSIS: Yes. JUDGE LAKE: How soon after y■ got back together did.

. . PAYNE: Two weeks.

KENYETTA: It seemed like right away. That's the only reason why I questioned her. Because the first time she was pregnant twice, the first time she got pregnant, I knew without a doubt it was his.

Because she didn't go anywhere. I couldn't get rid of her. This time they kept breaking up.

They break so much, and they were broken up, I think they were broken up for a month or something like that. SOUSIS: Yes. They got back together and she got pregnant.

Yes, we had sex. And in like a month of it. .

. Yes, I was pregnant. .

. But instantly, when she said she was pregnant, I told her from the beginning, just because you all broke up, that I wanted a DNA test. I did tell you from the beginning.

Yes. I'm not gonna put no baby on somebody I don't know that. .

. I understand that, but it's just that, you know, they broke up. And then it just, it really did seem, like, it just happened right away, you know, I'm like, "It hasn't even been a month.

" We did have sex without a condom, so it probably did happen right away. So you're saying two weeks after getting back together, you take this test. Yes.

And it's positive? Yes. And so you said, "We're not doing anything till we get a DNA test.

" I said, me personally, I wanted a DNA test to make sure that it was his. And I told him that he should get a DNA test because they both do things to each other. It seems like they go tit-for-tat.

"Oh, you're talking to a guy? Imma go talk to this girl. " "You're talking to a girl?

Imma go talk to this guy. " They do this. This is what they do.

Yes, I did it. Yeah. I'm not innocent.

This is what they do. But I'm not gonna put no baby that's not yours. I'm not innocent either.

SOUSIS: And I wouldn't ask you to be there, through the pregnancy, if it's not your child. But I was there through the pregnancy. But you really weren't.

But I wasn't though? How? Because you wanted to stay away.

How? Yes, I did. .

. JUDGE LAKE: So, what happened during the pregnancy? There was a time when someone came up to me, in a supermarket and Ms.

Sousis and my son knows about this. A lady comes up to me, and she goes, um, "Yeah, well, you're right to want a DNA test because "she moves around. " This lady, she knows.

I came home and told him and he told her. Everybody got something to say about me. Right.

But I don't know this lady, you understand? So it's weird for someone to just come up to me out of the blue first of all, I'm like, "How does she know about me wanting a DNA test? " You understand what I'm saying?

Second of all, like, "Who are you? " I don't know the lady. And so someone out the blue just says, Yeah.

they make a comment about Ms. Sousis. SOUSIS: Somebody always got something to say about me.

All right, and so when the baby was born, what happened? Um, he was there. He didn't sign the birth certificate.

Obviously, we're here now. And, um, he was there for, like, two months and then he just disappeared. PAYNE: No, I did not.

She didn't want to be around me. KENYETTA: We live in the same complex. So it's, kind of, hard to disappear.

Ms. Sousis, what are you feeling right now? You're so angry, I can see it.

What's upsetting you the most? (BREATHING DEEPLY) JUDGE LAKE: Take your time. I've been doing this for so long by myself, it's, like, I'm just fed up.

She ain't had to be alone. She chose to. That that was on her.

Yeah, 'cause who was there for me? She chose to. .

. JUDGE LAKE: Wait, wait, wait. Mr Payne says you didn't have to be alone.

Why did you choose to do this by yourself? 'Cause I've been independent for so long, for so many years by myself. I was used to it.

So it was, like. . .

Did you want him to be there and help you? Yes, I did. I'm confused as to why you didn't allow him to help you.

I did. He just. .

. We just argued too much. Which was too much around my daughter.

And I want that all around her, so. . .

JUDGE LAKE: Okay. Okay. There was a time when Ms.

Sousis was, like, she's. . .

We were really close. We used to be really close. But she was always around me, if she needed me I was there.

It's the back and forth between them. They're breaking up. They're doing things to hurt each other.

I just don't want to be bothered, you know what I'm saying? I feel bad that she's alone. I let her know that if the paternity test come up, that this is ours, I'm going to be there.

She won't be by herself. But I told her when she got pregnant and you told me, I told you. I said, "This is something you're going to do by yourself.

" You've realized that. Yeah. And you know why?

I told you, I was a teenage mother, too. And they don't stick around. Yes.

I'm just mad at. . .

Even if, if it says like. . .

It took you guys ten months just to do this, like. PAYNE: You kept her with you. No, I did not.

You're not telling the whole story. Don't do that. (OVERLAPPING CONVERSATIONS) SOUSIS: How did I keep her away?

PAYNE: You told them that I didn't do nothing at all. You disappeared. You come in and out of our life.

How did I disappear if you just told her you did not me around you? I did. I did.

You're not making no sense. JUDGE LAKE: Let's get some order. Let's get some order.

Why so much anger? What is going on between the two of you? 'Cause they love each other.

What type of relationship does A'laylianna with Mr Payne and his mom? She just cries, like, she just cries. She don't even know them.

That's what type of relationship she has with them. JUDGE LAKE: And so for the past ten months you've been raising her on your own. Not on my own, like, yeah, he comes in.

Like I say, he comes in and out. I don't like that. If you're going to stay out, stay out.

If you're going to come in, come in. Like if she knows you're her dad, stay in. If I asked you if you need help, and you want me to be there and you tell me, "No.

" What more can I do? Am I supposed to stalk you every day, to help you out? (ARGUING) How is it a problem?

How is it a problem? Well, get her formula. It's a problem.

And what did I do? And what did I do? Well, you know her diapers, it was a Pampers, all right?

All right, then. Okay. When you just asked, what did I do?

What did you do? What did I do? You said you needed a stroller, you ain't even put the stroller up.

Because it's blue. Because the color's blue. I'm not going to put her in no blue stroller.

So now we're fighting over the color of the stroller? PAYNE: Yeah. This is problematic.

This really is, um, sad. KENYETTA: Yes, it's heated. Because we all.

. . No, 'cause really I, kind of, let the argument go for a minute, because I want to try to understand what you're arguing about.

I mean, what is it? But it's very superficial. It's just, I don't know, it's just madness.

Really, it is. "I'm doing this by myself. " "I'm angry because I'm doing this by myself.

" "Well, okay, I'll try to be here. " "Well, no. I don't want you to be here.

" "Well, what did I do? " Uh, it just. .

. Why haven't you been able to have a conversation? This child is ten months old.

I wouldn't keep her away, but it takes you this long just to step up as a father. That's crazy. JUDGE LAKE: So, what you're feeling, and that's why I asked you what you were feeling.

Because sometimes we have to be honest about where we are and what we feel. So we can figure out how to or where to go. Are you hurt because the relationship did not work out?

No, I don't care about that. You don't care about the relationship. I just want him to be her father.

I'm more hurt about her and him. They don't have a relationship. Mr Payne, you say you stepped up somewhat.

But you say she also pushes you away. Look, she a good mom. I can't take that away from her, but.

. . But at the end of the day she did sometimes.

. . All right, sometimes I do stay away from her a little bit, because what could I do?

She don't want. . .

JUDGE LAKE: Is it because she doesn't want you around, or is it because you have doubt? SOUSIS: Yes, yes! No, it's both.

Either of the other week or every other month, "It's his and it's not his. " "Oh, come get your baby. " It's the same.

It's reapeating. JUDGE LAKE: The cycle keeps continuing. I want to understand, specifically, what are your doubts?

It's just cause of the beginning, like, we was both doing us before we got back together, I know how she moves, she know how I move. JUDGE LAKE: So you were broken up or on a break? Yeah.

Or broken up. And then we got back together. And she was dating other people, you were dating other people.

I wasn't dating nobody. I can't say she was dating anybody but I know we was both fooling around. Do you know or have proof that she actually had sex with someone else?

I seen her at a party with a dude, and that was. . .

That was a couple weeks before we got back together. That's the last thing I could say. During the break up, were you having sex during the break-up?

No, we don't talk to each other until we decided we miss each other. Then that's it. Then that's when we have sex.

And that's round the time we missed each other, and we had sex. And I got pregnant. JUDGE LAKE: Ms.

Sousis, when you were broken up, did you date anybody else at all? No. You didn't?

No. Yeah, I've talked to boys, of course. What female doesn't?

JUDGE LAKE: You talk to them, but you weren't sleeping with them? No, I wasn't sleeping with nobody. KENYETTA: Excuse me, Your Honor, there was another situation, I think I told you too, Lacee.

A lady, her daughter goes to the school pretty much with Lacee and she was saying, "Oh, she talks to this guy, and this girl and this guy. " Like just everybody. Everyone, no one.

. . Everybody gonna say anything they want.

Right, but no one has anything good to say, you know what I'm saying? I know how that goes, but you understand? That's my doubt.

So wait, someone approaches you at the Rex Center? KENYETTA: (CHUCKLES) Yes. They always saying bad at me, "I'm a ho.

" "I'm this. I'm that. " But does anybody really know me?

No. But when I confront people, nobody got nothing to say. So I was, like.

. . Is there anything in your past that would warrant them spreading these rumors about you?

SOUSIS: Yeah. Yes. Yeah.

There is. Okay. So that's what we're here to do, is tell the truth.

Yeah. But then when you met Mr Payne, those things changed? Yes.

And so when people speak negatively about you, that's what they're probably referring to. Is my past. And you're saying that, "That is not who I am now.

" Yes. JUDGE LAKE: Okay. In your court papers you say, that he's not on A'laylianna's birth certificate.

Yes, that's another reason why I didn't let him take her as much. KENYETTA: I told him, "If you have any doubts. .

. "Don't sign it if you have any doubts. "Get the DNA test first," Like y'all doing now.

I had a doubt and it is sad that it took ten months. . .

SOUSIS: It's sad, yes, it is sad. . .

. for it to happen. But at least it can happen today.

And if it is my child. . .

Imma step up all the way. SOUSIS: Good. A hundred percent.

You don't got to say good. 'Cause I know what Imma do. (AUDIENCE APPLAUDING) JUDGE LAKE: So he's not on the birth certificate?

No. And that upset you as well? Yeah.

And explain. If he would've signed the birth certificate, he could've been at his daughter's every day. He could've took her anywhere he want, so.

. . But because he didn't sign it, you felt like he rejected her.

I felt like, I have to hit them up first. Um, or like all the time. (STUTTERING) I've hit her up and she don't respond.

Every time you saw my daughter was. . .

I have to wait for you. . .

. I have a job! I have to wait for you.

If you're not going to respond to me, why am I gonna hit you up, Lacee? When do you hit me up? Are you crazy?

Come on. So. .

. Now, you're playing around when you know, if you're mad at him, you're mad at me. No, I'm not.

Yes, you are, you've always been that way. He does that. No, I don't.

You've always been that way. No, I have not. You'll be like, "Oh.

" Him too know. Do you hear yourself? You can't see the baby, dada.

The last time we had her at your house, I told you, specifically myself. You come see your granddaughter whenever you want. Then after her I never heard from you again.

Because I felt alone, like, neither of y'all care. Okay. She doesn't make sense if I hit her up, she don't response.

There was times when I was arguing with her, And I had to show him. and she won't talk to me, I tell her to call to get the baby. No answer.

No response. No, and I don't like. .

. Don't come out! In and out of her life!

Do you think you can just leave for two months and then come back and get your daughter? What mother is going to give How am I coming in. .

. their daughter? I just need the results.

JUDGE LAKE: Let's talk one at a time. Young people. Young people.

Young people. Young people. Ah.

. . (SIGHS) You all just.

. . You know so little about life.

And you have so much responsibility. It's obvious that you all have a lot of unfinished business, and a lot of love between the two of you. And it's puppy love.

So it's new, 'cause you all are young. You know when I look at them, I think about like. .

. Remember when you're like in third grade, Jerome, and the boy that always is the meanest to you, that's the one that likes you. JEROME: Absolutely.

You know and they just. . .

Ooh, boy! They just worry your nerves all day. You all have that dynamic.

And it's not that you're mean to her, Mr Payne, it's not that. It's just you all have that puppy love. You can't describe it.

You don't understand it. You don't know how to process this. But the problem is you are having sex unprotected, and making children.

And now she's in the center of this, this immature love you're experiencing. And it's a problem because you gotta grow up. Now I have the results for you.

Jerome. These results were prepared by DNA Diagnostics and they read as follows. In the case of Sousis v.

Payne, when it comes to ten month old A'laylianna Sousis-Payne, it has been determined by this court. . .

JUDGE LAKE: Mr Payne, you. . .

Are the father. Thank you. All right.

I'm happy. Now I'm happy. Now I could be happy.

PAYNE: All right. I'm happy to see that smile, I think this is the first time both of you have smiled today. Right?

Right? So good. We've gotten to happy.

Now we have to get to healthy. (AUDIENCE CHUCKLING) Right? Right?

(AUDIENCE APPLAUDING) And you even look emotional, Mr Payne. KENYETTA: He is. He's gonna cry.

(SOUSIS GIGGLING) JUDGE LAKE: And you know what? That's okay. I always say, "There's nothing wrong with shedding a tear over a child.

" KENYETTA: That's right. She's a beautiful little girl. How do you feel in this moment as a new.

. . I just want to say sorry to her.

. . Go ahead.

. . .

for denying it. And with what, with the stuff that I put her through. (AUDIENCE APPLAUDING) JUDGE LAKE: Let me give you.

. . I think that was well said.

SOUSIS: (CRIES) Your apology is accepted. JUDGE LAKE: Aw. .

. JUDGE LAKE: Now that's a start, right? But if you guys leave here today, and go back in to that zone of that fightin', then that's going to affect her.

So we have to really work on how we talk to one another. You know we have counseling for you all. And I want you all to sit down and talk, and start working on how to communicate.

You're still very young. Even old folks don't do it well. That's right.

So I want you to understand, but you're young and so you have less life experience, and so you really don't have a lot to draw on. So you have to be open to learning, right? Yes.

But you have even more incentive because you all have this beautiful little girl. And the atmosphere in which she's raised has a direct effect on how she grows. What she thinks about herself.

Her future. The possibilities for her life. Whether she feels loved and safe, right?

So we have to do the right thing, all right? I see you can't stop staring at your little girl, Mr Payne. And I love that.

So now we've got to do the work, okay? Okay. Yes.

All right. I wish you the very best of luck. Court is adjourned.