I really tried being Dan Lekaf Zchus but it’s nearly impossible.
While I do agree with the couple that it was a misunderstanding (I won’t accuse them of making this whole thing up), I agree with the defendants that the girl speaks a comprehensible english. Thus, making the language barrier an issue is disgusting and horrible. When a wig of 3K is at stake you don’t rely on sign language.
Additionally, did you realize how the woman suggests that they immediately ran over (as the judge wanted to know) while the husband sort of cut her off and contradicted her tale?
Notice how she only has one good wig (which she was wearing at the time) and a fall (which wasn’t in question), yet had another one that was washed. You can say that her confusion and stuttering came from appearing on national TV or appearing before a judge, but it doesn’t seem likely for someone that agreed to appear on the show.
It seems quite interesting and weird for the woman to make a claim that a mid-range wig costs $3,000 (as she muttered under her breath without confidence). While it’s true that a non-Jewish judge won’t know that much about wigs but it can be easily verified.
I highly doubt that a long wig washed in a washing machine (not dry cleaners) would shrink, it might tangle but not become short, especially when the net doesn’t appear to have shrunk.
I am horrified at their claim that Georgie was in France at that time. Regardless of how they had that information, Georgie is a company and its employees might very well know the inventory, sales history and products better than its respective owners.
For some reason, the facial expressions all along gave me the instinct that the couple was lying while the Hispanic girl was saying the truth. While the latter had a face of sincerity and a story that made sense, the plaintiff’s story had many flaws. I had the feeling all along that the couple was lying (and I believe that the judge felt the same) but I didn’t know it was that bad.
I will give them the benefit of doubt that there was some sort of misunderstanding originally (my guess is that she didn’t realize the wig was missing till much later. She, therefore, misunderstood that woman and told her to wash it. After she discovered she attempted to retrieve it only to learn that it was too late). The cleaners still had no business washing the wig. The couple realized that they don’t have the receipt so they replaced it with another one (that was purchased at Georgie’s in May for 3K. They figured that it wouldn’t be bad to get more than the original cost of the wig. However,a this is perjury and on national TV!
BOTTOM LINE: It’s utterly embarrassing and humiliating. This couple caused a huge Chillul Hashem and tainted us on national TV! There’s no reason to defend them. They are the rotten apples from within us. Shame on Mendy and Heidi! As to their last name, for many watching the show it was Orthodox-Jew.