Update! 'She gave the judge an attitude': Woman demands extra money for a brand new MacBook after friend sits on her old computer

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Remy Millisky • Writer and Editor
Feb 25, 2023 5:00 PM EST

One person wondered if they were at fault for the full cost of a new MacBook after breaking their friend's computer. They took to r/legaladvice years ago to explain the situation — and now they're back with an update to their laptop woes! 

Originally, u/MacBookcouch wrote that while they were over at a friend's place, they took a seat on the couch. Unfortunately there was a MacBook on the cushion, and the OP broke the screen! "Since it was completely my fault, I offered to pay her the money," the OP wrote. But this woman got greedy. She wouldn't accept the OP's money when the time came because she wanted a new computer, complete with the cost increase of hundreds of dollars. She thinks if she's getting a new computer, it should be an upgrade at the OP's expense. Without other options, the OP turned to the internet for advice, and shared what happened as their legal drama played out. 

Up next, one employee sent out a simple email to 30,000 people by accident — and caused a dramatic email system meltdown. 

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  • 01
    Flowerpot - 'Sat down on my friend's MacBook and broke it, offered to pay her... but now she wants more' UPDATE
    via Iewek Gnos
  • 02
    Rectangle - r/r/BestofRedditorUpdates Posted by u/Quality Proof: 11 5 4 D Sat down on my friend's MacBook and broke it, offered to pay her the money for it but now she wants more because "she was upgrading anyway" so it's this or she will sue me in small claims court.
    via u/macbookcouch
  • 03
    Font - Original by u/macbookcouch I had some of my friends over at my house and one of my friends invited one of her other friends to come over. She had her MacBook on my couch when I sat on it and broke it. Since it was completely my fault I offered to pay her the money for it and she agreed. She got it 3 years ago and it cost 2200 dollars at the time. I told her I'd wire you the money in a week to her bank account.
    via u/macbookcouch
  • 04
    Font - She's now emailed me saying that as per our conversation she's expecting the 2700 that I have agreed for!!!! I didn't know why she added the extra money so I got her number from my friend and called her to find her telling me she's now expecting me to pay for her new upgraded MacBook since she was "upgrading anyway". She said if I don't agree to do that she'll be suing me in small claims court. Can a judge agree to that?
    via u/macbookcouch
  • 05
    Handwriting - Should I wire her the $2,200 or should I just tell her go sue me?
    via u/macbookcouch
  • 06
    Human body - Update: I went through every single comment from the 200+ ones and I sincerely thank each and every one of you.
    via u/macbookcouch
  • 07
    Font - I did some research specifically for repairing the screen for the macbook and for her particular model it's around 310 for the screen + the labor cost so I wrote her back saying that since she didn't accept my initial offer of $2200, I'm withdrawing that offer, and offering to pay for the repair cost. She sent me an email calling me a bi and that she's going to take me to court.
    via u/macbookcouch
  • 08
    Font - I got served a few days later and went to court. I told the judge I gave her three options to choose from. 1) either to write her a check for a brand new one which was 2200 dollars. 2) Get her a refurbished one from apple or a third party or even used which would be around 1400 dollars or 3) fix her current MacBook since the screen is the only thing affected here and it would cost around 300 dollars plus money for labor. (I printed out the email I sent her and the mail she sent back refus
    via u/macbookcouch
  • 09
    Font - She gave the judge an attitude almost the whole time which really pied the judge off and helped my case I guess. After listening to both of us he ruled that I pay 50% of the repair cost since she negligently left her laptop on the couch. So I'll only be paying not more than 200-250 dollars for the whole thing.
    via u/macbookcouch
  • 10
    Human body - If it weren't for you guys I would've paid $2,200 dollars instead of around $200 and I honestly loved her look at the end as we walked out.
    via u/macbookcouch
  • 11
    Font - repooc21 OP is a treasure. They took full responsibility for something that wasn't entirely their fault and was willing to make it right within minutes (or seconds). Then recognized their goodwill was being taken advantage of and stood their ground. Excellent outcome. Hopefully that friend is no longer around. Quite sh behavior.
    via u/repooc21
  • 12
    Font - cleopatrasleeps Thankfully it sounds like it was more of a "friend of a friend" situation.
    via u/cleopatrasleeps
  • 13
    Font - throwRA1a2b3c4d1 Truly OOP was being so so so nice from the beginning. Who puts a laptop on a couch with a bunch of people over? Someone hoping to get their laptop crushed.
    via u/throwRA1a2b3c4d1
  • 14
    Human body - shuknjive. Love it when idiots "own" themselves.
    via u/shuknijive
  • 15
    Font - logicalb stuff. 1 yr. ago You need to watch some Judge Judy. She was amazing at noticing who was trying to solve the problem and who was creating the problem and ruled accordingly. Mind you it's technically an arbitration I believe and the show agrees to pay but you don't get your pride back when you sue a friend who said they'd replace or fix it and you want more. That's a recipe for p ing off a judge, or mom if you have siblings.
    via u/logicalb*ttstuff
  • 16
    Font - Kaiisim When you cause damages to someones property you are only on the hook for making them whole again. So if you broke a 2013 macbook, you are only required to pay the current amount that would get her a 2013 macbook. Its not "you broke my laptop now I want a new laptop" its waaaaay more specific.
    via u/Kaiisim
  • 17
    Font - FormerLurker3 "You broke my laptop and now I want a new laptop" is something a spoiled brat says to their parents, not to a friend who offered to immediately pay for what they broke. Laptop Girl sounds like the worst and I hope OOP cut contact with them after sending them 10% of their original offer.
    via u/FormerLurker3
  • 18
    Font - Legend OfKhaos But also, it was someone they didn't know who just left an expensive a laptop sitting on someone else's couch. If I bring my stuff anywhere else, and it's expensive, I always know where it is.
    via u/LegendOfKhaos
  • 19
    Font - ICONIC veggiezombie1 If you're negligent with your property and someone else breaks it, it should be on you to fix it. This chick left her laptop lying on OOP's couch in OOP's home. This isn't a case of her leaving her laptop on her own couch in a visible position and OOP sat on it by accident. OOP could've easily checked before sitting down, but she shouldn't have to do that in her own home. It's like if I leave my phone in someone's yard and their sprinklers come on. Should they have to
    via u/veggiezombie1
  • 20
    Font - CaimansGalore I love love love when people file stupid suits and the outcomes work out like this. Not only did she stupid her way out of $2000, but she's also stuck with the court fees. Lol sucks to suck
    via u/CaimansGalore
  • 21
    Font - TehGovernment Holy st, YES! She could have gotten $2200, spent the $300 on a screen, sold the laptop for (I dunno) $1200 and then taken the money and bought the latest and greatest and it would all have been fine. But no... she had to have an attitude about it.
    via u/TehGOvernment
  • 22
    Font - logicalbu stuff A lady refused to pay my small business like $1,400 for services rendered and she complained for months and eventually we went to small claims court after our lawyer sent her a letter. Kicker was the lawyer found a print out of what we did deliver (including the emails and communications related to said delivery) and the judge was so frustrated she ruled immediately that she received it, didn't reject the product, clearly printed it and reviewed it due to it being marked u
    via u/logicalb*ttStuff
  • 23
    Rectangle - _F_S_M_ JUSTICE! 2.7k FoxxJade Reply Share Yeah that worked out well for OP
    via u/_F_S_M_
  • 24
    Font - Ironsam811 He offered her the cash too, not just a replacement laptop. She could've just paid for the updated portion herself. I would have I loved to have seen this play out in court OP is going to be chasing that high of seeing the look of defeat on her face for the rest of his life
    via u/Ironsam811
  • 25
    Font - youjerkfaceyou. As a judge it has to get tiring dealing with completely unreasonable people. If I were the judge, I would have found OP completely at fault and ordered her to pay $1 damages. Good Day!
    via u/youjerkfaceyou
  • 26
    Font - regular-kahuna I remember reading this one when it was first posted. That girl is such a juvenile idiot. Blatantly tried to take advantage of the situation & didn't even have the common sense to be civil to the judge when she brought it to court.
    via u/regular-kahuna
  • 27
    Font - VictoriaRose1618 1 yr. ago . I'm betting she's lost most of her friends, being so entitled to ops money and taking her to court like that
    via u/VictoriaRose1618
  • 28
    Font - ThousandWinds The problem is that people like this are dishonest enough to frame the story in such a way where they are blameless. It will morph into, "they broke my computer and I had to take them to court, where they lied and I got nothing. Don't trust this person or they will break your things and not pay you."
    via u/ThousandWinds
  • 29
    Human body - Jade4813 Any time I read or hear "they gave the judge an attitude" I know it's time to grab the popcorn.
    via u/Jade4813

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judge Legal Woes legal macbook couch friends attitude computer court
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