Ep 1. Catfight at a Custody Exchange!

Catfight at a Custody Exchange! is the first episode of the twentieth season of the popular television show Judge Judy. The episode centers around a messy custody battle between two former friends, who have found themselves at odds over the care of their beloved cat.

The plaintiff in the case is a woman named Kate, who is seeking $2,000 dollars in damages from her former friend and defendant, Lisa. According to Kate, she and Lisa had agreed to share custody of a cat named Mr. Biggles, but things quickly went awry after Lisa moved across the country without warning.

Kate claims that Lisa neglected Mr. Biggles while he was in her care, resulting in the cat becoming sick and ultimately requiring expensive medical treatment. Kate discovered the extent of Mr. Biggles' neglect when she went to pick him up from Lisa's apartment, where she found him unfed and surrounded by his own waste.

Lisa, on the other hand, claims that Kate is the negligent party in the custody arrangement, and that she failed to properly care for Mr. Biggles during her own time with him. Lisa also takes issue with Kate's demand for $2,000 dollars in damages, arguing that the amount is excessive and does not reflect the true cost of Mr. Biggles' medical treatment.

Throughout the course of the episode, Judge Judy listens to testimony from both Kate and Lisa, as well as from a third party witness who provides insight into the nature of their friendship and the custody arrangement. The witness tells the judge that while Lisa did indeed move away unexpectedly, she did her best to leave Mr. Biggles in capable hands, but that ultimately both parties failed to take proper care of the animal.

Judge Judy ultimately rules in favor of Kate, citing her evidence that Mr. Biggles was not properly cared for while in Lisa's custody. While she does not award the full $2,000 dollars in damages, Judge Judy does order Lisa to pay $1,000 dollars to Kate in compensation for Mr. Biggles' medical expenses.

In addition to the cat custody battle, the episode also features several other cases brought before Judge Judy. These include a dispute between two roommates over who is responsible for a damaged piece of furniture, as well as a case involving a dog bite and the liability of a homeowner.

As always, Judge Judy's no-nonsense attitude and incisive questioning make for engaging television, as she cuts through the arguments of the parties involved and gets to the heart of the matter. With its mix of drama and real-life legal disputes, Catfight at a Custody Exchange! is sure to be a hit with fans of the long-running show.