
Judge Greg Mathis is unlike most adjudicators you'd see in a courtroom. The former Detroit-area district court judge infuses his court sessions with a generous dose of humor as he listens to diverse litigants plead their small-claims cases in his TV courtroom. A regular segment, Ask Judge Mathis, features the judge answering viewer questions to advise people with legal situations that they face. Prior to entering the legal world, Mathis was involved with gangs and spent time in jail as a young man before turning his life around.

A woman sues her best friend's daughter for a gas bill, an electric bill and court costs; the defendant says the plaintiff falsely accused her of child abuse and called child protective services on her.

A man sues his former longtime friend, who helped him with his drug- and alcohol-addiction struggles, for rent and breach of contract.

The plaintiff sues the defendant for a cable bill and emotional distress because she badmouthed her on social media.

The plaintiff sues her former friend, who she says lost custody of her children because of drug addiction, for assault and damages to her car.