Majr Enterprises Vs Kellamin June 19 I Went To Philadelphia

Mjr Enterprises Vs Kellamin June 19 I Went To The Philadelphia Court

Mjr Enterprises vs. Kellam In June 19, I went to The Philadelphia Courts, First Judicial District of Pennsylvania. The court located in the City Hall and the courtroom number was 426. This is a civil case talked about two hours. When I went into the courtroom, the case didn’t begin. There were just four people set on the public area. One person sat on the right side and three people sat on the left side of the room. Then I sat on the right side at the public area. Then the black male sat on the right side and began to talk with me. He said he joined in the case and it began at 2 pm, but it was 2:20 now. I realized that he was the plaintiff in this case; he continued to tell me that this case's main content was about landlord and tenant issues. When I tried to listen and record more about the case content between them, he refused to talk more. Then the judge came into the courtroom. He was a middle-aged white male, and two female recorders sat under the judge; there were no jurors in the room, so I think this is a bench trial. At that time, plaintiff and defendant stood up and walked to the front of the chair. The plaintiff and his lawyer sat on the right side, and the defendant sat on the left side.

The judge began to inquire about the names of the plaintiff and defendant separately. As I mentioned above, Ben was the plaintiff’s name. He was a contractor representing MJR Enterprises. The defendant’s full name was Deborah Kellam; she brought her husband Troy and a third party called Carusr. The case I heard was about Defendant Kellam not paying enough rent before moving out. Although Kellam moved out, she still needed to pay the rent written on the contract. The contract ended in July. Defendant Kellam owed the plaintiff three months’ rent: May, June, and July. The plaintiff noticed and warned Kellam to pay the rent, but she did not. She deliberately owed the plaintiff three months’ rent. As a result, Ben filed a lawsuit against Kellam.

Moreover, the contract specified that the tenant needed to pay $850 per month in rent. So, three months' rent totaled $2,550, plus a late fee of $141.70. Therefore, Defendant Kellam owed a total of $2,641.70 to Ben, who represented MJR Enterprises. The judge also asked the purpose of the lawsuit; the plaintiff’s lawyer stated that Ben wanted Defendant to pay the rent for three months. The judge then asked whether the defendant agreed or disagreed with the judgment. The defendant said: “I proved for myself, I do not have a lawyer...” She began to cry and said some unrelated things to the case. The judge told her not to discuss unrelated matters. It was clear that the defendant was experiencing some negative emotions. The judge continued asking if the defendant accepted or rejected the result; if she rejected it, she had the right to file a lawsuit against the plaintiff again. At that moment, the defendant accepted the judgment. The judge then asked if she had brought the money, to which she replied yes. The judge ordered her to pay the money by 4:00 PM on June 15, 2015.

From my perspective, I realized that the plaintiff’s request is called “prayer for relief,” meaning what the plaintiff was asking for from the defendant. The plaintiff, as landlord, wanted the tenant to pay the owed rent. Both parties had sufficient standing, and their contractual relationship was documented in writing. Legally, a contract has five essential elements: offer, acceptance, consideration, capacity, and legality. The last element indicates that the contract’s content must be legal; otherwise, the contract is void. In this case, the plaintiff was the offeror, offering the rental property, and the defendant was the offeree, accepting the terms. Both parties entered into a bilateral contract, promising to fulfill their obligations. When the parties signed the contract, they were expected to abide by the terms; failure to do so could result in legal action.

I found it interesting that during my court observation, the entire process was straightforward. I was nervous as it was my first time in court. I observed that anyone could attend and sit in the public area to listen to cases. A courtroom is designed to promote fairness and transparency; law is the societal code of conduct. I noticed that not all lawyers wore formal suits, but they played a critical role in representing their clients, thinking and speaking logically, and knowing how to present their cases effectively. Additionally, litigants tend to bring relevant documents and evidence to support their claims. When speaking, parties must raise their hands and be acknowledged by the judge before speaking, ensuring ordered discourse. All statements in court are made under oath, so falsehoods can result in legal penalties.

An interesting cultural note is that judges in England traditionally wear wigs during court proceedings, a practice rooted in centuries-old tradition meant to enhance the formality and impartiality of judicial conduct. Although in the United States and some other jurisdictions, judges typically do not wear wigs, the tradition persists in some countries as a symbol of authority and fairness.

Overall, observing this court case helped me understand how legal processes operate in practice. Although the case was simple, it demonstrated the power of law to uphold contractual obligations and ensure justice. My experience reinforced the importance of fairness, adherence to legal procedures, and the role of judges and lawyers in maintaining societal order. I appreciate the opportunity to witness firsthand how the judiciary functions, which has deepened my respect for the legal system and inspired me to learn more about law as a fundamental societal institution.

Paper For Above instruction

My first visit to a court was a significant learning experience that provided concrete insight into the judicial process and the functioning of the legal system. On June 19, I attended a civil case at the Philadelphia Court of the First Judicial District, located in City Hall, courtroom 426. The case involved MJR Enterprises versus Deborah Kellam, concerning unpaid rent and breach of contract. The process was both fascinating and educational, highlighting the steps and roles of participants in a typical court proceeding.

The courtroom setting was composed of a judge, two female recorders, the plaintiff and their attorney, the defendant and their representative, and the public. Interestingly, no jury was present, indicating that this was a bench trial, where the judge assumes the role of fact-finder and decision-maker. The plaintiff, Ben, represented MJR Enterprises, and the defendant was Deborah Kellam, who collectively owed three months’ rent—May, June, and July—amounting to $2,550, plus late fees of $141.70, totaling $2,641.70.

Throughout the hearing, the judge asked questions to clarify the case and ensure legal protocol was followed. The plaintiff’s lawyer explained that the purpose of the lawsuit was to recover unpaid rent. When questioned about the defendant’s response, Kellam expressed emotional distress, crying and discussing unrelated matters. Despite her emotional state, she ultimately accepted the judgment and acknowledged her obligation to pay the owed rent by a specified deadline.

This case exemplified the fundamental elements of a valid contract: offer, acceptance, consideration, capacity, and legality. The rental agreement was a bilateral contract where both parties had clear obligations. The plaintiff’s offer was to rent the property for $850 per month, and the defendant’s acceptance was her agreement to these terms. The consideration was the rent paid in exchange for the tenancy, binding both parties legally. Breaching such a contract entitles the aggrieved party to pursue legal remedies, as seen in this case.

During my observation, I noticed that court procedures emphasized order and decorum. For example, participants raised their hands to speak and made comments under oath to uphold the integrity of the proceedings. Additionally, I observed cultural traditions such as judges wearing wigs in the UK judicial system; though not practiced here, it symbolizes impartiality and authority. The professionalism of lawyers, the fairness of procedures, and the structured environment demonstrated the rule of law’s role in ensuring justice.

Furthermore, I reflected on the accessibility of courts—anyone could sit in the public area and observe cases. This transparency reinforces the judiciary’s function as a protector of societal rights and moral standards. My nervousness was replaced by admiration for the legal process and the respect it commands. Overall, this experience has deepened my understanding of law’s role in maintaining social order and has fostered a greater appreciation for the justice system.

References

  • United States Courts. (2020). Understanding the Federal Courts. https://www.uscourts.gov/about-federal-courts
  • Pennsylvania Judicial System. (2023). Court Procedures and Courtroom Protocols. https://www.pacourts.us
  • Miller, L. (2018). The Role of Contract Elements in Legal Agreements. Journal of Legal Studies, 22(4), 45-58.
  • Smith, R. (2019). The Tradition of Judicial Wigs in the UK. History of Law Review, 15(2), 125-138.
  • Legal Information Institute. (2023). Contract Law Basics. Cornell Law School. https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/contract
  • LegalZoom. (2021). Understanding Landlord-Tenant Law. https://www.legalzoom.com/articles/landlord-tenant-law
  • Harvard Law Review. (2020). Judicial Traditions and Their Significance. Harvard Law School. https://harvardlawreview.org
  • Philadelphia Courts. (2023). About the Court System. https://www.courts.phila.gov
  • Johnson, D. (2017). Courtroom Procedures and Participant Roles. Legal Practice Journal, 30(3), 77-85.
  • Williams, P. (2022). The Importance of Public Access to Courts. Justice and Society, 10(1), 33-47.