You may be seated.
Hello, Your Honor.
Hello.
This is the case of Markham-Love v. Tucker/Gholston.
Thank you, Jerome.
You're welcome.
Good day, everyone.
MARKHAM-LOVE AND TUCKER: Good day.
Ms. Markham-Love, you are here because you say
your childhood was a complete nightmare.
Wow!
You claim your mother, Ms. Nassiripour, lost you to foster care
and left you torn between two fathers,
including the defendant.
Now, Mr. Tucker, you say a bomb was dropped on you
when, years ago, you showed up to a court hearing
to gain custody of Ms. Markham-Love.
You claim that day
her mother delivered the news to you that you may not be her biological father.
(AUDIENCE EXCLAIMING)
Yes, Your Honor.
Now Ms. Markham-Love's other potential father, Mr. Gholston,
questions paternity and will hear the results
of both of the DNA tests shortly.
So, Ms. Markham-Love, please explain to the court
why was your childhood a nightmare?
I got put in foster care, had to live with complete strangers.
I don't have respect for
authority or anyone telling me what to do
or even Shereen.
I don't have a close bond with her.
I've been living from foster home to foster home.
I found out at 12 that Myron here, Mr. Tucker,
may not be my father.
Really?
Yes.
Now how did you find that out?
Shereen had told my grandma.
Ms. Nassiripour.
Ms. Nassiripour
told my grandmother and it was related to me.
And so when you heard that, what did you think?
I felt hurt and betrayed
and lost with emotion.
Did you ever meet the person they said
was supposed to be your biological father?
Yes, Your Honor.
I met him one time when I was 12.
He took me and my sister out to ice cream.
That was the only time I'd seen him.
I barely talk to him on Facebook,
but it's never been, "No... Oh, you're my daughter."
Nothing like that.
So, now, Mr. Tucker,
you obviously were under the impression that
this was your biological daughter as well.
TUCKER: Yes.
When I got a letter, (CLEARS THROAT)
a letter in the mail stating that my daughter was in foster care
and I went to Sacramento to go to court to try to get her.
Nassiripour stood up and said that I might not be the father.
(AUDIENCE GASPS)
So, you had no doubts in your mind?
NASSIRIPOUR: That's not true.
TUCKER: Yes, it was.
No, it's not.
Your Honor, that's not true.
When I was pregnant, I was four months pregnant,
I told Myron it could be between him and another man.
I never gave no names, he left me and went to LA, supposedly.
TUCKER: I did not go to... No.
When actually he was with his girlfriend
at the time that I was pregnant as well.
No, no, no, no.
I did tell him that it could be between two guys.
I didn't tell Brittnee because she's a child.
Right, but you're saying you were honest with him.
I was honest with him and Darnell Gholston.
Yes, I was. I'm hurt
just like Brittnee's hurt. Brittnee is torn apart.
TUCKER: No, but...
I didn't want her to know none of this until she was able to understand it.
My mom told her.
No, she should have known way before this.
Way before what?
Like when she was a baby.
No, you don't understand when you're a child.
(AUDIENCE APPLAUSE)
A baby.
Maybe you don't understand.
No, I'm talking about a baby.
His suggestion is there should have been a test done years ago,
so she would grow up knowing who her biological father is.
Then pay for it then.
(AUDIENCE APPLAUSE)
Pay for it.
I'm paying child support still.
Pay for it, if I would've known I would have paid for it then.
You knew when she was 12.
You said it still isn't done.
She is 22 years old now.
TUCKER: 12 years old, where was she at?
NASSIRIPOUR: In foster care.
So, I was more worried about getting her out.
Why didn't you get her then?
Why didn't you get DNA done, so you could have got her out of foster care?
(AUDIENCE APPLAUSE)
JUDGE LAKE: So, listen, there's a lot of arguing going back and forth.
Why did you do the things for her to get in foster care?
If I was such a bad mom at that time, you should have done something about it.
JUDGE LAKE: All right, listen. Let's calm down.
Mr. Tucker.
Oh.
Back then when you say the test should have been taken,
did you consider taking one? Why didn't you?
I mean, that's kind of a good question.
Because I didn't find out...
Why not just say, "I'd like to take a DNA test."
I didn't find out that I was in question until the court date.
So, in your mind, you were the father.
There was no reason to take a test.
Exactly. That's the way I feel right now.
JUDGE LAKE: So, once you heard this in court,
did you say, "I'd like a test now"?
At seven years old...
TUCKER: No.
NASSIRIPOUR: Exactly!
So, at that point, why not?
(AUDIENCE EXCLAIMING)
You just said...
Because I feel in my heart that she's mine.
JUDGE LAKE: All right.
(AUDIENCE APPLAUSE)
So, I see this is making you emotional.
I don't pity for him.
JUDGE LAKE: And you feel hurt because
you feel...
NASSIRIPOUR: He let is...
Ma'am, if you don't be quiet and let me get a question out...
(AUDIENCE APPLAUSE)
Mr. Tucker, what is it exactly your feeling?
Frustration, or you are hurt for the girl you believe to be your daughter.
What is this you're feeling?
The hurt for my daughter.
I don't want her to be in this situation.
Ms. Markham-Love.
Yes, Your Honor.
Do you understand that this man,
whether or not he is your biological father,
he hurts for you because he knows what you've been through.
Yes.
We used to share the same last name.
And then I was adopted at 14.
He was on my original birth certificate as my father.
I have a transcript
saying that my last name used to be Tucker.
Jerome, let me see that, please.
And then I have a birth certificate
showing that my last name has switched.
I do not have the birth certificate when my last name was Tucker.
So, this is your school transcript.
Yes.
And it's showing that your last name was Tucker.
Yes.
And it wasn't until you were adopted
that it was changed to your adoptive parents' last name.
Exactly.
Was he involved in your life at all as a child?
Growing up, I was living in Bakersfield with him.
And then when I turned five,
we moved to Sacramento
and he continued to reside in Bakersfield.
When I got put in foster care at seven,
he was granted visitations with me,
and the last time I'd seen him was when I was nine.
And from nine to 16, I did not see him.
So, Ms. Nassiripour, he states he was on the birth certificate.
You agree with that? You did let him...
Yes, ma'am. He was there.
He was there when she was born?
Yes, ma'am.
And so when Brittnee says that,
when Brittnee says that...
(AUDIENCE APPLAUSE)
...she lived with him at five years old,
she resided with us.
We had a place together.
JUDGE LAKE: Okay.
But at the same time, I just had Brittnee,
and she's a month old, his cousin comes over to ask where he's at.
I said I don't know, he's playing basketball.
He went and got married, and was at his reception.
So, that's when it all fell apart and I still accepted it.
JUDGE LAKE: So, wait, you all were living together as a family.
With a beautiful baby.
Yes, we were.
Yes, we were.
JUDGE LAKE: So, Mr. Tucker,
you supposed to be out playing basketball?
And where were you?
Wedding reception.
(AUDIENCE EXCLAIMING)
What?
There's a lot more to the story...
JUDGE LAKE: No, no, don't start talking soft now.
You were where?
(AUDIENCE APPLAUSE)
There's a whole lot more to the story than what she is saying.
JUDGE LAKE: So, I just need to understand,
'cause I feel like we could be here all night
listening to what happened in this relationship.
But it's true that you were living with them as a family
and then you disappeared,
and that really meant you went and got married to someone else?
Yes.
(AUDIENCE GROANS)
How could you disappear like that
and go marry someone else?
NASSIRIPOUR: Not once, but twice.
You trying to put this on me, but...
Not once, but twice.
What are you talking about? You cheated on me with a pizza guy though.
You were in LA, you said you were living in LA.
She accepted it.
NASSIRIPOUR: I was in love with him
the whole time and I'm still probably in love with him.
How you in love... How you was in love with me
and you cheated on me with a pizza guy?
I didn't cheat on you. You weren't even there.
JUDGE LAKE: Let's just get it straight, Ms. Nassiripour.
So, this pizza man
is the other potential biological father?
What happened? Now you got emotional. What happened?
I did a lot of wrong in my life
and it's like whenever he left me...
Four months after we met, he said he's going to LA, he didn't go to LA.
He left me.
Mmm-hmm.
So a month later, I slept with Darnell, Mr. Gholston.
So, yeah.
JUDGE LAKE: I'm glad you clarified that.
It wasn't like I cheated on him.
It wasn't like he rang the doorbell with the pizza
and then you slept with him.
No, ma'am, no.
So, the bottom line is both of these men
you slept with during the time of conception.
Yes, ma'am.
And you yourself honestly don't know
which one is Ms. Markham-Love's father.
No, I do not.
And I was honest with Mr. Gholston as well.
I told him when I was, like, five months pregnant
he could be the possible father.
JUDGE LAKE: I see the pain in your eyes.
You're saying you admit you've made some mistakes.
I've done a lot of mistakes...
...Your Honor, I made a lot of mistakes.
But ultimately, I can tell you love your daughter.
I do love my daughter, but you know what,
I went to prison, I've done a lot of bad things in my life,
I forgave myself.
When I got out, I asked her for, you know, when she's ready to forgive me.
She said she did forgive me.
Apparently not, because now I'm Shereen, I'm not Mommy no more.
I had to earn that, you know.
I'm sure I had to earn that. I'm trying my best.
I do my best.
But if I was on drugs, and I was such a dope fiend, Myron,
then you should've stepped up and took her if I was doing so bad.
You shouldn't have let me take her.
(AUDIENCE APPLAUSE)
So, Ms. Nassiripour, I see
even when you're talking, you're looking me right in the eye
but you barely look at your daughter.
Because I know she's ashamed of me.
She's ashamed of me and I love her with all my heart.
I love my daughter.
JUDGE LAKE: I can tell.
And that's why you are here.
She's my baby.
JUDGE LAKE: Because you're in court because you want to right your wrongs
and you want to support your daughter.
Yes, ma'am.
It's not for him, it's not for him,
it's for her, and her... And my grandson.
They deserve to know.
Ms. Markham-Love.
Yes, Your Honor.
Have you forgiven her?
At one time I did...
And you know, my mind gets racing
and I start thinking about all the other stuff and I have a son.
My son's gonna be three next month, so,
I know you can't be a parent
and not be in the same household.
Right.
I am not with my son's father.
I have a wonderful boyfriend who's been there helping me raise my son.
So, I know you can be a parent outside of the household.
And I feel that that was not there.
Ms. Markham-Love, as you look at these two pictures here,
who do you see of yourself?
It's like you're going back and forth between
Mr. Gholston on the left, and Mr. Tucker on the right.
As a child, what did it feel like to you?
MARKHAM-LOVE: Mr. Tucker is who I know
that has been there.
I've grown relationship with his kids.
I go out there for family reunions and everything else.
Mr. Gholston I don't know.
That was the only time I'd seen him.
JUDGE LAKE: Just that one time?
Just that one time.
In your entire life?
Whole life.
And that was 10 years ago.
JUDGE LAKE: Mr. Tucker, why is it that you just disappeared?
TUCKER: I didn't disappear by choice.
They had moved to Sacramento.
I didn't have no...
Well, there are planes,
buses, cars...
I didn't have... I didn't have no phone number,
no contact information at all.
Only way I got in contact with them
is when they sent me the letter
stating my daughter was in foster care, that was it.
And then when I was going to court
to do parenting classes and stuff, I get a letter
stating that my parental rights was forfeited.
'Cause you didn't want to do the classes.
JUDGE LAKE: And so...
You wasn't there, you don't know what I did.
I was there every week to see my daughter.
And if I couldn't make it, I called her.
And do you remember that time?
Yes, the last time I'd seen him, I was nine.
And I got put in foster care at seven.
So that was three years after I was put in foster care.
But from nine to 16, we had no contact.
You knew this man to be your father your whole life
and then you realize he may not be.
You don't really have a relationship with Mr. Gholston.
What do you hope for today?
I just want closure.
So, if Mr. Tucker is my father,
I know his family.
If Mr. Gholston is my father, I would want to know his family.
(AUDIENCE APPLAUSE)
And how about you, Mr. Tucker? What are your hopes?
That she has closure.
I'm just doing this for her, so she'll know.
In my heart I feel like she is my daughter anyway.
JUDGE LAKE: Ms. Nassiripour.
What are your hopes today, ma'am?
My hopes today is for Brittnee to be happy
and know who her father is.
And like she says, she does know her brothers and sisters very well.
I don't hate Mr. Tucker.
I just wish that he would quit badgering me
'cause I learned... I know what my mistakes were.
And I deal with them every day of my life.
And to upset my daughter and have that...
It's more like hate towards me she has.
And I just want us to come together and be able to work it out.
Maybe one day she could forgive me.
(AUDIENCE APPLAUSE)
JUDGE LAKE: I understand.
Jerome, may I have the results please?
Can I say one more thing?
Yes, ma'am, you may.
The way Ms. Nassiripour feels, Mr. Tucker should feel the same way
'cause I do not treat them no different.
I think because of this not knowing has put the distance.
NASSIRIPOUR: You said you loved her, you said you loved her regardless.
I do, but not knowing, as a man, it does hurt.
So, why don't we put an end to the hurt?
Brittnee, I'm sorry, I really am sorry for keeping it from you.
Are we ready for the results?
MARKHAM-LOVE: Yes.
These results were prepared by DNA Diagnostics and they read as follows.
In the case of Markham-Love v. Tucker/Gholston,
as it pertains to the paternity of Ms. Brittnee Markham-Love,
it has been determined
that Mr. Gholston
is not her father.
And that was 10 years ago.
In the case of Markham-Love v. Tucker/Gholston,
as it pertains to 22-year-old Brittnee Markham-Love,
Mr. Tucker,
you are not her father.
(AUDIENCE GASPS)
Wow.
Ms. Nassiripour, that's a shocker.
Yeah, it is.
Are you okay, Brittnee?
I'll be fine.
I owe you both an apology. Sorry.
JUDGE LAKE: How do you feel right now?
Hurt, sad, angry.
The one thing I can say is
at least you know definitively
who is not your father
and I hope sincerely
that you're still happy you came here today.
Yes, I am.
Good.
And Mom, I know that it's going to be rough for you.
And you are going to have a lot of explaining to do,
and a lot of making up to do.
And a lot of talking with your daughter.
And you stand up, you take whatever you got to take,
you deal with whatever you got to deal with
and you help her, if she wants to try to find her biological father,
you help her, you understand?
Yes, ma'am.
Good luck to all of you.
Court is adjourned.
(BANGING GAVEL)
Jerome, can you please escort Ms. Markham-Love up to the bench?
Yes.
Listen,
sometimes as mothers we have the strength to do things
that we may not even have the strength to do for ourselves.
You know that feeling, right?
Mmm-hmm. Yes.
You can move a mountain, can't you?
(LAUGHS)
Right, right?
Yes.
So, I know this wasn't what you wanted
and the closure that you wanted didn't happen today,
but I do believe
you can get the closure you're looking for
if you just keep searching, all right?
All right, take care.
Thank you.
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