Judge Judy returns expensive china to accuser, she refuses to get pulled into the legal drama

Judge Judith Sheindlin is fed up with the growing media circus surrounding a lawsuit filed against her over an expensive china set and has chosen to return it to the original owners.

On Tuesday, E! Online reported that Sheindlin was hit with a lawsuit filed by Patric Jones, the estranged wife of Judge Judy producer Randy Douthit. Jones claimed that her ex-husband sold a set of china, valued at over $500,000, to Sheindlin for a mere $50,000 without Jones' knowledge. In her lawsuit, Jones sought the return of the china, the full price for it, and court costs.

Sheindlin is famous for her terse and austere judging style on her TV show, so her response to Jones’ claim was true to form. Sheindlin told E! News, “I don't owe this lady a cent. And if this 50-year-old woman would spend her time more productively at trying to find a job instead of abusing the judicial system with frivolous lawsuits, we would all be a lot better off.”

According to TMZ Sheindlin has now removed herself from the middle of Jones and Douthit’s divorce battle. The judge returned the contested china set back to Douthit, the person who sold it to her, and said that Jones could proceed with her claim to the china in divorce court.

Sheindlin told TMZ, “This very unpleasant lady doesn’t give a hoot about dishes….She and her attorney want a circus, and I refuse to be a further participant in their drama.”

Sheindlin presided over her reality court TV show since 1996. Judge Judy airs weekdays on CBS.