Somebody needs to register a cautionary dissent to the tongue-clucking that is going on over the
$930 judgment entered this week against two young Colorado women who wanted to surprise their
neighbors with fresh-baked cookies. (see Walter, more Walter, and Fedster; MIPTC; Denver Post story;
ABC/GMA) In case you missed it, their gesture of neighborliness triggered a serious anxiety attack in
one lucky beneficiary, Wanita Renea Young, 49, and she sued the pair in small claims court for medical
bills. For more background, read the full account given in their local newspaper, Durango Herald, “
Friendly gesture ends in court” (Feb. 5, 2005).
I guess it’s up to skepticalEsq to try to bring a little balance to the story.
— click here for the rest of this story, which concludes, after making some darn good points:
Suggesting that this episode means no one should act kindly toward neighbors or strangers, or that doing so in a thought-full, thought-through manner raises unacceptable risks of being sued, is simply asinine. Almost any case can be made to sound like a miscarriage of justice, or a symbol of what’s wrong with our society or legal system, if you leave out enough facts. I have little hope for the main-stream media, but I wish my weblawg colleagues would try a little harder to present cases in a fair manner.
“the rice cake man
is next door!”
the child announces
stomping and singing
my child’s rice cakes
my child’s rice cakes…
all in a row
on rice cake and jelly…
katydid!
February 5, 2005
the cookie curmudgeon checks in
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“The next morning, Young went to the emergency room at Mercy Medical Center, incurring more than $1,400 in hospital bills for what doctors eventually diagnosed as an anxiety attack.”
The next morning ? No calls to police or EMS ?
“Their parents and their lawyer should have insisted the girls head over to the Young home and apologize. ”
Seems to me the worst thing would be to have an in person meeting and risk who knows what else. I doubt many lawyers suggest their clients meet and try to iron out their differences.
Comment by larry henling — February 8, 2005 @ 3:15 am
“The next morning, Young went to the emergency room at Mercy Medical Center, incurring more than $1,400 in hospital bills for what doctors eventually diagnosed as an anxiety attack.”
The next morning ? No calls to police or EMS ?
“Their parents and their lawyer should have insisted the girls head over to the Young home and apologize. ”
Seems to me the worst thing would be to have an in person meeting and risk who knows what else. I doubt many lawyers suggest their clients meet and try to iron out their differences.
Comment by larry henling — February 8, 2005 @ 3:15 am
“The next morning, Young went to the emergency room at Mercy Medical Center, incurring more than $1,400 in hospital bills for what doctors eventually diagnosed as an anxiety attack.”
The next morning ? No calls to police or EMS ?
“Their parents and their lawyer should have insisted the girls head over to the Young home and apologize. ”
Seems to me the worst thing would be to have an in person meeting and risk who knows what else. I doubt many lawyers suggest their clients meet and try to iron out their differences.
And what sort of warning signs did Ms Young have around her house e.g. “CAUTION overly sensitive individual inside – do not startle !”
Comment by larry henling — February 8, 2005 @ 3:19 am
“The next morning, Young went to the emergency room at Mercy Medical Center, incurring more than $1,400 in hospital bills for what doctors eventually diagnosed as an anxiety attack.”
The next morning ? No calls to police or EMS ?
“Their parents and their lawyer should have insisted the girls head over to the Young home and apologize. ”
Seems to me the worst thing would be to have an in person meeting and risk who knows what else. I doubt many lawyers suggest their clients meet and try to iron out their differences.
And what sort of warning signs did Ms Young have around her house e.g. “CAUTION overly sensitive individual inside – do not startle !”
Comment by larry henling — February 8, 2005 @ 3:19 am
Considering the number of times that Mr. and Ms. Young have used the court system to make up for their inability to coexist in society, maybe a sign saying, “Be warned, we sue for anything!”. My suggestion to the Youngs, get out of rural America before you mess up some more kind hearted people. Try a nice large urban enviroment. I am not sure what worries me more… that the court system found in their favior or that more than three people in the world agree with the Youngs.
Comment by Carl — February 11, 2005 @ 10:41 am
Considering the number of times that Mr. and Ms. Young have used the court system to make up for their inability to coexist in society, maybe a sign saying, “Be warned, we sue for anything!”. My suggestion to the Youngs, get out of rural America before you mess up some more kind hearted people. Try a nice large urban enviroment. I am not sure what worries me more… that the court system found in their favior or that more than three people in the world agree with the Youngs.
Comment by Carl — February 11, 2005 @ 10:41 am