The Price of Being Nice

Merika · 02-08-2005, 08:00 AM

Colorado Teens Fined for Giving Cookies to Neighbor

Fri Feb 4,10:49 PM ET Oddly Enough - Reuters

DURANGO, Colo. (Reuters) - A Colorado judge ordered two teen-age girls to pay about $900 for the distress a neighbor said they caused by giving her home-made cookies adorned with paper hearts.

The pair were ordered to pay $871.70 plus $39 in court costs after neighbor Wanita Renea Young, 49, filed a lawsuit complaining that the unsolicited cookies, left at her house after the girls knocked on her door, had triggered an anxiety attack that sent her to the hospital the next day.

Taylor Ostergaard, then 17, and Lindsey Jo Zellitte, 18, paid the judgment on Thursday after a small claims court ruling by La Plata County Court Judge Doug Walker, a court clerk said on Friday.

The girls baked cookies as a surprise for several of their rural Colorado neighbors on July 31 and dropped off small batches on their porches, accompanied by red or pink paper hearts and the message: "Have a great night."

The Denver Post newspaper reported on Friday that the girls had decided to stay home and bake the cookies rather than go to a dance where there might be cursing and drinking.

It reported that six neighbors wrote letters entered as evidence in the case thanking the girls for the cookies.

But Young said she was frightened because the two had knocked on her door at about 10:30 p.m. and run off after leaving the cookies.

She went to a hospital emergency room the next day, fearing that she had suffered a heart attack, court records said.

The judge awarded Young her medical costs, but did not award punitive damages. He said he did not think the girls had acted maliciously but that 10:30 was fairly late at night for them to be out.

Duke · 02-08-2005, 08:03 AM

The problem is that something this stupid actually makes it to court and innocent are made to suffer. This is a great example of why our society is going straight to hell so quickly. This judge should have his/her @55 removed.

Merika · 02-09-2005, 02:27 PM

The whole thing made me laugh and made me cry all at the same time. Poeple are just messed up.

twinkle · 02-09-2005, 02:38 PM

YEah, that sure served those two a good lesson! No good deed ever goes unpunished!

Jesus Christ, to think of that woman ever living in that neighbourhood. How does she live with herself? Brrrrrrrr, gives me chills only thinking about it.

Merika · 02-09-2005, 04:08 PM

One thing for sure.....in the future I won't feel so guilty for keeping all MY cookies to myself! LOL!

twinkle · 02-09-2005, 04:16 PM

God, Merika, you sure have a way of putting things,

!

Stone · 02-09-2005, 04:18 PM

jeeze sure cost them alot for being nice, I bet they won't pass up partying now :?

Duke · 02-09-2005, 06:57 PM

I'd love to see the entire neighborhood get together and egg that cranky old bags house or something.

Luba · 10-10-2005, 04:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Duke

I'd love to see the entire neighborhood get together and egg that cranky old bags house or something.

With all those eggs, all she has to do is get the other ingredients and she can make her own cookies...would serve her right

People sue over the craziest things; all you have to do is watch "Judge Judy" or "Joe Brown". I used to wonder why Judge Judy is so mean; but listening to the crazy cases day after day, I'd probably be the same...

Vautrin · 10-10-2005, 04:37 PM

I would not be surprised if the neigbours would crucify her. And during her last days on the cross file a lawsuit for making the carpenter suffer from a minor injury (from the wood). :twisted: :evil:

Evil? Yes. Just let me, for once