I think this is very unfair, I do not think the girls did mean any harm but the opposite, they tried to make something nice for someone...I think this ruling is telling them that what they did was wrong and they should not be "nice" with someone anymore...what do you think?.
DURANGO, Colorado (AP) -- Two teenage girls who surprised their neighbors with homemade cookies late one night were ordered to pay nearly $900 in medical bills for a woman who says she was so startled that she had to go to the hospital.
Judge Doug Walker declined Thursday to award punitive damages, saying he did not believe the girls acted maliciously.
Taylor Ostergaard, 17, and Lindsey Jo Zellitti, 18, baked the chocolate chip and sugar cookies one night last July.
They made packages with a half-dozen cookies each and added large red or pink construction-paper hearts that carried the message, "Have a great night."
The notes were signed with their first initials: "Love, The T and L Club."
Then they set off to make their deliveries.
Wanita Renea Young, 49, said she was at her rural home south of Durango around 10:30 p.m. when she said saw "shadowy figures" outside the house banging repeatedly on her door.
She yelled, "Who's there?" but no one answered, and the figures ran away.
Frightened, she spent the night at her sister's home, then went to the hospital the next morning because she was still shaking and had an upset stomach...
https://www.cnn.com/2005/LAW/02/04/costly.c...s.ap/index.html
International Level: International Guru / Political Participation: 1089 100%
Personally, I don't think it's the ruling that is telling them to be careful, but the fact that the woman actually took them to court!! That's just terrible!
On the other hand, why were they out knocking on doors at 10:30 at night -- and in a rural area? They could get themselves shot in some parts of the world. It was a sweet idea, but they went about it a little wrong.
In my opinion, of course.
Roz
International Level: Ambassador / Political Participation: 595 59.5%
QUOTE |
On the other hand, why were they out knocking on doors at 10:30 at night -- and in a rural area? |
International Level: International Guru / Political Participation: 1089 100%
Great idea...bad timing. They really shouldn't be knocking on doors at that time of night (more for their own safety than anything else). Mater of fact, at that time of night the cookies should have read "Have a Good Sleep". The idea was really sweet...the timing was really bad and the result was unfortunate.
Now with that said...I cant figure out how the lady got the nerve to sue these 2 kids. Wow...she must be a real favorite in the neighborhood. The one thing I really want to know is...did she eat the cookies? If she ate them, there is no way I would have given her that money. Actually, there is no way I would have given her that money anyway.
No good deed goes unpunished (or something like that),
Vincenzo
International Level: International Guru / Political Participation: 863 86.3%
. There are some areas of the world where knocking at the door is a cause for curiousity, and not fear.
Can't say I can get a clear grasp of the situation. Everything about it just seems alien to me, especially the $900 for a one night hospital stay (I be Canadian). Its a shame that such incidents have to occur at all.
Guess I don't know my southern neighbors as well as I thought I did.
Well you really don't know what to expect from your neighbour until she calls her attorney to sue you! This is a very unfortunate incident. The teenagers recognized the lady was all alone and chose to do a good deed that came back to haunt them. I hope these teenagers will not become bitter from this negative experience. There are times when people should be left alone and the neigbours should only provide assistance when they are asked. A sad way to live though.
International Level: New Activist / Political Participation: 14 1.4%
Wow I'm having a hard time believing this really happened. Whenever my family moves somewhere the first thing we do to get to know the neighbours is make a pudding and present it to the neighbours as a friendship offering. I think that was what these girls were after. I hate this climate of fear we live in. Brings back memories from Bowling for Columbine.