Monday, February 07, 2005

THE GIRL SCOUTS ARE ATTACKING!!!

This is, word for word, an AP story that i read recently on cnn.com, and I don't think I even need to make any sort of explaination or sarcastic comment:

"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.

The teenagers' families offered to pay Young's medical bills, but she declined and sued, saying their apologies were not sincere and were not offered in person.

The girls declined comment after the ruling. Taylor's mother said the girl "cried and cried."

"She felt she was being punished for doing something nice," Jill Ostergaard said.

Young said the teenagers showed "very poor judgment"

"The victory wasn't sweet," Young said. "I'm not gloating about it. I just hope the girls learned a lesson."

The teens said they did not answer when the woman called out because they wanted the treats to be a surprise."

2 comments:

markymark said...

OK, I lied about not commenting on this one. Every time I re-read this story I get more and more pissed off at this lady.

"The victory wasn't sweet," Young said. "I'm not gloating about it. I just hope the girls learned a lesson."


What the frick is that supposed to mean? She hopes that the girls won't show any sort of kindness to their neighbors in the future? Agreed, they could've picked a better time of day to do this, but that's irrelevant. THIS WOMAN SUED BECAUSE SOME TEENAGERS BROUGHT HER COOKIES!!!!! It is people like this that make me question the values of our society. I'm glad that this judge didn't award punitive damages, but he really should have dismissed the case entirely. There is no place for these kinds of reckless lawsuits in a society that prides itself on respect and love for all. This should be one of those John Stassol "Give Me a Break" segments on Dateline.

.....ashley said...

agreed