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.

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Colorado Teens Fined for Giving Cookies to Neighbor

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.

http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=oddlyEnoughNews&storyID=2005-02-05T034905Z_01_N04728789_RTRIDST_0_ODD-ODD-COOKIES-DC.XML

?????????

― waxyjax (waxyjax), Monday, 7 February 2005 17:41 (twenty years ago)

thoughts, in reverse order:

3. fucking dumbass judge
2. fucking dumbass old lady
1. man i want me some of those cookies

― Alienus Quam Reproba (blueski), Monday, 7 February 2005 17:46 (twenty years ago)

49 ain't old!
Blaming Christians for your mental problems: C/D?

― Snappy (sexyDancer), Monday, 7 February 2005 17:48 (twenty years ago)

classic if you're osama, dud if you're everyone else.

― hstencil (hstencil), Monday, 7 February 2005 17:49 (twenty years ago)

fuck an ingrate

― roxymuzak (roxymuzak), Monday, 7 February 2005 17:49 (twenty years ago)

Who gets freaked out by cookies?!

― luna (luna.c), Monday, 7 February 2005 17:50 (twenty years ago)

Oh my god! Fat! Cholesterol! Sugar! Oh my heart - I'M COMING ELIZABETH!!!

EAT ONE COOKIE, MORAN!

― luna (luna.c), Monday, 7 February 2005 17:50 (twenty years ago)

xpost - a diabetic?

― hstencil (hstencil), Monday, 7 February 2005 17:50 (twenty years ago)

Serves them right. Those girls should have been down at the dance cursing and drinking.

― walter kranz (walterkranz), Monday, 7 February 2005 17:51 (twenty years ago)

http://www.ubersite.com/m/58682

― Holly (an appletross), Monday, 7 February 2005 17:51 (twenty years ago)

My neighbours from Oxon were a bit like this. Mad, I mean.

― Maverick Alix (alix), Monday, 7 February 2005 17:52 (twenty years ago)

Diabetics don't get freaked out by cookies, dude.

― luna (luna.c), Monday, 7 February 2005 17:53 (twenty years ago)

They don't necessarily EAT them (unless they're sugar free), but freaked out? No.

― luna (luna.c), Monday, 7 February 2005 17:54 (twenty years ago)

http://kurde.pl/gfx/cookie-monster.jpg

"i'd jail the girls for not bringing the cookies directly to meeeeee"

― Alienus Quam Reproba (blueski), Monday, 7 February 2005 17:57 (twenty years ago)

Hurrah! I can hear you saying that. This will cheer me up for the whole bus journey home..

― Maverick Alix (alix), Monday, 7 February 2005 18:00 (twenty years ago)

you haven't met my dad, luna.

― hstencil (hstencil), Monday, 7 February 2005 18:01 (twenty years ago)

then again, he gets freaked out by everything.

― hstencil (hstencil), Monday, 7 February 2005 18:01 (twenty years ago)

No, but I have met my two best friends, one of their mothers, both of their fathers, their brothers and various of my own relatives - all of whom are diabetic. It's a COOKIE.

― luna (luna.c), Monday, 7 February 2005 18:01 (twenty years ago)

Aside from your dad and my friends, however, this woman is clearly a nutjob.

― luna (luna.c), Monday, 7 February 2005 18:03 (twenty years ago)

well yeah.

― hstencil (hstencil), Monday, 7 February 2005 18:04 (twenty years ago)

I wonder what would happen if you egged her house.

― Leon the Fatboy (Ex Leon), Monday, 7 February 2005 18:07 (twenty years ago)

http://images.google.co.uk/images?q=tbn:jsrHzkdwqEoJ:http://globalspecops.com/gallery/wp800/ac130sil800.jpg

― Pashmina (Pashmina), Monday, 7 February 2005 18:11 (twenty years ago)

Pashmina OTM, flying gunships = only solution here.

― TOMBOT, Monday, 7 February 2005 18:13 (twenty years ago)

http://www.grudge-match.com/Images/sposse.jpg

― andy --, Monday, 7 February 2005 18:13 (twenty years ago)

maybe she thought those cookies had rice in (them).

― ken c (ken c), Monday, 7 February 2005 18:18 (twenty years ago)

Can these girls now sue the lady (or the judge) for the distress of being sued for something so lame?

― Huk-L, Monday, 7 February 2005 18:19 (twenty years ago)

i heard about this story. i wanna sue cookies for being fattening.

― oskar shindig! (Jody Beth Rosen), Monday, 7 February 2005 18:21 (twenty years ago)

http://www.denverpost.com/Stories/0,1413,36~53~2691638,00.html

If you read this story, you realize what a vindictive old cunt this woman really is.

― Leon the Fatboy (Ex Leon), Monday, 7 February 2005 18:23 (twenty years ago)

I would sue those girls for knocking so late only to give me cookies instead of blowjobs.

― absolutely not nickalicious (nickalicious), Monday, 7 February 2005 18:25 (twenty years ago)

BITCH! YOU GAVE ME COOKIES!

― The Ghost of Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Monday, 7 February 2005 18:25 (twenty years ago)

OMG 17 & 18-year-olds out at 10:30 at night! What is the world coming to?

― jocelyn (Jocelyn), Monday, 7 February 2005 18:33 (twenty years ago)

But maybe they were crappy cookies.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Monday, 7 February 2005 18:34 (twenty years ago)

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

What lesson is that exactly? That you shouldn't do anything nice for anyone because the world is full of assholes and they're only going to SUE YOU?

Fuck.

― luna (luna.c), Monday, 7 February 2005 18:36 (twenty years ago)

i have to admit if i found cookies at my doorstep at 11 PM i'd be wary. i don't think i'd have a heart attack though.

― Amateur(ist) (Amateur(ist)), Monday, 7 February 2005 18:36 (twenty years ago)

"This is the thread where you call out a woman in Colorado for having sand in her vagina"

― The Ghost of Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Monday, 7 February 2005 18:36 (twenty years ago)

"The victory wasn't sweet," Young said Thursday afternoon

Probably because she didn't get any of the punitive damage she was holding out for.

― Leon the Fatboy (Ex Leon), Monday, 7 February 2005 18:38 (twenty years ago)

yeah if she just got reimbursed for the medical stuff, she's still owing her lawyer something outta pocket. and s/he might be an even bigger douchebag for taking her as a client.

― hstencil (hstencil), Monday, 7 February 2005 18:39 (twenty years ago)

The victory wasn't sweet, but those cookies you wouldn't eat sure were!

― nickalicious (nickalicious), Monday, 7 February 2005 18:40 (twenty years ago)

"your honor, may the jurors um, confiscate the state's evidence? and can you get us some milk while we're in session?"

― Amateur(ist) (Amateur(ist)), Monday, 7 February 2005 18:41 (twenty years ago)

They never did say whether or not the woman and her family ATE the cookies.

― luna (luna.c), Monday, 7 February 2005 18:46 (twenty years ago)

They should focus on eating a bag of dicks first.

― Leon the Fatboy (Ex Leon), Monday, 7 February 2005 18:47 (twenty years ago)

The families had offered to pay Young's medical bills if she would agree to indemnify the families against future claims.

Young wouldn't sign the agreement. She said the families' apologies rang false and weren't delivered in person. The matter went to court.

― Huk-L, Monday, 7 February 2005 18:49 (twenty years ago)

probably loading a forklift with cookies and depositing them on her front lawn is one of several appropriate actions at this juncture.

― Amateur(ist) (Amateur(ist)), Monday, 7 February 2005 18:50 (twenty years ago)

They should focus on eating a bag of dicks first.

"Honey, can you order up some Kentucky Fried Dicks please?"

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Monday, 7 February 2005 18:50 (twenty years ago)

Mmm, dicks with honey.

― The Lex (The Lex), Monday, 7 February 2005 18:51 (twenty years ago)

Whoever lives in a town called Durango gets what's coming to them.

― Huk-L, Monday, 7 February 2005 18:52 (twenty years ago)

And apparently that is cookies! And a lawsuit.

― The Ghost of Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Monday, 7 February 2005 18:53 (twenty years ago)

They should start a Paypal relief donation effort. I'm sure 900 people out there would give them a dollar. Or, wait, that's too nice.

― San Carlos, Monday, 7 February 2005 18:53 (twenty years ago)

Durango is actually a really really awesome place. Huk's just mad because he lives in a town that rhymes with "vagina."

― hstencil (hstencil), Monday, 7 February 2005 18:56 (twenty years ago)

thats what the little bitches get for not going to the dance to curse and drink.

― phil-two (phil-two), Monday, 7 February 2005 18:57 (twenty years ago)

I'm suing all you for talking about me! I feel faint! And dizzy! And crotchety!

― Old Lady Young, Monday, 7 February 2005 18:57 (twenty years ago)

Young wouldn't sign the agreement. She said the families' apologies rang false and weren't delivered in person.

WTF - I wouldn't deliver anything in person to that cunt! She'd just sue again!

― Thermo Thinwall (Thermo Thinwall), Monday, 7 February 2005 18:58 (twenty years ago)

Yeah, I've never been to Durango, but I have to admit, it's an awesome-as-all-whatnot name. I am jealous.

― Huk-L, Monday, 7 February 2005 18:59 (twenty years ago)

They should raise funds for their legal defense by having a bakesale. I'm so damn hungry for a cookie right now.

― dave225 (Dave225), Monday, 7 February 2005 19:05 (twenty years ago)

Huk don't get sand in your town that rhymes with "vagina."

― hstencil (hstencil), Monday, 7 February 2005 19:08 (twenty years ago)

Young said she believes that the girls should not have been running from door to door late at night.

"Something bad could have happened to them," she said.

Yeah, like getting sued by your insane neighbors.

― Michael White (Hereward), Monday, 7 February 2005 19:10 (twenty years ago)

Strange. This story brings to mind some horrible Limp Bizkit song that I seem to have purged from my memory.

― Thermo Thinwall (Thermo Thinwall), Monday, 7 February 2005 19:11 (twenty years ago)

Aren't the courts supposed to use a "Reasonable Man Standard" ? - as opposed to a "Wily Old Cunt Standard" ?

― dave225 (Dave225), Monday, 7 February 2005 19:12 (twenty years ago)

The Denver Post link lists a follow-up story that says their defense costs have already been covered by donations: "People who still want to donate can designate that the money be used for the for the girls' college funds or for the "Never Forgotten" scholarship fund for Columbine students. The families set up this address for mail and donations: Taylor Ostergaard and Lindsey Zellitti, P.O. Box 2528, Durango, CO 81301."

The story also state's that one of the girls' fathers had to obtain a restraining order against Young's husband, due to further harrassing phone calls.

The link also comes with an awesome pop-up ad for Ibraheem's Oriental Rugs.

― briania (briania), Monday, 7 February 2005 19:12 (twenty years ago)

This story blows my mind on so many levels. I just can't get over it.
I hope the world ends soon.

― Thermo Thinwall (Thermo Thinwall), Monday, 7 February 2005 19:15 (twenty years ago)

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."

maybe the card was more sinister than you think..

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v356/kenjuggle3/GREATNIGHT.jpg

― ken c (ken c), Monday, 7 February 2005 19:29 (twenty years ago)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v356/kenjuggle3/GREATNIGHT2.jpg

― ken c (ken c), Monday, 7 February 2005 19:30 (twenty years ago)

Those girls are never going to do anything nice for anyone ever again.

― Maria (Maria), Tuesday, 8 February 2005 00:27 (twenty years ago)

The whole thing reads like some Onion pisstake, I mean not going to the dance because "there might be drinking and cursing" (!!!??), the woman going to court because they wouldnt show up in person to apolgise (even though them appearing was what pissed her off to start with). It all sounds so very screwy.

― Trayce (trayce), Tuesday, 8 February 2005 00:38 (twenty years ago)

Some good may have come of this -- perhaps the girls, through their tribulation, have discovered the wonder that is cursing.

― Pears can just fuck right off. (kenan), Tuesday, 8 February 2005 00:42 (twenty years ago)

'Cos I mean, what a fucking bitch. There's really no other way to say it.

Harrassing phone calls from the husband, though? Weirder and weirder. What could be wrong with these people?

― Pears can just fuck right off. (kenan), Tuesday, 8 February 2005 00:43 (twenty years ago)

http://media.mnginteractive.com/media/paper36/0204cook.jpg

those girls are completely evil-looking though. dressed in black and shifty-eyed. the left girls hand doesnt even look human. i say dont fine them, burn them.

― bass braille (....), Tuesday, 8 February 2005 00:54 (twenty years ago)

You now owe me $900, bass braille.

― Pleasant Plains /// (Pleasant Plains ///), Tuesday, 8 February 2005 00:55 (twenty years ago)

Taylor had asked her father's permission to bake cookies for the neighbors after livestock-tending chores were done. !

― Sterling Clover (s_clover), Tuesday, 8 February 2005 01:26 (twenty years ago)

OMG WAHT IF SOMEBODY TRIED TO SUE ILX?? THINK OF THE PUNITIVES DAMAGES!!!

― Graham "Beaky" Beecroft, Tuesday, 8 February 2005 01:29 (twenty years ago)

DEAR NEIGHBOR,

HAVE A GREAT NIGHT

LOVE,
THE FUCKING NERD CLUB

― Who did release magic family out from the base of $499 (deangulberry), Tuesday, 8 February 2005 01:29 (twenty years ago)

Let him who is without nerdliness cast the first stone...

― Graham "Beaky" Beecroft, Tuesday, 8 February 2005 01:32 (twenty years ago)

"I hope the world ends soon."

I don't. Imagine the lawsuits!

― Rickey Wright (Rrrickey), Tuesday, 8 February 2005 01:59 (twenty years ago)

*ponders*
Holy shit!

― Thermo Thinwall (Thermo Thinwall), Tuesday, 8 February 2005 04:58 (twenty years ago)

If someone could find me the address of this Ms. Young, I will guarantee to ILX that she will receive at least one box of cookies per week for the rest of her life.

Burnt, smashed, spit on and jizzed on cookies.

Fucking cunt.

― Allyzay Dallas Multi-Pass (allyzay), Tuesday, 8 February 2005 05:46 (twenty years ago)

ew. Can we stop at spit?

― Pears can just fuck right off. (kenan), Tuesday, 8 February 2005 05:54 (twenty years ago)

No! Jizzed on POOP CHIP cookies!!

― TOMBOT, Tuesday, 8 February 2005 06:02 (twenty years ago)

strychnine-laced?

― kate/papa november (papa november), Tuesday, 8 February 2005 06:05 (twenty years ago)

Wanita Young said, "This has turned into quite a fiasco. It's something that never should have happened, and it's just devastating. My phone hasn't stopped ringing. My life has been threatened, and I'll probably have to move out of town."

― Andrew Blood Thames (Andrew Thames), Tuesday, 8 February 2005 06:08 (twenty years ago)

Haha! Serves the bitch right.

― kate/papa november (papa november), Tuesday, 8 February 2005 06:09 (twenty years ago)

Oh cry me a fucking river you stupid bitch.

Not you, Kate. Wanita.

― Allyzay Dallas Multi-Pass (allyzay), Tuesday, 8 February 2005 06:12 (twenty years ago)

I was about to get all huffy! :)

― kate/papa november (papa november), Tuesday, 8 February 2005 06:16 (twenty years ago)

DON'T MAKE ME SUE YOU WITH COOKIES!

― Allyzay Dallas Multi-Pass (allyzay), Tuesday, 8 February 2005 06:18 (twenty years ago)

I knew Wanita would get her comeuppance! That makes me so happy.

― Love and Death and an American Guitarthur (Arthur), Tuesday, 8 February 2005 06:21 (twenty years ago)

The thing that bothers me about this is that I have a PERFECT image in my mind of Wanita and her immediate family in my mind already, and I KNOW that the defense lawyer(s) and the judge had a meeting in chambers before he announced his decision and I KNOW that he said what he did because $900 and a loss is a pittance to just get the old horrible bitch to shut up. It's like I know you've probably not had the greatest, most peaceful of lives, ma'am, but NOT EVERY WHITE PERSON IS OUT TO GET YOU. Arrrrgh. THERE ARE NO SEPTAGENARIAN MARTYRS. SORRY. YOU'RE A CUNT.

― TOMBOT, Tuesday, 8 February 2005 06:28 (twenty years ago)

Or whatever, yes I know septagenarian is not a term that applies to 49-y.o.'s, 'perfect image' I guess not.

― TOMBOT, Tuesday, 8 February 2005 06:29 (twenty years ago)

This makes me really, really sad. I'm generally a happy person, but stupidy and malice will be the death of us all.

― Johnney B (Johnney B), Tuesday, 8 February 2005 09:13 (twenty years ago)

those kids are so going to get beaten up when people in school find out they've been staying home to bake cookies for their neighbours.

― ken c (ken c), Tuesday, 8 February 2005 09:34 (twenty years ago)

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