Has the Jury Reached a Verdict?

Yes, Your Honor, we have.

We finished hearing testimony about 2PM yesterday and then the attorneys had closing arguments. We were given our instructions and we went into deliberations. We deliberated until about 8 PM. Then we were escorted back into the courtroom where our verdict was delivered. I got out of there about 8:30 PM.

I am tired. My brain hasn't had to absorb information like this since I was in college. And the stress of this kind of decision is pretty massive too. Add to that the debate that occurred in the jury room while the 10 of us who were convinced the company had no negligence tried to convince the other two hold outs. The decision had to be unanimous.

We were to decide if a company who makes high density poly ethelene plastic pipe (HDPE plastic pipe, we have learned) and loaded four pieces on a truck was negligent enough to cause the death of the driver in the unloading process.

We listened to experts witnesses in the plastic pipe industry. We heard testimony of the loaders and the unloaders. We heard the safety procedures of the company.

In the end, the driver was killed when the isolating strap was released prematurely during the unloading of this massive pipe. He did that himself. He was simply in the wrong place, doing the wrong thing, at the wrong time. A 4500 pound piece of pipe fell from 8 feet off the ground onto him in the blink of an eye.

It is quite a responsibility to determine the answer to that question. You know going in to this that the family of this driver is filing the suit. You know that they are looking for a payment that would provide for them--his wife, his three children, his mother. This may be their best chance for a comfortable life.

On the other hand, you know the company is just going about their business and has some way to go in their safety procedures, yet the load made it there safely. The unloaders told the driver to safe out of the way. It is not his job to unload--only to deliver. The loaders did their best even if it was the last load on a Friday afternoon.

I haven't been this sick to my stomach that many days in a row for a long, long time. I was so very tempted to go back on the Diet Coke, as it was provided to us all day long, all week long as much as we'd like. But I am still soda-free, I am happy to report, but it wasn't easy.

I'm happy to see the process from the inside. I am not anxious to do it again for a long while. I'm still deciding if it was an overall positive experience. Maybe I'll be able to tell better when my four-day-long headache goes away and my sleep gets caught up. I'll keep you posted.

I'm Ruining Their Lives!

10 Worst Things Parents Do to Ruin Kids' Social Lives
by GALTime.com

Let’s face it, friends play an enormous part of our children’s self-esteem and success quotient for life. I’m often asked whether parents really can influence their children’s ability to make friends. My answer is always a resounding: “Yes!” After all, parents can be a tremendous impact on kids’ social lives, but they can hinder and even harm their children’s friendship chances as well.” Here are ten ways parents can rain on their kids’ social parade. (That’s a hint: so watch out, Mom and Dad! Just a few things to think about!)

1. Set a Terrible Example. Do you tell your kids to have good manners, but then verbally abuse your waiter? Do you tell your kids not to talk about people behind their back, and then pick up the phone to gossip? Don’t expect your kids to be a good friend unless you are.

2. Be a Pushy Stage Mom. Do you insist that your shy son have a huge birthday party even though he’d rather invite his one close friend? Have you tried to make play dates for your kid from names on the social page? Don’t think you can muscle your kid into friendships that only you care about.

3. Act Like a Micro-Managing Drill Sergeant. Do you orchestrate every minute of your child’s time with his friends? Do you hover at every play date constantly darting back and forth with some concern? Don’t hyper-parent or prevent your child from gaining his own friendship experiences.

4. Make Your Home as Sterile as an Operating Room. Do your child’s friends feel like they ought to wear white gloves when they come over? Do you insist they take off their shoes and never touch anything? Don’t be so up tight about being orderly that your kid and his friends can’t feel relaxed.

5. Act Like a Brontosaurus. Do you embarrass your kids in front of their friends, by not understanding their language or culture? Do you insist that your kid dress like he’s starring in Grease? Don’t refuse to change when it comes to customs that are really important to your kids and their friends.

Taking a Break

As a member of this jury for the next week or so, I am forbidden from talking about the case with anyone...so I have absolved myself form writing for a bit lest I accidentally write something, even jokingly, that could be misconstrued for a lapse in my duty.

Don't worry...you WILL hear about this experience when I am done. Wish me luck!

UPDATE

Jury selection is over and, guess what, I won!? I was selected and seated and opening arguments were heard today.

We were told to plan on 7 days worth of trial. I'm in it to the end, like it or not.

So many people are already being inconvenienced by this--carpool change ups, Dear Friend Tammy's schedule and those who help her, School Community Council, PTA meetings. Not to mention my kids and Genius Golfer.

Oh, and I am not allowed to talk about the trial in anyway, with anyone. I think my head might just explode before this is over. Excedrin (and Imodium) will be my new best friends.

YIKES!

Again?!

I'm off again for jury selection this morning. Last year I was asked to be ready, but then the case was settled or cancelled. This time I am to appear.

This is for the US District court too. That makes me nervous. It is a case involving child abuse I think I would suggest hanging the perp by the genitals in a public place until dead.

That may sound too rednecked to a defense attorney.

Maybe that is the trick. Red-neckedness may save me from some crazy sequestered week in Salt Lake.

I can only hope. I've got too much to do this week. Wish me luck. And I'll keep you posted if, in deed, this ends up with a public genital hanging sentence.

Learning Curve

I apparently posted my Sunday Video post yesterday, but as I had previously saved it as a draft, it was posted as though it were still Tuesday. The week is long enough without have to repeat everything since Tuesday. I guess I don't know as much about this blogging process as I previously thought.

Today is a day off of school in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. The kids who are off school today probably don't even know what that signifies. If they even know who that is. I will quiz mine later this morning.

In the meantime, the say off for everyone here, save only Genius Golfer, we are trying something new. WE were invited by our Provo cousins to their HS pool for some water polo this morning. Uncle V coached a county HS polo team and has been recruiting The Girl since she began swimming. This may be the try-out.

The Boy is coming to hang out with the cousins and play int he water. I think I will take me suit, and see how embarrassing I would make it to just swim near the kids. I haven't been in the pool (or a swim suit) since Labor Day. I might make the lifeguards nervous.

The Girl hasn't ever played polo, so this could be fun to watch. We are all trying new things I guess today. That should count for something.