Watercooler Stories

Crib dispute removed from criminal court

WEST NEWTON, Mass., Aug. 22 (UPI) -- A court dropped a larceny charge Tuesday against a Massachusetts judge who was accused of selling a crib on Craigslist with a part missing.

A dissatisfied customer filed the charge against Administrative Judge Cheryl Jacques, who had advertised a Pack N' Play crib for $75, the Boston Herald reported. Mother-to-be Tracey Christopher of Sudbury said the crib did not have a vibrator that is supposed to calm babies when necessary.

Judge Dyanne Klein in West Newton District Court granted a request by Middlesex County District Attorney Gerald Leone Jr. that the case be dismissed.

"I know that Judge Jacques is gratified that this is behind her," Jacques' lawyer, Leonard Kessen, said. "The Pack 'N Play case as a criminal matter is over. It never should have been in criminal courts to begin with. It's too ridiculous for words."

Kessen brought a replacement vibrator to court and told reporters it cost $12.99. He said he would mail it to Christopher since she did not show up for the hearing.

"Now, when she has her baby, the baby will be able to vibrate appropriately," he said.

Topless babysitter found in parking lot

MELBOURNE, Fla., Aug. 22 (UPI) -- Authorities in Florida said they arrested a babysitter who was found lying topless in a hotel parking lot when she was supposed to be watching a 5-year-old.

Melbourne police said officers responded to a report of a child left alone for nearly an hour Thursday at the River Palm Hotel. After speaking to the child, who was playing video games with hotel staff, they searched the property and found babysitter Stacey Kerres, 47, lying topless in the parking lot near the room where the boy was staying with his mother, Florida Today reported Tuesday.

The boy told police his mother had gone to the casino and Kerres has frequently been called upon to watch him.

Police said Kerres had trouble speaking and was unable to tell them where the child was.

Kerres was charged with child neglect and is due in court Sept. 18.

The case has been referred to the Department of Children and Families.

Patient sues over roommate mix-up

ALCOI, Spain, Aug. 22 (UPI) -- A Spanish woman was compensated $37,287 after workers at a hospital twice confused her with her roommate and tried to give her unnecessary treatments.

The woman, whose name was not released, sued the Hospital Virgen de los Lirios in Alcoi after her November stay at the facility, Think Spain reported Tuesday.

The woman said she received surgery for an intestinal problem and while she was recovering, staff unsuccessfully attempted to fit her with a catheter through her main artery. She said the attempt left her with serious nerve damage to her left shoulder.

Hospital staff later realized the procedure was meant for the woman's hospital roommate.

The woman said a nurse came into her room two days later and attempted to give her an enema, which she said seemed "illogical" given that a large part of her intestine had been removed.

The woman refused the procedure and the nurse soon realized the enema was also meant for the roommate.

The patient sued the hospital and was awarded $37,287 in compensation.

German law firm takes aim at porn pirates

REGENSBURG, Germany, Aug. 22 (UPI) -- A German copyright law firm said it will publish a list of pornography pirates on its Web site at the start of September.

The firm, Urmann and Colleagues of Regensburg, said Tuesday it will publish a list of Internet connections used to pirate pornographic materials, starting with connections in police stations and church rectories, The Local.de reported Tuesday.

The firm, which represents several pornography sites, said the list will go up on its Web site Sept. 1.

The law firm said it will also send out thousands of cease-and-desist orders along with demands for compensation.

"As legal representative of its clients, the firm U+C warns owners of Internet connections who have violated copyright," the firm told Der Spiegel magazine. "These clients include companies from the pornography industry who believe their copyright has been violated."