Court Summons
July 30, 2008I got home the other day to a pair of quite concerned parents. I had a letter, addressed to me, with the insignia and address of the ’sherrifs department’ printed in the upper corner.
They hadnt opened my mail, something which happens occasionally (probably not as much as my friend who shares the same initials as his dad), usually by accident, but they were pretty keen to find out what it was about. I was pretty scared myself. My mind thrashed crazily through the array of my less than legal doings. I’m not a crook but at a time like this, all the possibilities do tend to present themselves all at once.
I have been at court before, longer term friends of mine will remember an incident 2 years ago when a dude didn’t pay his bill. I was on the other side of the bench but its not an experience that I want to re-live.
I tore the envelope in the standard style. I dont use envelope openers, my fingers work just fine. The first of 2 pamplets enclosed fell out to reveal the title ‘your rights regarding legal counsel’ or something like that. Very ominous. It was at this stage that I suspected that it could be something regarding my (old) business. Maybe one of my computers burned someones house down.
Ill relieve the suspense. I do have to go to court but I’m on a completely different side of the table. I have been summoned for jury duty! I didn’t even realise that we had jury duty in Australia. I thought it was just an American thing associated with their sue everyone system. My initial thought is to try and get out of it because quite frankly, it’s on a friday and I really dont want to miss a whole lot of lectures. You get paid $20 for the day, plus your employer has to continue to pay you. Unfortunately I don’t have work on Fridays so that isn’t much good.
If you have any clues to what case it might be then let me know. Ill see if I can get out of it first. I have to find a JP and I forgot to bring the form to work today so I don’t know if I will be bothered. Either way Ill keep you informed.