Careful, he might bite.
Civil Suits for Bad-Taste Costume? [New Zealand]
Police will take no further action against a 29-year-old man who sparked a bomb scare in central Christchurch for six hours on Saturday.
Sparked a bomb scare? Read on.
The man, who had dressed as a suicide bomber for a bad taste party, dumped his fake bomb in a rubbish bin after being denied entry to city bars because of his outfit.
A homeless man ferreting through the bin outside the Grand Chancellor Hotel found the array of wires, fake gelignite and clock and alerted police, who evacuated the area from about 9am.
OK, so he threw away a costume after the party was over. It’s only noticed because a homeless man digs it out.
About 3pm on Saturday, police were contacted by the partygoer who had been alerted by wide media coverage of the bomb scare.
He does the conscientious thing: He comes forward to explain what has happened.
He confessed he had dumped his jacket and “bomb” in the rubbish bin after being refused entry to city bars.
Sounds like a good reason to throw it away to me.
Police said the man had been “extremely co-operative” and “somewhat embarrassed” by the incident.
Police said today no criminal charges would be laid, but some private businesses might initiate civil claims for loss of retail trade.
Credit where credit is due: The police show some common sense, and even emphasize that this guy had no ill intent. On the flip side, what is this allusion to businesses considering civil claims? The man threw away a costume, a homeless man digging through the garbage found it and was afraid it might be real, the authorities checked it out, and in the end the authorities concluded that no crime had been committed. This is what is known as a misunderstanding, a snafu. It happens. Get over it.
“Police said today no criminal charges would be laid, but some private businesses might initiate civil claims for loss of retail trade.”
Hint, hint:.
“Mr Stonhill said today the hotel was still considering a civil claim against the man and keeping its options open.”
“…other business who lost revenue after the police cordoned three blocks in the central city were also considering seeking compensation through civil action.”
Looks like they took the hint. 🙂
welcome to today’s society. if anyone is inconvenienced, ESPECIALLY if it costs them any sort of real or imaginary money, they will sue.
The costume party was supposed to be “bad taste” not stupidity. It’s stupid to do anything with fake bombs these days…The authorities are gonna take any report of a bomb to the most serious and fullest extent they are capable of in the name of safety and whose to say they aren’t right.
Leave the fake bombs at home this halloween people.
So when in America have we needed to be responsible for other people’s fears? What legal precedents? It’s NOT like yelling fire in a theater.
He was dressed for a “Bad Taste Party”. Yup, sure seemed like he won.
The Hotel and other businesses are now vying for “Bad Idea Party”. After all, it was the local businesses that refused to allow him entry dressed like that.
He threw away a costume? Not quite. He threw away what he knew looked like a bomb. The homeless guy and the police behaved correctly. The guy admitted it. But if I had to close my business for some hours because some guy left a fake bomb outside it, I might be really annoyed, maybe enough to look for some compensation.
So he is sorry he caused all the trouble? OK. So what? He thinks bombs in bars are funny? I suspect I am but one of many who don’t agree.
I can see the dramatic moment in court when his defense team lights the fuse and tells the jury, “If the bomb don’t blow, my client can go”.