Attorney John Pineau asks for a box of yellow Peeps to be placed into evidence. Aimco's attorney inspects them -- "I have no objection to the Peeps" -- before Judge Archuleta agrees to place the candy on a desk in the middle of the courtroom, so that everyone can see them.
Peeps are made from marshmallows, which are inappropriate to hang on a wall in a semi-public space...They clearly know nothing of Peep Law; you cannot decorate anything incorrectly with Peeps, it's the Doctrine of Peepal Infallibility.
About the jurorsAlso: Andrew Novick, 'Peeps expert' in Chay Burdick trial, is lead singer of renowned Denver punk band Warlock Pinchers
A panel of six Boulder County residents has been picked to sit on a jury in the case of Carol "Chay" Burdick. The jurors will be asked to decide whether Aimco, the company that manages the Meadow Creek Apartments where Burdick lived until last summer, breached its lease agreement by forcing her to remove a set of Easter decorations from her door. The jury will also be asked to decide if Burdick was right to withhold rent after receiving the demand.
Here's a look at the jurors -- four women and two men -- who will likely reach a decision Wednesday.
A 38-year-old stay-at-home mom from Erie.
A 57-year-old Boulder woman who works as an occupational therapist at Boulder Community Hospital.
A 25-year-old man from eastern Boulder County who runs a Web-based business.
A 59-year-old Boulder County woman who is a retired health care worker.
A 38-year-old Superior man who works as a network engineer.
A 49-year-old unemployed Louisville woman.
Jurors excused from the panel include a 63-year-old Boulder County man who said he manages several rental properties, and a 65-year-old retired Boulder woman who called the case "silly."
12:30 p.m. The jury has ruled in favor of Aimco, and awarded the company $1,132.66 in damages. The jury decided that Burdick breached her contract with Aimco by refusing to pay rent. Aimco will not pay Burdick anything.The company had sued for "$2,300 in unpaid rent as well as attorneys' fees that could top tens of thousands of dollars."
"This was kind of an unusual case, to say the least," Judge David Archuleta said.
1:38 p.m. Carol Burdick said following the verdict that she is both "surprised and sad."
Still, she said the trial was worth "every funny, serious moment -- even sleepless nights."
Her attorney, John Pineau, said he will likely appeal the case.
Aimco spokeswoman Cindy Duffy said the company is "very pleased about today's verdict."
"We take very seriously our relationship with our residents," Duffy said, noting that there are no major changes in store for the way the company issues leases.
The six jurors in the case were escorted from the courthouse by sheriff's deputies. All but one refused to comment. The juror who did talk with reporters, a 59-year-old Boulder County woman who is a retired health care worker, said the case was seen fairly evenly by the jury.
"You could see faults on both sides," she said.
She said the jury decided to award Aimco half of what it was seeking, a reflection of what the jury saw as a split case that tipped more in the company's favor.
She said the jury never thought the case was silly.
"People's lives aren't silly," she said. "It's important to them. We didn't sit back there and laugh about it. We did the best that we could."
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That woman and a man who manages several rental properties were excused.
This is just like the Scopes trial.
posted by jquinby at 4:34 PM on June 22, 2010 [8 favorites]